Despite groundbreaking advancements in disability rights over the years, there are still some disabilities that carry more stigma than others, even in the community itself. Developmentally disabled people have fought hard for their right to a seat at the table, and we’re seeing more positive representation in fiction than ever before. But with developmental disabilities becoming more visible and accepted—like Autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, to name only a few—there’s also been an uptick in discrimination to delegitimize these disabilities, claiming that they aren’t “real” or are strictly caused by environmental factors, which is in direct opposition to scientific fact. Despite the obnoxiously loud misinformation, the truth remains that developmental disabilities are real, and the people who have them are autonomous beings who deserve proper care and authority over their own lives. In celebration of this vibrant community, here are five romance stories with developmentally disabled MCs taking control of their love lives!
1. Ethan, Who Loved Carter by Ryan Loveless
Our first entry is an MLM romance where BOTH main characters are disabled! Carter Stevenson has dealt with a developmental disability called Tourette’s Syndrome his whole life, to the point where his stuttering has made him too shy to interact with other people. Enter Ethan Hart, who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn’t hesitate to love Carter with all he’s got, even when he worries he won’t be accepted with his brain injury. It’s up to Ethan to show Carter that it’s finally safe to love again, no matter what kind of tragedy strikes.
“Ethan and Carter compliment each other really well in this story. Add to it a great secondary cast of characters that do a great job of support and bring validity to the message of this story. For those that know me, know this, I cried. More than once. Enough said.”
- From Msmiz (Tina) on Goodreads
2. Something More by Jackie Khalilieh
This YA story involves the sweetest love triangle under the sun! A Palestinian-Canadian girl named Jessie is diagnosed with autism just before starting high school. She is determined to keep it a secret from everyone else and instead focuses on a specific list of goals to complete during her high school journey. One such goal is to get a spectacular first kiss, and she quickly meets two boys who seem more than eager to help her reach her goals.
“This is the best and most authentic-feeling YA novel I’ve read in years. The world is so immersive, and the characters and feelings and PINING are so real. The high school feels are so relatable (at times, almost uncomfortably so) to anyone who has ever fallen (and given up way too much of themself) for the wrong guy, or overlooked the right one. Such a well-done, realistic love triangle. (I’m very much in love with Griffin, and have continued to think about him daily, over a year after reading this book.) And all the female friendships are equally complex and real.”
- From Julia Foster on Goodreads
3. Always Only You by Chloe Liese
With this slow-burn friends-to-lovers, you can’t go wrong! Ren is a professional hockey player who’s been in love with his childhood friend, Frankie since…forever. But she’s the team’s social media manager, so he’s forced himself to stay professional and keep his distance. Frankie has sworn off dating after being treated like too much of a hassle once her disabilities of rheumatoid arthritis and autism are discovered. When she announces she’s planning a career change, Ren decides to make his move — but he’ll have to find a way to break through her defenses first before the relationship can grow into more.
“What a terrifying possibility, to find yourself so attracted to someone you can’t help but love them.”
4. Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest
A brilliant coming-of-age story and a dreamy romance combine to create the beauty that is Where You See Yourself. Effie Galanos has reached her senior year in high school and, like most students, is already thinking about her future college. The difference here is that Effie has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair, so on top of the usual college-hunting stress, she also has to worry about the accessibility of campuses. As she decides on her campus of choice, she learns that her longtime crush, Wilder, is also going to the same school. With dreams of love, a career, and a brand new life in New York City, Effie learns to follow them all on her new journey through adulthood.
“He clears his throat. ‘I do hope you know that you could’ve let me know about your obstacles, and I would’ve been happy to meet you anywhere else.’ An obstacle is a traffic cone, a hurdle, a mild inconvenience that you sail over and continue on your way. A human being shouldn’t be called an obstacle. It’s a disability. Just say the word; it isn’t a curse word.”
5. Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
What’s even better than friends-to-lovers? Rivals-to-lovers! Especially in a WLW setting! Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale were childhood friends, but after an incident during the summer before high school, they became rivals. Now, even in their thirties, they remain competing teachers at their alma mater, stuck in a toxic cycle that’s too hard to break. It’s only when their beloved English teacher becomes terminally ill that they decide to call a temporary truce to help him take one last cross-country road trip, but that might be just enough time and close proximity for their true feelings to be revealed…
“This is love. Love is seeing perfection in every flaw. Seeing every flaw as a miracle because it belongs to the person you care about most. Love is saying, yes, still. Even after all these years.”
Oftentimes, disabled people of all kinds feel excluded from healthy romances and sex lives. As efforts ramp up to exclude those in our community even further, isolation from our non-disabled peers will be an even more common feeling. But it’s books like these that can help drown out the noise. They remind us that we are real, we are loved, we are desirable, and we are celebrated! And as more and more disability reps are placed on the shelves, it doesn’t seem like those celebrations are stopping any time soon.
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Looking for more books that celebrate Neurodivergency? Check out our Bookshelf Mindscapes: Diverse Narratives of Neurodiversity in Literature on Bookshop.org here!
