Love in the West End

by Maude Winters

What if the rivals of SMASH—Karen and Ivy—stopped fighting for the spotlight and realized they belonged in it together?

A decade ago, they lit up the West End. Now, Broadway is calling… and so is unfinished business.

When young Leah Roughy made her West End debut as Queen Victoria, the world saw a breakout star. Lourdes Lennon, a West End vet, saw a nepotism case. But beneath the tension and barbed banter in rehearsal, they each felt something more—an undeniable connection neither was ready to name.

Their chemistry crackles onstage, but offstage? It’s tension, snark, and stolen glances that say more than either of them will admit. As their careers take them in opposite directions, Leah and Lourdes stay connected across time zones, heartbreaks, and years of what-ifs.

Now, a ten-year Broadway revival of Victoria offers a second to return to the roles that changed their lives… and to finally ask what might have been if timing had ever been on their side.

As the lights rise once again, Leah is ready to build a life with Lourdes, but her costar still isn’t sure where she fits in a world that asks her to choose between love and ambition. When the chance to build a family unexpectedly lands in their laps, they must choose. Can they find a rhythm that works both on and off stage?

Love in the West End is a sweeping sapphic romance about second chances, love under the lights, and redefining what it means to build a wild life in a rigid world.



Second ChanceRivals to LoversMusical Theater30s/40s charactersFound FamilyShowmanceOne That Got AwayQueer JoyLGBTQ romanceWLW Romance

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Contemporary, Queer, Adult

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 5, 2026

About the author

Maude Winters is an pansexual, disabled author of open-door sapphic and billionaire romance. She’s a horse girl through and through. Though raised in Chicagoland, she lives in Michigan with her husband, a horse-obsessed child, and three dogs. Maude loves to write strong female characters who challenge institutions. A weird theater kid and competitive choir devotee in a past life, she brings camp into all her stories.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rivals to friends to second chance lovers romance between two working actresses. I wanted to love this, and did end up enjoying the plot, but felt the pacing was a little off. There are plenty of enjoyable side characters, but I would have loved it if we were mote involved in the theatre aspect of the novel (sadly, not enough of this book actually takes place on the West End, or on stage in general).

That being said, we really get to see the emotional moments between these leading ladies, and many of the conversations were heartfelt and genuine.

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lourdes + Leah

-sapphic romance
-rivals to lovers
-theater showmance
-second chance
-dueling first sopranos

[Andrea (looseleftlesbian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been in a little bit of a reading slump lately. But I devoured this book It was so good! I feel like the author was able to pack a lot in a short amount of time (maybe not in terms of years, but in pages). What I mean by this is, there was a lot of tension and relationship building that was done well but fairly fast. But I did read this in a day, so the pacing probably felt faster because of that. Leah and Lourdes’ chemistry is off the charts from the beginning.

I love the glimpse we got into the musical theatre world. While the plot focuses on the two MCs and their relationship over the years, there is still a decent amount of theatre scenes.

I found myself relating to Leah a lot, especially in the beginning of the story, when they first met. She loved Lourdes, but Lourdes wasn’t ready for that. They both loved each other but their lives were incompatible. I’ve felt that before and the author did a wonderful job at portraying that feeling. It had me tearing up at some of the scenes where the MCs were talking about how they would always love each other.

I have a feeling this will be a comfort read for me. I had expected a lot of angst since it was a second chance romance and stretched ten years. I was prepared to be distraught. I was pleasantly surprised that I felt like it was medium low angst. There’s a big storyline that I loved that the author explored, but I don’t want to give any spoilers. But it is something I enjoy reading about in sapphic romance and it’s not often done. It is hard to write well and the author did an amazing job on the subject. I loved that we got two epilogues. I love Lourdes and Leah so much that I want another book about them.

I already preordered the physical book, but I would definitely recommend Love in the West End to anyone who enjoys sapphic romances, especially showmances.

[brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

not for me but at the end of the day i am rooting for them bc theyre sapphic and theyve been through it

love on the west end is a wild and cheesy sapphic romance featuring the niece of the literal queen of england (??? sure) and her co cast member on the west end, before and after a ten year time skip.

the aspect that worked best in my opinion was our girls reflecting on their life throughout the back half of the novel, and the tone of the last few chapters as we wrap up. i can say i was genuinely pulling for them and very happy with the ending.

frequently comes off to the left of ridiculous (”the sex last night was S-tier”, “Leah’s swoony smile sent me!” come to mind as early examples) in a way that i would only forgive in a romance. characters also often under or overreact to major life events or slight changes in planning, and speak in a way i will generously call ‘youthful to ambiguous’, despite their stated ages.

early on, the b-plot(s) often fell away and it seemed the relationship developing was the only thing propelling us forward— and in the back half they returns with a vengeance to commit several crimes against gay people and romance readers (incl the most evil third act break up i’ve ever seen).

