Category: Heteroromantic

Common Ground

By Alice Rachel

A boy and a girl trying hard to resist their attraction for each other.

A girl engaged to a man she will never love soon meets the girl of her dreams.

Publisher’s Description:

When Taylor Jones moved into the neighborhood, he didn’t expect to fall for the feisty girl next door. His life was already complicated enough as it was. Between his difficult relationship with his father and his sister’s wedding lurking on the horizon, Taylor had a lot on his mind. But his attraction to Kayla wasn’t something he could resist, no matter the consequences.

​Karen Jones had no desire to marry the man who had forced his way into her life. She had always liked girls, and pretending to be straight was never an option. But Jeff wasn’t about to ignore his bruised ego and let her go that easily.

​Kayla Haynes refused to fall for the handsome man next door. Her previous relationship had been a disaster, and she was done catering to men’s needs. But soon, falling for Taylor would be the least of her concerns.

Genre: YA Dystopian Romance

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Every female character
Cis boys: Every male character

Sexuality:
Gay: Terrence Young / Gerald Rossi
Lesbian: Karen Jones / Morgan Malas
Bisexual: Chase Martinez / Narumi Kita
Heterosexual: Tina Davis / Tyreese Lefort / Taylor Jones / Kayla Haynes

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Terrence Young / Gerald Rossi / Karen Jones / Morgan Malas
Biromantic: Chase Martinez / Narumi Kita
Heteroromantic: Tina Davis / Tyreese Lefort / Taylor Jones / Kayla Haynes
Race/Ethnicity:
White: Terrence Young / Gerald Rossi / Shawn Campbell / Andrew Davis / Morgan Malas
Black: Taylor Jones / Kayla Haynes / Karen Jones / Jake Smith / Tyreese Lefort
Latinx: Chase Martinez
East Asian: Narumi Kita
Middle Eastern/North African: Hind Daher

Disability: Terrence Young / Gerald Rossi (illiteracy)

Ownvoices: Depression

Trigger Warnings: Death and loss

Ending: This book can be read a standalone, though it is part of a series so the ending is open toward sequels.

Shifting Ground

By Alice Rachel

SHIFTING GROUND is a collection of 12 short stories set in dystopian New York State, a place where some children are born illegally and outcast, where being gay is illegal, where the lower class isn’t allowed to read, have children, or get married, and where upper-class women don’t get to choose the person they are to marry.

Publisher’s Description:

SHIFTING GROUND is a collection of 12 short stories set in dystopian New York State.

Join Chi, a child born illegally, running for his life, Akio, a gay boy ostracized by society, Craig, a lower-class boy crushed by his condition, Morgan, a girl forced into marriage to a boy she will never love, Jackson, a gender-fluid boy living in a state where being queer is against the law.

Genre: YA Dystopian Romance

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Every female character
Cis boys: Every male character except for Jackson Miller
Gender Fluid: Jackson Miller

Sexuality:
Gay: Akio Sakamoto / Terrence Young / Gerald Rossi / Lance Clay
Lesbian: Karen Jones / Morgan Malas / Sofia Campbell
Bisexual: Chase Martinez / Narumi Kita
Asexual: Katsuo Kita
Pansexual: Jackson Miller / Elisa Gonzalez
Heterosexual: Chi Richards / Thia Clay / Stephen Richards / Willow Jenison / James Malone / Tina Davis / Cecilia Clay / Tyreese Lefort / Taylor Jones / Kayla Haynes / Mariana Alvarez

Romantic orientation:
Homoromantic: Akio Sakamoto / Terrence Young / Gerald Rossi / Lance Clay / Karen Jones / Morgan Malas / Sofia Campbell
Biromantic: Chase Martinez / Narumi Kita
Panromantic: Jackson Miller / Elisa Gonzalez
Heteroromantic: Katsuo Kita / Chi Richards / Thia Clay / Stephen Richards / Willow Jenison / James Malone / Tina Davis / Cecilia Clay / Tyreese Lefort / Taylor Jones / Kayla Haynes / Mariana Alvarez

 

