Read during the #TransRightsReadathon March 20-27, 2023. Romance novellas don't usually work for me (because insta-anything doesn't compute for me, but insta-love and hookup culture really don't compute). But this was skillfully written and surprisingly satisfying!

Sam (nb) is a 40-something history professor who meets up with their friends at a karaoke bar every few weeks. They feel doomed to mediocrity and failed relationship, their last one was particularly bad, and they're working out their gender expression. Lily (cis f) is an introverted receptionist at a vet clinic by day and a powerful songstress when she hits the karaoke stage at night. Fed up with trying to clothe her fat, fabulous body, she has begun making her own clothes — and Sam has definitely noticed, just as they always notice her when she sings. When Sam's friends have to miss karaoke night, Sam is drawn into Lily's group. Can a karaoke persona carry over into real life? Can a karaoke crush become a real connection?

"Sing Anyway" has great characters, tons of music catnip, splashes of fashion and design, some nerdy history stuff, late-in-life gender queer realizations, body positivity that's still sensitive to other's needs and perspectives, and refreshingly frank language and communication during the (steamy/explicit/on page) sex scenes.