Contemporary sapphic romance gained a prominent entry with Something to Talk About, a slow-burn Hollywood romance that became the first queer female romance printed by Berkley Books. Meryl Wilsner writes contemporary romances focused on queer characters who love women, delivering stories that range from ultra-slow-burn workplace dynamics to high-heat age-gap relationships.
Career & Background
Wilsner was born in Michigan in 1990 and studied political science at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Before returning to Michigan, Wilsner lived in Portland and in Jackson, Mississippi, and currently resides in Grand Rapids with their wife. Wilsner began writing creative fiction at an early age and honed their craft by writing fanfiction online. Participating in the Pitch Wars mentorship program helped launch their traditional publishing career, leading to the acquisition of their debut novel Something to Talk About, which was published in 2020 to critical recognition and starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal.
Writing Style & Themes
Wilsner's novels explore the emotional complexities, missteps, and vulnerabilities of human relationships within LGBTQ romance. Their narrative pacing varies widely across titles: while Something to Talk About relies on a gradual buildup before romantic intimacy occurs, their sophomore novel Mistakes Were Made opens immediately with an intimate encounter, demonstrating flexibility across different romantic tropes. Their stories regularly emphasize authentic queer representation, humor, mutual respect, and the messy decisions real people make when navigating love. Their catalog also incorporates popular sports and contemporary tropes, such as the professional soccer setting in Cleat Cute and getaway dynamics in My Best Friend's Honeymoon.
Major Works
- Something to Talk About — Published in 2020, this debut Hollywood romance follows a showrunner and her assistant whose professional relationship becomes the center of tabloid rumors. Named one of NPR's Best Books of 2020, it earned starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal.
- Mistakes Were Made — Published in 2022, this age-gap romance originated as a fanfiction concept and opens with a college senior unknowingly hooking up with her best friend's mother. It was selected as one of The Washington Post's 10 Best Romance Novels of 2022.
- Cleat Cute — An instant USA Today bestseller, this contemporary sports romance centers on two rival professional soccer teammates navigating their evolving relationship on and off the field.
- My Best Friend's Honeymoon — An instant USA Today bestseller featuring contemporary queer romance centered around a getaway dynamic.
