I saw a little web comic with this dynamic, so I was wondering if maybe romance readers (other genres are accepted) have suggestions.
It doesn’t have to be the main plot. I’m looking for books (manga included) where a queer character has a crush or interest in a ‘straight-presenting’ person, only to later realize the crush is also queer. I especially like ‘awkward’ scenes where they try to play cool.
Off the top of my head, the only book that comes to mind is the manga The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All and the novel Sheer by Vanessa Lawrence I’m sure I’ve read others, but I’m drawing blanks.
I’m flexible with the dynamic. WLW, MLM, trans characters, etc. I’ve always found this type of scene incredibly cute.
The book doesn’t have to be a lighthearted story. Heck, I read a ton of horror so if there’s a horror story with this trope I’d be down.
To be clear, I’m not looking for stories where the second character realizes they’re LGBT. I’m looking for stories where they’re open, but the first character simply doesn’t realize for whatever reason.
As a straight woman, please excuse my loose use of words like ‘queer’ and ‘gay.’ I’m trying to express openness in my search, and this is the type of language I use with my friends. I’m not trying to muddle any of language around the LGBT community.
Thank you!
by PrettyLuckie
3 Comments
I think Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli fits this !
The Cybernetic Tea Shop, by Meredith Katz
I think both Tough Guy and Role Model by Rachel Reid (both part of the Game Changer series) have scenes like this that occur in the book.
I don’t remember for sure because it has been a couple years since I read the book, but The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid might have a similar scene (although neither character is out, but I think that has a lot to do with the time period the book is set in).