M/M romance author recommendations - who am I missing?
March 28, 2022 11:02 AM Subscribe
I'm currently at the point where I have re-(re-re-)read everything in my M/M romance collection too recently, and I need to branch out. I've pretty much trawled through all my Amazon recs, but surely there are more authors out there I would enjoy that humans can point me to! Details and current favorites inside.
OK, trying not to get too snowflake-y. I've think I've worked through most of this thread from last year. Unlike the asker there, I'm open to any time/setting, but am specifically seeking M/M.
Besides that, the most important thing I'm looking for is good, or at least workpersonlike, writing - showing not telling, clear POV, coherent character motivations. I can ignore a lot of other incompatibility if the writing is good. My favorite books are coffee with milk: not sickly sweet, but light enough to be pleasant to consume. I prefer characters who as much as possible manage to be basically decent to each other, even if they're upset.
Here's who I've liked so far:
Most favorite-est:
KJ Charles
Keira Andrews
Sally Malcolm
Harper Fox
Alexis Hall
A.J. Demas
Also re-read:
May Archer
Sarah Granger
Cat Sebastian
Joanna Chambers
Enjoyed at least once:
Lucy Lennox
Adella Harris
Merry Farmer
Ava March
N. R. Walker
Thank you! (And thanks to the people in the previous queer romance question and a prior general historical romance thread for getting me to this list!)
OK, trying not to get too snowflake-y. I've think I've worked through most of this thread from last year. Unlike the asker there, I'm open to any time/setting, but am specifically seeking M/M.
Besides that, the most important thing I'm looking for is good, or at least workpersonlike, writing - showing not telling, clear POV, coherent character motivations. I can ignore a lot of other incompatibility if the writing is good. My favorite books are coffee with milk: not sickly sweet, but light enough to be pleasant to consume. I prefer characters who as much as possible manage to be basically decent to each other, even if they're upset.
Here's who I've liked so far:
Most favorite-est:
KJ Charles
Keira Andrews
Sally Malcolm
Harper Fox
Alexis Hall
A.J. Demas
Also re-read:
May Archer
Sarah Granger
Cat Sebastian
Joanna Chambers
Enjoyed at least once:
Lucy Lennox
Adella Harris
Merry Farmer
Ava March
N. R. Walker
Thank you! (And thanks to the people in the previous queer romance question and a prior general historical romance thread for getting me to this list!)
The Prophets (Not sure if it’s carefree enough in tone for your taste but apparently it’s amazing)
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:28 AM on March 28, 2022
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:28 AM on March 28, 2022
It looks like we missed Roan Parrish and Anna Zabo in the last thread, probably since they skew contemporary.
posted by Stacey at 11:29 AM on March 28, 2022
posted by Stacey at 11:29 AM on March 28, 2022
C.B. Lewis writes very plotty. Private Truths is my favourite, and the Out of Time books can be read out of sequence except the last one.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 11:37 AM on March 28, 2022
posted by I claim sanctuary at 11:37 AM on March 28, 2022
If you're not averse to Goodreads, there's a big M/M romance readers group there called M/M Romance that has an overwhelming number of reviews and awards and suggestions.
posted by lizard music at 11:48 AM on March 28, 2022
posted by lizard music at 11:48 AM on March 28, 2022
I'm a fan of Sarina Bowen's Understatement of the Year and Him. Both have protagonists who're fairly young, but I found them deeply, satisfyingly emotional. Both of these will satisfy your itch for angsty stories where the characters are still basically decent to each other.
Also seconding Roan Parrish.
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:51 PM on March 28, 2022
Also seconding Roan Parrish.
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:51 PM on March 28, 2022
Richard Morgan, who wrote the Altered Carbon sci-fi series also wrote The Steel Remains (and two sequels) about a gay knight-errant, which you might like. However, it's more an attempt at Abercrombie-ish gritty fantasy than any kind of romance, and I can't evaluate how well written the lead character is from a gay perspective -- Morgan isn't queer (AFAIK) and he's always tended to traffic in a certain amount of cliche around social identities.
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:24 PM on March 28, 2022
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:24 PM on March 28, 2022
These are romance and erotica: Jordan Castillo Price.
posted by Riverine at 2:20 PM on March 28, 2022
posted by Riverine at 2:20 PM on March 28, 2022
I just went back through my reading to check who wrote that great Regency m/m I read last year... it was KJ Charles. Oops.
Aster Glenn Grey has several good romance novellas- of the m/m, I liked Briarley, which is a Second World War Beauty and The Beast retelling. (I haven't yet read the one about two First World War amputees convalescing together, or the one about spies.)
If you're OK with SFF romances, have you read Winter's Orbit? Arranged princely marriage with SF politics and mystery, delightful MCs.
(You might get some title suggestions from the Queer Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Database. You can limit by genre to just the romances.)
posted by Shark Hat at 2:23 PM on March 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Aster Glenn Grey has several good romance novellas- of the m/m, I liked Briarley, which is a Second World War Beauty and The Beast retelling. (I haven't yet read the one about two First World War amputees convalescing together, or the one about spies.)
If you're OK with SFF romances, have you read Winter's Orbit? Arranged princely marriage with SF politics and mystery, delightful MCs.
(You might get some title suggestions from the Queer Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Database. You can limit by genre to just the romances.)
posted by Shark Hat at 2:23 PM on March 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
+1 to Sarina Bowen's Him, and its sequels: Us, Epic (novella). She has another M/M book called Roommate, which sets up two of the World of True North expansions (Busy Bean, Vino & Veritas). Speaking of which, you may want to sample different M/M authors through the Vino & Veritas series - looks like they are all available under Kindle Unlimited. Most of the titles in this series are M/M and you might stumble upon someone new that you like!
