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Make Room for Love
Starting over is hard. Falling for her gorgeous butch roommate might make it impossible.
When a tall, stunning butch protects Mira from her ex-boyfriend at the club—and offers her a safe place to stay—Mira should be relieved. Not flustered. She’s not into women.
Yet this tough electrician with curves for days makes Mira’s heart race like never before.
But Isabel, wounded by grief, forces Mira to keep her distance. Until Mira’s desperate to win a union election at work—and only Isabel has the experience to teach her how.
Soon they’re lingering over dinner, teasing each other as the apartment heats up. And Isabel is making her coffee every morning, hanging her shelves, giving her smoldering looks before bed…
But Mira can’t afford temptation. Not after living with her nightmare ex.
No matter how well Isabel takes care of her…or how much Isabel needs healing, too.
She can’t risk her freedom—or her heart.
Make Room for Love is a steamy slow-burn romance starring a trans woman discovering she’s bi and finding her happily ever after.
When a tall, stunning butch protects Mira from her ex-boyfriend at the club—and offers her a safe place to stay—Mira should be relieved. Not flustered. She’s not into women.
Yet this tough electrician with curves for days makes Mira’s heart race like never before.
But Isabel, wounded by grief, forces Mira to keep her distance. Until Mira’s desperate to win a union election at work—and only Isabel has the experience to teach her how.
Soon they’re lingering over dinner, teasing each other as the apartment heats up. And Isabel is making her coffee every morning, hanging her shelves, giving her smoldering looks before bed…
But Mira can’t afford temptation. Not after living with her nightmare ex.
No matter how well Isabel takes care of her…or how much Isabel needs healing, too.
She can’t risk her freedom—or her heart.
Make Room for Love is a steamy slow-burn romance starring a trans woman discovering she’s bi and finding her happily ever after.
335 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2024
1033 people are currently reading
8443 people want to read
About the author
Darcy Liao
2 books129 followersDarcy Liao writes swoony, steamy, diverse sapphic romance—always with plenty of pining and a happily ever after. They love seeing trans and nonbinary characters on the page, both as a reader and writer.
When they’re not writing, you can find them taking long walks around the city, catching screenings of old movies, or sitting in the park with a coffee and a good book.
When they’re not writing, you can find them taking long walks around the city, catching screenings of old movies, or sitting in the park with a coffee and a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 709 reviews
October 12, 2025
Was I subconsciously waiting for Sapphic September to read this? Mayhaps.
Make Room For Love was an adorable read, with great communication between the main characters, minimal conflict, oh and ~ they were roommates ~.
I had to, I'm sorry.
It was kind of a slow burn, and then very much not, but the balance between the two was just right. Isabel and Mira had a lot of chemistry, and I couldn't wait for them to finally get together after dancing around one another for so long.
I wasn't expecting unions to play such a huge part in the plot, maybe it wasn't always interesting, but I liked the social commentary we got because of it.
Then there's the grief aspect which Isabel had to deal with, I liked that storyline better than the union one overall.
The rep was great, especially in the first half of the book, though I think the bi part of it was a bit rushed in the second half.
Like by the halfway point, Mira was still maintaining the "I'm straight" mantra, then she and Isabel kissed, after that she had one conversation with a friend and was 100% cool with being bi from that point onwards. I get that the author had to move the plot & relationship along, but I feel like Mira could've used a bit more time to settle into her new identity before jumping into a relationship.
Also, I had a bit of trouble telling Mira and Isabel apart at first, it's not that they were the same person, but the main thing setting them apart was the union/family thing, and the clothes they were wearing. I had to actually *think* about whose PoV I was reading until I got more into it.
Lastly, I'm not trans, so I'd love it if someone who is would weigh in on this, but a lot of the sex scenes felt unrealistic? As in, if you told me it was two CIS women the entire time, I'd have believed you. I guess I was expecting the book to dive a bit deeper into it, how different it would be, even with Mira being post-op, and that didn't happen.
Edit: So a lovely person commented and told me post-op sex isn't that different from CIS lesbian sex, and it makes for better rep, so my apologies friends, I was wrong. I am leaving up what I said for transparency sake. But don't let that push you away from giving this book a chance, because it IS realistic & I'd recommend it if you're looking for something cozy for fall.
3.5
Pre read:
WOOF WOOF BARK BARK GRR GIMME GIMME GIMME
Make Room For Love was an adorable read, with great communication between the main characters, minimal conflict, oh and ~ they were roommates ~.
I had to, I'm sorry.
It was kind of a slow burn, and then very much not, but the balance between the two was just right. Isabel and Mira had a lot of chemistry, and I couldn't wait for them to finally get together after dancing around one another for so long.
I wasn't expecting unions to play such a huge part in the plot, maybe it wasn't always interesting, but I liked the social commentary we got because of it.
Then there's the grief aspect which Isabel had to deal with, I liked that storyline better than the union one overall.
The rep was great, especially in the first half of the book, though I think the bi part of it was a bit rushed in the second half.
Like by the halfway point, Mira was still maintaining the "I'm straight" mantra, then she and Isabel kissed, after that she had one conversation with a friend and was 100% cool with being bi from that point onwards. I get that the author had to move the plot & relationship along, but I feel like Mira could've used a bit more time to settle into her new identity before jumping into a relationship.
Also, I had a bit of trouble telling Mira and Isabel apart at first, it's not that they were the same person, but the main thing setting them apart was the union/family thing, and the clothes they were wearing. I had to actually *think* about whose PoV I was reading until I got more into it.
Edit: So a lovely person commented and told me post-op sex isn't that different from CIS lesbian sex, and it makes for better rep, so my apologies friends, I was wrong. I am leaving up what I said for transparency sake. But don't let that push you away from giving this book a chance, because it IS realistic & I'd recommend it if you're looking for something cozy for fall.
