[Rec] 12 Recs for M/M Romance Novels
Impromptu Match by Lily Mayne
Genre: Monster Romance
Rec Notes: A lighthearted romp of a monster romance!
Summary: I, Taylor Hough, am a painfully average guy.
I have the soul-destroying corporate job, I iron my underpants, and I was unceremoniously dumped for an influencer hippie a few years ago. Every day feels the same, and I donāt know how much longer I can cope before I do something unhinged like rip off my shirt in the middle of my co-workerās office birthday party and smear lemon cake all over my chest.
But then a case of mistaken identity suddenly lands me in the middle of a covert professional wrestling league, which is apparently being run in the basement of my office building. Weird. Even weirder are the wrestlers. They seemā¦ otherworldly. So does the rest of the staff. And the audience. Pretty much everyone except boring old me.
And then there's the owner, Holt Hector, with whom I have an extremely embarrassing first encounter. Heās ridiculously attractive, even in the inhuman cosplay get-up he's wearing that only makes him hotter, if I'm being totally honest.
Then I discover itās not a costume. And that the show put on by Goliaths of Wrestling every night is more monstrous reality than mindblowing special effects.
My previously boring life is suddenly no longer quite so average, and hot-as-hell Holt is inexplicably as interested in me, and my ironed underpants, as I am in him and his strange new world.
Little Wolf by R. Cooper
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rec Notes: I've loved everything I've read by R. Cooper so far and this was no exception; I especially loved how the romance was developed and it was interesting world building.
Summary: For five years, Timothy Dirus has lived on the run, in fear of his family. Kept away from other werewolves by his uncle, Tim knows almost nothing about his own kind except that alpha werewolves only want to control and dominate a scrawny wolf like him. But when Tim finds himself in Wolf's Paw, one of the last surviving refuges from the days when werewolves were hunted by humans, he immediately draws the attention of its sheriff, Nathaniel Neri.
Nathaniel is the epitome of alpha wolf: powerful, intimidating, and the most beautiful man Tim has ever seen. Tim should be terrified. But everything Tim feels says that Nathaniel is safe and good and right, if only Tim knew what that meant.
Tim isnāt sure what to trustāwhat he was told by his uncle, or his instincts. Heās not even certain what his instincts are, and feels like a failure of a were in a town like Wolfās Paw. But Nathaniel is patient and willing to wait while his little wolf figures out not just how to be a wolf, but that he is more than a match for this particular alpha.
Being(s) in Love:
Magical creatures known as beings emerged from hiding amid the destruction of the First World War. Since then theyāve lived on the margins of the human world as misunderstood objects of fear and desire. Some are beautiful, others fearsome and powerful. Yet for all their magic and strength, they are as vulnerable as anyone when it comes to matters of the heart.
The Amazing Alpha Tau Boyfriend Project by Lisa Henry, Sarah Honey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rec Notes: Very fun, and definitely a great start to the series!
Summary: At first glance Archer Calloway is your typical frat boyāpreppy, pre-law, privileged. But one thing he's not is a jerk. So when a shy guy at a wedding gives Archer his number, Archer is impressed by his courage in putting himself out there.
What starts as a courtesy call to the guy turns into friendship. Eli is awesome, and Archer can't understand why he's single. With the help of his fraternity brothers at Alpha Tau, Archer comes up with the perfect project for the Get Eli Fuller the perfect boyfriend or die trying.
It's a flawless plan and nothing could possibly go wrong.
The Amazing Alpha Tau Boyfriend Project is a lighthearted contemporary m/m romance containing banter, bad dates, and an oblivious frat boy who is about to discover something new about himself. Or something.
Uh oh.
His Dad Will Do by Anna Kensing
Genre:
Rec Notes: I picked this up because I was in the mood for some petty, petty spite, and then it ambushed me with Feelingsā¢. It was awesome.
Summary: His father is my Daddy now.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold and I guess thatās apt, because I am freezing. Iām standing on the front steps of my cheating bastard of an ex-boyfriendās childhood home and Iām here for one reason.
Iām here to seduce my exās father. Lance says that his dad only bangs twinks who are way younger than him. And I canāt think of a better FU response to what Lance did to me than to be the latest twink in his dadās bed.
Rent: Paid in Full by Jesse H Reign
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rec Notes: It was really funāI loved the development of the romance, and I liked the characters.
Summary: āYou have something I want. Something Iāll happily buyā¦or rent.ā
As if my life doesnāt suck enough already, my insufferable new roommate, Miller MacAvoy, seems determined to make things weird. He watches me all the time, grinning at me like a beautiful idiot, eyes boring holes into me every time I turn my back on him.
