19 Queer Romance Novels That Readers Couldn’t Put Down

‘Delilah Green Doesn’t Care’ by Ashley Herring Blake

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake tells the story of – you guessed it – Delilah Green, a photographer who lives in New York City who’s coming back to her hometown to shoot the wedding of her estranged stepsister, Astrid. When she gets there, she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s stuck-up besties, and a connection soon blossoms. 

“Though they’ve known each other for years, they don’t really know each other—so Claire is unsettled when Delilah figures out exactly what buttons to push,” the description reads. “When they’re forced together during a gauntlet of wedding preparations—including a plot to save Astrid from her horrible fiancé—Claire isn’t sure she has the strength to resist Delilah’s charms.”

‘Mistakes Were Made’ by Meryl Wilsner

Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner tells the story of college senior Cassie Klein who, in an attempt to get away from her college’s Family Weekend, has an unbelivable one-night stand with an older woman. The morning after, however, she realizes the woman is none other than her best friend’s mom. 

“What should have been a one-time fling quickly proves impossible to ignore, and soon Cassie and Erin are sneaking around,” the description reads. “Worst of all, they start to realize they have something real. But is being honest about the love between them worth the cost?”

‘The Charm Offensive’ by Alison Cochrun

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun tells the story of Dev Deshpande, a hopelessly romantic reality TV producer who’s spent his life curating the most incredible love stories in his show, Ever After. But when disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw becomes the lead, the season becomes more complictaed that he anticipated. 

“As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars,” the description reads. “But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.”

‘We Could Be So Good’ by Cat Sebastian

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian tells the story of how opposites attract. Nick Russo survived his rough childhood in Brooklyn and is getting his big break in one of the best newspapers in the city. Andy Fleming, on the other hand, begrudingly agreed to spend a year at the newspaper under his dad, the newspaper tycoon. 

“Their unlikely friendship soon sharpens into feelings they can’t deny,” the description says of these two characters.
“But what feels possible in secret—this fragile, tender thing between them—seems doomed in the light of day. Now Nick and Andy have to decide if, for the first time, they’re willing to fight.”

‘The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen’ by KJ Charles

In another story of opposites attract, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles follows Gareth Inglis, a lonely young man who’s just inherited his late father’s home and remote Marsh, and Joss Doomsday, the longtime chief of a smuggling clan in that same Marsh. 

“Their reunion is anything but happy, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away,” the description says of these star-crossed lovers. “Soon, all Joss and Gareth want is the chance to be together. But the bleak, bare Marsh holds deadly secrets. And when Gareth finds himself threatened from every side, the gentleman and the smuggler must trust one another not just with their hearts, but with their lives.”

‘The Prospects’ by KT Hoffman

The Prospects by KT Hoffman starts off with Gene Ionescu, the first openly trans player in professional baseball, making a name for himself on the pitch. Things change for him, however, when Luis Estrada, Gene’s former teammate and current rival, joins his team and presents either a threat or a possibility for a total do-over. 

“As the two grow closer, the tension between them turns electric, and their chemistry spills past the confines of the stadium,” the stadium reads. “For every tight double play they execute, there’s also a glance at summer-tan shoulders or a secret shared, each one a breathless moment of possibility that ignites in Gene the visceral, terrifying kind of desire he’s never allowed himself.”

‘Lavash at First Sight’ by Taleen Voskuni

Tired of her day-to-day routine, Nazeli “Ellie” Gregorian jumps on the opportunity to attend and compete for a major prize in PakCon—a food packaging conference in Chicago– in Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni. When she arrives, she connects with Vanya Simonian. But, despite their similarities, she soon finds out their families are owners of rivaling Armenian food companies. 

“Sworn as enemies, Ellie and Vanya must compete against each other under their suspicious parents’ scrutiny, all while their feelings for each other heat to sizzling temps,” the description reads. 

‘The (Fake) Dating Game’ by Timothy Janovsky

Featuring the classic fake-dating trope, The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky tells the story of Holden James, someone who’s been recently dumped and jetted off to LA to audition for his favorite TV show, Madcap Market. But while Holden plans to wallow in his sadness, his hotel concierge, Leo Min, becomes a shoulder to cry on, and the perfect candidate to be his partner in the game. 

“The (Fake) Dating Game is steamy AF (seriously, it might be the steamiest book I’ve read this year) and unequivocally gay,” wrote a reviewer on Goodreads. “If you like steamy gay romance, reality competition shows, or just fun escapist reads, this is your book!”

‘A Lady for a Duke’ by Alexis Hall

In A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall, the main character Viola, who just recently left her old life behind, begins her new life as her true trans self for the first time. But when she reunites with her oldest friend, Gracewood, she realizes there are some things she can’t leave behind. 

“From the moment those two people met again, the love splashed off the pages and found a place in my heart—the tenderness, the grief, the intimacy, the craving, the heartbreaking moments, all so vivid and palpable, imbued with Alexis’ humor, and again love, so much love,” wrote one reviewer. 

‘Faebound’ by Saara El-Arifi

Faebound by Sarra El-Arifi is about queer romance, but also about so much more. The novel follows two sisters, Yeeran and Lettle, a war colonel and a diviner, respectively, who suddenly get exiled from their home in the Elven Lands and thrust into a world of adventure and temptation. 

