Happy Pride!!
I’ve been in the mood for some happy and heart-warming stories lately, which means romance has been my go-to genre. Recently I was browsing a local bookshop with a new friend and we were talking about the types of romance we enjoy (everyone has their niche). I found myself making several recommendations, all LGBTQIA+ romances.
Note that there are SO many other great LGBTQIA+ romance books out there. These are just some that I have particularly enjoyed in recent years. And romance is a huge genre with so many sub-genres; everyone has their own tastes and interests in this genre and mine might not be right for you. I certainly have tropes that I recognize other people love but I just don’t find them fun to read, so they’re not represented here. That’s not to say they’re not good, it’s just not my taste. This is what makes recommending romance to strangers challenging!
Note: There are a few extra books pictured in the stack above that I don’t mention here…you should check those out too. The one with the sprayed edges that reads “some things taste better together” is The Pairing by Casey McQuiston.
A Lade for a Duke – Alexis Hall
Historical Romance
When Viola is presumed dead after the Battle of Waterloo, she finds freedom in living her life as herself. But she’s also lost essentially everything as a result. When she later discovers her childhood best friend has retreated into himself with grief, she sets out to try to help him.
I honestly was nervous when I started this historical romance centered on a trans character. I’ve read some historical romances that have gone so far to make female characters modern and feminist as to be completely unrealistic. This is not to say that they’re bad, but it ends up feeling far more like a fantasy novel than historical. Alexis Hall, in my opinion, managed to write a book that fits with the historical period while maintaining that feeling of hope and a future for the main characters that romance readers expect.
The Entanglement of Wizards – Sara Raasch
Fantasy Romance
I’m sorry to say that dark academia isn’t my jam. Really it’s the dark part. I need happy joyful books right now. So here’s a book about two rival wizards set in a college. And it’s delightfully light and happy.
Billed as “Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons & Dragons in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy academia romcom”, I was eager to jump in. And I was not disappointed. There are some heavy family dynamics tackled in this book. Honestly, it’s one of the things I really like about Sara Raasch’s books thus far: she presents characters who are complicated with difficult backgrounds and she does it respectfully while still injecting humor and joy.
Trigger Warning: controlling and emotionally abusive parents/family. That being said, I typically avoid books with that dynamic, and I was able to enjoy this one. So it’s really down to what works for you.
Note on Shelving: I was recently in my local bookshop and saw that the sequel to this book was by its lonesome under fantasy. I thought it was odd that it wasn’t in romance but wanted to see if they had this book (book 1) in romance, or if they’d decided to shelve both as fantasy. Turns out that the publisher classifies the sequel as fantasy and this book as romance when, guess what? They both follow the same romance plot structure. I don’t really understand this, but if you happen to be looking for any of these books in a physical bookstore, I recommend checking general fiction (for the non-fantasy stuff) and general fantasy. Things get weird in classifying books.
If I See You Again Tomorrow – Robbie Couch
Contemporary Romance
I got this book at Independent Bookstore Day a few years ago. It was wrapped in brown paper with just enough written on the cover to make me think I might like it . Dear reader, I did indeed like it.
This book is sweet and light. It’s a contemporary YA that follows high schooler Clark who is stuck reliving the same Monday over and over. It’s always the same until a strange guy somehow bursts into his classroom, causes a scene and then flees. In that moment, Clark decides to go with him, and he has his first new day in over 300 days. Unfortunately, the next day, he’s right back living in his loop. As Clark tries to learn more about this mystery guy and the time loop they both seem to be trapped in, he starts to fall for the guy.
I liked that there wasn’t much time spent showing the reader how horribly monotonous living in a time loop is. Some books do that, and I’ll be honest, I’ll start skimming, because what’s nearly as bad as reliving the same day over and over? Reading the same day over and over.
If you’re looking for a flirty and fun late summer read, pick this up.
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix – Gabe Cole Novoa
Historical Romance
This is another historical romance centered on a trans character that I think really pulled off that fine line of feeling as though it could have happened and maintaining that hopeful feeling. It’s also a play on Pride & Prejudice, which I found delightful.
Dear reader, I have not actually read Pride & Prejudice yet (please don’t exile me). But after reading a series of re-tellings and re-imaginings in the last few years, I think it’s time that I dive into the classic masterpiece.
The Nightmare Before Kissmas & Go Luck Yourself (Sara Raasch)
Fantasy Romance
More Sara Raasch! These were my gate-way books into Sara Raasch. I saw the cover for The Nightmare Before Kissmas and had to have it.
So speaking of controlling and/or emotionally abusive parents: Coal’s dad is TERRIBLE. Luckily, we don’t deal with him directly very often in this book, we just see how it’s impacting Coal, who is taking over his father’s duties as the royal in charge of Christmas.
Yeah, that’s right, there are holiday royals in this book. The whole premise in this world is that there are royal families who oversee the magic of each holiday. I love the strange political mess of this magic system.
But what I love more is the dynamic between Coal, Prince of Christmas, and Hex, the Prince of Halloween. Close third is Hex’s wardrobe.
But what’s the plot? Fair question. As part of the intriguing politics in this book, Coal is supposed to marry the Easter Princess, his best-friend, and the woman his brother has a huge crush on. But then Hex shows up to battle for the princess’s hand in marriage and their rivalry is off. With both of them far more interested in each other than in the princess.
I’ve previously recommended Go Luck Yourself in this post:
Go Luck Yourself is the second book in the Royals and Romance series. Book three is apparently happening, so keep an eye out for that as it will wrap up the series.
