I've been looking for gender bender novels to little avail. I just find a lot of manga. So, I was wondering if anyone here knew of any good ones? I'm looking for any genre.

Just for FYI: Gender bender is when one of the leads lives their life as the opposite sex or has to dress as such for a time.

Here are some of the historical ones I know of:

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Lady Rogue by Suzanne Enoch
The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner
The Switch by Lynsay Sands
Misfortune by Wesley Stace
Once a Warrior by Karyn Monk
The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer
Almost A Gentleman by Pam Rosenthal

Duchess By Night by Eloisa James
Shadow Dance by Anne Stuart
The Prince of Midnight by Laura Kinsale
The Dream Hunter by Laura Kinsale
Prince Charming by Gaelen Foley
These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer
Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss
My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney
Fool's Masquerade by Joan Wolf

The ones I have read and think are good reads would be: Prince of Midnight, The Dream Hunter, Shadow Dance, These Old Shades and Duchess by Night. Ashes in the Wind is...typical of an 80s-era romance novel. So. The others I haven't read, but I know they have cross-dressing elements in them.

I know a few since I make a note of them for a friend who also enjoys that theme.

Maledicte
Ice Song
The Two Pearls of Wisdom
The Bone Doll's Twin

Thanks!

Don't forget Orlando by Virginia Wolf.

Ah, I forgot about that one myself.

I love this theme. I call the ones with the woman dressed as a man the women in pants theme.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/157...

When are you going to make the man in a skirt theme?

I should make one. Good idea, Christy. I like those two. :)

Let me know when I can view it!

Er, would you read a book with man in a skirt...? LOL.

Sure. I have read books where the hero was disguised as a woman. Right now I can only remember Shadow Dance by Anne Stuart. I love books where the hero/heroine is in disguise. Now I draw the line at drag queen/cross-dressers as a lifestyle for a hero. Nothing against that, but really not my cup of tea for a hero.

I think it's a turn-off, personally. LOL. I wouldn't read that hero.

It was actually the hero's brother. They were disguised as a married couple. It was really funny because Valerian is big strapping man, so you know they make terrible women. He was very attracted to his love interest, so it made some issues come up (pun intended). :)

Maybe it's the love of rock and growing up during the downfall of glam or the fact that I'm Scottish, but I see nothing wrong with a dude in a skirt!

It's hot.

Hero is skirts? There was one by Jo Beverley, My Lady Notorious

Christy wrote: "Maybe it's the love of rock and growing up during the downfall of glam or the fact that I'm Scottish, but I see nothing wrong with a dude in a skirt!

It's hot."

Woo-hoo! I'll second that. Kilts are totally sexy. I either need to get myself to the next Highland games or insist that my hubby break his out for Halloween.;-)

Julie (Mom2lnb) wrote: "I either need to get myself to the next Highland games "

I just went to one!

I spent so much money...

I love Men in Kilts. Very smexy!

Nisha wrote: "Hero is skirts? There was one by Jo Beverley, My Lady Notorious"

Thanks, Nisha. I couldn't remember any other in this theme. I will add this to the man in a skirt shelf. :)

Well, I wasn't think of kilts, LOL. I was thinking more Mrs. Doubtfire. It's more the adoption of trappings established as "feminine" that I take exception to, although I don't attribute gender to nearly as many behaviors/social institutions as some do, but we won't get into that discussion, LOL.

To be honest, I think most authors shy away from the 'man in drag' storyline because it does seem to cause a negative perception of the manliness of the hero. I think Anne Stuart did it very well, but perhaps with awkward handling, it would not have gone over so well.

I have thoroughly enjoyed most of the movies I've seen with this plot device (usually a young, attractive, virile man trying to deal with his attraction to the seemingly oblivious love interest and keeping his identity secret). It makes me want to try my hand at a story with this. Not that I'm skilled as a writer like the venerable Ms. Anne Stuart!

What are some good movies with gender bending? I haven't seen many.

The K-Drama Coffee Prince is my favorite female-in-pants story. It was great up until the leading man found out he was a she and then it was a little...dumb(er).

Christy wrote: "What are some good movies with gender bending? I haven't seen many.

The K-Drama Coffee Prince is my favorite female-in-pants story. It was great up until the leading man found out he was a she..."

I loved that drama. Eun chan was so awesome. There is Hana Kimi, but I don't recommend it. It was kinda...dumb.

