Second night stand

Karelia Stetz-Waters (Behind the Scenes) and her wife, debut author Fay Stetz-Waters, lay out their mission to "share our vision of a happy relationship through romance" in the acknowledgments that open this light lesbian romance. Unfortunately, the ensuing narrative becomes disappointingly bogged down in the protagonists' mommy issues. Lillian Jackson is a Black ballerina, driven to pursue excellence by the mental soundtrack of her mother's icy, perfectionist commentary. Meanwhile, white burlesque dancer Izzy "Blue Lenox" Wells only wishes she were the focus of such maternal concern. Instead, she was abandoned after a childhood of neglect. Each woman avoids relationships to better manage their emotional chaos, but that doesn't mean they can't indulge in some casual sex when Lillian picks up Izzy at a Portland, Ore., dive bar. The women are unaware they've both auditioned for a reality talent show, meaning this hookup will be far from their final encounter. Lillian's ballet company and Izzy's burlesque troupe both make the cut, setting up a rivals-to-lovers trajectory that wallows in dysfunction for 15 chapters--Izzy even muses that she falls "for her mother in hot lesbian form every time"--before a greenroom blackout thankfully spurs a break in their emotional logjam. The rest of the story unfolds as a warm, almost wish-fulfillment happily ever after, but it's a touch less convincing after all the self-absorbed angst. This misses the mark. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (May)

After a decadent one-night stand, two women discover they will be competing against each other on a reality TV show. Lillian Jackson is lead dancer and ballet master at the Reed-Whitmer Ballet Company, which highlights Black dancers, but she's just learned that the troupe is about to lose its funding. Her financial backers make a desperate, last-ditch offer: They can get Lillian and the company an audition for The Great American Talent Show. If they win, they can use the $1 million prize to keep the doors open. Sitting alone in a bar after the audition, Lillian meets a hot, confident white woman who says her name is Blue Lenox, and they have what's supposed to be a one-night stand. Blue's real name is Izzy Wells, and she turns out to be the head of a queer-friendly, body-positive, no-audition burlesque troupe named Velveteen Crush that's also in the competition. Izzy mortgaged her house to buy a dilapidated old theater, hoping to create a safe performance space and community center, but it's a money pit. Winning the prize will help her save the theater and her home. The external stakes are clearly defined, but the heart of this romance is watching Izzy and Lillian navigate their emotional wounds. Lillian sacrificed everything for her art, chasing perfection to overcome racism in the ballet world. She loves being with Izzy, but she's always put ballet before relationships. Izzy was functionally abandoned by her mother as a teenager and is looking for a woman who will put her first. Their romance is sweet and sexy if a bit predictable. Difficult, decades-old problems have pat resolutions. A highlight of the book is that Izzy and Lillian both struggle with the burdens of leadership, but each woman finds support and comfort from their communities when they are in need. A charming romance hits all the right notes. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.