15 LGBTQ+ Books That Are Essential (And Fun) Pride Month Reads
Pride Month is upon us, and with it comes amazing LGBTQ books and diverse voices that enrich ourselves and our shelves. From mind-bending queer thrillers to powerful coming-of-age and coming-out stories to swoon-worthy gay romances, queer authors have written a plethora of works that help readers understand the LGBTQ+ life and experience. Here are 15 amazing reads that celebrate the love and identity of the queer community this Pride Month.
Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao
In Ann Zhao’s instant indie bestselling YA novel, asexual and aromantic college students Sophie and Jo who have an online feud against one another, unknowingly become close friends in real life. Sophie is the owner and writer for a popular relationship advice Instagram account called “Dear Wendy”, and she meets Jo, who has accidentally started a rival account called “Sincerely Wanda”. As their real-life friendship blossoms and they create an organization on campus for a-spec students, their online rivalry worsens. The two must navigate the potential fallout if they discover each other’s online accounts while exploring what it means to be an a-spec college student.
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
Opal Devlin’s life is turned upside down when she wins the lottery, leading her to buy a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to get away from everyone and preserve what little she has left. But her plans are thwarted when Pepper Boden, the former owner of the flower farm, refuses to leave, leading to the two being forced to live together. As Opal and Pepper butt heads and navigate what can only be described as a growing attraction to each other, they must decide if they can both fulfill their dreams without destroying the others. This is the perfect sexy and sapphic romance to celebrate Pride Month!
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
In the hilarious and heartwarming sequel to The Guncle, Patrick O’Hara is called back to his guncle duties and heads out to Italy for his brother's wedding with his niece, Maisie, and his nephew, Grant. As the three travel through Europe, Patrick helps the kids understand the ideas of love and loss while juggling the intense family drama going on in the background. But amidst the groom getting cold feet, his sister and her crazy antics, and Patrick’s own shambled love life, he must learn how to rediscover himself and find love once again.
Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni
Ready for a new romantic comedy? Well, Taleen Vosukni has just what you are looking for in her latest novel Lavish at First Sight. Nazeli “Ellie” Gregorian, upset with her tech job and her ex-boyfriend, is forced to promote her parents' company at PakCon in Chicago. While there, she meets Vanya Simonian, a charming young woman from a rival company. But can the two keep their budding connection through their parents' rival business or will the competition and scrutiny lead to their relationship ending before it begins? Find out in this humorous romance full of enemies to lovers and food.
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
In Casey McQuinston’s latest romantic comedy, two bisexual exes, Theo and Kit, accidentally book the same European food and wine tour, challenging each other to a hookup competition to prove that they are over their recent relationship. Theo, a bartender and aspiring sommelier, hasn’t seen Kit since their tragic breakup. With life looking lonely and full of despair, both Theo and Kit decide to use their unused tour vouchers, from when they were dating, separately, only to end up on the same trip. Now, trapped together for weeks, the two men engage in a competition that is meant to end them for good, but rekindles old feelings. On a tour meant to give them a taste of everything, Theo and Kit find out that they are only craving the taste of each other.
Bad Habit by Alana S. Portero
This heartfelt odyssey centers around a trans woman growing up in a vibrant, impoverished blue-collar neighborhood in Madrid. Through the main character's eyes, the city comes to life with poetry that illuminates her journey of self-discovery, even through the social and personal changes that she is going through. Bad Habit is Alana S. Portero’s debut novel and it explores themes of class, gender, identity, and the power of coming together. If you are looking for a novel that dives into a story of self-realization that will resonate with the parts of you that feel outcast, then this is the novel for you.
Hall of Mirrors by John Copenhaver
This thrilling second novel in the Nightingale Trilogy explores the mystery surrounding the death of popular mystery novelist Roger Raymond. Set against the backdrop of the 1950s McCarthy-era Washington, DC, Hall of Mirrors follows Judy Nightingale and Philippa Watson as they continue their obsessive manhunt for Adrian Bogdan, meeting and causing Roger Raymond to lose his job because of the anti-gay Lavender Scare crusade. Now Lionel Kane, Roger Raymond’s writing partner and lover, must find out what really caused the fire that killed Roger. But with Judy and Philippa in his way, he realizes that the three of them must come together to uncover the truth before it is too late.
