There are very few genres of book that will ever beat a good old romance novel. There is something extremely heartwarming about romance novels, and they are often the perfect book to dive into and escape from the real world.
Time and time again, romance novels will have you falling in love with the main protagonist’s love interest, so it is understandable that you may find yourself searching for a good romance novel to get lost in.
Now-a-days, you don’t need to settle for your classic girl meets boy romance. Thankfully, the book market has become a lot more diverse, and now there are plenty of LGBTQ+ novels to choose from.
With novels covering a huge variety of different tropes, there really is a gay romance novel out there for everyone!
In this guide, we’re taking a look at 8 of the best gay romance novels for you to indulge yourself in! So keep on reading to find out more!
1. Boyfriend Material – Alexis Hall
First up, we have “Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall. Boyfriend Material is the first in a sequel of novels, and it tells the story of a reluctantly famous son of two rock stars, Luc O’Donnell.
After many years in and out of rehab, Luc’s father is looking for a comeback, and after a compromising photo of Luc is leaked to the press, he needs to clean up his act.
The best way to clean up his act? To fake a relationship with a man that is about as ethical and inoffensive as they come, of course.
This book is the one to read if you are someone who loves the fake relationship to real lovers trope, as it tells the story of Luc and Oliver falling in love in private while being deeply in love in public. We’re sure you’ll love this novel!
2. Red, White and Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston
Next up, we have the book that took Bookstagram by storm during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021, and that is “Red, White and Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston.
If you are searching for an author that writes incredible LGBTQ+ fiction, then Casey McQuiston is an author who’s back catalog you should definitely check out.
Red, White and Royal Blue tells the story of the son of the President of America falling in love with the Prince of England. Of course, all this starts with the two protagonists, Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry of England, hating each other.
So, this novel really is one for those who love the enemies to lovers trope. While the storyline can be a little far-fetched at times, this is a heartwarming novel, and one that will definitely suck you in!
3. Love, Hate and Clickbait – Liz Bowery
“Love, Hate and Clickbait” by Liz Bowery is another novel that gives off similar vibes to the previous two novels that we have looked at.
It is that perfect balance of cheesy romance and important topics that everybody searches for in an LGTBQ+ novel, and that is why we love it!
This romance tells the story of two men working on the presidential campaign of the Governor of California. Thom Morgan is a political consultant who is as cutthroat as can be, and doesn’t suffer fools, while Clay Parker is a smug analyst who loves getting under Thom’s skin.
When a sneaky pap steals a photo of the two caught in a heated argument that inadvertently makes it look like the two are kissing, they find themselves having to fake a relationship in an attempt at damage control.
Combining the fake relationship and enemies to lovers tropes, this book is definitely one to indulge yourself in!
4. The Charm Offensive – Alison Cochrun
If you love a reality show, then “The Charm Offensive” by Alison Cochrun is the gay romance novel you didn’t even know you were missing. This book tells the story of Dev Deshpande who is the scriptwriter for a straight “reality” show, Ever After.
The show’s producers cast disgraced Charlie Winshaw in the show to try to save his image and Dev finds himself working with Charlie on a day-to-day basis.
As Dev tries to work with Charlie to build the chemistry between him and his female co-stars on the show, Dev finds that instead the chemistry between himself and Charlie is building.
But as the script Dev writes tells the story of Charlie falling in love with one of the beautiful girls on the show, the pair must decide which love story they really want to tell. This really is a great novel, and Alison Cochrun is definitely an author to keep an eye out for!
5. If This Gets Out – Sophie Gonzalez and Cale Dietrich
Alternatively, if you are looking for an LGBTQ+ YA novel, you should check out “If This Gets Out” by Sophie González and Cale Dietrich. This novel tells the story of two members of American boy band, Saturday, falling in love in private, but having to keep their relationship a secret in public.
If This Gets Out is the novel for anybody who has ever shipped two of their favorite members of any boy band. From bromance to romance, this novel covers some of the most popular relationship tropes in LGBTQ+ novels, and it has you falling in love with Ruben and Zach’s relationship at the same time.
The two main protagonists of this book are only 18 years old, so this book may feel a bit too young for some older readers, but if you love the youthfulness of YA fiction, this is the book for you!
6. The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller
Just like “Red, White and Royal Blue”, “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller is another novel that has dominated both Bookstagram and Booktok since it was first published.
Many people recommend this as the book to read if you want to have a good cry, and it is a great one to read if you are looking for a gay romance novel too!
The premise of this book is very different to the others that we have looked at so far. It is based in Greece in the age of the heroes, and it tells the story of a Prince called Patroclus who has been exiled by the King in favor of his golden son, Achilles.
Despite these boys being forced apart, they get along incredibly well and a bond forms between the two – a bond that will lead them through life and into battle.
This story is very different, and it won’t be for everyone, but if you love the stories of the Greek Gods, this is the perfect gay romance novel for you.
7. Carry On – Rainbow Rowell
Another great YA gay romance novel to check out is “Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell. This novel is very different from all the others that we have looked at so far as it combines ghost stories, love stories, and mysteries to create a storyline that will drag you in and keep you invested right till the very end.
“Carry On” tells the story of the chosen one, Simon Snow, and his roommate, who also happens to be an evil vampire, and his arch nemesis, Baz.
Simon is under a lot of stress, he’s incompetent and struggling to learn from his mentor, his girlfriend has left him, and there’s a magic-eating monster that has chosen to use Simon’s face on its hunts.
We’re sure you’re wondering how this all comes together into one well planned novel, and you’re just going to have to read to find out!
8. Heartstopper – Alice Oseman
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the “Heartstopper” series by Alice Oseman. This series of graphic novels really has taken the world by storm, as people all over the world have fallen in love with Charlie and Nick.
The support for these novels has only increased since the Netflix adaptation was released in 2022.
Heartstopper is the first in a series of YA graphic novels. It tells the story of a shy teenage boy called Charlie who sits beside Nick Nelson, one of the star players of the rugby team, in class one day.
The pair hit it off straight away, and a friendship quickly forms between the two. As the pair spend more and more time together, Charlie finds himself developing feelings for his “straight” friend, but little does he know that Nick is struggling with feelings of his own.
Dealing with all this alongside the stress of being two young men in high school is a lot, and Heartstopper takes us along on the ride.
And if you love this novel, there are plenty more where the first one came from! It is the perfect gay novel to indulge yourself in, and one that you’ll find yourself completing in no time.
Summary
So, as you can see, there are lots of excellent gay romance novels out there for you to indulge yourself in. From cheesy YA romances to steamy adult novellas, there are lots of options out there.
In this guide, we have included some of the best options out there that you really need to read to appreciate.
Thanks for reading!