overall, would rec strongly to those looking for a fun, unserious sapphic romance to fill a weekend (or to text screenshots of to your friends)

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love in the West End by Maude Winters is a sweeping romance in which love struggles to gain purchase amid the challenges and politics of stardom. Two performers, focused on their careers, find themselves entangled in more ways than one. From rivals to lovers to best friends and back again, Leah and Lourdes circle each other for over a decade. When the opportunity arises, can they make this love of a lifetime their reality?
This novel is reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in that the plot spans a long period of time and explores the expectations versus desires of actors, as well as the difficult choices unique to the industry. It isn't nearly as deep or twisty, though. LITWE was a contemporary romance with a bit of backstage insight, plenty of sex scenes, and a ride-or-die love. I enjoyed the snarky, witty banter, the chemistry, and the dynamics between the two main characters and their biological families.
The pacing is quick and the plot straightforward, making for a fast, easy read. The ending is satisfying, and there’s a lovely epilogue.
This was not my favorite book, but it was good, and I enjoyed it.
#musicaltheater #actors #stageperformers #London #NewYork #wlw #oppositesattract #richpoor #rivalstolovers #secondchance #celebrity #femmefemme #foundfamily #sexpositive #femaledesire #homophobia #bipanerasure #panrep #timejump #spicy #HEA #epilogue
I received a review copy from NetGalley and Naughty Nook PR. This is my honest opinion.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!!! We need more proudly sapphic representation on reading. We have seen a rise in M/M reads and I love that, but the same rise didn't really happen and then the lovely Maude found her niche, quite clearly with this success of a book, and has given us the nerdy theatre women we need and even better, they have the hots for each other!
This is such a brilliant read for those of us who grew up on and still adore theatre. It is a fabulous story of two very strong and passionate women, who know what they want, deep down , but fear the outcome for what seems to be many reasons. Then we have the glorious theatre aspect of the book. It doesn't focus on this, so those who don't know theatre or just dabble are still more than about to fall madly in love with the journey, and those who are theatre nerds and swoon over our love of the stage.
Then there is the collection of cast members. Our main ladies are strong, talented and full of spark. The supporting cast offer a brilliant side journey, and I stop to wonder if we may see any spin-offs. I loved our two leading ladies as they really seemed almost to have two sides. They are stubborn and always know what they want, but also almost lost in that they don't know if they can have what they want and their careers. I really enjoyed seeing how the story unfolded and the outcome by the end. It is written very well and does not hide the beautiful sapphic love story.

[Bree Burgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
this book felt like stepping backstage at a theatre production and accidentally falling in love with everyone involved 🎭💋✨
Love in the West End is a swoony, emotional sapphic romance full of longing, messy timing, second chances, and women who keep finding their way back to each other over and over again. Leah and Lourdes had chemistry from the very beginning, and the tension between them honestly carried this book for me.
I absolutely loved the theatre setting too. the West End/Broadway vibes added so much drama and glamour without ever overshadowing the romance. if you’re a theatre person, this is going to hit so hard, but even if you aren’t, the story still pulls you in completely.
what really worked for me was how heartfelt everything felt. beneath all the banter, attraction, and fame, this is really a story about love vs timing, ambition vs vulnerability, and figuring out whether you can truly have both the career and the person you want most.
also: thank you Maude Winters for giving us proudly sapphic theatre women who are messy, passionate, talented, and deeply in love with each other 😭
if you like:
🎭 theatre/Broadway/West End settings
💖 sapphic romance
✨ second chance romance
🔥 rivals to lovers energy
🥹 years of yearning
🎤 celebrity/stage performer drama
💋 lots of chemistry & spice
definitely pick this one up. I finished it smiling and immediately wanted more time with these characters 💕

[izzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author via Naughty Nook PR/Book Funnel! Thank you!

---

The pacing of this book isn't what I had initially expected. I was expecting a lot more enemies/rivals-to-lovers tension. However, the two main characters weren't truly rivals for even a majority of the first chapter. They immediately became friends and then started hooking up.

There is a 10 year time jump to get to the main story. The rivals storyline was never really relevant again. The relationship between the two main characters is more of a friends-to-lovers, with some "right person, wrong time" sprinkled in at the beginning to explain why they didn't just date right away.

That all being said, my feelings towards the book...I really wish I liked it more. It was full of the same repeating patterns: honeymoon phase - misunderstanding/characters being wishy washy - makeup sex - honeymoon phase - misunderstanding/characters being wishy washy - makeup sex. Rinse and repeat throughout the entirety of the book. I wish there was more....anything else.

Unfortunately, I didn't get much substance from this, but it was a super quick read, I finished it in a couple of hours. Maybe this will be more for someone else than it is for me, and that's okay! My honest rating is probably closer to 2.5 stars, but I can't give a half rating so I rounded it up.

[Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love in the West End follows the lives of Lourdes and Leah who first meet when cast in a play and Lourdes feels that Leah took her part and she was left with the lesser role. Leah is sweet and kind; and appreciative of any notes that Lourdes has to help her. Lourdes goes from hating Leah to loving her and a long term friendship/situationship develops between them.

I found the plot line predictable and the communication between the characters did not feel authentic. I found there were stereotypes especially around the not being able to be pan and have a career in the movies. Both characters were written to feel immature for their actual age. We see Leah gong back to her parents whenever anything went wrong.

I appreciate that the author worked to include sexual diversity within their writing. It was good to see pan and bi representation in a novel and a discussion of bi/pan erasure when in a monogamous relationship.

The writing wasn't for me, but I can see people who have more knowledge and love of theatre and the theatre actor lifestyle enjoying the book more than I did.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah and Lourdes are competing for the top spot in a West End play, Queen Victoria. Lourdes has been working her way up to this role, while nepo-baby Leah basically walks right into this role. All of the frustration and tension between the two performers explodes. Intense chemistry aside, they both have busy lives with their careers and live on two different continents. Will this show be the final curtain call on love for these leading ladies?

Love in the West End is a cute second chance WLW romance. I enjoyed getting to know Lourdes & Leah. I loved Leah’s free spirit. Getting to know Lourdes backstory and strained relationship with her parents explains her avoidant behavior. The performers’ banter and the chemistry had me hooked immediately. The start of their relationship felt a little rushed. The story did keep paced though, every little detail built up to the penultimate moments. I recommend Love in the West End if you’re into rom-coms, beach reads, or are a theater nerd. I had fun reading Love in the West End.

[Nicole Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Star Review

This was a solid second chance sapphic romance with a lot of emotional potential and a really strong premise. The rivals to lovers dynamic mixed with the theater setting made it easy to get pulled in, especially with the history between Leah and Lourdes.
Their chemistry is definitely there, both on and off stage, and I liked how their connection carried through the years. The tension, the missed timing, and the what ifs all add to the emotional weight of their story.
That said, the pacing felt a little uneven at times, especially with the timeline shifts, and I found myself wanting a bit more depth in certain moments to fully connect with their growth. Some parts felt more impactful than others.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read with strong chemistry, great sapphic rep, and a unique theater backdrop, even if it did not fully hit every emotional beat for me.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lourdes and Leah, you could say are enemies. Lourdes is the main star of the West End show. She acts like a diva. Leah being understudy appreciated the opportunity. So, it would not cross your mind that these two actually would have more in common and be good together.

"One chapter was over, but our life together was just beginning."

While I liked the tender relationship that Lou and Leah had and their interactions; I did find myself struggling with this book. I thought it would be a bit more angsty with hyped tension between the two ladies as enemies to lovers. Additionally, as much as I liked reading about L&L's story, I found myself never fully connecting with them on a deep emotional level. While I may not have loved this book, I would try another by the author as there were aspects of the story I still enjoyed.

[Hannah Boyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

This is such a cute enemies/rivals to lovers / second chance / theatre showmance sapphic romance.

When I saw this sapphic romance was based around a musical theatre showmance, I knew I had to read it.

I do wish the enemies/rivals to lovers part had been longer because it’s one of my fav tropes! But all of the yearning made up for it <3


I’ve mentioned it in so many of my reviews, but poor communication is one of my least fav things. As an autistic person, it does end up stressing me out, so I’m always a lil disappointed when MCs don’t know how to communicate with their loved ones.
BUT, when they did communicate, it was absolutely gorgeous and completely glorious.

I felt that Winters touched on some difficult topics in a sensitive way (check the TWs before reading). It was very emotional at times, but that made me feel more invested in the story.

[TheLiterary Mug · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world of theater, drama and competition, two woman vie for top spot.
As tensions rise, your swept into delightful second chance F/F romance that served up some serious laughs.
The ladies snappy banter and sizzling chemistry had me enjoying this soap opera vibe storyline. As their relationship moved at a breakneck pace, Leah's quirky spirit made it hard to resist and Lourdes reluctance, gave insight to her past and how it influenced her behavior.
The story's plot was well-paced with every little thing building up to a major crescendo, leading to a HEA.
If you're into love of theater and strong female characters, with a knack for Love against all odds, in the West End is the one to read.

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up to 3

Leah and Lourdes fell in love on the West End, but their career ambitions take them in different directions. Now that they are back staring together in a revival of their show, can they make it work?

Read if you like:
-Musical Theater
-Queer Romance
-Former Rivals
-Second Chance

I so wanted to fall in love with Love in the West End, but it just wasn't for me. It might be for you in you are looking for musical theater romance. I struggled with it because I felt it didn't live up to it's promised tropes. There wasn't much rivals to lovers nor much second chance yearning. Both times, Leah and Lourdes decided to be together quite quickly and the story lost the tension I was hoping for.

