After graduating from high school, Mathew sets out to do a two-year missionary service like everyone else his age. Mathew thought that his only problem would be him adjusting to the city as someone who's lived in a farming town all his life. he didn't expect to get so focused on helping Nathaniel recover from his past wounds. His encounters with a man five years his senior makes him question his life, faith, and everything he had ever believed to be true. - [April 2018 Camp NaNoWrimo Winner.] [Long listed in the #Wattys2018.] Cover by @nolakepner

Xander is a writer - a wordsmith by nature and training. He's an upcoming talent that people are sure will receive future success. Despite his way with words, Xander finds himself unable to speak to his crush, Maxwell, who's a music student in the same college as him. Due to his lack of confidence, Xander does away with trying to talk to Maxwell and writes about a fictional reality where he's not so shy and he's able to date the man of his dreams. What happens when Xander losses his journal with this story? And what happens when it's returned to him by no other person but Maxwell himself? - Cover by @EPrescott

They say you can't go home again. But what if home is the man you can't forget? Luca Romano left his small town and its narrow-minded whispers behind, trading them for a life of vibrant freedom as an openly gay photographer. But when a family emergency forces him back, he's thrust into a world of memories he'd rather forget. The last person he wants to see is Daniel his former best friend, his first love, and a secret chapter of his past he's desperately tried to burn. Daniel has painstakingly built the perfect, "normal" life: a respectable job, a house with a white picket fence, and a kind, loving fiancée. He's locked away his desires, his truth, and the boy he once was, convincing himself it was all just a phase. He's safe. He's straight. Or so he thought until one glimpse of Luca shatters the illusion completely. Ranking: 🏆 1. #Closet (29/09/2025) 🏆 1. #romance-friendship (13/10/25) 🏆 1. #Lgbtlove (17/10/25) 🏆 1. #SmallTowns (21/10/2025) 🏆 1. #Original (02/11/2025) 🏆 1. #Lgbt-Themed (22/01/2026) 🏆 1. #Reality (14/02/2026) 🏆 1. #Romance-friendship (10/03/2026) 🏆 1. #Lgbtlove (15/03/2026) 🏆 1. #Smalltown (21/03/2026)

Lucas Sawyer has gotten used to being forgotten. His twin brother Mark, captain and star quarterback, everyone's favorite, gets the spotlight. Lucas doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, he doesn't go to parties. His life is safe and logical, and that's exactly how he likes it. But when his brother's football rival and worst enemy, Damien Castillo, starts work at the same small bakery, everything changes. Damien is Lucas' worst nightmare: an arrogant heartbreaker with a bad reputation, who threatens to ruin all his careful plans. Lucas hates him. Right? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This story was inspired by @hipstateasee's "Knight", and I have her permission. All credit to her for the great premise!

(bxb) Axel Hunter hates Will Anderson. The two don't exactly see eye to eye, though that's to be expected of the two most popular boys in their high school, both extremely competitive and sarcastic. So, when the baseball team vandalizes the basketball team's state trophies, they catch the attention of the principal once again. As a punishment, the principal and coaches force the two teams to spend time together at a far-away camp during their spring break-"team bonding," they called it. Axel knew he wouldn't last at this so called camp, not when he's forced to room with Will Anderson, and especially not when he starts to become somewhat bearable.

WATTYS 2023 SHORTLIST | WATTYS 2023 FANS CHOICE AWARDS NOMINEE Initially looking for nothing more than a feelings-free summer fling before college, reckless Harris McCammon and anxious Seb Krause might have stumbled into more than they bargained for. --------------------------------- When a graduation party takes a risky turn, Harrison McCammon finds himself in the passenger seat of Sebastian Krause's truck. When the two virtual strangers agree to begin a friends with benefits kind of situation, neither expect anything more than maybe a fun situationship before they leave for college. But as their casual entanglement turns into something slightly more, the two of them are forced to push down their real thoughts on this non-relationship. Add in sketchy ex-boyfriends, concerned parents, and a small dash of existential dread, there's no such thing as no strings attached. TW: underaged substance abuse; mentions of/attempted SA; (fade to black/non-explicit) sex; homophobic figures/abandonment; hospitalisation ^that sounds like a lot, wow, i'm sorry, it's ... it's mainly fluff ---ONC Ambassadors Round 2 Pick, 2023---

Andrew is a spoiled only child who attends Whitewater Preparatory School with his girlfriend Keanu. His parents focus all their attention on their one an only son trying their best to make him perfect. Leo is a rebellious misfit who attends a local high school despite having enough money to attend Whitewater with his sister Keanu. Keanu forces her brother Leo and boyfriend Andrew to spend more time together as their families become closer in hopes that it'll straighten Leo out. However, the opposite seems to happen. - Started: January 30, 2019 Finished: August 28, 2019

Grayson Daniels is trying to cope with the trauma he suffered as a child when Trent, the beautiful local bad boy fights his way into his life. Will Grayson take a chance on love and learn to heal? #1 in LGBTFiction 1/7/22 *CONTENT WARNING* This story contains discussions of sexual assault and abuse, mental illness, self-harm, drugs, alcohol, and contains a queer relationship. You have been warned! ©JessMarie1017 all rights reserved.

After two years in an abusive relationship, Rowan Hale escapes with nothing but scars and a fragile hope for freedom. Filing a report brings him face-to-face with Detective Dante Cross, a man with a cold reputation and shadows of his own. Rowan is supposed to be just another case. But Dante can't look away, not when Rowan flinches at every sound, not when his pain runs deeper than bruises. Protection turns into something neither of them can deny, even as danger circles closer. Because Rowan's past isn't finished with him. And Dante will burn every law he's ever sworn to uphold if that's what it takes to keep him safe.

nerd × rebel 🥇#adhd 🥇#insomnia 🥇#gay 🥇#addiction Lorenzo is depressed, lonely, and mourning the recent death of his little sister Rosella. Leaving his downcast family in Italy, he decides to attend college in America instead of his hometown. However, he soon regrets his decision when he gets paired with the sweet, overbearing Milo Brooks in a dorm room. Milo thought his life couldn't get worse than it was. The neurodivergent insomniac was constantly tired and anxious. He never got enough sleep, yet he couldn't get any more no matter how hard he tried. When he gets paired with the elusive, heavy-smoking Lorenzo, he doesn't know how he will ever relax again. When Milo and Lorenzo become roommates, there is no coming back. Even though they are both complete opposites of each other, they may have much more in common than they once thought.