Happy Pride! Although ~the discourse~ makes it sound like Pride is a nonstop Berghain-style party in the streets, the truth has always been that Pride has so many more facets, especially here on Autostraddle. It’s a great time of year to revisit our history and present, like the best lesbian & gay movies or our rich history of literature.
We’ve covered so many queer books from the past and present on Autostraddle, but we know there are always so many more titles out there to be discovered, and hearing from other members about what makes a book special to them is something we can only get within community. To that end, we’re trying for the first time the A+ Community Bookshelf: a crowdsourced project where A+ members can share the LGBTQ book recs that they want the rest of the A+ community to know about. Thank you SO much to the A+ members who contributed to this project — it’s so generous of you to share your time and beloved books with our little community; we’re all the better for it!
We’re going for the vibe of your long-ago neighborhood video rental with handwritten signs for staff picks; the local queer book club meetup you always wished you had; the creased paperback your camp crush sent you through the post when you were 14. This is organized loosely by genre, but not alphabetized, filterable, or otherwise indexed; please bring the level of grace you would to your hole-in-the-wall used bookshop with a 1972 leaflet on finding your soul tarot card cataloged next to a how-to guide on repairing your own sink plumbing. We have come up with the rudimentary labeling system of a ⭐️ for books that were recommended by multiple people (although we could only feature the blurb of one person), and a 🥵 for books that are touted for their hot sex scenes. We can’t screen for the content of every book well enough to give more insight than that at this time! Beyond that, we are just excited for you to browse and get lost in the stacks. Any other questions?
Is this a comprehensive listing of queer books?
It is not! It’s only reflective of what A+ members chose to mention, out of the A+ members who were able to participate.
Are all these books endorsed by Autostraddle?
They are not! They are endorsed by one or more readers. We don’t have the bandwidth to check out or screen each individual title — content warnings are also up to the discretion of our intrepid volunteer recommenders.
Can I contribute a book?
Right now contributions are closed – we just had them open for a few weeks to put together this first attempt! Since a real live human has to monitor and update by hand any new submissions, we aren’t able to take new contributions indefinitely – but maybe in the future we’ll be able to update this a few times a year!
I see a typo/error/broken link/thing that needs to be corrected.
Awesome, thank you! Feel free to let us know in the comments or by email – we can’t guarantee when any updates will be made by, for the same reasons as above, but we appreciate it!
This is so cool – I know someone it would be perfect for!
That’s amazing – did you know you can in fact gift A+ memberships to others now? What a world!
Memoir
The Other Side of Paradise
“Powerful memoir of growing up queer in Jamaica.”
– :)
Mean
“”True crime, memoir, and ghost story”–all these things and so much more. I’ve never read a book that approached sexual assault and identity the way this book does (it’s also described as a comedy). It’s a book better read than described. And it’s short—in case you’re not into longer reads.”
– :)
My Autobiography of Carson McCullers
“Spectral, elusive biography / memoir of two queer authors – McCullers and Shapland herself. The writing is gorgeous, the perspective unapologetically subjective (in ways that biography tends to elide even though all writing is of course subjective), and the structure is fragmentary and piecemeal. This book interrogates the ethics of narrativizing someone’s life; explores the possibilities and limitations of identification; and fundamentally queers the genre of biography.”
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
Girlfag: A Life Told In Sex and Musicals
“This short memoir tells the honest and contradictory truths of the author’s journey with sex and gender fuckery. It was the first time I saw anything like my own sexuality out there in the world.”
Chelsea Girls
“This is my favorite book and gay book ever. It is a memoir by lesbian poet Eileen Myles tracing her life in 70s/80s NYC and beyond. Her prose is descriptive, luscious, and invigorating. Each chapter tells a different story in a non-linear format making it a great read even for non-readers. I laughed, cried, and got turned on by reading it and could come back to it endlessly. I especially loved the immersive feeling of historical NYC that still felt so relevant to my life today!!”
– chloe, @chlochau
The Chronology of Water
“The book really took my breath away and I read it in one awesome sitting. It is incredibly well-written, so expansive, like a rush of water taking you with it. I’m a sucker for memoirs and if you are too, this book is for you.”
Testo Junkie
“My tattoo artist actually recommended this book, and I read it during an Italian summer in the shadow of some chestnut trees. It is one of my favorite reading experiences, because the book truly opened my eyes about the fucked-up world we live in and still gave me so much hope, direction and righteousness about figuring out my gender identity. It is so interesting and freeing!”
Other Nonfiction
Trans Sex Clinical Approaches to Trans Sexualities and Erotic Embodiments
“The aim of this book is to equip providers with both conceptual frameworks and concrete tools for better engaging their trans, non-binary, and gender expansive clients in pleasure-centered discussions of sexual health. Recommended for both professionals who work with people and the general population who enjoys academia.”
How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective
“These conversations between Black queer feminists are enlightening and taught me a very different history of Boston than the white male Irish catholic dominated version I knew. It’s a piece of living history that’s value can’t be overestimated.”