3.5
Pre read:
WOOF WOOF BARK BARK GRR GIMME GIMME GIMME
August 3, 2025
She was so lovely that it hurt to look at her. But Isabel looked, anyway.
REREAD 2025. 4.5 stars. Revisiting this book was a delight!! It's such a treat to sink into a romance that takes such care with building its characters and their relationships, giving them meaningful conflicts and hurdles to overcome, showing the myriad reasons why they perfect for each other. I don't think I've read many roommates to lovers romances, but this, to me, is now the blueprint. Isabel and Mira have my whole, whole heart.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Natalie Naudus and Nicky Endres, and it was utterly delightful. What a perfect cast! I'm always entranced by Naudus' voice, and she was the perfect fit for big, beautiful butch Isabel. I've only listened to a couple books narrated by Endres, and this is my favourite so far. I loved her as Mira. There are certain things that just hit harder in the audio, like Isabel's grief for her sister, Mira's vulnerability and gradual gaining of confidence. And I loved the recitation of the poetry. This remains such a well-rounded romance: sexy, heart-warming, and heart-felt, all while hitting a lot of great topics and themes. I'm so glad I got the chance to revisit it.
☆ ALC provided by the author. Thank you!
--
If Isabel couldn’t close the distance between them, then this was all she could do. Make Mira a little warmer.
4.5 stars. This was such a delight, oh my god. It's such a great feeling when a romance makes you fall in love with both main characters, when its themes go beyond surface level and really tug at your heart, when it can literally make you giddy. This book did all of that for me, and I loved it. Especially because it included some of my most beloved tropes. We've got a bi-awakening/toaster oven, slow burn, room-mates to lovers romance between a slightly grumpy butch electrician and an anxious trans grad student femme. There's yearning! There's poetry! There's grief recovery! There's unions! I loved it so much.
The heroines meet when Isabel comes to Mira's aid while the latter is being accosted by her scummy ex-boyfriend. After finding out that Mira needs a place to stay, Isabel impulsively offers to rent her her spare room, and the roommates-to-friends-to-lovers journey begins. This was genuinely so lovely. Tropey and wonderful in all the best ways, with a storyline that really delves into the characters, doesn't let them run from their flaws, allows room for meaningful growth. This is mostly pretty light, but it does get into some heavier topics, like Isabel's grief and Mira's anxiety, but it does so in ways that feel true to the story and the characters, and it never takes away from the romance. I LOVED these two together, oh my god. Isabel is sorta your typical closed-off butch at first, a little standoffish, a little mean. But she so clearly has a soft centre; so clearly has a lot of kindness and goodness in her heart; so clearly wants to look out for others. I was swooning from the very first page, and it's almost comical, how very quickly she starts to thaw for Mira, and starts yearning in her direction. A lot of their early interactions had me giggling fr!!! I will always love stories where a person who's been mistreated gets to be lovingly and carefully doted on. Every little act of service Isabel did for Mira made me want to melt. But it's not one-note either. Isabel has a lot of bad habits, and some issues that she hasn't been dealing with properly. The book addresses that, and comes to a place where the relationship feels even and reciprocal and lovely. Mira's growing confidence is an integral part of the book, and it's great to see her blooming, both with Isabel's help and on her own.
But the words reassured her, and they made her want to get closer, knowing she could walk away. Isabel would be good to her through the end.
I adored how slow burn this was, and if you know me, you probably know what I'm going to say next: I wouldn't have minded if it was even more slow burn! Haha, I just LIVE for that specific type of romantic tension, and this author wrote it so well, and I couldn't help but want more. Isabel's frustrated but noble pining was absolutely delicious. As was Mira's adorable cluelessness, as she slowly untangled her feelings and her bisexuality snuck up on her. I could have genuinely read 100 more pages of them dancing around each other. But also, I mean, it's not like I was displeased when things moved forward, because this was so so sexy. Lord, I see what you have done for other people, etc etc. The chemistry was thick enough to cut with a knife, on every page. And I was living for the contrasts in their descriptions (especially, big, stacked Isabel). The author did such a good job of making them feel like real characters, making me want to know everything about them. I love poetry, though I'm not well versed on the classic stuff, and I paused while reading this to look up and read some of the Catullus poems that were mentioned. The way the characters talked about them and the way they informed certain themes, it just made me want to experience the verses myself. And I loved them. The grief storyline was simple, but really devastating. Mild spoilers ahead.
The pacing, perhaps, wasn't everything I could have hoped for? Which circles back to me wanting the book to be even more slow burn. But that's a really subjective thing. Being the type of reader I am, I would have really would have preferred if they had had certain conversations, certain confrontations, crossed certain emotional hurdles, before they actually got involved. I mean, I love when authors show couples having to work through things even after they get together, but the stakes are often different and better when they work through them as friends. Would that have actually been better in this particular book? I don't know. Lots of things about the latter half would probably need to be restructured for that to work. But like I said, it's just a preference thing. I really liked the union plot, and I kinda wished we'd seen a little more of it, and Mira's struggles. It feels like in the latter half, we concentrated a lot on Isabel's flaws and the personal things she needed to work on. Which were important! But I wanted to see a bit more of Mira, her vulnerabilities and growth. IDK, maybe it's just me; maybe it was evenly distributed. This is the kind of book that it would be so easy to breeze through in a couple sittings, but because of the week I've had, it took me longer. And since I had to start and stop so many times, it might be affecting my perception.
