VJM
Last updated feb 19th, 2026, by Veronique J. Morais
Lily of the Valley
(Title may Change)
Historical Romance / Drama / Literary Fiction
Taking place in 1897, Eastern Canada
To the outside eye, Primrose knew her friendship with Sophie was seen as sweet and innocent. But it hid a terrible secret —
Sophie’s fiery red hair, those stunning jade-green eyes, and that gentle smile on her pink lips—they tormented her, bringing a flush to her cheek, a pounding in her heart, and a troubling realization; she was madly in love with a woman.
But Primrose was from a wealthy family. Her future was already planned and she had to marry a gentleman soon.
Should she respect her family's wishes and live a life like a thousand others?
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Lily of the Valley is a story about love, overcoming your own prejudices, and finding the courage to follow your own path in life.
Features
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90k words
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Illustrations by the author
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Unique writing style that combines vivid descriptions, poems, letters and artistic illustrations.
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Written by a queer woman.
Sample
Extract from Chapter 4
Sophie nodded with a subdued smile and headed indoors. As she wandered into the manor, the grand hall greeted her with its high ceilings and rich, varnished woodwork. The usually comforting, familiar surroundings now seemed eerie, and even more so with each echoing step on the varnished floor. Around her, everything was polished to a mirror, but also completely void of life.
The contrast of luxury and loneliness was daunting, and Sophie wasn’t sure what to think of it. It was not a new emotion. Sophie hated going into Primrose’s home by herself. She felt awkward, out of place, and scared to touch anything at all.
What if it was an heirloom or something precious?
She stopped at the foot of the staircase as she rested her hand on the newel post to observe the iron nightingale perched atop of it, a testament to Primrose’s lineage. It reminded her of the countless times they had raced up these stairs together. Their laughter still echoed in her memories. A pang of something akin to longing, but deeper, more complex, stirred within.
Their differences in wealth, once insignificant, were now revealed to be the catalysts for an inevitable drift, a growing divide between them. Of course, Sophie was leaving to explore the world and continue her studies, but Primrose would be far away, living on an obscure remote estate.
Would the playful, adventurous, and mischievous woman that she knew be stifled and quieted? Would she still be Prim? Could they even remain friends after all this?
Content Warning
Please be aware that this book contains mature themes such as realistic depictions of internalized homophobia, physical/psychological abuse, violence, and self harm. Some swearing of a religious nature but nothing too serious (e.g. saying the lord's name in vain)