I know, it’s been so long since I’ve done a ranking, but I’m glad to start the first ranking of 2025 with Cat Sebastian’s sweet and steamy Sedgwick trilogy. Lots of alliteration there. Much like Herrera’s Las Leonas trilogy, it dives into the forgotten bits of history aka gay people have always existed and managed to find love and found family outside of the norms. And that titles aren’t all that’s cracked up to be because it’s built on the exploited and will make you deny your true self. But moreover, it’s about love and how it’s never sinful and you are worthy of it, no matter your traumas or failings.

1. A Gentleman Never Keeps Score: This one was probably the most complex yet heartwarming romance where I wasn’t sure how Sebastian would be able to reconcile their vastly different backgrounds. Hartley being a dandy white gentleman whose reputation is stained by his proclivities and Sam who’s a working-class black man and former boxer. Any association would be a danger to Sam, exposing him as gay as well as racism. Plus Hartley has a boat-load of trauma to work through that makes him prickly and difficult- it’s hard being a gay man who’s scared of men. Sometimes, I agreed with Hartley that Sam is an absolute saint because he gives so much. Yet it never feels like an unequal partnership as Hartley sees past the fetishisized stereotypes other lovers put on Sam. Also just as Hartley must reconcile how much being a “gentleman” is worth to him, Sam must struggle with what it means to be independent and when to accept help. It was just so good!
2. It Takes Two to Tumble: This was a perfect encapsulation of grumpy x sunshine a-la Sound of Music. Just as Captain Dacre is taken by the vicar, Ben’s love for baby animals, laughter and little miracles of God, I was taken to. The two form a sweet relationship navigating the intensity of their feelings and their futures in a world where a relationship like theirs cannot see the light yet Ben doesn’t want to go through a sham marriage. It’s the usual stakes for historical m/m, but refreshing as neither have much angst over their sexuality as a sin, but moreover what they’re willing to do to make a future work. The only thing that makes pulls it to #2 is that the subplot with Dacre reconnecting with his children feels more told than shown. Also the fact that Ben is acting like a nanny to three wayward children of stern sea captain before heading back to his vicarage reminds me so much of SoM that I keep picturing Christopher Plummer instead of the cover models.
3. Two Rogues Make a Right: This one had so much potential since Martin and Will’s “friendship” has teased throughout the series. The relationship itself is fine, very sweet actually as Will and Martin acknowledge that they’re more than friends, but kind of soul mates. But the conflict feels drawn out, hampered by both being self-sacrificing yet insisting they were selfish, and it just got tired after the last 50 pages. Also the cover model for Will reminds me of Chris Colfer and it takes me out of the story.