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Chi Richards / Stephen Richards / Willow Jenison / James Malone / Cecilia Clay / Craig Owens / Terrence Young / Lance Clay / Gerald Rossi / Sofia Campbell / Jackson Miller
Black: Taylor Jones / Kayla Haynes / Karen Jones / Jake Smith / Tyreese Lefort
Latinx: Chase Martinez / Mariana Alvarez / Elisa Gonzalez
East Asian: Katsuo Kita / Narumi Kita / Akio Sakamoto
Middle Eastern/North African: Hind Daher / Karim Safi
Not mentioned: Thia Clay is biracial (this is a spoiler of the series since the readers won’t realize it until the last book)

Religion: (The characters’ religions are never mentioned in this book)

Disability: Terrence Young / Gerald Rossi / Craig Owens (illiteracy)

Trigger Warnings: Physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, cutting, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, alcoholism, depression

Additional Notes: The author pledges to donate 100% of sales revenue from “Shifting Ground” to The Ally Coalition (an LGBT association helping LGBT+ youth in need).

Ownvoices:  This title is ownvoices for:  Immigrants experiencing xenophobia, depression and cutting

Ending: This is a collection of short stories, most of which end with cliffhangers. Most of them are not HEA since this is a dystopian series where the HEA should come in the last book

The Book of Songs

By Louice Svedin
Anne has led a privileged life: she is a weaver, a magic user, in a world ruled by the extraordinary. Yet one day it all changes. She is deemed too powerful by the aristocracy and is sent to a monastery for life. To avoid this fate she embarks on a journey, driven by a prophecy she doesn’t want to fulfill. But will she have any choice in the end?
Publisher’s Description:
The Book of Songs is a story about friendship and sacrifice, and how who we are often is shaped by those we meet.
Anne is one of the strongest weavers in her school, second only to the snake-like principal who runs it. Orphaned at a young age when both her parents were murdered, her only true companion is the fox spirit Samuel.
But strength is a double-edged sword. When Anne is forcefully relocated to the monastery Nevira, she decides to run away, no matter what. Her journey is guided by a dreadful prophecy which foretells the end of the world. And she’s the one who is supposed to make it come true.
Genre: Fantasy
Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Anne, Nathania, Sam
Cis boys: Michael, Luka

Sexuality:
Gay: Ciel, Dean, Michael, Raven
Lesbian: Nathania, Sam
Heterosexual: Anne

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Nathania, Sam, Ciel, Dean, Michael, Raven
Heteroromantic: Anne

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Anne
Black: Yes. Would be a spoiler to reveal the name
Not mentioned: Most characters

Location: Fantasy world

Trigger Warnings: Death, injury, self harm

Additional Notes: Identities confirmed by author.

Ownvoices: Bisexual female

Banished Sons of Poseidon

By Andrew Peters

Escaped from a flood that buried the world in seawater, a young priest with a dishonorable past may be the survivors’ only hope to return aboveground.

Publisher’s Description:

After escaping from a flood that buried the aboveground in seawater, a fractured group of boys contend with the way ahead and their trust of an underground race of men who gives them shelter. For sixteen-year-old Dam, whose world was toppling before the tragedy, it’s a strange, new second chance. There are wonders in the underworld and a foreign warrior Hanhau who is eager for friendship despite Dam’s dishonorable past.

But a rift between his countrymen threatens to send their settlement into chaos. Peace between the evacuees and Hanhau’s tribe depends on sharing a precious relic that glows with arcane energy. When danger emerges from the shadowed backcountry, Dam must undertake a desperate mission. It’s the only hope for the Atlanteans to make it home to the surface. It’s the only way to save Hanhau and his people.

Genre: Fantasy

Representation: 

Gender:
Cis girls: Ysalane
Cis boys: Dam, Aerander, Hanhau, Hephad, Lys
Gender Fluid: Calaeno (a cis girl who was raised as a boy)

Sexuality:
Gay: Dam, Aerander, Hanhau, Hephad, Lys
Lesbian: Ysalane
Heterosexual: Calaeno

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Dam, Aerander, Hanhau, Hephad, Lys, Ysalane
Heteroromantic: Calaeno

Race/Ethnicity:
It’s a fantasy world so modern races/ethnicities don’t really apply; the main characters Dam and Aerander are described with Mediterranean, Caucasian features; Hanhau and Ysalane are of a fantasy race described as darker skinned and with Indigenous features; Hephad is described as having North African features.