– :)
Before the Parade
“This is a highly regional queer history of the GLB movement in Halifax, Nova Scotia up to 1984, the year of the first pride march there. It’s rigorously researched, well-written and more or less the only published work on the topic. I love this book, and it got me thinking about queer histories in small cities and rural areas, which are just as rich but not as recognized as those in metropolises.”
– Sarah, @llegdubs
Wow No Thank You
“I bet I gave this book to a dozen people during the pandemic – Irby is hilarious and not here for anyone’s bullshit and it’s AMAZING.”
– gina, @awkwardfemme
Notes of a Native Son
“Reading James Baldwin essays, no matter when they were written, feels like having a conversation today. Baldwin tackles race and identity in ways that feel empowering, not just enraging. It feels like he poured his strength into his writing so that others could breathe it on as needed.”
– :)
Borderlands/La Frontera
“Family, identity, and the intersections between American Mexican and indigenous identities. This book tackles language, communication, gender and sexuality, and history in prose and poetry.”
– :)
Men Like That: A Queer Southern History
“Even though this book is explicitly focused on gay men, this is one of the most important books in queer Southern history and does an amazing job of uncovering the rich life and history of queer people in Mississippi when a lot of people dismiss the very existence of queer folks in places like Mississippi. This book changed the way I look at queer rurality and queer history.”
– Cecelia, @lordcecil14
The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families
“Inclusive sex education book for parents and those with kids in their lives (such as relatives or childcare workers)”
Graphic Narratives/Manga
The Times I Knew I Was Gay
“The Times I Knew I Was Gay is a sweet graphic memoir about identity and growing up. Crewes is a talented illustrator whose charming art style makes up for the fact that the book doesn’t really tread any new ground when it comes to coming out stories. I read this book in one night and found it charming and readable. I definitely look forward to reading more of Crewes’s work in the future.”
– Reader Name, readerusername
Blue Is the Warmest Color
“The graphic novel that Blue is the Warmest Color is based on is beautiful and tragic. The art is beautiful and the angst is 10x better than what they include in the movie. I will not say it is better or worse than the movie, just that it is different enough that it is worth exploring and it is quite a satisfying read, albeit sad.”
– Nzinga, @zigzag8022
Queer As All Get-Out: 10 People Who’ve Inspired Me
“Cartoonist Shelby Criswell invites readers to join them as they explore the lives of 10 lesser-known queer people from history. This well-researched graphic novel blends personal insight with fascinating historical context, focusing on people of color and trans people who have inspired the author to be their authentic self. Criswell strives to ensure these important figures in LGBTQ history aren’t lost, bringing their stories to life with skillful art and compelling storytelling.”
– Chloe, @Chloe
Bloom into You
“Keywords: consent, asexuality, figuring out sexuality Good summation of philosophical themes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO4sPVmTn_YOnly You Know: Bloom Into You and a Good overview of Bloom into You starting 14:55https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWWF_qIqL3AQueer Censorship and Representation in Anime: As Told By Dorrie Get in the Robot”
Breasts Are My Favorite Things in the World!
“Light hearted and comedic, this manga centralizes non liner relationship development. While there is some use of common yuri tropes, the characters do become more well rounded as the series continues. This video provides a good overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpWAfTqgsRU A Manga About People Who Love 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓫𝓼 sydsnap”
O Human Star
“A lot going on here. Coming back from the dead as a robot to an unrecognizable world, reuniting with an ex who’s now raising a clone he made of you who is trans, internalized homophobia, coparenting the clone of yourself, and an ongoing examination of your identity because that never really ends and that’s ok. Also women in STEM!”
– Celeste, @dreamaccio
Sex Criminals
“This is one of the most sex positive fun comics I’ve ever read. I wish I had this comic when I was a teen- it’s inclusive of so many sexualities and their representation of asexuality is actually healthy and accepting rather than pathologizing.”
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness
“This book rips me right open each time I read it, which is way more frequently than I reread other books. A manga autobiography, the author/ heroine struggles with the day-to-day of “regular” life: finding/holding down a job, managing her health and hygiene, and interacting with her parents. The climax (haha) of the book is her experience of hiring a sex worker to lose her virginity to, but before that is a painful account of a young woman trying to hold it together.”
– Emily, @yokorie
Poetry
Postcolonial Love Poem
“This is the sort of poetry collection where, after each poem, I just had to stop and stare at the wall for a while. There are heartwrenching meditations on indigeneity, settler colonialism, and violence, alongside some of the sexiest, most ecstatic love poetry you’ll ever read. The whole collection is electric, vivifying, gorgeous.”
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
We Want It All: An Anthology of Radical Trans Poetics
“This is a gorgeous edited volume of experimental poetry and poetic statements by trans people. The editors clearly took great care to showcase the contributors, from Jackie Ess to Xandria Phillips, giving everyone’s writing a space of its own in this smartly designed book. I read many exiting poets for the first time here, and found new and different work from writers who were already on my radar.”
– Holly, @hollyr
Flèche
This book of poetry goes for lesbian classics – family issues, young desire, and coming out – but with competitive fencing! Chan gives us a mean prose poem and an altogether refreshing attention to structure.
– Holly, @hollyr
Fiction
The Salt Roads
“This book is beautiful and magical. It deals with several lifetimes across time and continents. It is fulfilling in both poetic and prosaic ways, plus it shook up some of my sensibilities, which is always good.”
