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The Imperial Broadcasts #1
Love Galaxy
A romantic science fiction thriller in which a young woman from a dead-end planet gets cast on a reality TV show to compete for the hand of the prince—or princess. But not everyone is there for the right reasons…
Smart, sexy, compulsively readable and fun, this is for fans of Everina Maxwell's Winter's Orbit and Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire
Temmi, a young trash collector stuck in a dead-end job on a garbage planet, finds herself with a golden ticket she never expected: an opportunity to compete in an intergalactic dating show starring the brother and sister heirs to the galactic empire. Twenty-four women will compete on a televised program to marry the prince and princess—and future emperors—and to win the dynasty’s favor for their home planet.
Temmi may have been hand-picked to date the quiet, bookish prince, who is immediately taken by her brash personality and their shared passion for the sciences. But she can’t seem to keep away from the princess—and even though it couldn’t be a worse idea, their chemistry is undeniable.
But when contestants start turning up dead, and conspiracies begin to swirl around anti-imperial motivations of several contestants, Temmi among them, so much more than feelings are at stake.
In fact, very few of the participants of Love Galaxy have come on the show to find love. Sexy, snarky, and revolutionary, this fast-paced thrill ride will hook lovers of reality TV, fans of thoughtful sci-fi, and anyone who lives for drama.
Smart, sexy, compulsively readable and fun, this is for fans of Everina Maxwell's Winter's Orbit and Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire
Temmi, a young trash collector stuck in a dead-end job on a garbage planet, finds herself with a golden ticket she never expected: an opportunity to compete in an intergalactic dating show starring the brother and sister heirs to the galactic empire. Twenty-four women will compete on a televised program to marry the prince and princess—and future emperors—and to win the dynasty’s favor for their home planet.
Temmi may have been hand-picked to date the quiet, bookish prince, who is immediately taken by her brash personality and their shared passion for the sciences. But she can’t seem to keep away from the princess—and even though it couldn’t be a worse idea, their chemistry is undeniable.
But when contestants start turning up dead, and conspiracies begin to swirl around anti-imperial motivations of several contestants, Temmi among them, so much more than feelings are at stake.
In fact, very few of the participants of Love Galaxy have come on the show to find love. Sexy, snarky, and revolutionary, this fast-paced thrill ride will hook lovers of reality TV, fans of thoughtful sci-fi, and anyone who lives for drama.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2026
About the author
Sierra Branham
3 books51 followersSierra Branham grew up around the mountains of Alaska but now calls the mountains of Utah home. She holds a license in clinical social work and could probably talk your ear off about therapeutic modalities. Her short fiction has been published in venues such as Apex Magazine and Small Wonders. When not spinning words into stories, she can be found hiking with her goats, skiing, or juggling kitchen knives. Love Galaxy is her debut novel. Sign up for her newsletter at www.sierrabranham.com or perceive her on Instagram at @authorsierrabranham.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
September 29, 2025
I had to pull myself together to write up this review because I think this one’s going to stick with me for a while.
Every time you thought you knew what was going to happen next was spun in a way you would have never guessed, there’s wasn’t a second I was bored and I was incredibly wrong with my guesses every time.
All of the characters were wrote brilliantly, and I became attached to Temmi and Spie to the point where I was nervous for them and the next chapters.
What the two had most in common was wanting to take care of their brothers, and it really made the connections in the book that much stronger.
Without giving too much away, I was getting a lot of Hunger Game vibes throughout when it came to the set up and purpose of the show, and it was quite an interesting twist that I enjoyed and have never experienced within a book before.
The politics within the story definitely can relate to some of the things in current society, and the way corruption can be deep within the system.
I seriously didn’t want this to end, and I hope that this isn’t the end because I desperately need more of Temmi and Spie.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy and to the author Sierra Branham, I kind of want to cuss you out and thank you at the same time for this book that has a death grip on my heart.
Every time you thought you knew what was going to happen next was spun in a way you would have never guessed, there’s wasn’t a second I was bored and I was incredibly wrong with my guesses every time.
All of the characters were wrote brilliantly, and I became attached to Temmi and Spie to the point where I was nervous for them and the next chapters.
What the two had most in common was wanting to take care of their brothers, and it really made the connections in the book that much stronger.
Without giving too much away, I was getting a lot of Hunger Game vibes throughout when it came to the set up and purpose of the show, and it was quite an interesting twist that I enjoyed and have never experienced within a book before.
The politics within the story definitely can relate to some of the things in current society, and the way corruption can be deep within the system.
I seriously didn’t want this to end, and I hope that this isn’t the end because I desperately need more of Temmi and Spie.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy and to the author Sierra Branham, I kind of want to cuss you out and thank you at the same time for this book that has a death grip on my heart.
April 22, 2026
sapphic x bachelor in space x murder mystery🪐
with all those elements i included above, it would’ve been pretty hard to get me to not like this book or be entertained by it. in fact, i loved the princess (Spie) almost immediately. the idea of this intergalactic romance show, where 24 women are all competing to marry either the princess or the prince was a fun one.
“For years, she’d been labeled the rebellious daughter. It was time Spie truly lived up to the name.”
Nix, the prince is the more subdued and introverted sibling, while Spie is promiscuous and out spoken. the main character Temmi is dragged into becoming a contestant bc Spie offers her money that she needs for her family, and in return Temmi will be one of Nix’s prospects since he’s shown an interest in her specifically. of course once the contestants start dying, Temmi is beside herself and unsure who to trust.
“She kissed her anyway. A communion of bodies form different solar systems, universes apart, trying to find something unattainable in each other.”
i think the whole “forbidden” aspect to Temmi & Spie’s interactions added to the excitement of it all. it was very clear from the start that they had romantic chemistry, which wasn’t entirely present between Temmi & Nix. the reveal of who was behind the murders didn’t surprise me, but the nature of why they were happening did. i think the direction this book headed towards the end set up the future of the series so well.
