IN 2025, I reached a momentous milestone with the release of my second Haunted Hearts Own-Voices Gay Paranormal Romance novel, I Will Always Find You. While the first series revolved around ghosts, this installment immerses readers in the spellbinding world of witchcraft in the collection we named Haunted Hearts: Season of the Witch. This multi-author series also features the incredible talents of Christian Baines, J.P. Jackson, Kevin Klehr, Matti McLean, Shane K. Morton, M.D. Neu, C.D. Rachels, Eric David Roman, and Glenn Quigley.
So, of course, my “favourite” book of 2025 was mine (bias acknowledged, joy unabashed), and since I refuse to play favourites among my fellow authors, let it be known that I applaud them all equally. Bravo, gentlemen, you are incredible storytellers, each writing boldly and beautifully from your own unique (haunted) heart.
I wholeheartedly recommend that readers devour each and every one of these bewitching novels. While I won’t be joining the third volume of this multi-author series—the next book in my Vindictive series demanding my attention—I’m far from done with these characters. As the epilogue of I Will Always Find You makes clear, the Happily Ever Afters of these powerful supernatural gay/queer men may not be as secure as they seem!
But I digress… that’s a story for another time. And before you get to my 2025 picks, why not take a look back at my Memorable Reads of 2024 and 2023, and check out some other great selections.
Now, reflecting on the stories that shaped my 2025, I feel a mix of pride and gentle reflection. While I didn’t quite reach the ambitious reading goals I’d set for myself (I never do), I take genuine satisfaction in the new narratives and perspectives I did find the time to embrace. Editing, a craft I love both personally and professionally, made this year especially rewarding, as I had the opportunity to help several authors refine and elevate their work. And though it does take away time from leisure activities, like any career, I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m excited to carry this momentum into the year ahead, guiding even more voices toward polished, compelling stories. So please, fellow authors, knock on my door and let’s talk—I’d love to be a part of your project! (Okay, enough self‑promotion.)
It’s time to highlight some authors that took me to wondrous, seductive, and even horrifying places. Some works were chilling, others exhilarating, and several tugged at my romantic heartstrings. It’s no surprise that much of what I devoured in 2025 featured significant LGBTQ+ content; I’m naturally drawn to Own Voices authors, especially gay/queer men writing from lived experience and emotional authenticity. That said, above all else, I seek out stories that, you might say, call to me (for better or, occasionally, for worse), whether they’re written by a gay/queer author or not. I do tend to gravitate toward horror, thrillers, and paranormal romance that center LGBTQ+ characters and queer perspectives.
So, without further ado—and setting aside the superhero comics and graphic novels I devoured voraciously (that’s a whole other category and post!)—here we go! The following list is alphabetically organized by last name and does not exclusively contain works published in 2025.
Brad Boney – Brothers Across Time [Published September 20, 2018]
Tony Bass longs for adventure, and on a sleepless night in 1997, fate delivers. A chance encounter with twin brothers seems unremarkable, since it takes more than period costumes to stand out in Austin, Texas, until they confess the truth. They have traveled across time from sixteenth-century Venice.
When Tony learns their enchanted gondola can make the return trip, he convinces his brother Frank to journey to 1590. There, Tony falls for Isabella, the beautiful and enigmatic daughter of a Venetian senator. What begins as an innocent flirtation turns serious and then tragic when Isabella gives birth to twin sons that must be separated and raised in different centuries for their own safety.
Eighteen years later, an American teenager boards the gondola and returns to the past to find his brother. While a struggling young man in old-world Padua embraces an unexpected future, which might just include romance with a handsome stranger. This sweeping saga of family and friendship spans four centuries, three love stories, an unbreakable bond between brothers, and two generations. Boney’s imagination is in overdrive here; he’s such a wonderful storytelling! His attention to detail is magnificent.
Kealan Patrick Burke – Sour Candy [Published November 13, 2015]
At first glance, Phil Pendleton and his son Adam are just an ordinary father and son, no different from any other. They take walks in the park together, visit county fairs, museums, and zoos, and eat together overlooking the lake. Some might say the father is a little too accommodating given the lack of discipline when the child loses his temper in public. Some might say he spoils his son by allowing him to set his own bedtimes and eat candy whenever he wants. Some might say that such leniency is starting to take its toll on the father, given how his health has declined.
What no one knows is that Phil is a prisoner, and that up until a few weeks ago and a chance encounter at a grocery store, he had never seen the child before in his life.
A riveting horror novella, Sour Candy strikes the perfect balance in both length and depth of creative content, expertly crafting an atmosphere that is as haunting and sinister as it is compelling. From the very first page, Burke envelopes the reader in a tempest of increasing dread, a palpable tension that intensifies as the creepy story unfolds with each chilling, chaotic twist.
