Happy Pride Month!
I’m a huge supporter of writing and reading books with quality queer rep. One of my main projects focuses on a sapphic romance. Another has a character that likely will wind up being ace. My poetry collection features a narrator that goes through her own journey to discover her personal identity.
Even if you aren’t a part of the LGBTQ+ community, many of these books feature universal themes that can be beneficial and relatable. They can increase our empathy. They can give us glimpses into new perspectives. And they can be entertaining and enjoyable, just like any other book.
To start Pride month off right this year, I wanted to share a handful of good books that heavily feature queer characters and voices. I’ll keep my blurbs brief, but if you’re in the mood to read some LGBTQ+ stories this month, this list is for you. Several of these books have been discussed on the blog before, so where applicable, I’ll link those articles!
Below are a few terms I may use in this article, and some definitions, for those who are unfamiliar. If there are other terms that are unfamiliar to you, I encourage you to research and learn more about each term. The definitions I’m giving are very dumbed down and are in no way representative of every individual who may identify as such. This is just a guide for those who may be confused as they are reading this article. Hyperlinks connect to the Wikipedia pages which will have additional sources and definitions.
- Queer/LGBTQ+: an umbrella term denoting that a book features any mixture of characters who identify as something other than straight or cis.
- Asexual: An umbrella term for individuals who are not ‘traditionally’ sexually attracted to people. They may be aro-ace (not sexually or romantically attracted to people). There is a huge spectrum of asexuality and most people who identify as ace have their own definition of it.
- Non-binary: Individuals who don’t identify as either male or female. Can also include the terms ‘gender queer’ or ‘gender non-conforming’. Essentially, means they exist between or beyond the traditional ideas of gender expression. Also a spectrum.
- Sapphic: An umbrella term for women who are attracted to women or female presenting individuals. Includes lesbians and bisexual women, can also include nonbinary individuals. There are less-used male equivalents: Achillean and Vincian.
- MLM and WLW: An acronym for ‘men-loving-men’ or ‘women-loving-women’. Used commonly when referring to media featuring queer couples.
Again, please do additional research if you have further questions! One of the best things we can do this month is to learn and understand things that are unfamiliar to us.
Without further adieu, here are ten of my LGBTQ+ book recommendations!
Gender Queer: A Memoir – Maia Kobabe – Nonbinary Asexual Author
I talked about this book last year in my banned books article, so check that out for more thoughts. This is the only memoir on this list, but it’s critically acclaimed for a reason. This book is really wonderful, walking the reader through the journey of gender and sexuality that the author went through. Even if you aren’t on a journey of self discovery yourself, this book is wonderful for understanding some of the struggles that come from being young and figuring yourself out. This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand some of the ‘harder’ orientations to understand. If you have trans/nonbinary family members, or are wondering about your gender identity yourself, this is a must-read.
Nobody in Particular – Sophie Gonzales – YA Sapphic Romance
I read this book last year and thought it was a lot of fun! It’s a very well-done type of story, with a commoner attending a school mostly for wealthy families who falls in love with a noble. One of the best parts of this story is that it twists or ignores a lot of the common tropes, so it feels fresh. It didn’t shy away from a lot of topics of youth (popularity, underage drinking, parties, etc.), so it had a bit of edge to it as well. This is a good one! Go read it!
Don’t Let the Forest In – C.G. Drews – Psychological Horror + MLM Romance
If you don’t want a fluffy feel good romance, check this one out. It’s deliciously dark and twisted, has a great gothic atmosphere, and is text book dark academia. The MC, a teenage boy, grapples with his crush on another classmate, as well as his asexuality. If that wasn’t enough, the two boys seem to be haunted by creatures who dwell in the forest beyond their school. Spooky, enticing, and a great mystery. Great if you want a book with a good plot AND a good romance.
Legends and Lattes – Travis Baldree – Cozy WLW Fantasy
I am not the first person to talk about this book, nor is this my first time talking about it. It’s well known for its cozy atmosphere and the wonderful prose. The nicest part of this book is how lowkey the romance is, developing slowly and naturally, and giving you a very realistic, not-dramatic sapphic romance. If you want a nice cozy read with a cute genuine couple, pick this one up.
When the Tides Held the Moon – Venessa Vida Kelley – MLM Fantasy Romance
I really enjoyed this book when I read it last year. I like mermaid books a ton, and the MLM representation here was really well done. The setting is a circus, with those who are deemed as different are paraded about as freaks and anomalies. The latest attraction is a merman, which the main character wants to set free, even before he begins to fall for the trapped mer. The setting of the circus and the characters of the performers are a great analogue for found family. It emphasizes that ‘other’ is not bad or scary. It’s simply different. Good romance, good story, worth the read.
The Honey Witch – Sydney J. Shields – Sapphic Fantasy Romance
This is a wonderfully magical book and one with a good romance. The main character accepts her role as a witch, but with it, accepts her family’s curse, which prevents her from ever finding love. But of course, she begins to fall for someone else, and needs to find a way to break the curse in order for the two women to be together. Some good spice, other queer rep sprinkled in, and an enjoyable read overall.
The Rules of Royalty – Cale Dietrich – YA MLM Romance
Fun, cheesy, and enjoyable. Basically a genderbent, queer retelling of The Princess Diaries. A boy discovers he is a prince and goes to live in his new country. A fellow prince is brought along to teach him the ropes, and things go well until the two begin to fall for one another. Juggles ideas of responsibilities versus desires, and how to fit into shoes that seem impossible to fill. A great way to fill an afternoon, even if it is a touch predictable.
In the Lives of Puppets – T.J. Klune – MLM Fairy Tale Romance
This book is a little wacky when you describe it, but bear with me. It’s a futuristic Pinocchio reimagining, where the last boy on earth falls for a humanoid robot who doesn’t want to be a puppet. This book is witty, creative, and has some fantastic ace rep. While it is a little cringy at times with how they discuss the man character’s asexuality, the relationship is heartfelt and will tug at your heart… strings.
Gideon the Ninth – Tamsyn Muir – Sapphic Sci-Fi Adventure
Lesbian necromancers in space. Need I say more?
In all seriousness, this book is a blast. The two main characters are so fun and have great chemistry, the queer aspects are lowkey but essential to the plot and dynamic of the FMCs, and it’s such a wild blending of genres and aesthetics that you’re hooked from the get go. I will say, there isn’t too much actual romance in the first book, but I hear it gets more screen time as the series progresses. Regardless, this book is great even if you aren’t looking for queer representation.
The Binding – Bridget Collins – MLM Magical Realism Romance
I was not expecting a queer romance when I picked this book up, and it was a very pleasant surprise. You don’t expect it going into it, but once you catch a whiff of it, it’s off to the races from there. Yearning, enemies to lovers, secret romance, and a fight to get it all back once it’s lost. Two boys who find everything together, only to be forced to forget it all. This book was a delight, had some fascinating world building, and a pretty satisfying ending that I really enjoyed.
And there we go! A handful of queer books that hopefully tickle your fancy. I’m hoping to read at least a few new LGBTQ+ books this month. I need more books with nonbinary or transgender characters, since that’s where my list is really lacking. I challenge you all to read at least one queer book this month and expand your horizons more. We can learn a lot about ourselves through the experiences of others.
Even if what we’re reading is a fantasy book.
This content was written and created by a human, without the use of any artificial intelligence tools. The authors do not authorize this article’s usage in training AI tools. We proudly support the original works of creators and individuals over technology that steals and manipulates original content without consent of creators.
Pen and Sword Blog 
Leave a comment