every LGBTQ+ book you need to read
my favorite lgbtq fiction, non-fiction, and poetry
fiction
dive into rich worlds featuring LGBTQ+ characters
a stunning & painful depiction of gay love in 1950s Paris, by one of the greats
the perfect cozy Christmas WLW romcom
not sure what I expected from a book about de-transitioning, but it wasn't this
Ocean Vuong's complex relationship with his Vietnamese mother takes center stage, and the writing is gorgeous
evocative, sensory writing paired with a love story for the ages
a queer and AAPI re-telling of The Great Gatsby? just as glamorous & sexy as the original!
an absolute must-read for fans of dating reality TV
one of the best short story collections I've ever read
almost criminally hot and also… time travel?
a young Nigerian man who has never been quite understood shows up dead… what happened and why?
there is a reason this book is so immensely popular
Alyssa Cole is one of the best in the romance game
The Catcher in the Rye but lesbians
a gender anarchist journey
an absolute classic and the basis for the movie "Carol"
the power of summer love at the cusp of adulthood
my favorite gender-bending classic
I want to escape into bright falls
luminous short stories about women+ desire
for my fantasy lovers
such a weird book… in a good way?
poetry
stunning & evocative queer poetry
Donika Kelly writes poetry about trauma, memory, and sanctuary
a call for the understanding of the experiences of butch Black women
how do we survive - and who gets to survive?
I love everything Danez Smith does and this was one of their first
a powerful voice
what does it really mean to be who we are?
nonfiction
learn something new about LGBTQ+ historurey and cult
you'll never believe all the queer, feminist lessons we can learn from under the sea
queer autotheory that examines love, gender, family & parenthood. a staple
more autotheory that will make you think
a beautiful coffee table book that covers all the basics
the basis of so much that we know today
what is pleasure & what does it have to do with social justice spaces?
even if you're not a teacher, you will learn SO much you never knew
drop your misconceptions about LGBTQ+ populations in red states
a trans woman's sharp exploration of masculinity
an exploration of the ways we form identities
because your $ex education almost certainly failed you
you won't believe how many queer people have always been there - in plain sight
a thoughtful exploration on an under-represented identity
a powerful manifesto
one of the most important books you'll ever read, IMO
memoir
powerful stories told by the individuals themselves
Elliot Page's story of discovering his gender & sexuality as a young, famous actor
what happens when you lose a parent and find a loved one… all at once?
I highly recommend the audio book, where Brandi ~sings to you~
I can't describe this book but I can tell you that you need to read it YESTERDAY
an important & literary depiction of same-sex intimate partner violence
part memoir, part biography: one researcher becomes obsessed with Carson McCullers
Janet Mock was one of the first trans people in the public eye, and her memoir is well worth the read
as fun to read as JVN is to watch
memoirs like this create space
a memoir of Black, queer boyhood
an enjoyable memoir by the sports legend herself
young adult
there are so many wonderful young adult LBGTQ+ stories - great for adults too!
the most popular girl in school… kisses you and vanishes a month before graduation?!?
incredibly diverse & sweet, featuring a trans main character & an awesome friend group
a love story between two boys from very different political & religious backgrounds
Safi has basically re-written Gilmore Girls to feature two queer women, one Indian-American and one Mexican and Jewish
a prince and the son of the president of the US - what could go wrong?
representation at its finest, pushing the boundaries of queer feminist world-building.
one neighbor is from an ultra-conservative Evangelical family, the other is gender-fluid
witty historical fiction that will teach you about lesbian Pulp fiction in the 1950s
historical fiction that demonstrates that queer teens have always been around
if possible, I liked this even more than Love, Simon
a beautiful young love story with an exciting backdrop of Hollywood
an outstanding coming-of-age journey
devilishly good historical fiction that normalizes gay relationships
one of the first LGBTQ+ stories I ever read, and still just as good
a must read for the teen in your life - and for you
graphic novels
a lighthearted coming of age story full of pop culture references
the most perfect graphic novel (and also most perfect show!)
queer women can be f***bois too!
I LOVE TILLIE WALDENNNN ahhhh this is so beautiful
an adorable modern fairy tale
a compendium of the classic comic strip that put Alison Bechdel on the map
if you're new to the queer community, this illustrated guide will teach you the basics
the best of the best