Queer Romance Book Club Reads: A Gentleman’s Gentleman

The Queer Romance Book Club is a group of adults that reads and discusses queer romance stories of all kinds. From new releases to older stories, contemporary to historical settings (with even some fantasy on occasion!), the books we’ll read will also feature diverse pairings/configurations, sexualities, and gender expressions. Join us on the second Tuesday of every month to go deep on the themes, tropes, and emotions that connect the titles we read, or drop in for your favorite books or sub-genres! All are welcome!

Registration is required, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TXMhbVCETAamP-iws1Kg9g

This Month’s book is A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

Summary:

The notoriously eccentric Lord Christopher Eden is a “man of unusual make” and even more unusual habits: he prefers to live far from the prying eyes and ears of the ton, and would rather have the comfortable company of his childhood cook and his aged butler than the swarm of servants and hangers-on befitting a man of his station. But Christopher’s pleasant, if occasionally lonely life is upended when he receives word from his lawyers that, according to his late father’s will, he must find a wife by the end of the Season if he intends to keep his family’s fortune and the Eden estate. Christopher cannot imagine a worse fate: as he isn’t attracted to women, his chances of making a wife happy are slim. Furthermore, if his quest to marry has any hope of succeeding, he must move to London posthaste and acquire some more suitable staff.

Enter James Harding, Christopher’s new, distractingly handsome—if rigidly traditional—valet. After a rocky start, the two strike up a fragile friendship amid the throes of the London Season . . . a friendship that threatens to shatter under the looming shadow of Christopher’s impending nuptials—and the secrets both men are keeping. With its heady combination of dry wit, slow-burn romance, and a nuanced portrait of trans identity, A Gentleman’s Gentleman stands to transform the historical romance genre as we know it.

Identities/Themes/Tropes: historical; trans m/trans m

2026 Books:

JANUARY – When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

FEBRUARY – Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao

MARCH – Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell

APRIL – The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

MAY – I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

JUNE – Moonlighters: A Novella Collection by Anita Kelly

JULY – A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

AUGUST – Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

SEPTEMBER – Oh! You Pretty Things by Jane Hadley

OCTOBER – Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti

About the facilitators:

Kira Apple (she/her) has been a bookseller at Charis since the summer of 2020. Originally from Pennsylvania, she first discovered a love of romance through fan fiction and fantasy novels. Now, she reads broadly across fantasy, sci-fi, and romance, and is a huge fan of queer lit and media. In addition to swooning over romantic things, Kira enjoys tabletop roleplaying, video games, crocheting, writing, and wrangling her three cats. You can find her on Instagram – @kiapple.

Kate Harlan (she/her) is an aspiring librarian who has lived in Atlanta her whole life. She loves queer stories, devouring queer romance, fantasy, and sci-fi books with both her ears and her eyes at what some say is an alarming rate. When she’s not reading (and, honestly, sometimes while she’s listening to books), she’s gardening with children in her neighborhood, doing jigsaw puzzles, petting dogs, or knitting. You can find her on Instagram- @meetingmeonce

The event is free and open to all people, especially to those who have no income or low income right now, but we encourage and appreciate a solidarity donation in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate via this link: www.chariscircle.org/donate

Charis Circle’s mission is to foster sustainable feminist communities, work for social justice, and encourage the expression of diverse and marginalized voices.

By attending any Charis Circle virtual event you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to info@chariscircle.org immediately.