On the whole, I really, really enjoyed this. It was clever, and emotional, and raw, gave me characters that I immediately connected with, all while being really sexy and sweet. These two are made for each other, ugh. They made me so happy! Definitely, definitely recommended, especially if you want to see a butch lesbian getting to be vulnerable, and a trans woman getting to blossom. And also getting the strap. :)
☆ Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
A line of Catullus drifted into her mind, and she smiled to herself— of course a thousand kisses wouldn’t be enough.
August 20, 2025
26/11/2024
If you're looking for sweet and fast paced then you'd definitely enjoy this a lot more than I did. I actually finished it in one sitting but then I had to sit with it for 3 days because I couldn't tell if I actually liked it or not. Now I know I didn't hate it but I didn't exactly love it.
I have a bone to pick about how it was written. The time skips messed with my head a little especially since I'd be halfway through a chapter and then a character would suddenly say something that indicates we'd skipped months ahead... The conversations also felt stiff sometimes and the humor was bad but that's about the worst of it lol.
The characters, I liked them. They felt real in a sense. I love to read books that explore the feeling of grief and how consuming it can be sometimes and I think that's why I enjoyed Isabel's character a lot. I liked Mira because she's the example of soft, quiet strength and I loved how the author approached her healing from an abusive relationship. I think they got together wayyyyy too quickly but it didn't affect my experience much.
I received an e-arc from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I knew I'd enjoy the audiobook once I saw that Natalie Naudus was one of the narrators. It was good, although the volume difference between Natalie and Nicky always threw me out of my immersion whenever they switched.
*thank you to book funnel and the author for the ALC
If you're looking for sweet and fast paced then you'd definitely enjoy this a lot more than I did. I actually finished it in one sitting but then I had to sit with it for 3 days because I couldn't tell if I actually liked it or not. Now I know I didn't hate it but I didn't exactly love it.
I have a bone to pick about how it was written. The time skips messed with my head a little especially since I'd be halfway through a chapter and then a character would suddenly say something that indicates we'd skipped months ahead... The conversations also felt stiff sometimes and the humor was bad but that's about the worst of it lol.
The characters, I liked them. They felt real in a sense. I love to read books that explore the feeling of grief and how consuming it can be sometimes and I think that's why I enjoyed Isabel's character a lot. I liked Mira because she's the example of soft, quiet strength and I loved how the author approached her healing from an abusive relationship. I think they got together wayyyyy too quickly but it didn't affect my experience much.
I received an e-arc from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I knew I'd enjoy the audiobook once I saw that Natalie Naudus was one of the narrators. It was good, although the volume difference between Natalie and Nicky always threw me out of my immersion whenever they switched.
*thank you to book funnel and the author for the ALC
November 30, 2024
3.75 stars
Review to come
Review to come
February 11, 2025
Such a beautiful, emotionally restorative romance about grief and healing, caring and being cared for. Mira and Isabel are really complex and believable protagonists: I LOVED their natural, slow-burn relationship development as well as the focus on labor organizing. The way this book threads together multiple kinds of love - love of community, familial love, and platonic love - makes this story feel so rich and full.
This book is also surprisingly tight and polished for an indie debut!
My only complaint - and I seriously never say this - is I actually think it could have been a bit longer. In the second half it almost feels like the author loses trust in the reader and gets scared she’s losing us, skipping quickly from one plot point to the next with very little time for downtime or subplots in between. I would have enjoyed spending even more time in this book. In particular, all of the secondary characters feel a bit thin and, as I mentioned, there are basically no subplots.
Altogether I really liked this and will definitely be on the lookout for more from Darcy Liao!
This book is also surprisingly tight and polished for an indie debut!
My only complaint - and I seriously never say this - is I actually think it could have been a bit longer. In the second half it almost feels like the author loses trust in the reader and gets scared she’s losing us, skipping quickly from one plot point to the next with very little time for downtime or subplots in between. I would have enjoyed spending even more time in this book. In particular, all of the secondary characters feel a bit thin and, as I mentioned, there are basically no subplots.
Altogether I really liked this and will definitely be on the lookout for more from Darcy Liao!
November 25, 2024
4.5★
butch rep, trans fmc, bi rep, chinese rep, indian and jewish rep, roommate trope, union organizing by grad students with help from seasoned union member electrician, and mc's healing family and ex trauma with open communication 😭
oh and there's a strap 👏🏼
no but really, this was sweet and funny and sexy but also endearing and tender. it feels nice to read some contemp romance that's queer, about grown adults w grown problems, and has a sweet, happy ending.
“Still working overtime. Take a break. You’ve already seduced me.”
butch rep, trans fmc, bi rep, chinese rep, indian and jewish rep, roommate trope, union organizing by grad students with help from seasoned union member electrician, and mc's healing family and ex trauma with open communication 😭
oh and there's a strap 👏🏼
no but really, this was sweet and funny and sexy but also endearing and tender. it feels nice to read some contemp romance that's queer, about grown adults w grown problems, and has a sweet, happy ending.
“Still working overtime. Take a break. You’ve already seduced me.”
November 18, 2024
I'll start with this: I am so SO happy to have characters that are politically engaged in unions and to have the main plot of the book revolving around the union and it being a bonding thing for the main characters. I am tired of romance characters lacking any political conviction and never being involved in any community, social and political events. Now more than ever we need to see this political representation.
Unions in this book, what's the plot? Our main character Mira is a literature PhD student (i used to be and is still a Latin nerd, we love to see it) and is trying to unionise her university with her colleagues. After a recent broken up she's rescued by Isabel, a butch electrician who invites her to be her roommate. As it turns out Isabel herself is an union member and has some experience with it. Now the two must figure out roommate life, advocating for themselves, healing from past trauma and rediscovering themselves.