– Nzinga, ZigZag8022
Everything Leads to You
“I first read this book the summer after high school and it was like, this is what I’ve been missing from YA! Queer girls! This is a fun summer read and it has such a special place in my heart <3”
Terra Nullius
“Claire G Coleman is a queer Noongar woman (First Nations Australian). “Terra Nullius” is her debut – a genre-bending masterpiece that blends sci-fi with the real colonial history of Australia, through the concept of terra nullius which was used to justify British invasion. To say more would spoil the absolute shocker of a plot twist. It’s a breathtaking, page-turning read which will impact those familiar with Australia’s history as well as international readers.”
– Steph, @stephbrown
Autonomous
“This is a science fiction novel about a queer drug pirate and the dangers of unfettered capitalism.”
– Ann, @ann
The Hazards of Love
“The Mesoamerica-inspired dark fantasy world is colorful, gorgeous, and so intriguing. Despite the persistent threat of monsters, I love how it presents a beautiful vision of queer community and resistance – there’s the Lesbian Mafia going after slumlords, Death is Chavela Vargas, nobody hides their relationships, and everybody, even non-queers, always use correct pronouns and preferred names.”
– EA, @emmaandi
Under the Udala Trees
“I guess I don’t know for sure whether the author is queer, but the book felt authentic and genuine. It’s a coming of age story written in a very specific place and time, which somehow makes it feel a bit universal..”
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
“epic bi4bi romance!! Addie LaRue made a deal with the devil to live forever, but the catch is that no one remembers her after she leaves their sight, but then she meets someone who can remember her.”
This Is How You Lose the Time War
“It’s a time travel romance told in letters between agents on different sides of the time war, what’s not to love?”
Working Hot
🥵
“Working Hot” is a gleefully complicated punk mess of a book. Sex work, homelessness, BDSM, failed queer relationships; facing the brutality of marginalisation in Australia with such accurate language that it hits hard 32 years later; & facing it with furious ironic wit that had me cackling. Experimental & weird writing, full of wordplay, & glorying in dykey sex. It’s got a lot of layers of literary and textual subversion, too, for those who have fun pulling those things apart. Out of print >:(“
– Rue, @ruethewriter
A Spectral Hue
“I have a sh*tty memory for books, so I went to look this one up on Overdrive/ Hoopla to borrow it again. Except, it isn’t there anymore. Which, in a way, is fitting for this haunting book that I first stumbled across on a whim, drawn to the intense, magenta coloring of its cover. It’s unsettling without passing into clear horror, but something about it gripped me tight enough that as soon as I saw this call for books, I knew I had to add it.”
– emily, @yokorie
The Girls I’ve Been
“The writing is great and the story is just wow. The book grips you and takes you on a ride.”
– Ashley, @adavis0718
Casting Lacey
“Confession: I read almost exclusively queer romance novels with guaranteed happily ever afters. This one is a fave. It delivers on the romance and on the HEA and it’s such a fun read! It’s a fake dating, enemies-to-lovers romance between two actresses with SO MUCH CHEMISTRY!! The setup is great, the two MCs are hilarious and SUCH a great match for each other, there’s a bunch of crazy conflicts and twists that keep you on the edge of your seat… and then it all ends happily! I love it so much.”
– Val, @starlight2713
Leah on the Offbeat
“The sequel to Simon Versus the Homosapien agenda, Leah on the Offbeat follows Simon’s best friend Leah as she explores her own sexuality and maybe realizes that her jealously of Abby was something else. The whole Creekwood universe is highly enjoyable (both on and off screen). Becky recently came out as bisexual, and her writing is smart, funny, and heartwarming.”
– Jessica, @jessythehoff
The Death of Vivek Oji
“Heart gripping story of friendship and living your life.”
– Ashley, @adavis0718
Skye Falling
“This book was a delight. Our narrator Skye is a 38 year old lesbian from Philadelphia, home for two weeks between trips abroad. While in Philadelphia, she makes a new connection that changes her life, forcing her to examine why she never stays in one place for more than a few weeks. This book gets into hard topics of childhood trauma and systemic racism but maintains a laugh-out-loud funny voice while doing so. It made me laugh out loud and cry, sometimes on the same page.”
– Chloe
Miranda in Milan
“Ok so I’m kinda cheating because I haven’t finished yet but also it’s so good and I’m just a couple chapters away! So ya’ll know The Tempest where Prospero lives on an island with his daughter who decides to marry the first dude who lands on the island and that apparently resolves her dad’s lost Dukedom? Yeah forget that. This is basically a sequel asking what if Miranda was 1- queer and 2- slowly realizing things were not as they seem and that her dad is toxic and abusive.”
– Celeste, @dreamaccio
Eyes Too Dry
“My all time favorite queer book. Eyes Too Dry follows two IRL best friends as they work to support each other while one of them deals with deep depression. Although it is about serious mental health struggles, it is incredibly hopeful, and extraordinarily well written. And the illustrations are STUNNING. Very very worth reading, and be prepared to buy several copies because once you read it you’ll want to give it to all your friends.”
