A Small List of Diverse Romance Books
Hello voyagers, travelers of the book world! Today I bring you another rec list because who are we kidding they are so much fun and I love making them you all know that. I have seen recently how people don't "find" good NA. I put find in "" because let's be real, they really just pick what's popular and they all are cishet white. You all want diverse romance books but you don't go searching for them, it's not easy that's for sure you might find really crappy ones but try and try again. Or really there are SO MANY lists everywhere now. I wouldn't trust Goodreads though. I'll put a resources lists with some links that great people have done that feature diverse romance books.
Note: This will be mainly New Adult and Adult tho, just a heads up. I'm not including Young Adult.
Note #2: Thank you to @TGStoneButch, they really are the best. And @SueYAHollywood, Sue always helps me on everything and I thank her times a million. Thanks to @HeyChips for some recs too!
Note #3: I'm sure there are more, but I'm mainly putting books that I know are amazing (and not problematic) or books that I know friends or readers I trust have read them and loved them. So for sure there are WAAAY more diverse romance books out there and I am sorry that I didn't include them all, truly. This is just a small list that I made that I hope it helps people find a good book.
Note #3: I'm sure there are more, but I'm mainly putting books that I know are amazing (and not problematic) or books that I know friends or readers I trust have read them and loved them. So for sure there are WAAAY more diverse romance books out there and I am sorry that I didn't include them all, truly. This is just a small list that I made that I hope it helps people find a good book.
M/F
- CHASING MR. PREFECT by Katt Briones*
New Adult. Filipino main characters. Setting: Philippines. Hate to love trope.
- WAITING IN THE WINGS by Tara Frejas*
New Adult. Filipino main characters. Setting: Philippines. Theatre world.
- F*THS by GL Tomas*
New Adult. Afro-Cuban, bisexual heroine. Bisexual hero.
- HOLD ME by Courtney Milan*
New Adult. Trans, Latina heroine. Bisexual, Thai-Chinese hero. You've Got Mail trope.
- TRADE ME by Courtney Milan*
New Adult. Chinese heroine. Hero with eating disorder. Fake dating.
- INFINI by Krista and Becca Ritchie
New Adult. Jamaican-American heroine. Best friends to lovers trope. TW: Depression, eating disorder, kleptomania, abuse.
- IF THE DRESS FITS by Carla de Guzman*
Adult. Filipino main characters. Fat heroine. Fake dating.
- DARE TO LOVE by CP Santi*
Adult. Filipino main characters. Single mom with twins.
- AGNES MOOR'S WILD KNIGHT by Alyssa Cole*
Adult. Historical romance. Black heroine. Long-haired hero.
- LESSON THAT TAUGHT LOVE by GL Tomas*
Adult. Black heroine. Friends to lovers. Small town romance.
- DELICIOUS SATISFACTION by Sabrina Sol*
Adult. Puerto Rican heroine. Mexican-American hero. Heroine is famous chef. Hero is a lawyer.
- THE KING OF BOURBON STREET by Thea de Salle
Adult. Fat heroine. Bisexual hero. BDSM. Both rich; heroine is a heiress, hero is owner of hotels. Age gap.
- MORE THAN FASHION by Elizabeth Briggs
New Adult. Korean-American heroine. Enters a reality show ~ Project Runway-esque ~ Fake dating.
- SAVE THE CAKE by Stella Torres*
Adult. Filipino heroine. Argentinian-Filipino hero. Heroine is a baker. Hero is a videographer. Wedding.
- NOBLE LOVE by Té Russ*
Adult. Black main characters. Heroine is a baker.
- TAMED by Rebekah Weatherspoon*
Adult. Egyptian heroine. Latinx hero. BDSM.
- FIT by Rebekah Weatherspoon*
Adult. Chinese-American, fat heroine. Light BDSM.
- LOVE ON MY MIND by Tracey Livesay*
Adult. Black heroine. Autistic hero.
- BE MY FANTASY by Alisha Rai*
Adult. Fat heroine. Latinx hero. Heroine is the daughter of a politician, but she owns a private club of pleasure.
- SUGAR BABY series by Rebekah Weatherspoon*
Adult. Bisexual black heroine. Age gap. Sugar daddy. Super romantic and cute.