In a way this book fulfills a lot of things I've wanted to see in a sapphic romance for a long time: a transfem lead, unions and organising, a multicultural relationship, a PhD student (which is now my life, relatable), a butch character that has her identity affirmed but still questions the pressure she puts on herself, a complex storyline about grief and good writing (although it's a debut so while I have a few qualms I have no worries regarding Darcy Liao's upcoming novels).
It is a book that doesn't gloss over the material issues faced by the protagonists due to their marginalised identities and economical situation but it finds the right balance as a romance between the characters' happiness, love and hope and some of the least glamorous parts of the lived reality.
A couple things that I really liked to end this post: Mira as a trans woman knows, connects with and is supported by a network of other trans women (including someone we met in the short story 😃) especially trans women of color and she's a vegetarian which is rare for romance
Unions in this book, what's the plot? Our main character Mira is a literature PhD student (i used to be and is still a Latin nerd, we love to see it) and is trying to unionise her university with her colleagues. After a recent broken up she's rescued by Isabel, a butch electrician who invites her to be her roommate. As it turns out Isabel herself is an union member and has some experience with it. Now the two must figure out roommate life, advocating for themselves, healing from past trauma and rediscovering themselves.
In a way this book fulfills a lot of things I've wanted to see in a sapphic romance for a long time: a transfem lead, unions and organising, a multicultural relationship, a PhD student (which is now my life, relatable), a butch character that has her identity affirmed but still questions the pressure she puts on herself, a complex storyline about grief and good writing (although it's a debut so while I have a few qualms I have no worries regarding Darcy Liao's upcoming novels).
It is a book that doesn't gloss over the material issues faced by the protagonists due to their marginalised identities and economical situation but it finds the right balance as a romance between the characters' happiness, love and hope and some of the least glamorous parts of the lived reality.
A couple things that I really liked to end this post: Mira as a trans woman knows, connects with and is supported by a network of other trans women (including someone we met in the short story 😃) especially trans women of color and she's a vegetarian which is rare for romance
July 29, 2025
Ladies and gentlepeople, I present to you a perfect book. (Edit: skip to the end for audiobook review)
This book was exactly what I needed to read this weekend and I’m so utterly obsessed with it that I might just start reading it again after I post this review. The chemistry, the communication, the growth and healing in this book is immaculate!! We meet both of the main characters in a time of their life where they are hurt and vulnerable and seeing them get back up, due to each others help but also their own personal growth is just *chefs kiss*. Both characters are so well worked out and easy to emphasise with, you can’t help but root for them. Although they are both dealing with their respective issues, they really do their very best to communicate with each other and to provide the other with the love and respect they deserve. It’s honestly so wholesome and it just made me really happy. The plot is strong and interesting (at least to me) and although we mostly focus on the two main characters I enjoyed the entire cast of side characters as well.
Honestly I have no notes- this is exactly the type of book I’m looking for when I want to read an adult sapphic romance and its immediately going on my list of favourites. Isabel (new fictional crush btw) and Mira have my whole heart.
Darcy Liao really did an amazing job with this book and I will definitely be reading more of their work in the future!
ARC review posted 17.11.2024, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have just finished the ALC for this book and Nicky Endres and Natalie Naudus did such a wonderful job!
Darcy Liao really went all out for these castings and although I hadn’t listened to a book read by Nicky Endres before I will be checking out more of their work from now on! She did a great job, good pacing and clear voices for all the different characters and overall created a really enjoyable listening experience. They also narrated “Lucy Undying” & “Transmogrify!” which are both on my imaginary tbr, so I’m looking forward to our next encounter!
Natalie Naudus was already one of my (if not thee) favourite audiobook narrators, so imagine how stoked I was to hear that they would narrate one of my favourite books! Immaculate performance as always, truly a voice I could listen to for days.
Because the book has two different narrators it takes a few chapters to get used to their slightly different talking speeds, but they’re both fairly fast in comparison to some other narrators I’ve listened and really suit each other in that way. I love consistency so I generally prefer one narrator over a larger cast but as I enjoyed both performances a lot and wouldn’t be able to imagine just one of them narrating the whole story I can definitely say this is one of the rare cases where I enjoyed two different narrators :)
Thank you so much to Darcy Liao for proving me with an ARC and now also an ALC, can’t wait to see what’s up next for them!
ALC review posted 29.07.2025, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was exactly what I needed to read this weekend and I’m so utterly obsessed with it that I might just start reading it again after I post this review. The chemistry, the communication, the growth and healing in this book is immaculate!! We meet both of the main characters in a time of their life where they are hurt and vulnerable and seeing them get back up, due to each others help but also their own personal growth is just *chefs kiss*. Both characters are so well worked out and easy to emphasise with, you can’t help but root for them. Although they are both dealing with their respective issues, they really do their very best to communicate with each other and to provide the other with the love and respect they deserve. It’s honestly so wholesome and it just made me really happy. The plot is strong and interesting (at least to me) and although we mostly focus on the two main characters I enjoyed the entire cast of side characters as well.
Honestly I have no notes- this is exactly the type of book I’m looking for when I want to read an adult sapphic romance and its immediately going on my list of favourites. Isabel (new fictional crush btw) and Mira have my whole heart.
Darcy Liao really did an amazing job with this book and I will definitely be reading more of their work in the future!
ARC review posted 17.11.2024, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have just finished the ALC for this book and Nicky Endres and Natalie Naudus did such a wonderful job!
Darcy Liao really went all out for these castings and although I hadn’t listened to a book read by Nicky Endres before I will be checking out more of their work from now on! She did a great job, good pacing and clear voices for all the different characters and overall created a really enjoyable listening experience. They also narrated “Lucy Undying” & “Transmogrify!” which are both on my imaginary tbr, so I’m looking forward to our next encounter!