Ownvoices: Own voices for gay rep

 

The Seventh Pleaide

By Andrew Peters

A young gay prince uncovers a conspiracy to barter boys for dark spiritual power during the last days of Atlantis.

Publisher’s Description:

Atlantis is besieged by violent storms, tremors, and a barbarian army. For sixteen-year-old Aerander, it’s a calamitous backdrop to his Panegyris, where boys are feted for their passage to manhood.

Amid a secret web of romances among the celebrants, Aerander’s cousin Dam goes missing with two boys. With the kingdom in crisis, no one suspects the High Priest Zazamoukh, though Aerander uncovers a conspiracy to barter boys for dark spiritual power. Aerander’s proof– an underground vault that disappears in the morning–brings shame on his family and charges of lunacy. The only way for Aerander to regain his honor is to prove what really happened to the missing boys.

Tracking Dam leads Aerander on a terrifying and fantastical journey. He spots a star that hasn’t been seen for centuries. He uncovers a legend about an ancient race of men who hid below the earth. And traveling to an underground world, he learns about matters even more urgent than the missing boys. The world aboveground is changing, and he will have to clear a path for the kingdom’s survival.

Genre: Fantasy

Representation: 

Gender:
Cis girls: Alixa
Cis boys: Aerander, Dam, Lys, Calyiches, Dardy

Sexuality:
Gay: Aerander, Dam, Lys
Bisexual: Calyiches
Heterosexual: Dardy, Alixa

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Aerander, Dam, Lys
Biromantic: Calyiches
Heteroromantic: Dardy, Alixa

 

Race/Ethnicity:
It’s a fantasy world so modern races/ethnicities don’t really apply; the main characters Aerander, Dam and Lys are described with Mediterranean, Caucasian features; some supporting characters are described as brown-skinned, and some are described with Asiatic and Indigenous features.

 

Ownvoices: Ownvoices for gay rep

Ending: Bittersweet

The Alabaster Concordat (Book 4 of The Immortal Coil series)

By J Armand
Doomsday draws near despite the best efforts of Earth’s forces. The cycle of chaos and rebirth appears to be an irrefutable truth. Old enemies must set aside their differences for the sake of survival and take up arms together against a truly hellish invasion from the past. Science fiction and mythology collide in the culminating battle years in the making that would see Dorian rise to power on the global stage. On top of it all, he must also make one of the toughest personal decisions of his life that may bring ruin to what he once cherished.

Publisher’s Description:
The visceral curtain of chaos has been lifted from Earth upon the defeat of Demon Lord Ma’al. Dorian Benoit and his allies may have thwarted the Infernal uprising for now, but no one survives an encounter with Hell unscathed. The war has already begun to take its toll on some, while others have had their eyes opened by the trials set before them. Maddening desperation can take hold of even the most resolute mind in times of unrest when ideals are challenged and friendships tested.

A voice in the desert has sent Gianluca on a personal crusade to eradicate evil from the world no matter the cost as Dorian strives to distance himself from his own reputation for destruction. Meanwhile, Lyle struggles to lead a burgeoning PROJECT: UNITY as their new commander and Noah has left everything behind to escape to Thailand.

During a period of upheaval when allies should be united most it seems they could not be more scattered. Everywhere Dorian turns, revelations are made about those he thought he once knew, and one must wonder if this was someone’s plan from the start. Nevertheless, new allegiances will form where others fall, and old enemies may find themselves fighting on the same side for better or for worse.
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy

Representation
Gender:
Cis girls: Rebecca, Lisette, Marianna, and more
Cis boys: Dorian, Lyle, Noah, Gianluca, Nathaniel, and more

Sexuality:
Gay: Dorian/Gianluca
Bisexual: Set

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Dorian/Gianluca
Heteroromantic: Lyle/Rebecca

Race/Ethnicity:
Black: Isis (African/ dark-skinned Egyptian), Lisette (Nigerian)
East Asian:  Kamakura (mixed), Junjie (Chinese), Kamiko (Japanese), Chouko (Japanese), Hyun (Korean)
Multiracial: Yes, (many of various backgrounds within the main cast of “the Alabaster Order”)