- PAGE BREAK by GL Tomas*
New Adult. Afro-Dominican hero. Fat, Afro-Guyanese + Indo-guyanese ancestry love interest.
- BEGINNER'S GUIDE: LOVE AND OTHER CHEMICAL REACTIONS by Six de los Reyes*
New Adult. Filipino main characters. Scientist heroine. Hero owns a coffee shop.
- RADIO SILENCE by Alyssa Cole*
New Adult. Apocalyptic. Black heroine. Korean love interest.
- A GENTLEMAN IN THE STREET by Alisha Rai*
Adult. Erotica. Bisexual, Japanese heroine. Hero is the guardian of his siblings. (Explicit and mature sex scenes such as going to a sex club and orgies)
- BLACK RAINBOW by JJ McAvoy*
New Adult. Black heroine who is a law student. Fans of How To Get Away With Murder will like this one. Age gap romance.
- LIGHTING THE FLAMES by Sarah Wendell
Adult. Jewish MC. Winter camp.
- FULL COURT SEDUCTION by Synithia Williams*
Adult. Black main characters. Professional NBA player hero.
- SONGS OF OUR BREAKUP by Jay E. Tria*
Adult. Romance. Indie band. Filipino mc and Japanese love interest trope: friends to lovers
- SONGS TO GET OVER YOU by Jay E. Tria*
Filipino characters. Trope: unrequited romance with a happy ending; girl chases the boy.
- A VIRTUOUS RUBY by Piper Huguley*
Adult. Historical romance. Single mom. Black MC. Hero is a doctor.
- GLUTTON FOR PLEASURE by Alisha Rai*
Adult. Indian-American heroine, who is a chef. Menage. Twin brothers.
- HOT AS HADES by Alisha Rai*
Adult. Erotica. Hades x Persephone retelling. Persephone is a WoC.
- LIKE A FLY ON THE WALL by Simone Kelly*
Adult. Moroccan hero. Jamaican heroine. Detective agency. Mystery + urban fantasy
- BUCKET LIST TO LOVE by CP Santi*
New Adult. Filipino Mc. Japanese hero. Hate to love trope. Setting: Tokyo.
- LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT by Dahlia Adler
New Adult. Filipino-American MC. Heroine is the guardian of her siblings. TA hero.
- BREATHLESS by Beverly Jenkins*
Adult. Historical romance. Black main characters. Childhood friends.
- SCANDALIZED by Tara Frejas*
New Adult. Filipino MC. Korean love interest. Theme: K-Pop, fandom, bullying and accountability.
- PREP AND PREJUDICE by Miren Flores*
New Adult. Filipino characters. Pride and Prejudice retelling. Trope: second chance romance / childhood friends
- JUST FOR THE RECORD by Six de los Reyes*
New Adult. Filipino characters. Music. Trope: unrequited romance, ended with an open note, not exactly HEA.
- CERTAIN DARK THINGS by Silvia Moreno-Garcia*
Adult. Vampir in futuristic Mexico. Trope: soft human love interest and feisty vampire MC.
- WHAT YOU WANTED by Mina V. Esguerra*
Adult. Filipino characters. Trope: one night stand, friends with benefits.
- SORCERER TO THE CROWN by Zen Cho*
Adult. Historical. Magic. Black male MC and Indian female MC.
- SOUNDS LIKE SUMMER by Six de los Reyes*
Adult. Filipino characters. Scientist MC. Mental Illness rep. TW: Depression, self harm.
- THE HOMETOWN HAZARD by Dawn Lanuza*
Adult. Filipino characters. Mystery. Trope: Childhood friends to lovers. Age gap.
- IRIS AFTER THE INCIDENT by Mina V. Eguerra*
Adult. Filipino characters. About a woman who's sex tape was released without her consent. Feminist. Positive psychiatrist portrayal.
- INTERIM GODDESS OF LOVE by Mina V. Eguerra*
New Adult. Filipino characters and mythology. Trope: unrequited romance.
- LOVE BUGGED by Solangel TB
Adult. Korean-Japanese characters. Mafia. Trope: childhood friends to lovers, soulmates. TW: abuse, violence, attempted rape.