Natalie Naudus was already one of my (if not thee) favourite audiobook narrators, so imagine how stoked I was to hear that they would narrate one of my favourite books! Immaculate performance as always, truly a voice I could listen to for days.
Because the book has two different narrators it takes a few chapters to get used to their slightly different talking speeds, but they’re both fairly fast in comparison to some other narrators I’ve listened and really suit each other in that way. I love consistency so I generally prefer one narrator over a larger cast but as I enjoyed both performances a lot and wouldn’t be able to imagine just one of them narrating the whole story I can definitely say this is one of the rare cases where I enjoyed two different narrators :)
Thank you so much to Darcy Liao for proving me with an ARC and now also an ALC, can’t wait to see what’s up next for them!
ALC review posted 29.07.2025, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 10, 2024
The love I have for this book!! I was in desperate need of sapphic joy after finishing the Locked Tomb series (live laugh love griddlehark), and this absolutely delivered. It’s heartwarming, cozy, has phenomenal representation, and it’s spicy! Seriously loved this book, please go read it 🥹🫶
- roommates
- butch/femme
- Indian & Chinese American leads
- labor organizing!!
- sapphic awakening
- trans bi heroine
- on kindle unlimited
- roommates
- butch/femme
- Indian & Chinese American leads
- labor organizing!!
- sapphic awakening
- trans bi heroine
- on kindle unlimited
July 29, 2025
your characters so pure and so good at communicating, your love story so healthy, your book can be consumed SO ethically!!! too bad its fucking boring
December 28, 2025
very cute!! i loved the communication and the character development, but the dialogue felt a bit stilted and unrealistic at times
January 9, 2025
4.5ish stars. Ahh, this book was great! Liao did such a great job making the relationship feel *real,* all while keeping things utterly swoon-worthy.
Mira and Isabel were awesome, both separately and together. I adored Mira instantly — you can’t tell me that woman doesn’t deserve alllll the good things in life! I related a lot to Mira’s self-doubt and her journey toward becoming more confident. Isabel was a bit harder for me to like at times, due to her extreme stubbornness and her…views on which types of jobs were deemed worthy of respect (yeah, that kind of hit a personal nerve with me). BUT Isabel’s faulty thought processes are properly challenged eventually, plus she had dealt with a bucketload of family and relationship trauma, so I do understand why she acted the way she did sometimes. Isabel was also so hot and unexpectedly sweet and I LOVED how smitten she was with Mira, oh my god?????? Serious sapphic bliss 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Anyway, I am absolutely looking forward to reading more of Liao’s books!
Mira and Isabel were awesome, both separately and together. I adored Mira instantly — you can’t tell me that woman doesn’t deserve alllll the good things in life! I related a lot to Mira’s self-doubt and her journey toward becoming more confident. Isabel was a bit harder for me to like at times, due to her extreme stubbornness and her…views on which types of jobs were deemed worthy of respect (yeah, that kind of hit a personal nerve with me). BUT Isabel’s faulty thought processes are properly challenged eventually, plus she had dealt with a bucketload of family and relationship trauma, so I do understand why she acted the way she did sometimes. Isabel was also so hot and unexpectedly sweet and I LOVED how smitten she was with Mira, oh my god?????? Serious sapphic bliss 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Anyway, I am absolutely looking forward to reading more of Liao’s books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2025
4.25*
CRYING THIS WAS SO SWEET
CRYING THIS WAS SO SWEET
June 14, 2025
Sapphics with great communication? Literally SAT.
U know this might be the definition of a U-haul sapphic couple 🙂↕️
Now respectfully, where can I find an Isabel? Cause loving and caring self is truly so special.
I think I unlocked a new comfort read of mine 💓
My fav butch & femme couple!!!
U know this might be the definition of a U-haul sapphic couple 🙂↕️
Now respectfully, where can I find an Isabel? Cause loving and caring self is truly so special.
I think I unlocked a new comfort read of mine 💓
My fav butch & femme couple!!!
January 4, 2025
Mira and Isabel are in different situations, but they're both starting over in life. When they meet, Isabel offers Mira a place to live. And slowly but steadily, Isabel finds that Mira makes her appartment feel like a home again.
These women get to know each other very slowly, and it was wonderful to follow the build-up of their connection. So often, characters connect and fall in love super quickly, and I love that it took some time here. I loved seeing their conversations in getting to know each other, and it made the romance all the more believable when it finally did happen.
These women get to know each other very slowly, and it was wonderful to follow the build-up of their connection. So often, characters connect and fall in love super quickly, and I love that it took some time here. I loved seeing their conversations in getting to know each other, and it made the romance all the more believable when it finally did happen.
December 29, 2024
some of the conversations, conflict, and resolutions were a bit meh to me but overall this was very cute, and also, it gets pretty hot.
cw: past sibling death, grief, past abusive relationship
cw: past sibling death, grief, past abusive relationship
Want to read
December 5, 2024Sapphic romance with “my wife energy” is a need
Also I’m so embarrassed that I have barely read any sapphic books this year…especially as a bi women like this is really bad of me 💀
Also I’m so embarrassed that I have barely read any sapphic books this year…especially as a bi women like this is really bad of me 💀
November 18, 2025
It’s a cute and simple book. I listened to it as an audiobook, I feel like this is a rare moment where the book might’ve been better. But the plot is simple and fast paced so it’s a good easy sapphic read.
