Welcome to the Love Bytes Reviewers’ Best of 2025
Another year has passed in which books have brought all of us a much-needed escape and sense of comfort. Our Love Bytes team reviewed approximately 800 LGBTQ+ books in 2024, from contemporary romance to fantasy, paranormal, historical, adventure, mystery, comedy, and everything in between. Each day for the next weeks, we will feature one of our reviewers’ top picks from books and audiobooks published in 2025. These lists highlight how diverse our tastes in reading are, and offer something for everyone. With thousands of fantastic new books each year, written by hundreds of creative and talented authors, it’s so difficult to narrow our lists down. We all have many favorite authors not featured here and wish we could acknowledge them all.
Sadonna’s favorites
Hearts on Ice by Denver Shaw – Buy Link
This was my first book by this author but definitely won’t be my last. Hockey romances are certainly having their moment 😉 but this is a well-written age-gap, bi-awakening story between a coach and a player on a farm team. There is also grief/loss that is sensitively described here that adds another level of poignancy to the story. Well worth the time to spend with these men.
Not That Guy (Unpredictable #1) by Felice Stevens & J.F. Hardng – Buy Link
This is a perfectly written rivals to lovers story. It has so many elements and takes two lawyers who have been rivals since Law School and puts them in the situation where they are now colleagues after a one-night-stand and some rather pointed opposing counsel situations 😉 Both men have made entirely wrong assumptions about the other. The come from such completely different backgrounds that it’s hard for either of them to understand what is happening between them or how it could actually work. The audio is a true gem! Give it a listen.
Concluded by Kim Fielding – Buy Link
I have loved this series for years. Kim Fielding is a favorite author – she can write in any genre or world and it will be worth reading! This was a beautiful conclusion to this series and while I’m sorry it’s completed, I absolutely loved the send-off. There are many many callbacks to prior characters as the showdown with the baddies goes on and there are new characters who kept me totally invested in the battle. If you haven’t read this series, I recommend all the books 🙂
The Blame Game (Relationship Goals #5) by Brigham Vaughn and James Edward jones – Buy Link
One of my favorite things this year was discovering this series from Brigham Vaughn and getting to review the audios for these books. First, James Edward Jones is a fabulous narrator. Secondly, this hockey universe is very addictive in the best possible way. This one has a VERY closeted veteran player finally figuring out that he deserves and can find love. He’s had an arrangement with an escort for some time and they are “outed” thanks to the invasive “media” who trail Dom and happen to discover their meeting spot. UGH! Dom has been kind of a jerk to some of his teammates in the past and his wounds have been deeply hidden. I loved their HEA and the audio is *chef’s kiss*.
10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love by Emmy Sanders – Buy Link
This was my favorite Emmy Sanders book this year. Brad is absolutely the sweetest golden retriever energy MC ever. Joey, his gay bestie is willing to risk a possible broken heart because he knows Brad would never hurt him on purpose. After Brad’s failed attempt as wingman, he’s more than willing to show Brad what being with a guy is like, so it’s on to their “bros with bennies” phase. So many laugh out loud moments! I really needed this levity and fun! Just a damn near perfect book. The best rom com I’ve read in a long time and I absolutely loved it.
Over and Above (Mount Hope #4) by Annabeth Albert – Buy Link
My favorite in this series of small Oregon town romances. The characters are mature. They are very different to one another and they each have their own baggage. A widower with kids and a single dad end up in an unlikely relationship that becomes more complicated when their kids end up with an accidental pregnancy. How they and their friends deal with this reality and how it impacts their growing feelings is explored in a way that doesn’t feel exploitative. Loved these guys.
With You: A Without You Novella by Marley Valentine – Buy Link
Marley Valentine does a wonderful job of bringing things home with Deacon and Julian from Without You. This novella is what happens AFTER the Happily Ever After – with a gorgeous wedding and these two living their best lives and moving forward. I thought this series of check-ins with this favorite couple were just perfection. If you missed this release, I highly encourage you to pick it up.
The Copper Script by K.J. Charles – Buy Link
This is another fabulous historical from favorite author K.J. Charles. This time it’s a police officer who has been asked by a family member to intimidate and discredit a graphologist whose information has caused his engagement to be called off by his fiance. Aaron doesn’t believe in Joel’s ability, but he’s not sure he knows what’s going on either. Turns out the villains are closer and more dangerous than either Aaron or Joel can even imagine. It’s a great slow burn, cat and mouse story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Freckles by Nell Iris – Buy Link
Another perfect amuse bouche from Nell Iris. This time it’s a super meet cute between a construction worker and a grad student at a coffee shop. I love a good short story and this author is a master!
King’s Warrior (Warriors #2) by Eden Winters – Buy Link
This eagerly awaited second book in this series did not disappoint. Normally this isn’t my go to genre, but these books were so well written and the world/universe these characters inhabit is really compelling. Two supporting characters from the first book take over here and there is timeline overlap, so they really need to be read in order, but this follow up was soooo good! It’s exciting and fast-paces with plenty more intrigue that kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s got so much to recommend it I really hope people pick up these series. It is just sooo good.
