Book Spotlight: “Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon” Is the Queer Sci-Fi Romance You Didn’t Know You Needed

Let me just say this right off the bat: I haven’t even finished this book yet—and I already know I’m in love. That’s how you know it’s real.

I’m currently halfway through Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare (out now from Ace Books!), and I had to pause my reading just to tell you about it because this book is such a joyful, genre-bending, heart-tugging ride. It's the perfect read to kick off Pride Month, and whether you're already deep into queer lit or you're just now exploring new voices and genres, this is one to add to your TBR immediately.

This book is, quite literally, everything everywhere all at once—but with more hair dye and more queer joy. It follows Tressa Fay, a bold and beloved hairstylist-slash-social media star, who finds herself tangled in something much bigger than split ends after a misdirected text leads her to Meryl—a woman who’s been missing for a month. What starts as a flirty exchange quickly becomes a cosmic mystery, full of parallel timelines, a found-family friend group, and a love story that’s trying its best to outrun time itself.

No, if you know me, you know romance is my favorite genre (and forced proximity is my favorite trope—yes, I said what I said). You also might know that sci-fi is normally... not my thing. So the fact that this book blends both and has me absolutely hooked says a lot. It’s pushing me out of my comfort zone in the best way, and I’m so glad that Penguin Random House reached out and invited me to be part of their blog tour for this one.

What I love most about Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon so far—besides the totally original concept—is how immediately invested I became in Tressa and Meryl’s connection. Their first interaction (a series of texts!) had me grinning and rooting for them before they even met. That kind of instant chemistry, written so believably and beautifully, is something I don’t see often, and it just works so well here.

Also, as someone who loves a good Marvel multiverse moment, the sci-fi elements felt surprisingly familiar and easy to follow—but if you don’t know a thing about timelines or paradoxes, don’t worry. The heart of this story is the romance, and it’s strong enough to carry you across every universe.

Now that I’m in my 30s, I’ve been spending more time slowing down and reconnecting with the hobbies that bring me joy. Reading is definitely one of them, and diving into stories that surprise me, like this one, feels so aligned with the intentional life I’m trying to build.

So if you’re looking for a read that’s fun, fresh, queer, and just the right amount of chaotic—in the best way—Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon is it. So go grab your copy, celebrate queer stories, and have a Happy Pride!