A Diplomat's Guide to Book Smuggling: A Novel

In 1974 London, bookseller Jane Beaumont marries a secretly gay diplomat, seeing the arrangement as a ticket to travel and live authentically. When she discovers a hidden lesbian novel in their Washington D.C. residence, she tracks down the previous occupant, Frances, sparking a clandestine correspondence. What begins as a personal quest soon evolves into an international book-smuggling operation, delivering queer fiction to closeted diplomats worldwide.

This heartfelt historical novel blends epistolary intimacy with a tender LGBTQ+ romance. As Jane navigates embassy politics, a growing connection with Frances, and the constant threat of exposure, she must decide how far she’s willing to go for love and self-discovery. Layla McCay’s A Diplomat’s Guide to Book Smuggling brims with wit and a celebration of literature’s power to foster community and identity.