↠ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and DAW for the arc, all opinions are my own.
with all those elements i included above, it would’ve been pretty hard to get me to not like this book or be entertained by it. in fact, i loved the princess (Spie) almost immediately. the idea of this intergalactic romance show, where 24 women are all competing to marry either the princess or the prince was a fun one.
“For years, she’d been labeled the rebellious daughter. It was time Spie truly lived up to the name.”
Nix, the prince is the more subdued and introverted sibling, while Spie is promiscuous and out spoken. the main character Temmi is dragged into becoming a contestant bc Spie offers her money that she needs for her family, and in return Temmi will be one of Nix’s prospects since he’s shown an interest in her specifically. of course once the contestants start dying, Temmi is beside herself and unsure who to trust.
“She kissed her anyway. A communion of bodies form different solar systems, universes apart, trying to find something unattainable in each other.”
i think the whole “forbidden” aspect to Temmi & Spie’s interactions added to the excitement of it all. it was very clear from the start that they had romantic chemistry, which wasn’t entirely present between Temmi & Nix. the reveal of who was behind the murders didn’t surprise me, but the nature of why they were happening did. i think the direction this book headed towards the end set up the future of the series so well.
↠ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and DAW for the arc, all opinions are my own.
April 20, 2026
I had an excellent time reading this book, a scifi mashup of The Bachelor and The Hunger Games. In a galaxy of planets divided up into Haves and Have Nots, tv shows give everyone a stake in a bit of distraction. A yearly series entitled the Love Galaxy gives chosen commoners from every planet a chance to compete to marry a wealthy heir for their individual benefit and also to help their planet. This year, the contenders are going to battle in cheesy, glam games to win the hand of one of the Royal twins. But then, people start dying and chaos ensues.
I’m a sucker for great characters and this book has plenty of them. Artemis “Temmi” Ialan is a garbage collector on a mining planet so toxic, wildlife is extinct and most people become sick and die by middle age. Temmi’s aim is to find a way out for herself, her disabled brother, and her very ill mother. Her one ace card is that she is a working class genius like Will from Good Will Hunting. But everywhere she turns, people are exploiting her. She decides to take a risk and accept the insanely out of the blue invitation for the Love Galaxy.
I could go on and on about Temmi because she is authentic. Her naivety and desperation coupled with her natural brilliance makes for a potent main character. She is also open hearted and wants to believe in people in spite of how she’s been treated in the past. Prince Nix and Princess Spie are also strong characters, a mix of arrogance and duty. Spie is gorgeous, Queer, and completely centered on herself, the perfect foil to Temmi. The actual Bachelor type stuff is hilarious, fish out of water scenarios for a foul mouthed, charismatic young woman from a poor X’er planet but viewers eat it up. The book is chock full of political intrigue because nothing is what it seems. I love the twists and turns. There is scifi gadgetry but not hardcore so I think everyone can enjoy this book. Some questions are answered but each chapter grows the story so there is a lot of world in this series to be explored in future books. Finally, the romance chemistry is hot and building nicely with plenty of angst. I certainly hope Book 2 is coming out soon.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
I’m a sucker for great characters and this book has plenty of them. Artemis “Temmi” Ialan is a garbage collector on a mining planet so toxic, wildlife is extinct and most people become sick and die by middle age. Temmi’s aim is to find a way out for herself, her disabled brother, and her very ill mother. Her one ace card is that she is a working class genius like Will from Good Will Hunting. But everywhere she turns, people are exploiting her. She decides to take a risk and accept the insanely out of the blue invitation for the Love Galaxy.
I could go on and on about Temmi because she is authentic. Her naivety and desperation coupled with her natural brilliance makes for a potent main character. She is also open hearted and wants to believe in people in spite of how she’s been treated in the past. Prince Nix and Princess Spie are also strong characters, a mix of arrogance and duty. Spie is gorgeous, Queer, and completely centered on herself, the perfect foil to Temmi. The actual Bachelor type stuff is hilarious, fish out of water scenarios for a foul mouthed, charismatic young woman from a poor X’er planet but viewers eat it up. The book is chock full of political intrigue because nothing is what it seems. I love the twists and turns. There is scifi gadgetry but not hardcore so I think everyone can enjoy this book. Some questions are answered but each chapter grows the story so there is a lot of world in this series to be explored in future books. Finally, the romance chemistry is hot and building nicely with plenty of angst. I certainly hope Book 2 is coming out soon.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
April 15, 2026
Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham
Book Blurb: A romantic science fiction thriller in which a young woman from a dead-end planet gets cast on a reality TV show to compete for the hand of the prince—or princess. But not everyone is there for the right reasons…
Rating: ****
Feels: Amusement, Excitement, Mystery, Entertained
Style: Romance, Science Fiction, LGBT, Fiction
First published April 21, 2026: 416pages
Take a struggling trash collector gal and put her on a game show in space, reminiscent of the bachelor/ the selection and you have this fun tongue in cheek read which turns surprisingly endearing and bold at the end. Temmi is our trash collector, and yes that is a term of endearment !! She is dragged onto the game show and I do love the whole set up as well as the side characters. Temmi is such a strong solid type !!! My favorite kinda FMC. As is expected not all is what it seems on this game show and I totally enjoyed this ride !!!
This book has:
Royal Romance
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Love
Murder Mystery
Opposites Attract
Queer normative
Political Intrigue
Book Blurb: A romantic science fiction thriller in which a young woman from a dead-end planet gets cast on a reality TV show to compete for the hand of the prince—or princess. But not everyone is there for the right reasons…
Rating: ****
Feels: Amusement, Excitement, Mystery, Entertained
Style: Romance, Science Fiction, LGBT, Fiction
First published April 21, 2026: 416pages
Take a struggling trash collector gal and put her on a game show in space, reminiscent of the bachelor/ the selection and you have this fun tongue in cheek read which turns surprisingly endearing and bold at the end. Temmi is our trash collector, and yes that is a term of endearment !! She is dragged onto the game show and I do love the whole set up as well as the side characters. Temmi is such a strong solid type !!! My favorite kinda FMC. As is expected not all is what it seems on this game show and I totally enjoyed this ride !!!
