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What makes a good lesbian romance? Let’s brainstorm some characteristics. First, it must deploy common (or uncommon) romance tropes in a new and interesting way. This way, the characters feel familiar to us while also having space to emerge as distinct individuals. In a similar vein, a good rom-com should never lose sight of the emotional stakes, even when the plot becomes increasingly convoluted. And last but certainly not least, it must be sexy. We need to feel the chemistry, and that chemistry needs to come to a head at some point (or at several points, hopefully). These attributes could certainly apply to all types of romance, but this is a lesbian newsletter after all, so let’s pretend heterosexuality doesn’t exist for a few minutes, shall we?

If this all sounds too good to be true, well, it’s not. Ashley Herring Blake’s sapphic romance, Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, ticks every one of these boxes and reads like a sweet, salty, and altogether filling snack on a balmy summer day. The book follows its titular character, Delilah Green, a lesbian photographer living in New York. After her last relationship ended badly several years prior, Delilah has been living her life as an aloof artist without any close attachments. When her estranged stepsister, Astrid, hires her to photograph her wedding, she reluctantly takes the job because she needs the money. Delilah returns to the small town of Bright Falls, Oregon, where she must face down her domineering stepmother and the memories she’d rather not recall. 

But that’s only half the story. The other half of the book is told from the perspective of Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s best friends since high school. Claire is the (mostly) single mother of an eleven-year-old daughter who she had shortly after graduating high school. Unlike the free-wheeling Delilah, Claire is someone who is very set in her ways. She’s dedicated to her daughter and the local bookstore she runs, and isn’t seeking any big changes in her life. Her friends Astrid and Iris have been pushing her to get back into the dating pool again, but she’s hesitant to really put herself out there. 

Enter Delilah Green. Though Delilah and Claire have technically known each other for years – they all went to high school together – they’ve lost touch since Delilah moved away after graduation, and they come to realize that maybe, they never really knew each other at all. Delilah revels in shamelessly flirting with Claire to fluster her, while Claire isn’t really sure what to do with her new (or old) friend, especially considering all of the horror stories Astrid has relayed to her about Delilah. Claire is insistent on resisting Delilah’s affections while Delilah keeps telling herself she’s just in it for a bit of fun, but a series of unforeseen events involving Astrid’s wedding throw the two together and force them to realize there might be more between them then they had anticipated. 

The plot of the book might sound vaguely familiar to you, and that’s kind of the point. On paper, it almost sounds like a Hallmark movie. A jaded big city girl returns to her quaint hometown for a job only to fall in love with one of the town’s charming residents? We’ve all seen that movie before. But rather than making the book feel played-out or unoriginal, these tropes instead have the effect of making the characters feel familiar to you while also developing their own unique traits. (I won’t tell you which fictional lesbian character Delilah immediately reminded me of because I want you to use your own imagination, but suffice it to say I immediately fell for her character.) If a cynical lesbian with tattoos and a sweet, caring, curvy bisexual does not sound like a match made in heaven – or at least in fanfic – to you, then I’m not sure what else to tell you.

The romance tropes in the book are numerous. Unexpected bed-sharing? Check. Trying to seduce someone under false pretenses only to develop actual feelings for them? Check. Learning to love again after constant disappointments? Check. The book even includes the ‘found family’ trope, one of the most beloved tropes in queer fiction. 

Throughout all of these familiar plot structures, Herring Blake never loses track of the heart of the story. It’s a tale of finding love in unexpected places, yes, but it’s also about discovering family and a newfound sense of home. The romance may be the central driving force of the narrative, but the story winds up encompassing more than that. On paper, Delilah’s life in New York had everything she ever wanted. She was finally independent, pursuing her dreams, and free from her stepfamily, who she only perceived as holding her back. But upon returning to Bright Falls and attempting to reunite with her stepsister – as well as falling in love with her stepsister’s best friend – Delilah begins to understand that family and home may look a little different than she had previously imagined. 

The final necessary element in a good rom-com is also present, in case you were getting worried. It’s clear to both Delilah and Claire upon (re)meeting each other that there is an intense attraction between them, despite the fact that they first encounter one another in less than honorable circumstances. (I won’t give away their meet-cute of sorts.) And yes, they do eventually consummate their desire. In Herring Blake’s adept hands, their sexual encounters are layered with meaning. As a symbolic expression of intimacy and desire – both the denial of and the acceptance of these things – much remains unspoken between the two women, even in their closest moments. Of course, sex is also just sex, and the book has plenty of carnal action for those looking for a little excitement.

The real genius of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care is the way it feels both comfortingly familiar and refreshing. Fans of lesbian fiction (and certainly fanfiction readers) will probably recognize the archetypes the characters fall into, but won’t feel like they know the whole story, either. You’ll likely be able to find yourself in the characters – whether it be the emotionally shut-off Delilah, the altruistic but self-conscious Claire, or a little bit of both – which makes reading the book an even more pleasurable (if not yearnful) experience. Sometimes, re-inventing the wheel isn’t necessary. When you have the right formula, all you need is chemistry, love, and the good ol’ gay agenda.