A Diplomat's Guide to Book Smuggling: A Novel

Getting caught was not part of the plan. Nor was falling in love.London, 1974. Bookseller Jane Beaumont has two ambitions: to see the world, and to finally be herself. So when she strikes up a friendship with a (secretly) gay diplomat and learns that his career is hindered by his bachelor status, marrying him seems like the perfect idea. All she needs to do is convince the rigid social world of the Embassy that she's a model diplomat's wife. Easy, right?But then Jane finds a novel about two women in love, hidden in the shelves of their Washington D.C. residence, and can't resist tracking down the former diplomat's wife, Frances, who left it there. As the two begin a correspondence, the need arises for a one-of-a-kind book service, and suddenly, Jane finds herself scouring bookshops for queer fiction to smuggle to Frances and other closeted diplomats around the world. But when she begins to attract unwanted attention that puts her service, marriage, and budding romance at stake, she'll begin to wonder: how long can she maintain this fantasy before it all comes crashing down? Told with wit and charm, A Diplomat's Guide to Book Smuggling is a rebellious and heartfelt story that celebrates the power books have in forging community, connection, and ultimately, helping us find ourselves. Read more