Matthew Dante – The Chameleon (Book of Sin #3) [Published November 5, 2024]
Lies are a currency we all trade in, to misdirect, gain power, protect the people we love, or shield ourselves from truths we cannot face. Matteo knows this better than most. At forty-three, he is the wealthy, powerful owner of La Maison de M., a private club where society’s elite indulge their darkest fantasies. He is no saint and never pretended to be, but he wears the mask of control, even over a mansion full of reckless, beautiful men who look to him for protection.
Then there is Ares, forty-seven, dangerous, crude, irresistible, a man who does everything Matteo claims to hate. An arms smuggler with a talent for burrowing under his skin, Ares sparks fury, yet Matteo’s heart betrays him every time. Ares sees through the act. Matteo’s cold words and sharp rejections are lies. If he truly wanted Ares gone, he would not keep turning to him when trouble strikes. Lines have been crossed that cannot be uncrossed, yet letting Matteo go was never an option. Threats, venom, even being told to rot in hell, with Matteo, even hatred feels like love.
Matthew Dante – The Chemist (Book of Sin #4) [Published February 1, 2025]
Trust is the foundation of every relationship. When we trust someone, we hand over a piece of ourselves, our emotions, our lives. Lose that trust, and the path ahead can be dark and lonely. Diesel knows this all too well. At twenty-five, he is a stripper, emotionally scarred, and about as selfish as anyone could be. Betrayal taught him that people cannot be trusted, and he protects himself fiercely. Guarded, self-centered, and impulsive, Diesel does what he wants when he wants, which explains why he sneaks out for random hookups even when he knows he should not. He regrets it, but mostly because now he has to face the smug face of his latest conquest every day.
Zero is thirty, a devilishly handsome private investigator, sitting right across from him, eating breakfast, radiating the kind of confidence that makes Diesel grind his teeth. Bad decisions are universal, but Diesel’s selfish streak has just put him in the perfect position for a lesson. Working with Zero is inevitable, and Diesel can already tell that this man, clever and sly, might be the only one capable of keeping him in line.
As always, Dante’s skillful and imaginative writing makes the lurid and the dangerous agreeably palatable for a broad audience—something I, as a writer of queer thrillers, hold in high regard. Both of the last two entries in the Book of Sin series are erotic, unapologetically gay, and filled with tension and dramatic flair. [Check out my interview with author Matthew Dante]
Simon Doyle – This Is Not A Vampire Story [Published January 7, 2025]
Seventeen-year-old Victor Callahan carries a secret as old as the shadows. As a night porter at a quiet Irish nursing home, he watches over men from his past, orchestrating their reunion for a final farewell. Memories of wild adventures on the rugged Irish coast, forbidden love hidden in eternal night, and a shipwreck that changed everything haunt him.
Can he keep his secret from Lakeshore Manor’s oldest resident, James O’Carroll? Gloria Pinto, the night nurse, does not like him, but perhaps she has secrets of her own.
This novel explores timeless bonds, the cost of immortality, and the lengths we go for love. In the end, is love more important than life?
This is not a horror or gothic novel in the conventional sense. It’s a quiet, poetic narrative of reflection, a love letter to memory, if you will; it’s a compassionate meditation on how the past (inevitably?) shapes who we are. An evocative, poignant work. I truly loved this book. [Check out my interview with author Simon Doyle]
David-Jack Fletcher – He Will Have the World [Published November 25, 2025]
What if everyone you knew was an imposter?
Charlie knows there’s an invasion. He knows it, even if the psychiatrists and his husband don’t. They’re replacing people, living their lives. He doesn’t know how. He doesn’t know why.
Now, they’re after him.
Isolated on a flight, Charlie sees a flash of lightning strike the plane—and only he sees the creature enter. It’s inside the passengers, jumping between them. Unable to trust anyone, including himself, Charlie races to expose the creature and save the passengers before it’s too late. But with nobody believing him and his own mind unraveling, how much will he sacrifice to save everyone? And what if the doctors are right—what if it’s all in his head?
A tense, insightful exploration of mental illness and claustrophobic terror, this story features exceptional storytelling that builds to a haunting and unforgettable ending.
Matthew Pearl – The Award [Published December 1, 2025]
David Trent is an aspiring novelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts trying to navigate his ambitions in a place that has writers around every corner. He lives in an apartment above Silas Hale, a famous author who, beneath his celebrated image, is a bombastic, vindictive monster.
Silas refuses to allow his new neighbor to even make eye contact with him—until David wins a prestigious award for his new book. Suddenly Silas is interested, if intensely spiteful. But soon the administrator of the award comes to David with alarming news that forces him into a desperate set of choices. Then fate intervenes with shocking consequences.
Pearl’s addictive plotting and incisive character work kept me turning the pages right to the finish! There isn’t a single easily likeable character here, though they are complex and engaging, and I love this. I’m drawn to this kind of book—and if you know why, you’ve read Vindictive.
