Our Favorite Queer Books!

‘The Happy Couple’ by Naoise Dolan is set in Dublin and London. It follows the events leading up to Celine and Luke’s wedding, told from several perspectives—and all of them are queer. Celine is a professional pianist who is brilliant at what she does. Although the piano is her true love, she is nevertheless set on marrying Luke. Despite all of his infidelity, which she artfully ignores.

‘When God was a Rabbit’ by Sarah Winman is divided into two parts: the Before and the After. However, Winman clarifies that it's “not really a Before and After, more as if they are bookends.” Eleanor Maud Portman, called Elly, grows up in Essex. Her parents are charmingly eccentric, and her brother Joe, who is five years older, is her constant companion and protector. Elly feels lonely and friendless, so one Christmas, Joe gives her a rabbit—God.

‘Tin Man’ by Sarah Winman is set mostly in Oxford, mostly in the 1990s, as well as in London and France. At the heart of this story of friendship, love, and grief are Ellis, Michael, and Annie. The first half of the book is told from Ellis’s point of view. In the second half of the book, the readers read a journal written by Michael, Ellis’s best friend since childhood.

‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingsolver is set in southern Appalachia from the 1980s to the 2000s. Damon Fields is born in a trailer home, still in his amniotic sac. Or rather, he has born himself to his unconscious teenage mother, out on some drug or another. His father was already dead before he was born. The only adults who care for him are the elderly Peggots next door, who are grandparents to his best friend, Maggot. Maggot is not considered to be man enough by many in

‘The Afterward’ by E.K. Johnston might be one of the best YA fantasy books (or maybe even the best one) I have ever read. A year ago, the heroes of the realm saved the king and all of Cadrium: a group of knights, an apprentice knight, a thief (all female), and a powerful mage, the only male member of the group. Now, each of them lives their own life, some happier than others.

‘Tengo miedo torero’ by Pedro Lemebel is set in Santiago, Chile, in 1986, during a time of political turmoil under the dictatorship. The story is told from two points of view: an aging nameless queer person, who is trans and/or gay. The second point of view: Augusto Pinochet, Chile’s dictator.

‘Punainen erokirja’ (English: ‘The Red Book of Farewells,’ German: ‘Das rote Buch der Abschiede’) by Pirkko Saisio is the last novel in the author’s autofictional trilogy. Set in Helsinki and spanning several decades, readers follow Pirkko through her youth and early adulthood. Early on, she realizes that she is attracted to women. This occurs during a time when Finnish law penalized same-sex attraction.

‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ by Casey McQuiston is pure escapism. The novel brings together the First Family of the United States and the British Royal Family in a romantic story full of passion and doubt. Alex Claremont-Diaz is young, impulsive, and passionate about politics. He is driven by a desire to help people. His mother, Ellen Claremont, is the first female president of the United States. His sister, June, would do anything to protect him.

‘Instant Love’ by Jami Attenberg follows the lives, loves, and heartbreaks of various interconnected characters. Holly, Maggie, and Sarah Lee are at the center of the story, but the novel also introduces a diverse cast whose lives intertwine in surprising ways. Each character wrestles with loneliness and longing, navigating the complexities of relationships and self-discovery. Some of these relationships explore queer love and the challenges that come with it.

‘Only Mostly Devastated’ by Sophie Gonzales is a novel that follows the complicated love story of Ollie, an out teenager, and his sweet and attractive crush, Will. After spending a magical summer together at the lake, Ollie is hopelessly in love but heartbroken when they have to part ways. Then, he is devastated when Will suddenly stops replying to his texts.

‘Love and Other Thought Experiments’ by Sophie Ward is a philosophically grounded exploration of ‘what if’ scenarios, such as what would happen if someone didn't die. Eliza and Rachel plan to have a child using Hal’s sperm. One night, Rachel tells Eliza that an ant entered her brain through one of her eyes. She’s convinced it happened; it wasn’t a dream. Eliza argues that it’s scientifically impossible.

‘Jahre mit Martha’ by Martin Kordić tells the story of Željko, also known as Jimmy, and his love for Martha. Jimmy, the son of immigrants is fifteen when he meets Martha: his mom’s boss, his boss for a summer, wealthy professor, mom. He falls in love with her, and she develops feelings for him as well.

She was the perfect reckless. ‘The Stars and the Blackness Between Them’ by Junauda Petrus is so sweet—and heartbreaking. And although...

‘Die Sonne, so strahlend und Schwarz’ (~the sun, so radiant and Black) by Chantal-Fleur Sandjon is a YA novel like no other—a tender,...

The first volume of 'Heartstopper' introduces us to Charlie, who recently came out as gay, and Nick, a rugby player who seems to have his life together.

‘Love Around the World’ by Fleur Pierets, beautifully illustrated by Fatinha Ramos, is a heartfelt and visually stunning picture book...

'The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For' by Alison Bechdel was originally published as a comic strip from 1983 to 2008. The graphic novel...

‘Carol’ (originally published as ‘The Price of Salt’) by Patricia Highsmith is a novel about the relationship between Therese Belivet and...

‘Marriage of a Thousand Lies’ by SJ Sindu tells the story of Lucky. Lucky’s family is from Sri Lanka and tries to live by Hindu...

Isaiah was Samuel's and Samuel was Isaiah's. ‘The Prophets’ by Robert Jones Jr. is set against the brutal backdrop of a cotton plantation...