Itās the last thing I need. Things havenāt been going well. College isnāt working out at all like Iād hoped. Iām drowning in debt, waiting tables every shift I can get, and falling behind on my studies.
Somethingās got to give.
I canāt go on like this much longer.
Miller, being the out-of-touch rich boy he is, keeps offering to throw cash my way. Obviously, Iād rather die than accept charity from him.
Still, he watches and waits. Insisting again and again that I have something he wants to buy. Itās insane. I have nothing of value to sell. Absolutely nothing. My phone screen is cracked and my truck could easily be mistaken for scrap.
Wait.
No!
Surely not.
He canāt possibly be thinking that.
Can he?
Crimson Halo by Daniel May
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rec Notes: I have a full review of this book over here.
Summary: When Seth walks into Drew's painting studio to kill him, Drew mistakes the vampire for someone finally answering his ad: 'ISO male figure model, comfortable working nude, think Michelangelo.'
The misunderstanding is far too hilarious for the infinitely bored Seth to pass up.
He agrees to pose for a series of portraits, but there's a snag; as a vampire sovereign, Seth needs to make a compelling excuse to his subjects for why he's spared the human's life.
Telling them he's claimed the artist as his chosen mate seems to do the trick.
When the excuse begins to feel more like the truth, Seth is unsettled by the development of feelings alien to his millennia on earth... and even more unsettled by the revelation that he is not the only dark hunter who has taken an interest in Drew.
Crimson Halo is a standalone MM paranormal vampire romance with low-medium heat and thriller elements.
A Rival for Rivingdon by J.A. Rock, Lisa Henry
Genre: Historical Romance
Rec Notes: The main characters both have very specific personalities that might not be to everyone's taste, but I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun!
Summary: He must marry well, to secure his fortune.
The Honourable Loftus Rivingdon is poised to make his debut into Society. Heās beautiful, charming, and quite the catch of the Season. If only he could find the right hat. With the zealous assistance of his doting mother, Loftus has one ambition only: to meet and marry a wealthy peer. And Loftus knows just the peerāthe dauntingly handsome, infinitely fashionable Viscount Soulden. Good thing thereās nothing standing in his way.
He must also marry well, to secure his fortune.
The Honourable Morgan Notley is poised to make his debut into Society. Heās beautiful, charming, and quite the catch of the Season. And he has just found the perfect hat. With the zealous assistance of his doting mother, Morgan has one ambition only: to meet and marry a wealthy peer. And Morgan knows just the peerāthe dauntingly handsome, infinitely fashionable Viscount Soulden. Good thing thereās nothing standing in his wā
Damn it all to hell.
Their ambitions collide.
When Loftus and Morgan both set their sights on Soulden, the rivalry of the Season begins. Their mutual hatred escalates into spite, sabotage, and scandal, as all of Society eagerly waits to see which diamond of the first water will prevail. Except the course of true loathing, just like true love, never did run smooth. The harder they try to destroy each other, the closer they come to uncovering each otherās deepest vulnerabilitiesāand the more difficult it becomes to deny the burning attraction between them.
A Rival for Rivingdon is the third book in The Lords of Bucknall Club series, where the Regency meets m/m romance. The Lords of Bucknall Club books can be read as standalones but are best enjoyed in order.
Submit by R. Phoenix, Adara Wolf
Genre: Mafia Romance
Rec Notes: I just absolutely adore the Feelingsā¢ and the romance in this; there's some delicious angst and the Yearningā¢ is absolutely great.
Summary: Kyran
I have a secret. I'm gay, and I'm submissive. My family can't ever find out, because if they do, they'll disown me at best. The son of the Winters Gang leader can't be gay...
And he definitely can't be in a relationship with Silvano Cresci, the new head of our most hated rival gang. I can't stop thinking about him. I can't stop lusting for him, and the way he made me submit, the way he could get me to the edge with just a few words and touches. I've never met anyone else who could push my buttons so well.
But I'm done with him. After he betrayed me, I vowed never to see him ever again.
Unfortunately, Silvano has other ideas, and I can't help but be drawn into his sphere again. I'm going to have to choose between Silvano and my family--and I'm not sure how much longer I can resist him.
Silvano
Being gay in the mafia isn't easy; being a gay mafia don even less so. I've endured the homophobic comments and snide remarks all my life, but if I can't win the respect of my men, I'll never succeed. I need to show that I can be as ruthless and cunning as everybody else.
I need to take down our rivals, the Winters Gang.
But if I do that, Kyran's reluctant submission will turn to hatred. I'll lose the only person I've ever cared about, the only person I want at my side.
There has to be a way to eliminate the threat of his family while keeping Kyran. I refuse to let him deny our connection any longer.
Kyran is mine, whether he knows it or not.
