Travis Simmons

Travis Simmons is an avid gay romance and fantasy reader. He can be found most evenings and weekends listening to a new audiobook that he rants and raves about to Jaime, who never reads his recs because they simply don’t have the same taste in books. He loves books that make him feel something, and the more emotionally devastating they are, the more he loves them. He then recommends those books to friends so they can be just as traumatized as him. Some of his favorite books are The Wheel of Time, Red Rising Series, Song of Achilles, almost anything by Brando Sando, and a plethora of gay romcoms.
Travis Simmons

Travis' Book Recommendations

From swoony gay romances and laugh-out-loud rom-coms to the occasional detour into horror, fantasy, and sci-fi, these are Travis’s personal picks for readers who love a great story, memorable characters, and a TBR that never stops growing.

109 books in Travis’ Picks

Don't Let the Forest In

Don’t Let the Forest In

CG Drews

Literary Fiction · Horror

Thomas’s drawings have come to life.

Save the Game

Save the Game

J.J. Mulder

LGBTQIA+ · Romance

Max Kuemper keeps his head down—school, hockey, and burying his past.

Golden Son

Golden Son (Red Rising Book 2)

Pierce Brown

Dystopian · Sci-Fi

Betrayal reshapes rebellion when power demands more than courage.

Ocean's Echo

Ocean’s Echo

Everina Maxwell

LGBTQIA+ · Sci-Fi

A mind-reader conscripted into the military.

The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

Fantasy · LGBTQIA+

Good for readers who want mythological retellings, ancient Greece, literary fantasy, and tragic romance.

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

The Jasmine Throne

Tasha Suri

Fantasy · LGBTQIA+

A strong match for readers drawn to sapphic epic fantasy, political intrigue, revolution, and Indian-inspired magical worlds.

Roommate

Roommate

Sarina Bowen

LGBTQIA+ · Romance

Kieran needs a roommate, not a distraction.

Changing the Game

Changing the Game

J.J. Mulder

LGBTQIA+ · Romance

After a rough summer, former hockey star Sam Jameson is ready to focus on his NHL career—until Troy Nichols, the team’s star forward, enters the picture.

Light Bringer

Light Bringer (Red Rising Series Book 6)

Pierce Brown

Dystopian · Sci-Fi

Marooned after defeat, Darrow embarks on a perilous journey home to save Mars, reunite allies, and reignite the fight for the Republic’s future.

Dark Age

Dark Age (Red Rising Series Book 5)

Pierce Brown

Dystopian · Sci-Fi

Darrow’s revolution splinters as old enemies and new heroes clash across the galaxy, propelling the Republic toward war—and a looming Dark Age.

Iron Gold

Iron Gold (Red Rising Series Book 4)

Pierce Brown

Dystopian · Sci-Fi

A warlord, a refugee, an ex-soldier, and a fallen heir.

Morning Star

Morning Star (Red Rising Series Book 3)

Pierce Brown

Dystopian · Sci-Fi

With 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon, Morning Star by Pierce Brown delivers the explosive finale to the Red Rising trilogy.

White Trash Warlock

White Trash Warlock

David R. Slayton

LGBTQIA+ · Urban Fantasy

Adam Binder’s Sight lets him see the hidden world of spirits and ancient curses — a gift that’s brought him only trouble.

Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera Book 1)

Furies of Calderon

Jim Butcher

Fantasy · Fantasy Adventure

A boy without magic stands at the edge of a war that could devour his homeland.

The Hollow Places

The Hollow Places

T. Kingfisher

Horror · Occult Horror

Kara thought moving into her uncle’s house was a fresh start—until she discovered a hidden portal to alternate realities.

By the Light of Dead Stars

By the Light of Dead Stars

Andrew Van Wey

Horror · Cosmic Horror

Zelda Ruiz thought moving to Greywood Bay would be her escape—but something far more sinister awaits.

Travis' Recent Blogs

Fresh reading lists, overlooked titles, and genre guides for readers who are always looking for what to read next.

It’s where he talks about hidden gems, reading moods, and the kinds of books that deserve more attention than they usually get.