Let’s start another one of my t-rific post series, shall we?
*Why yes, Kris, that’s sounds fantabulous and totally in line with your awesome self.*
*blushes* I know.
Love it or hate it, there’s no arguing that the ‘gay for you’ (GFY) theme is super *Get it! Too funny.* popular and, unless there is a very discriminating apocalypse, here to stay.
I am firmly in the ‘think it’s terrific… when it works’ camp and I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favourite GFY stories. I think I might surprise some people with my choices. *g*
Here, we go…
And Call Me In The Morning by Willa Okati. This book provides the double whammy for me; combining friends to lovers *Yep, I’ll be doing a ‘best of’ on this one too. :)* and GFY. I really enjoyed the fact that the characters in this were older and, as a result, seemed to deal with their attraction to and feelings towards each other much more maturely. The story is paced so that the reader can steadily explore the change in relationship dynamic along with the men. It offers something totally different and is a lovely read.
Cut & Run by Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux. What’s not to like about a well written action-packed, suspense thriller with complicated and damaged heroes. I just read a review by rw2113 on ARe about this which says ‘Their intimacy comes from their connection, not their orientation.’ I think that’s a perfect way to describe it as Ty and Zane connect with each other despite themselves. It’s fascinating to watch them do so fully aware of what’s happening albeit begrudgingly. I adore this book muchly.
Heaven by Jet Mykles. Hello?? Seriously, when you think of this topic, how can you not choose this book. Why it works? From the outset, the author establishes an unbelievable, not to mention undeniable, smoking hot attraction between Johnnie and Tyler. The two protags appear to be totally captivated by one another from the first moment they meet and this is followed by a relationship that moves beyond just hot sex. It’s great stuff… and hot. I mentioned that right. 😉
So, what about you? Do you like GFY? If so, what’s your fave story/ies?
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Since I am still in the baby pool with this one… Jenna Byrnes is one of my favorite m/m authors… She was my first **blushes** and I have a few more other books and authors that are on my ereader to read…. So… I will sit back (with the cookie from the other day and munch on that) while the other comments come through… so I can make a TBB list out of this post!!
Thanks Kris!!!
Hope all is well honey bun!!!!
pss.. you have some awards at my place *if you want*
I do like Heaven but I always wonder if one of the characters says “People always ask me if you're gay” if that is truly a GFY or a denial story. Hmmmm.
Tere Michael's Faith and Fidelity was a good one. Hmmm. I'm trying to think of those where the guy doesn't later admit “Yeah, I've always liked guys a little bit”.
Maybe Urban and Roux's The One That Got Away. That one was great for building up tension.
Hmmm. Can't think of any other's off-hand but I know there are tons. However not too many where the guy is a gung-ho het and then goes gay. Usually they are with women but feel no passion and are kind of meh about it, THEN figure out guys turn their crank. That works for me too though.
For it to work for me, there has to have been some past inkling of same-sex attraction. Denial is one thing, and probably fairly common, but just “turning gay” is another thing entirely.
What I find unsettling about the GFY trope is that it feeds into the widespread belief that homosexuality is a choice. Uh…think again.
A Helping Hand by Shayla Kersten
Bad Boys, Bad Boys by Mia Watts
The Deadly Mysteries by Victor J. Banis
Promises by Marie Sexton
Rules Were Made To Be Broken by Lenore Black
Object of my Obsession has a GFY plot line, but beware the M/F/M theme.
I too liked Heaven but must admit that I was drawn to the series because of that cover art more than anything.
I am going to have to think harder about this, because now that you mention it… I am pretty sure I have read more GFY storys…
Victor's series is a good one Chris. And he took a long time to come to terms with it, he didn't just accept it within weeks/months like many books.
Snow Angel (Sharon Maria Bidwell)
The Assignment (Evangeline Anderson)
Promises (Marie Sexton)
With Caution (J.L. Langley)
A Matter of Time Mary Calmes
How could I forget Snow Angel and A Matter of Time???
Str8te Boys by Evangeline Anderson
Knowing Caleb by Cameron Dane
Two Man Team by Jet Mykles
Just For You by Jet Mykles
I don't think GFY happens in RL but I do enjoy reading in in m/m romance.
I do find it's a bit different though with a book like With Caution because you are dealing with the “supernatural” mates thing, so it's not quite the same as a straight contemporary. I still love that book and I'm good with the mates makes you gay theme, but it is a different kettle of fish than average Joe takes a liking to dick.
