“You x Me is a remarkable kaleidoscope of the tangled and tender terrain of human relationships. With nuance, emotional precision and vulnerability, Ayla Vejdani renders queer, cross-cultural dynamics to reveal how intimacy can at once unsettle and sustain us.” — Zaina Arafat

“The poetic language and thoughtful representation offer a smart, sexy panorama of what love can look like. … This book is unlike any other romance.” — KIRKUS REVIEWS

“A spiritual and expansive collection…”
—ForEword RevieWS

YOU x ME is a series of modern entanglements: Noura swipes right on Luna with a little help from her group-chat, Maryam and Nilou fall for each other between shared playlists, while Paz and Ale reminisce about the sweat-soaked dance floor of their youth. Set in cosmopolitan settings from Los Angeles to Montreal, each chapter can be read as an independent love story, though the book has a unifying thread of characters. This hot and hopeful QTBIPOC contemporary romance offers space to lust, cry, laugh and make revolutionary love all at the same time.

As Maya Angelou encourages, this book calls readers to “have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”

about the author

Ayla Vejdani (she/her) is a storyteller, holder of space and curator of experience. Raised and educated all over the world, she has a master’s in human rights, is an inclusive leadership consultant, and the co-host of The SHIFT podcast. She speaks four languages and laughs in all. Ayla is a queer Iranian-Canadian from Tkaronto/Toronto living in Tiohtia:ke/Montréal, raising her two young children. She is an insatiably creative, romantic realist who believes in magic

you x me conversations

Watch the interview series here.

YOU x ME Conversations

1. What does the book’s natal chart reveal? with Susheela Willis

2. How art helps us feel seen, more human + better connected with Dr. Yashar Khosroshahi, ND

3. Can we have it all in inclusive romance fiction? with Generous Press

4. How Writers Are Reimagining Joy & Purpose with Bonnibel Rambatan

5. What does the energy of the book reveal? with Kenya Raymer

6. Queer Futures, Writing & Belonging with Gayathiri Kamalakanthan