Pride Month has rolled upon us all once again. Fifty-seven years since the burning of Stonewall Inn in New York City, the LGBTQIA+ community continues to fight for equality if not for acceptance. Through same-sex civil unions and marriages to equal working rights, the fight is far from over. But we celebrate life and its small wins.
In the past decade, one front has made a long stride in ensuring members of the LGBTQIA+ community are represented on a bigger and recognized stage. Since the late 2000s, a number of literary fiction works have been published by traditional and indie publishing houses paving way for visibility; visibility of the community's members, and the geniuses behind the books. A move towards greater awareness that members of the LGBTQIA+ are more than the stigma society has placed on their heads like a bounty since time immemorial.
In celebration of Pride Month 2021, I will be going over some of the four-to-five-stars rated gay romance novels I read in 2021 in this article.
14 Best MM Romance Novels to Read in Pride Month 2021
As the pandemic drags itself longer in some regions in the world and countries, what best way to celebrate Pride Month 2021 but by reading some of these novels with family and friends?
1. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
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| Photo from Goodreads |
Alexis Hall is one of the recognized contemporary gay romance novel authors today. His characters are memorable for being smart and funny and downright queer. Boyfriend Material is a book that follows the story of music legacy son Luc O'Donnell and lawyer Oliver Blackwood. Oliver hired Luc to be his fake boyfriend only to end up falling for Luc after fighting what he was feeling inside. The strangers-to-fake-lovers-to-actual-lovers trope was just delicious and sexy in this book.
2. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
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| Photo from Goodreads |
In a parallel universe, we might just have a gay member of the British Royal Family. That is a certain feat in Casey McQuiston's debut novel, Red, White & Royal Blue. This 2019 Goodreads Choice Winner for Romance follows the story of US First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz, a smart has-his-nose-for-politics almost-university-graduate, and HRH Henry, a British prince. What relationship started out as being each other's archrival in world dominance warped into being a relationship of romance that could either derail the US-UK relationship or usher the two nations forward. This romance is a modern-day fairy tale on steroids that I read it twice in a row.
3. The Making of Jonty Bloom by Barbara Elsborg
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| Photo from Goodreads |
This book screams Nicholas-Sparks-kind-of-romance-setting but wrapped in rom-com queer narrative. I think Jonty is a character that resembles many of those cheeky gay guys who are downright cute but are sometimes uncoordinated -- especially in the presence of someone hot -- despite being the smart person they are. That says a lot about how the book's characters are well-developed. I also love how Jonty and Devan have their own demons to deal with; nothing screws characters more than haunted pasts. Their dialogues are fun, cheeky, sarcastic, and very raw that it lingers long after you turn the page it’s in.
4. Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert
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| Photo from Goodreads |
This YA novel follows the story of deck card gamers Conrad and Alden as they make their way to a gamers' convention and win a national competition. This is yet another enemies-to-lovers novel but completely different because it features two geeks who ooze with so much romantic (and later on sexual) tension. The book is very wholesome for a YA, don't get me wrong. It's amazing how Albert was able to catch how the deck game is played and even give us the whole tournament feels blow-by-blow.
5. Drifter by Eden Winters
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| Photo from Goodreads |
This contemporary new adult gay romance novel reminded me of Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Drifter follows the story that oozes with so much romantic and sexual tension between artist Killian Desmond and Mike Rose. The former continues to drift along with the tides of life following a tragedy that has befallen him and cost him his everything. Meanwhile, Mike drifts with no clear path after he was kicked out of his family for being gay. The two, later on, find music as their salvation and each other's embrace was their redemption.
6. The Friend Scheme by Cale Dietrich
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| Photo from Goodreads |
In this Romeo-and-Juliet re-imagined YA novel by Cale Dietrich, we meet Matt Miller, a high schooler who faces too many dilemmas in life. He meets Jason one night. He knows better than to let on more than what he should but he is attracted to Jason. But something about him is amiss and conspicuous which nag Matt. Secrets after secrets, Matt learns the true nature of his relationship with Jason, including Jason's ulterior motives and his true identity. It's not just cheeky and cheesy. It's also intriguing how such a relationship can flourish given the intricacies and complexities between Matt and Jason.
