The landscape of literature has shifted beneath our feet in the most delightful way. Gone are the days when LGBTQ+ romance was relegated to a dusty corner of the bookstore, often limited to tragic tales of forbidden love or somber coming-out narratives. In 2025, the genre has exploded into a kaleidoscope of joy, adventure, heat, and domestic bliss. We are living in a golden age of queer storytelling, where happily-ever-afters are not just possible, they are guaranteed, celebrated, and diverse.
This year, readers are craving connection more than ever, and the romance genre is delivering with stories that span the spectrum of identity and experience. From high-fantasy coffee shops to the polished halls of political power, queer love is taking center stage in every genre imaginable. Whether you are a seasoned reader of the genre looking to revisit a classic that is having a cultural resurgence, or a newcomer seeking a story that reflects your own heart, this year's reading list is brimming with options.
The trend for 2025 is undeniably one of comfort and defiance entwined. Readers are flocking to books that offer a soft place to land while simultaneously challenging the status quo of who gets to be a protagonist. We are seeing a resurgence of beloved titles that have found new life through screen adaptations and social media phenomenons, alongside stories that push the boundaries of what romance can be. Here are the top LGBTQ-romance books and themes to add to your reading pile this year.
The Royal Romance That Defined A Generation
It is impossible to discuss the modern landscape of queer romance without acknowledging the titan that paved the way for so many others. Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue remains a cultural touchstone in 2025, continuing to dominate bestseller lists and reading groups alike. While not a new release, its staying power suggests it has graduated from "bestseller" to "modern classic."
The story of Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry of Wales is more than just a rom-com; it is a millennial fairytale. The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed with such precision and wit that it feels fresh upon every reread. What keeps this book vital in 2025 is its unabashed optimism. In a world that often feels politically fraught, diving into a universe where love can literally change the trajectory of international relations is a soothing balm.
Readers are returning to this book because it balances high-stakes political drama with intimate, tender moments of self-discovery. The email correspondence between Alex and Henry, filled with history quotes, longing, and vulnerability, remains some of the most romantic writing of the decade. If you haven't read it yet, 2025 is the year to join the legion of fans. If you have, it’s the perfect time to revisit the history-making love story that proved queer joy is a revolution in itself.
Cozy Fantasy That Reinvents Domestic Bliss
One of the most significant shifts in the romance genre over the last few years has been the rise of "cozy fantasy," and sitting firmly on the throne of this subgenre is Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes. This book challenges the idea that fantasy must be about wars, world-ending stakes, and tragic sacrifices. Instead, it asks a simple, beautiful question: What if an orc barbarian just wanted to open a coffee shop?
The romance in Legends & Lattes is a slow-burn, tender sapphic relationship that unfolds over cinnamon rolls and lattes. It is low-stakes in the best possible way. The tension comes not from whether the world will end, but from whether the grand opening will go well or if the new pastry recipe is a success. This book resonates deeply in 2025 because it offers an escape into a world where kindness is the strongest magic of all.
The relationship between Viv, the retired orc adventurer, and Tandri, the succubus who helps her run the shop, is built on mutual respect, shared work, and quiet domesticity. It is a celebration of found family and the courage it takes to put down the sword and pick up a coffee mug.
Here is why cozy queer fantasy is dominating reading lists this year:
- Low Stress: It provides a safe haven from the anxiety of the real world.
- Found Family: The emphasis is on building a community of supportive friends.
- Domestic Joy: It romanticizes the simple acts of cooking, cleaning, and creating a home.
- Gentle Romance: The love stories are often sweet, supportive, and devoid of toxic drama.
For readers seeking a warm hug in book form, this genre offers a sanctuary where queer love is woven naturally into the fabric of everyday magic.
Sapphic Rom-Coms With Messy Realistic Heroines
For a long time, romance heroines were expected to be polished, perfect, and perhaps a little clumsy in a charming way. But 2025 is the year of the messy, complex, and utterly relatable queer woman. Leading the charge in this arena is Ashley Herring Blake’s Delilah Green Doesn't Care. This book has sparked a wave of sapphic romances that allow their protagonists to carry baggage, make mistakes, and still be worthy of profound love.
The story follows Delilah Green, a prickly photographer who returns to her hometown only to fall for her stepsister’s best friend, Claire Sutherland. It checks all the boxes of a great rom-com: small-town gossip, forced proximity, and undeniable chemistry. But what sets it apart is the emotional depth. Delilah is guarded and cynical, while Claire is a single mom trying to hold it all together. Their journey to each other is about breaking down walls and learning to trust.
This book, and the wave of similar titles it inspired, is essential reading because it normalizes the idea that you don't have to be "fixed" to find love. It celebrates the step-parents, the artists, the black sheep, and the single moms. It brings a level of grit and reality to the genre that feels grounding. The dialogue is sharp, the steam is plentiful, and the emotional payoff is earned. It’s a reminder that queer women deserve their own Hallmark-movie moments, complete with all the beautiful, messy complications of real life.
The Enduring Power Of Epic Historical Love
While contemporary settings are thriving, there is a timeless allure to historical fiction that continues to captivate readers in 2025. Specifically, Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles remains a powerhouse of the genre, proving that a tragic love story from thousands of years ago can still break hearts today. While not a traditional "romance" in the genre sense (as it doesn't guarantee a happy ending), its focus on the bond between Patroclus and Achilles is one of the most celebrated portrayals of queer love in literature.
This book is finding renewed attention as readers look for stories with epic scope and lyrical prose. Miller retells the Iliad through the eyes of Patroclus, centering his relationship with the golden hero Achilles. It is a story of destiny, war, and a love that transcends death. The beauty of reading this in 2025 lies in its reminder of the permanence of love. In a fast-paced digital world, there is something grounding about a story rooted in ancient myth.
Alongside this, we are seeing a rise in Regency and Victorian queer romances that rewrite history to include joy. Books like A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee or The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles offer historical settings with a fantastical or adventurous twist. These stories reclaim history, inserting queer people back into the narratives they were erased from. They offer the escapism of ballgowns and breeches, but with the modern sensibility that love is love, in any century.
Trans Joy And New Adult Discoveries
One of the most exciting developments in the 2025 literary landscape is the explosion of "New Adult" titles centering trans and non-binary characters. This genre, bridging the gap between Young Adult and Adult fiction, is exploring themes of identity, transition, and self-love with nuance and celebration. A standout title that continues to garner love is Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.
While technically a fantasy novel involving ghosts and brujos, at its heart, it is a tender romance and a powerful affirmation of trans identity. Yadriel, a trans boy determined to prove himself to his traditional family, summons a ghost named Julian, and the ensuing adventure is equal parts thrilling and romantic. The book resonates because it doesn't center the tragedy of the trans experience, but rather the power and magic of it.
This year, readers are seeking out T4T (trans-for-trans) love stories and narratives where gender identity is a part of the character's journey but not the sole source of conflict. These books are rewriting the script on who gets to be the romantic lead. They are filled with gender euphoria, cultural richness, and the specific, unique joy of being seen for exactly who you are. Whether it involves summoning spirits or navigating a college campus, these stories are expanding the horizons of romance and proving that every identity deserves a swoon-worthy love story.
In 2025, the best LGBTQ-romance books are the ones that make us feel seen. They are the mirrors reflecting our own desires and the windows into lives we might never lead. They remind us that love, in all its forms, genders, and presentations, is the greatest story we have. So, grab a cup of tea, find a comfortable chair, and let these stories sweep you away.