If you want american movies, there are a few that a genderbenders, but they are old (like 80s and early 90s). Mostly except 'She's the Man'

Nisha wrote: "Eun chan was so awesome"

I agree! I was in the 'she's going to ruin it' camp but she really changed my mind. It's her best work.

I totally believed she was a dude at times lol

I agree! I was in the 'she's going to ruin it' camp but she really changed my mind. It's her best work.

I totally believed she was a dude at times lol
"

Considering that when I started watching it, I thought that she was a guy, I had to give her props for an amazing performance.

lol Did you really?

Gong Yoo was really good too. This is the first thing that I really noticed him on (besides the fact that he was the lead) He has really improved and can be really versatile.

Just One of the Guys is a classic.

Men in Skirts wise
Ladybugs (I love this movie)
Sorority Girls
Mrs. Doubtfire (I haven't seen this one)

Christy wrote: "What are some good movies with gender bending? I haven't seen many.

The K-Drama Coffee Prince is my favorite female-in-pants story. It was great up until the leading man found out he was a she..."

How did you get access to these K Dramas, Christy and Nisha. I love Asian movies. Help a girl out here. :)

Jane Feather - Reckless angel ; Love's charade
Anne Gracie - To catch a bride
Patricia Ryan - Heaven's fire
Tina Gabrielle - Lady of scandal
Judith James - Highland rebel

Danielle "The How did you get access to these K Dramas, Christy and Nisha. I love Asian movies. Help a girl out here. :) "

I had a big site/forum that covered that sort of stuff so I have been up on it all for years. This last year or two I've been more out of the loop.

Thanks for the gender bender suggestions!

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Just One of the Guys is a classic.

Men in Skirts wise
Ladybugs (I love this movie)
Sorority Girls
Mrs. Doubtfire (I haven't seen this one)
"

Boys Don't Cry is my favorite

I saw the documentary on Brandon Teena. It was very sad. I hate how intolerant and cruel people are in this world about others who are different.

Danielle, check out this site.

Lord Harry: Actually read this and I really like it a lot. Kind of angsty with a lot of action/suspense.

Seduced: Haven't read this, but was recommended to me as a good one.

Oh, my goodness. Hugs, New User. You don't know what you've done. Like my Asian movie addiction isn't bad enough. Thanks for enabling me. :)

Thanks for the suggestions, Fani. I've had Seduced in my tbr pile for a while. I should probably pull that out and finally read it as I love this theme. :)

I forgot to mention one of my favorite movies, Motocrossed from the Disney channel. I know, but its so cute and worth watching.

There is the mysoju site that has links to alot of asian dramas and movies.

I saw 'To wong foo : thanx for everything, Julie Newmar" (Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, John Leguizamo) in theatre when it was released. Don't ask me why LOL...

I liked the classic 'Victor Victoria' (Julie Andrews).

Mrs. Doubtfire is 1 of my all-time favs & it's set in my city & Robin Williams is a local celeb here.

Oooo.. Lynsay Sands = "The switch" was the 1 that made me a fan. Her books are v. sweet & mood uplifter.

I love Victor/Victoria! Thanks for reminding me, Verity.

I'll check out the mysoju site, Nisha. Thanks.

LOL. Np, Danielle. MySoju's another good one. They stream. :)

Verity wrote: "Lynsay Sands = "The switch" was the 1 that made me a fan."

I couldn't finish that book...It was too slow paced for me.

Carla Kelly = Miss Grimsley's Oxford Career. Brainy heroine has to pretend to be his no-good bro' while he takes all the credit for her brilliant work. Cute.

I am a big fan of Carla Kelly after reading The Wedding Journey.

Marsha Canham = The wind & the sea

I've been on the lookout for The Wind and the Sea for years. It truly is hard to find. My favorite by her is My Forever Love. I adored Ciaran. I think the heroine in that one dresses as a man for a short time. Correct me if I'm wrong. :)

I only remember the heroine of My Forever Love dressing as a peasant, not a man, but it's been a really long time since I read it.

I wasn't sure. I thought she cut her hair short. But she might have done that for other reasons.

Hmmmm! You could be right Danielle. Now I'm thinking that she might have been disguised later in the book when Ciaran was trying to sneak her away from her abusive husband. Normally, I have a good head for details, but after a while they start to fade and it's been over two years since I read this.

I definitely need to reread this one. Ciaran. Sigh!