Heartbeats & Happy Endings: Gay Romance Novels
If I were making a list of the best books featuring LGBTQ+ and gay romances, every single one of these books would be on the list! (It wouldn’t necessarily be a top 10, maybe a top 25?) If you loved Red, White, & Royal Blue or Byron Lane’s Big Gay Wedding, you will love each and every one of these picks.
4 Gay Romance Books We Recommend
The Bump – Sidney Karger
I was a huge fan of Sidney Karger’s Best Man, so I was super excited to dive into this road trip story starring two gay men expecting a baby via surrogate.
Wyatt is a type-A, super practical, uber-organized director for TV commercials. Not what you would call “flexible.” Biz Petterelli is a former child actor-turned-writer who is ULTRA flexible. Biz thrives on spontaneity, embracing last-minute changes of plans with arms wide open.
The two men are very committed to each other, their dog, Matilda, and their lovely live in Brooklyn. They are also about to be parents.
Their baby, via surrogate, is coming in just a few short weeks. They’ve planned to fly out to California just before the due date, but Biz suddenly has an incredible idea: ROAD TRIP! The two men could use some “them time” before being tied down by parenthood and the crushing sense of responsibility that comes with it. Biz does manage to talk Wyatt into it, and the fathers-to-be load up their Cabriolet and hit the road on a cross-country babymoon.
And that’s when things get weird. They are heading to California, but find themselves detoured in Provincetown, attending a weird baby shower in Chicago, and suffering through a Star Wars-themed wedding in Colorado before they continue west.
Unexpected detours force Wyatt and Biz to face some old grudges and hurt feelings from long ago. But they belong together, for better or for worse, and the men have to reshape their own ideas of what a family looks like.
What Others Are Saying:
“Karger makes it easy to empathize with his heroes, bringing impressive emotional depth to their relationship… Readers will root for Biz and Wyatt to make it work.”—Publishers Weekly
“Karger’s second novel is a heartwarming, comedic journey of two partners finding each other again…weaving a road trip of a lifetime with hints of nostalgia, hope, and acceptance.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Sid Karger has done it again, with this beautifully-written and timely story that resonates in a universal way. The Bump is a smart, deeply funny and heartwarming novel that perfectly captures modern parenthood, family and love. What a joy to read.”—Anderson Cooper, #1 New York Times bestselling author and journalist
The Shots You Take – Rachel Reid
This dual-POV, second-chance romance about FWBs in the NHL was such a fun read, even for a non-hockey fan!
Riley has been living back in his hometown for ten years. He is pretty sure left everything about his pro hockey career (including his broken heart) is in the past. But when tragedy strikes, Riley’s ex-teammate and former FWB comes skating back into his life.
Adam is second-guessing his impulse to travel to Riley’s tiny hometown in Nova Scotia. He knows that he screwed up when he left things unfinished between them all of those years ago. And his career is on an incredibly high trajectory, which also might not make Riley overly friendly toward him. But the sexual tension between them is throwing big sparks, even all of these years later.
Adam is determined to help Riley navigate his grief, but those strong feelings start stirring up OTHER strong feelings that can’t be ignored. Do the two men have a real shot at starting again? Or is their old complicated past going to stand in the way of their future together?
What Others Are Saying:
“Reid (Time To Shine) tells a complex, emotionally charged story in her latest hockey romance…. The bulk of this slow-burn, second-chance gay romance features scenes both charming and emotionally wrenching…. A beautifully written romance about finally finding oneself and a happy ending.” —Library Journal, starred review
“Reid peppers her hopeful story with cozy scenes, such as a trip to a farmer’s market and dinner with Riley’s queer friends. These moments show Adam becoming more comfortable with being gay and finding the courage to come out publicly. Even more swoon-inducing is the work Adam puts in to mending the hurt he caused Riley in the past. These two are sure to win fans.” —Publishers Weekly
“Reid expertly combines a charming small-town setting with a exceptional love story that is equal measures sensual heat and sweet emotion, all while deftly plumbing the romantic hopes and fears of two best friends who truly belong together.” —Booklist
Futbolistic – Jonny Garza Villa
Gabriel knows what his future holds. He will be a professional athlete and he will definitely be straight. He knows a lot of people are watching him as he starts his freshman year of college as the goalkeeper, and he plans to ride the wave all the way to a viable career as a pro. A straight pro.
When a classmate offers to tutor him in philosophy, Gabriel is a little weirded out. The two men have crossed paths before, and they actually wound up kissing VERY briefly because Gabriel was being hassled and Vale stepped in to smooth things over.
Gabriel realizes something as they continue to spend time together, studying, eating, and laughing. He might not be as straight as he thought he was. But he’s seen how his teammates react to other queer athletes. There is no way that a brown, Mexican futbolista can also bisexual and a professional athlete in his part of the world. Is there any scenario in which Gabriel can have a boyfriend and an athletic career?
What Others Are Saying:
“ Emotionally resonant, unexpectedly steamy, and melding together a coming-of-age story, philosophy, and a love story with all of my favorite tropes, Futbolista is a winning goal of a new adult romance that sets a new gold standard for this genre.”—Lance, Goodreads
“FUTBOLISTA isn’t just a romance or a sports story—it’s a powerful, layered exploration of identity, love, and what it means to truly see yourself. Jonny Garza Villa crafts a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant, especially for anyone navigating life in brown skin while discovering (or defending) their queerness.” – Jess.bookrecs
Winging it With You – Chip Pons
If the author’s name sounds familiar, it’s because Chip Pons is a popular bookstagrammer! He’s written a super sweet rom-com about a reality show, an airport, and romance.
Asher just got dumped. At the airport. He got dumped at the Boston airport, moments before boarding a plane that will take him to the jumping-off point for a new world-wide travel competition. Now Asher doesn’t have a partner for the competition, which is a distinct disadvantage. He heads to the airport TGI Fridays to comfort himself with lackluster mimosas and mozz sticks.
Instead, Asher finds Theo Fernandez, who is a pilot that has never taken a vacation. He’s been told to improve his (nonexistant) work/life balance, and that means it is time for some downtime. Theo is delighted when the most unbelievable opportunity presents itself. Asher needs a partner. Theo needs to show that he is trying to have fun as possible on his “sabbatical.”
The two men agree to fake a relationship for the TV cameras, and their on-screen chemistry is definitely steamy. Will it translate to real life? Or are they both destined to lose?
What Others Are Saying:
“My first read of 2025 and this one will be hard to beat! With writing that is both captivating and oh so sexy, readers are in for a ride with this one. I’m packing my bags and booking my ticket because Theo and Asher can take me anywhere.” —Sara Cate, USA Today bestselling author of Keep Me
“Readers looking for their next swoon-worthy gay romance will want this book on their TBR.” —NetGalley’s Bookish
“A frothy rom-com . . . Pons nails the erotic charge between his leads, and the far-flung backdrops add to the appeal. Timothy Janovksy fans will gobble this up.” —Publishers Weekly
I’m loving all of this representation across all genres! From sports romance to rom-coms, readers looking to connect with queer characters will definitely find the perfect book for them.