– Bina, @Bina
The Great Believers
“This book brought into focus the humanity of folks who were living and loving during the AIDS epidemic. While fiction, I found it to be a beautiful, heart-wrenching reminder of all that the elders in our community had to face in order to be their true selves. Remembering our history is critical during Pride, and this is a gorgeous book for those seeking to do that.”
– Rachel
Shoulders
“This book is for sure dated, but like it was THE book that taught me about lesbians. It came out when there were so few stories about lesbians beyond pulp fiction and SHOULDERS feels real and honest and messy and hard and I wanted all of it.”
Matzo Match
“Quick, steamy lesbian romance (femme-butch) focused around Passover, written by a trans person. It’s high heat (lots of strap on sex and a solo scene) and still has some funny moments.”
– Reader Name, readerusername
The Abyss Surrounds Us
“Sea monsters and pirates. Also an enemies to lovers romance. Conversation around consent and balance of power within a relationship. Discussions about classism. All around great book!”
– Celeste, @dreamaccio
Queens of Noise
“A found family of werecoyototes team up with a group of werewolves to save a beloved punk bar from cursed chickens. Contains complex queer characters, romance and a battle of the band’s. What’s not to love? Oh and the writing is great. Full disclosure, the author is my awesome partner.”
– Alison, @allykr
Blood Like Garnets
“Bog mummies, boundary crossing smart phones and a mother who will do anything to ensure her child survives no matter the cost are three of my favorite characters in Leigh Harlan’s horror short story collection. Maria Nguyen’s offputtingly gorgeous black and white drawings elevate the stories. Full disclosure the author is my amazing partner. Seriously, if you like horror you will love this collection.”
– Alison, @allykr
The Once and Future Witches
⭐️
“Alternate Gilded Age historical fantasy asking “what if first wave feminism were intersectional and also had witches?””
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
Outlawed
“Alternate history western dystopia with queer and trans characters running a no-cis-men allowed gang? Yes please.”
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
We Are Okay
“It’s a wonderful story about finding/making family. I loved the fact that though Marin pushes her away, Mabel remains steadfast in her loving friendship. The writing is beautiful. Have tissues on hand.”
– Robin, @RobinW95
The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics
“Lesbian regency romance novel. Lady astronomer and mathematician sticks it to the dudebro science establishment. Has her own hella gay love story. Plus queer elders in a regency romance, which is delightful. Honestly that pretty much covers it.”
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
You Exist Too Much
“This book is just ~queer~ Time and place and national boundaries become unmoored as we shift from past to present, Palestine to the US. The protagonist is messy, her relationships are messy, her family is messy – it’s just a beautiful, complicated book about identity, and bodies, and family with a really compelling, funny, self-destructive yet self-aware main character. C/a – lots of eating disorder stuff in this one”
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
Stray City
“I recommend this one, but it’s not for everyone. Most of the book deals with Andrea, a lesbian, and Ryan (a cis dude) in a sexual, semi-romantic relationship. But it’s also about queer community and family. If you can get through the discomfort in the middle of the narrative, I do think the pay off is worth it. I especially recommend the audiobook! (Review at the Lesbrary)”
– Danika
Cemetery Boys
“It’s a swoony teen love story between two Latinx boys in LA, one of whom is a trans brujo trying to solve the other’s murder! What’s not to love?.”
– Matilda, @LilChinchilla
Sisters of the Vast Black
“Nuns in space! This has a really fun sci-fi setting, some pretty unique concepts around space travel with a living ship and great characters. It also involves a nun falling in love (with a happy ending)!”
– Amy, @amyjayne
A World Between
⭐️
“I picked up this book because of the Autostraddle review! A World Between explores the relationship between two young Asian-American women who first meet and fall in love while studying in Boston, then cross paths several times over the following decade. It’s a bittersweet rom-com in which Hashimoto deftly explores family, identity and love. I found myself thinking about Eleanor and Leena for weeks after reading.”
– Chloe
We Play Ourselves
“The main character is a) a playwright who speaks movingly and passionately about theater, and b) an absolute hot mess who does terrible things and is in no way a Good Queer Role Model. If you’ve ever felt like a directionless fuckup, if you’ve ever felt ashamed of your own jealousy and pettiness and worst impulses, this book will cradle you tenderly and tell you that you’re not alone, and that you can use the ugliest parts of you to make something better.”
– Wrenne
The Priory of the Orange Tree
⭐️
“This book covers an intense, epic fantasy arc all in one volume. It’s a trip through a lush, fully developed world with intoxicating descriptions and a fast-paced plot. Best of all, our story revolves around strong women, mainly women who love women, and we get to follow them as they find themselves and save the world..”
Autobiography of Red
“I fell in love with a butch because she called me each day from thousands of miles away to read me pieces of this book. Sometimes she’d be crying so hard I couldn’t understand the words but I already knew them because this book tells the story of beloved monstrosity and the kind of love some of us need after half a lifetime of suffering.”
That Full Moon Feeling
“Full disclosure: my girlfriend wrote this book. I’m biased, but I also know she’s super talented, and That Full Moon Feeling is a ton of fun. It’s a sweet and sexy comic about a witch and a werewolf who meet on a dating app. Chaos ensues. Highlights include trips to Taco Bell, reanimated skeletons, and giant praying mantises (manti?).”