Disability: Mental illness (depression, anxiety)

Trigger Warnings: Violence, implied rape attempt, child abuse

Ownvoices: Gay male

Gospel of the Forgotten (Book 3 of the Immortal Coil series)

By J Armand

While Dorian’s relationship with Gianluca is heating up, war and hate have been spreading through the human world like a maddening disease. It falls upon Dorian and allies both new and old to uncover the source of this chaos and excise it before mankind plunges itself into extinction. The more secrets that are revealed, Dorian finds himself questioning the intent of some of his closest companions and even his own choices in life.

Publisher’s Description:

Having championed an ancient darkness and brought calm to the Far East, Dorian Benoit is enjoying peace at last. Life has not been easy for the young hero, and serenity is an increasingly rare commodity for those of his kind.

Supernatural beings often lead a tumultuous existence, but their human counterparts could argue the same. Mortals live such fleeting lives, which are filled with violence, turmoil, and adversity. Each new generation has its own share of issues, and none of them are unique. History repeats itself—this much we know—but why is the most intelligent species on Earth so slow to learn from its past?

Dorian’s days may soon be over, as the world around him begins to ignite in an inferno of hatred. Human terror campaigns run rampant, claiming large swaths of victims across the globe and threatening even the mightiest supernaturals. With the fire in Dorian’s heart only recently rekindled by the promise of peace, will he be able to extinguish the rising hostilities before they raze all he loves to the ground? Or will he, too, be swept up in the madness?

Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy

Gender:
Cis girls: Rebecca, Emily, and more
Cis boys: Dorian, Lyle, Noah, Gianluca, and more.

Sexuality:
Gay: Dorian, Gianluca, (another minor character)
Bisexual: Micah
Heterosexual: Lyle, Owen, Rebecca

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Dorian/Gianluca
Heteroromantic: Lyle/Rebecca

Religion:
Christianity: Emily

Disability: Mental illness

Trigger Warnings: Violence/Terrorism, drug and alcohol abuse

Ownvoices: Gay male

Ending: Happy ending (empowerment, romance)

Shadows of Humanity (Book 2 of The Immortal Coil series)

By J Armand
Another globetrotting, action-packed adventure awaits Dorian in this sequel to The Immortal Coil. A newfound confidence instilled by an unlikely friendship with Noah spurs Dorian to make a name for himself in the supernatural community. It isn’t long until he finds himself in over his head and his desire to return to a normal life because of it only complicates matters further. With Dorian’s powers growing by the day he begins attracting more attention than he bargained for, but not all of it turns out to be so bad.
Publisher’s Description:
Two years have passed since Dorian began his training in Japan with Noah. Stronger and wiser than ever, he returns to New York where he is met with dire news. A dark storm is rolling in to blanket the Earth until all life is snuffed out.
Dorian had heard prophecies of an ancient evil bent on resetting the world from immortal beings that were present the last time it rose. He must now decide between using his newfound strength to save himself, or fight against the tide for the humans that would never accept him.
New and familiar faces join the fray as Dorian’s journey takes him across the globe, but not all of them are there for the same reasons. Dorian is quick to learn that the darkest corners do not compare to the bottomless depths of a corrupt mind as innocent lives begin to disappear, swallowed by the shadows themselves.
What manner of demon or deity awaits Dorian and his allies once the lights go out?
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy

Representation
Gender:
Cis girls: Emily, Aurelia, (many others)
Cis boys: Dorian, Gianluca, Noah, (many others)

Sexuality:
Gay: Dorian, Gianluca
Bisexual: Micah
Heterosexual: William, Emily, Owen, (many others)

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Dorian/Gianluca
Heteroromantic: William/Emily

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Dorian, Gianluca, Noah, and more
East Asian: (many)

Religion:
Christianity: William, Emily
Shinto: (many, mythological characters)

Disability: Mental illness (anxiety, depression, PTSD)

Trigger Warnings: Homophobia/homomisia, Violence, PTSD, Domestic abuse, drug and alcohol use

Ownvoices: Gay male

Hostage (The Change #2)

By Sherwood Smith

In the sequel to Stranger, Ross get kidnapped by King Voske and forced to prospect for ancient weapons. Jennie and Mia will stop at nothing to free him. The book introduces two new characters: Kerry, Paco’s half-sister, and Santiago. Kerry and Santiago don’t introduce more queer characters, though we get to see more of Brisa and Becky.

