"When something terrible happens to someone, everyone feels sorry for you at first, they take your hand and cry fake tears and say how 'special' you are, how strong you are. But after a while they forget...Then they don't see a person anymore they just see this terrible thing and think you're terrible because of it...It's like a little switch that goes off in people's heads: one minute everyone is your friend and they care oh-so much, then, when things die down, they become terrified of you. You'd be surprised to see what fear can make someone do." Justin Ivanov has never led much of a normal life, but when his sister passes away, his entire world falls apart. Trapped in an abusive relationship and in a school where everyone is scared of him, Justin continues to deteriorate, pinning all his hope on his confused best friend, Ben Fulton. He struggles to keep his family together without them finding out the hidden secret of his sexuality. But the more he fails, the closer he gets to losing himself forever. Ben Fulton doesn't understand what depression is. He doesn't understand why people have it or how to fix it. But when the sudden death of his best friend's sister leaves him feeling empty, he comes too close to comfort with just what depression can make someone do. Trying to sort out his own emotions, sexuality, and future out, Ben also has to balance trying to save Justin. But the more he tries, the more his feelings grow for his best friend, and the closer Justin gets to destroying himself.

Time stretches out, the beat of my heart like a ticking clock. Spit it out. I slowly look down at his lips, making it as clear as possible. Rhys's breath hitches in his throat, and my heart soars. "He's my best friend," I whisper. *** Maverick and Rhys have been best friends for as long as they can remember. But when a photo of Maverick kissing a boy goes viral, they find themselves growing apart. Between a clingy girlfriend, constant social pressures, and hectic lacrosse games, Maverick and Rhys find it increasingly more difficult to ignore the inevitable changes to what they've always known. *** Notable Rankings! #48 on boyxboy list 🏳️‍🌈 #93 on lgbt list #15 on bisexual list #7 on gayaf list *** Warnings and Disclaimers inside--please read them!

"I'm scared. I'm so fucking scared." Blake said desperately. Cris blinked, his confusion evident as he listened to Blake's confession. "Scared? Of what?" Blake took a deep breath, his hands trembling. "Of you" he whispered. "Of how much you mean to me. Of how much I feel when I'm around you. Being with you... it terrifies me. I've never felt this way about anyone before, and it's so overwhelming that I don't know how to handle it. But not being with you... it's killing me, Cris. It's killing me." /// And by the way, this isn't the classic jockxnerd story. I mean, of course Blake is the football team captain, the golden boy of Westbrook High. Cris isn't the bullied, fool and awkward nerd tho. What if Blake had a crush on him but constantly tried to replace Cris with his girlfriend, the popular cheerleader Lisa? What if I told you I don't even know if they'll ever get to be together? What if you have to figure out yourself?

BOOK 1 - imperfect for you series Mavin Keller has a plan: survive senior year, save for college, and never let anyone close again, until Sonnie Hale walks into his life. *** Mavin spends his days counting down the moments until he can finally leave his town behind, working long shifts and coming home to a house that never feels like home. He's learned to keep his head down and his heart quiet. But then he meets Sonnie - the boy with too much light in his eyes and bruises on his skin. After Mavin steps in to stop a group of bullies, he doesn't expect Sonnie to start showing up everywhere - in the hallways, after class, even online. What begins as awkward avoidance turns into late-night laughter, small rebellions, and a friendship that could bloom into something more. Something Sonnie wants. But Mavin is wary, because his past isn't done with him, especially Jaxx, the boy he once loved, the one who left him shattered. When old wounds resurface and truths come to light, Mavin must choose between staying safe in the dark or reaching for the boy who might finally make him feel seen.

(bxb) After a year of surviving an all boys boarding school, William Brown thought he had finally navigated the ups and downs that the rich, private school had to offer. He'd even managed to make a few friends, as well as a rightful enemy. Lucien Harding. The two young boys were about as friendly as oil and water-that is, not very much. A dark haired boy deemed for destruction and a golden prince promised greatness weren't the likely pair. They knew as much, yet somehow, it had become inevitable. Their relationship would either go down in flames or a blaze of glory. Both boys bleed flame either way. Whichever path, they'll learn more than they bargained for.

