15 LGBTQIA+ Books to Read for Pride Month and Beyond
Literature is a valuable, connective vehicle for exploring our identities and understanding others’ perspectives. To celebrate Pride Month, we’ve rounded up some essential reads written by LGBTQIA+ authors and/or featuring LGBTQIA+ characters. From suspenseful Southern small town traditions to marvelous merfolk mythology, to stunning stories of sibling relationships and fantastically intimate memoirs, there is something here for everyone to love this month–and beyond.
Drew Leclair Crushes the Case by Katryn Bury
For fans of middle grade mysteries, Bury’s standalone sequel is nothing short of satisfying. When students’ beloved items are stolen from their P.E. lockers, Detective Drew Leclair is on the case. Alongside solving crimes, Drew must also reckon with newfound friendships and feelings. A heartfelt story of discovering who you are, one clue at a time.
The Reappearing Act by Kate Fagan
Sports reporter and commentator, Kate Fagan, chronicles her experiences on the University of Colorado’s nationally ranked women’s basketball team. Joining her friends in a fellowship of Christian athletes, this powerful memoir brings readers on Kate’s emotional journey of reckoning with faith, friendship, and finding the language to embrace her sexuality.
Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta
From a Stonewall Award-winning author comes a stunning novel in verse set in Scotland about the nuances of long-distance relationships; the complexities of blood-related and chosen families; and the joys of uncovering our truest selves in pursuit of boundless love.
Scarlet Carnation by Laila Ibrahim
For twentieth century history buffs, Scarlet Carnation by lesbian author, Laila Ibrahim, is a galvanizing tale of two women’s fight for their dreams in a war-torn 1915 America. A beautifully layered read.
Out of the Blue by Jason June
Out of the Blue by New York Times bestselling author, Jason June, is a fabulous dual POV queer rom-com featuring merfolk mythology, fake dating tropes, and wonderful world-building. This is the perfect beach read!
You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo
Calling all science fiction and fantasy lovers! You Sexy Thing by nonbinary author, Cat Rambo, is an epic tale of sentient spaceships and food, the perfect combination for an entertaining space opera that you won’t be able to put down.
A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy
Emmett Maguire, hopeful country star, and Luke Barnes, hater of all things country, fall in love against the backdrop of a fictional Dollywood amusement park. An entertaining read.
The Hunt by Kelly J. Ford
Although this book isn’t out yet, be on the lookout next month for Kelly J. Ford’s latest queer Southern suspense novel, The Hunt, about a deadly small town tradition and a woman trying to to keep her family safe during the frenzy.
Milos and Marcos At the End of the World by Kevin Christopher Snipes
As natural disasters befall Milos and Marcos the closer they become, they must decide if love is enough to save them. This YA romance explores the intersection of religion and queerness, and how two boys journey towards self-acceptance. A diamond of a debut!
Brother Alive by Zain Khalid
Brother Alive follows the stories of three inseparable adopted brothers who share a bedroom above a mosque in Staten Island. In their adult lives, when their imam father moves to Saudi Arabia, the three are forced to follow and reckon with a new way of life. A spectacular novel exploring family, sexuality, faith, and the possibility of reunion.
We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib
In this astonishing memoir, Samra Habib narrates both the joys and hazards inherent in existing loudly and bravely in spaces that seek to silence us. As an Ahmadi Muslim growing up in Pakistan, Habib faced regular threats from extremists, and these challenges did not subside once moving to Canada with their family as refugees. A stunning account of fearlessly inhabiting oneself.
In the End, It Was All About Love by Musa Okwonga
This short, intimate autobiographical novel follows a nameless narrator as he contemplates love and loss after his father’s death, moving to Berlin to discover himself only to find that his past cannot be simply pushed away. A fragmented, lyric story of sexuality, spirituality, alienation, and finding one’s way back home.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Set in San Francisco in 1954, Last Night at the Telegraph Club chronicles 17 year-old Chinese American protagonist, Lily Hu’s budding romance with Kathleen Miller. But as the two grow closer, Red-Scare paranoia lurks across Chinatown and Lily’s father faces threats of deportation. Emotional and entertaining.
Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So
Published posthumously following Anthony Veasna So’s unexpected death, Afterparties is an award-winning collection of short stories exploring the intimacy of queer and immigrant characters through tales of Cambodian-American life. From stories of queer love affairs, to wedding afterparty secrets and surprising mother-child relationships, this debut is an instant must-read — and So’s legacy continues to live on.
