Happy Bi Visibility Day! This is one of my favorite holidays of the whole year, when my clan and I come out of hiding for 24 hours and blind everyone with our blue, purple and pink glory. Truly, it’s a magical time, and what better way to celebrate the festivities than by checking out some fabulous bisexual books?
One Kiss with a Rock Star by Amber Lin and Shari Slade
I had to kick off the post with this book, because it’s one of the only ones I’ve ever read where both the male and female halves of the romance are both bi. But, naturally, the guy—in this case Krist Mellas—is the one caught up in a PR nightmare over it, a video having surfaced of him hooking up with a fellow male rock star. And it’s the girl—young pop star Madeline—who’s brought in to help solve it by letting them be staged in a wholesome and hetero-looking relationship. But Madeline has her own interests to bring to the table, including a night with her female assistant joining them.
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
Of course, being bi doesn’t automatically mean being super into sex, and Kann’s fabulous debut is a perfect example. (It is YA, but it’s also set in college, so if you’re not sure whether you’re into teen reads, grab it anyway.) Alice is biromantic asexual, and when her girlfriend dumps her for not being interested in sex, she decides she’s finished trying to date; it’s not worth getting her heart broken over and over again for something that isn’t going away.
The Brightsiders by Jen Wilde
Sticking with the rock stars but going a little tamer, I love this sophomore novel by Jen Wilde, who never disappoints on the bi rep front. But being tamer is by design, as Emmy’s days as a rock star drummer have shifted a little out of control when too much partying and bad influences land her in the hospital and on the radar of every paparazzo in town. Now she’s in need of an escape, and her bandmates are more than happy to help her get one, particularly Alfie, the genderqueer dreamboat who’s definitely just a friends-with-benefits situation…right?
The King of Bourbon Street by Thea de Salle
Looking for some serious steam, New Orleans heat, a bisexual hero, and beautiful fat heroine? (Yeah, you’ll just have to ignore the cover on that one and trust me.) This one’s got it all, centering around wealthy hotel mogul Sol DuMont and tempting heiress Arianna “Rain” Barrington, the first person to capture his perpetually wandering attention since Hurricane Katrina, his father’s death, and his divorce tore his world apart.
Sated by Rebekah Weatherspoon
“Okay, Dahlia, chill out with the fangirling; you cannot have a book by Rebekah Weatherspoon in every single one of your posts.” To that I say, “Watch me.” Is it my fault she writes such compulsively readable romance with super hot scenes and such great rep? No, it is her fault, so go blame her and let me get back to fawning, thanks. Sated is the third book in the Fit Trilogy, but all three books can be read independently; all you need to know to begin is that there are gonna be some seriously hot bodies at play, and definitely some strenuous workouts. The stars here are two nerds, Keira, who works at Melrose Fitness, and (bi) Daniel, a pyrotechnics expert, and yes, you can insert alllll the puns about sweat and sparks you like because every single one is right on target.
Coffee Boy by Austin Chant
This is just straight-up (heh) one of my favorite romances, with bits and pieces of so many good things, including enemies-to-lovers, politics, office hookups, and great trans rep. Kieran is psyched to be living the dream of being a political intern, but having a cranky coworker on his tail quickly sours the experience. Then Kieran begins to learn new things about Seth. Things he likes. Things that suggest there may be more to the campaign strategist that originally met the eye. Things that develop into more than either of them ever expected. (And, yes, one of those things is that Seth is bi.)
Knit One, Girl Two by Shira Glassman
When on the hunt for solid representation, one seldom need look further than Glassman’s extensive catalog, and this novella just happens to be my favorite of all. How can you not adore a romance set around knitting? Clara and Danielle may not have everything in common, but a passion for beautiful art is definitely something they share, and watching them bond over it and inspire each other makes for the perfect read to get that tummy-melting feeling.
How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake
Ashley Herring Blake is one of my favorite criminally underread YA authors, and this novel is one of those about which I constantly hear “My life might’ve been so different if I’d had this as a kid.” As any bi will tell you, there’s no age limit on reading great representation of our orientation, since it’s historically sucked for so long that we’re just now catching up in basically every category. And this is the perfect place to start whether you’re a teen a not, with the story of a girl named Grace whose mother’s bad decisions have been ruining her life for way too long, and threaten to do so again even now that she’s finally found romantic happiness with new girl Eva.
Callie, Unwrapped by Amy Jo Cousins
Ask me what I think the literal hottest book (well, novella) of all time is, and ta da! This will be my answer every time. Now it’s true that despite the stereotype, not every bi person is down for a threesome, but I am so, so happy Callie’s down to join her ex, Gabe, and his girlfriend, Kate, because *fans self forever*. Cousins is one of my favorite sources of great and varied bi rep, and I definitely recommend also checking out Off Campus and The Girl Next Door, in addition to the rest of this series.
Not Your Sidekick by CB Lee
Contemporary romance happens to be my preferred genre, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the heck out of an extremely fun and extremely bisexual superhero romance. And that’s exactly what Lee has done here with the first book in her Sidekick series, starring a girl named Jess who handles her disappointment in not having powers like her superhero parents by interning for a supervillain. Also interning there? Jess’s crush, Abby. Let the adorableness begin!