January 12, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This book In the beginning was extremely slow. I’ve heard of slow burns but this one was so so so slow. I’m glad that the 2nd half of this book was more fast paced which was more enjoyable. This story does hit hard with a lot of important factors and topics. I did love seeing the relationship between Mira and Isabel grow given what the world has delt them
This book In the beginning was extremely slow. I’ve heard of slow burns but this one was so so so slow. I’m glad that the 2nd half of this book was more fast paced which was more enjoyable. This story does hit hard with a lot of important factors and topics. I did love seeing the relationship between Mira and Isabel grow given what the world has delt them
January 6, 2025
Interesting premise, two victims learning to fight and live again. But, surprisingly, found it, the writing, boring and quickly started to skip read. Disappointing as had higher hopes.
August 15, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of
Make Room for Love!
As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily.
3.75 stars rounded up
✨ Sapphic Contemporary Romance
✨ Third Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: trans, butch, lesbian, Chinese American, Indian, bisexual
I recommend if you enjoy…
- slice of life type romances
- diverse main characters
- a not-too-slow slow burn
- romances w/ spice
Content warnings after review.
Initial Thoughts
I had heard a lot of good things about this book, so I was excited to get my hands on an ALC. Natalie Naudus is one of my favorite narrators, so that was an added draw.
Plot
I found the beginning of the book really interesting since it’s a roommates-to-lovers and bi-awakening type of situation. However, once the MCs got together, the plot behind their relationship got a little, well, boring. I didn’t feel super satisfied by the ending, and was left feeling like the second half of the book was fine, just… fine even though the first half was great.
Characters
Lots of great rep in this book with one of the MCs being a Chinese American butch lesbian in a male-dominated field and the other MC being a trans Indian (femme) who doesn’t realize she’s bi. I thought their relationship was really kind. I’m not a huge fan of miscommunication tropes, but I do wish there had been a bit more conflict…
Romance
The romance is sweet, and then very spicy. I really liked how at the beginning there was clear attraction between them, but because of individual reasons it took time for the attraction to come to light. I’m not 100% sure I’d label this one a slow burn. Maybe I’m just used to the slowest of slow burns, but to me it felt like a pretty average pacing.
Narration
I thought the narration was great. Having two different narrators with very different voices, it was easy to tell the MCs voices apart which is always helpful. I ended up listening to this audiobook on 2.2x speed.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook! My biggest complaint was that my interest waned as the book went on. I got more slice-of-life vibes from this book. It felt like a fairly cozy romance. I didn’t feel like the conflict was that high stakes, or perhaps I just didn’t connect to the conflict as much as I should have. Regardless, I still recommend this book and appreciated the rep.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
grief and depression over the past death of a sibling, mentions of a past emotionally abusive romantic relationship, an instance of on-page harassment by the ex, mentions of societal and familial transmisogyny and homophobia, a character breaking a limb, mentions of infidelity by a main character's ex, explicit s*x
3.75 stars rounded up
✨ Sapphic Contemporary Romance
✨ Third Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: trans, butch, lesbian, Chinese American, Indian, bisexual
I recommend if you enjoy…
- slice of life type romances
- diverse main characters
- a not-too-slow slow burn
- romances w/ spice
Content warnings after review.
Initial Thoughts
I had heard a lot of good things about this book, so I was excited to get my hands on an ALC. Natalie Naudus is one of my favorite narrators, so that was an added draw.
Plot
I found the beginning of the book really interesting since it’s a roommates-to-lovers and bi-awakening type of situation. However, once the MCs got together, the plot behind their relationship got a little, well, boring. I didn’t feel super satisfied by the ending, and was left feeling like the second half of the book was fine, just… fine even though the first half was great.
Characters
Lots of great rep in this book with one of the MCs being a Chinese American butch lesbian in a male-dominated field and the other MC being a trans Indian (femme) who doesn’t realize she’s bi. I thought their relationship was really kind. I’m not a huge fan of miscommunication tropes, but I do wish there had been a bit more conflict…
Romance
The romance is sweet, and then very spicy. I really liked how at the beginning there was clear attraction between them, but because of individual reasons it took time for the attraction to come to light. I’m not 100% sure I’d label this one a slow burn. Maybe I’m just used to the slowest of slow burns, but to me it felt like a pretty average pacing.
Narration
I thought the narration was great. Having two different narrators with very different voices, it was easy to tell the MCs voices apart which is always helpful. I ended up listening to this audiobook on 2.2x speed.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook! My biggest complaint was that my interest waned as the book went on. I got more slice-of-life vibes from this book. It felt like a fairly cozy romance. I didn’t feel like the conflict was that high stakes, or perhaps I just didn’t connect to the conflict as much as I should have. Regardless, I still recommend this book and appreciated the rep.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
grief and depression over the past death of a sibling, mentions of a past emotionally abusive romantic relationship, an instance of on-page harassment by the ex, mentions of societal and familial transmisogyny and homophobia, a character breaking a limb, mentions of infidelity by a main character's ex, explicit s*x
January 25, 2025
I enjoyed Make Room for Love very much. It was the first book I read by Darcy Liao and the first novel I read with a trans woman as lead and I adored Mira.
Make Room for Love isn't the typical fluffy rom-com you might expect, both characters are deeply engaged in their work and in the unions, and it was interesting to read about undergrads and their socio-economical situation in the States. Because of this theme (Mira is very much involved in the unions at her university, so the theme is very prominent throughout the whole book), I can see why some readers might think the book becomes too slow at a point, only to pick up many chapters later.
But Make Room for Love is not only about unions, there is a lot of love for classic literature, namely Latin and Greek (I also loved Catullus very much when studying Latin), and there is a lot about grief and family.
My heart went to Isabel and her false believe of always needing to be tough, perfect and always okay to care for the others, never showing any weakness.
I am glad she found her way to be strong in a different way, accepting that being scared doesn't mean being weak.
