Here’s a very non-comprehensive list of books I’ve enjoyed, mostly romance or at least books with a romance suplot that ends happily. They’re listed in no particular order, and I’ve almost definitely forgotten some favorite authors. One day I’ll organize this list according to historical vs. contemporary, or queer vs. not, but for the moment it’s just a jumble.

Literally everything by Alyssa Cole, no exceptions.

Everything by Rose Lerner, no exceptions.

Olivia Waite‘s sapphic regencies. The Ladies’ Guide to Celestial Mechanics is sublime; Hellion’s Waltz is a romp; the whole trilogy is fabulous.

Talia Hibbert‘s Brown sisters books. I enjoyed every minute of every one of them.

Everything by Freya Marske; start with A Marvelous Light. Edwardian setting with secret magic. The writing is infuriatingly perfect, the world building is fascinating, the characters are so finely drawn.

KD Casey‘s Unwritten Rules series. Queer baseball at it’s literal finest. I’ve read them all multiple times and I like them more each time. Diamond Ring is a masterpiece. I read it so many times I had to give myself little treats for doing literally anything other than rereading it on a continuous loop for the rest of my life.

The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau. I’ve never not enjoyed a book by Jackie Lau, but this was a particular delight. Both characters are bi and they both seem to experience the world in a noticibly queer way.

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. I went feral over this. It’s gorgeous. Very queer. The food descriptions alone were breathtaking. It’s a Grief Book.

Everything by Rachel Reid but especially Heated Rivalry, which is a category killer when it comes to enemies obliviously in love. I’ve read it more times than should be legally allowed. You don’t need to read this series in order.

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell. Arranged marriage in space, gorgeous prose.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. YA set in McCarthy-era San Francisco and the vibes are perfect.

Anything by TJ Alexander. Their books are so intensely low angst and warm and cozy I can hardly stand it.

Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly. They meet while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, something I find appalling and terrifying and yet which, for the duration of this book, Anita Kelly tricked me into finding a romantic and sane thing for people to do. The letters at the end are so romantic I might have blacked out a little.

Seducing the Sorcerer by Lee Welch. Fantasy-historical setting with magic horses? And everyone’s grumpy? Literally my dream book.

The Reanimator’s Heart by Kara Jorgensen. Neurodivergent necromancer accidentally reanimates his crush in gaslight fantasy NYC. Creepy and lovely.

Before I Let You Go by Kennedy Ryan. Truly one of the loveliest books I’ve read in my life. Cried myself into a state but worth it.

Elizabeth Kingston‘s The King’s Man and the rest of the Welsh Blades series. I love a good medieval and in this one he falls in love with her because she’s good at swords; I rest my case.

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade. I adored this whole series but this book in particular felt like it was written for me personally. It’s a love letter to fix-it fandom.

Ana Maria and the Fox by Liana de la Rosa. This book reminded me of what drew me to the genre in the first place. It starts with an aspect of history that I know nothing about (I went on a very enjoyable Wikipedia spree) and makes it relevant.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. This is just such a funny, fresh, weird book and I want more weird things in romance. (I can’t include it without a CW for fatphobia; YMMV.)

Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Not a romance but there’s a subplot that isn’t not a romance. A Grief Book. A Crying Book. So many feelings about getting older.

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen. It’s a historical mystery, not a romance (there isn’t even a romance subplot, although there is in the sequel), but I wanted to include it because 1) I loved it and 2) the idea of queering the hardboiled San Francisco detective genre is apparently vital to my well-being. (CW for noir-typical violence)

You Again by Kate Goldbeck. Queer M/F in which she’s kind of a dirtbag; you love to see it.

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black. Pitch-perfect primetime soap opera energy.

Lucky Bounce by Cait Nary. Extremely fun. I’m so suspicious of books that are described as fun, because I worry I’m in for three hundred pages of antics, hijinks, and secondhand embarrassment (I know people like these things but I do not and this is my list). This book has none of those things. It’s just a total delight, mainly because the POV character is a delight.