This bookish meme tells the blogosphere what we’re waiting patiently (and sometimes not so patiently) for! It’s hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine!
When snow falls, sparks fly in this irresistible YA queer romance from Schneider Family Book Award and Stonewall Honor winner Mariama J. Lockington—for fans of She Gets the Girl and Jennifer Dugan.
High school senior Lyric has always found Christmas to be the hardest season. While other kids got presents and family time by the fire, she was in and out of foster care. An up-and-coming make-up influencer and aspiring cosmetology student who loves a bold lip, Lyric definitely isn’t looking for romance—not when opening up to someone feels a lot like asking to get hurt.
Christmas is Juniper’s favorite time of year. At least, it was, until her moms’ separation. They’re back together now, and Juniper hopes they’ll stay that way. Because if they’re happy, that means Juniper can leave for her gap-year trip after graduation (the one she has yet to tell her parents about, and can’t really afford without their help).
When a chance meeting brings these two opposite personalities together, they should clash . . . only they don’t. Instead Lyric strikes a deal with Juniper: pose as her fake girlfriend in a series of holiday-themed social media posts and they can split the money from her beauty sponsorships. But soon the lines between what’s real and what’s not start to blur. Could it be that sparks are flying both in front of the camera and behind it?
Told from dual perspectives, one in prose and one in verse, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm is a cozy and modern love story from acclaimed author Mariama J. Lockington that’s perfect for the winter season or all year round.
Published by: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)
Expected Publication: October 14, 2025
Why I’m Waiting: Y’all already know this is a Mariama J. Lockington AND a holiday romance stan account. So now I have both all wrapped up in one?! Yooooo I CAN’T WAITTTTTT. And now I have to be haunted by this beautiful cover (THEY’RE ICE SKATING FFS) for over an entire year. And there’s fake dating AND social media AND Black people AND it’s LGBTQ+ in YA AND it has foster care rep. Cries in need yesterday. How tf am I supposed to wait for this? This has my name all over it? Book gawds if you love me, GIMMIEEEEEEEEE
What about you? What do you think about this cover? What do you think about this synopsis? Does this not sound like a ME book? Let me know in the comments!