Pages of My Heart

by Rae Roberts

When the world tries to tear them apart, will their love survive?

Chicago, 1937. Charlie Miller is a twenty-year-old mechanic with a good job and a steady girl, but if his violent father ever learns of his true nature, it could cost him his life. The last thing he should do is risk it all by frequenting a queer underground club on a Saturday night. But then a tall red-haired boy stumbles in, wide-eyed and beautiful, and playing it safe is no longer an option.

Eighteen-year-old Tommy O’Reilly, a curious but naïve literature student, walks into an illegal nightclub in downtown Chicago, searching for answers to the unspoken longing inside him. When he sets his sights on another young man with raven hair and arctic blue eyes, he thinks maybe he finally understands what his favorite love poets are talking about.

But in a world that won’t allow them to love, secrecy is survival. As war looms, their fragile happiness is shattered, and they are torn apart by forces far beyond their control. Through heartbreak, distance, and the horrors of battle, only their letters keep them tethered.

A sweeping, achingly romantic tale of forbidden love, Pages of My Heart is perfect for fans of Fellow Travelers and In Memoriam.

Genres: M M Romance, Historical, Romance, Historical Fiction, LGBT

378 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2025

About the author

Rae Roberts is a queer author who writes emotional, heartfelt, and unapologetically MM romance. With a background in performing arts and a current career as a counsellor, Rae brings a deep understanding of people—their strengths, fears and fragile hopes—to every story she writes.

Her characters are raw and real, often navigating identity, grief and trauma on their journey to connection and unconditional love. Rae's stories explore the messy, beautiful complexity of queer love. The kind that lingers, transforms, and ultimately heals. She believes in a happily ever after, but only after putting her characters (and readers), through the emotional wringer.

When she's not writing or working with clients, Rae is probably dreaming up her next emotionally devastating plot, sipping a hot chocolate, or curled up on the couch binge-watching a drama series.

Pages of My Heart is her debut novel. Adrift Without You will be released in October, 2025. Rae resides in Melbourne, Australia.

"I spent much of my life concealing my queerness. But through the creative process of writing, and writing queer love stories, I found self-acceptance and the courage to live authentically. I have so many more stories to share, and I can't wait to share them with you!"

~ Rae 💜

Reviews

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This was such a deeply emotional and impactful love story. A little overly sweet at times (pet names and slow dances are not my thing), but overall a truly beautiful book that made me cry multiple times. The epilogue really got to me since we're now learning that anything given can be taken away when power is placed in hateful hands. It's sad when a book written about the 1930's and 40's feels timely. But even though Thomas and Charlie deserved better, their happy ending made the pain of getting there worth it. I'm so impressed by this debut and look forward to reading what this author writes next.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow 🥰

It’s so beautifully written and so well done for a debut novel. Even the cover is gorgeous.

It reminds me a little of the film, The Longest Ride, with Ira and Ruth sending letters back and forth. So it had a familiarity to it that I enjoyed. The love between these two, the heartbreak, the fear, and the joy is such a powerfully emotional thing to read.

Charlie and Thomas were both gorgeous characters. You felt right along with them. Feeling their love and pain was unavoidable. I LOVE books that make me feel this way. I love to be happy crying, sad crying, snot-faced joy. All of it.

I also feel for the people who are stepping stones. Unavoidably, without malice, but nevertheless pawns in a world where you can’t just be who you want to be. Ruthie in this case, and all the girls they double-dated with. All the women and men who had to marry into loveless relationships, just because society told them to.

Yes, we can probably dive deep and say there are parts that just aren’t historically realistic. Parts where you think this wouldn’t have ended that well here. But this did happen, maybe not in letter form across wars, but it happened and these people made it and brought about the change we see today.

I adored this book and I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for more from this author if this is what can happen in a debut book! I have a feeling Charlie and Red will be in my head for a while yet. 😍

[Kafui · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐

The storyline and writing were great, packed with emotions and a well-deserved happy ending.

However, the romance between Charlie and Thomas developed way too quickly; it felt like they went from meeting to being in love almost instantly.

The story might be a bit too flowery to be realistic, but it aligns well with the comfort and hurt theme.

[amyreadclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow this as a debut novel? i'm in shock this doesn't have more reviews!!! a heartbreaking but absolutely loving story about Tommy and Charlie who fall in love the 1930's where they have to hide their sexuality but still get that happy ending after Charlie had to go to war. this book is about shame, hiding who you are, hardships, trauma but most of all undeniably loving <3

check trigger warnings!!!!

