Happy June, everyone! And Happy Pride Month! With Covid, Pride will look different this year – no parades and festivals – but we can still find other ways to celebrate the LGBT+ community, whether you’re in that community yourself (as I am) or you’re an ally! We’re all allowed to show pride! Today, I’m sharing some LGBT+ books that are on my to-read list (both YA and Adult). Some books are out already, while others are being released soon. Please let me know what catches your eye in the comments!!
LGBT+ Books I Want to Read: YA and Adult
- please note that these are not in any particular order, and I’m an affiliate for Bookshop.org – no extra cost for you, and I get a small percent of any sales!
I Will Be Okay by Bill Elenbark
Add to Goodreads
Out: June 30th
This YA sounds like it deals with some tough issues, so I’m sure I’m going to be emotional half the time. I’m really curious how the relationship between the two boys is depicted, because it sounds like it’s a bit toxic – or at least, not super healthy. Based on the summary, I think it’ll be properly addressed. Plus, it seems to have quite a bit of diversity – apart from LGBT+ characters – and I’m all about more diverse books!
How to Be Good by Chace Verity
Add to Goodreads
Out: Tomorrow, June 2nd
Late night talk show host meets English Lit teacher?? Yep, I’m so in! This one just sounds really good! I don’t believe I’ve read anything by the author before either, so I’m always happy to discover a new-to-me writer.
Docile by K.M. Szpara
Add to Goodreads
Out: Now
I actually won a giveaway and chose this book, so it’s currently sitting on my desk. I definitely hope to read it soon – it’s quite long, but I’ve heard great things. The tagline – on the book cover – is “There is no consent under capitalism” so essentially people can get paid to be servants – sex and all. I’m sure it’s going to be a bit of an intense read, with a lot of awkward feelings, but it sounds like it’s done well. Consent people – it’s important.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Add to Goodreads
Out: Now
I’ve been hearing really good things about this one. It sounds like a very funky book, but I really want to read it. Plus, you know, MAGICAL ISLAND!
Here the Whole Time by Vitor Martins
Add to Goodreads
Out: November 10th
Man, I really feel for Felipe. I know what it’s like to be overweight. This book sounds like it will be equal parts emotional and touching. The summary definitely has me excited. Plus, it’s a translated novel – Larissa Helena translated it into English. I love books that aren’t originally published in English, or take place in a different country.
Hideous Beauty by William Hussey
Add to Goodreads
Out: Now
This one sounds so intense, and heartbreaking, but I kind of love those type of books. Plus, it has a mystery, and you know how I love a good mystery!! Definitely need this one ASAP.
The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters
Add to Goodreads
Out: September 8
The main character listens to 90’s Alt-Rock songs and his dream job is at a used bookstore. I’m down just for that! Plus, I read Winters previous books Running With Lions and How to Be Remy Cameron and really loved both. I wish this one was coming out a bit earlier – since it would be a great pool read! Oh well, I guess September 8 is technically still summer.
The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg
Add to Goodreads
Out: September 1st
This book reminds me of the adult novel A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby, which is a favorite of mine, so I’m really excited to see how this YA “version” if you will tackles the topic. I like that it focuses on mental health issues, along with being LGBT+. It sounds like it’ll be an emotional one, but I’m here for it.
Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass
Add to Goodreads
Out: September 15th
I feel like this is going to be an intense one, as the main character is at a conversion camp. At the same time, I’m ready to see this camp and its counselors taken down, so let’s do this thing! I’m happy to report that I have an e-ARC of this one to (hopefully) read soon.
Camp by L.C. Rosen
Add to Goodreads
Out: Now
I read and LOVED L.C. Rosen’s book Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) so I’m excited to check out something new by them. And don’t worry – this isn’t a conversion camp sort of story! It’s a camp for queer teens, and I LOVE that. It sounds like such a great read for the summer time!!
When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey
Add to Goodreads
Out: Now
I mean, how fun does this one sound? I’m all about books with magic, and six fierce females with queer representation? Yes please!
Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth
Add to Goodreads
Out: October 20
Okay, this just sounds amazing. I hadn’t heard of this one until I started putting this post together, but I’m so glad I found it. It sounds like the perfect book for October! Also – it has black and white illustrations in the book!! How cool is that? Right, yes, very cool.