– chloe
Tipping the Velvet
“This was the first LGBT book that I dared to read. Per the book jacket, I thought Kitty and Nancy would run off to the world of the stage, travel the world and live happily ever after! And for a while, they did. But right in the middle, the book took a surprisingly terrifying turn! The relationship falls apart because Kitty isn’t comfortable being out, and Nan is forced to become a sex worker to survive. There are many more meandering twists and turns.”
The Ex-Girlfriend of My Ex-Girlfriend Is my Girlfriend
“The issue with most advice columns reflects what I consider to be a grave societal issue: too many straight people. Therefore, The Ex-Girlfriend of my Ex-Girlfriend is My Girlfriend filled a void in my life created by all the straight people asking for straight advice. Court provides solid advice-column insight through a queer lens, and Wroten’s illustrations amplify the book’s content, making it one I’ll come back to any time I need reminding that I’m not the only Sad Lesbian in the world.”
– Chloe
One Last Stop
“One Last Stop is like Rubyfruit Jungle meets The L Word: Gen Q meets Slaughterhouse-Five. In other words, this book rules. I felt incredibly seen by this novel, which is not something I experience often, even reading gay books (which I do a lot). Hilarious dialogue, endearing romance with a supernatural element, and spot-on representation of queer millennial culture made this one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.”
– Chloe
Real Life
“I usually stick to women or trans protagonists, but this beautiful book about a nerdy, Black, gay man finishing up grad school wouldn’t let me go. It’s a great book to pair with Yaa Gyasi’s Transcendent Kingdom for different takes on Black, queer, science-y PhD student life (among other things) by incredible authors.”
– Julie
Upright Women Wanted
“Sci-fi western about queer librarians fighting fascism. If that doesn’t sell you, I don’t know what will.”
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
Amelia Westlake
“This book is severely underrated. It manages to successfully balance nuanced queer romance with an interesting plot, and it’s pretty funny. I’ve read a lot of YA and this remains my favourite.”
–
Briana, @banana
When Fox is a Thousand
“This is beautifully told through 3 alternating viewpoints: the story of the fox, who is nearing her 1000th birthday, which will bring her greater powers and knowledge; Yu Hsuan-Chi, a real-life poetess from ninth-century China; and Artemis, a young queer woman in modern-day Vancouver. It’s atmospheric with a folklore element. (Review at the Lesbrary)”
– Danika
The Papercutter
“The Papercutter takes place as the first generation born after the US splits into two countries comes of age. The book is narrated by three teenagers: 2 living in the God Fearing States and 1 in the United Progressive Regions. The book focuses on queer identity; and issues of love, friendship and resistance, and antisemitism.”
– Cindy
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
“This was the first modern LGBTQ-themed book I ever read. I was in my late twenties and had never seen a dedicated Pride shelf in a library before (I’m from Central Florida). This book gave me a lot of feelings and things to be grateful for. It is a pretty hefty book and people who watched the movie should not think they can skip the book. The movie was pretty condensed by comparison.”
– Nzinga, @ZigZag8022
Cantoras
“As a Latina with roots in South America, I knew nothing about the dictatorship in Uruguay in the seventies and less about the experiences of queer women during that time. De Robertis paints a fascinating and achingly beautiful portrait of a found family of queer women who fight to carve spaces for themselves under that oppressive regime. The writing is sublime, and when you finish, you are so nestled into that friend group that you wish you could hang out with them in Cabo Polonio for real.”
– Fetch
Fair Play
“All of Jansson’s work is perfectly understated. It’s philosophical and witty without ever being pretentious. In this collection of stories that are “fiction” but very clearly based on Jansson’s life with her partner Tuulikki Pietilä, nothing hugely dramatic happens but it so lovingly depicts the everyday beauty of their relationship.”
– Hallie
Juliet Takes a Breath
“Funny, sweet, and perfect to share with the teens in your life working on figuring out who they are and what is important to them. Reading the acknowledgments helps you see how the author was able to get the settings and people down so accurately. It’s one of the earlier books I read that tackled the problems with white cis women speaking for the queer or feminist communities. I really wish there was a sequel or a book about some of the side characters.”
– :)
Passing Strange
“Lesbians in San Francisco in the 1940s. There’s romance, escaping a toxic marriage, lesbians profiting from men and tourists, and magic!”
– Celeste, @dreamaccio
Notes of a Crocodile
“So I’ve only read the English translation of this incredible novel but WOW. It is so thoughtful, filled with melancholy abstractions about the pain of queer love as a young person. The love story is beautiful and romantic and the pain and loneliness is so aptly described I felt I might be looking into my own teenage journal! I also love reading a non-western perspective on gay coming of age stories and so really value the tremendous impact this work has had on my life and queer lit canon!”
– chloe, @chlochau
Butter Honey Pig Bread
⭐️
“This novel took me a month to read because I was savouring every part! I loved the surreal and spiritual elements; the descriptions of cooking and food, which always made me want to eat whatever was being described; the joy and sadness in Taiye’s queerness; how Nigerian and Black queerness is centered with all of her lovers and queer friends; the different places it’s set, from Lagos to London to Halifax to Montreal. The whole thing is gorgeous and deeply queer in such a contemporary, real way.”
