Kiss Me, Maybe

This sweet sapphic romance from Gamez (The Next Best Fling) probes the nuances of love and desire. At 27, Angela Gutierrez has never been kissed. When a late-night fit of honesty sees her come out on TikTok as an asexual lesbian who’s very ready for her first kiss, the response is not what she expected, especially from Krystal Ramirez, the gorgeous bartender she’s had a crush on forever. Despite declaring that love is not for her, Krystal is eager to help Angela get the big romantic moment she’s been dreaming of. Soon, she’s orchestrating a TikTok-based scavenger hunt, with the prize being Angela’s first kiss. Surely, Angela rationalizes, someone who would know her well enough to win will care about her enough to make the moment special. But as the plans progress, Angela realizes that her heart is more complicated than she thought—and it only wants the one woman who’s already turned her down. The result is a surprisingly high-heat exploration of gray-asexual desire, complete with a realistic approach to the rewards and difficulties of being queer in the age of social media and a loving focus on the lives of queer Latinx Texans. Gamez’s fans will be pleased. Agent: Samantha Fabien, Root Literary. (May)