Publisher’s Description:

Welcome back to Las Anclas, a frontier town in the post-apocalyptic Wild West. In Las Anclas, the skull-faced sheriff possesses superhuman strength, the doctor can speed up time, and the squirrels can teleport sandwiches out of your hands.

In book one, Stranger, teenage prospector Ross Juarez stumbled into town half-dead, bringing with him a precious artifact, a power no one has ever had before, and a whole lot of trouble— including an invasion by Voske, the king of Gold Point. The town defeated Voske’s army, with the deciding blow struck by Ross, but at a great cost. 

In Hostage, a team sent by King Voske captures Ross and takes him to Gold Point. There he meets Kerry, Voske’s teenage daughter, who has been trained to be as ruthless as her father. While his friends in Las Anclas desperately try to rescue him, Ross is forced to engage in a battle of wills with the king himself.

Genre: Science fiction, fantasy

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Mia, Jennie, Felicité, Brisa, Becky, Kerry
Cis boys: Ross, Yuki, Indra, Santiago

Sexuality:
Gay: Yuki
Lesbian: Brisa, Becky
Demisexual: Mia
Heterosexual: Ross, Jennie, Indra, Felicité, Kerry, Santiago

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Yuki, Brisa, Becky
Heteroromantic: Ross, Jennie, Indra, Felicité, Kerry, Santiago
Demiromantic: Mia

Race/Ethnicity:
Latinx: Santiago
Japanese: Yuki
Korean: Mia, Kerry
Black: Jennie
Indian: Indra
Multiracial: Felicité
Indigenous: Ross

Disability:
Ross and Jennie have PTSD. Ross has lessened mobility in his left hand and is using a prosthetic hand to regain some of that mobility.

Trigger Warnings:
Racism
Suicide ideation
Torture

 

Stranger (The Change #1)

By Sherwood Smith

In a post-apocalyptic world, a young prospector named Ross has stolen a potentially invaluable artifact: a book. In the town of Las Anclas, he finds something he’s never had: a home. He befriends several other teenagers and falls in love. The story is filled with diverse characters and homosexuality is visibly accepted. Racism restricts itself to comments directed at the Changed, people with special abilities such as Jennie’s telepathy.

Publisher’s Description:

Many generations ago, a mysterious cataclysm struck the world. Governments collapsed and people scattered, to rebuild where they could. A mutation, “the Change,” arose, granting some people unique powers. Though the area once called Los Angeles retains its cultural diversity, its technological marvels have faded into legend. “Las Anclas” now resembles a Wild West frontier town… where the Sheriff possesses superhuman strength, the doctor can warp time to heal his patients, and the distant ruins of an ancient city bristle with deadly crystalline trees that take their jewel-like colors from the clothes of the people they killed.

Teenage prospector Ross Juarez’s best find ever – an ancient book he doesn’t know how to read – nearly costs him his life when a bounty hunter is set on him to kill him and steal the book. Ross barely makes it to Las Anclas, bringing with him a precious artifact, a power no one has ever had before, and a whole lot of trouble.

Genre: Science fiction, fantasy

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Mia, Jennie, Felicité, Brisa, Becky
Cis boys: Ross, Yuki, Indra

Sexuality:
Gay: Yuki
Lesbian: Brisa, Becky
Demisexual: Mia
Heterosexual: Ross, Jennie, Indra, Felicité

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Yuki, Brisa, Becky
Heteroromantic: Ross, Jennie, Indra, Felicité
Demiromantic: Mia

Race/Ethnicity:
Latinx: Ross
Japanese: Yuki
Korean: Mia
Black: Jennie
Indian: Indra
Multiracial: Felicité
Indigenous: Ross

Disability:
Ross has PTSD and has lost some of the mobility in his right hand. He also never learned to read as a child.

Trigger Warnings:
Racism
Aphobia/amisia

Additional Notes: Throughout the story a polyamorous relationship starts to develop.