Hello everyone! Today’s prompt is top 5 pride books on my TBR. In case you missed it last week, I unveiled 10 of the books on my June TBR, which were chosen to celebrate Pride month. I held five books back because I knew I wanted to use them for this prompt. So, the books listed below are five MORE books on my Pride TBR this month. It’s going to be a busy month! The covers all link to the book’s Goodreads page, and I’ve included the official covers and synopsis when available. Top 5 Tuesday was created by Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm, and is now being hosted at Meeghan Reads!
Teacher of the Year by M.A. Wardell
I knew I had to read this book the second I saw the cover. JUST LOOK AT IT!!! It’s so damn cute. Then the synopsis completely sealed the deal. A MM romance between two teachers with plenty of spice? This book is definitely speaking my language. lol.
Love: Not as easy as ABC.
They were supposed to keep things casual. Who’d expect they’d be schooled in love?
Those who can, teach. Marvin Block is one of the best kindergarten teachers out there. And despite his anxiety, Marvin’s life is sweet. He knows what he wants. And what he wants is the Teacher of the Year Award. Not just for himself – his school needs him to win.
Returning from break, the New Year finds Marvin all set to welcome a new pupil to his class. But when Illona walks in with her cute-as-hell single dad beside her, Marvin’s focus starts to slide.
Sure, his students always come first, but he deserves to have a life outside the classroom, too, right?
As their friendship starts to deepen, Marvin realizes Olan has the potential to teach him things about love he never thought possible. But with the Teacher of the Year award and his school’s future on the line, now’s not the time for anything complicated.
Education has always been Marvin’s world. And he needs to keep a cool head if he wants to win the award and save his school. But will it be worth it if he loses Olan in the process?
With Olan’s past and Marvin’s present colliding, their experiment in love hangs in the balance. Marvin knows what he wants out of life. But now he’s forced to consider what he wants out of love.
Will Marvin chalk the relationship up to experience? Or can they revise their story into a textbook romance?
Teacher of the Year is a steamy open door friends-to-lovers gay romance novel that explores the balance between friends, family, career, and relationships while overcoming trauma and dealing with anxiety.
I Am Not Your Chosen One by Evelyn Benvie
I received a special edition of this book from Rainbow Crate and have wanted to read it ever since. There’s no time like Pride month, right? A reluctant hero story but make it gay… I’m sold. 🙂
Kell Hồ Sinh Porter is twenty-six years old and desperate to leave his unhappy life and his dead-end town.
One night his wish is granted by a mysterious voice—though not in any way he would’ve imagined—and he finds himself in the semi-magical land of Allune where everyone thinks he’s the “Chosen One.” Kell politely disagrees, and absconds from his duties. On the search for an adventure that doesn’t come with world-saving responsibility attached, he’s joined by companions. Every adventurer needs them, but his turn out to be Ansel, a sheltered fallen angel, and Fre, a half-orlk who wants to be a hero.
Destiny, bad luck, and the gods conspire against him. The Dawn Goddess wants him to take up his Chosen One mantle, which Kell is sure means becoming cannon fodder in an ancient divine war. The Lich King’s demonic minions carry out sporadic attacks in an attempt to kill him and prove he is not the Chosen One. Temperamental elves, talking stars that aren’t all that helpful, image-conscious demons, maddening pieces of prophecy that everyone thinks Kell should already know, and his growing feelings for Ansel all mix in a frustrating stew as Kell tries to juggle his feelings, his duties, and all the things trying to kill him. No one asked him if he wanted to be anyone’s Chosen One, and he can’t begin to understand why he was chosen.
Kell needs to figure out who to trust and how to forge his own path before it’s too late for Allune and for him.
They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody
The color scheme of this cover grabbed my eyes because it told me there would likely be bi boy shenanigans in this book, which I almost never pass up. It is also enemies to lovers and fake dating, which are some of my favorite tropes.
Jonah and Dylan get along like oil and water. Until a fake dating ploy gives them new perspective, and they realize that “falling for your enemy” isn’t as impossible as it seems.
There are plenty of words Jonah Collins could use to describe Dylan Ramírez. “Arrogant,” “spoiled,” and “golden boy” to name a few. Likewise, Dylan thinks he has Jonah accurately labeled as an attention-seeking asshat who never shuts his filthy mouth. Their friends are convinced Jonah’s and Dylan’s disdain for one another is just thinly veiled lust—a rumor that surges like wildfire when the two wake up in one bed after homecoming. Mutually horrified, Dylan and Jonah agree to use the faux pas to their advantage by fake dating. If they can stay convincing long enough to end their “relationship” in a massive staged fight, they can prove their incompatibility to their friends once and for all. But the more time they spend together, the more their plan begins to fall apart—and the closer they come to seeing each other clearly for the first time.
The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro
Look at this cover! It just screams spooky gayness and intrigued me right away. I’m actually listening to this one right now. The cover definitely got the vibes of the book right, but the characters and plot are leaving a bit to be desired at the moment. I think it is the love triangle aspect that is throwing me off the most because one of the guys is a giant man-baby that the MC should have brushed off immediately. Oh well. Hopefully, it will rally by the end.
When Emile’s aunt declares he must marry or be disowned for being gay—he runs away to hide as a servant in Count Montoni’s mansion. In their service, Emile tends to the family who all suffer a strange affliction on the full moon. And after overhearing suspicious family arguments, he finds a body on the estate, drawing the attention of a handsome doctor as well as the count’s charismatic nephew, Henri.
Before Emile can sort out his affections or unravel the growing Montoni family mystery, his identity is revealed and his aunt comes to collect him.
When she arrives, Count Montoni forces everyone to depart to the remote Udolpho Castle—where there are no witnesses and no chance for escape. There, Emile realizes that he will have to risk his life to find the love he deserves—and survive the Montoni family.
Barbarities Vol. 2 by Tsuta Suzuki
The first volume of this manga had me laughing so much at its absolute ridiculousness. Of course, I have to give in to reading the next book to find out if Joel ever gives in to Adam. Although, I am hoping there’s less sexual harassment in this one because there were moments it made me super uncomfortable in the first book.
TROUBLE AT COURT AND AT HOME
After Joel flatly turned down his bodyguard’s aggressive advances, things have grown cold between the two men. But when Simon, the former king’s brother, returns, everyone is on high alert. Simon wants the crown for himself and he’s even willing to partner with the kingdom’s enemies to take it. If Joel and Adam are to stop him, they’ll need to get over their differences and work together. But can Adam put aside his intense feelings for Joel?
So, there you have it. My top 5 pride books on my TBR. What queer books are on your TBR? Let me know down in the comments!
Great picks!
Thank you!
That cover for Teacher of the Year!! I need to get it!!!!
Right!? It is so cute, and I’ve been restraining myself from reading it ever since it showed up in the mail last month. Its time is coming, though. I’m determined to get to it before the end of the month.