I never imagined that love could feel so forbidden and yet so right. As Crown Prince of Monaco, Charles led a life full of duty and tradition. But when he meets Max, he suddenly goes off the rails and questions everything he ever knew about love and royal expectations. Can he dare to follow his heart, even if it means breaking the rules? In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, Max has always focused on racing and avoided the limelight of fame and media. But when he meets Charles, everything changes. Known for his confidence and rule-breaking attitude, he is fascinated by the prince's calm demeanor. Suddenly he is curious about a world beyond the racetrack.

Growing up in chaos isn't simple for all. Not many could cope. They would struggle and kick, but ultimately drown. However, for Dakota, that was his normality. Torturing. Maiming. Killing. That was his life, the life of a hunter. The Arizona line was elusive, written fame in the lore of hunters, and infamy for their prey. They were the best. No one could ever compare to their skills, their abilities, their ruthlessness. But Dakota was something else. His siblings might have learnt to enjoy the hunt, well most of them anyway, but Dakota didn't. There was always something missing for him, something he was waiting on. Silent and everlasting hope. A promise had been made to him, the day his twin brother was stolen, taken by the enemy, plucked right from the very home the Arizonas had grown up in. A promise of something better, something that he might actually want in his life. Now, almost sixteen years later, something was coming. A change was begging to be found. Maybe it would be for the best. Maybe Dakota would finally find that certain something that had been missing his whole life, something to fill the dark and fractured abyss that ached and wailed within. But nothing was ever that simple. Because, of course, the promise that had been made to Dakota would never be anything plausible for him, anything tangible to have and to hold. He had been promised a new life, by the greatest enemy of them all. It wouldn't be easy. Not with his family still clinging to his heels, the teachings of blood and violence burnt into his mind. No, leaving them behind wouldn't ever be easy. Then again, staying with them would only bring his inevitable death. Why not take the chance to die happy? After all, out of the ashes, a phoenix will rise...

━━━━━━ ❝ 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐄 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆. ❞ i think i hate you, you know that? 𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗏𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗍𝗈𝗇 𝗑 𝖿𝖾𝗆 𝖮𝖢 ( 𝗌𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗈𝗇 2 )

The Wildcats and Falcons have an irrefutable rivalry that's never been questioned. Alexander "Lex" Hope is the captain of the Falcons basketball team. And Ivan Petrov, the star player of the Wildcats. They're the spearheads of their town's basketball rivalry, causing havoc every time they butt heads. After his homophobic father kicks him out for being gay, closeted Ivan Petrov has no choice but to move in with his biggest rival, Lex Hope. What he first believes to be a temporary arrangement becomes his permanent residence. And the self-obsessed playboy Lex Hope seems... kinder (and harder to resist) than Ivan expects. Despite his local stardom, life isn't easy for Ivan. He has enough to deal with : an alcoholic father, a dying mother, and now: sharing a room with his nemesis. Overwhelmed, all Ivan can now do is live with hope. Quite literally. Suddenly, Ivan not only has to worry about Lex winning the Wildcats-Falcons match, but also Ivan's trust and - most importantly - his heart. Maybe that line between love and hate isn't so thick after all.

**2026 PRIDE AWARDS SHORTLIST** Tommy's older, jaded, and sure he's too broken to love. Riley's younger, gentle, and still believes in forever. - Tommy Carter learned early that desire could drown you. That wanting the wrong thing could get you hurt... or worse. So he buried it. Became a cop. Got engaged to a woman. Lived the life expected of him, even as the weight of silence filled his lungs. Then he met Riley Monroe, a sweet, soft-spoken physical therapy student-- and everything Tommy shouldn't be thinking about late at night. Tommy, closeted and aching, knows he should keep his distance. Riley is sunshine in human form, with a shy smile and eyes that see right through him. He's never been with a man. Never let himself want one this badly. But Riley's kindness cracks something open in him. Makes him feel like maybe, just maybe... it's not too late to want more. The age gap should be a warning. The timing couldn't be worse. But Riley is something like oxygen... and for the first time in years, Tommy wants to breathe. TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains homophobic language, traumatic childhood scenarios, and mature sexual content.