– Holly, @hol
Tomboy Survival Guide
“Ivan’s writing is just so relatable! As a Canadian Queer who loves the outdoors the way that they write about nature, canadian, queerness, gender, warms the soul and made me feel seen!”
– Anna, @annaschappert
Gideon the Ninth
⭐️
“Gideon Nav is my baby. My sword-wielding, space lesbian baby. I read Gideon the Ninth during Covid-19 lockdown, and it provided the ultimate escape during such a stressful time. Meme-y dialogue, fanfiction-esque relationship tropes, and gothic space vibes permeate this delightful book.”
– Chloe, @Chloe
Harrow the Ninth
“Harrow the Ninth is not the sapphic space romp you might expect after reading its precursor, Gideon the Ninth. It’s a very different book, but once you get past those differences, the qualities that got readers interested in the Locked Tomb can still be found. Memes, swords, and skeletons still abound. I really enjoyed this sequel, but it does take getting used to the notable absence of handsome doofus Gideon Nav in this particular chapter of Muir’s unique space opera.”
– Chloe, @Chloe
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them
⭐️
“The Stars and the Blackness Between them is a beautiful story of young love, grief, and belonging. Mabel and Audre are young black girls who face heartbreaking challenges and find comfort in one another. A strong debut from Petrus, this novel left me excited to read more from the author.”
– Chloe, @Chloe
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet
“It’s a space road trip where the crew of the space ship are a found family, it’s about people who are imperfect but good doing their best, the alien societies have completely different norms about relationships and gender than humans do because of course they do! There are three sequels about (mostly) different characters in the same universe, and they’re all just so nice and kind and feel like a warm space hug. very good very queer would recommend”
Love, Undisclosed
“I’m grumpy and cynical and not a big reader of romance novels. But I really liked Love, Undisclosed, an f/f slow-burn romance. Julienne is offered a job making sure that young actress Cece stays on the rails: can she succeed if feelings get in the way? Set in LA, this book felt like a sunny holiday. Despite being a light, easy read, the characters and their relationship felt compelling. I found it sweet and absorbing, a great choice if you’re seeking some gentle feelgood queerness.”
– Elle, @submariner
Chronology
“Unforgettable! Part personal essay, part archive, this little book collages emails, notes, and other pieces on the author’s exploration of the Sesotho language, colonialism, organizing and art, and friendship and loss. It won a Lambda Award in Lesbian Nonfiction and leans hard into the queer obsessions that are letters and ephemera.”
– Holly, @hollyr
Victories Greater Than Death
“Victories Greater Than Death is a loving tribute to the space opera of the 70s and 80s, but with a decidedly queer and anti-imperialist twist. The major characters are all some flavor of LGBT (including the narrator, who falls in love with a tech genius who’s a Brazilian trans girl), and have to learn to work together to quite literally save the universe. A wonderfully optimistic thrill ride of a story.”
– Reader Name, readerusername
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife (Road to Nowhere Trilogy)
“This is a futuristic fiction trilogy that imagines worlds that deal with sex and gender in all kinds of interesting ways. Each book has a different protagonist with a different relationship to queerness, and each book is full of exploration of all kinds. The author once described the premise as “if the Handmaid’s Tale was queer” and that’s pretty spot-on. I do want to say that the first book especially includes a lot of sexual violence, so readers should be aware of that. The others are easier.”
– Michaela, @Michaela
Fall On Your Knees
“Sweeping intergenerational family story culminating in a dramatic romance been a mixed race queer couple in 1920s New York.”
– M, @Lawchick
Her Body and Other Parties
“The only real word I can think of to describe this collection of stories is “visceral.” Do with that what you will.”
– :)
Ash
“A queer take on Cinderella. What’s not to love?
– :)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
“So this was recommended to me by a straight friend and featured on autostraddle like a week later and then I binge read it because it was so good? It’s hard to describe because it’s really an entire life full of happiness and sadness and mistakes. Evelyn’s real love was her long term girlfriend and none of the husbands which any queer could see coming from the start when they met. I cried a lot for a lot of reasons. This book made me very emotional and I’m gooey on the inside.”
– Celeste, @dreamaccio
Beebo Brinker
“A rec within a rec: Pulp, by Robin Talley, sent me down a rabbit hole of vintage lesbian pulp fiction. Beebo Brinker can be absurd to read in this day and age but it is quite informative and interesting, historically-speaking. The book Pulp is also relatively interesting, although the subject matter was more fascinating than the plot. I’d lived in the DMV area for about a decade before I learned about the Lavender Scare from that book.”
– Nzinga, @ZigZag8022
Felix Ever After
“What I love most here is that, in this YA novel with a trans protagonist, Felix is allowed to renegotiate his own identity – and be kind of a jerk for completely unrelated reasons. Felix is a queer trans teen figuring his shit out and we get to see the messiness of that. He’s allowed, that is, to be human and a kid, and even when he’s bugging the shit out of you, you root for him – Callender’s writing is compassionate even as it’s unapologetic about Felix’s flaws.”
