New and Upcoming Books to Discover This Pride Month

Posted by Cybil on June 1, 2023


Happy Pride Month to all of our fellow readers!

This June we are highlighting new (and upcoming) books for adults by and about the wide-ranging LGBTQ+ community with, well, a wide-ranging list of 2023 books that span about every reading mood you can have, including twisty mysteries, far-out science fiction, beautiful literature, heartfelt memoirs, laugh-out-loud essay collections, and much more. (Oh, if you're yearning for some great romances, we have this list for you!) Of course, this is but a sampling of the fantastic LGBTQ+ books published this year, but we hope it will inspire you.

Scroll over the covers to learn more about each book, and be sure to add the books that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf—and bookmark this list for reading well beyond the month of June!


Available Now




June and onward:



What are you reading this Pride Month? Let your fellow readers know in the comments below!
 

Comments Showing 1-50 of 118 (118 new)


message 1: by Milo (new)

Milo LGBTQ+ books should be part of the annual GR awards.


message 2: by Kat (new)

Kat Milo wrote: "LGBTQ+ books should be part of the annual GR awards."

agree! I would love to see GR dedicate an entire category to LGBTQ+ reads!


message 3: by Saoirse (new)

Saoirse Great recs.


message 4: by Zoe (new)

Zoe Gastaldi Thanks for this nice list, from a queer person that love reading and learning new things.


message 5: by Tina H (new)

Tina H It's fun to read the hate comments and then look at their profiles. The usual suspects. Anyway, great list here and I've added many new titles I was unaware of. Happy Pride!


message 6: by Medina (new)

Medina great list, thank you for that!


message 7: by Dani (new)

Dani Tamarit I usually enjoy these selections, but only showing the cover does not provide any info beyond a long list of titles and cover designs.

Simply adding the first 3 tags in the Genre list could be super helpful :)


message 8: by Roger (new)

Roger Bailey As a straight man I can't say that I have a whole lot of interest in these books, but I have had many gay and lesbian friends and I applaud any efforts to gain greater acceptance for sexual minorities and to celebrate their sexuality.


message 9: by Emily (new)

Emily Schwemer Dani wrote: "I usually enjoy these selections, but only showing the cover does not provide any info beyond a long list of titles and cover designs.

Simply adding the first 3 tags in the Genre list could be sup..."


I'm not sure if you are using the app or the website, but if you hover over the cover on the website part of the summary pops up :)


message 10: by Stephanie (new)

Stephanie Thompson Diana wrote: "Super sad to see some haters in 2023 who are clearly struggling with their own mental health issues and religious-bred intolerance. I feel so sad for the hateful, empty lives they lead. I will be b..."

Agree. I put several of these on my TBR, and was very thankful for the list.


message 11: by Jasmin Isabell (new)

Jasmin Isabell cool list. Did not know that Elliot Page wrote a book.


message 12: by Delfunia (new)

Delfunia excited to check some of these out <3


message 13: by Allie (new)

Allie This is a great list, lots of things I hadn't heard of before that I'll check out!


message 14: by [deleted user] (new)

Amazing recommandations ! Thanks for the list GR


message 15: by booksta_lana (last edited Jun 01, 2023 06:55AM) (new)

booksta_lana So many good books.
June is a month of awareness, so let's keep the spotlight and focus on LGBTQ+ authors.


message 16: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer It's so nice to see so many non-judgmental, open minded, caring, thoughtful people on GR. It's always nice when people show their true colors and remove all doubt what kind of person they are! If you don't like it DON'T CLICK ON THE CELEBRATING PRIDE MONTH LINK!!! It's not pushy, it's called inclusion! Don't judge what you know nothing about!


message 17: by Millystargirl (last edited Jun 01, 2023 07:25AM) (new)

Millystargirl Thank you for this list lots of interesting works to consider here. I do always find it a bit strange to come across book people who are closed minded, I love books partially because of being able to view the world through so many different eyes and experiences that are not my own, books are a special kind of slow communication and in the very best cases a kind of empathetic connection.