This book has:
Royal Romance
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Love
Murder Mystery
Opposites Attract
Queer normative
Political Intrigue
April 10, 2026
4.5*
think the bachelor, but in space, but also gay, oh and also contestants dying mysteriously 👀
add this to your tbrs everyone
think the bachelor, but in space, but also gay, oh and also contestants dying mysteriously 👀
add this to your tbrs everyone
February 14, 2026
Half-way through the synopsis, Love Galaxy already sounds like a fun read: an underdog MC, a dating show in space, a crush on the wrong person. Easy, fun.
And it is definitely a fun read, but it delivers so much more.
First of all, the most important thing to mention for someone like me for whom character is king: it features a cast of excellent characters, that grab your attention and make you want to keep reading about them incessantly. Seriously, the moment I met them the book was impossible to put down, period. Especially Temmy: intelligent, outspoken, with an interesting and somewhat tragic backstory and an incorrigible potty mouth, she just jumps off of the page and grabs you by the collar and demands your attention. Spie, Nicky, and everyone else complement her so well, and the story just flows, with you happily along for the ride.
Another remarkable aspect of the book is that the world and its political and cultural background come together really smoothly, without any instance of info-dumping; it takes shape gradually, solidifying the characters more and more and giving more dimension and more context to their dynamics, which are key to the story.
The book manages to be funny, clever, and poignant in turns, seamlessly blending subtle social commentary with a romance and a murder mystery — and somehow we as readers find ourselves absolutely swept up and committed to it all. I felt every turn, every reveal, every decision and sharp response so keenly, I truly felt like I was a participant, more than a spectator.
One thing I should mention is that I was not aware that this was the first in a series when I requested it, and when I realized that was the case, about 3/4 in, I was a bit disappointed that the story wouldn’t be completed in this book; but having now read the ending I can honestly say that I really want to hear more about this world and these characters, and I can’t wait to see how the story continues!
I only have a few minor qualms so this for me is fully deserving of 4 1/2 STARS and I already have a few friends in mind that I’m going to recommend this to.
Notes:
Representation:
- queer-normative world
- neurodivergence
Potential triggers:
- poverty and threat of homelessness
- parental abandonment
- chronic and terminal illness
- loss of limb (past event)
- death
- imprisonment
- police brutality
I was granted access to an e-ARC of this book by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
And it is definitely a fun read, but it delivers so much more.
First of all, the most important thing to mention for someone like me for whom character is king: it features a cast of excellent characters, that grab your attention and make you want to keep reading about them incessantly. Seriously, the moment I met them the book was impossible to put down, period. Especially Temmy: intelligent, outspoken, with an interesting and somewhat tragic backstory and an incorrigible potty mouth, she just jumps off of the page and grabs you by the collar and demands your attention. Spie, Nicky, and everyone else complement her so well, and the story just flows, with you happily along for the ride.
Another remarkable aspect of the book is that the world and its political and cultural background come together really smoothly, without any instance of info-dumping; it takes shape gradually, solidifying the characters more and more and giving more dimension and more context to their dynamics, which are key to the story.
The book manages to be funny, clever, and poignant in turns, seamlessly blending subtle social commentary with a romance and a murder mystery — and somehow we as readers find ourselves absolutely swept up and committed to it all. I felt every turn, every reveal, every decision and sharp response so keenly, I truly felt like I was a participant, more than a spectator.
One thing I should mention is that I was not aware that this was the first in a series when I requested it, and when I realized that was the case, about 3/4 in, I was a bit disappointed that the story wouldn’t be completed in this book; but having now read the ending I can honestly say that I really want to hear more about this world and these characters, and I can’t wait to see how the story continues!
I only have a few minor qualms so this for me is fully deserving of 4 1/2 STARS and I already have a few friends in mind that I’m going to recommend this to.
Notes:
Representation:
- queer-normative world
- neurodivergence
Potential triggers:
- poverty and threat of homelessness
- parental abandonment
- chronic and terminal illness
- loss of limb (past event)
- death
- imprisonment
- police brutality
I was granted access to an e-ARC of this book by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Want to Read
December 11, 2025gay bachelor in space? for fans of everina maxwell and arkady martine?? say less omg
May 5, 2026
4.25 ⭐️ Who knew that a scifi/romance/thriller such as this had such heart?! A seemingly fun and flirtatious story centered around a dating show called Love Galaxy in which the heirs to an empire (brother and sister) date a group of women. Our protagonist Temmi is a strange pick for this dating show, a lowly trash collector from a backwater planet that’s slowly dying (ppl included) of noxious air - a byproduct of mining a precious resource on X72. As the show progresses, a murder mystery ensues, adding chaos into the mix. I was surprised by how much depth this had!! Sierra Branham handles some heavy topics beautifully in this one. Oh, and it’s sapphic (space is gay btw) ✨ the ending had me yearning for more. This is the perfect book for someone who likes romance and wants to try scifi or someone who likes scifi and wants to try a romance. Inspirations I noticed and enjoyed: The Bachelor, The Hunger Games.
Thank you DAW for this advanced reader copy 🖤
Thank you DAW for this advanced reader copy 🖤
October 31, 2025
A sci-fi murder mystery taking place on a reality dating show where contestants are completing to win the hand of the prince or a princess of the galaxy to win favor for their home planet, is a book plot I never thought would I would ever say lol. It’s a big mishmash of a bunch of genres, tied together in a sci-fi genre. It’s very sci-fi Hunger Games meets The Selection.
Temmi lives on planet X72, called the “trash bin” of the Expan Empire. Life is tough and each year, the empire distracts people from the reality of their shitty lives by doing Love Galaxy, a glorified dating show. And of hundreds of eligible territories, somehow, planet X72 was chosen by lottery to be the one to send a contestant this year. On top of that, this year’s season happens to be a once in a generation year, where rather than some lesser royal, the twin imperial heirs are the ones up for grabs. Both will be dating the same pool of women at the same time, which I can see the sibling rivalry drama already.
