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The 2022 Pride Reading List: 72 New Books to Read All Year
It’s time for our annual celebration of Pride Month, in which we highlight some of the best new and upcoming books with LGBTQ+ authors and themes! All titles are on shelves now or will be soon, and we’ve sorted the list accordingly.
Bear in mind that this is necessarily an incomplete list, since queer literature is pretty much stitched into the very fabric of the mainstream these days, we’re happy to say. We’ve kept the focus on books for adults, across multiple genres, and you’ll find both established authors, exciting debut writers, and the occasional beloved celebrity. (Is that Harvey Fierstein? Yes! Yes, it is!)
Scroll over the covers below to learn more about each book, and keep track of any leads via your Want to Read shelf. Happy Pride Month, everybody!
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Do you have a great Pride Month reading recommendation? Share it with your fellow readers in the comments below!
Check out more recent articles:
New LGBTQ+ Romances to Read for Pride (and All Year Long)
A Mystery Expert Recommends Queer Crime Series
June's Most Anticipated New Books
Check out more recent articles:
New LGBTQ+ Romances to Read for Pride (and All Year Long)
A Mystery Expert Recommends Queer Crime Series
June's Most Anticipated New Books
Comments Showing 51-100 of 127 (127 new)
Kim wrote: "Ilia wrote: "I'd love to see more fantasy/sci-fi, horror, detective books written by queer authors, tbh. The list has barely any."That's exactly what I was thinking!"
There's a link under the post for precisely that.
So happy so see Alexis Hall twice on this list! :DDidn't know John Waters had a new book, just added it to my tbr ;)
Some of my favorite LGBTQ books:Red, White & Royal Blue
The Best Bad Things
Logical Family: A Memoir and any of Armistead Maupin's books.
For YA readers and fantasy fans, while the protagonist of Legendborn is very much a straight cis female, I found the book notable in that it doesn't make a big deal of the fact that some of the characters are gay or nonbinary. To me, that's where we need to be going.
Happy Pride Month if anyone is looking for a good sci-fi space opera with be gay do crime then i recommend Blue Brid by Ciel Pierlot :)
here's one::https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
"A classic tale of the healing power of nature… with an LBGTQ twist.
A trunk with a double bottom, a story hidden within a story.
A European best-seller, continuously in print since 1920, now for the first time in English.
Three men (women?) spend each summer in a remote cottage in the last virgin forest of Europe. This summer, they are joined by a teenager from the big city.
First published in 1920, the book becomes a classic. A Catholic nation worships the tale for a century. Kids read it in school. Grandparents read it to their children. Then someone breaks the story: the novel is a roman-à-clef and the "men" are, in fact, lesbians living in (gasp!) a ménage à trois!"
My top recommendation for m/m romance is
- ALL the FEELS!!! And the Love Bank series by Duckie Mack is awesome:
And finally,
I'm dying to read Husband Material (I'm basic and loved Boyfriend Material SO MUCH) but its a bummer its filling a spot on this list as it doesn't come out until August so kinda hard to enjoy during Pride Month lol
Happy pride everyone💖💜💙 Cant wait to get into these!!
⭐Anny⭐ (Book Princess) wrote: "Loveless by Alice Oseman came out in Germany earlier this year and I'm recommending it to everyone :) It's about a lesser known queer identity and the author is part of that community herself."That was a good book!
The Never Tilting WorldThe Ever Cruel Kingdom
These are both very good fantasy/sci-fi books with queer characters in them (though only one couple). They are a duology written by Rin Chupeco, a non-binary author.
boooks wrote: "If anyone has any YA recommendations I'd really appreciate it! These books are a bit above my age group. Preferably books without sexual content or anything too violent. Or if there are any books o..."The house in the cerulean sea is a middle grade book but it's really wholesome and cute. Loveless is YA and while there is talk of sex there is no on page sex as the main character is a sex repulsed asexual. There is some kissing though but nothing too in depth.