Jenny Holiday: Infamous
posted by tinydancer at 2:30 PM on March 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Jenny Holiday: Infamous
posted by tinydancer at 2:30 PM on March 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
I recently read A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske and thought it was quite good - the first chapter is strong, the next few were okay but I was not really thrilled and then it took off. I wish it had gone on longer than it did.
If you want a series that involves romance but has a different type of literary ambition, I recommend the Henry Rios mysteries by Michael Nava. The whole series is a very well worked out arc about various types of love, there is a romantic resolution and the books are an extremely sharp depiction of the eighties and nineties. As do romances, they have an intensity of feeling and introspection and Henry Rios is, while a well-drawn, flawed and realistic person, also a romantic hero-type left-wing activist lawyer who solves mysteries. They are really awfully good books.
posted by Frowner at 2:42 PM on March 28, 2022
If you want a series that involves romance but has a different type of literary ambition, I recommend the Henry Rios mysteries by Michael Nava. The whole series is a very well worked out arc about various types of love, there is a romantic resolution and the books are an extremely sharp depiction of the eighties and nineties. As do romances, they have an intensity of feeling and introspection and Henry Rios is, while a well-drawn, flawed and realistic person, also a romantic hero-type left-wing activist lawyer who solves mysteries. They are really awfully good books.
posted by Frowner at 2:42 PM on March 28, 2022
I ++ recommend Sarina Bowen's World of True North books and through them I have veered off on a connected series of hockey books. Most are not m/m but some are. Avon Gale's Scoring Chances series and Hat Trick series are two of my favorites. I don't like sports as a general thing, and I know nothing about hockey, but these books were very entertaining and sweet. If you get into the m/m hockey thing, there's also LA Witt's Pucks & Rainbows series. A not-hockey series that I liked was Cardeno C's Mates.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 3:47 PM on March 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 3:47 PM on March 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
I adore S.A. Chant's work and have probably read Peter Darling at least three times (twice were back-to-back). M/M, trans protag, Peter Pan retelling(?--it's set post-Peter Pan canon). God, I love it so much. There's a sequel in the works, but I believe it's currently on hold.
This thread reminds me I should probably reread it again.
posted by lesser weasel at 5:14 PM on March 28, 2022
This thread reminds me I should probably reread it again.
posted by lesser weasel at 5:14 PM on March 28, 2022
This is a genuine recommendation but caveated that some of my friends are the authors and I helped with the web design - check out Space Fruit Press.
posted by Gin and Broadband at 2:08 PM on March 29, 2022
posted by Gin and Broadband at 2:08 PM on March 29, 2022
Crawling out of a crevasse to recommend Heart of Stone by Johannes T Evans. It's about an 18th century gay vampire and his human secretary and it's honestly so great. I would recommend it if you like a story with a lot of yearning and devotion. I see some people in the Goodreads reviews found it slow - there's not a lot of b-plot and it's heavy on pining (a good thing in my book, but different strokes I guess!).
posted by sequel at 7:54 AM on April 3, 2022
posted by sequel at 7:54 AM on April 3, 2022
So you might not have thought of it because it's a graphic novel series, but consider Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. There are four volumes out now and they are absolutely charming story set at a UK boys school about teens (some good diversity too).
Rachel Reid has written a number of books, but I think the one I'd recommend would be Role Model. Technically it's later in the series, but it's a very loose series so I ignore that. It's about a hockey player with some issues who tries to be a role model and someone very sweet and funny who cheers him up when he needs it. It's just utterly lovely.
If you haven't read Eden Finley & Saxon James CU hockey series, that's also entertaining, starting with Power Plays & Straights A's, a brother's best friend romance.
Slightly more adventure than some of your authors, but because you have KJ Charles on the list, I'll recommend Anna Butler's Lancaster Luck series, starting with The Gilded Scarab. It's gaslamps fantasy, set in London and Egypt with a lovely amount of intrigue and a lot of smooching.
I like JL Merrow, but I think my favorite is Spun! because it's so good-hearted and they always treat each other kindly.
Screens Apart by Charlie Novak is a lot of fun (quite steamy as well).
It's a little on the silly side, but I quite like Secret Admirer by DJ Jamison about a frat boy with a bisexual awakening and a lovely artist.
posted by blueberry monster at 8:50 PM on April 14, 2022
Rachel Reid has written a number of books, but I think the one I'd recommend would be Role Model. Technically it's later in the series, but it's a very loose series so I ignore that. It's about a hockey player with some issues who tries to be a role model and someone very sweet and funny who cheers him up when he needs it. It's just utterly lovely.
If you haven't read Eden Finley & Saxon James CU hockey series, that's also entertaining, starting with Power Plays & Straights A's, a brother's best friend romance.
Slightly more adventure than some of your authors, but because you have KJ Charles on the list, I'll recommend Anna Butler's Lancaster Luck series, starting with The Gilded Scarab. It's gaslamps fantasy, set in London and Egypt with a lovely amount of intrigue and a lot of smooching.
I like JL Merrow, but I think my favorite is Spun! because it's so good-hearted and they always treat each other kindly.
Screens Apart by Charlie Novak is a lot of fun (quite steamy as well).
It's a little on the silly side, but I quite like Secret Admirer by DJ Jamison about a frat boy with a bisexual awakening and a lovely artist.
posted by blueberry monster at 8:50 PM on April 14, 2022
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posted by SeedStitch at 11:26 AM on March 28, 2022 [2 favorites]