I remember I used to think I wasn’t interested in romance books, often opting for historical fiction or simply just nonfiction. Booktok was never for me, and a lot of romances felt boring or uninspired. That was until I started looking into queer romance.Â
As a queer person myself, I find myself drawn to these types of books, and I certainly enjoy them more than their straight counterparts. However, sometimes it can be hard to find something that truly catches my eye, simply because there are less LGBTQ+ books out there than other genres, and of the ones there are, I find a lot of them cliche, or simply made for younger readers than myself.
Then, I started looking into novels from overseas. I started with manga and manhwa, and I certainly enjoyed them, but they were often such quick reads, or still in development. Light novels, too, were nice, but I wanted something more. I wanted a series I could get lost in.
Discovering the world of Chinese queer romances — danmei for MLM, and baihe for WLW — was the answer for me.
If you’re looking for something popular and beginner-friendly that balances a heavy plot with loving romance, Tian Guan Ci Fu, or Heaven-Official’s Blessing, is a great place to start. Set in ancient China, it features a longing, slow-burn romance between a god and a ghost, intense political drama, and a good helping of more violent, dark scenes. It doesn’t get too steamy, and many will recommend this five-book series as a wonderful introduction to the world of danmei.
If you’re looking for something steamier and more intense in the romance department, Mo Dao Zu Shi, or Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation is also a good beginner series. If you’ve ever watched the show “The Untamed,” that was based on this novel. It’s also set in ancient China, and also features a lot of political drama, as well as magical cultivation and reincarnation. It makes for a great commentary on corruption, genocide, scapegoats, and revenge, and the romance, while also slow burn, is a central part of the story. And, of course, the main character is amazing.Â
Both TGCF and MDZS are by the same author, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, and were translated from Mandarin into English by the company Seven Seas, which translates and publishes most danmei and baihe in the United States.
If you’re an adult who’s more interested in dark romances, heavy angst, lots of spice, and aren’t uncomfortable with characters that, well, let’s just say are not governed by our morals, I’d highly recommend some of Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou, or “MeatBun”’s work. Specifically, Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun—or The Husky and his White Cat Shizun—and Bing An Ben, or Case File Compendium.
In both of these novels, Meatbun does not hold back. Erha is also a novel set in ancient times, and covers multiple lifetimes. The MC, who gets a second chance at life, honestly seems like an awful person at first, and the ML suffers a lot. However, this incredibly long series takes a lot of twists and turns, and through the power of angst so bad that you feel like you’re going insane, the ending turns out to be amazing.
As for Bing An Ben, this one is actually a modern setting for once! It features an insane romance (if it can even be called a romance) between a psychiatrist and his patient. I personally have a love-hate relationship with this one. The plot makes my head hurt, every character is crazy, and I was asking myself “What on Earth is going on???” every five pages. However, I was entertained nonetheless, and if you’re looking for something that has a lot of spice and will drive you insane in the best way, this would be it.Â
Speaking of crazy books, if you’re looking for one that’s funny while being fluffy and a lot less heavy, I’d recommend Canji Baojun De Zhangxin Yu Chong, known by the English name The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish. It’s exactly what it says on the tin. A man transmigrates into a story as a fish, and chaos ensues. It’s fun, and the concept, while crazy, is honestly handled really well. What’s not to love?
Of course, all of the previous recommendations have been queer romances between men. Unfortunately, when it comes to English translations, the market for Chinese novels is very unbalanced. Most of the novels published in English have been between men thus far, and people looking for romance between women have been left disappointed. But I come bearing good news! The translation company Seven Seas has just published the first volume of its first baihe series, Mei Ren Jian!
The Beauty’s Blade just came out, and it also takes place in ancient China, in a cultivation setting. The romance is between two women, one from a prestigious martial sect and the other from a demonic sect, who are rivals. I haven’t had the chance to read this one yet, as it just came out on November 4th, but it looks like it’ll be right up my alley. I hope Seven Seas publishes more baihe soon!
I hope these recommendations are of some help to people looking for a different kind of queer romance for their next read.