Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham is a little bit of everything—in the best way. It’s a locked-room mystery, a futuristic interplanetary story set during wartime, a commentary on class struggle, and yes… a reality dating show that feels very The Bachelor/Love Island in space.
If you’re someone who loves romance but keeps bouncing off sci-fi because it gets too technical, this is a perfect gateway. The science takes a backseat to drama, relationships, and big, juicy reveals—making it feel more like a romantic fantasy with a sci-fi setting.
We follow Artemis, a brilliant trans scientist and collector from an overlooked, under-resourced planet. Due to a mix of circumstance and class inequality, she ends up as a contestant on Love Galaxy, a wildly popular interplanetary dating show. Contestants compete for the hearts of both a prince (Nix, who is straight) and a princess (Spie who is gay), which creates a fun and messy dynamic right from the start.
What really shines here is the reality show aspect. The behind-the-scenes drama, the showrunner antics, the secrets, and the twists all give it that addictive, binge-worthy quality. It honestly reads like watching a season unfold in real time.
Artemis is easy to root for—smart, scrappy, and navigating both personal and systemic challenges. The book leans into a queer-normative world, which makes the romantic dynamics feel refreshing and inclusive. While it’s not marketed as YA, it definitely has a YA-adjacent tone in terms of pacing and voice, which makes it a quick and engaging read.
The love triangle is central, though readers will likely figure out where it’s heading fairly early on (especially if you’ve seen the cover). Still, the journey is entertaining enough that it doesn’t take away from the fun.
I could vividly picture this as a TV series the entire time—honestly, give me Austin Butler as Nix, Chloë Grace Moretz as Spie, and Jenna Ortega as Artemis and I’m sold.
It’s hard to believe this is a debut, and even more exciting that it’s the start of a series. If you enjoy queer romance, reality show drama, and character-driven stories with a light sci-fi backdrop, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy!
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