Victorian Vibes, Sapphic Sparks: Hayley Kiyoko’s “Where There’s Room For Us” Reimagines Queer Romance for the Modern Age

If you’ve ever wished Jane Austen’s heroines didn’t have to choose between love and convention—or fantasized about a world where the Brontë sisters could openly write about queer longing—Hayley Kiyoko’s “Where There’s Room For Us” is here to fan the flames of your literary daydreams. The pop star turned bestselling author has delivered a young adult novel that isn’t just romantic—it’s revolutionary, reimagining 1880s England as a place where everyone is free to love without apology .

Set in a dazzlingly inclusive version of high society, Kiyoko’s story follows Ivy, an outspoken poet from New York with a reputation for scandal and talent, as she’s thrust into the prim rituals of English nobility after her brother inherits a sprawling estate. Ivy quickly runs afoul of tradition—especially when she meets Freya Tallon, the season’s most sought-after socialite and a woman whose life has been mapped out for her in the most restrictive ways .

But when Freya swaps places with her sister for a date with Ivy, she discovers a spark she’s only ever dreamed of—a spark that forces both women to confront the tension between desire and duty, and to ask: How far will you go to be true to yourself?

For LGBTQ+ readers, “Where There’s Room For Us” isn’t just escapist fantasy—it’s a beacon of possibility. Kiyoko has spoken candidly about the climate in which she wrote the book, acknowledging the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ people today.

The joy here is radical. By crafting a world where love is celebrated instead of hidden, Kiyoko invites readers to imagine futures where queer happiness isn’t exceptional—it’s expected. The emotional resonance is palpable, especially for those who have felt the sting of societal limitations: Ivy and Freya’s romance isn’t merely about passion; it’s about the courage to claim one’s own narrative, and to choose each other in the face of tradition .

Kiyoko’s heroines are more than just romantic leads. Ivy, armed with her poetry and unapologetic wit, and Freya, navigating the fraught expectations of noble birth, are richly drawn characters whose defiance is as much a part of their identity as their affection. In one excerpt reported in Cosmo, Ivy reassures her brother Prescott: “‘Our home, ’ Ivy says. ‘For as long as you need me, I’ll be by your side. ’ She pauses. ‘Well, until my publishers demand I do another tour for my next book of poetry. .. or until your wife kicks me from your palatial mansion, of course, because I am so very annoying, ’ she adds with a grin. ”

This playful sibling banter isn’t just comic relief—it’s a testament to the story’s central theme: the transformative power of chosen family. In a world that often celebrates blood ties over found ones, Kiyoko’s cast reminds us that support, loyalty, and love can be chosen, fiercely and without regret .

Kiyoko’s inspirations are clear—she’s drawn from classic works like “Little Women” and “Pride and Prejudice, ” but she’s rewritten the rules. The result is a narrative that feels both timeless and utterly new, a romance that centers LGBTQ+ lives without relegating them to the margins. As Kiyoko herself has said, “this book is for everyone in the sense of, you know, we’re all born with expectations of who people expect us to love and be with. And life is full of surprises and sometimes those surprises. .. Sometimes happy endings are choosing one another and choosing to navigate life together. ”

By refusing to compromise on joy, Kiyoko’s novel becomes more than just a story—it’s a declaration. It’s a reminder that queer stories belong not only in contemporary settings, but in every era and every genre. For readers who have searched for themselves in the pages of historical romance, “Where There’s Room For Us” is a long-awaited arrival.

The details of Kiyoko’s world are lush, from the “beautiful sprayed edges, custom endpapers and a foiled case stamp” of the deluxe edition to the pink linen covers and gold-embossed ivy leaves that seem to promise secret gardens and forbidden meetings .

But it’s the emotional landscape that truly shines. Ivy’s struggle with reputation—scandalous when she’s bold, ignored when her brother Prescott misbehaves—mirrors the double standards familiar to many queer women and gender-nonconforming individuals. Freya’s gentle heart and longing for purpose beyond marriage and duty reflect the dreams and frustrations of those boxed in by tradition .

In a literary landscape often dominated by heteronormative romance and historical erasure, Hayley Kiyoko’s new book is a breath of fresh air—and a call to arms. It’s timely not just because it arrives in a moment of cultural reckoning, but because it dares to imagine a past where LGBTQ+ people were always present, always loving, always worthy.

For queer readers, allies, and anyone who’s ever craved representation that’s joyful and unapologetic, “Where There’s Room For Us” delivers. It’s a romance, yes—but it’s also a manifesto, a celebration, and an invitation to dream bigger.

In a world that too often demands compromise, her story offers hope—and makes room for us all.