Books like Red, White & Royal Blue

By Casey McQuiston

For queer love shaped by public scrutiny, secrecy or finding the words for desire, try these three books.

For public rivals and private love

Rachel Reid

Both turn a visible rivalry between men into a secret relationship, with careers and the public gaze raising the stakes of being honest.

The difference: Professional hockey and more explicit sex, without the political campaign.

Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Both follow young men learning how to understand and express desire, with friendship and family relationships shaping that discovery.

The difference: A quieter teenage coming-of-age story, without royalty or national scrutiny.

Patricia Highsmith

Both place a queer relationship beside the risk of exposure, asking what it costs to pursue love within restrictive expectations.

The difference: Two women in midcentury America, with a more tense and restrained atmosphere.

Sources and book details

Collected’s editorial comparisons, informed by the descriptions and reading profiles.