Why do so many women write MM romance?
Well, actually, I can't claim to speak for any other author, but here's why I write (and read) male-male romance.
Kayla Brooks
5/19/20252 min read
Look, I'm a simple woman in many ways, and I am wired to be attracted to men on some level pretty much all the time. During a monogamous relationship with a woman? Still attracted to men. Railing against the patriarchy? Still attracted to men. I would still like them in the rain . . . I would still like them on a train . . .
Er . . . where was I? Oh, right. Being a woman who finds men attractive, means I think steamy scenes with multiple men involved are hot. Simple as that.
Look, I get how this could be perceived as various levels of icky. I really do. But also, I refuse to feel guilty over watching imaginary people in my head being intimate.
First: The obvious reason
The Quarterback is second in this series, and it's probably best to read it after book 1 (The Jock). But The Quarterback is, like, so blazingly hot and amazing. Please check it out.
Second: Labor
Specifically, emotional labor. I hear so many stories about women who have somehow ended up in relationships with men in which the male in the relationship takes on the roll of baby instead of equal partner. Well, when I'm looking for books to read for reasons of escapism and joy and emotional release, you know what I don't want to read about? A woman doing all of the work in the relationship while her man-baby of a husband does nothing. You know who almost never has to do the emotional heavy lifting in a male-male romance novel? That's right! For once, it's almost guaranteed that the male characters are doing the work! Amen and hallelujah!
E. M. Lindsey does a lot of things really well, but if I had to choose one top strength of theirs, it's the emotional labor thing. Believe me when I say, these characters put in the work.
Bromance turned romance? Yes. Hurt-comfort? Big time. Total himbo with all the feelings and all of the cluelessness? Gimme gimme gimme!
Look, we live in a society. And this society we live in? It teaches us that men aren't allowed to have emotions, or tenderness, or care at all. It's all alphas all the time out there, and I. Am. Over. It. I want - no, need - to see men feel all the feelings. I need male main characters who not only experience but also know how to express the full range of emotions. And I want to see men being gentle with each other and caring for each other. Is that really so much to ask? (Insert Christine Lavin singing "Sensitive New Age Guys") Yeah, I get that MM romance doesn't promise to deliver this every single time, but it sure is a good starting place if this is what you're looking for.