Boy’s Love Novels in Comparison: From Narrative Point of Views to Coming Out Issues

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-317-7_125How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Boys’ Love Novels; Narrative Point of View; Coming Out Stage; Self-Discovery; Comparative Analysis

Abstract

This research probes into the realm of boys’ love (BL) literature, Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman; Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston; Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz; Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall; and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, which are believed to be boy’s love genre that has garnered global appeal and cultural relevance. The research focuses on comparing the novels by analyzing their narrative points of view and the depiction of the coming out stage, crucial elements in many LGBTQ + narratives. The narrative point of view in BL novels significantly shapes reader engagement and emotional connection with the characters. This study investigates the use of first-person and third-person omniscient perspectives, highlighting how each style influences the portrayal of the protagonists’ inner worlds and broader societal contexts. The coming out stage, representing a moment of self-acceptance and confrontation with societal norms, is another focal point. This research analyses varied depictions of coming out in BL novels, from gradual, introspective processes to dramatic, public declarations. By comparing these portrayals, the study highlights the diverse experiences of LGBTQ + individuals and the ways BL novels address the complexities of queer identities. Through a comparative analysis, this study aims to uncover the strengths and limitations of BL romance novels in representing the intricacies of male-male relationships and the journey toward self-discovery. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on LGBTQ + issues and the representation of queer identities in literature, emphasizing the genre’s role in challenging heteronormative narratives and fostering greater understanding and acceptance.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Ali Mustofa
AU  - Dwi N. C. S. Kusumaningtyas
AU  - Diana B. Darma
AU  - Yogi B. Adimas
AU  - Dewi L. Pambudi
AU  - Rifki Akbar
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/02/13
TI  - Boy’s Love Novels in Comparison: From Narrative Point of Views to Coming Out Issues
BT  - Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Arts and Humanities 2024 (IJCAH 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 1286
EP  - 1299
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-317-7_125
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-317-7_125
ID  - Mustofa2025
ER  -