There were discussions on the Good Reads m/m group about is GFY real or not. Some people (gay guys included) claim yes, although they are usually men who are more fluid and may be more open to that kind of thing anyway, maybe closer to the middle of the straight scale than the far hetero end.
I coincidentally just posted a review of Heaven 🙂 I liked it a lot!
Tam mentioned both my favorite GFY stories, I really loved those. And Chris mentioned another of my favorites: A Helping Hand by Shayla Kersten. And recently I read Out of My Mind by M.L. Rhodes which is another great GFY story.
I really love this theme!
It is by far my fav theme.
Although I love Cut and Run I have never considered it GFY.
A few of my favourites next to The one that got away:
The Handyman by Claire Thompson
Becoming us by Anah Crow and Dianah Fox
The Kiss by GA Hauser
Jumping the fence by Stephanie Vaughun.
I am in doubt as to call Adrien & Jake GFY. But I would like to add them as well. (EEks did I really dare to name J*ke here on the site?!?)
I have to agree with Tam that paranormals are not the same as comtemp GFY.
I can't get enough of m/m books with the GFY theme. I'll never tire of it Evah!!
Tere Michael's Faith and Fidelity
Str8te Boys by Evangeline (sp?)
Timing by Mary Calmes
I love all Heaven books by Jet Mykles
Hello, *peeks in*…I haven't got a clue what planet I have been residing on, but I JUST discovered this amazingly fabulous blog last night….and promptly spent 5 hours (yes, 5) reading all the old posts I could til my eyes hurt. I LOVE IT HERE *sigh*…so, on to the GFY question. I loved And Call Me in the Morning too! Willa is amazing and is so worked for me. I have a few others in my TBR pile, and the whole Heaven Sent was awesome! Ummm, I am overwhelmed with thoughts (mostly about other posts I absorbed last night), so I will shut it right now…but can I say? Kris? You rock and I adore you and I wanna stay here can I? lol!
Yes, yes, yes!
You've mentioned my all time fav: Heaven. Others have mentioned my other favs:
The Assignment
Str8te Boys
Faith and Fidelity
There are probably loads of others that I can't think of now cos my brain is dead due to the dreaded marking. Basically, if it's GFY I'll read it.
Cecile: Well, I hope we can help you spend some money today, sweetie. 🙂
*off to have a squiz at your site*
Tam: I thought about Faith and Fidelity when I was writing this, but just wanted to keep it to three books. F&F is pretty damned terrific and definitely a GFY fave.
“I still love that book and I'm good with the mates makes you gay theme, but it is a different kettle of fish than average Joe takes a liking to dick.”
You have such a lovely way with words, Tam. LOL. Love ya!
KZ: “What I find unsettling about the GFY trope is that it feeds into the widespread belief that homosexuality is a choice.”
I think that's an excellent point, KZ, and, yes, should certainly not be perpetuated. For me, I think what I like about it is the idea that attraction is about connection to the person, whatever shape, size or sex they may be. Perhaps that's simplistic of me, but…
Chris: Great suggestions! Promises and VJB's Deadly series were also ones that I thought about whilst writing this post. What I tried to do here was think of GFY stories where both characters were het-ish to begin with, although, granted, Johnnie was bi.
Miranda: PL Nunn's cover art is awesome. Have you checked out her site yet? If not, go do it. It's awesome, but so NSFW it's not funny.
Wren: With Caution, A Matter of Time and The Assignment immediately came to mind as well. Are we all psychically linked or what? LOL.
I'd completely forgotten about Snow Angel though. God, that was a book I read during the first months of my huge m/m glom.
I think Snow Angel was one of my early m/m reads, too. There were a few scenes in it that took my breath away.
We are of the collective m/mmind…
ElaineG: Be careful, or you will end up as one of Kris's minions 😉
Richelle: I'm sure I've read that Cameron Dane, but I'm having a mental blank right now. Probably due to lack of coffee.
Jet Mykles is the Queen of GFY. No question. 🙂
Janna: You just did a review of Heaven? How cool is that. *g*
I don't think I've read that Shayla Kersten, but I remember you doing a review of it – at least I'm pretty sure it was you, Janna – not that long ago. I must get it, especially as everyone keeps pimping it. LOL.
Ingrid: “I am in doubt as to call Adrien & Jake GFY. But I would like to add them as well. (EEks did I really dare to name J*ke here on the site?!?)”
Get. Off. My. Site.
Get back, Evil Kris. Get back.
Now where were we…
“Although I love Cut and Run I have never considered it GFY.”