The highest point of this book is the worldbuilding. It’s exceptionally visual, starting on a trash planet with dense gray fog covering crumbling buildings as toxins are shot into the air. Nearly everyone on planet X72 eventually dies of some sort of pulmonary disease and the planet no longer has wildlife. This is all due to the greed of Expan Empire who discovered the planet was rich in a toxic rock called orrist basalt that could be purified to protect ships. So of course, the reason why the planet is the way that it is and why so many are dying from orrist basalt poisoning is due to capitalist greed in order to mine this toxic rock. Reality is bleak on this planet, and it’s kind of giving district 12, sci-fi edition.
The biggest drawback is, this book just doesn’t have the readability factor. With a concept like that, I thought this would be a tense, unputdownable murder mystery. Instead, I was bored for most of it and it took me forever to finish, because I just didn’t want to pick it back up. I’ve read murder mysteries executed far better than this. It just wasn’t interesting or readable enough for me to want to pick it back up. An author who does this well is Frieda McFadden and I think that’s why she’s so popular. I don’t know how she does it but her books, even the not as great ones, are always compulsively readable. Every single one. I don’t even know what about them makes it that way, but they always are quick and easy reads. This book just didn’t have that. The reading process was not enjoyable and I kind of just wanted to finish it already.
3/5 because the worldbuilding was fantastic. The writing was great. But it was just not engaging enough, nor entertaining enough for me to say I enjoyed reading it until I got to the last 80%.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Temmi lives on planet X72, called the “trash bin” of the Expan Empire. Life is tough and each year, the empire distracts people from the reality of their shitty lives by doing Love Galaxy, a glorified dating show. And of hundreds of eligible territories, somehow, planet X72 was chosen by lottery to be the one to send a contestant this year. On top of that, this year’s season happens to be a once in a generation year, where rather than some lesser royal, the twin imperial heirs are the ones up for grabs. Both will be dating the same pool of women at the same time, which I can see the sibling rivalry drama already.
The highest point of this book is the worldbuilding. It’s exceptionally visual, starting on a trash planet with dense gray fog covering crumbling buildings as toxins are shot into the air. Nearly everyone on planet X72 eventually dies of some sort of pulmonary disease and the planet no longer has wildlife. This is all due to the greed of Expan Empire who discovered the planet was rich in a toxic rock called orrist basalt that could be purified to protect ships. So of course, the reason why the planet is the way that it is and why so many are dying from orrist basalt poisoning is due to capitalist greed in order to mine this toxic rock. Reality is bleak on this planet, and it’s kind of giving district 12, sci-fi edition.
The biggest drawback is, this book just doesn’t have the readability factor. With a concept like that, I thought this would be a tense, unputdownable murder mystery. Instead, I was bored for most of it and it took me forever to finish, because I just didn’t want to pick it back up. I’ve read murder mysteries executed far better than this. It just wasn’t interesting or readable enough for me to want to pick it back up. An author who does this well is Frieda McFadden and I think that’s why she’s so popular. I don’t know how she does it but her books, even the not as great ones, are always compulsively readable. Every single one. I don’t even know what about them makes it that way, but they always are quick and easy reads. This book just didn’t have that. The reading process was not enjoyable and I kind of just wanted to finish it already.
3/5 because the worldbuilding was fantastic. The writing was great. But it was just not engaging enough, nor entertaining enough for me to say I enjoyed reading it until I got to the last 80%.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
August 12, 2025
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of Love Galaxy and it was everything I’ve ever wanted and more. It was beautifully written, it had so much intrigue, and top notch world-building, I couldn’t set it down. The two main characters Temmi and Spie were absolutely the best. Their chemistry, their banter, they had me rooting for them from the moment they met. But the main characters weren’t the only ones I loved. Branham creates characters that feel real, nuanced, and makes you care for each and every one of them. But that’s not all, Branham’s storyline was SO good. A sci-fi murder mystery on a dating show? Yes please. Branham is a masterful storyteller, from her perfect pacing to plot twists you never saw coming, I was glued to the pages. I could go on and on about how much I love this book but suffice it to say, Love Galaxy is amazing and you should be racing to order your copy. It’s an absolute must read.
August 12, 2025
I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of this and when I say the plot twists in it were jaw dropping - I mean set it down and stare into the abyss jaw dropping. SUCH a fun premise & romance, overall a wonderful wonderful read!
November 19, 2025
I like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing me this interesting book.
I like how this book combines sci-fi / fantasy / romance / murder mystery, and sets up for a sequel (conclusion or part two in a series).
You have our brash, trash picker Artemis who lives in the slums of a planet not known for being high on the desirable list. Her brother is handicapped, her mother requires new lungs, and she is just scrimping by on her job. Her previous and only boyfriend stole her invention and now has access to a university path that should have been hers. Lets say she is not ever having a good day.
Our prince and princess are twins, and their mother is the ruler of the galaxy. Because the sister is a rebel (and eldest), she has been demoted from taking the mother's place when she retires. So, they are put in tv-show bachelor game. 24 contestants, two winners, all female. It's Artemis' planet that is last. However, Artemis gets into a thrown down with the princess and out of spite (and because her brother develops feelings) she enlists Artemis into the dating game.
For a while, the book was following the path of a simple dating game, until the murders start happening. Artemis isn't dumb, she sees this going on and wants to do something - alert people. Yet it is hard when you're labeled as a trouble maker and the least liked.
At first I wanted Artemis with the prince, but as the story progressed I wanted her with the princess. The last 20% of the book threw me for a loop because that's when the story absolutely deviated from the dating game and I had no idea where the story was headed and how it ends. The book does set up part two and the paths all three of the characters are on. We also meet some new characters who may be friends or foe.
All in all, a creative debut that totally kicks the rug out from under you and makes you excited to see where it heads next.