[cloud_9_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone in their 40s, I really loved that the main characters in this story were middle-aged instead of the typical younger romance leads. And while their lives weren’t exactly relatable for most people (I mean…a royal heiress and two incredibly talented stars isn’t exactly everyday life lol), the emotions, insecurities, and struggles they dealt with still felt very real and I found them easy to connect to. As a former singer myself, I also really loved the theater and performance side of the story. The backstage moments, rehearsals, and passion for music added so much charm and made the interactions between the two MCs even more fun to read. I felt that Leah and Lourdes had great chemistry, and I loved all the unresolved feelings and second-chance energy between them - though the journey back to each other was definitely a bit messy at times! Overall though, this was a quick, enjoyable read and I had a good time with it.

[Bookshops and Banter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

1.5 stars rounded down.

This was one of the worst sapphic romances I have read. The characters were underdeveloped, the romance had no substance, and the pacing was completely off.

The entire story was centered on their relationships with men, until all of a sudden it was centered on Leah and Lourdes out of nowhere. But even so, their relationships with men were written with so much more depth and feeling (even if that feeling was animosity or apathy) than their relationship with each other, and it just highlighted how shallow the entire premise was.

Hate to say it, but I wish I hadn't spent my time on this one.

[Sue Plant · Rating 3 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publiser for letting me read this book

ohh man this book had it all .... two main characters fighting it out for the role they were both after .... there can only be one winner

the storyline is sound but man those conversations and there were many was i found a bit confusing at times i was wondering who was doing the talking

its not a bad first effort and those spicy scenes are hot but to live through those conversations that some may like by the way i wasnt one of them...

[Lila Besser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun sapphic showmance. I love that it was marketed as "What if Karen and Ivy from Smash fell in love." This second chance romance was so much fun, and spanned time, from their first rivalry to their HEA! Leah is actual royalty, niece to the queen, and already making waves in the West End. Lourdes has been acting in the West End, and is beloved, but that love of the fans has kept her in the closet. I loved watching the two of them explore their own relationships with others, and finally making their way back to each other!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was an interesting story in there somewhere, but I had big issues with the writing style. It is all dialogue and you never really get to know the MCs, what they think and dream about. Thus, their connection is just messy, they don’t communicate much, move on to other partners all the time and when they meet it is all physical for way too long. As a reader I unfortunately never get really invested in Lou and Leah’s relationship. If a reader does not mind this and like a lot of hot scenes, this may be a good read though.

I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave an honest review voluntarily.

[Jessica Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a second chance, starting when they are young actresses starting out to when they are 35-40 getting divorced.
One is out and the other in the closet, both pansexual.
It goes through the emotions of choosing to go public, keeping relationships secret and the effects of staying in the closet.
The story was abit all over the place for me personally, there were a few parts I had no clue who was talking and saying what.
Kinda rushed in each chapter

Overall it was a good read, it has funny moments, banter, and very spicy scenes with a tiny bit of Dom going on.

[Jennifer Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Naughty Nook PR for allowing me to read this eARC.

Love in the West End is a cute enemies to lovers, second chance, sapphic romance. Leah and Lou, both in the theater industry start out as rivals who turn to lovers. Then, because of course life gets in the way and it was just "not their time," Leah and Lou go their separate ways, still remaining friends. 10 years later and these women have a second chance at love. Will they be able to work it out the second time around? or will their careers forever get in the way??

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not able to connect with the story. The characters just never seemed to fit together in a way that felt natural to me. The story dragged too often and I found myself rereading pages because I struggled to relate to the material.

I do think there will be people who love this book and I hope they find it.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

The blurb seems interesting enoughI and I feel like this book has so much potential, but I didn’t like the way it’s written. It focuses too much on dialogue instead of character development. I’m halfway through and still trying to piece everything together just from how the characters speak.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather Wejroch · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love a romance that feels real, gentle, and character-driven, Love in the West End by Maude Winters is worth picking up. The story is sweet and easy to settle into, with characters that feel authentic and relatable. I did get confused with some of the timeline jumps, and wanted more development between Leah & Lourdes, but it was an enjoyable read that I’m glad I spent time with.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The time jumps in the very beginning threw me off a bit, but not to the point of too much confusion. I enjoyed this story. The theater kid in me is happy and would love to see more from these families.

[LP Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!

Love in the West End is my first book by this author. I really enjoyed the theater setting, and the rivals to friends to lovers trope. It was a fun, quick read.

[Tamz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a steamy, beautiful book, I absolutely loved the journey we went on with Lourdes and Leah. I was truly rooting for the relationship from the start. It was emotional, adorable and spicy, the perfect mix! I absolutely loved the musical aspect and I can’t wait to read Love on the main stage!!