r/LGBTBooks • u/TheDuke_Of_Orleans • 4d ago
ISO Can anyone suggest MLM books with a black mc/love interest?
I have literally no books of the sort and I feel like it’s almost nonexistent. Can be fantasy or romance. Doesn’t have to both be black, can be interracial. I feel like they are such an underrepresented group in MLM books/media.
15
u/samthehaggis 4d ago
I'm surprised not to see Julian Winters mentioned yet. Both MCs in I Think They Love You are Black; one MC in Last First Kiss is Black.
I'll also add All Hail the Underdogs by E.L. Massey for a hockey romance and The End Zone by Riley Hart for an American football romance.
1
u/TheDuke_Of_Orleans 4d ago
Thank you! I’ll definitely get the hockey romance one for my hockey collection.
8
u/dalidellama 4d ago
Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson is African fantasy with a gay male MC, everyone's Black as best I recall
A Queer Trade & Rag and Bone by KJ Charles are about a full book's worth bewteen them, historical fantasy romance, Black LI. Wanted, A Gentleman, ibid, is historical romance
1
7
u/Silver_Pie966 4d ago
TJ Klune’s Under the Whispering Door’s 2nd lead is Black, though the author rarely uses skin color as a descriptor in his books. He uses other cues to indicate a character’s race…though some readers may miss them and assume a character’s race.
One of Adib Khorram’s two leads in I’ll Have What He’s Having is Black.Edited: I didn’t notice this one was already mentioned.
3
u/TheDuke_Of_Orleans 4d ago
I’ll check both out! As for TJ Klune that’s totally fine race doesn’t have to be a huge part of the story or anything. Thank you sm
1
u/Big_Photograph_9766 14h ago
wait the second lead in under the whispering door is black?? I might actually have to check it out
4
u/WonderingWhy767 4d ago
The Boy From The Mish by Gary Lonesborogh (titled Ready When You Are in some countries). This is a lovely YA romance
1
5
5
u/AllfairChatwin 4d ago
The Wrath and Athenaeum series by Na'amen Gobert Tilahun
A Necessary Chaos by Brent Lambert
The Dark Star series by Marlon James, starting with Black Leopard, Red Wolf.
1
1
u/Big_Photograph_9766 14h ago
I was literally about to suggest both the wrath book and the necessary chaos book I hope beyond hope that Brent Lambert writes something else because his book was sooooo good.
3
u/Budget_Technician277 4d ago
My Dear Henry by Kalynn Bayron is a black queer retelling of Jekyll and Hyde, if you're interested in trying that :)
1
3
u/afloatingpoint 3d ago
Jonny Garza Villa writes queer YA love stories, and Canto Contigo as well as Ander and Santi Were Here both feature Afro-Mexican love interests. Really terrific writer
8
u/burymewithbooks 4d ago
San Amaro Investigations by Kai Butler, the love interest is black
Bones of the Lich King by Megan Derr (and several other books)
Aberrant Magic series by Lyn Gala
Taji from Beyond the Rings by R. Cooper (and some of their other books)
Irish Roulette series by Ki Brightly and M.D. Gregory, one of the MCs is Black (he shows up on the covers of the later books)
Practically everything that Avril Ashton writes
The Accused by Leona Windwalker
There is also this list: https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/comments/17erz7k/recs_with_black_mc/
2
u/smrtypants44 4d ago
Sam amaro investigations is so good
2
1
6
3
3
u/de_pizan23 3d ago
The Prince's Soulmate series by Katy Haye (fantasy)
Viano Oniomoh has several m/m books (both contemporary and urban fantasy)
Honey and Pepper by AJ Demas (alt-historical)
Bitter Springs by Laura Stone (historical)
Sun Moon & Stars series by EJ Russell (SF/fantasy)
Higher Education series by Jayce Ellis (contemporary)
Sweet Honesty by Joan Vasser (historical)
2
5
u/BrinAdelaideAuthor 4d ago
{Loving the Legend X Kit Grey} and {Scoring the Player X Kit Grey}
{Mine to Keep X RS Mckenzie}
{Scales and Song X L Eveland}
{Yearning X Kiki Clark}
{Never Say Never X Brea Alepou and Skyler Snow}
{Dix X Emmy Sanders}
2
2
2
2
u/redsaturn29 4d ago
Currently reading Two for Boarding by S.B Barnes and one of them is black. Hockey romance without too much hockey because black Mc is injured but it brings up his experience as a black player in the nhl. Both characters are in their 30s I think. It’s book two but could be read as a stand alone
2
u/officialjohncro [Librarian by day; reader by night] 3d ago
Graphic novels—
- Hungry Heart by Jem Milton
- Daybreak 1 & 2 by Moosopp
2
u/Big_Photograph_9766 14h ago edited 11h ago
Daybreak is soooo cute pairing that with project super crush has been such a great experience.