I like how this book combines sci-fi / fantasy / romance / murder mystery, and sets up for a sequel (conclusion or part two in a series).
You have our brash, trash picker Artemis who lives in the slums of a planet not known for being high on the desirable list. Her brother is handicapped, her mother requires new lungs, and she is just scrimping by on her job. Her previous and only boyfriend stole her invention and now has access to a university path that should have been hers. Lets say she is not ever having a good day.
Our prince and princess are twins, and their mother is the ruler of the galaxy. Because the sister is a rebel (and eldest), she has been demoted from taking the mother's place when she retires. So, they are put in tv-show bachelor game. 24 contestants, two winners, all female. It's Artemis' planet that is last. However, Artemis gets into a thrown down with the princess and out of spite (and because her brother develops feelings) she enlists Artemis into the dating game.
For a while, the book was following the path of a simple dating game, until the murders start happening. Artemis isn't dumb, she sees this going on and wants to do something - alert people. Yet it is hard when you're labeled as a trouble maker and the least liked.
At first I wanted Artemis with the prince, but as the story progressed I wanted her with the princess. The last 20% of the book threw me for a loop because that's when the story absolutely deviated from the dating game and I had no idea where the story was headed and how it ends. The book does set up part two and the paths all three of the characters are on. We also meet some new characters who may be friends or foe.
All in all, a creative debut that totally kicks the rug out from under you and makes you excited to see where it heads next.
April 29, 2026
I wasn't sure how I felt about Love Galaxy initially. And then (fairly early on, in fact), I found myself just fully into it, could not put it down. I am not even sure at what point, I was just reading along, and lost track of time. Which, as my fellow readers likely know, is a great sign about any book! Obviously "intergalactic dating show with a side of murder" is a very cool premise to any story, but it was the characters that really made me fall in love.
Temmi is feisty and the underdog you cannot help but root for, and Prince Nix and Princess Spie work in perfect contrast to each other. I also loved the pool of contestants- some we get to know more than others, but they're all enjoyable (even the ones you end up loving to hate!) and it makes the story that much more fun. The book has all the dramatic hallmarks of an Earthbound dating show, with the added fun of intergalactic travel and a murder mystery! There's also a lot of political shenanigans happening behind the scenes that Temmi isn't exactly used to, and it makes it very hard for her to tell who to trust. Honestly, I could not put the book down, and I absolutely need the sequel.
Bottom Line: Another five star read, another book I had to pre-order. Not sorry.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
April 20, 2026
Love Galaxy was my first sapphic romance, and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected.
While I’m normally not a fan of love triangles, I really liked the dynamic between the characters. The relationships and interactions felt natural, and I was emotionally attached to all of them.
I also really enjoyed the writing style. We get both Temmi and Spie’s POV which were distinctly written so that I could hear the characters voices in my head.
My main issue was with the murder mystery element. It clearly had a purpose in the story, but I wish it had been more present. I found myself forgetting about it at times because of that. Given Temmi’s personality, particularly how stubborn and strong-willed she is, I expected her to care more about it. I wanted more of her inner turmoil dealing with her emotions about wanting to uncover the mystery vs protecting herself and her family.
That said, I still had a really great time reading this. It was super engaging and the MCs really carried the story well. Also the ending genuinely caught me off guard and I immediately texted my friend who read it before me like WAIT WHAT?!
I would absolutely read a sequel because I need to know what happens next.
Overall I give this book 4.75 stars. It has me wanting to read more sapphic romances for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and Daw for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
While I’m normally not a fan of love triangles, I really liked the dynamic between the characters. The relationships and interactions felt natural, and I was emotionally attached to all of them.
I also really enjoyed the writing style. We get both Temmi and Spie’s POV which were distinctly written so that I could hear the characters voices in my head.
My main issue was with the murder mystery element. It clearly had a purpose in the story, but I wish it had been more present. I found myself forgetting about it at times because of that. Given Temmi’s personality, particularly how stubborn and strong-willed she is, I expected her to care more about it. I wanted more of her inner turmoil dealing with her emotions about wanting to uncover the mystery vs protecting herself and her family.
That said, I still had a really great time reading this. It was super engaging and the MCs really carried the story well. Also the ending genuinely caught me off guard and I immediately texted my friend who read it before me like WAIT WHAT?!
I would absolutely read a sequel because I need to know what happens next.
Overall I give this book 4.75 stars. It has me wanting to read more sapphic romances for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and Daw for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 7, 2026
3.5⭐️
🌌🪐 Set in outer space, which is my current personality, the set up is a reality dating show competition with royal twins 👯♂️
A love triangle emerges between underdog contestant Temmi (Artemis), who goes on to pursue the brother but ends up catching feelings for the bratty sister.
There is also an interplanetary conflict with an alien race in the background, a potential uprising from oppressed outer rim planets, and then contestants start going down like flies (unalived during the filming).
💖 I would recommend this to romance readers who want to dip a toe into science fiction. I felt this leaned mostly YA romance (spice level 🫑), with a fun murder mystery subplot.
The parts more core to scifi: the ruling empire, revolution, politics, etc got less depth. I do think this is because the book was trying to tackle so many genres in one.
The ending was completely a cliffhanger. I didn’t realize this was a series until that ending! I am curious to see where this will go next.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYCecBDlpkI/
May 13, 2026
Absolutely one of my most surprising reads so far this year:
I couldn’t quit it! You have to be down for some kitsch and drama but also it pulled at my heartstrings and I loved how unique the premise and trajectory was. I was beyond thrilled to find out at 95% that there will be a book 2 - I’ll arc read for ya, Sienna ✨✨
🪐 interstellar setting
🤭 yearning
📺 matchmaker reality tv show
👀 super bingeable
🔎 mystery to work out
⚔️ political intrigue
💥 revelations I didn’t see coming
Somewhere 4-5 stars for me!
