Front cover of Maybe It’s a Gay Thing by Mark Fermill; Cover art by Akuwa; Design by Heynette
Maybe It’s a Gay Thing is a gay contemporary romance novel about the struggles of gay dating here in the Philippines.
Released on June 6, 2025, it’s Mark Fermill’s seventh published book, and the fifth among his self-published titles.
It follows Emerson Vidal, a soft-hearted, emotional hopeless romantic, who started working as a part-time housekeeper of a mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous, tech CEO, Axel Fortunado—who also happens to be the creator behind GayThing, the famous gay dating app that was the source of Emerson’s gay dating trauma.
What unfolds is a series of witty banters, heartfelt conversations about their pasts, and kilig moments within the sleek, modern home they now share.
Reviewers describe it as “very bakla-coded” and the perfect read for any gay person looking for their dose of kilig.
Emerson Vidal had no idea the owner of the house he’d be working in was Axel Fortunado—the creator of GayThing, a popular gay dating app that had brought him nothing but heartbreak.
A hopeless romantic at heart, Emerson had always longed for love. But no matter how hard he tried, no guy seemed to take genuine interest in him. Sharing a roof with someone as attractive and successful as Axel should have felt like a dream, but Emerson quickly dismissed the idea. He told himself Axel was clearly out of his league. But that changed when he learned Axel was also gay.
Thoughtful and irresistibly warm, Axel preferred the peace of his home to the chaos of the outside world. But beneath his calm demeanor lay a depth Emerson couldn’t ignore. As Emerson grew closer to Axel, he began to wonder: could this man finally teach him what it meant to be loved? Or was he setting himself up for yet another heartbreak?
Emerson Vidal is a 30-year-old gay man who’s emotionally exhausted from years of chasing after love that never quite loved him back. When he accepts a temporary job as a part-time housekeeper, he discovers that the owner is none other than Axel Fortunado, the reclusive tech CEO who created GayThing, a popular gay dating app. To Emerson, the app symbolizes years of romantic failure, false hope, and rejection. And he thinks it funny how, even after a long time staying away from it, gay dating doesn’t let him go.
Axel, equally guarded, is nursing wounds from an almost-five-years relationship that ended when his partner left him to pursue a family, which was something Axel could never offer. While Emerson is warm, expressive, and prone to daydreaming, Axel is a flirt who is actually detached, pragmatic, and doesn’t let people in easily. But as the days pass, their shared space begins to soften those edges. From quiet conversations in the living room to shared meals and accidental late-night bonding, a slow, hesitant intimacy begins to form between them.
Despite their growing connection, Emerson remains unsure of Axel’s sincerity. Axel drops flirtatious hints—walking around in boxer briefs, brushing against Emerson, and engaging in emotionally revealing conversations—but Emerson suspects he’s just a stand-in for Axel’s ex. His fear of being used or misunderstood resurfaces, especially after Axel says he’s okay with them being intimate, only to become distant afterward. The emotional whiplash leads Emerson to spiral into sleeplessness and anxiety, torn between hope and self-protection.
The tension reaches a peak when a misunderstanding arises involving someone from Emerson’s past. Emerson clarifies the situation, but Axel responds with painful honesty, saying there was no need, because as far as he’s concerned, there was never anything real between them. Feeling betrayed and confused, Emerson composes himself and puts on his professional front, reminding himself he’s only there for work.