In terms of books i'm planning to read Chlorine, something by James Baldwin and if i can get my hands on it I would love to read
How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures


message 18: by Shikha (new)

Shikha Thanks Goodreads, this is a fantastic collection.


message 19: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Great recommendations. I added quite a few to my TBR!


message 20: by Jackie (new)

Jackie So many books I already had on my TBR and soooo many new ones! It's an exciting time for queer readers. It's so nice to finally see some quality representation and diversity in literature. Love these lists, and love the support from GoodReads! If you don't like it, don't read it. :)


message 21: by Eileen (new)

Eileen A Lesbian version of Taxi Driver?!?!?!? Buying it now


message 22: by Drew (new)

Drew Bechard Love the list but would have been better if it was organized by genre


message 23: by Kat (new)

Kat Countries of Origin is in this list twice, maybe you could exchange the second mention for a book not yet on the list :)


message 24: by Jordan (new)

Jordan Bailey Ugh more books to add the TBR


message 25: by Cybil, Goodreads employee (new)

Cybil Kat wrote: "Countries of Origin is in this list twice, maybe you could exchange the second mention for a book not yet on the list :)"

Thank you so much for the catch! We've added a new book to replace the repeated title.


message 26: by Cathy (new)

Cathy Drew wrote: "Love the list but would have been better if it was organized by genre"

Yes, I agree.


message 27: by Travis (or) Kaz (new)

Travis (or) Kaz Anyone recommending Bi novels ? Or anything fantasy and YA -? Malice was rlly good :)


message 28: by Ade (new)

Ade Drew wrote: "Love the list but would have been better if it was organized by genre"

Totally


message 29: by Cathy (new)

Cathy Coming out in June: Translation State
September, 4th part of loosely connected novellas: Mammoths at the Gates

Can‘t swear to the actual amount of queerness in them… some… 🤷‍♀️ 😏


message 30: by Sylvia (new)

Sylvia Wilde Love this! Adding a bunch of books to my TBR. I'd like to humbly note that my novel, Like Glass, also explores what it means to live and love as a queer woman. I would be honored if anyone cares to check it out!


message 31: by KT (new)

KT Roger wrote: "As a straight man I can't say that I have a whole lot of interest in these books, but I have had many gay and lesbian friends and I applaud any efforts to gain greater acceptance for sexual minorit..."

There are all kinds and genres of books on this list. From what I can see, there is something for just about any kind of reader on here. I don't know why you assume you wouldn't be interested in them just because they feature queer characters.

The best thing you could do for your friends is be open to books that appear on lists like these. LGBTQ+ people will not achieve greater acceptance as long as straight people look at works featuring queer characters and immediately dismiss them as "not for me."


message 32: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Thank you for the list! As an ace myself i like reading LGBTQIA+ books, even if I wish there were more asexual centred ones.


message 33: by Anna (new)

Anna Kļaviņa Looks interesting 🌈


message 34: by Maria (new)

Maria Cecilia Might read few of them! It’s a great way of catching up with new publications


message 35: by Hoß (new)

Hoß Such a colorful collection as this pride month is going to be for me 🤩🏳‍🌈🌈


message 36: by sarah_eliza (new)

sarah_eliza With some books I haven't gotten to like Aristotle and Dante and husband material and now this great list, my pride month TBR is fabulous! Happy pride!


message 37: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Sarah wrote: "Thank you for the list! As an ace myself i like reading LGBTQIA+ books, even if I wish there were more asexual centred ones."

true, i can only think of Loveless!


message 38: by Laurel (new)

Laurel Drew wrote: "Love the list but would have been better if it was organized by genre"

Honestly! I wanna read some queer thrillers/mysteries. I was hoping to add some to my to-read list.


message 39: by Summer (new)

Summer Billas Does Love Always Win? - Diane Billas
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/sho...


message 40: by Kai (new)

Kai Happy Pride Month! <3


message 41: by Eva (new)

Eva B. Travis wrote: "Anyone recommending Bi novels ? Or anything fantasy and YA -? Malice was rlly good :)"

Here's some good YA novels with bi MCs!
- Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
- Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
- Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
- Epically Earnest by Molly Horan
- I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee
- The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
- Off the Record by Camryn Garrett
- You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
- The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
- Flip the Script by Lyla Lee
- This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves
- Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