Mira managed to break down all her walls, and reading how they fell in love, and how Mira discovered she was bi was a treat. Her journey in standing up for herself and believing in her capacities was inspiring.
A plus? There are many steamy scenes in the second part of the novel, and the added bonus epilogue is 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Make Room for Love isn't the typical fluffy rom-com you might expect, both characters are deeply engaged in their work and in the unions, and it was interesting to read about undergrads and their socio-economical situation in the States. Because of this theme (Mira is very much involved in the unions at her university, so the theme is very prominent throughout the whole book), I can see why some readers might think the book becomes too slow at a point, only to pick up many chapters later.
But Make Room for Love is not only about unions, there is a lot of love for classic literature, namely Latin and Greek (I also loved Catullus very much when studying Latin), and there is a lot about grief and family.
My heart went to Isabel and her false believe of always needing to be tough, perfect and always okay to care for the others, never showing any weakness.
I am glad she found her way to be strong in a different way, accepting that being scared doesn't mean being weak.
Mira managed to break down all her walls, and reading how they fell in love, and how Mira discovered she was bi was a treat. Her journey in standing up for herself and believing in her capacities was inspiring.
A plus? There are many steamy scenes in the second part of the novel, and the added bonus epilogue is 🔥🔥🔥🔥
April 24, 2025
It was cute, though not convincing enough, I guess. If it had ended with that painful yearning and a tremendously tragic end, I would’ve given it five stars for sure.
April 16, 2025
when is it my turn to meet a gorgeous butch lesbian who will become my roommate
March 24, 2025
This book was just wonderful. I loved how real the characters were and how they were so involved in unions. The representation was amazing. There was so much more than just a romance in this book. Both characters were healing from trauma and baggage. I loved how well they communicated and worked through everything. Beautiful love story!!
April 9, 2025
Spent my afternoon at a cafe to finish my current read and I just finished it! This beautiful sapphic book is a must read and it will hit you in all your feels.💜 Some moments got really heavy and personal and I loved them!💜
December 3, 2025
dnf'd about 60% of the way through.
was sooo excited for this because i love butches. :/ and trans women. :/ and i want to be a person who enjoys romance books so bad.
unfortunately, i found this SO boring. both characters were extremely dismal - mira especially had the complexity of cardboard. it almost made me miss the Quirk Chungus (tm) energy MCs in hetero romance books have going on.
i also didn't realize this would start off with one of the characters IDing as straight and rebuffing the love interest at first because she only dates men - i have seriously not once yet been able to pick up a wlw romance where the characters either a) don't wrestle with coming out or b) the authors don't use to autofiction spew insecurities about being bisexual across the pages. neither of these are fun or entertaining to read to me.
there is a funny scene where isabel (butch love interest) refers to her and mira (trans woman main character) as "queer women" and mira quickly asserts she's not queer like.... girl. ur trans.
this also had the queer media problem of everything feeling very sanitized - no one ever makes a bad decision or just be a fully rounded out character. even the most inoffensive of feather ruffling has to be talked over with intensely neutral, therapized language for several pages. it kills my vibe!!!! also took until over the halfway point for anything to really happen and the attraction to be brought up..... i'm sure the last half of this has some fun moments but i just lost interest.
i did love the butch chivalry in this tho and i do think mira's awakening being isabel building shelves for her both extremely real and cute lmao
was sooo excited for this because i love butches. :/ and trans women. :/ and i want to be a person who enjoys romance books so bad.
unfortunately, i found this SO boring. both characters were extremely dismal - mira especially had the complexity of cardboard. it almost made me miss the Quirk Chungus (tm) energy MCs in hetero romance books have going on.
i also didn't realize this would start off with one of the characters IDing as straight and rebuffing the love interest at first because she only dates men - i have seriously not once yet been able to pick up a wlw romance where the characters either a) don't wrestle with coming out or b) the authors don't use to autofiction spew insecurities about being bisexual across the pages. neither of these are fun or entertaining to read to me.
there is a funny scene where isabel (butch love interest) refers to her and mira (trans woman main character) as "queer women" and mira quickly asserts she's not queer like.... girl. ur trans.
this also had the queer media problem of everything feeling very sanitized - no one ever makes a bad decision or just be a fully rounded out character. even the most inoffensive of feather ruffling has to be talked over with intensely neutral, therapized language for several pages. it kills my vibe!!!! also took until over the halfway point for anything to really happen and the attraction to be brought up..... i'm sure the last half of this has some fun moments but i just lost interest.
i did love the butch chivalry in this tho and i do think mira's awakening being isabel building shelves for her both extremely real and cute lmao
Want to read
October 28, 2024I do not read contemporary romances at all, straight or queer, but this one definitely has caught my eye. Bi transfem lead!
November 18, 2024
I received an e-arc from the author and am leaving a voluntary review! Thank you so much for a chance to read this book! 🖤
5⭐️ Oh these beautiful characters and their beautiful love story... I'M SO SINGLE! | tropes: roommates to lovers, slow burn, butch/femme | high steam | digital
"They would make mistakes and hurt each other. But they could forgive each other, too, and they could forgive themselves.
characters
🩶 Mira is an underpayed and overworked graduate student who has finally escaped her terrible boyfriend and is trying to rebuild her life. I loved her so much! As someone who is also seen as "over-sensitive" I really relate to her feeling hurt at things that we know aren't meant to be hurtful but hurt anyways.
🩶 Isabel is also healing from a breakup and the death of her sister. Her journey of not feeling good enough and needing to support and be strong for everyone else even when she's falling apart to learning to be vulnerable and feel like she's enough was so important. I loved her so much!