“Legitimately one of the best initial books in a series I’ve read in ages,” wrote one Goodreads reviewer. “The twists??? the magic?? sapphics fighting and then kissing???”

‘The Emperor and the Endless Palace’ by Justinian Huang

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang tells the story of three different timeframes: one in 4 BCE, another in 1740 and the last in present-day 1740. In each of those times, the two protagonists always end up finding themselves, and the undeniable love they have for one another. 

“Within the treacherous walls of an ancient palace and the boundless forests of the Asian wilderness to the heart-pounding cement floors of underground rave scenes, our lovers are inexplicably drawn to each other, constantly tested by the worlds around them,” the description reads. “As their many lives intertwine, they begin to realize the power of their undying love—a power that transcends time itself…but one that might consume them both.”

‘D’Vaughn & Kris Plan a Wedding’ by Chencia C. Higgins

In a book that has both the fake dating trope and is set around a reality show, D’Vaughn & Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins tells the story of two women, D’Vaughn and Kris, who sign up for a dating show where they are paired together to try to trick their families into believing that they are getting married in six weeks.

“Selling their chemistry on camera is surprisingly easy, and it’s still there when no one else is watching, which is an unexpected bonus,” the description reads. “But each week of the competition brings new challenges, and soon the prize money’s not the only thing at stake.”

“It was so affirming to see a healthy lesbian couple portrayed, as a lesbian reader,” wrote one reviewer on Goodreads. “The atmosphere of the book was filled with such love, warmth, and light, it was an easy, cozy novel to sink into!” 

‘A Marvellous Light’ by Freya Marske

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske tells the story of Robin Blyth, a wealthy baronet who’s thrust into the world of magic in the middle of 1800’s London. Upon arrival, he then meets Edwin Courcey, his cold and prickly counterpart in the magical bureaucracy who knows all too well about the dangers of the magical world. 

Together, the two begin to search for Robin’s predecessor who disappeared weeks before he joined. “Thrown together and facing unexpected dangers, Robin and Edwin discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles―and a secret that more than one person has already died to keep,” the description reads. 

‘All the Right Notes’ by Dominic Lim

All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim tells the story of fame, love, missed connections and an ever-growing desire to truly “make it.” The novel follows Quito Cruz, a genius piano player in New York City who’s organizing a charity performance in his hometown. When tasked to recruit her former flame Emmett Aoki, who’s now a big star in Hollywood, their feelings for each other start bubbling to the surface. 

“When Emmett agrees to attend, and Quito realizes that undeniable vibe between them is stronger than ever,” the description reads. “Because there’s nothing simple about falling for a movie star . . . even when he’s pitch-perfect.” 

‘The Romantic Agenda’ by Claire Kann

The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann follows the main character Joy, who’s thirty, flirty, asexual and in love with her best friend Malcolm. But when Malcolm announces he’s in love with someone else, Joy concocts an entire plan to fake date her friend, Fox, to show Malcolm what he’s really missing. 

“But spending time with Fox shows Joy what it’s like to not be the third wheel, and there’s no mistaking the way he makes her feel,” the description reads. “Could Fox be the romantic partner she’s always deserved?”

‘Stars Collide’ by Rachel Lacey

Stars Collide by Rachel Lacey is another story about love in the spotlight. The novel follows singing legend Eden Sands who’s in a bit of a rut in her career. As a solution to her problems, her team suggests inviting music’s rising star Anna Moss to her long-awaited performance at the Grammys. After some persistence, Eden agrees. 

“As Anna and Eden rehearse, they soon realize they have more in common than their musical talents,” the description reads. “Now they just have to decide if what is between them is a one-hit wonder or the making of a romance worthy of one of the greatest love songs of all time.”

‘Late Bloomer’ by Mazey Eddings

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings follows Opal Devlin, a young woman whose life gets turned upside down after she wins the lottery and everyone begins to treat her differently. To get away from everything, she moves all the way out to a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina. 

That is, however, until the “angry (albeit gorgeous)” Pepper Boden claims she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms.

“The unlikely pair strike up an agreement of co-habitation, and butt heads at every turn,” the description reads. “Can these opposites both live out their dreams and plant roots? Or will their combustible arguing (and growing attraction) burn the whole place down?”

‘Outdrawn’ by Deanna Gray

Outdrawn by Deanna Gray tells the story of two fierce and ambitious women, Noah Blue and Sage Montgomery, who just happen to stand in each other’s way before their biggest break: re-launching the cult classic comic Queen Leisah.

“Sage and Noah have to work as a team — or, at least appear to work as a team,” the description reads. “They thought the hardest part of the relaunch would be drawing together. But that’s easy in comparison to resisting their feelings for each other.”

‘How You Get the Girl’ by Anita Kelly

What would you do if your ultimate celebrity crush offered to be your assistant? For Coach Julie Parker in How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly, having super-hot ex-WNBA baller Elle Cochrane was far from her plans. 

“Maybe because being around her makes Elle feel sparks for the first time in long while—which is why she offers to help when Julie reveals her lifelong insecurity about dating and how she wishes she could practice at it…like sports,” the description reads. “As Elle helps Julie navigate dating life, lines grow increasingly blurred, and the two must decide whether they’ll stay on the sidelines—or finally take their shot.”