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Gavin's Big Gay Checklist by Chase Connor
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Not Like Other Boys
K.A. Merikan - 2014
Win a boyfriend. ---Ethan. Taxidermist. Goth weirdo. Can’t wait to be done with high school.Ethan is a young artist-entrepreneur with a love for quirky taxidermy. Roadkill is so much better than people. By the end of high school, all he wants is to develop his business, yet all his parents want is for him to go to law school. That is more than enough of a problem for Ethan, so any kind of love life is out of the question. That is until Robert Hunter, the quarterback of the football team, comes crashing into him. Literally.Robert. Quarterback. In the closet. More than meets the eye.Robert is the popular kid, the quarterback on his way to med school. He’s gay, but not exactly coming out since he doesn’t like to stir the pot. One night, spurred on by too much booze, he ends up causing irreversible harm to Ethan, the school’s weirdo.The aftermath.Robert will do anything to avoid charges for what he’s done, but when Ethan makes an indecent demand in return for his silence, Robert might just be in way over his head.For Ethan, it’s a simple act of revenge on a bully, but when Robert turns out to be not-so-straight, their arrangement gets complicated all too fast.POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: First love, fitting in, entrepreneurship, disability, high school, jock/goth, taxidermy, artist, coming out, becoming an adult, enemies to lovers, hurt/comfortGenre: New Adult M/M romanceLength: ~ 90,000 words (Standalone novel, no cliffhanger.)WARNING: Contains steamy, passionate scenes, violent injury, themes of bullying, and a morally ambiguous proposition(This book was formerly published as ‘Diary of a Teenage Taxidermist’)
Heavyweight
M.B. Mulhall - 2014
Their weight can be crushing, but their release can change everything—and not necessarily for the better. Ian is no stranger to secrets. Being a gay teen in a backwater southern town, Ian must keep his orientation under wraps, especially since he spends a lot of time with his hands all over members of the same sex, pinning their sweaty, hard bodies to the wrestling mat. When he’s trying not to stare at teammates in the locker room, he’s busy hiding another secret—that he starves himself so he doesn’t get bumped to the next weight class. Enter Julian Yang, an Adonis with mesmerizing looks and punk rocker style. Befriending the flirtatious artist not only raises suspicion among his classmates, but leaves Ian terrified he’ll give in to the desires he’s fought to ignore. As secrets come to light, Ian’s world crumbles. Disowned, de-friended, and deserted by nearly everyone, Ian’s one-way ticket out of town is revoked, leaving him trapped in a world he hates—and one that hates him back.
Secret Baby Omega
Alice Shaw - 2018
When Schwartz wakes in Jax’s bed, he wants to write the whole thing off. Jax is bad news and Schwartz is barren… or so he thinks. Jax is trying to change his bad boy ways. He grew up poor and in a dysfunctional family, but he wants to be something better. Then he gets Schwartz pregnant and everything falls apart. It started out as a mistake. Now, they have to make it work. Can two broken men save each other and make a new future for themselves and their child? Secret Baby Omega is a full-length friends-to-lovers, secret baby romance novel. It is 60k words, complete with a HEA. This book contains hot and sexy scenes, emotional moments full of desire, and a darling Easter baby to gush over. And don’t worry, there is no cliffhanger at the end of this book! This book is meant for 18+ readers.
Without You
Yesenia Vargas - 2014
But she never expects to meet someone as perfect as Lucas at the beginning of senior year. But she doesn’t realize how much she might be leaving behind.Lucas is everything Ariana could have ever wanted in a guy, but he can’t be a part of Ariana’s new start, not when his family needs him at home. Or that her dreams might be out of reach anyway...To make matters worse, Ariana’s not sure she can afford to go to UGA herself. Or if she’ll be able to get in. Ariana will have to choose...Because she knows she can’t have it all. Ariana quickly realizes Lucas’s ex would love to see her gone, but she’s ready to fight for what they have. But at what price? Will she have to live with the regret of giving up on her dream school? Or will she sacrifice the guy that’s captured her heart? A Young Adult Contemporary Romance Please note: this book is intended for readers aged 14+ due to some cursing/sexual situations. Previously published as Unending Love.
True Letters from a Fictional Life
Kenneth Logan - 2016
As he fills his drawers with letters to the people in his world -- letters he never intends to send -- he spills the truth: he’s trying hard, but he just isn’t into Theresa. It’s a boy who lingers in his thoughts.He feels trapped by his parents, his teammates, and the lies they've helped him tell, and he has no idea how to escape. Is he destined to live a life of fiction?
Iris Abroad
Emily Mayer - 2021
Literally. My family drew sticks to see who had to take Yiayia on a cruise to scatter Papou’s ashes around the Greek Islands.I knew the whole thing was rigged, but here I am anyway, smuggling a Ziplock bag of ashes—don’t ask—halfway across the world with my four-hundred-year-old grandmother in tow. She is on a mission to tell the world that this generation doesn’t know how to make a good baklava, too. The woman is fueled solely by spite and fig newtons.Needless to say, the absolute last thing I need is to spend the trip with an actual Greek god. Apollo Nikas. The man my parents hired to make sure Yiayia and I don’t end up on the next episode of Locked Up Abroad, because the only person they trust less than Yiayia is me. The man is allergic to wearing properly fitting shirts. And now that I’ve seen him in a speedo, there is no going back. Zeus help me.
