When a mysterious artist moves in with the Joshi family as a paying guest, he grabs the attention of both brother and sister, Tanay and Anuja, leading Tanay to conservatively explore his identity. Although this tenant is seemingly perfect—he’s ready with the rent, always offers to help and listens to Mrs. Joshi’s thoughts on Indian culture without reluctance—it all comes crumbling down when he runs away with Anuja and overturns their lives. This novel by Kundalkar is a candid reflection of queer life in India.
Marriage of a Thousand Lies by SJ Sindu
To satisfy their Sri Lankan American families, Lucky and Krishna, who are both queer, enter a marriage of convenience while they engage in their preferred homosexual relations on the side. Yet, these circumstances are challenged when Lucky goes back to her childhood home and finds herself falling in love with her former best friend, Nisha, who is on the verge of entering an arranged marriage herself. Suddenly, Lucky is pushed to face several difficult decisions: saving Nisha from getting married and confronting her own lies, which she has been keeping up for a decade.
Special mentions—but not queer romance books
A Dutiful Boy by Mohsin Zaidi