I couldn’t quit it! You have to be down for some kitsch and drama but also it pulled at my heartstrings and I loved how unique the premise and trajectory was. I was beyond thrilled to find out at 95% that there will be a book 2 - I’ll arc read for ya, Sienna ✨✨
🪐 interstellar setting
🤭 yearning
📺 matchmaker reality tv show
👀 super bingeable
🔎 mystery to work out
⚔️ political intrigue
💥 revelations I didn’t see coming
Somewhere 4-5 stars for me!
February 1, 2026
This book wrecked me. I spent the last 15% of it bawling my eyes out. I went into this expecting a fun sapphic sci-fi adventure, not a story that would rip my heart out and stomp on it. Repeatedly. 6 out of 5 stars. Best book I’ve ever read.
This is 'The Selection' but sapphic and good, and also the politics and societal dynamics weren't an afterthought but are an integral and well done part of the story. I don't know how or why but obviously it hit me like a ton of bricks. Like it actually hurt to read because I loved Temmi and Spie so much and past a certain point I knew this wasn't gonna have a 'happy' end and it fcking hurt. I don't know why my brain is like this.
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Many, many thanks to DAW for the ARC!!
This is 'The Selection' but sapphic and good, and also the politics and societal dynamics weren't an afterthought but are an integral and well done part of the story. I don't know how or why but obviously it hit me like a ton of bricks. Like it actually hurt to read because I loved Temmi and Spie so much and past a certain point I knew this wasn't gonna have a 'happy' end and it fcking hurt. I don't know why my brain is like this.
----
Many, many thanks to DAW for the ARC!!
April 26, 2026
(rounded down from 3.25)
I expected this to be better than it was. A fun idea, but I think it suffers from trying to do too much and resulting in a bit of a mishmash of cool ideas.
This book is trying to cram both a romance (dating show, hot twins, attraction to the wrong one) and a class commentary about imperial politics across a galaxy AND also somehow a shoehorned plot point about an evil cannibal people waging war on everyone. There's too much going on, and the tone is all over the place as a result because we keep flipping from a romance-heavy part of the story to suddenly classism, and then to a murder mystery. As a result, it doesn't quite commit to/do justice to any of them, I felt.
The main character is also a bit of a weird one, and I had a hard time reconciling the standard "not like other girls" tropes with how intelligent and scrappy she's meant to be. She's had to survive by her uneducated but genius mathematical skills, so I'd expect Temmi to be analytical enough to adapt her personality to be on an imperial dating show. The inner monologue is literally "do not swear on air during interviews," and then she immediately swears, which comes across as unintentionally comedic because it's really immature and silly. She has zero filter, so I have a hard time understanding how she would have managed a life of crime and invention to keep her family afloat on her poverty-stricken planet. I had a hard time empathising with her or rooting for he as a result.
TL;DR: This is trying to do too much all at once to set up a big epic fantasy series and love story and I think it would have done better with picking one type of story and deepening the approach to it instead.
I expected this to be better than it was. A fun idea, but I think it suffers from trying to do too much and resulting in a bit of a mishmash of cool ideas.
This book is trying to cram both a romance (dating show, hot twins, attraction to the wrong one) and a class commentary about imperial politics across a galaxy AND also somehow a shoehorned plot point about an evil cannibal people waging war on everyone. There's too much going on, and the tone is all over the place as a result because we keep flipping from a romance-heavy part of the story to suddenly classism, and then to a murder mystery. As a result, it doesn't quite commit to/do justice to any of them, I felt.
The main character is also a bit of a weird one, and I had a hard time reconciling the standard "not like other girls" tropes with how intelligent and scrappy she's meant to be. She's had to survive by her uneducated but genius mathematical skills, so I'd expect Temmi to be analytical enough to adapt her personality to be on an imperial dating show. The inner monologue is literally "do not swear on air during interviews," and then she immediately swears, which comes across as unintentionally comedic because it's really immature and silly. She has zero filter, so I have a hard time understanding how she would have managed a life of crime and invention to keep her family afloat on her poverty-stricken planet. I had a hard time empathising with her or rooting for he as a result.
TL;DR: This is trying to do too much all at once to set up a big epic fantasy series and love story and I think it would have done better with picking one type of story and deepening the approach to it instead.
October 16, 2025
I received a free copy from DAW Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date May 5th, 2026.
I requested this book because I was intrigued by this sci-fi romance's comparisons to Winter's Orbit and A Memory Called Empire, two of my particular favorite novels. In Love Galaxy, Temmie is barely scraping a living supporting her disabled mother and brother on a heavily industrialized planet when a chance antagonistic encounter with her empire's crown princess goes viral. Viral enough that the imperial family's publicity team drafts her for the bread and circuses reality dating show Love Galaxy, the extravagant spectacle where members of the imperial family choose who they'll marry...
I liked Temmi's background--she and her family live on a planet where the poisonous air is slowly killing them, she's scrabbled enough knowledge to be a good engineer despite dropping out of school at 14, and despite all of that, her minor criminal record means that she can only barely keep her family afloat. And not very afloat, as the book opens with her discovering the latest eviction note. But while I did like Temmi, she's incredibly unsuited as the protagonist of an invasive reality TV show, let alone a murder investigation or a political drama. Her complete lack of filter and inability to shut up means she's easy prey for imperial producers eager to set the criminal hick up as the villain. And the less said about her political acumen, the better. I admit I'm biased towards hypercompentent characters, but Temmie's traits make her passively bumble through the genre on a string of mistakes, rather than actively drive the plot.
Love Galaxy, as the name suggests, is primarily a romance novel. Which is unfortunate, since I wasn't entirely sold on the romance. The love interest, imperial princess Spie, is the same swaggering, aggressive jerk who's frequently spotted in painfully heterosexual romance novels. Unfortunately, being a lesbian does not salvage her personality. She spends the first hundred pages baiting Temmi into reacting in order to mock her, has way too much angst for someone whose tragic background is that her mother the emperor is a bit distant, and seems to see people as a sort of inconvenient obstacle to conquer on the way to sex. An unpleasant package. Like Spie's cruelty, the novel doesn't do much to reckon with the space empire thing either, except a few vague references to occupying troops.