- WELCOME TO THE UNDERWORLD by Con Template
Adult. Korean characters. Mafia. Trope: childhood friends to lovers, soulmates. TW: abuse, violence, attempted rape.
- THE BOLLYWOOD BRIDE by Sonali De*
Adult. Indian characters. Trope: second chance romance.
- A CURVY GIRL FOR THE CADET by Sugar Jamison*
Adult. Fat heroine. Single mom. Military. Fake dating.
- FEELS LIKE SUMMER by Six de los Reyes*
- AN EXTRAODINARY UNION by Alyssa Cole*
- BETTER AT WEDDINGS THAN YOU by Mina V. Esguerra*
- HAVEN by Rebekah Weatherspoon*
Adult. Caribbean heroine (Grenada). Bearded, mountain man hero. BDSM + Dom/sub relationship. There is also a cute dog.
- THE QUEEN OF DAUPHINE STREET by Thea de Salle*
Adult. Pansexual heroine. PTSD. Heroine has a tiger pet. Hero tells dad jokes.
- HOLD ME DOWN by Sara Taylor Woods
New Adult. Jewish MC. Age gap (7 years apart). Dom/sub.
- COWBOY KARMA by Mia Hopkins*
Adult. Mexican hero + Filipino heroine.
- BOOTIE AND THE BEAST by Falguni Kothari*
Adult. Supermodel heroine. Indian rep. Broody workaholic hero. Hate to love. Childhood friends.
- TAKE THE LEAD by Alexis Daria*
Adult. Dancing competition reality TV show. Puerto Rican heroine + bearded hero.
- UNBUTTONING THE CEO by Mia Sosa*
Adult. Latinx heroine. CEO of a tech company hero.
- THE QUEEN'S GAME by Carla de Guzman*
Adult. Contemporary royalty. Filipino characters. Childhood friends + fake dating.
- ACTING ON IMPULSE by Mia Sosa*
Adult. Latina heroine who is a fitness trainer. Holywood celebrity hero.
- THE INFAMOUS MISS RODRIGUEZ by Lydia San Andres*
Adult. Historical romance. Caribbean rep + Argentinian hero. Fake marriage.
F/F
- DON'T TELL MY MOTHER by Brigitte Bautista*
New Adult. Filipino MC.
- SEASONS OF LOVE by Harper Bliss
- TAKE ME HOME by Lorelie Brown
- SECOND KISS by Chelsea M. Cameron
- DOUBLE EXPOSURE by Chelsea M. Cameron
- FEARLESS by Shira Glassman
Adult. Newly out lesbian mom. Falls for her daughter's teacher.
- THE SECOND MANGO by Shira Glassman
- THE PATHS WE CHOOSE by M. Hollis
New Adult. Black Cuban-American love interest. Brazilian fat MC. A+ friendships.
- THE MELODY OF YOU AND ME by M. Hollis
New Adult. Pansexual main character. Lesbian, Filipino love interest.
- FLOWERS OF LUNA by Jennifer Linsky*
Adult. Science Fiction. Biracial MC. Japanese LI. Fashion design and college.
- CINDER ELLA by S.T. Lynn
Adult. Cinderella retelling. Trans, black heroine MC
- ROLLER GIRL by Vanessa North
- DAYBREAK RISING by Kiran Oliver
- MISS MATCH by Fiona Riley
- THAW by Elyse Springer
- FOR GOOD by Karelia Stetz-Waters
Adult. Small town romance. Ex-rodeo queen love interest.
- TREASURE by Rebekah Weatherspoon*
Adult. Black girls falling in love. ADHD + anxiety rep, positive sex worker portrayal. TW: depression, self harm.
- VAMPIRE SORORITY SISTERS series by Rebekah Weatherspoon*
New Adult. Vampires and sorority houses. WOC as main characters.
- HEAVEN OR THIS by Topaz Winters*
Poetry. Cultural indentity.
- BEARLY A LADY by Cassandra Khaw*
Adult. Novella. WOC who is a werebear. Supernatural romcom. Bisexual MC.
- RIPPED PAGES by M. Hollis
Adult. Retelling of Rapunzel.
M/M
- A HUNDRED THOUSAND WORDS by Nyrae Dawn*
New Adult. Biracial, gay main character. Bisexual love interest. Best friend's big brother trope.
