Looking for LGBTQ+ romance reads? Check out these 8 recommendations from 2 local authors

Nance Sparks is an avid reader, but she didn’t always have an easy time finding characters who matched her identity and who she could connect with.

But all of that changed in her mid-20s, when she got a copy of “Curious Wine” by Katherine V. Forrest. The 2011 book has become a classic lesbian romance novel. 

“Any lesbian who is worth her salt knows that is the book,” Sparks said with a laugh. 

It was the first time Sparks had encountered her own desires and lifestyle in a book. Since reading “Curious Wine,” Sparks, who lives in south central Wisconsin with her spouse, has gone on to become an award-winning author of lesbian romance novels. 

Before 2010, same-sex couples were nearly nonexistent in romances released by major publishers. But by 2022, every large publisher in the United States issued romances featuring same-sex couples. 

Books about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer characters were 30 percent more likely to be banned from school shelves during the 2021-22 school year, according to an analysis by the Washington Post. Nevertheless, Sparks sees society generally becoming more open to gender fluidity and varying sexual orientations — and the book market is responding.

Since 2019, sales of LGBTQ+ romance have increased 173 percent, according to Circana, a market research firm that tracks sales for most printed books in the U.S. 

Not all of Sparks’ readers are lesbians, she has discovered.

“Love is love,” Sparks recently said on WPR’s “Wisconsin Today.” “And sometimes, you get into a story, and you start reading about the emotion and the sexual tension — and I don’t care if you’re two men or two women or trans or whatever, it’s just wonderful.” 

Lee Pulaski, a Shawano author who has published more than 20 gay romance novels, also joined “Wisconsin Today.” Pulaski agreed that readers of LGBTQ+ fiction don’t always match the gender or sexual orientation of the characters. 

“A lot of the prolific readers for romances involving two men are actually heterosexual women,” he said. “It floored me because, obviously, as a gay man, I wasn’t particularly interested in arousing women. But basically through my writing, I’ve managed to do that.” 

Pulaski finds inspiration from Wisconsin locations. He enjoys building love stories in unexpected settings.

“A man can fall in love with another man in a rural setting,” he said. “It is just amazing for me to be able to say no matter where you are — big city, small town, in the middle of an island — you can find love.”

Here are LGBTQ+ romance novel recommendations from both authors. 

Recommendations from Lee Pulaski 

(Descriptions from Lee Pulaski)

“The Chocolate Works” by Robin Knight 

This story follows Henry Dawson who loses his job and quickly learns he’s received an inheritance from an uncle he never knew he had — a restaurant in New Mexico. Henry meets Levi Jones, who has a crazy plan to turn the restaurant into a haven for chocolate.

“A Forbidden Rumspringa” by Keira Andrews 

Many Amish observe Rumspringa, a period where young people are sent to live outside the Amish community. Isaac and David are in that Amish community, where being gay is unacceptable. But the two discover a forbidden love for each other that they can’t deny. 

“Dinner at Home” by Rick R. Reed 

This book has Ollie focusing his energies into starting up Dinner at Home, a home-catering business. One night, Ollie finds Hank about to burglarize his car. But after discovering Hank is trying to care for his 4-year-old niece, Ollie offers him a job. They soon discover their love for food and each other. 

“Cowboy Seeks Husband” by Leta Blake and Indra Vaughn 

Walker Reed is offered big bucks to allow the crew of a reality series set up shop on his deeply-in-debt cattle ranch and play matchmaker with a dozen eligible bachelors. One of them is doing the show to help pay the medical bills for his mother, who has cancer. Things get serious and steamy from there.

Recommendations from Nance Sparks

(Descriptions taken from publisher info)

“All Things Beautiful” by Alaina Erdell

Leighton Vaughn is a fine art atelier who goes through a messy divorce. She prioritizes her daughter, art, and teaching — that is until gifted Casey Norford joins the close-knit New York academy.

“The Rules of Forever” by Nan Campbell 

Public school teacher Cara Talarico is determined to pay off her student loans and has sworn off everything to make it happen — including dating. But when she attends her high school reunion, she unexpectedly reconnects with Lauren Havemayer, her unrequited crush from 10 years ago.

“Unbreakable” by Cari Hunter 

For Detective Sergeant Safia Faris, the case should have been easy: one dead body, one suspect. But the deeper she digs, the more obvious it becomes that murder was only the beginning. The investigation sets her on a collision course with Grace and Elin, two women on the run and fighting for survival. 

“Finding Jessica Lambert” by Clare Ashton 

Movie star Jessica Lambert is in danger of burning out. Returning to London for the premiere of her latest film, she’s recognised everywhere she goes and needs to run away. The beautiful and more mature Anna takes her in and they hide Anna’s roof-top flat where their relationship could be the start of something wonderful.