Watty's 2024 shortlist, Watty's 2024 Best Characters winner A story of boxing, drugs, and love Tyreek Nixon is a 26 year old underground boxer who goes by the alias Pretty Boy. He's known he was attracted to boys for as long as he could remember, but one man really catches his attention during one of his fights. All he wants is even the chance to get to know this man better, no matter how many fights he has to win to impress him. DeAndre Kingston is a 28 year old New York native who is known around the city for his product- weed and pills. One day when DeAndre is selling at an underground boxing event, he finds himself suddenly enraptured by one of the fighters. DeAndre may have never felt an attraction for a man before but that sure didn't stop him from wanting this "Pretty Boy" The two embark on an intertwining story of romance, blood, and drama, enduring it all for the sake of being able to call each other "mine"

Like a bolt of lightning, this stupid boy appeared in my life. First day of summer break between first and second grade, he just appeared- standing on my porch like he was born there. Straight brown hair, wide dark eyes and a fresh sunburn across his cheeks. He was already talking before I even opened the door. I don't know how it happened but it's been ten years. And he's still here. Talking, whether or not I'm listening. Laughing, even if no one else is. He's still too quick- racing around the world like he's scared he's going to miss it. He's gotten taller...much taller. His hair is a little longer, a little wavier, but under the light it still looks the same golden brown it did when we were nine. And now, finally, he was a high school graduate. We both were. Like a bolt of lightning he appeared and like the sun he refused to disappear. _____________________________________________ I fell asleep with my chin pointed at him, the outline of his face being the last thing I saw. How was I supposed to do this? It had always been difficult, hiding this secret, keeping him close. But now, my focus was starting to slip. I couldn't see anything but his lips, his hands, his smile. I couldn't hear anything but my name in his mouth, his jagged breaths and that loud laugh. How am I supposed to be okay with this? How am I supposed to focus on anything other than him? #1- slowburn- 11.10.25🥇 #1- friends to lovers- 11.01.25🥇 #1- fluffandsmut- 11.02.25🥇 #1- college- 11.06.25🥇 #1- best friends- 11.12.25🥇 #1- teammates- 12.04.25 🥇 #1- college roommates- 12.30.25🥇 #1- mental health- 01.02.2026 🥇 #1- gay love- 01.02.2026 🥇 #2- roommates- 12.18.25🥈 #3- bxblove- 11.30.25🥉 #4- boyxboy- 11.01.25 #4- lgbt- 11.15.25 #14- boyxboyromance- 12.15.25 #22- basketball- 12.15.25

Trapped by a tragic situation, Bradley is forced to enter the fight of his life in a dangerous tournament set by the Lycan King to determine who will be the successor to the crown. Prince Elton, the Lycan King's nephew, sees himself as the only heir to the crown. He will stop at nothing to guarantee his victory in the tournament and prove to his uncle once and for all that he is the only choice to be his heir. With the entire nation competing in this tournament, what will happen to Bradley as he is thrown into this dangerous mix? Will Prince Elton be able to win the competition as he is expected to or forfeit his chances of ever becoming the next monarch? Surprises come to them all as they embark on the fight of their lives - one that Bradley might not come out of alive. Get ready for a battle! -- "Why are you being such a bitch?" I pressed him against the wall of his room, pushing my body against his. "Why are you being such a bitch, Your Highness!" He corrected me with a deep frown. I grunted in annoyance and began kissing him. -- "Stop! Stop what you're doing right now!" He commanded me, irritated. My lust for him was driving me wild. "I can't stop! You're too hot and I am weak for you!" I surrendered myself to him, as I could not wait to get out of my clothes fast enough. As soon as I was naked... --- "If the King catches us, we will be banned!" He warned me, looking frightened. All these secret hookups were hot, but it's getting to the point where I can no longer resist him. What will I do?

The Hill family and Delano family have been rivals for generations. One generation decided they had enough of the fighting and bloodshed and signed a peace treaty. In this treaty, they are to be cordial and not attack the other group. Kaisen Hill walked in on Rhys Delano having sex with his girlfriend of one year, as a result Kaisen wants revenge. Due to the treaty, if they attack each other in any way, it will start a war between both families. Their solution is subtle attacks in the dark. This is 'The Perfect Hate.' Authors: @Shery7888 and @criseada

After Theo comes out as gay to his best friend, his life becomes a living hell. Ruthlessly bullied, Theo falls deep into his depression, and is ready to give up on life. But then an unlikely ally steps in... ***** Book 1 After coming out as gay and confessing his feelings to his best friend, Beau, Theo becomes the most hated person in existence. His unstable brother is even worse than the bullies and teachers at school, and his drunken father doesn't care about what's going on under his roof. But no one is as cruel to Theo as he is to himself. His life turned into a painful hell, he is on the verge of ending his misery once and for all, but then an unlikely ally emerges. Deon, the school's notorious troublemaker, has a deal for him: he will keep the bullies at bay as long as Theo acts as his sidekick, keeping watch as he's breaking the rules, fetching his coffee, and carrying his bag. Fearfully, Theo accepts his new meaning as the hotheaded Deon's servant, considering it as just another cruel prank, but when Deon surprisingly keeps his end of the bargain, Theo's life starts to look a little brighter again... ...especially when his deepest wish seems to come true. || Gay || BxB || MxM || LGBT || Romance ||

