LGBTQ+ Books That Are A Must Read

LGBTQ+ Books are something I never used to pick up. I know how that sounds, trust me I do. And don’t hate me just yet… just hear me out. As a heterosexual female, I just never felt like these books were aimed at me. I never thought that I would be able to connect with the characters on a personal level, as the struggles they may go through are not something I personally know about. Then one year at the Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC) in London, I attended a talk on this very subject and heard the author’s talking about the LGBTQ+ books they had written.

It was the incredible Lisa Williamson who really moved me when talking about her book. She said something along the lines of… this is not a book just about an LGBTQ+ individual. It’s a bigger story and it’s about the love, life, friendships and family of that person. That person just so happens to be LGBTQ+. After attending that talk I immediately went and bought her book and opened my eyes to the world of LGBTQ+ books. It’s not about them being gay or trans or whatever it is that they identify as, they are just the character that we are seeing this world from. The story is so much bigger than it being just about their sexuality or how they identify. It completely changed my whole ideas and perception of LGBTQ+ books. After that I started picking them up a lot more. I actually love it when I’m surprised and the book hasn’t been labelled as an LGBTQ+ book. It makes everything so much more representative and ‘normal’ to not mention it. That’s how I view it anyway. So here you are, the LGBTQ+ books that should be on your TBR…

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson – Trans Lead Character – YA Contemporary
I thought I’d start with the book that changed everything for me. This book is such a heartfelt and emotional read. It follows a male lead character, pre-transition, who is struggling with his identity. He feels like he should be a female but is absolutely terrified to tell his family in fear of them rejecting him in the future. I loved this book, it is still one of my favourite books of all time and I read it years ago now.

Secret by Brigid Kemmerer – Gay Lead Character – YA Paranormal Romance
Secret is part of a wider series where each book focuses on one of the Merrick brothers. Secret follows Nick, who is in love with another man but terrified of telling his brothers, especially his twin, for fear of their rejection. Secret is actually my favourite book in the series. It’s such a beautiful tale of Nick coming out and the impact it has on his life, his boyfriend’s life and his family’s life. It was just utterly perfect.

A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab – Bisexual Side Characters – Adult Fantasy
A Darker Shade of Magic is probably the one book on this list where it’s not completely obvious that the characters may be LGBTQ+. VE Schwab doesn’t openly state the sexuality of the characters as this book is definitely focused more on the story rather than any romance. However, it is hinted that Prince Rhy is bisexual and has relations with both men and women.

Truth or Dare by Non Pratt – Asexual Side Characters – YA Contemporary
Truth or Dare is such a fantastic read. Non Pratt is a fantastic storyteller and she really brings in lots of diverse characters. Truth or Dare follows two main characters who will do whatever it takes to raise the money that they need to help care for one of their family members. One thing I loved about this was that one of the side characters, who is a close friend of one of the main couple, is asexual. It was absolutely fantastic representation as I don’t find a lot of books that include asexual characters.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgernstern – Gay Main Characters – Adult Fantasy
The Starless Sea came as a complete surprise for me. I loved this one as it isn’t publicised as an LGBTQ+ book. It’s fantasy to its core and it’s one of the most lyrical and beautiful books I have ever read. It’s a gorgeous fantasy book that just so happens to have a gay couple as it’s main characters. I loved it and I loved how their sexuality wasn’t made to be a big deal. It didn’t even need to be mentioned or anything like that and that’s what I loved most about it.

So there you have it. 5 LGBTQ+ books I think should be on everyone’s TBRs. Do you have any that you would recommend to me? Leave them in a comment for me.

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