[Stacktheforest - Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MM romance with angsty pining and war-torn lovers who have to hide their relationship because it’s 1937? Sign me up.
4.5/5 stars

- Love Letters
- Pining
- Secret Relationship
- PTSD & Hurt/Comfort

This was an insta-lust forbidden love story that followed Charlie and Tommy as they navigate a world where their sexuality is illegal. Freshly 18 years-old, Tommy braves an illegal gay club for the first time, shy and nervous. It’s love at first sight for Charlie and so their long and devastating story begins.

Charlie is drafted into the war and Tommy gets left behind. How can they manage their distance and pining and still keep their relationship secret? This is truly a heart-wrenching and emotional historical romance. The war letters that they wrote to each other and the hurt/comfort is really what cemented this as one of my favourite debut novels of the year.

There are themes of grief and PTSD so make sure to check your triggers if needed. If not, you’ll be glad to go into this blind. You can discover the highs and lows of 1940’s queer experience and two clueless virgins (without access to the internet).

Bonus points for a really strong supporting female character who created an incredible sense of found family.

Thank-you to the author for gifting me a copy with no expectation of review. This review is my honest opinion.

[laura cabezas · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!! 🩵🩵 my first five star read in a long time. I adored this book. I was also so blown away to see it was a debut, i will be keeping my eye out for future releases by this author. Also, my Aussie heart is super happy to see this was an Aussie author. :) onto the book: it was emotional, heavy but could also be so light and beautiful. This was a true love story that you really root for, and rooting for Charlie & Thomas was so easy as you find yourself loving them easily too. A great book with a well deserved HEA

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️♾️♾️

I couldn't put this down, and now I'm finished I wanna read it all over again

It was so beautiful 🥹🥹🥹

I have a full review that i wrote in the middle of reading cus i loved it that much but I need a minute to perfect it cus I'm so emotional,

This was perfect 🥹

[Thea McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful story. 🫶🏼

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 would recommend! This book made my heart melt. It had so much joy and heartache that it had me rooting for Tommy and Charlie the whole way through. This book needs to be read and enjoyed by everyone.

[Vonnie Wyatte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful love story set in a time when their love was frowned upon even punishable by law, with one living a life that's a lie in so many ways...why? you ask...for his own safety. Will Charlie and Tommy end up happy? I will leave you to find out. I'm so glad I live in 2024 where people are free to love who they want to because Love is Love, and thats what really matters, isn't it?
It's an amazing book written by an amazing Australian author. Give it a read, and I promise you will be happy you did.

Vonnie

[JD Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Goodness.

This story is utterly all consuming. I have been unable to put it down. I don’t know how I move on from this.

Quite simply, it is absolutely painstakingly beautiful. It’s a book where you feel everything that the characters feel. I ached and cried with both Charlie and Tommy. My god, did I cry…

It takes us through the journey of Charlie and Thomas meetings as 18 and 20, their immediate lust for each other turned into an inevitable love, and how they struggled to hide it from the world at a time where you could get imprisoned for simply loving someone of the same sex. There are sooo many ups and some extreme downs, but the HEA is worth it.

Also don’t let the beautifulness of this make you think it’s not spicy… It. Is. Heated!! 🔥🥵 I also love the exploration of the two young men back when they literally just had to wing it, as they didn’t have info to hand if ya kno what I mean..

I have never read an MM book like this before (..and I have read a lot!). It is truly one of the greats. Please I beg, give it a chance. This book will not let you down.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a WW2-era love story told in dual timelines - one via love letters written between our MCs during the war and another timeline going back to how their relationship began in the 1930s. It’s ridiculously sweet and sappy, sometimes too much, and is also emotional and has a great ending.

My only problem with the story is the constant use of “my darling.” It’s sweet, I get it, but it’s used like 1,000 times. I’m not even joking. It’s Tommy’s favorite saying. Maybe it’s the sarcastic cynic in me, but I just got the ick from it eventually. People don’t talk like that. Maybe they did in the 30s and 40s and I’m just ignorant. Who knows.

