It’s June and we all know what that means: PRIDE MONTH! Time to grab your rainbow gear and celebrate love! To help, here are some of my favorite LGBTQ books as well as some new ones. It’s so important to read books by LGBTQ authors no matter how you identify because not only will it expand your reading horizons, but it’ll also allow you to gain a better understanding of LGBTQ people and hopefully help you to open up a dialogue as well. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I love being able to read books with characters I can relate to about my sexuality. These books are so pivotal to me because they allow me to see that I’m not alone in certain experiences and I know that they do the same for other members of the LGBTQ community. So without further ado, let’s get into this!

My Personal Favs

They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera

This is one of those books that I finished in one sitting because I was on the edge of my seat for the entire ride! The title does give the end away but this book is definitely still worth reading. In a world where you receive notification on the day that you will die, Rufus and Mateo are looking for a friend to spend the rest of their lives with. Little do they know, they might find love too. Be prepared to cry but also be prepared to laugh and smile with this amazing read.

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Becky Albertalli is one of my absolute favorite authors and this is probably my second favorite book by her (The Upside of Unrequited being my first). It does happen in the Simonverse however, in my opinion, it can be read without having read Love, Simon. Albertalli tells the tale of Leah, a bisexual queen, in her senior year of high school. Leah has not come out to her friends yet and and as pressure starts to hit their relationship, Leah realizes she may like one of her friends more than she originally thought. I love this book because not only is it about bisexuality, but the main character is plus sized! This is definitely a fun read and I finished it in like two sittings so its a quick read as well.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Calling all Harry Potter and Percy Jackson fans! Were you a Harry and Draco Stan? Are you getting vibes about Nico di Angelo? Well look no further! This is the book for you! This book took me a while to finish but that was because I had to keep going back and rereading my favorite parts. Rowell spins a story about Simon Snow, the supposed Chosen One, who feels like everything but during his final year of Magic School. One of my favorite things about this book was the friendship between two of the main characters, Simon and Penny. They have one of those pure friendships that makes you want to drop everything and hang out with your own friends. Carry On is hilarious, romantic, zany, and mysterious and definitely worth the read.

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

This was one of my all time favorite reads of 2019! If you love politics and/or romance and/or British royalty and/or forbidden loves, then this is the book for you. It can be pretty risque at times but the juiciness of this book is to die for. I’m not usually a big fan of British royalty as a subject but I loved the way that this book used it to address being true to yourself while also dealing with family expectations. Both funny and cute, this book will definitely bring a smile to your face.

Toil and Trouble by Augusten Burroughs

So this is the first book that I’ve read by Augusten Burroughs and I have to say, I love this man. Toil and Trouble is actually Burroughs’ memoir about his move from a New York City apartment to a house in the middle of nowhere with his partner and their dogs. Oh and did I mention he’s a witch? Both astoundingly hilarious and sincere, I would recommend this book to anyone who’s about to go through a big move or who likes witches. One of my favorite quotes from this book is “You have the soul of a cashier”. I’ll leave it at that.

Books on My List!

Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

Goodreads bio: When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Then she meets Merlin, who has aged backward over the centuries into a teenager, and together they must break the curse that keeps Arthur coming back. Their quest? Defeat the cruel, oppressive government and bring peace and equality to all humankind.

Why I want to read it: Where to begin? A female reincarnation of King Arthur? Oppressive governments? LGBTQ??? I love retellings so this book is right up my alley and it’s also a James Patterson Presents book which have always been good in my opinion

Liquor by Poppy Z. Brite

Goodreads bio: New Orleans natives Rickey and G-man are lifetime friends and down-and-out line cooks desperate to make a quick buck. When Rickey concocts the idea of opening a restaurant in their alcohol-loving hometown where every dish packs a spirited punch, they know they’re on their way to the bank. With some wheeling and dealing, a slew of great recipes, and a few lucky breaks, Rickey and G-man are soon on their way to opening Liquor, their very own restaurant. But first they need to pacify a local crank who doesn’t want to see his neighborhood disturbed, sidestep Rickey’s deranged ex-boss, rein in their big-mouth silent partner before he runs amok, and stay afloat in a stew of corruption in a town well known for its bottom feeders.

Why I want to read it: I LOVE food. I’ve started reading more books that are centered around food because they usually focus on how food can bring people together which I love. I could also see myself thriving in a town that’s known for its love of alcohol.

Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker

Goodreads bio: Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town. One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

Why I want to read it: Two words: Bookshop. Witch. I loooooove witchy shit. And the fact that it’s also an LGBTQ book is amazing! I also love fiction books about books. A lot of times they mention real books so I love going back and reading books that I’ve found in a novel I’ve read. This also just looks super cute in general.

Framily by Alesha Nichole

Goodreads bio:Neveah, a popular event planner in her area, was called upon by Jasmine and Anita to plan their 3rd anniversary party to celebrate their love. As the planning took place, they hit it off. Fun loving Neveah invited Anita and Jasmine out along with a few other friends for drinks. The women soon discovered they were the pieces in one another’s lives they didn’t realize were missing. Through the one-night stands, truth bombs, shenanigans, and laughter these girls keep each other grounded. Framily is an uplifting story about a group of seven women (all in their late 20s-early 30s) who have one another’s backs through life’s hurdles. A group of strangers who came together to form an unbreakable bond. It shows that you don’t have to be blood to be family.

Why I want to read it: I love stories about friend groups and as I read the description for this story, I was reminded of my own friend group ( we always joke that we look like the cast of a “diverse” sitcom). It seams like it’ll be heartwarming and I’m excited to find out.

I hope your Pride Month is filled with joy (as much as is possible during these crazy times) and good books! If you wanna check out any of these books or buy them online, please check out my post on how to support local bookshops or simply go to bookshop.com!