7. History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
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| Photo from Goodreads |
With poignant undertones, Silvera takes us on a journey where emotions collide in almost like frenzied back-and-forth inside a large hadron collider. The book starts with Griffin having to face the reality that his ex-boyfriend, Theo, is never coming back. Figuratively and literally. Griffin had to deal with the claustrophobic sequence of events that come as a result of Theo's death. He has to deal with the denial and anger that Theo will no longer be able to fulfill his promises. It showed us teenage angst and vulnerability, but it also gave us emotional rawness that is both just simply mind-blowing.
8. Rubbing One Out by Susan Mac Nicol
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| Photo from Goodreads |
Susan Mac Nicol's Rubbing One Out is a dive into classic Disney original and re-imagines our concept of Arabian Knights, Aladin, and genies. Ben is a zoologist working at a local zoo. His life was pretty much the embodiment of what mundane looks like but he is contented, to say the least, thank you very much. But everything changed when a genie emerges from a lamp he bought from an antic shop. But unbeknownst to the two of them, there are rules that are bigger than their attraction. Time is a time bomb and before they even put a finger on it, they might find themselves torn apart if they make so much as a small mistake in using the wishes they are given.
9. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
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| Photo from Goodreads |
After reading this book, you will never be the same again. It follows the story of two unlikely characters to meet in real life if not because of a literal life-altering event. Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio are going to die over the next 24 hours. No one knows how no one knows what time exactly; they are going to die. The pair met through an app on their last day on Earth and set out to live the best 24 hours of their lives.
10. Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
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| Photo from Goodreads |
Autoboyography is the first book I threw across the room because of heartache and all the bad things that constitute being in a messed-up same-sex relationship. this book is a poignant rom-com, coming out, and coming of age journey of Tanner Scott. It’s hard to put your best version out there when there are bigger rules at play. Rules that, if breached, might cost you your everything. This is more a journey for Sebastian Brother in that respect. As I’ve said, love this book. I love the plot. I love the character development—their dilemmas and tics—and the whole arc.
11. Of Starlight and Stardust by Riley Hart and Christina Lee
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| Photo from Goodreads |
There are two things that made this book such a decent read; (1) characters' background stories, (2) is how the arc of the story made complete sense towards the end. That is not saying the rest of the plot was questionable. Actually, as a reader, you will not get hints of how the story will end until your reach the end. This book is heart-tugging and heart-warming.
12. Someday, Someday by Emma Scott
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| Photo from Goodreads |
If this listicle followed best to least good order, Someday, Someday would have been at the top of the list. This novel follows the story of medical professional Max Kaufman who met brooding, dark, and twisty Silas Marsh at a support group session. It was an attraction like no other from thereon. This book checked so many boxes for me; it discussed the negative effects of gay conversion therapy, family issues, and raised awareness about Asperger's syndrome. Apart from that, this book just made me feel a whole spectrum of emotions in rapid succession; a rare feat really.
13. Honeymoon for One by Keira Andrews
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| Photo from Goodreads |
I find this book with a sense of familiarity. Imagine catching your fiance in bed with another man a day before your wedding. That's the main plot of this book. Despondent and lost after the big reveal, Ethan Robinson decided to push through his honeymoon in The Land Down Under alone. There he met Australian divorcee Clay Kelly. Clay's ex-wife lives in Christchurch while his two kids are off finding their place in the world. Clay has to deal with a big reveal himself: that he is gay and in love with Ethan. And come out to his family.
14. Arden St Ives Trilogy by Alexis Hall
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| Photo from Goodreads |
There was definitely something stirring in the books—it’s a warm affection for the demons that make or break a person. Especially if that demon is accepted and reciprocated by something affectionally good. If you have read Fifty Shades of Grey, this should come as an easy read in as much as getting a sense of familiarity with anything borderline-erotica/BDSM. There were several parallelisms as well between Arden and Anna; Caspian and Christian. This trilogy has also made me feel a whole spectrum of emotions in rapid succession, which left me reeling, hopeful, hurt, horny most of the time, and in love. That was very delicious and sexy and kinky.
Celebrate Pride Month 2021
Pride is a celebration of not just the queer culture but life itself. More than the fight for acceptance and equality, Pride Month 2021 is an extension of life and all that comes with it. These books show that we are never too gay to function. In fact, we are professionals, CEOs, doctors, nurses, teachers, friends, and family. We are more than just unrecognized and faceless members of the crowd. We are just like everyone else.
Let's celebrate Pride Month with optimism for the future!
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