Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage, #1)
by Mercedes Lackey
2/3 of the book is people processing their emotions, as internal monologue or with one another. Unclear if the emotional processing would be less of a slog if Vanyel was less whiny and obnoxious---I don't think so. It's not Lackey's best book. But it's a classic of gay fantasy. Best read by preteens.