Reader's Choice 2023 - First Love - Part 3 - Stories

England in the mid 1960s.

Chris Atkins suffering an unhappy home life, decides that as soon as he is 15 and entitled to leave school, he will also leave home.

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

Two college football players walk into a gay sports bar...

No conflict and no drama. A little feelgood story to start the new year.

The sleepy village of Crumbington is about to get a wake-up call.

When the new chairperson of the Summer Fête Committee pushes to create a naked calendar of the Crumbington football team, mouths drop open. Her further pronouncement at having snagged a celebrity host for the fête—rising television and movie star Clifton O’Keefe, and ex-resident of Crumbington—is met with indifference.

Not by Nathan Fresher, though, local baker and captain of the football team. He had been Clifton’s boyfriend in high school, until Clifton and his family disappeared into the night over ten years ago.

A bit of fluff about two guys and a girl. More or less!

After a tragic accident brings his old life in London to an end, shy teenager Gianni is sent to live with his estranged grandparents in the beautiful surroundings of Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

There, he meets the irrepressible Angelo, who promises to show him his world and, as the long, hot summer days unfold, slowly helps Gianni to heal.

Gianni’s new life in the sun brings him friendship of a kind that he has never known and, with it, important discoveries about himself. But what will the future hold when the summer of the firefly comes to an end?

Portento is a town hiding a huge secret. A secret the Morgan Family has worked for generations to keep. Outsiders are not allowed in without the Portento Council's approval. Until the Takeda Family moves in unnoticed.

Milan Takeda has been sick all his life. Rory Morgan just turned eighteen and is looking forward to taking on his birthright. Then he meets Milan, and his world changes.

Gary gets outed at school by his best friend. After his mother discovers his 'secret,' will he still be the apple of her eye? Find out as Gary discovers love, friendship, understanding and forgiveness in this heart-felt story.

Fifteen year old Adam is a loner at school. Clever but afraid to show it, he is content not to draw attention to himself. However, one day in his World Geography class something happens to change that.

Eighteen year-old Cam Franklin's life changed when he went to lifeguard orientation for the community pool. That's when he met Ian Greenely, the boy who would actually change his life. Little did he know, he had a few more life-changing events in the year to follow.

Andy is a deeply closeted priest who has lived his life denying his sexuality. But after a rogue night with Marcus, indulging in long buried temptations, Andy can no longer ignore the truth about who he is. Can he come to terms with his sexuality without abandoning his faith? Will Marcus stick around while Andy learns what it means to be a gay Catholic?