I Hope You’re Listening by Tom Ryan
Add to Goodreads
Out: October 6
I’m so excited for this book. I love a good mystery, first and foremost. I read Tom Ryan’s book Keep This to Yourself and gave it 5 stars, so I cannot wait for more from this author. And it looks like this one will be f/f too!! Plus, I like this trend of using podcasts in books – I think it’s a fun addition to mystery novels.
***
Happy Pride Month: 2020 LGBT+ Books @shootingstarmag wants to read #ontheblog #lgbt #happypridemonth Click To Tweet
I have several of these on my TBR too, especially When We Were Magic and The House in the Cerulean Sea.
Some of these sound good to me too! I had Camp on my list.
I already had Camp on my list, but all the others are new to me. Thanks for sharing more ideas!
This list is AWESOME, I’m adding these to my Goodreads list!
These are all new to me. I hope you enjoy them all. I can’t wait to read your views.
Great list, Lauren! I’ve been seeing some phenomenal reviews for The House in the Cerulean Sea! I’m looking forward to that one.
Happy Pride! I’m always looking for new LGBTQ+ books to get into, so I’m going to be adding a few of these to my TBR.
This looks like a good list! I really want to read Camp. Also, I would look more into The State of Us as I’ve seen many BIPOC authors saying that the writing is racist and problematic.
Thanks for the heads up! I took The State of Us off the list.
How cool is it that there is such variety to choose from? The Summer of Everything sounds intriguing because haven’t we all had a summer like that? Wonderful list, my friend.
You have so many books on here that sound fantastic! I’m going to have to look into a few of them, too! I love diversity and strong-as-hell women in my books! 🙂 Happy Pride Month! (And happy belated birthday!!)
The Bridge is high on my list. I totally need to see how that concept is executed. I want to read the new Julian Winters book too. Hopefully it’s as wonderful as his last book
The House in the Cerulean Sea is on my hype-TBR too! I haven’t heard of most of the others so I’ll have to look them up. That cover for The State of Us really gave me RWRB vibes too (so of course I’ll have to read it hahah!).
Great list! The Summer of Everything sounds like such a great read 🙂
Happy reading! <3
Thank you so much for this post – it really could not have come at a better time! I’m currently writing an LGBT book about two girls that stumble upon one another in a forest, and this could absolutely count as research!
I hope you are doing well 🙂
Awesome! I’m so happy to help.
I’ve been seeing The House in the Cerulean Sea around the blogosphere a lot lately. It sounds delightfully bizarre. I hope you love all these!
[…] LGBT+ Books I Want to Read (YA and Adult) […]
Happy Pride month!! The Bridge is one I definitely want to check out!
Such a great list!
I’m looking forward to Camp. I loved his debut book too.
Karen @ For What’ It’s Worth
I didn’t know you were a member of the community too! I just started Autoboyagraphy (a YA by Christina Lauren about a bi teen), but definitely going to check some of these out too, especially The Summer of Everything and Camp!
Yes, I’m bi! I have Autoboyography, and I really need to read it soon.
Me too! Though you probably already knew that! 🙂
haha Yes!! Happy Pride Month!
I just saw I Will Be Okay somewhere today for the first time, it sounds good. And Surrender Your Sons is on my TBR as well as a few others. I read When We Were Magic and it was good, but a lot different from what I’d expected when I started it. Thanks for sharing this list, there are a few I haven’t heard of but will look into.
I’m really excited to get to Docile and When we were magic!!!
So many of these are on my TBR too! I’m really looking forward to reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Summer of Everything and When We Were Magic.
I just featured The House in the Cerulean Sea on my blog for its beautiful cover, but I didn’t realize it’s LGBT—I want to read it even more now. I need to read and review When We Were Magic and I just won Camp and I’m so excited to read it!
ooh I hope you love the two that you have!
Patrick Gale writes brilliant novels, and at least two of them – A Place Called Winter, and Take Nothing With You – are about gay men (yes, he is gay). Also I enjoyed Carol Anshaw’s novel Right After the Weather (yes, she’s a lesbian).
Goodness, SO many that I want to read here too! The House in the Cerulean Sea , Docile, The Bridge, and I Hope You Are Listening are all ones I am really excited for too! I see a few that I definitely want to check out, too. Thanks for sharing these!