Hayley Kiyoko’s Queer Love Letter to History: “Where There’s Room For Us” Reimagines the Past for Today’s LGBTQ+ Readers

Imagine Victorian England with all the drama, corsets, and intrigue—but this time, everyone is free to love whoever they choose. That’s the invitation Hayley Kiyoko extends in her new novel, “Where There’s Room For Us,” a fresh and fiercely affirming romance landing November 4, 2025 . For queer readers who’ve long yearned to see themselves in the sweeping ballrooms and love triangles of historical fiction, Kiyoko’s latest is both a balm and a revolution.

Kiyoko’s own “meet-cute” with her partner is the pulse beneath the novel’s beating heart. “I wanted to write a love story inspired by the moment I fell in love—the way it changes what you know about yourself, the risks you take, the bravery it demands,” Kiyoko shared in a recent interview .

The novel follows Ivy, a daring New York poet whose brother unexpectedly inherits a grand English estate, thrusting her into the prim world of high society. There, Ivy collides with Freya Tallon, the season’s most sought-after socialite, whose life has been meticulously mapped out: marry a wealthy lord, produce heirs, and keep the family’s reputation spotless. When Freya takes her sister’s place on a date with Ivy, the rules of society—and of Freya’s own heart—begin to unravel .

For Kiyoko, the romance between Ivy and Freya is not just a flight of fancy—it’s a reclamation. “So much of LGBTQ+ history is about hiding, about fear. I wanted to create a world where being yourself, loving who you love, is the norm,” she explained .

Queer romance in period fiction is often a story of tragedy, subtext, and longing glances. Not here. Kiyoko’s world is unapologetically bold, with nods to classics like “Little Women” and “Pride and Prejudice”—but with sapphic desire front and center .

Readers can expect the lushness of a costume drama with the emotional resonance of a community finally seeing itself reflected in the grand tradition of the love story. Ivy and Freya are not punished for their passion—they’re celebrated. As the connection grows deeper, both must decide what they’re willing to risk to live authentically and love openly .

For many LGBTQ+ readers, historical fiction has been a closed ballroom door. When queer characters appear, their stories are often footnotes—or footfalls on the way to heartbreak. By reimagining the past as a place where queer love isn’t just possible but central, Kiyoko’s novel turns the genre on its head.

“It’s so important for queer youth—and for queer adults who never saw themselves in these stories growing up—to know that love like theirs can be epic, can be joyful, can be the main event,” Kiyoko has said .

This is not a small gesture. In a literary landscape that often relegates LGBTQ+ characters to the margins, “Where There’s Room For Us” offers a full-throated invitation to the main stage.

Kiyoko’s journey from pop icon to bestselling author is itself a testament to queer persistence and creativity. Dubbed “Lesbian Jesus” by fans, she’s long used her platform to celebrate LGBTQ+ identity, from her breakout single “Girls Like Girls” to her debut novel of the same name .

Her new role as author-director is a natural extension of her mission: to make space for queer stories everywhere, in every era. “The more stories we tell, the more space we create for ourselves and for each other,” Kiyoko remarked .

For those who crave stories in every possible medium, there’s more: the audiobook edition is narrated by Kiyoko herself, joined by “Girls” star Jemima Kirke—doubling down on the queer star power and making it an event in its own right .

It’s a reminder that queer stories, and queer voices, are best told by those who live them.

“Where There’s Room For Us” isn’t just a love story—it’s a queer cultural intervention. In a world where LGBTQ+ rights are still under threat, and where “don’t say gay” laws and book bans loom large, Kiyoko’s joyful, affirming vision of the past is a powerful act of resistance .

For queer readers, especially youth, the novel is a reminder that their stories are worthy of pageantry, passion, and happy endings. For everyone else, it’s an invitation to imagine a world where there’s room for every kind of love.

Or, as Kiyoko herself says: “The world is so much richer when there’s room for all of us.”