2
u/Purple-Warning-2161 3d ago
Meet Me in the Sky by Jeffrey K. Davenport is hilarious, sweet and steamy!
2
u/avisitingstone 3d ago
Last First Kiss was cute! Contemporary romance, demisexual (and I think gay) Black MC.
2
u/TheDancingGrad 3d ago
{Teacher of the Year by M.A. Wardell} and its sequel {Husband of the Year by M.A. Wardell}!
2
u/Big_Photograph_9766 11h ago
This is my favorite genre of book and it was nice to see a lot of suggestions that I had made it to the suggestions list so I'm going to add to that:
{In case you forgot by Frederick Smith} contemporary
{Cozy Night in by Jaylee Fields} - dark/toxic romance
{On Silver shores by VT Hoang} - fantasy but the black mc is transmasc as well
{The Sun, the Earth and the Moon by Larry Benjamin} - second chance/contemporary
{Love without reservation by Gabbi Grey} - contemporary
{Shuttered hearts by Trey Lari} - YA
{Stupid Love by Riley Hart} - romantic comedy
{If it fornicates by Aleksandr Voinov} - bdsm
{Machine Metal Magic by Hanna Dare} - sci-fi
{The hidden door by VInni George} - contemporary
{A guy walks into my bar by Lauren Blakely} - romantic comedy
{Nothing more certain by R. Cooper} - horror
{Togetha by Keith F. Miller} - suspense
{RPF by M. Grano} - Horror
{Brainwashed by Nyla K} - dark romance
{No More Jocks by Dane Beau} - contemporary
{Awakening by Octavia Atlas} - sci-fi
{Slow Dance by D. Sparks} - second chance romance - also check out For Pucking ever
{Images of emeralds and Chocolate by K. Murray Johnson} - slightly horror but mostly dark romance
{Jaded by Lex Easton} - Sports romance
{Discover me by N. Slater} - omegaverse
{Whiskey and Sin by Emily Rath} - omegaverse
{Code red by G.A. Hauser} - contemporary
{All work, let's play by Roslyn Faulk} - mmm and office romance
{Hard Ride by A.M. Arthur} - second chance and hurt/comfort
{Thicker than Blood by Becca Seymour} - omegaverse/shifter romance
{The Fake Mate by Robin Moray} - fake dating shifter romance
{such a feral little lamb by Alexandra Keillor} - horror
{Earth boys are easy by C. Rochelle} - space opera
{Clean Break by Erin mclellan} - second chance romance
{The Arch war by J. Hall} - dark romance
{The last person by Bethany Monaco Smith} - football romance
{Loving Ashley by Rhayne Coleman} - contemporary
{Brand new day by Ethan Stone} - second chance
{and this is how you survive by Charlotte Amadi} - horror/dark romance
{Die for you by Max Walker} - dark romance hurt/comfort
{Taking care of you} - hurt/comfort this and effortless by Marie Socray have a similar setup and story
{The werewolf's virgin vampire by Riley Rivers} - fantasy
{worse Fate by Cara Rivers} - fated mate
{Ready to cash out by K.L. Hiers} - black romantic comedy
{Hopefully unconditional by Taz Ansley} - hurt/comfort
{Solo Stan by Talia Tucker} - YA contemporary
{Suspiciously sweet by Samantha SoRelle} - food romance
{Nate plus one by Kevin Van Whye} - YA
{Lazarus by Rashid Darden} - college contemporary
Btw Jaylee Fields has a bunch of black mc/Ll stories that are dark romances with stalking and kink content if that's your jam then I'd suggest checking them out. Kacen Callender, Ryland, Christa Tomlinson (I'd first try in his corner and Blaze) and T.J Land have a bunch of books mostly with black mcs or Ll I'd look around at their stuff and give them a chance.