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
The Intersection of Law and Desire
“The Intersection of Law and Desire is the third (and best) book in the Micky Knight mystery series by J.M. Redmann. Originally published in 1995, it’s almost historical fiction at this point, and it’s a fascinating look at lesbian life in New Orleans in the 1990s. Between Micky’s love life, family drama, and the gripping mystery she’s trying to solve, I could not put this book down.”
– Cecelia, @lordcecil14
Hench
“Bisexual temp at henchperson agency goes full villain to take revenge on superheroes after being collateral damage to heroic grandstanding? Yes please.”
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
Kushiel’s Dart
“Epic political fantasy doorstopper starring a pansexual masochistic sex worker in a world where not only is that celebrated, but “love as thou wilt” is literally a religious tenet and basically everyone is pan. Also it’s very hot.”
– Gina, @awkwardfemme
Pet
“This book is marketed for kids, and it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. It’s a breath of fresh air to have a Black trans protagonist who is well loved, cared for, and safe throughout the book. And it takes on child abuse in a way I’ve never seen an author approach it. My state education department book club is reading it with our state GSA students this month and I can’t wait to hear student takes.”
– Julie, :)
Freshwater
“I am not even going to attempt to describe this book, but it sunk into my skin and opened my eyes to new possibilities and new questions. It’s not an easy book, but it’s one that has stuck with me.”
– Julie, @:)
Less
“I tore through this book in 48 hours just as winter was turning to spring, and those two days brought me so much feel good dopamine that “Less” lodged itself into my top ten list of favorite books of all time. It’s gay, it’s joyful, it’s melancholy at times. I laughed, I cried, the whole shebang. Read it in the passenger seat on your road trip, and then lend it to your best friend.”
– Ally, @Allyjansky
The Last True Poets of the Sea
“”Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, but about teens in Maine” is a helluva hook but it got my attention quickly. Twelfth Night has long been one of my favorite Shakespeare plays and seeing it adapted to be smaller in scope but no less breathtaking is a treat. Read this if you like: shipwrecks, Yearning, found family, rebuilding your bio family, or musicals about Jacques Cousteau.”
– Caitlin
Provenance
“A lot of sci-fi and fantasy upholds patriarchal norms despite the fact that it’s LITERALLY ANOTHER WORLD. It’s not unusual for even queer SFF to do this. Ann Leckie disrupts this poopy norm in Provenance. The societies in this fictional universe have third genders, nonspecific genders, and change genders during their lives. The plot also features a same-gender romance between a woman-identified main character and her childhood friend.”
– Sarah, @llegdubs
Plain Bad Heroines
“Plain Bad Heroines is a book about a movie that’s being made about a book that centers on another book, and I can’t help but think that it would make an excellent movie. Danforth deftly handles a story that is multilayered, weaving two timelines seamlessly. It’s a spooky tale, sometimes outright scary, about Sapphic love and the mutability of history. This story leaves you wondering if objects and houses can be haunted, or if hauntings are really passed between people.”
– Chloe, @Chloe
King and the Dragonflies
“This is an incredible story about love, loss, identity, and family. And it’s perfect to read with or to kids. The end may have been a little too neat, but the whole thing lends itself to good conversation and follow up questions.”
– :)
The Black Tides of Heaven
“Ok but there’s magic and rebellion and plots and family betrayals and, oh yeah, all kids are gender neutral until they feel ready to declare their gender. No questions asked. You are who you are.”
– Celeste, @dreamaccio
The Henna Wars
“I was expecting a sweet, queer YA love story. I wasn’t expecting to also get a nuanced take on appreciation vs. appropriation. I thought this book did a great job with all of its topics.”
– :)
The Case of the Not-So-Nice Nurse
“An absolute parody romp! Cherry Aimless and Nancy Clue, set in the fashionable 50s solving a crime involving kidnapped nuns, making friends while getting into hilarious scrapes. Wall to wall queers, hot butches and strong femmes. The baddies are priests (I assume all cis men, but pleasantly their characters are not delved into much). I discovered this book in the library as a teen in the 00s so it may not completely hold up now but it’s a warm, nostalgic hug of a book (with two sequels).”
– Bridge, @beans
Wild Seed
“Every Octavia Butler book is a revelation and this one this is another in a long line of unique sci-fi stories that touches on identity, community, and power structures with complex and flawed characters.”
– :)
Landing
“Fanfiction written by the author of Room and The Wonder. Seriously. It’s like the author needed a break from heavier book topics and decided to try her hand at a flight attendant fanfic.”
– :)
The Rise of Kyoshi
⭐️
“This one is for all the young at heart people that still enjoy the world of Avatar. For those of us that remember the hit show of the 2000s and its sequel, the Legend of Korra, this book with a canon wlw relationship will be enjoyable in spite of the “Y” rating.”
– Nzinga, @ZigZag8022
The Left Hand of Darkness
“Science Fiction with queer themes. The story is located on a world where gender doesn’t exist.”