Unfortunately, romance books succeed or fail based on the strength of their relationships, and this one didn't do it for me. The very shallow engagement with the brutality of imperialism didn't help, either. Love Galaxy had an interesting premise, but sadly I wouldn't recommend it unless you find the concept of a sapphic Bachelor TV show in space extremely appealing.
I requested this book because I was intrigued by this sci-fi romance's comparisons to Winter's Orbit and A Memory Called Empire, two of my particular favorite novels. In Love Galaxy, Temmie is barely scraping a living supporting her disabled mother and brother on a heavily industrialized planet when a chance antagonistic encounter with her empire's crown princess goes viral. Viral enough that the imperial family's publicity team drafts her for the bread and circuses reality dating show Love Galaxy, the extravagant spectacle where members of the imperial family choose who they'll marry...
I liked Temmi's background--she and her family live on a planet where the poisonous air is slowly killing them, she's scrabbled enough knowledge to be a good engineer despite dropping out of school at 14, and despite all of that, her minor criminal record means that she can only barely keep her family afloat. And not very afloat, as the book opens with her discovering the latest eviction note. But while I did like Temmi, she's incredibly unsuited as the protagonist of an invasive reality TV show, let alone a murder investigation or a political drama. Her complete lack of filter and inability to shut up means she's easy prey for imperial producers eager to set the criminal hick up as the villain. And the less said about her political acumen, the better. I admit I'm biased towards hypercompentent characters, but Temmie's traits make her passively bumble through the genre on a string of mistakes, rather than actively drive the plot.
Love Galaxy, as the name suggests, is primarily a romance novel. Which is unfortunate, since I wasn't entirely sold on the romance. The love interest, imperial princess Spie, is the same swaggering, aggressive jerk who's frequently spotted in painfully heterosexual romance novels. Unfortunately, being a lesbian does not salvage her personality. She spends the first hundred pages baiting Temmi into reacting in order to mock her, has way too much angst for someone whose tragic background is that her mother the emperor is a bit distant, and seems to see people as a sort of inconvenient obstacle to conquer on the way to sex. An unpleasant package. Like Spie's cruelty, the novel doesn't do much to reckon with the space empire thing either, except a few vague references to occupying troops.
Unfortunately, romance books succeed or fail based on the strength of their relationships, and this one didn't do it for me. The very shallow engagement with the brutality of imperialism didn't help, either. Love Galaxy had an interesting premise, but sadly I wouldn't recommend it unless you find the concept of a sapphic Bachelor TV show in space extremely appealing.
March 20, 2026
THIS IS THE F/F ROMANCE I WANT
Love Galaxy has its foot on my fucking THROAT!! I loved everything about this: the set up, the language, the dynamics, the forbidden romance, every single thing about this made me giddy, eager, even desperate to turn the page. The book was so fun and exciting, filled with romance and dating tv drama, and then it went ahead and ripped my fucking heart out at the end 🫠.
I will die for Artemis and Spielin. I need the next book YESTERDAY!
Love Galaxy has its foot on my fucking THROAT!! I loved everything about this: the set up, the language, the dynamics, the forbidden romance, every single thing about this made me giddy, eager, even desperate to turn the page. The book was so fun and exciting, filled with romance and dating tv drama, and then it went ahead and ripped my fucking heart out at the end 🫠.
I will die for Artemis and Spielin. I need the next book YESTERDAY!
August 10, 2025
I read an early copy and it was so much fun! Absolutely loved it!
April 23, 2026
Artemis "Temmi" Ialan is from a resource rich planet that mines the resources that make jump gate technology safe. An ex-boyfriend ruined her prospects for a promising career as an engineer, and a criminal record forced her to drop out of school, so she's a trash collector with a short temper, a sick mother, and a disabled brother. A run-in with the twin heirs to the Expanese Empire could land her in hot water, but her chemistry with both of them lands her a spot on the reality tv-show Love Galaxy where the heirs will try to find true love and choose spouses. Temmi is ostensibly there to compete for Prince Nix's hand, but she's just as drawn to his sister Spie, the rebellious princess. Temmi isn't cut out for the cut-throat competition and the limelight, but Spie sees how happy Temmi makes Nix, and offers her 2 million credits to stay on the show. Temmi would be a fool not to take her up on this, until one of the twenty-four candidates turns up dead.
I admit that I went into Love Galaxy with a little bit of trepidation. I don't like love triangles and Bachelor-esque plots don't usually appeal to me. But Everina Maxwell blurbed the book, which intrigued me. The first portion of the book focuses on the Love Galaxy competition, for which there is a lot of setup. We learn a lot about the worldbuilding of the Empire through the different contestants, but the early part of the book is character driven and focused on laying the groundwork for the real plot which develops about halfway through the book. For me, the first part of the book was a slog, but for readers who enjoy Bachelor-style intrigues, it will likely keep you engaged. The book takes a tonal shift at the first murder, and by the second murder I was invested, not because of the murder plot, but because the book shifted from what felt like a lighter sci fi romance to something more akin to science fiction with a plot of intrigue and galactic consequence. I'm not sure the setup and the story needed to be linked for the sake of storytelling, but I do understand the marketing pitch.
Love Galaxy has a superficial love triangle, but Branham's use of POV keys us into the emotional stakes of the real relationship building. I enjoyed the way Temmi almost accidentally entangles herself with the two heirs, and certainly how she accidentally makes friends with other contestants. She's brash and plain-spoken, which excites Princess Spie, and she's keenly intelligent which interests Prince Nix. We get small snips throughout of Spie and Nix with other contestants, which helps us see more components of their personality.
This is the first book in a series, so there is no resolution to the romantic arc. Thankfully Branham doesn't leave us on a cliffhanger, but she leaves a lot of things open for the next book. For all my struggles in the first half of the book, I really liked the writing in the second half and am very excited to read the next book in the series.
