Happy Pride Month! Our Top LGBTQ Book Reccs
Time for part 2 of recs, book edition this time! Like the TV shows and movies edition (go check that out if you haven’t or if watching stuff is more your cup of chai), disclaimer:
Some of these pieces of media center around the main character being queer in some way while other just happen to have queer characters where the main plot is about something else and others just have queer-ish vibes and other still just have queer characters. I’ve also done my best to stick with books I’ve consumed and enjoyed as well as more BIPOC stories/authors.
Truth be told this will probably be more of a list without like me talking about the books besides maybe AO3 tags/descriptions to try and get you interested without having to go look the book up. Tbh my tags may be lacking? I tend to be a vibes no thoughts kinda of reader (most of the time) so like me actually remember how I felt/what happened is *ehhh* lol
Comics (print + web)/Graphic Novels:
Nimona by ND Stevenson
Villain and hero exes, shapeshifter, magic/fantasy/knights but also science!, but who's the actual villain
The Prince and the Dressmaker - Jen Wang
Secrets, friends, *chef’s kiss* at the art, the fashion
Check, Please - Ngoi Ukazu (both print & web - web is further than print)
Gay idiots, hockey boys, idiots in love, college/social media au of sort, wholesome friends, baker
The Girl from the Sea - Molly Knox Ostertag
Teens, selkie, secrets, discover
Heartstopper - Alice Oseman (print & multiple webforms like webtoon and tumblr) (check tws on this)
Friends to lovers, mlm, tooth rotting fluff, idiots in love
Bloom - Kevin Panetta with Savanna Ganucheau
Baking, learning, summer
Slice of life, growing up, idiots, squishy beans, friends to ?,
Poly boyfriends in college, all of em are kinda idiots but also smart, cute and fluffy but also a bit spicy, the art *chef’s kiss*
Friends to lovers, twins, misunderstandings,
Asking You - noryuu (also on Tapas but linked Webtoons)
College based, diverse af, meet cute
Cupido - skatuya ( On Webtoon` & Tapas - Tapas seems to be way ahead of Webtoon)
Matchmaker, soulmate tattoos, tea store, friends to lovers
Brimstone and Roses - Speremint
Demon dealings, need a date for my sister’s wedding where my ex is going to show up, contract
Novels:
Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating - Adiba Jaigidar
Fake dating (duh), teenagers, Ireland based (*gasp*)
Beyond the Black Door - A.M Strickland (check tws on this)
Ace spectrum, dreams, dark and kinda spooky
You Should See Me in a Crown - Leah Johnson (tags for this were taken from a queer book rec list by https://twitter.com/proyearner)
what if we were two rivaling prom-queen contestants, & we fell in love, & we were both girls, awkward first kiss supremacy, Friends Can Break Your Heart Too, all the unspeakable details of being on the brink of adulthood
Felix Ever After - Kacen Callender (tags for this were taken from a queer book rec list by https://twitter.com/proyearner)
sir this is my emotional support trans character, rivals-to-lovers, or is it 👀, (shoves the two characters together) pls communicate, that 𝘰𝘩 moment that makes everyone go unhinged, dramatic love declarations at a pride parade
Cemetery Boys - Adien Thomas (tbh rec anything by this man) (tags for this were taken from a queer book rec list by https://twitter.com/proyearner)
gay trans brujo/the ghost he should be helping pass to the afterlife, less like rivals-to-lovers & more like annoyances-to-lovers, insults-turned-terms-of-endearment, the inherent tenderness of listening to music together, found family
The Abyss Surrounds Us - Emily Skrutskie
Lesbian pirates and kajius
Funny Boy - Shyam Selvadurai
Exploration, tamil, sri lankan
The Witch King - H.E. Edgmon
trans mc, mlm, faes, magic, found family
These Violent Delights - Chloe Gong
Romeo and juliet but mafia, flapper era, bamf characters, chinese mafia
The Gilded Wolves - Roshani Chokshi (tags for this were taken from a queer book rec list by https://twitter.com/proyearner)
Nerds Wildin', heist/treasure hunt, are they "morally bankrupt" characters if they’re just stealing back from colonizers, reluctant-allies-to-found-family, mutually unwanted love, like they love each other but they’re pissed abt it
Other suggestions: Iron Widow, Peter Darling, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda - Becky Albertalli, Everything Leads to You - Nina LaCour, George (N: or rather Mellisa as it is to be renamed by the author) - Alex Gino. The Jasmine Throne, Winter's Orbit, Heaven's Official Blessing
Children’s Books:
And Tango Makes Three - Justin Richardson
Heather has Two Mommies - Lesléa Newman
When Aidan Became a Brother - Kyle Lukoff
Red: A Crayon's Story - Michael Hall
Prince & Knight - Daniel Haack & Stevie Lewis (Illustrator)
Great wordpress if you need more/different recs - https://readsrainbow.com/