Submit is a standalone MM mafia romance featuring dark themes and content such as toys, CNC, "kidnapping," smaller Dom/bigger sub, impact play, and more. Please visit the authors' websites or look inside for more details.
Hottie Scotty and Mr. Porter by R. Cooper
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rec Notes: Look, the romance was divine and the angst was so well-developed and executed it kind of broke my heart a little (but in the good way.)
Summary: To help out his sister, Scott moved to the small town of Montgomery, where there isnāt much to do and no one for him to date. Well, thereās one other openly gay man in townāHenry āColeā Porter, a widower who runs the school library, but after one drunken night together, Cole has kept his distance. Scott is used to that. He spends a lot of time working out to look good, and from the slow way he talks and the frat house atmosphere at the fire station where he works, itās easy to assume heās stupid. Most people are happy to admire his body and assume thatās all he wants from them, and deep down, Scott is too afraid to try asking for more.
Which is why sweet, romantic Scott has been secretly pining after Cole for months when some of the townās nosier residents decide Cole has been single long enough. They have a plan to throw every successful, smart, professional gay man in a thirty-mile radius Coleās way, whether he likes it or not. Their list of candidates doesnāt include Scott, and Scottās insecurities prevent him from stepping forwardāeven when it seems as though Cole is asking him to.
Cole is everything Scott isnāt; highly educated, stylish, with refined tastes. Heās also stubborn and sarcastic, and not nearly as smart about the workings of his own heart as people might think. It might take a lot of the wrong men for him to realize the right one has been in front of him all along.
The Edge Of Heaven by E.M. Lindsey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rec Notes: A lovely example of the fake dating trope.
Summary: "And really, what kind of fool goes and falls for their escort?"
In a fit of panic, reclusive English teacher, Julian Pedalino, lies about a boyfriend when he's coerced into attending his ex-husband's wedding. And when he realizes he has to follow through and actually bring someone, he's left with only one option.
Hire a stranger.
He's expecting the weekend to be a disaster, he's expecting everyone to see through him, he's expecting them all to know the truth- that he could never get someone as gorgeous as that to fall for a person like him.
What he isn't expecting is Archer, the charming man who can play the part of astrophysicist with an endless love for the wonders of space, and gentle words that could sweep anyone off their feet.
Even Julian, who vowed never to let another man close to his heart, ever again.
It would be a romance made in the heavens....if only Archer wasn't keeping a secret of his own.
The Edge Of Heaven is a stand alone romance with no cheating and a happily ever after.
Izzy and the Right Answer by R. Cooper
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rec Notes: I said I've loved everything I've read by Cooper so far and I meant it. I have a full review of this book over here.
Summary: Jamie āIzzyā Islington is an ace, femme, neuroatypical college junior with anxiety, an interest in coding and poetry, and difficulty identifying his own emotions. Heās had no interest in romantic love until very recently, when he realizes he has a crush on someone in his circle of friendsāalthough he has no intention of doing anything about it. Izzy thinks every problem through to the correct solution, and he knows that the initial fascination some people have for him quickly fades, and no one is interested in actually dating him. Especially not someone special like Rocco.
Rocco Baglieri is a hard-working, reserved student-athlete. He gets especially quiet with Izzy, although heās more comfortable around everyone else, especially their mutual friend, Ronnie. Which would bother Izzy more, except that Izzy is all smiles for Ronnie too. Warm and giving Ronnie Acebedo is sunshine personified. He once had a crush on Izzy during their first year, but got over it and is now one of Izzyās closest friends.
Then a drunken night and Izzyās new awareness of romantic feelings force him to finally notice some thingsālike that he isnāt the only one pining.
To Izzy, the solution to this triangle is obviousāif he disappears, Rocco and Ronnie will have a straight line to each other. But brilliant though he is, Izzy forgets that Ronnie and Rocco have mindsāand heartsāof their own, and there are more options than lines or triangles. The right answer might be something else entirely.
An m/m/m romance
Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian
Genre: Historical Romance
Rec Notes: I'm a sucker for a good second chance romance and this definitely delivered!
Summary: Massachusetts, 1959:
Some people might accuse mathematician Everett Sloane of being stuffy, but really he just prefers things a certain way: predictable, quiet, and far away from Tommy Cabotāhis former best friend, chaos incarnate, and the man who broke his heart.
The youngest son of a prominent political family, Tommy threw away his future by coming out to his powerful brothers. When he runs into Everett, who fifteen years ago walked away from Tommy without an explanation or a backward glance, his old friend's chilliness is just another reminder of what a thoroughgoing mess Tommy has made of his life.
When Everett realizes that his polite formality is hurting Tommy, he needs to decide whether he can unbend enough to let Tommy get close but without letting himself get hurt the way he was all those years ago.