The Trickster RiotsI humbly submit my book to be considered for your Pride Month reading list (and beyond!). This illustrated poetry book is the heartwork of a Lakota Two Spirit and my trans/nonbinary teen (who is Lakota, Ojibwe, and Mvskoke (Creek). We are both enrolled citizens of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and would be honored to have you read our books, which just published on June 1, 2022!
Ilia wrote: "I'd love to see more fantasy/sci-fi, horror, detective books written by queer authors, tbh. The list has barely any."Same. The only one they got of queer speculative fiction here is "Moon Witch, Spider King", one which most of us already knew the existence of (since the prequel "Black Leopard, Red Wolf" is pretty famous).
Also I wish they separated the books by LGBT groups, books with gay themes, lesbian themes, bisexual themes, transgender themes, etc. I personally would like to read more books with transgender characters and themes, and only by the covers, authors and titles I can't know which of these books are about transgender issues or have transgender characters.
super excited for husband material! (even though the author was rude to me on his Instagram smh) but, uh... what about I Kissed Shara Wheeler? That just recently came out and it's not on the list? *sighs*
Isabella wrote: "Ilia wrote: "I'd love to see more fantasy/sci-fi, horror, detective books written by queer authors, tbh. The list has barely any."Same. The only one they got of queer speculative fiction here is ..."
Have you looked through the Listopia lists?
Best Own Voice LGBTQIAP+ Books: https://www.goodreads.com/list/user_v...
Everyone- The Sleepless is great and I highly recommend! I read an E-Arc a few months ago. Great Sci-Fi Mystery debut with commentary on Capitalism, wealth, & greed.
Could anyone recommend well-written fiction with ACE characters? I've read a couple of fact books but would like to read about fictional ACE people (all I know is Varys from the Song of Ice and Fire...)
When is heterosexual month...keep me informed!!
How about some non-mainstream recommendations?A Whisper of Solace
No Strings
No Good Reason
The Thing About Tilly
The Tell Tale
Truth and Measure
Julia Shaw’s Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexualityhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Ambrosia wrote: "boooks wrote: "If anyone has any YA recommendations I'd really appreciate it! These books are a bit above my age group. Preferably books without sexual content or anything too violent. Or if there ..."The House in the Cerulean Sea is actually adult fantasy that just reads like Middle Grade.
Hanna wrote: "Could anyone recommend well-written fiction with ACE characters? I've read a couple of fact books but would like to read about fictional ACE people (all I know is Varys from the Song of Ice and Fir..."Are you looking for adult fiction or can it be YA/NA as well?
Hanna wrote: "Could anyone recommend well-written fiction with ACE characters? I've read a couple of fact books but would like to read about fictional ACE people (all I know is Varys from the Song of Ice and Fir..."Here is a page with Listopia Lists featuring: Queer & Asexual/Aromantic books
An LGBTQIA+ graphic novel that I have heard so many good things about is Heartstopper and now it is also a Netflix series I recommend it to anyone who needs a heartfelt lovestory involving LGBTQIA+
Just finished and loved Semi Queer: Inside the World of Gay, Trans, and Black Truck Drivers. So little is written about feminism/LGBTQ in the blue collar work world.
TJ Klune, KD Edwards, NR Walker, and Freydis Moon are also authors part of the LGBTQ community with books I have thoroughly enjoyed if you're looking for fiction!
Lucietta wrote: "I would add Shiri Eisner Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolution" Check out Slow Reveal. Set in 1990s New York, Slow Reveal paints a portrait of artists who defy the arbiters of culture and challenge social norms. Art, addiction and family dynamics capsize the Kanes when they discover the parallel life of Katharine, film editor, mother, lover and wife.
“A poem is never finished, only abandoned,” wrote Paul Valéry, an outcome echoed in her decade-long affair with Naomi, a lesbian poet. Katharine’s marriage to Jonathan collapses in his struggle with sobriety when he’s ostracized for politicizing art and abandons his career for advertising. Faced with confrontations from her two grown daughters, an installation artist and an aspiring writer, Katharine hangs onto her former life. When unforeseen tragedy strikes, devotion and commitment are not the guardrails that keep their work or relationships on track but rather a form of entrapment.
