Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham

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.

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Twenty-four contestants. Two imperial heirs. One televised competition where love might be the least dangerous thing at stake.

Pre-Reading Thoughts
A sci-fi dating show where contestants compete to marry the heirs to a galactic empire? I was immediately thinking a mix of The Selection and The Hunger Games, but in space - and with the added complication that Temmi might be falling for the wrong royal entirely.

Post-Reading

As I thought…
The reality show format absolutely delivers on the drama. With alliances forming, contestants sizing each other up, and the constant pressure of being watched, it captures that tense competition energy you’d expect from something like The Selection, but layered with darker stakes.

It surprised me by…
How quickly the story escalates near the end. What starts as a flashy televised competition shifts into something much more dangerous, with conspiracies swirling around several contestants and people beginning to turn up dead. The final stretch moves fast and sets up some very big consequences going into the next book.

Music Pairing 🎵

Featured Song: Space Girl – Frances Forever

Vibe Album: Future Nostalgia – Future Nostalgia

Artist Recommendation: Chappell Roan

Vibe Check

🎨 Colour Palette: chrome silver, neon pink, imperial gold
🎬 Soundtrack: pulsing pop with a slightly sinister edge
🍂 Season: late summer nights
💭 Mood: glamorous tension
🌌 Scent: ozone, metal, and expensive perfume

Tarot Pull 🔮

Seven of Wands – Galactic Star Tarot
In this deck, a young woman stands her ground with a staff raised, facing six others pressing in on her while a starship flies overhead. It’s a card about defending your place when the odds aren’t exactly in your favour. Temmi enters the competition as an outsider - a trash collector from a forgotten planet suddenly thrust into a glittering imperial spectacle. Surrounded by rivals, politics, and secrets, she has to keep fighting for her position, even when it feels like the entire galaxy might be watching.

For fans of:
📚 The Selection
🎬 The Hunger Games