If you’re looking for a Queer romance to read RIGHT NOW, here are some of our favorites from last year. Now that we’ve compiled the list, it looks like we really loved Queer women in historicals, and Queer men in contemporaries.
Book titles link to our full reviews.
She Whom I Love by Tess Bowery
James the Staymaker is courting two women: actress Meg and lady’s maid Sarah. What he doesn’t know? Meg and Sarah are best friends and also lovers. Meg and Sarah torture James a bit for his perfidity, but most of the story centers around the three of them figuring out how to work out their relationship while keeping all parties satisfied and safe.
Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan
Mrs. Martin is a grumpy widow with a nephew who is The Worst. So when Violetta Beauchamps shows up, asking for money owed by said nephew, Mrs. Martin sees an opportunity. Hilarity ensues as the women torture Mrs. Martin’s nephew, but in the end, this is a thoughtful and charming read, as both women are finally seen after being deemed invisible and unimportant.
Romancing the Inventor by Gail Carriger
This is a charming May-December romance between a young maid who signs up to work in a house of vampires and the (non-vampire) scientist who takes her under her wing. Read for angst, shenanigans, and witty wordplay.
The Half of Us by Cardeno C.
After a failed marriage and years of stress-reduction hookups with numerous men, Jason Garcia finally meets a man he can’t stop thinking about. Quiet, monogamous Abe Green spontaneously decides to give himself a one-time birthday hookup, but when Jason can’t let go, Abe finds himself quietly changing the older man’s perception of relationships and monogamy for good.
A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole
Playboy “prince” Johan has spent years carefully cultivating his wild media persona, what with his highly visible hookups with various men and women, but when a referendum comes up in his family’s kingdom, he’s got to rein it in a little bit. Commence operation fake relationship with demure Nya. Bonus points for excellent non-binary representation as well.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Between Henry–a (publicly) closeted gay prince–and Alex–who realizes he’s bisexual during the course of the book–there’s plenty of drama in this enemies to lovers story. But when a kiss from Henry shocks Alex into recognizing his attraction to his enemy-cum-friend, the two young men have to decide if their romance is worth the political fallout that might ensue.
The Smut Report 