Now more than ever, it’s important that readers see themselves represented and celebrated in books regardless of their gender identity. These books feature characters who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or any identification within the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
Aside from previously mentioned options such as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Under the Whispering Door, Clap When You Land, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Wild Beauty, Ace of Spades, and Miss Meteor, we’ve chosen these 10 great LGBTQ+ books for you to devour that will surely add colors in your shelves.
1. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (rep: asexual, transgender)
The story of Every Heart Has A Door follows Nancy, who is brought to Eleanor West’s Home – a place where parents normally leave their troubled kids. Little do they know, Mrs. Eleanor consoles and takes care of these kids who come from different fantasy realms and are forced to return to the real world.
Each child has been changed ever since their otherworldly experience. Nancy herself came from the land of the dead. After her arrival, brutal murders start to happen in the orphanage/school. Does Nancy have something to do with this tragedy? Together with her schoolmates, Nancy will work to solve a mystery.
2. Lie With Me by Philippe Besson (rep: gay, queer)
Lie With Me is an LGBTQ+ literary fiction set in France about an affair between two teenage boys named Philippe and Thomas. The story is told in three different timelines looking back to when they first met and fell in love, through the progression of the relationship. It is a moving novel of a hidden love, discovery, and heartbreak that readers will never forget.
3. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (rep: gay)
Linus Baker is a caseworker at the Department of Magical Youth. He oversees government-funded orphanages and determines if they should continue to operate or be closed. One day, he is tasked with a highly classified assignment involving six dangerous children residing in the Marsyas Island Orphanage. On this island lives a charming and protective caretaker named Arthur Parnassus (yes, the love interest). As Linus, Arthur, and the children grow closer, he must decide between the safety of the world and his heart.
Diversity is the most notable aspect of the book. The characters each have their own story to tell that I found compelling. They reminded me how we should not judge a person by their outward appearance. I cannot recommend this enough for readers who are fond of hopeful and found-family stories.
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4. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson (rep: queer)
George M. Johnson bares his experiences from childhood to his college days reflecting what it’s like to live as a Black queer boy in a non-accepting society. His words are powerful and clear while maintaining a voice of hope for LGBTQ+ readers and for those who have ever felt like they didn’t belong or were misunderstood. Some notable topics explored were toxic masculinity, marginalization, and consent.
5. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (rep: lesbian)
Set in 1954, seventeen-year-old Lily Hu’s life circles around math, science, and reading Arthur C. Clarke, until she gets to know Kathleen from her advanced math subject. The two bond over a newspaper ad for a male impersonator’s appearance at a lesbian nightclub. Not only does the book explore the queer romance between women, Last Night at the Telegraph Club explores the struggles of Asian immigrants, identity, and gender.
6. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (rep: gay, bisexual, transgender, lesbian)
This novel checks off all the boxes when it comes to LGBTQ+ book representation. It does so with balance and authenticity. Heartstopper is a graphic novel about two high school boys, Nick and Charlie, navigating their lives as queer teenagers.
Both protagonists deal with internal struggles – Nick with his toxic boyfriend Ben, and Charlie with the pressure of trying to fit into the stereotypical masculine world around him. With their friends, the two face their issues united through high school. Aside from gender sensitivity, the novel accurately portrays people dealing with mental health issues.
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7. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (rep: bisexual)
Xiala, a bi-mermaid, is tasked to escort Serapio, a blind and allegedly harmless passenger, to the holy city of Tova on the solstice. Meanwhile, the Sun Priest of the city, Naranpa, leads a procession in an attempt to restore the trust and respect of the people for the priests, when someone tries to kill her. A rare occasion is about to be witnessed in Tova where the winter solstice and a solar eclipse concurs. This event was foreseen as an unbalancing of the world. The two concurrent perspectives crossed paths in the end and caused intense collision.
There was so much to learn from all the characters in this novel. Despite their supernatural abilities, their emotions and experiences were genuinely relatable to any of us. Within the novel, we get to read their backstories which greatly influence their drive and decisions. Black Sun is a stunning fantasy novel that’s nearly impossible to put down presented a deeply layered set of characters in an unforgettable world.
8. The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen (rep: gay)
Tien is a Vietnamese-American boy who struggles to communicate the truth about himself to his non-English parents. Despite the language barrier, his mother, Hien, finds a way for them to tell themselves about each other through fairy tales. With this, the graphic novel comes to life with illuminating visuals that support the story. It is full of symbolism and the diversity of characters that can exist in a single home.
9. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (rep: queer)
This LGBTQ+ book has a touch of everything I want in a read – beauty standards, beating the odds, mental health, friendship, and queer rep. Liz Lighty is smart and ambitious. She is set to go to the prestigious Pennington College but at the last minute, her scholarship falls through. She has one last option – to get the scholarship Campbell County High School awards each year which can only be given to the prom queen.
Support and pushback go hand in hand as Liz tries to win the title. She meets Mack, one of the contestants, whom she might have a crush on, adding an additional challenge to this layered coming-of-age story.
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10. The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta (rep: gay, queer)
The Black Flamingo is a coming-of-age story about Michael, a half-Jamaican, half-Greek-Cyprian boy. Growing up, he comes to terms with his identity and being a mixed-race teen. When he is in college, he discovers the Drag Society which immediately sparks something inside him. It is a novel written in verse, which adds to the creativity of the protagonist, and the book is filled with striking illustrations.
LGBTQ+ Books & Representation
LGBTQ+ books often feature important themes such as self-discovery and acceptance. Despite the heavy themes and a certain amount of trauma in these stories, they show how similar we all are as humans. These LGBTQ+ stories teach readers to embrace differences and dispel stereotypes. Reading from diverse viewpoints frequently causes one to become more accepting of other people, and view the world around them from a different perspective, which is something worth celebrating.
