Tropes/themes/secondary plot: workplace romance the MC dealing with transphobia from coworkers (but not the love interest) some fun behind-the-scenes political campaign drama. Setting: the offices of a political campaign somewhere in contemporary America MCs: an intern at a political campaign, just out of college and stunned he’s landed his dream job, but also dealing with the stress of being out and trans in a not-very-supportive workplace and the somewhat prickly and uptight campaign strategist who actually ends up being super charming and kind. Rep: black genderqueer MC * Coffee Boy by austin chant Tropes/themes/secondary plot: workplace romance lots of food and cooking friends-to-lovers an age gap an interracial relationship characters dealing with grief. MCs: a restauranteur still mourning the death of his husband and the determined college graduate he hires as part of his staff reboot. Rep: bisexual, polyamorous MC Idlewild by jude sierra Tropes/themes/secondary plot: BDSM, polyamory, characters dealing with PTSD, lots of on-the-page sex (this one is definitely erotic romance). MCs: a gay SWAT commander who’s mostly in the closet about being kinky and submissive and a bisexual, polyamorous kinky doctor who works for the coroner’s office. Rep: disabled MC contemporary Gay Romance Novels Tactical Submission by ada maria soto Tropes/themes/secondary plot: enemies-to-lovers a mystery involving blackmail interesting and complicated family dynamics explorations of class differences and disability. Setting: Regency London and the English countryside
MCs: a grumpy, unscrupulous, street-smart private eye (think: Olivia Pope in 1820s London) who grew up in the slums and despises nobility and a retired (and very proper) soldier who craves order and predicability. Rep: Indian, neurodivergent MC The Soldier’s Scoundrel by Cat sebastian Tropes/themes/secondary plot: a murder mystery a beautifully depicted tight-knit queer community some kink. MCs: a quiet boarding-house keeper and one of his lodgers, a taxonomist. Rep: black MC, trans MC An Unseen Attraction by K.J. Tropes/themes/secondary plot: an exciting and action-packed rescue of a hospital patient about to be committed to an asylum racism and transphobia in 1830s NYC.