23 Vintage Young Adult Novel Covers With Major Lesbian Subtext

Apr 10, 2013

It’s no secret that I spent a solid chunk of the ’80s and early ’90s reading terrible young adult novels. Nor is it any secret that Mallory is gay and wants to ride the hobby horse with Bossy Kristy. When you combine both of these not-secrets and add a scoop of excellent nostalgia blogs like Neon & Cigarettes, I’m Remembering, Cliquey Pizza and Vintage Book Covers Flickr — you get me making this very important list for you.

23 Young Adult Novel Covers Dripping With Lesbian Subtext

1.

lesbian fashion pioneers (via neonandcigarettes) — what? i draw moustaches on myself all the time at home! (via)

2.

via neonandcigarettes — Oh my gosh charlene, i think that girl is a vegan (via)

3.

4.

hey sooooo amy what has two lips and wants to meet jessica — hey annie, wanna get high and scissor after school? (via)

5.

words (via) — and there goes the lesbian separatist commune (via)

6.

c'mon baby, just come with me to the poly potluck and see what you think (via) — c’mon baby, just come with me to the poly potluck and see what you think (via)

7.

come and get me, sugar mommas! (via) — that’s right sugar mamas, i’m yours for the taking (via)

8.

sorry guys my girlfriend thinks it's super-weird and doesn't believe me that all we do is eat pizza and paint each other's nails (via) — sorry guys my girlfriend thinks it’s super-weird and doesn’t believe me that all we do is eat pizza and paint each other’s nails at these “sleepovers” (via)

9.

news flash: it's mallory — it’s mallory, duh (via)

10.

coincidentally this is also the title of the last episode of "the l word" (via) — coincidentally this is also the title of the last episode of “the l word” (via)

11.

she just couldn't stop thinking about shane — she just couldn’t stop thinking about shane (via)

12.

hey patriarchy stop touching my hair! (via) — hey patriarchy stop touching my hair i’m trying to read about diva cups! (via)

13.

you know, "roommates" (via) — you know, “roommates” (via)

14.

hopes to bring her buffy fanfic fantasies to life — …or a Buffy fanfic fantasy come to life? (via)

15.

see what this straw is doing to this milkshake? that's what i'd like to do to your vagina. (via) — see what this straw is doing to this milkshake? that’s what i’d like to do to your vagina. (via)

16.

i believe this is what is best known as "a romantic friendship" (via) — at last, mary-jo and sue-ann were able to get a nice place in boston and start making a life together with other romantic friends (via)

17.

ugh mary anne totally went to phresh cutz without us!!! (via)

18.

can’t stop checking her ex-girlfriend’s tumblr (via)

19.

oh my god karen i told you to stop teasing me like that (via)

20.

holy fuck my girlfriend and i have officially merged and look exactly like each other (via)

21.

we're going to choice cunts! (via) — we’re going to the dalloway! (via)

22.

23.

duh — because mallory loves girls (and science) [via]

Riese

Riese is the co-founder of Autostraddle.com as well as an award-winning writer, video-maker and LGBTQ+ Marketing consultant. Her work has appeared in nine books, magazines including Marie Claire and Curve, and all over the web including Nylon, Queerty, Nerve, Bitch, Emily Books and Jezebel. She had a very popular personal blog once upon a time, and then she recapped The L Word, and then she had the idea to make this place, and now here we all are! In 2016, she was nominated for a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Digital Journalism. She grew up in Michigan, lost her mind in New York, and now lives in Los Angeles. Follow her on twitter and instagram.