A captivating story about relevance at the end of the 20th century, the novel questions the voracious demands of contemporary society through a riveting portrayal of turbulent family life, impacted by art shaped by the media and influenced by social and political injustice. Success is redefined by the courage to embark on the artistic process, as risky, messy and unpredictable as building intimacy and trust in love.
Great to see David Sedaris in this list. His new collection of essays is increasingly vulnerable and open, and his writing is top form. It's one of those "you'll laugh, you'll cry" books, and also, you'll adore the tidbits he reveals about his 30+ year relationship with Hugh. Highly recommended!
“She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders” By Jennifer Boylan. Written in 2003 about her transition. It’s so good!
Can anyone recommend some YA or adult books (fiction please) with bisexual women? Can't find a lot
Fa wrote: "Can anyone recommend some YA or adult books (fiction please) with bisexual women? Can't find a lot"These are the ones I've read that have bisexual women in them. I haven't enjoyed all of them but maybe you will: Ramona Blue, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Color Purple, Perfect on Paper, Not Otherwise Specified. For these two there's one pansexual woman and for the other her sexuality isn't defined but I could see her being bi/pan: Count Your Lucky Stars, Stone Heart
Edit: Oh and I'm reading Fire with Fire right now, which features a bi female main character. It's pretty good so far.
I was hoping to see Mark Oshiros' Each Of Us A Desert. I'm almost finished with it, so lovely.
boooks wrote: "If anyone has any YA recommendations I'd really appreciate it! These books are a bit above my age group. Preferably books without sexual content or anything too violent. Or if there are any books o..."Winter Ball - Amy Lane
Summer Lessons - Amy Lane
Fall Through Spring - Amy Lane
The Gravity of Us - Phil Stamper
The Reality of Us - Vanessa North
Where You Are - J.H. Trumble
Blaine For The Win - Robbie Couch
Ilia wrote: "I'd love to see more fantasy/sci-fi, horror, detective books written by queer authors, tbh. The list has barely any."Working on one! Epic fantasy/gay romance. Two guys from opposite ends of society must change the world if they're to be together. Queer, trans, non-binary, gray ace myself :)
Wanted to add some more recs too!(If I write NS it means not suitable for younger audiences! :))
Contemporary:
Aristotle and Dante Series
History Is All You Left Me
More Happy Than Not
They Both Die At The End
I Wish You All The Best
Call Me By Your Name (NS)
Boyfriend Material (NS)
Red, White and Royal Blue (NS)
One Last Stop (NS)
The Seven Husbands on Evelyn Hugo (NS)
A Little Life (NS, check tws please!!!)
All For The Game Series (tws here too! (slightly NS))
The Heart’s Invisible Furies (NS)
The Charm Offensive (NS)
Murder:
These Violent Delights (the Micah one, slightly NS)
The Secret History
If We Were Villains
Fantasy:
Priory Of The Orange Tree (NS)
Simon Snow Trilogy
Villains Series
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone series
The Mortal Instruments Series
The Raven Cycle Series and The Dreamer Trilogy
The Song of Achilles (slight NS (one scene))
The Captive Prince Series (NS)
Hope this helps, happy pride to everyone! 🏳️🌈🫶🏻
I highly recommend The Song of Achillies if you want a heart wrencher. And The Binding by Bridget Collins. Also, Heaven Official's Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu is amazing. A Xianxia (historical fantasy) novel about a prince who became a God, then got kicked out of heaven twice before asending again.
(Books are suitable for young audiences.)
Oh no I can't edit my post! Those books AREN'T suitable for young readers!!
Anna wrote: "Moon Witch, Spider King was great. Also was there a lack of authors that Hall is recommended twice? :)"
THIS!!!!!!
The One WomanI've heard about this book on Instagram, releasing in August.
Sounds like a sweet W/W romance ❤️
No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull is a dark, complex monster fantasy that has all sorts of queer rep! Such an underrated book!No Gods, No Monsters
Here's one, freshly released: Incitatus
Sci-fi th..."
Will check it out! Thanks!