Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, by Becky Albertalli ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lives up to its reputation as a modern YA gay classic. Nails the fear and triumph of coming out and opening oneself to first love. If you've seen the move Love, Simon, you should read the book. #Authors#books#reviews#lgbtqromance

Playing the Palace, by Paul Rudnick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fun and funny entry in the "gay romance with royals" subgenre. With witty dialog and laugh-out-loud scenes, "Playing the Palace" is pure escapism at its best. #Authors#books#reviews#lgbtqromance

The Foghorn Echoes, by Danny Ramadan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Just a lovely book. Tackles a wide variety of subjects--personal, cultural, societal--with graceful writing and honest emotion. Had me alternately cheering and tearing up, multiple times. A must-read. #Authors#books#reviews#lgbtqromance

Crashing Upwards, by S.C. Wynne ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fun read sprinkled with observations about family ties and social standing. One of those great romances where you have a good guess about where things are going to end up, but it's an enjoyable ride along the way. #Authors#books#reviews#lgbtqromance

Best Men, by Sidney Karger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Super fun, with snappy dialog, colorful characters, and a classic "will they won't they" storyline. A perfect beach (or backyard) read for the end of summer! #Authors#books#reviews#lgbtqromance

Excellent Sons: A Love Story in Three Acts, by Larry Benjamin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A marvel. The three-part structure takes you on a journey that sets it apart from the standard romance. The way the various threads come together is thrilling and heartwarming. Recommended! #Authors#books#reviews#lgbtqromance

Stars in Your Eyes, by Kacen Callender ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goes deeper than your typical romance into "adult" themes, while staying true to the genre's focus on hopefulness and possibilities. True-to-life characters and dialog make "Stars in Your Eyes" a winner. #Authors#books#reviews#lgbtqromance

Yesterday Is History, by Kosoko Jackson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A dash of Octavia Butler time travel combined with James Baldwin social commentary makes this YA gay romance a one-of-a-kind. A compelling read from start to finish.

A Dash of Salt and Pepper, by Kosoko Jackson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Take your favorite streaming romcom, transfer it to the written page, add a pinch of spice...and you get A Dash of Salt and Pepper! A sweet, breezy entry into the LGBTQ+ romance genre, this book is as enjoyable as a well-cooked meal.

Any Way the Wind Blows, by Rainbow Rowell ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ These books take YA elements like wizards and vampires and weave them into something fresh and new. The stories contain some of the most honest, emotionally resonant descriptions of opening oneself to, and struggling with, sexuality and relationship.