Steven Price – By Gaslight [Published August 23, 2016]
London, 1885. In a city choked by fog and secrets, the legendary thief Edward Shade exists only as a rumor—a ghost who steals not just fortunes, but futures. When celebrated detective William Pinkerton descends into London’s underworld to finish the hunt that destroyed his father, he is drawn into a maze of deception, grief, and shadow.
His search collides with that of Adam Foole, a gentleman haunted by a vanished love and a past he cannot escape. As their paths intertwine, the truth behind Edward Shade threatens to upend everything they believe—about justice, loss, and the men they have become.
This novel is more than a tale of crime and pursuit; it is a Gothic exploration of hidden lives, buried truths, and the fragile identities we struggle to define. Beneath its fog-shrouded streets lies a quiet, resonant queerness—intentional or not—that lingers in the margins and invites the reader to infer what history has long kept in shadow.
Paul Rudnick – Playing the Palace [Published May 25, 2021]
When a lonely American event planner starts dating the openly gay Prince of Wales, the world erupts. Is it
true love—or the ultimate meme?
Still reeling from a cheating ex, Carter Ogden has all but given up on romance. Then a chance meeting at a high-profile event throws him into the orbit of Prince Edgar of England—the same royal heartthrob Carter once admired from afar. What begins as undeniable chemistry quickly turns into an unlikely, whirlwind romance neither of them saw coming.
As tabloids explode and public opinion roars on both sides of the Atlantic, Carter and Edgar must navigate relentless scrutiny, royal protocol, and the Queen’s fierce disapproval. With their happily ever after under siege, they’ll have to decide whether love is worth the crown-sized cost.
A swoony romantic comedy about fairy tales, fame, and finding love in the spotlight—perfect for fans of modern royal romances with a gay twist. It might invite comparisons to Red, White & Royal Blue, but Rudnick is far too talented for redundancy; this is wittier and much gayer.
Marc Ruvolo – Waste Ground [Published March 15, 2025]
Henry is pushing 40, single, and barely making ends meet delivering takeout, when disaster strikes. His car has been stolen. With the help of a well-placed AirTag, and his straight, stoned roommate, Digger, he’s hellbent on getting it back. Trouble is, the AirTag signal has pinged in a notorious homeless camp deep in the industrial wastelands outside of Portland.
Janelle drove to Portland from Florida, intent on telling her estranged, drug-addicted older sister their abusive mother has finally passed. Except Dorothea has vanished. Janelle’s search through the unforgiving streets in search of her sister, leads her down a dark path into the bloody, beating heart of an American capitalist hellscape.
And deep in the modern wilds of the waste ground, a doomsday cult petitions a strange cryptid, mesmerized by its newfound taste for human flesh… and Henry, Janelle, and Digger are heading straight for it. [Check out my interview with author Marc Ruvolo]
Unlike in previous years, where I highlighted 15 books, I’ve decided to narrow it down to 10 this year. I read a lot of fantastic work, so the selection was tough. I do want to give a special honourable mention to two works that aren’t quite in the same vein as the others. In fact, they’re technically children’s books, but I was immediately drawn to their themes and visuals.
The first book I want to mention is Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola, illustrated
by E.M. Carroll [Published August 4, 2015]
Most children would think twice before venturing into a haunted wood full of terrifying beasts—but not Masha. Her grandmother taught her that stories are useful, magic is fickle, and no task is too difficult or dirty. Now, the fearsome witch Baba Yaga needs an assistant, and Masha craves adventure. Clever enough to enter Baba Yaga’s house on chicken legs, she soon discovers that deceit rules within. To earn her place, Masha must pass a series of tests, outsmart a territorial bear, and cook dinner for a host who considers children on the menu.
Twisted, spooky, and fanciful storytelling with amazingly colourful, fantastical visuals. I’ve always been fascinated by the legend of Baba Yaga; in fact, my dark incarnation of her plays a role in my novel, I Will Always Find You.
My second Hon. mention is The Fantastic Freewheeler Series by Molly Felder [The first book, The Fantastic Freewheeler, Sixth-grade Superhero! was published August 1, 2023]
My introduction to this world began with the book titled The Fantastic Freewheeler vs. the Mall of Doom. Author Molly Felder is a whimsical storyteller who infuses a passionate Own Voice element into her captivating full-colour graphic novel series staring Drew Daniels, better known as THE FANTASTIC FREEWHEELER!
This remarkable 12-year-old superhero, who lives with cerebral palsy, navigates a world filled with challenges—and adventures! This series may be aimed at kids 8-Tween, but it’s accessible and entertaining to kids of all ages! And that Own Voice element? Much like her creation, 12-year-old Drew, the author is also living with CP.
As I wrap up my reading and reviews for 2025, I feel excited about what lies ahead. I can’t wait to dive into a diverse mix of books—though, like many of you, my TBR list is already long! One title I’m especially looking forward to is Scott Broker’s The Disappointment, coming out on March 3, 2026. Despite the ominous title, I’m hoping it has a happy ending.
