Something fun about me: For a good twenty years after college I didn’t read much of anything. Newspapers and magazines, sure, but nothing really in the way of books. Then in 2015, I was listening to an episode of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour and they mentioned m/m romances in passing. That was a thing I never knew existed! So I picked one up, just for fun. And it turned out I liked it, a lot! One book became another and another and another, and these days I’m reading around a hundred books each year. Because it turns out: REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
If you are queer, it’s a rough time in the world. For me, I want to read about people like me who get their happily ever afters. There’s a lot of crap in the world right now, so a small spot of brightness is appreciated. For me personally, though, I want to know these characters – who they are and how they think. When you have a good author, you see their motivations, why they act the way they do. Sometimes I see myself in them, sometimes I don’t, but I care about them. That’s what matters. And when good things happen to them, that brings joy to my heart. Who doesn’t need joy in their lives?
(Side note: Even though it’s a little clunky, M/M is the common term over, say gay romances, because it is more inclusive of the broad spectrum of sexualities out there. I have also seen the term Achillean romances used, though that doesn’t seem like much of an improvement.)
Although my general bent is towards paranormal M/M romances (and specifically werewolves and shifters), I have already covered my recommendations for those. This post is about my favorite contemporary M/M romances. These take place in the here and now, with no fantastical elements.
To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders
Lucky is a globetrotting photojournalist, and Ellis is his lifelong friend who stays in Nebraska. No matter where Lucky goes, he always comes back to see Ellis. Over the years, Lucky figures out why exactly that is. I reviewed this book earlier, and it is absolutely beautiful. It’s one of my top favorite books of all time, for sure.
Unconventional Hearts by Emmy Sanders
Emmy Sanders strikes again with a wonderful story of three guys finding love together on a Texas ranch. One of the guys is asexual, and I absolutely loved how it is portrayed here. (This is book 3 in a series but it stands alone just fine.)
Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly
Alexei and Ben meet by chance while hiking the 2,500-mile Pacific Crest Trail. This story follows their months and weeks together, through their ups and downs and figuring out their feelings towards one another. The ending on this one is so very sweet and totally made me cry! (This is book 2 in a series but it stands alone perfectly.)
Sidecar by Amy Lane
It’s 1987, and Joe finds Casey, a teenage runaway, on the side of the road, cold, hungry, and exhausted. He gives him a home, and Joe helps raise Casey to be a smart and thoughtful young man. The story is told in a series of extended vignettes as we follow Casey growing into a young adult, and the changing relationship between them. This writing is so good here, and I adored Joe and Casey. (Read my full review here.)
Rattlesnake by Kim Fielding
A dusty town in the California foothills is the setting for this story of Jimmy, a drifter who can’t seem to settle down, and Shane, a strong-willed man who’s dealing with his own setbacks in life. The suspense of the emerging relationship, and whether it will be enough to finally let Jimmy call someplace home, drives this story and it is so well-told. (Read my full review here.)
Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson
Justin’s father has passed away, and he and his best friend Landry are on a road trip across the United States to scatter his ashes at place his father held sacred, documenting his trip with his trusty Nikon camera. I love a good road trip story, and this one is so good as we see the push and pull between supposedly-straight-but really-not Justin and out-and-proud Landry as the miles tick by. It takes a while for them to figure things out, but when they do it’s just beautiful.
Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert
Speaking of road trips, this story of nerds in love is a great one. You can read my full review, but in short: Popular and charming Conrad must share a cross-country drive with Alden, who is brilliant but closed-off. They are driving to a national Odyssey gaming tournament (read: Magic: The Gathering with he serial number filed off). Watching these two spark off one another and then figuring out their attraction is so much fun. Albert does a fantastic job of introducing enough game elements to provide background and tension without getting too bogged in details. I loved this one, and the audiobook by Joel Leslie and Kirt Graves (two of my favorite narrators) is excellent.
Galaxies and Oceans by N.R. Walker
Kangaroo Island off the coast of Australia is the setting for this story of Ethan, who is escaping his violent ex-boyfriend, and Patrick, a solitary local man who lost his partner years ago and is still mourning. This one speaks to me for obvious reasons, but the writing is so good as these two find their way together. Walker can always be relied on for great characters, and as usual does a wonderful job of bringing Australian life to the page. You can read my full review here.
Oz by Lily Morton
This is something a little lighter. Lily Morton writes romantic comedy so very well, and this is an excellent example of it. We have Oz, an Irishman who applies to be an estate manager at a stately home in Cornwall, despite the fact that he knows nothing about how to manage estates. There he finds Silas, who is technically an earl, but also a house that is in a dilapidated state. Silas is charming and funny, and Oz, who is just doing this for a lark and doesn’t want to be tied down, finds himself falling for Silas. The banter here is top-notch, and the side characters are a lot of fun as well. I recommend the entire series.
Fakers by Lucy Lennox and May Archer
We’ll wrap up with one more rom-com, this one even more laugh-out-loud funny. Licking Thicket, Tennessee is a tiny town with a ton of quirky traditions. We’re introduced to a hilarious cast of characters and a great set-up:
When returning to Licking Thicket, TN, for the first time in ten years to reunite with your nosy neighbors, heart-broken ex-girlfriend, and matchmaking mama who never quite believed you were gay, it’s best to bring a fake boyfriend as backup…
Just don’t be surprised when your ex-girlfriend does the same.
This is probably the funniest series that I’ve read in a long time, and the dialogue is hilarious. This is another book with a fantastic audio version, this one performed by Michael Dean. He nails the accents perfectly, and his performance really added to the story.
So there you have it. Read and enjoy!