I really loved the story otherwise - so much so that I devoured it in a day. Tom and Charlie are sweet and their dynamic with Evie and Johnny is beyond adorable. Definitely glad I picked this one up.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. For a variety of reasons, I now only buy books that I have read and loved and know that I will read again. This is one of those that I went ahead and purchased immediately after I finished reading it.

It’s a beautiful story and portrays a beautiful love. The story brought me to tears multiple times - the horrors or war and the aftermath was part of that but it made me think of all those real life couples who, like Charlie and Thomas had to spend decades hiding their love. Also it was heartbreaking to think of all the people who struggled with mental health all those years ago. We’ve got a long way to go on that front but have come so far from the time in which these characters lived.

[whatcaityreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. It’s a strange thing to say but I felt it was far too overly sappy for my taste. Over dramatic letters, people just don’t talk like this. It was dramatically affectionate, sadly to the point of being cringeworthy. It took me out a lot, the writing is good otherwise and I was more or less engaged.

Another very strange thing was that I could not, for the life of me differentiate between Thomas and Charlie. I had to have a note open with a list of who is who. I don’t know why, I just could not remember who was who and I don’t know how that happened to me, usually I’m able to tell who Charlie is but he always got confused with Thomas and the other way around.

The spice was good.

[Kendra Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless love story

This is one of my favorite love stories. It would make a beautiful film. The way the author is able to use an older style of writing, a formality and yet never make it seem old fashioned is beautiful and helps transport you to a different time. So much has changed in the last 50 years but this starts in a time that few are alive to remember. Charlie & Thomas are the best pair, strong where the other may feel weak, similar yet very different, always there to lift the other up…quick to forgive because they understand each other so well. Bound more by love than even secrecy, follow them on this beautiful journey.

[Lucía · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely beautiful—I’ve laughed, cried, and felt everything in between. It’s been a long time since I enjoyed reading this much, and I genuinely wish more people would give it a chance because it truly deserves more recognition.

I don’t usually write reviews, but this book moved me so much that I had to. The story is captivating, the characters feel real, and every page made me feel something. If you’re hesitating, just read it—you won’t regret it!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This was beautiful and heartbreaking and so creative! The backdrop of WW2 with real facts mixed in and love letters about being closeted in the 40’s - add mental health struggles and this book is something special and so sad. I’ve never read a historical MM fiction. The spicy scenes are romantic and not really kinky 🌶️🌶️, but the whole book is angsty.

WW2 was horrible. We already knew that but god help us from making the same mistakes now.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soooo beautiful. I can’t believe it’s a debut novel! It’s an incredibly emotional story about 2 men who fall in love in the 30’s and the lengths they have to go to in order to hide and protect their relationship. One of the main characters is drafted in WW2 and much of their love story is told through letters they send one another. It follows their relationship over nearly 50 years. Highly recommend this one 💗💗

[Alice-Isabelle Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely beautifully written story about two men and the hardships they experience during a time where their love meant imprisonment. This story is truly beautiful and heart breaking at times, and I definitely think this is a must read for everyone.

*please read the trigger warnings before starting this book, as there are a few listed at the beginner of the book*

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartbreaking at times, beautiful love story was such a fantastic read and I highly recommend it!!! The true love of the main characters felt so real and made you want them to get their happy ending - which they did. What a rollercoaster of emotions but so worth it.

This book was so well written and I look forward to reading more from Rae.

[Kickhy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt and fantastic debut novel.
Set in the world war 2 era, Charlie and Thomas navigate their relationship through an unaccepting society and war. Although they do fall in love quite fast it didn’t detract from a gradual growth in their relationship and it was wonderful to see them grow together and navigate self-acceptance, mental health issues and ptsd.
Solid 5 star read

[Bronwyn O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, even after putting it down for a week as I was anticipating something bad happening. I can’t believe this is a debut from the writer as it’s very well written and took me on a huge emotional rollercoaster. Can’t wait to read more books from this author

[Joanne Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing!
It's written beautifully. I cried most of the way through it both happy and sad tears.
The journey Charlie and red go on was heartbreaking at times.
The story was done exceptionally.

[ifyoutrustme]

DNF 30%.

will come back to it later.

[paula reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars ☆⋆˙

[Andrea Imhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tugged at my heartstrings!! So good! I was hesitant when I started because I have such a hard time reading third person narrative, but I’m glad I gave it a try ❤️

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent book!! It was wonderful to read about Charlie and Tommy’s relationship progress and it had the perfect ending.