And here's some queer YA fantasies!
- Crier's War by Nina Varela
- The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
- The Girl From the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
- Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
- Beyond the Ruby Veil by Mara Fitzgerald
- The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon
- Witchy by Ariel Slamet Ries
- Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
- The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
- Out of the Blue by Jason June
- Belle Revolte by Linsey Miller
- Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller
- The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
- Girls at the Edge of the World by Laura Brooke Robson
- Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
- Nimona by N.D. Stevenson
- Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
- What We Devour by Linsey Miller
- In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens
- So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
- Ruinsong by Julia Ember
- Briar Girls by Rebecca Kim Wells
- Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
- Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh
- Reverie by Ryan La Sala
- All Of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman


message 42: by Eva (last edited Jun 01, 2023 08:13PM) (new)

Eva B. Laurel wrote: "Drew wrote: "Love the list but would have been better if it was organized by genre"

Honestly! I wanna read some queer thrillers/mysteries. I was hoping to add some to my to-read list."


Have you read Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen? I've heard good things about that one! Personally I really loved Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk, but that one has some supernatural elements in it instead of being a straight-up mystery.


message 43: by Moonlight (new)

Moonlight Dani wrote: "I usually enjoy these selections, but only showing the cover does not provide any info beyond a long list of titles and cover designs.

Simply adding the first 3 tags in the Genre list could be sup..."


I'm not sure if you're on the app or not, but if you're on a computer hovering over the titles allows you to see a description of each book. If you're on mobile, they're also links and you can click any that interest you! :)


message 44: by Jasmine... (new)

Jasmine... Milo wrote: "LGBTQ+ books should be part of the annual GR awards."

yesss it totally should


призракът на Банко Dani wrote: "I usually enjoy these selections, but only showing the cover does not provide any info beyond a long list of titles and cover designs.

Simply adding the first 3 tags in the Genre list could be sup..."


[on laptop] if you hover over it with the mouse you can see the preview of the blurb!


Elizabeth(The Book Whisperer) Any one ever read The Story Of Silence by Alex Myers? It is a medieval LBGTQ novel. I have it on my kindle. I am going to read it after In The Lives Of Puppets.


message 47: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Dani wrote: "I usually enjoy these selections, but only showing the cover does not provide any info beyond a long list of titles and cover designs.

Simply adding the first 3 tags in the Genre list could be sup..."


If you hover over the book cover it will show you the full synopsis!


message 48: by Lesly (new)

Lesly Ogden For those interested in sapphic books, here are all the ones I've read and liked!

- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
- Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
- Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner
- This Gilded Abyss by Rebecca Thorne
- Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea Cozy Fantasies, #1) by Rebecca Thorne
- Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1) by Travis Baldree
- The Unbroken (Magic of the Lost, #1) by C.L. Clark
- The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman
- Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan
- The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
- Malice (Malice Duology, #1) by Heather Walter
- Misrule (Malice Duology, #2) by Heather Walter
- Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire, #1) by Natasha Ngan
- She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor, #1) by Shelley Parker-Chan
- Written in the Stars (Written in the Stars, #1) by Alexandria Bellefleur
- Count Your Lucky Stars (Written in the Stars, #3) by Alexandria Bellefleur
- Delilah Green Doesn't Care (Bright Falls, #1) by Ashley Herring Blake
- Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail (Bright Falls, #2) by Ashley Herring Blake
- Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

Some others I'm looking forward to reading:

- Iris Kelly Doesn't Date (Bright Falls, #3) by Ashley Herring Blake
- The Faithless (Magic of the Lost, #2) by C.L. Clark
- Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko
- Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #1) by Tamsyn Muir
- Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #2) by Tamsyn Muir
- Nona the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #3) by Tamsyn Muir
- This Poison Heart (This Poison Heart, #1) by Kalynn Bayron
- Aurora's Angel by Emily Noon
- Scatter by Molly Bragg
- Meeting Millie by Clare Ashton
- Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions
- Into the Blue Again by Marisa Billions


message 49: by Eva (new)

Eva B. Lesly wrote: "For those interested in sapphic books, here are all the ones I've read and liked!

- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
- Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
- Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsne..."


Gideon the Ninth is amazing, I hope you love it!


LGBT Representation in Books You should def add Does Love Always Win? By Diane Billas


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