Those in a faith-based community have it hard. While some people devote their lives to their religion, some struggle with following that faith while staying true to their romantic interests. When their preferences don’t match the teachings of their religion, internal shame and conflict begin to form. The following entries explore that process of uncertainty: to accept your religion or to love who you want. It’s not an easy choice to make.
Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley
The saying “the truth will set you free” might not always be positive. For Nate, the truth of his sexuality might bring him more problems than relieve his chest from such a secret. With his family being religious, he grapples with his faith while being unable to admit he likes boys. The court, however, is a different place. Will Nate tell the truth? Or will he allow Cam, his best friend and crush, to be sent to jail for a misunderstanding that left Nate stabbed?
Charles: Learning To Love by Con Riley
Charles Heppel is a playboy comfortable with his sexuality. In fact, he openly looks for the next guy to have a fling with and moves on the next. As the son of an earl, with the best life in beautiful London, he doesn’t expect to be struck by anything out of the ordinary.
That changes when he meets Hugo Eavis, a calm man who is the temporary pastoral charge at Glynn Harber. Hugo listens to people’s confessions with empathy. Despite his kind demeanor, Hugo himself isn’t happy or content, a disaster that’s left Hugo trapped in the horrors of the past. It doesn’t help that Charles makes Hugo feel genuinely loved, only for him to get caught between his faith and wanting to love Charles in return. The book’s summary describes itself as a will-they-won’t-they, but with less angst.
Whisper by Tal Baur
This might be an outlandish book, as it starts with the tragedy that was 9/11. Kris Caldera, a junior member of the CIA’s Alec Station — who fails to stop the ones responsible for the terrorist attack — meets Special Forces Sergeant David Haddad — the man who Kris would do anything for. The feeling is reciprocated, but with David’s Muslim beliefs on the line, as he battles against enemy territory, he grapples with whether what he has with Kris is something he truly wants. But when a failed mission separates the two, David is a broken man, living as a prisoner for years. Can he even go back to Kris? This is a definite must-read!
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
Moving to a new place is a chance for a fresh new start. But Tanner Scott, who’s originally from LA, has to go back to being a closeted bisexual now in Utah. It isn’t long before he graduates from high school and can go off to an out-of-state college, where he can be out of the closet again. Before that, on a dare, Tanner enters a writing class that requires its students to write a full book in four months. It’s here where Tanner falls head over heels for Sebastian Brother, a diligent boy who sold the book he created and now helps mentor the class. Tanner would like to be something more with Sebastian, but as a Mormon deep in his faith, Sebastian would never even think of being with Tanner, right? But the more Tanner gets to know Sebastian, the more he sees how strained his smiles are, ultimately learning who Sebastian truly is.
A Change of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story of Redemption by Becket Cook
When exploring your identity, sometimes the journey leads you to surprising outcomes. This book is not about who’s right or wrong — it’s just about a man finding himself, same as everyone else. Becket Cook went in another direction and found faith in God. The author writes about how he began to find God’s love from a single chance encounter in an LA coffee shop, when he witnessed a Bible study and met the pastor of the group. From there he became curious, and decided to learn more, slowly moving from being an “ex-gay” to a devoted Christian.
You don’t have to agree, but it’s interesting to read how one deals with coming to terms with themselves, as Cook feels he’s better off following Jesus. In reading the book, one Goodreads reviewer asks:
What am I hanging on to, what am I settling for instead of looking to God?
Sage, Goodreads reviewer
If it can get you thinking, then this book’s worth a read.
The internal struggle of someone who wants to keep their faith while also wanting to love freely is difficult to navigate. Maybe reading these books will help in understanding how people process their thoughts and come to a decision that brings them peace, staying true to themselves.
Want more romance recommendations? Click here for Bookstr’s many picks!
For more LGBTQ+ fiction books, check out our Hooray for Representation – LGBTQ Voices bookshelf on Bookshop.org!
