What’s better than cozying up under a blanket with a hot drink and a good book this holiday season? With more Americans identifying as LGBTQ+ in 2024 than ever before, it’s important for queer and trans readers to see themselves in the media they consume – including holiday romance novels.
Thanks to the work of many dedicated LGBTQ+ authors who aren’t deterred by movements to ban their work in schools and public libraries across the country, this year saw several quality queer romance novels hit the shelves. For fans of The Holiday, author Georgia K. Boone released a festive romance about two girls from different worlds hoping to swap homes for the holidays.
Marriage on the rocks? There is nothing like the holiday spirit to heal old scars in Timothy Janovsky’s The Merriest Misters. Full of hilarity and hijinks, this novel feels like reading a Hallmark Christmas movie – except with two gay men at the center.
What is Christmas without a fake dating trope? Celebrity ghost-writer Becca Grischow debuted this year with I’ll Get Back to You, a fun and nostalgic novel inspired by a lesser-known holiday. “I had one holiday in mind, and it was Black Out Wednesday – the night before Thanksgiving when everybody goes to their hometown bars,” Grischow said.
Grischow’s book explores the nuances of place when it comes to queer experiences. With so many holiday romances featuring a cozy hometown setting, Grischow posed the question – what does it mean for someone who couldn’t be themself at home?
Through writing her book, she found the answer. “The people make the place,” she said. “I know a lot of queer people who aren’t comfortable coming back to their hometowns, and there’s a variety of reasons for that.”
“I wanted to create a book where readers could see a queer person feeling safe staying in the place where they grew up. Sometimes that feels like a fantasy, but I hope readers get a sense of security and healing, especially if they grew up in a suburban area.”
Home for the holidays can mean something entirely different for LGBTQ+ readers, but with many new Christmas books, going home can be as easy as turning the page.