- STRONG SIGNAL by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell
Adult. Gay main characters. Gamers meeting online.
- FAST CONNECTION by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell
Adult. Bisexual main characters. Meet on Grindr. Age gap.
- HARD WIRED by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell
Adult. Unrequited crush. Video games conventions. Anxiety rep.
- PETER DARLING by Austin Chant
Adult. Retelling of Peter Pan. Trans boy MC. Enemies to lovers.
- A TASTE OF HONEY by Kai Ashante Wilson*
Adult. Fantasy. Black protagonists. Forbidden romance. Political intrigue + royalty.
- FIRST AND FIRST by Santino Hassell
Adult. Rich boys in Upper East Side.
- OVEREXPOSED by Megan Erickson
Adult. Demisexual rep. Reality show starMC
- HOW TO BE A NORMAL PERSON by TJ Klune
Adult. Asexual hipster love interest. Video-store owner MC.
- ANOTHER WORD FOR HAPPY by Agay Llanera*
New Adult. Filipino MC. Piano prodigy. Slam poetry. TW: homophobic and transphobic slurs
- COFFEE BOY by Austin Chant
- YES. CHEF by Alex Cohen
- SUMMER STOCK by Vanessa North
Adult. Bisexual MC. TV star. Trope: summer fling might turn into more?
- LUCHADOR by Erin Finnegan
Adult. Lucha libre. Mexican MC. Setting: Mexico.
- DAILY GRIND by Anna Zabo
Adult. Coffee shop owner bisexual MC. CEO of a robotics company love interest.
- LUNCH WITH THE DO-NOTHINGS AT THE TAMMY DINETTE by Killian B. Brewer
Adult. Small town romance. Chef MC. Mechanic love interest.
- ILLEGAL CONTACT by Santino Hassell
Adult. Sports romance. Bi football player. Gay Clark-Kent esque MC. Soft and adorable.
- DOWN BY CONTACT by Santino Hassell
Adult. Sports romance. Rival football players. Both main characters are men of color.
- STRAYS by Garrett Leigh
Adult. Foodie romance. So much angst but cuteness too!
- ROGUE WOLF by Elliot Cooper
Adult. Shifters. Space adventures. Pirates.
- STAKE SAUCE by RoAnna Syler
Adult. Novellas part of a complete set releasing on October. Punk-rock pink haired vampire. Disabled MC. PTSD.
- CHASING DESTINY by Megan Erickson
Adult. Werewolve shifters. Apocalypic setting. Zombie werewolves. Second-chance romance.
- HEART OF THE STEAL by Avon Gale + Roan Parrish
Adult. FBI agent, art thief romance. Age gap.
- PERMANENT INK by Avon Gale + Piper Vaughn*
Adult. Age gap. Tattoo artist. Daddy kink.
M/Non-binary
- WANDER THIS WORLD by GL Tomas*
New Adult. Afro-Latinx, pansexual and non-binary MC. Filipino hero.
- A BOY CALLED CIN by Cecil Wilde
Adult. Trans M/NB romance. Billionaire romance.
- LONG MACCHIATOS AND MONSTERS by Alison Evans
F/Non-binary
- BOOKMARK by GL Tomas*
New Adult. Filipino, pansexual MC. Belizean, genderqueer love interest.
Anthologies
- Love Beyond Body, Space and Time: An Indigenous LGBT Sci-Fi Anthology, edited by Hope Nicholson*
Adult. Indigenous science fiction and urban fantasy focusing on LGBT and two-spirit characters.
Adult. Historical romance. Black heroines. Interracial romances.
Adult. Authors: Kianna Alexander, Alyssa Cole, Lena Hart, Piper Huguley.
Links
Butch Characters in Erotica and Romance by Xan West
Visit WOC IN ROMANCE for more books written by authors of color
Recs for romance with trans &/or non-binary characters
Recs for romance with trans &/or non-binary characters
Check out LGBTREADS website and their book lists!
1 comments
I have just bookmarked this post and will be coming back to it often to read all of these books. I own a few but I think I've only read one on the whole list! It was Sonali Dev and I've heard her name everywhere and I've become a huge fan of her work but as for the rest I've not read them and I should be ashamed. It's great having a list like this to refer back to so thank you for taking the time.
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