Amid buzz from the Heated Rivalry TV adaptation, Book Riot has highlighted six M/M romance novels written by queer male authors. The list addresses calls within the romance community for more authentic voices amid debates over representation. It aims to inspire readers to diversify their bookshelves.
The recent surge in popularity of Heated Rivalry, following its highly acclaimed television adaptation, has spotlighted M/M romance books—those centering male-male couples. This mania has reignited discussions in the romance community about many such books being written by white women, who some argue cannot fully capture queer male experiences. Critics have pointed to instances of straight women fetishizing queer men, potentially sidelining queer voices from the genre. Book Riot's list counters this by featuring works exclusively by queer male authors, noting there are many more beyond these six selections for readers hooked on characters like Shane and Ilya from Heated Rivalry to explore. The recommendations include: The Borrow a Boyfriend Club by Page Powars, where trans teen Noah Byrd joins a secret school club to prove his gender and navigates feelings for president Asher; Ancient History by A.J. Truman, a sports romance reuniting high school exes Hutch, now a pro soccer coach, and teacher Amos in Sourwood; The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons, following trans soccer player Spencer Harris facing a discriminatory law at his new school in Oakley, Ohio; I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram, in which Farzan Alavi's mistaken identity at a Kansas City wine bar leads to sparks with sommelier David; Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon, where book club leader Jordan Collins clashes and connects with bookstore employee Rex Bailey; and Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian, an intergenerational tale spanning 1939 Hollywood, 1978 Iran, and 2019, weaving queer romances across eras and cultures. The post encourages checking queer hockey romances while awaiting Heated Rivalry's second season.