I must admit that neither did I until I started going through my books for this post. It's interesting that we both felt like that, Ingrid. I wonder why that is? Maybe because it is so different from the 'usual' GFY stories?
KC: “I can't get enough of m/m books with the GFY theme. I'll never tire of it Evah!!”
LOL! That could be because you are addicted to smut. 😉
Timing is GFY? I didn't know that. Yet another book on my tbb. I seriously need to do some shopping.
Elaine, hello and welcome! Just ignore Wren. She knows not of what she speaks. *whispers* She's also jealous because she never made it through the first minion cut. *tsk, tsk* Such potential too. It was very disappointing.
“You rock and I adore you and I wanna stay here can I?”
Since you have excelled in your sucking up, you may stay. You have to tell me how awesome I am at least once a week, though. That's the rule. Affirmation is a good thing. 😉
As mauch as I like some of her quirky stories, I think And Call Me In The Morning is WO's best work to date. At least for me it is. It just hit so many of my happy reader buttons. It was great.
Jenre: I knew you'd like this topic, Jen. 🙂
“Basically, if it's GFY I'll read it.”
I think this post has proved that there is a bunch of us who feel the same way.
Wren: “We are of the collective m/mmind…”
Must be, except when you're trying to scare people away from me. Meanhead.
Wren: I think Chaos is more flexible on his requirements for minions, if you're feeling unattached.
Hey, I was just trying to be honest and all that. I am well attached already, thank you.
Kris: I am not a meanhead. I write stories for you, provide contest materials for you, talk you up on other websites…
*poutmope*
Wren: Fine, fine. *Cry baby.* You'd better be talking me up in a 'good' way, though, or else…
Yay! Bridget read her first m/m (other than Polar Reaction) and LIKED IT! *faints* I still can't pronounce the title, but I really liked Tatterdemalion…awful name, but the story was all right and the sex was hot. Yay! 😀
PS. I went to a book signing yesterday and now I'm so tired my brain hurts. That can NOT be good. heh
Bridget: Yay! Although I'm praying that this doesn't mean the world is ending. 😉
I read that book and liked it too, but, yeah, the name was killer and I wanted him to remain unpretty.
Who's book signing?? Who's?! Let me live vicariously, Bridget. Wouldja, wouldja. 🙂
Kris: *Pppbbbbtthhh*
Oh, VERY mature. *rolls eyes*
Oh poop! I forgot to tell you how awesome you were for the week.
YOUR AWESOME:)
Call me in the morning was good but my favourite is with caution by J L Langley. (but I think all her books are great) Z A Maxfields books The Long Way Home and Drawn Together are also in the top 5.
I haven't read Snow Angel but will look it up. I'm waiting for Helpless by M J Pearson and am wading through the new Vampire Acedemy book right now. I've given up trying to read anything as my not so tiny monster child has found crayons and thinks my books need some colour.
tish
One of the only “Gay for You” stories that worked for me was J.L. Langley's Without Reservations. Part of why I could accept it was that Chay had experimented a little in college. There was that “supernatural mates” thing, too.
Personally, I'd rather have characters stay with one orientation. I'm much happier if the protagonists in a m/m romance are gay or bisexual at the start of a book. K.Z. nailed it for me about not wanting to go along with the “homosexuality is a choice” belief.
I can still enjoy some of the stories for their other qualities, but it's not a key fantasy for me. I know it's a fantasy that really works for many other readers, as you can see here.
Emilie, what I like most about GFY is that it is the person that counts not the gender.
Tish: I can tick you off my list for this week now. Good girl. 😉
“my not so tiny monster child has found crayons and thinks my books need some colour”
The horrors! What's this M J Pearson Helpless of which you speak? Doesn't s/he write historicals?
PS – I couldn't get in to the Vampire Academy books. Weird since I seem to be reading every other vampire YA series out there. *sigh*
Emilie: As I said to KZ, I think that's an excellent point and I absolutely understand and agree with your point of view. At the same time, like Ingrid, a large part of me really likes the idea that attraction and developing feelings for another person can happen no matter what previous conceptions you may have had about your sexuality.
Hi, Ingrid 🙂
I can understand that it's a very attractive theme for many people, that someone falls in love regardless of the other person's gender. I don't believe I have a sexual orientation one way or the other, so that scenario is actually very possible for me. I identify as bisexual, though. Dating men doesn't make me straight, and dating women doesn't make me a lesbian.
Of course my personal experience plays greatly into my beliefs. Others have a very different mindset about it, and that's fine, too. Different things work for different people.