“You know I’m already yours,” Mira said, pressing their foreheads together. Isabel waited for the rest. “And you’re already mine.”
favorite bits
🖤 I loved how real and fleshed out these characters are. A lot of their insecurities and pasts would flair up in conversations with each other but it was easy to understand and empathize with each of them.
🖤 I loved the conversations about unions, union history and why they're so important. I liked how central to the story that was especially in these chaotic times where we need community more than ever.
🖤 The mutual yearning between Isabel and Mira was everything! They both viewed each other so highly but were scared of how big their love was because of the pain it could bring them. I loved how much they tried to support and understand each other even when they were hurt and upset. I'm so glad there wasn't a third act break up!!! They felt like a real couple figuring out their problems and how to heal and do better!
"Imagining herself with a woman, not suffocating in a man-shaped prison but as herself."
final thoughts:
How is this a debut? It was so amazing and I need to read Liao's novella 'Not just best friends" because if this is good, I know that is good too!
Check out my socials
5⭐️ Oh these beautiful characters and their beautiful love story... I'M SO SINGLE! | tropes: roommates to lovers, slow burn, butch/femme | high steam | digital
"They would make mistakes and hurt each other. But they could forgive each other, too, and they could forgive themselves.
characters
🩶 Mira is an underpayed and overworked graduate student who has finally escaped her terrible boyfriend and is trying to rebuild her life. I loved her so much! As someone who is also seen as "over-sensitive" I really relate to her feeling hurt at things that we know aren't meant to be hurtful but hurt anyways.
🩶 Isabel is also healing from a breakup and the death of her sister. Her journey of not feeling good enough and needing to support and be strong for everyone else even when she's falling apart to learning to be vulnerable and feel like she's enough was so important. I loved her so much!
“You know I’m already yours,” Mira said, pressing their foreheads together. Isabel waited for the rest. “And you’re already mine.”
favorite bits
🖤 I loved how real and fleshed out these characters are. A lot of their insecurities and pasts would flair up in conversations with each other but it was easy to understand and empathize with each of them.
🖤 I loved the conversations about unions, union history and why they're so important. I liked how central to the story that was especially in these chaotic times where we need community more than ever.
🖤 The mutual yearning between Isabel and Mira was everything! They both viewed each other so highly but were scared of how big their love was because of the pain it could bring them. I loved how much they tried to support and understand each other even when they were hurt and upset. I'm so glad there wasn't a third act break up!!! They felt like a real couple figuring out their problems and how to heal and do better!
"Imagining herself with a woman, not suffocating in a man-shaped prison but as herself."
final thoughts:
How is this a debut? It was so amazing and I need to read Liao's novella 'Not just best friends" because if this is good, I know that is good too!
Check out my socials
November 20, 2024
This romance was so GOOD!!! Both in the exploration of the romance and other dynamics, but also how it writes both main characters individually!!
The dynamic and relationship between both Isabel and Mira was excellent, I really like how they communicate and talk about things, this is the best thing about the book, it's how honest they are with each other, and how they talk about their personal issues!!! And it makes the problems and challenges to the relationship way more relatable!!! I really like how the romance also deals with first building a friendship as roommates, and learning to open up and trust one another, and these interactions lead again to their own insecurities!!!
Besides the romance, I really enjoyed both the plot and the other relationships!!! Isabel's grief over the loss of her sister and also how this affected with the other surviving sister is painful to read, because you want to mend things but you can see how they're hurting, and the book does a good way of showing of it has shaped her and changed the perspective of things... and I'm glad the book gives time to this relationship and pain, and does not rush it...
Then on Mira's side, before I get to the plot part, I just want to say that I appreciate, while her break up was a bad one, it never went into transphobia from her ex-boyfriend, which I was definitely fearing... Back to plot, I LOVE the fighting for a union for PhD students, the importance of having that established support, and how they all worked for each other and for the future of the other students, and the tension with this fight is really well done!! More on the emotional side, I also feel Mira's bi awakening was so realistic, and it's the way she didn't want to question more things before, that being trans was one thing, but she never thought of it more - it feels realistic how figuring out your identity it doesn't have to be all at once, it's valid to learn things later and figure it out!!!
This is just a fun and sweet romance, with a great, healthy and relatable main couple!!! I really want to check out more from this author!!!
I received a free copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review :)
The dynamic and relationship between both Isabel and Mira was excellent, I really like how they communicate and talk about things, this is the best thing about the book, it's how honest they are with each other, and how they talk about their personal issues!!! And it makes the problems and challenges to the relationship way more relatable!!! I really like how the romance also deals with first building a friendship as roommates, and learning to open up and trust one another, and these interactions lead again to their own insecurities!!!
Besides the romance, I really enjoyed both the plot and the other relationships!!! Isabel's grief over the loss of her sister and also how this affected with the other surviving sister is painful to read, because you want to mend things but you can see how they're hurting, and the book does a good way of showing of it has shaped her and changed the perspective of things... and I'm glad the book gives time to this relationship and pain, and does not rush it...
Then on Mira's side, before I get to the plot part, I just want to say that I appreciate, while her break up was a bad one, it never went into transphobia from her ex-boyfriend, which I was definitely fearing... Back to plot, I LOVE the fighting for a union for PhD students, the importance of having that established support, and how they all worked for each other and for the future of the other students, and the tension with this fight is really well done!! More on the emotional side, I also feel Mira's bi awakening was so realistic, and it's the way she didn't want to question more things before, that being trans was one thing, but she never thought of it more - it feels realistic how figuring out your identity it doesn't have to be all at once, it's valid to learn things later and figure it out!!!
This is just a fun and sweet romance, with a great, healthy and relatable main couple!!! I really want to check out more from this author!!!
I received a free copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review :)
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