– Anna, @annaschappert
Rubyfruit Jungle
“This is the book that so many lesbian novels strive to be. Both hilarious and heartbreaking, the book follows protagonist Molly Bolt from childhood as a whip-smart outsider to adulthood as an aspiring lesbian filmmaker. It’s hard to believe this book was written in the 1970s, as it feels incredibly contemporary. We’ve come so far, but Molly’s coming out and coming of age feel timeless.”
– Reader Name, readerusername
Bastard Out of Carolina
“This was one of the first books I read with a queer woman in the south, and I also loved that it was about the complexities of family and how those you love can both love you and let you down.”
– :)
The Price of Salt (Carol)
“Is this the 160th recommendation for this book? I read a bunch of 50s lesbi-pulp and this book is the best one. The end. Also, Patricia Highsmith was a problematic person but her young pictures make a thirst emerge from within me.”
– Nzinga, @ZigZag8022
Art & Lies
⭐️
“I first read this book when I was a freshman in college, newly out and trying to watch and read all the things that would teach me how to be a queer person in the world. I’m sure I didn’t fully understand this book back then, but that didn’t matter to me. This book taught me to love language. I’ve revisited it many times over the years since and am certain I still don’t fully understand it, but somehow that makes it even more appealing. Winterson is very smart, and that is VERY sexy.”
– Ava, @thesaturnyear
Johnny Appleseed
“I loved how the narrative structure moves between personal history (massive, complex) and the present (very time-sensitive!). The gay stuff happens in multiple ways & involves genderqueer, two-spirit and indigiqueer (to use Whitehead’s term) folks. I wish I could talk about this book with everyone! All the time! fwiw I listened to Whitehead narrate the audiobook and found a lot of humour+heartbreak. My partner read the text alone and felt mostly heartbroken.”
– SJ, @sj_is_sj
The Summer We Got Free
“The overwhelming image I get when trying to describe The Summer We Got Free is the moments just before a summer thunderstorm: the charged anticipation, the humid heat, the claustrophobia of it. Ava is living a closed-off, practical, dull life until a woman shows up on her doorstep and she spontaneously kisses her–forgetting about her husband and father just inside. (Review at the Lesbrary)”
– Danika
Rachel!!! Thank you so much for putting this together!!! And for hopefully not hating me for recommending an obnoxious number of titles! I’m bookmarking this and will have to buy like…twenty new books soon! I’m so grateful for all the bookishness you facilitate around here :)
(Yes I’m making muppet arms with excitement!)
(And also it probably goes without saying, but strong vote for reopening submissions sometime in the future – what an incredible database this could be!)
Books!
(i know i’m a lot but wow i just love books and queer folks and queer folks books so much!)
Gina! you are such a light and community pillar! i was SO grateful to all the people who had given back to the community with multiple book recs, and your descriptions of them were so insightful and beautifully written! 😭
aw Rachel – that’s so sweet and means the world to me 😭❤️
i was singing the sza song “go gina” in my head reading your reviews because you did so many (in a good way!!)!! thank you for the submissions :)
What an incredible resource for our community. Thank you to all the members who suggested books! <3
There are so many books I’ve never even heard of! This is exciting. And I love that you added all of the images—I 100% judge a book by its cover 😬. (And it’s first sentence)
Wow wow wow I just added like 15 books to my library hold list! There goes my first summer off (I just finished grad school and accepted a job as a school counselor)!
Major gratitude to all the contributors to and organizers of this list!
I’m sure you meant this to be a stand alone comment, but congratulations on grad school and the new job! 🎉
THIS is so gorgeous. Thank you Rachel and Sarah and Yikes and everyone who worked on this and contributed! I know this took a ton of time and effort!!
This is better than any “Best of List” out there. Thank you for putting this together!
So excited that despite contributing what felt like a billion titles, there are still so many books I haven’t read on this list! Can’t wait to investigate further. And seriously, buy my girlfriend’s book.
Oh speaking of, That Full Moon Feeling is a comic! I didn’t say as much in my blurb which I suspect is why it’s listed under fiction. But just so folks know what they’re getting into!
ARGH I love this so much!
this is wonderful thank you!!
What a beautifully overwhelming amount of books! Excited to get started on these.
I appreciate that even as a librarian who thinks she’s pretty up on all the queer books, that I got some good recs.
Also, I love Gideon from Gideon the Ninth. I love (1) one disaster lesbian.
I LOVE Gideon
I love how this guide has a mix of books I expected to see, books I’ve never heard of and now get to read, and books I am delighted to see! Notes of a Crocodile absolutely blew me away and it should be read everywhere always. Also this is so wonderfully laid out!
Yay, I love this so much! Like others have said, there are a few books I expected to see but most of them I’ve never heard of or read (especially the non-fiction). There’s also a few I thought would be on here that aren’t (I was going to submit more but then life), so hopefully you open submissions again sometime so I can submit them!
This is beautiful! Thank you to everyone who sent recommendations and to Rachel for gathering them. I’m excited to see so many books I haven’t read!
this is incredible. congratulations to rachel and every single community member who had a hand in putting this together. grateful to all of you. <3
Just added so many books to my library list! Love this!!
I have read a bunch of these books, but there are so many others that just sound so good! Thanks for sharing this. My to-read list for the rest of the year will be greatly improved