Oye by Melissa Mogollon
Oye is a coming-of-age comedy that is written from the lens of several phone calls between the main character, Luciana, and her older sister, Mari. As an unexpected hurricane approaches Miami where Luciana’s grandmother Abue lives and refuses to leave, she finds herself in a crisis. But when Abue gets a shocking medical diagnosis, Luciana’s bond with her grows even stronger and she must remain confined to her room with Abue, despite wanting to sneak out to meet girls. Navigating adulthood is hard, especially when there are family secrets and a hurricane on the way, but Luciana manages to rise to the occasion.
Exhibit by R. O. Kwon
Jin Han, a talented photographer, meets Lidija Jung, a breathtaking ballerina, at a luxurious party in San Francisco, sparking a deep and alluring connection between the two women. As they share their intense personal struggles and artistic passions, Jin is forced to reveal a long-standing family curse that will risk everything that she loves. Jin and Lidija’s hypnotic entanglement continues, revealing hidden desires from the two women, and forces Jim to confront her curse and redefine her identity or lose everything.
The Skin and Its Girl by Sarah Cypher
Sarah Cypher's debut novel, newly released in paperback, starts in a Pacific Northwest hospital where a stillborn baby’s heart begins to beat, and her skin turns a deep shade of blue, harkening back to the destruction of the Rummani family and their soap factory in Palestine. Decades later, Betty is grappling with her own love life and identity, when she discovers her aunt’s notebooks full of her struggles with sexuality and family secrets. The Skin and Its Girl explores themes of desire, identity, and the power of words as Betty is forced to make a decision to follow the woman she loves or stay in her home country.
Four Squares by Bobby Finger
In his new novel Four Squares, Bobby writes about Artie Anderson and his life in New York City, where a chance encounter with a man named Abe changes his life forever. Thirty years later Arti, divorced from his wife, with his ex and daughter across the country, is lonely, the only place he finds comfort in is GALS, a queer senior center devoted to friendships and preserving LGBTQ+ history. This novel alternates between the two timelines, exploring two different paths that Artie could have taken and taking the reader on a journey of self-discovery.
The Lions' Den by Iris Mwanza
In The Lions’ Den, rookie lawyer Grace Zulu takes on the case of a young dancer named Bessy Mulenga, who has disappeared after being arrested by the corrupt police. As Grace steers through a world of homophobia and corruption, she partners with an unlikely ally, the former freedom fighter and head of her law firm, to take on the compromised administration of President Kaunda. This gripping thriller by Iris Mwanza takes the readers on a suspense-filled ride full of unforgettable characters and an electrifying plot.
The Sons of El Rey by Alex Espinoza
The Sons of El Rey is a captivating novel that chronicles the lives of a family of luchadores across generations and continents, as they grapple with the ideas of love, identity, and their heritage and tradition. It starts with Ernesto Vega’s rise to fame as El Rey Coyote in Mexico and then moves on to follow his son Freddy and his struggle to uphold the family legacy during the move to Los Angeles. Finally, the novel lands on his grandson, Julian, and his struggle as a gay Mexican American. As The Sons of El Rey moves between the different perspectives, readers are offered a glimpse of a family wrestling with their past, present, and future.
Triple Sec by TJ Alexander
Mel, a delusional bartender, finds herself swept off her feet when Bebe, a happily married woman in an open relationship, offers her a date. Their casual encounter at the bar soon turns into a complex relationship when Bebe's partner Kade joins the mix too. As their relationship continues to blossom, Mel is forced to reevaluate her beliefs about love and her personal desires. TJ Alexander brings humor and insight to this queer romance that explores the love between three people, set against the backdrop of New York’s entrancing cocktail scene.
In Universes by Emet North
Named a ‘Most Anticipated Book of 2024’ by Tor.com and IGN, In Universes is a unique blend of science fiction and realism. The novel follows Raffi, a scientist grappling with the complexities of their research and their romantic feelings for Britt, a breathtaking sculptor. As Raffi’s life begins to unravel, they become obsessed with the idea of a parallel universe, where their relationship with Britt might be what they are dreaming of. In Universes follows Raffi through alternate realities, making them learn about their own identity, love, and the importance of being authentic even when they have worlds of possibilities.
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