The Bookish Mindset

LGBTQIA+ history month may have been and gone but as we know, we can read diversely all year round.

Here are some of my favourite reads with queer representation over the past few years with no spoilers. Notes on where the queer characters feature also included, whether they are main characters (MC’s) or not. In absolutely

Adult Fiction

Love In Colour – Bolu Babalola. Myths and legends from around the world, retold with women at the centre. Short stories with features of same sex MC’s. One of my favourite books.

Giovanni’s Room – James Baldwin. Set in 1950’s Paris, Baldwin explores what it meant to be gay at a time where it was illegal. MC is bisexual.

Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust – Travis Baldree. The epitome of cosy fantasy. Set in first a coffee shop and then a bookshop, these are genuinely sweet books. Queer MC.

You made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty – Akwaeke Emezi. Hot and fiery romance, this needs to be on your Summer reading list. MC’s best friend is a lesbian.

Girl, Woman, Other – Bernadine Evaristo. A beautiful set of short stories that culminate into one at the end. Multiple stories have queer representation.

In At The Deep End – Kate Davies. Brilliantly addictive and funny lesbian romance, exploring new kinks and difficult relationships. MC is a lesbian.

Bellies – Nicola Dinan. A heart-breaking story of friendship (not no queer trauma). Queer and trans MC’s.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown – Talia Hibbert. My all time favourite romance triplet. If you love your romances, please get the Brown sisters on your reading list. MC is bisexual.

The Principle of Moments – Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson. Epic space saga, one of my favourites this year already. Gay MC.

The Prophets – Robert Jones Jr. Absolutely heart-breaking literary novel set on a plantation. Queer MC’s.

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida – Shehan Karunatilaka. A beautiful novel of magical realism looking at the afterlife and what it can offer. Queer MC.

Chain-Gang All-Stars – Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. A powerful dystopian novel that questions incarceration and turns it into a brutal sport. A book I think everyone needs to read. Queer MC’s

Paul Takes The Form Of A Mortal Girl – Andrea Lawlor. Paul can shapeshift his body and change his genitalia and so morphs into different personalities throughout the book. Lots of queer rep.

Rosewater – Liv Little. A beautiful contemporary romance, filled with poetry and friendship. A must read. Queer MC’s.

Rainbow Milk – Paul Mendez. Walking away from his deeply religious family, Jesse struggles to understand his sexuality. Set at the height of the aids pandemic in London. Queer MC.

Detransition, Baby – Torrey Peters. Gripping fiction that navigates trans parenthood. Get this on your list to read if you haven’t already. Lots of queer and trans representation.

Love After Love – Ingrid Persuad. A beautiful story of the lengths family go for love, set between New York and Trinidad and Tobago. Queer MC characters.

The Dark Olympus series – Kattee Robert. A glorious ten book series (currently on book six) which retell the tales of Greek Gods with lots of spice. Lots of queer characters, threesomes and polyamory.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Voung. Heart breaking but beautiful, Little Dog tells his mother through a series of letters who he has grown up to be. MC is queer.

Non-Fiction

None of the Above – Travis Alabanza. One of the best memoirs in a long time. A must read. Non-binary rep.

The Transgender Issue – Shon Faye. Essential reading, that’s it, that’s the comment! Trans rep.

We Have Always Been Here – Samra Habib. “A Queer Muslim Memoir”. Beautiful writing and heartfelt story telling, you need to read this. Queer MC.

Poetry

There is (Still) Love Here – Dean Atta. I’ve been a big fan of Atta’s work for a long time (see the next category!) and this one is no different. Queer author.

Young Adult

Clap When You Land – Elizabeth Acevado. Written in verse, I couldn’t put this book down once I started! The story is told between two half sisters who in New York and The Domincan Republic, who only find out about each other when their father’s plane goes down. One MC is a lesbian.

The Black Flamingo – Dean Atta. Another written in verse, our main character Michael finds his place in world in the drag community. Queer MC.

Only On The Weekends – Dean Atta. Just started reading this and love Atta’s writing. Another one written in verse and if you liked The Black Flamingo then I’d recommend this one too.

Cinderella is Dead – Kalynn Bayron. Cinderella has been dead for 200 years but all is not well. All eligible girls must go to the ball and be picked by a Prince to be married off and taken care of, but Sophia doesn’t subscribe to that happily ever after. Queer MC.

This Poison Heart – Kalynn Bayron. Briseis inherits a house with a mysterious garden from her long-lost Aunt, after having no contact with her birth family for years. MC is queer and has lesbian parents. Brilliant follow up is This Wicked Fate

My Dear Henry – Kalynn Bayron. Are we sensing a theme here? Bayron is a great author for queer rep. This one is a Jekyll and Hyde retelling, but this time with Black and queer rep.

Felix Ever After – Kacen Callender. Trans teen Felix is deadnamed by an unknown artist while preparing for his art showcase and goes on the hunt for to find their identity, while trying to figure out his own problems. Trans and queer MC, lots of queer representation.

So Let Them Burn – Kamilah Cole. Feisty fantasy set across multiple lands with chaotic dragon appearances. Lots of fun, lots of drama. Queer MC.

Her Majesty’s Royal Cove – Juno Dawson. Another incredible book I’m obsessed with. Think witches but cooler. You need to read this. Queer and trans rep. Trans author.

Pet & Bitter – Akwaeke Emezi. Some of the most clever comments on society, I am obsessed with these two. Non-binary author.

Iron Widow – Xiran Jay Zhao. If you’ve followed me for a while, me talking about this book will not surpriser you, I adore it. Sci-fi fantasy, re-imagining of the first female Chinese Emperor. Queer MC’s, polyamory rep.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute – Talia Hibbert. Yes she’s on the list again. Her first YA and it was certainly a success. Friends to enemies to … ? Adored it. Bi MC.

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School – Sonora Reyes. I think the title says it all? A story of friendship and mental health, while growing up different. Lesbian MC.

This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list but there’s certainly a few to get started with! See any of your favourites here? Drop me a comment and let me know!

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Last updated 06/03/2024