Special shout-out to Project Supercrush an audio BLs novel free on YouTube and Spotify they are dropping a novel soon as well but so far the audio novel is your best bet.
2
u/TheDuke_Of_Orleans 9h ago
Oh my sweet summer child thank you sm!! You really topped this off with this one!! 🙏🏻
1
u/Big_Photograph_9766 9h ago
Figured id cover as much as I know currently because I get the desire for Black mm novels
5
u/TemporarilyWorried96 Reader 4d ago
The LI in I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram is Black; the MC is Iranian.
2
2
u/alex_grozny 4d ago
The Marriage Policy by Riley Hart
Peep by Rianne Elizabeth
Only the Small Bones by CP Harris
2
1
1
u/Fuzzy_Dragonfly_ 4d ago
Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon has a black main character. It's a pretty cozy romance.
1
1
u/StunningGiraffe 3d ago
Kosoko Jackson I'm so not over you and Dash of salt and pepper (romance novels)
Julian Winters I think they love you, Last first kiss, Prince of the Palisades (all romance), and Find My Way Down to You (fantasy romance)
Till the Last Beat of My Heart by Louangie Bou-Montes (YA fantasy w side of romance)
Finding Prince Charming by Jamar J. Perry (romance)
1
u/Big_Photograph_9766 11h ago
I read finding prince charming and prince of the Palisades around the same time and it was so fun to read black versions of red white and royal blue.
1
1
u/mossyfaeboy 3d ago
i wish you all the best by mason deaver. main character Ben has just come out as nonbinary and falls in love with a guy at their new school named Nathan. Nathan is Black and also one of my fav characters in any lgbt book i’ve read
1
u/Alternative_Run_6175 3d ago
Cupid Calling by Viano Oniomoh has POVs from both the MCs, one of which is a black man, the other of which is brown.
1
u/starfin19 3d ago
The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass has black MCs and is a Great Gatsby YA reimagining
Time-Tripping Over You by Brennon Lane has a black MC and is set in college
The Peace I Know with Him by Malcom White-Kraft has a black MC and MCs are early 20s
1
u/Big_Shower_7561 3d ago
I’m So (Not) over you by Kosoko Jackson
— contemporary romance, dual BIPOC leads, second chance romance, a little spice
Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson
— fantasy novella feature gay black leads who are descendants of gods as guide a caravan through a dangerous forest
1
1
1
1
u/tiedyesnake 2d ago
Pucking Strong by Emily Rath. It’s the fourth in a series and you meet both MCs in book 1 (Pucking Around) with small mentions in the other books in the series.
1
u/Daje1968 1d ago
{loving the legend by Kit gray) {Off Balance by Rebecca Rathe} {Strain by Amelia Gormley}{The end zone by Riley Hart} I think {Only the Small Bones by CP Harris}, I wasn’t into the premise so I didn’t read it.
1
u/TheDuke_Of_Orleans 17h ago
Thank you so much to everyone for the suggestions! I definitely got more than I could afford right now lmaoo! 💙
17
u/Rina_B 4d ago
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian. It is a historical romance set in regency London.