"Go home Teddy, I don't have the self control you think I do." "I think I'll take that second drink." ~ Teddy Bray didn't know how he let himself get here. He was stuck in a toxic relationship he couldn't get himself to leave. He was a fixer and when it came to his girlfriend Taylor, Teddy should have known there was nothing he could do to fix their relationship. All it took for things to finally change was one look from Cole Madden. Cole had a type and when that type walked into his bar it was hard to say no. Even if that man had his sister clung to him like a leech. They couldn't be together but as tensions rise they both find out just how much self control they really have.

The Harbinger || Book 3 || Another battle won, but at what cost? The enemy has finally stepped forward and his identity and powers are now known, but Oliver has lost part of himself, a part his enemy will use against him. But now he has allies, an army of his own, and it grows stronger each day as all the races of the Earth come together to face the biggest battle they have ever seen. And Oliver himself only needs one more thing before his true power can be truly awakened. This is the end of the world, the last nightfall, but Oliver and his friends will do whatever it takes to make sure there will be a new dawn after it's over. ***** [The third book in The Mouse and The Wolf series] || Gay || BxB || MxM || LGBT || Romance ||

[COMPLETED] Falling in love was the last thing that passed across Daelan's mind. He was too busy with the self-loathing and pity party he had going on, but rightfully so. He had been in a prison of his own mind since he had gotten the diagnosis, seven months ago. Stage four Leukemia. He had just started his life, he was on the fast track to his future. College, art classes, parties, and cute boys. But that was all ripped away from him when he nosedived into the sidewalk outside of a Denny's. Cancer. It overtook his life, his plans, his dreams. That is until he was given a roommate. Room 306 now had two occupants. Daelan, and Theo. Theo came in like a storm. Loud and bright. The last thing Daelan expected was to fall for the guy he was supposed to be dying next to. ------------------------------------------------- There is a playlist on Spotify for this, it's literally called Fall Risk, and it has the cover on it.

What happens when the boy known for fighting everyone and anyone starts to fight for you? What happens when the artist who hides behind his masterpieces, starts to see you on his canvases? Gray and Axel meet by chance, unaware of the tidal waves they are causing in the other's life. Both stuck in their own lives, cold and always alone, they begin to find warmth with each other. Their hands keep finding their ways to each other- behind closed doors, in the dark, under the table. Once their walls start to crack, there's no going back and there's no pretending it means nothing. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• "Don't- don't touch me like that," he breathed out. I blinked at him. Is he angry? In pain? "Like what?" "fucking...gently," he seethed. "Why?" I peered at him, pressing my hand to his other cheek. I just needed him to look at me. I didn't care if it was wrong. "Because I'll... I'll fucking break," he barked, lips trembling under his confession. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 🏅 #1- bxblove- Nov 16, 2025 🥇 #1- gay romance- Nov 19, 2025🥇 #1- tattoos- Oct 22, 2025🥇 #1- delinquent- Nov 6, 2025🥇 #1- trauma- Dec 1, 2025 🥇 #1- family problems- Dec 1, 2025 🥇 #1- teen- Dec 15, 2025🥇 #1- school- Dec 22, 2025 🥇 #2- bisexual- Nov 18, 2025 🥈 #2- high school experience- Nov 26, 2025🥈 #2- boyxboyromance- Oct 19, 2025🥈 #2- love- Nov 17, 2025🥈 #3- boyxboy- Nov 28, 2025🥉

After getting away from his cruel father's tyranny, Randall has to learn how to live and accept the person he was meant to be - with a little help from a local bartender... ***** An empty shell is all that's left of twenty-five-year-old Randall now. After his homophobic father found out he was gay, he had to learn to act someone else to survive through the years of abuse and humiliation. Now he has forgotten the person he once was. He refuses to remember the person he was supposed to be. Emotionally detached and unable to create relationships, Randall's lonely days repeat themselves in the same destructive pattern: go to work, work out, watch TV, and drink, with no way out of that dark, miserable corner he has built for himself. When a gay bar opens doors in his neighborhood, the fragile balance he has created with himself is in danger of being destroyed when his true self tries to break free. To make things worse, there is a new guy at his gym. A kind guy who has a nice voice and loves talking people's ears off. A guy who can see his suffering. A guy who can teach Randall to feel once again. (Warning, this novel contains verbal and physical abuse!) || Gay || BxB || MxM || LGBT || Romance ||