Pictures of You
Leta Blake - 2016
Growing up gay in Knoxville, Tennessee is even harder. Eighteen-year-old Peter Mandel, a private school senior—class of 1991—is passionate about photography. Peter doesn’t have many friends, preferring to shoot pictures from behind the scenes to keep his homosexuality secret.Enter Adam Algedi, a charming, worldly new guy who doesn't do labels, but does want to do Peter. Hardly able to believe gorgeous Adam would want geeky, skinny him of all people, Peter's swept away on a journey of first love and sexual discovery. But as their mutual web of lies spins tighter and tighter, can Peter find the confidence he needs to make the right choices? And will his crush on Daniel, a college acquaintance, open a new path?Join Peter in the first of this four-part coming of age series as he struggles to love and be loved, and grow into a gay man worthy of his own respect. This new series by Leta Blake is gay fiction with romantic elements.Book 1 of 4. Warning! These books contain: New Adult fiction, ‘90s gay life, small city homosexual experiences, Southern biases, sexual exploration, romance, homophobia, bisexuality, and twisted-up young love. Oh, and a guaranteed happy ending for the main character by the end of Book 4.
The Suicidal Peanut
Matthew J. Metzger - 2015
His text-flirting with Demi, the brother of his best friend, is going nowhere: Demi already has a boyfriend and anyway, who dates their best friend's twin? But then, the pining after Nick is going nowhere either, because Nick probably likes gay-bashing on Friday nights for fun. He's gorgeous, but he's dangerous, and Tab knows better than that.So what's a bit of harmless flirting, when one is taken and the other is straight? It's just a bit of fun.That is until Demi is suddenly single, and Nick is not looking as straight and scary as he was before.
You to Me
Lyn Forester - 2016
Fate decides.Childhood friends Sota and Masa have always been together. But when they turn eighteen, all of their expectations shatter. Attention from a persistent bully escalates and childhood visions of a perfect future begin to unravel. Sota quickly realizes that the transition into adulthood is not as fun as he envisioned. Unexpected feelings emerge and hidden secrets come to light. Sota and Masa’s lives have become more confusing than ever. Can they accept fate’s design, embracing who they were meant to be? Or will reality tear them apart?**New Adult Gay Romance
Anything Could Happen
Will Walton - 2015
Which makes it hard for him to be in love with his straight best friend. For his part, Matt is completely oblivious to the way Tretch feels – and Tretch can’t tell whether that makes it better or worse. The problem with living a lie is that the lie can slowly become your life. For Tretch, the problem isn’t just with Matt. His family has no idea who he really is and what he’s really thinking. The girl at the local bookstore has no clue how off-base her crush on him is. And the guy at school who’s a thorn in Tretch’s side doesn’t realize how close to the truth he’s hitting. Tretch has spent a lot of time dancing alone in his room, but now he’s got to step outside his comfort zone and into the wider world. Because like love, a true self can rarely be contained. ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN is a poignant, hard-hitting exploration of love and friendship, a provocative debut that shows that sometimes we have to let things fall apart before we can make them whole again.
Last of the Summer Tomatoes
Sherrie Henry - 2013
But instead of being sent to a juvenile detention center like he expected, he is given a chance to commute his sentence by working on a farm for the summer. Enter Sam, son of the farm owners, who shows Kyle what he feels is perfectly normal and that he doesn’t have to hide from his feelings. In turn, Sam’s parents show Kyle that his abusive stepfather and battered mother are not the norm. With their love and support, Kyle finds his place in the world—by Sam’s side.
The Exchange
Jillian Dodd - 2020
I love New York. My school. My friends. And I didn’t want to leave. But after some not-so-subtle insistence about experiencing a new culture, gaining worldly knowledge, and the fact that it was only three weeks, I knew I wasn’t getting out of it. So, I decided that if I had to go, I might as well have some fun. Which was how I met Harry at a pub. His blue eyes, adorable accent, and charm instantly won me over—right after his lips did. And I started to think that London might not be so bad. But then I met Noah. He’s tall, dark, intense, and spends way too much time in the shower. I know this because I have to live with him. And did I mention that he hates me?My first day at school is more eventful than I anticipated. A boy named Mohammad takes me under his wing, declares himself my guide to the “hostile and hormonal battlefield that is Kensington School,” and lays three facts on me: He, Harry, and Noah are best mates. I’m the new girl and bound to cause drama. And I’ve already got his boys all twisted up. I’m in way over my head, and it’s only my first day!
The Manny
A.T. Brennan - 2018
Dealing with three headstrong kids who are used to getting what they want is tough enough, but add that Nathan is smart, sexy and full of surprises to the mix, and Cameron is in way over his head. Nathan knows that having any sort of relationship with his kid’s new nanny is inappropriate. It doesn’t matter that Cameron is the first man to make him feel anything in years. Cameron is off limits, but the more time Nathan spends with the younger man, the more their attraction to each other grows. As the men grow closer, they have to decide whether what they have is worth risking Cameron’s job and Nathan’s principles. Neither has ever felt a connection like this before, but both have their own demons to work through before they can be open to the chemistry between them.
The Devil's Fool
Rachel McClellan - 2015
But when her father introduces her to Boaz, a powerful vampire who manipulates her by giving her the one thing she’s never had—love, Eve finds herself caught up in a world of greed and seduction, using black magic to harm others purely for enjoyment. Unbeknownst to Eve, however, Boaz’s true desire is to steal her power for himself, and he will do whatever it takes to make that happen.After Boaz nearly kills her, Eve finally sees him for the devil he is. Knowing Boaz will never let her go, she enlists the help of the Deific, a secret organization that fights the world’s true monsters, to fake her own death. She learns to use her abilities for good and sets out to make up for all her wrongdoings. But when her past actions catch up to her, the consequences prove deadly. Boaz wants revenge, and he’s not alone.
Drawing Love
Tully Vincent - 2016
After years of homeschool and isolation, he’s a senior in high school who's put the past behind him. Mostly.In a rash moment, Taylor volunteers his artistic flair and ends up heading the decorating committee for the annual Cupid's Dance. It's behind the scene work though. What could possibly go wrong?