Top Ten LGBTQA+ Books
It’s Pride month! So it seemed the best time to do a Top Ten List on my favourite LGBTQA+, or rather Pride books.
First off, a disclaimer. There are more sexualities than just LGBTQA+ – Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer and Asexual. There are Gender-Binary, Demisexual, Sapiosexual, Biromantic… and many others. For more information on sexualities please read this article.
Top Ten LGBTQA+ and Pride Books
Today’s Top Ten theme is LGBTQA+ Books. These are my favourite books featuring the subject of sexuality, either as a main plot or as a subplot. What are your favourite LGBTQA+ books? Let me know in the comments below.
In at the Deep End by Kate Davies
This hilarious book is a no-nonsense LGBTQA+ book and it’s amazing! I adored it when I read it last year – although I regret reading it on the tube when a woman read over my shoulder during a fisting scene and genuinely moved across the carriage! – but oh well. She shouldn’t have been reading over my shoulder if she didn’t want to read sexual content.
Women by Chloe Caldwell
A brilliantly powerful literary LGBT book. Written in gorgeously unique prose, I really enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook. A gorgeous book about falling in and out of love for the first time.
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The perfect historical fiction LGBT book. The story of Achilles is world famous, but his love affair with his brother-from-another-mother Patroclus is less so. This book really embraces the relationship and teaches us that being in love with a person of the same gender is nothing to be ashamed of – now or then!
The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
I was so pleased when The Art of Being Normal was released a few years ago. It was the first Young Adult novel I came across that openly discussed transgenderism. A beautifully told book, from a well-educated author who has previously worked with transgender teens.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
A must-read Young Adult novel, my favourite character in this book (and film) is Patrick an openly queer young man who embraces his sexuality without pause. But who struggles in a relationship with another student, who is closeted and has a homophobic parent?
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
It’s hard to talk about the LGBT quality of this book, without giving too much away. But I read it this year and absolutely loved it. One of my favourite reads of 2020.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
The Man Booker Prize Winner of 2019. This is a must-read of 2020 just as much as it was in 2019. It’s brilliantly written, moving and unique. LGBTQA+ is not a matter worth pointing out, it’s just part of the lifestyle of the characters and that’s that. It’s perfection.
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
What I love most about Alice Oseman’s young adult novels, is her approach to sexuality. Regardless of whether her characters are demisexual, asexual, bisexual, heterosexual or homosexual, they’re all welcome and get their voice. Perfect for young adults, and others!
Blue is the Warmest Colour by Julie Maroh
Technically a comic, this graphic novel is eye-opening to a powerful lesbian relationship based in France. Utterly riveting and beautifully illustrated.
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
And finally, a time-slip novel set between the 1980s Aids crisis and now. Following two characters whose lives cross at a funeral in the 1980s and then later in the modern day. Powerful, extremely moving and brilliantly written.
What are your favourite LGBTQA+ books? Let me know in the comments below. I would love to read more this PRIDE month, and beyond.
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