Emilie, I'm sitting here trying to think of a way to say something without causing offense to you or anyone else so I'm going to try and write it and big apologies to any of those reading if I totally stuff it up…
Oh, and Emilie, feel free not to respond to this if you don't want to. This is me trying to articulate something I'm curious about.
Do you think my attraction to the idea of someone falling in love with the person not the gender is just romanticising what is at it's heart bisexuality? Does that make sense?
Hey, Kris —
No offense at all taken by me. 🙂 My opinion is that for a lot of the folks who love the “Gay for You” stories, the idea of someone totally changing his sexual orientation for someone else is a big part of the attraction. I don't think of it as romanticizing bisexuality. I would say that the idea that someone would change so much for the person he loves, and take a stigmatized identity, is very romantic for many people.
You folks have listed some of my favorites–ZAM, Langley, Dane, Mykles.
I like GFY stories. Marie Sexton's Promises has been called GFY. Matt has never been really satisfied with his relationships with women, but he does admit that he's noticed a few guys in the past.
I loved A Matter of Time and Snow Angel and Angel Heart. Snow Angel was one of the first m/m books I read.
This post reminded me of a BBC series called Bob and Rose. Bob was played by Alan Davies(Johnathan Creek), He is an out of the closet and proudly homosexual man who falls for a woman. It was based on the true life story of a friend of the writer. It did not portray homosexuality as a choice and the character was very conflicted about falling for a woman. It was an excellent series and kind of GFY in reverse.
Emilie: Thank you for answering my question. Oh, and I just commented on the post that you did on this topic. I'm finding this discussion really thought provoking.
Eyre: So do you think Promises isn't really GFY than, Eyre? I personally think there is a difference between GFY and actually admitting to yourself your sexuality isn't as fixed as you thought it was or that you've been denying the fact that you're gay. That might be just me though.
Heidi: Another one for Snow Angel being an early read. 🙂
That BBC series sounds fascinating. I think there might be a Rick Reed story that is somewhat similar to that. I will try and find it.
Found it! I've not been brave enough to read it yet – Rick's stories tend to gut me – , but it sounds like it challenges the issues of orientation and love: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3396308.Orientation
Kris, I think some people see Promise as GFY since the author keeps pointing out that Matt was straight for 30-something years. However, he does admit to having noticed some men.
Aw, heck, I don't know. I'm waffling on this one. I can see Matt's situation both ways. He was drawn to Jared, and Jared is the only man with whom he'd ever had that type of relationship or sexual experience. That makes it GFY. The fact that Matt admits to having noticed a small number of men in the past makes it the story of a man who has to come to terms with the fluidity of his sexuality.
Darn it! I can't decide. It's a good thing I'm not writing a book report for a grade. I'd definitely get an F for writing in circles.
Eyre, maybe you can use this as an example of what not to do with your students. I'm sure they'd be VERY interested in what Miss reads. 😛
LOL!
Kris, the fact that I actually read astounds them. If they knew what I was reading . . . well, I don't think their little heads could handle it!
*snort* Well, far be it for me to tell you how to teach, Eyre, but couldn't you pretend it was a game or something. That could work. *g*
Or maybe say it was two girls?? Actually, no. Little heads might still explode.
I love gfy. I've got And Call MeIn the Morning in my TBR so I'm glad to hear good things. I love the Heaven Sent series. Can't think of any others right now, been awhile since I've read any gfy.
Amora: GFY is definitely a love/hate thing. I really enjoyed And Call Me In The Morning. I'll be interested to see what you think of it.
Yes, but can I think of any titles? Nope. But I'm still dipping my toe in the m/m waters – so much water to play in – so I'll be taking notes! Am tempted to read both Heaven and Promises!
And YAH Bridget!
**I am not on this post.. you dont hear my pen writing all these cool recommendations down**
I probably read most of them as this is a theme that works for me – but who says there's no fun in re-reading..
All the smutty bits in my copies are all bookmarked..
E.H>
Okay, so this is my first time commenting so go easy on me, please!!
First, gotta mention that Kris is AWESOME!! lol
I love GFY. I've only been reading m/m for about a year but at first I tried to find as many books that I could on GFY.. Some of my favorites are the ones already mentioned but Zero to the Bone by Jane Seville is another one. Umm, Melting Ice by DJ Manly, Unrequited by Abigail Roux and A Strong Hand by Catt Ford are my all time favorites though..
Actually, would you consider Unrequited a GFY? Not sure but I still love that book…
Oh, and what about If I Must by Amy Lane??? I love that one, too. 😀