I’m really determined to find a romcom that I will enjoy because almost every single one I can recall has made me viscerally angry. I cannot STAND the witty/sarcastic protagonist because 90% of the time, they genuinely seem like a douchebag and I also just feel like they’re a Tony Stark/Joss Whedon character wannabe.
I don’t know if I would consider Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens’ Agenda a romcom, but I did not really like it. I tried reading Heartstopper when the show came out, but I was clearly too old for it. I read But What If It’s Us years ago and got so annoyed with it that I didn’t finish it. I read Red, White, and Royal Blue a couple of years ago and hated it so much that I gave my copy away. Currently reading Boyfriend Material and I do like the love interest, but the main character is so aggravating and I really don’t feel bad for him at all because he’s a prick. I also think the setup is contrived and nonsensical, but I don’t really mind; that’s honestly typical romcom setup.
I know it’s not that I just don’t like romance because I DID like Pride and Prejudice and Ziggy, Stardust, and Me, but neither of those are romcoms. And I do like romcom movies, like The Wedding Singer, Bottoms, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You Phillip Morris, etc.
Other things I like, but aren’t necessary:
* Love interests who are kind of dicks (Mr. Darcy style)
* Men who are kind of pathetic
* Incredibly contrived and nonsensical set ups
* Incredibly one-sided rivals to lovers
* Regular rivals to lovers, but they have to really fucking hate each other (Catradora is truly the only pairing who has ever done it right imo)
TLDR; Looking for a romcom with two men (bonus points for trans men), a protagonist or pov character who isn’t witty or sarcastic, and no uncritical conversations about being better than flamboyant gays. I’m defining romcom as a book where the romance is the main plot, not a side plot. I’m totally open to graphic novels and books with sex scenes. I would also appreciate books written by non-woman authors, sometimes when a cis woman writes a book about gay men it does come off as a little fetishy.
I understand that I’m being incredibly specific and picky, so I really do appreciate any and all recommendations. Thank you in advance! 🙂
by Impossible_Detail35