I am a self-proclaimed lover of romance books, so I figured it was time for me to make some ultimate recommendation guides to some of my favorite romance genres.
Today, I’m sharing with you some of my favorite M/M romance books. These range in genre from YA to Adult, from innocent to explicit.
The list is sorted from least to most explicit, for lack of a better way to sort them. So, here goes!
- Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
This book follows Aristotle – who is angry at the world and has a brother in prison – and Dante – who is a know-it-all with an unusual way of looking at the world. The two boys meet and form a friendship that changes their lives and helps them learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.
This was one of the first M/M romances I ever read, so it holds a special place in my heart. It is a slow, quiet, and beautiful story that I still, to this day, love with my entire heart.
2. Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
In this book, we follow Simon, a closeted teen who starts exchanging anonymous emails with another boy in school who goes by the screen name “Blue”. But, when these emails fall into the wrong hands, Simon finds himself on the wrong side of a blackmail scheme and must comply to protect his privacy, as well as the privacy of the boy he’s falling for.
This book is sweet & dramatic & full of fun antics. It is such a heart-warming and cute read. One major pro of this book is that the conflict isn’t derived from our queer main character having unaccepting parents. Simon actually has a great support system and that’s so nice to see. I ate this book up and it’s one of my all-time favorites!
3. Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
Christina Lauren is one of the most popular adult romance authors, but this is their only YA romance & only M/M romance (and honestly, my favorite book of theirs).
This story follows Tanner who, after moving from California to Utah for his last few years of high school, goes back into the closet. But, things get complicated when Tanner finds himself falling in love with Sebastian, a devout Norman and the TA of Tanner’s creative writing class.
A little more intense than the previous entries on this list, Autoboygraphy is a great exploration of faith, finding yourself, and self-love and how all those things factor into a relationship. I really love this book and I know you will to if you give it a chance!
4. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
This is a YA historical fiction story following our main character Monty: a spoiled, wild, rich kid. He has a penchant for staying out late, getting drunk, and bringing about the disapproval of his father. Monty also has the small problem of having a crush on his best friend. When Monty and Percy embark on one last hurrah before Monty has to take over his father’s estate, a Grand Tour of Europe, shenanigans, and romance ensue.
This book is such a blast! I would also highly recommend the audiobook – the accents are amazing. When I was listening to this story, I never wanted it to end. It’s fun and angsty and romantic and wonderful. Definitely read it now!
5. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Carry On is basically any Drarry shipper’s dream. If She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named didn’t suck and wasn’t afraid of queerness, this is the version of Harry Potter she would have written.
This story follows a Harry Potter-like character named Simon Snow. But, Simon is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen. And Baz, Simon’s evil vampire roommate – who Simon is kind of obsessed with – doesn’t make his life any easier.
I read this 500+ page book in a day because I just could not put it down. The first 100 pages are a little slow, but once you make it through those, this book is incredible. It’s definitely one of my favorites on this list and a good place to start if you haven’t read many M/M romances and tend to enjoy fast-paced fantasy or magical settings.
6. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Although the main focus of this series isn’t the M/M relationship, these books include one of my favorite M/M relationships of all time, so I couldn’t make this list without including it.
This is a YA fantasy series following a group of friends who are on a mission to find a missing Welsh King. These books are full of magic, friendship, romance, lyrical writing, beautiful settings, and are honestly just a joy to read.
Adam + Ronan forever (even though Adam’s annoying most of the time).
7. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Heartstopper is a YA graphic novel series by Alice Oseman, following Charlie & Nick – two characters from Oseman’s first novel, Solitare. Charlie is openly gay and prone to over-thinking, while Nick is the definition of an adorable cinnamon roll. These two meet and quickly become friends…. and then more!!!
This series is so adorable and heart-warming. It’s honestly one of my favorite things in the world. And, the best part is, you can read it for free online: here!
8. Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
This is an enemies-to-lovers story between Alex, the First son of the President of the United States, and Henry, the Prince of Wales. Need I say more?
This is a hilarious and witty story with tons of banter and wonderful, heart-warming friendships. This was probably my favorite book of 2019, and now, one of my favorite books of all time! I love this one so so much!
*This is also the first story with somewhat “graphic” sex included, so proceed with caution if that’s not your thing.
9. Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
If you don’t already know, Call Me By Your Name is a little bit of a darker story than the rest included on this list. It may not even be what you would consider a romance, although it is a love (or maybe lust) story. The ending will surely break your heart, so just prepare yourself!
This is the story of Elio and Oliver, an unlikely pair who meet when Oliver comes to stay as an academic guest at Elio’s parents’ home in Italy.
Beautiful and lovely and heart-breaking, this is a story that will stay with you for long after you close the cover.
10. #Junkie by Cambria Herbert
On a bit of a lighter note, we have finally come to the most steamy recommendation on this list.
#Junkie is a friends-to-lovers romance between college buddies, Drew and Trent. Drew is an underground race car driver and Trent is in his final year of college trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. The two have always been friends, but they figure out that they might mean a little more to each other.
Honestly, this is the kind of shit I live for. This is a fun, light-hearted romance with just the right amount of angst and will-they-won’t they. It’s definitely also a great place to start if you grew up reading and loving fan-fiction!
And, that concludes this list of my top 10 favorite M/M romances. I love all of the books on this list and would recommend you check out any of them if they sound interesting to you!
Great content! Keep up the good work!