The Darkness Between Us

by Eliot Schrefer

YA Romance/Sci-Fi

The Darkness Between Us follows two boys who are trapped in space. Alone. 

In the year 2472, Ambrose and Kodiak, each a representative of the last two remaining countries on Earth, are sent on a joint rescue mission to Titan.

When Ambrose wakes up in the Coordinated Endeavor with no memory of launch, something is already off about the mission. As the mission continues, more suspicious things start happening. 

The two boys start getting closer to each other and to the truth.

~

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I could not put it down and read it within one day. Schrefer created such a unique story with twists and turns I could not see coming, all while weaving a beautiful romance between the two men. If you are ever looking for a roller coaster read, this is the book for you. Creating a book with only 2 characters is not easy to do, but Schrefer does it wonderfully. This book touches on far more than just romance, but also human impact, industrialization, and scientific ethics.

“Intimacy is the only shield against insanity. Intimacy, not knowledge. Intimacy, not power.”

~~~~~

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

by Malinda Lo

YA Historical Romance

Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a historical romance set in 1954 Chinatown. Lily Hu begins questioning her sexuality, struggling against the time’s view on lesbians. Then she meets Kathleen Miller and is introduced to The Telegraph Club, a lesbian bar nearby. 

As time goes on, the two girls grow closer, forming a beautiful relationship that they are forced to keep hidden from everyone around. They begin frequenting the bar and meeting other queer people from the area.

~

This book is such an important read, shining a light on the dark parts of America’s past, while giving an important message of hope. Setting a queer romance in a historical period serves as a reminder that we were always here and always will be. 

“The word felt dangerous, and also powerful, as if uttering it would summon someone or something”

~~~~

Milo and Marcos at the End of the World

By Kevin Christopher Snipes 

YA Romance (slight magical realism)

I just did a post about this book so I will do my best to keep it brief. If you want to know what it’s about, check out my first post.

This read does a wonderful job illustrating what it is like, living with internalized homophobia and having trouble accepting yourself for who you are. I wish that was enough to get people to read the book, but it probably won’t be. But this book lets you take a walk in someone else’s shoes, and that is incredibly important. 

There’s also meteors, hurricanes, other natural disasters, and also a car chase. Got to love a car chase.

“Maybe a God that roots for love is the only God worth believing in.”

~~~~

Red, White & Royal Blue 

By Casey McQuiston

New Adult Romance

Red, White & Royal Blue is one of the most popular queer romances out there. I am not one to just take people’s word about a popular book and go into reading the book with negative expectations. However, Red, White & Royal Blue did live up to the hype. 

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the first son of America. Naturally, he despises Prince Henry, youngest grandson of the Queen of England. However, when the two are photographed in a rather…unfortunate situation, the two must go on damage control, especially with Alex’s mother up for re-election in the fall. The two have to pretend to be friends for the press, showing up and hanging out together. This leads to a development in their relationship as the two become friends and then more.

~

When I read this, I absolutely despised the romance genre, so much that it was honestly a miracle that I bothered reading the book in the first place. However, this book changed my mind a slight bit. I started giving a few other books a try, and now here we are with me giving a list of a whole 5 romance books that I like, which is a fairly big deal for me.

“History, huh? I bet we could make some.”

(Also, there’s a movie coming out soon-ish)

~~~~

Heartstopper 

By Alice Oseman 

Graphic Novel/Romance

Heartstopper is a romance graphic novel following Nick and Charlie, two high school students who get sat next to each other in their form group.

The whole school knows Charlie Spring is gay after he was outed during the previous term. Being out as gay in an all-boys school is not an easy situation, coming with being bullied a lot.

Nick Nelson is a year older than Charlie, but is placed next to him during form. He is the tall heartthrob, captain of the rugby team, he’s practically the definition of a straight boy…or is he?

The two grow closer, developing a friendship. Heartstopper currently has 4 print volumes out (and a hit Netflix TV show), each covering the development of the relationship between Nick and Charlie, and their close group of friends. 

~

It’s a fun and cute read, that emphasizes the bright parts of life, but doesn’t ignore the dark. Covering prejudice, homophobia, and mental health, this series reminds the world to have hope, even in the dark.

Heartsopper is definitely not a book that I ever thought I would read, which is weird because it is pretty much a longer, queer comic book, so maybe I should give graphic novels more chances.

“I was just FREAKING OUT, like honestly I am having a full-on proper GAY CRISIS”

*For reference, I specifically only chose books that are by  QUEER authors, as they are the representation that should be pushed and highlighted.  (So if you thought I was gonna include The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo now you know why I didn’t)