Thank you to DAW for an eARC. Love Galaxy is out 4/21/2026.
I admit that I went into Love Galaxy with a little bit of trepidation. I don't like love triangles and Bachelor-esque plots don't usually appeal to me. But Everina Maxwell blurbed the book, which intrigued me. The first portion of the book focuses on the Love Galaxy competition, for which there is a lot of setup. We learn a lot about the worldbuilding of the Empire through the different contestants, but the early part of the book is character driven and focused on laying the groundwork for the real plot which develops about halfway through the book. For me, the first part of the book was a slog, but for readers who enjoy Bachelor-style intrigues, it will likely keep you engaged. The book takes a tonal shift at the first murder, and by the second murder I was invested, not because of the murder plot, but because the book shifted from what felt like a lighter sci fi romance to something more akin to science fiction with a plot of intrigue and galactic consequence. I'm not sure the setup and the story needed to be linked for the sake of storytelling, but I do understand the marketing pitch.
Love Galaxy has a superficial love triangle, but Branham's use of POV keys us into the emotional stakes of the real relationship building. I enjoyed the way Temmi almost accidentally entangles herself with the two heirs, and certainly how she accidentally makes friends with other contestants. She's brash and plain-spoken, which excites Princess Spie, and she's keenly intelligent which interests Prince Nix. We get small snips throughout of Spie and Nix with other contestants, which helps us see more components of their personality.
This is the first book in a series, so there is no resolution to the romantic arc. Thankfully Branham doesn't leave us on a cliffhanger, but she leaves a lot of things open for the next book. For all my struggles in the first half of the book, I really liked the writing in the second half and am very excited to read the next book in the series.
Thank you to DAW for an eARC. Love Galaxy is out 4/21/2026.
April 20, 2026
I saw another reviewer say that Love Galaxy is scifi for people who read romance, but hear me out… WHAT IF…What if it is ALSO romance for people who read scifi?
I’m a certified romance hater and this was a 5 star read for me. Why?
Because it doesn't follow the formulaic plot of romance novels, generally.
Because while it took place on the set of a reality dating show, this reality dating show was actually propaganda for an empire determined to make the galaxy believe it is benevolent, when it very much isn’t. In fact, the outer planets of this galaxy are being exploited, with people left chronically ill from the materials they mine to fuel the empire’s intergalactic travel...all so the empire can maintain its power.
Our main character Temmi comes from one of those planets. She has had a rough life, and entering the show is less about love and more about survival for herself and her family; but when other contestants start turning up dead she realizes she may not be the only there with ulterior motives and then there is of course that pesky little detail that she’s supposed to vying for the attentions of the prince when she’s actually falling super hard for the princess.
This book is honestly genre defying. It blends scifi-, romance, murdery mystery, and political intrigue with dystopian undertones that gave Hunger Games capitol vibes. It is also truly queernorm with a wide spectrum of sexuality and gender representation among the characters that is fully woven into the culture and backstory.
I had the best time reading this. Thank you especially to Laura at Daw Books, who reached out and asked if I’d like an early copy of the book. You were right, Laura, I am obsessed with it and I need book two immediately!
I’m a certified romance hater and this was a 5 star read for me. Why?
Because it doesn't follow the formulaic plot of romance novels, generally.
Because while it took place on the set of a reality dating show, this reality dating show was actually propaganda for an empire determined to make the galaxy believe it is benevolent, when it very much isn’t. In fact, the outer planets of this galaxy are being exploited, with people left chronically ill from the materials they mine to fuel the empire’s intergalactic travel...all so the empire can maintain its power.
Our main character Temmi comes from one of those planets. She has had a rough life, and entering the show is less about love and more about survival for herself and her family; but when other contestants start turning up dead she realizes she may not be the only there with ulterior motives and then there is of course that pesky little detail that she’s supposed to vying for the attentions of the prince when she’s actually falling super hard for the princess.
This book is honestly genre defying. It blends scifi-, romance, murdery mystery, and political intrigue with dystopian undertones that gave Hunger Games capitol vibes. It is also truly queernorm with a wide spectrum of sexuality and gender representation among the characters that is fully woven into the culture and backstory.
I had the best time reading this. Thank you especially to Laura at Daw Books, who reached out and asked if I’d like an early copy of the book. You were right, Laura, I am obsessed with it and I need book two immediately!
arc-tbr
February 7, 2026
April 29, 2026
Red Alert: Get this book on your short range sensors stat!🚨
Love Galaxy has it all:
🪐 So You Want to be a Royal Consort? Aka The Bachelor: In Space
🚀 Intergalactic politics
💫 Forbidden love & sapphic yearning
💅 Drama…
💄 Makeovers!
🩸 MURDER.
I laughed. I cried. It was better than cosmic Cats. What an absolute gem! Temmi Trash Girl has my whole heart!
Love Galaxy has it all:
🪐 So You Want to be a Royal Consort? Aka The Bachelor: In Space
🚀 Intergalactic politics
💫 Forbidden love & sapphic yearning
💅 Drama…
💄 Makeovers!
🩸 MURDER.
I laughed. I cried. It was better than cosmic Cats. What an absolute gem! Temmi Trash Girl has my whole heart!
April 25, 2026
4.5 At first, I didn’t think I’d like it so much, but it got better and better as it went on and I got over some of the things I found a bit cringey (like cursing to sound bad ass). It’s currently low spice and the story starts out a bit slow but gets a lot more complex in the last hundred or so pages. This is book only one so don’t expect the story to get fully wrapped up in the end.
April 27, 2026
3.5⭐️
April 29, 2026
Chefs kiiiiiss
May 5, 2026
What a wonderfully strange blend of genres. These characters are also fully realized and I enjoyed both POVs. I hope I don’t have to wait long for the sequel 😭
May 7, 2026
4.5
This was such a pleasant surprise! On paper this shouldn’t work for me, but somehow it did. RTC
This was such a pleasant surprise! On paper this shouldn’t work for me, but somehow it did. RTC
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