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every LGBTQ+ book you need to read
76 items
By
Sarah Koppelkam
my favorite lgbtq fiction, non-fiction, and poetry
8
Sections
6
fiction
poetry
nonfiction
memoir
young adult
graphic novels
fiction
dive into rich worlds featuring LGBTQ+ characters
a stunning & painful depiction of gay love in 1950s Paris, by one of the greats
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
the perfect cozy Christmas WLW romcom
Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
not sure what I expected from a book about de-transitioning, but it wasn't this
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
1
Ocean Vuong's complex relationship with his Vietnamese mother takes center stage, and the writing is gorgeous
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
evocative, sensory writing paired with a love story for the ages
Yerba Buena book by Nina LaCour
a queer and AAPI re-telling of The Great Gatsby? just as glamorous & sexy as the original!
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
an absolute must-read for fans of dating reality TV
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
one of the best short story collections I've ever read
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
almost criminally hot and also… time travel?
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
a young Nigerian man who has never been quite understood shows up dead… what happened and why?
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
there is a reason this book is so immensely popular
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Alyssa Cole is one of the best in the romance game
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole
The Catcher in the Rye but lesbians
Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown
a gender anarchist journey
Paul Takes the Form of A Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor
an absolute classic and the basis for the movie "Carol"
The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
the power of summer love at the cusp of adulthood
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
my favorite gender-bending classic
Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf
I want to escape into bright falls
Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake
luminous short stories about women+ desire
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
for my fantasy lovers
The Fifth Seasonby N.K. Jemisin
such a weird book… in a good way?
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
poetry
stunning & evocative queer poetry
Donika Kelly writes poetry about trauma, memory, and sanctuary
The Renunciations: Poems by Donika Kelly
a call for the understanding of the experiences of butch Black women
Daylight: Poems by Roya Marsh
how do we survive - and who gets to survive?
The Tradition by Jericho Brown
I love everything Danez Smith does and this was one of their first
[insert] boy by Danez Smith
a powerful voice
Black Queer Hoe by Britteney Black Rose Kapri
what does it really mean to be who we are?
Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
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
Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals by Alexis Pauline Gumbs
queer autotheory that examines love, gender, family & parenthood. a staple
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
more autotheory that will make you think
A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt
a beautiful coffee table book that covers all the basics
Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide by Iris Gottlieb
the basis of so much that we know today
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
what is pleasure & what does it have to do with social justice spaces?
Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree brown
1
even if you're not a teacher, you will learn SO much you never knew
Understanding and Teaching U.S. LGBT History
drop your misconceptions about LGBTQ+ populations in red states
Real Queer America by Samantha Allen
a trans woman's sharp exploration of masculinity
I'm Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya
an exploration of the ways we form identities
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee
because your $ex education almost certainly failed you
Girl Sex 101 by Allison Moon
you won't believe how many queer people have always been there - in plain sight
Queer, There, and Everywhere Sarah Prager
a thoughtful exploration on an under-represented identity
Ace by Angela Chen
a powerful manifesto
Unapologeticby Charlene Carruthers
one of the most important books you'll ever read, IMO
Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown
memoir
powerful stories told by the individuals themselves
Elliot Page's story of discovering his gender & sexuality as a young, famous actor
Pageboy: A Memoir by Elliot Page
what happens when you lose a parent and find a loved one… all at once?
Lost & Found by Kathryn Schulz
I highly recommend the audio book, where Brandi ~sings to you~
Broken Horses by Brandi Carlile
I can't describe this book but I can tell you that you need to read it YESTERDAY
Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller
an important & literary depiction of same-sex intimate partner violence
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
part memoir, part biography: one researcher becomes obsessed with Carson McCullers
My Autobiography of Carson McCullers by Jenn Shapland
Janet Mock was one of the first trans people in the public eye, and her memoir is well worth the read
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood by Janet Mock
as fun to read as JVN is to watch
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self Love by Jonathan Van Ness
memoirs like this create space
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib
a memoir of Black, queer boyhood
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
an enjoyable memoir by the sports legend herself
One Life by Megan Rapinoe
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?!?
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
incredibly diverse & sweet, featuring a trans main character & an awesome friend group
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
a love story between two boys from very different political & religious backgrounds
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
Safi has basically re-written Gilmore Girls to feature two queer women, one Indian-American and one Mexican and Jewish
Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi
a prince and the son of the president of the US - what could go wrong?
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
representation at its finest, pushing the boundaries of queer feminist world-building.
That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston
one neighbor is from an ultra-conservative Evangelical family, the other is gender-fluid
Quiver : A Novel book
witty historical fiction that will teach you about lesbian Pulp fiction in the 1950s
Pulp by Robin Talley
historical fiction that demonstrates that queer teens have always been around
All Out by Saundra Mitchell
if possible, I liked this even more than Love, Simon
Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
a beautiful young love story with an exciting backdrop of Hollywood
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
an outstanding coming-of-age journey
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
devilishly good historical fiction that normalizes gay relationships
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
one of the first LGBTQ+ stories I ever read, and still just as good
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
a must read for the teen in your life - and for you
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
graphic novels
a lighthearted coming of age story full of pop culture references
The Times I Knew I Was Gay by Eleanor Crewes
the most perfect graphic novel (and also most perfect show!)
Heartstopper, Vol. 1 book Alice Oseman
queer women can be f***bois too!
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki
I LOVE TILLIE WALDENNNN ahhhh this is so beautiful
On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
an adorable modern fairy tale
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
a compendium of the classic comic strip that put Alison Bechdel on the map
The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel
if you're new to the queer community, this illustrated guide will teach you the basics
Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker
the best of the best
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomicby Alison Bechdel
