Love Galaxy - (The Imperial Broadcasts) by Sierra Branham (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A romantic science fiction thriller in which a young woman from a dead-end planet gets cast on a reality TV show to compete for the hand of the prince--or princess. But not everyone is there for the right reasons...

Smart, sexy, compulsively readable and fun, this is for fans of Everina Maxwell's Winter's Orbit and Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire

Temmi, a young trash collector stuck in a dead-end job on a garbage planet, finds herself with a golden ticket she never expected: an opportunity to compete in an intergalactic dating show starring the brother and sister heirs to the galactic empire. Twenty-four women will compete on a televised program to marry the prince and princess--and future emperors--and to win the dynasty's favor for their home planet.

Temmi may have been hand-picked to date the quiet, bookish prince, who is immediately taken by her brash personality and their shared passion for the sciences. But she can't seem to keep away from the princess--and even though it couldn't be a worse idea, their chemistry is undeniable.

But when contestants start turning up dead, and conspiracies begin to swirl around anti-imperial motivations of several contestants, Temmi among them, so much more than feelings are at stake.

In fact, very few of the participants of Love Galaxy have come on the show to find love. Sexy, snarky, and revolutionary, this fast-paced thrill ride will hook lovers of reality TV, fans of thoughtful sci-fi, and anyone who lives for drama.

Review Quotes

"I raced through this book! Come for the reality dating show in space, stay for the murder and sapphic yearning. Readers who love an underdog protagonist, a genre-blending plot, and rich but accessible world building will adore Love Galaxy." --M. Stevenson, author of Behooved

"Like the reality shows it invokes, Sierra Branham's Love Galaxy is so much more than meets the eye. It satisfyingly replicates all the messy magic of the best/worst reality shows, but feeds it through the eyes of Temmi - a consummate outsider whose attitude toward media made in the heart of empire gives readers space to question their own enjoyment." --Micaiah Johnson, author of The Space Between Worlds

"A shimmering, tantalizing bird cage that lures you in with all the glamour and drama of a reality TV show and snaps the door shut as the game grows twisted. My head is still spinning from all the twists and reveals and I'll definitely be tuning in for Season 2." --A.D. Sui, author of The Iron Garden Sutra

"A thrilling and heart-wrenching adventure full of galactic stakes, brutal choices, and swoony romance! Temmi and Spie crash into each other with the fire of a supernova, and I could not look away! I loved every moment of this wild ride!" --Deva Fagan, author of House of Dusk

About the Author

Born and raised in Alaska, Sierra Branham dreamed up new worlds while skiing down mountains, snow-machining across frozen lakes, and, in the mosquito-laden summer, rollerblading for hours as characters sprang to life in her mind.

Now, residing in the lower 48, she more or less does the same, except, sometimes, people read her mind's wild imaginings. Her debut novel, Love Galaxy, is romantic and political science fiction (with a touch of murder mystery) and is forthcoming in Spring 2026 with DAW Books in the US and Transworld PRH in the UK. Her short fiction can be found in venues such as Apex Magazine, The Dread Machine, and Small Wonders Magazine.

She's severely allergic to early mornings, can consistently be found cuddling her cats and goats (though never at the same time), will pick up kitchen knives to juggle for fun, and is adept at battling existential crises. You can perceive her on Bluesky.