This is an enemies to lovers book set in a world where each holiday has its own royalty that oversees the holiday. The premise is silly but fun, and while the characters struggle with very real issues (terrible controlling fathers, anxiety, etc.) it’s presented in a respectful and considered manner. Although I don’t know it would be classified as a cozy fantasy, it’s definitely on my list of cozy, feel-good reads.
But I’ll gush a bit more to say that Coals’ brother Kris has to go undercover to investigate something that’s a total spoiler from book one, so you’re not reading it here. This is after a harmless prank goes a bit awry. Turns out that the Crown Prince of St. Patrick’s Day, Loch, is the same guy Kris has had a mini-rivalry with at school, and now they’re being forced together as part of Kris’s undercover mission.
Loch is an incredible cinnamon roll, which is another trope I love.
Both of these books are silly and absurd, but tackle difficult relationship dynamics. They’re fun romps that also hit you in the gut. If you’re wanting something less serious, but with some depth (ah the contradictions!), I highly recommend you pick these up.
The Queer Principles of Kit Webb – Cat Sebastian
Historical Romance
“Kit Webb has left his stand-and-deliver days behind him. But dreary days at his coffee shop have begun to make him pine for the heady rush of thievery.” This line from the back copy of the book is what sold me.
For one, I could relate to the feeling of being ready for adventure. But mostly it’s that I love reading historical romances involving thieves or bandits because it sets me up for one of my favorite romance tropes: enemies to lovers.
There is a sequel to this book that I also found quite fun, The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes. But still, start with this one. It’s a fun romp wherein a retired thief is teaching a gentleman how to undertake a heist. Suffice it to say, this gentleman needs A LOT of help.
Red, White & Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston
Contemporary Romance
I’m pretty sure this has been on everyone’s list already. It was released in 2019 and was even made into a movie. But it’s truly a delight and if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.
Alex is the president’s son and Henry is a prince of England. They famously hate each other. After a particularly bad event showcasing this animosity hits the press, they’re ordered to fake a friendship. Not just a friendship, but a close, best-friends situation. Which means they have to spend a lot of time together at events neither is super excited to attend.
Hello enemies to lovers, how I do love thee.
But this book also features a female president of the United States, which landed as hopeful back in 2019 and now reads as bittersweet. It puts forth both countries in a more hopeful light. Honestly, I just want to live in that version of reality rather than our actual current era.
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (&) A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel – KJ Charles
Historical Romance
I’m debating The Secret Lives this is truly a second-chance romance because that trope is not on my favs list. But it does feature a baronet who ends up out in the boonies on land bordering a smuggling clan. I really enjoyed seeing the marsh setting in a historical romance, rather than being tied up in ballrooms and lush estates.
A Nobleman’s Guide is the second book, taking place on the same marsh, with the same family of smugglers and another reluctant nobleman. I was sucked into this world with book one, so naturally picked up the second, which did not disappoint.
Sorcery and Small Magics – Maiga Doocy
Fantasy [Romance- although they’ll shelve it under fantasy]
Pulled from my last post:
This is one of those books that as soon as I finished it, I went online to see if there was a second book. There is not. I did find the author’s website and dug to find out there should be a second book coming. I will be heartbroken if it never arrives.
I want to tell you this is an enemies to lovers romance, but this is not a romance book. I had to look that up, actually, because in my head it 100% is. I adored these two sorcerers who dislike each other very much but who have to go go off into a magical dangerous forest to break a curse that’s left one sorcerer under the command of the other one (it was an accident!).
I loved the world Doocy created, loved the characters, loved the coziness of it. Generally I just loved this book. I wanted to spend more time there, dissociating from the here and now with characters who are trying their best to the right thing and who are actually very good people.
We Could Be So Good – Cat Sebastian
Historical Romance
Oh hey, another Cat Sebastian book. Here’s the thing, those historical romances above? They’re regency, right? Well this one is set in the 1950s in New York, and honestly I was nervous to pick this one up. I struggle with historical romance, queer or straight, set in the 1900s because, well, typically things were really really bad for folks and it wasn’t that long ago, and sadly, things are largely the same in the U.S. In short, it lacks that escapism and just has me on edge.
But this book had me hooked from the first paragraph. The tone and voice was instantly set. Page one you know that reporter Nick Russo does not like his boss’s son, who he now has to work with. Except you also can tell he loves-hates this guy. And boom, I was invested. I love a good ‘I don’t want to like this person but I do and that’s miserable’ setup.
These characters were so good to each other and the journey their on was heartwarming. I wasn’t as nervous reading as I expected.
Side note: If you’ve never read the Heartstopper graphic novels and you’re watching the TV show, I hear that’s quite stressful (my partner was tense for each episode). In the graphic novels it’s clear that in the world of Heartstopper, the characters are going to be good and make the right decisions and respond the healthy way, showcasing how the world should be, while leaving the rest of the terrible world in place around them. So it’s not saying other people in the world aren’t homophobic, but you know that the characters you’re meeting and bonding with are going to be okay.
This book has a lot of that going for it. There are dirty cops. Homophobia is very real. But the characters you’re engaging with and going on a journey with (secondary as well as primary) are good people and they’re responding in supportive, safe ways.
And if you’ve read the Game Changers series by Rachel Reid (not rec’d here because I assume everyone already knows about them due to Heated Rivalry taking off last year), you’ll get what I mean. The threat is there. It’s a plot point. But the people/characters are (mostly) wholesome. These all maintain the romance promise of happily-ever-after (or in the case of Heated Rivalry, Happy-For-Now, with eventual HEA).
If you’re not deep enough into romance novels to know what I’m talking about – hi, welcome. No worries. Come try out a few titles and see what you like.
A. K. Hudson 