The commercialized season of love is often made to be heteronormative. From cards with “love birds” gendered into male and female couples to commercial ads depicting a man buying a ring for his girlfriend, Valentine’s Day and the weeks leading up to it feel like an ambush of heteronormative relationships.

There is already so little representation in media of the LGBTQ+ community. To balance the intake of straight relationships this post-Valentine’s Day season, here are some quality picks of queer romance novels.

“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Over the course of her career in old Hollywood, Evelyn Hugo has had seven husbands, but only one love of her life. The movie star sets a series of meetings with a struggling journalist, Monique, in order to write her tell-all autobiography. While Hugo recounts her obstacles in old Hollywood, Monique realizes that she is more connected to her than she ever wanted to be. 

This novel takes the reader through each public and private relationship of the reclusive actress. Reid explores Evelyn Hugo’s bisexuality from her whirlwind romance marriage-gone-bad to her “beard” relationship with her male best friend as they both secretly date those of the same-sex. 

“They Both Die at the End” by Adam Silvera

In Silvera’s world, there is a service that notifies an individual 24 hours before their death. Luckily, for lonely individuals like Mateo and Rufus, there is an app where individuals can connect with each other in their final hours. Mateo and Rufus meet to go on an adventure together in their final hours. The two connect as they go to important places of both their lives: a graveyard, the hospital and a club. 

The novel follows the two as they develop and realize their feelings for each other. Yet, even knowing how the story will end, it ends in a heart-wrenching scene.

“Written in the Stars” by Alexandria Bellefleur

Fan of “Pride and Prejudice,” but tired of the heteronormative narrative? Meet Elle and Darcy: One a happily whimsical bisexual woman, the other a calculated and logically-driven lesbian. As Elle’s astrology app begins to take off, her co-worker decides to set her up on a date with his sister, but it does not go well. Yet, as the two enter into a fake relationship, lines between the fake and real blur as feelings develop. 

Bellefleur depicts the two polar-opposite women in the best way. The rom-com novel has all the best clichés of romantic fiction and sprinkles in an astrological perspective.

“Something to Talk About” by Meryl Wilsner

In need of another novel of queer romance in Hollywood? Wilsner’s book depicts Jo Jones, a former actress and now award-winning showrunner, as tabloids run rampant with rumors of an affair with her assistant. At the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards show, the world decides to focus on the close relationship between Jo and her assistant Emma. Rumors complicate their work and personal lives as different situations cause the two to realize the rumors may not be too off base.

The novel navigates racism, sexism, sexual harassment and homophobia in Hollywood as office romance on a public stage becomes more than either character bargained for.

“Malice” by Heather Walter

Ever watch “Sleeping Beauty” or “Maleficent” and think, man this would be so good if it was modernized and also queer? Walter’s novel tells a modernized version of the classic fairy tale. Alyce is a dark fairy of evil lineage, the Dark Grace, working in Briar alongside those who have ostracized her. The princess is not supposed to fall in love with her, especially when the king is using Alyce’s dark gifts for evil. 

This novel is dark, but still has all of the romantic qualities of a twisted fairy tale. Walter’s second book in this duology, “Misrule,” is set to be released on May 10, 2022.

“Boy Meets Boy” by David Levithan

Levithan’s book sweetly details the story of Paul and Noah, two high school sophomores, as they navigate friendship, family and falling in love. The high school bubble Levithan crafts in the book is a lot more supportive than many are blessed with, but that’s what makes it so beautiful. The school’s star quarterback, for example, is a “crossdresser” who goes by Infinite Darlene. The neighborhood Boy Scouts rebrand as ‘Joy Scouts’ because the Boy Scouts aren’t accepting. It’s the safe haven gay preteens could only dream of, and it’s comforting to read something that doesn’t focus on a gay character getting bullied or having to hide their sexuality. Paul hurts Noah, and Paul wants Noah back. Boy meets boy, simple as that. As a young adult novel, it’s a quick read, but also a romantic comedy that packs a meaningful punch. 

Other books worth looking into:

“One Last Stop” by Casey McQuiston, “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller, “Red, White & Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston, “Annie on My Mind” by Nancy Garden, “The Price of Salt” – Patricia Highsmith, “Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall, “The Dark Tide” by Alicia Jasinska, “The Midnight Lie” by Marie Rutkoski and “Plain Bad Heroines” by emily m. danforth.

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