June is pride month, and that means it’s time for some LGBTQ+ book recommendations. These are a few of my top LGBTQ+ book recommendations; however, do not stop here. There are thousands more out there – enough to fill all 365 days of the year.
‘Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books’ – Kirsten Miller
Kirsten Miller creates pure chaos and laughter in the fictional world of small-town Troy, Georgia. There are book bans, an omniscient postman, a drag queen, a gay teenager determined to (literally) take down the town’s Confederate general statue, and both family and town drama that ties everyone together. Miller says a lot about what it means to be queer in a small town and the importance of having access to diverse books.
‘Sunburn’ – Chloe Michelle Howarth
For more of a romance novel, “Sunburn” follows Susannah and Lucy as they fall in love in rural, small-town Crossmore, Ireland. The book is beautifully and devastatingly written, as it focuses on the battle between following your heart and being accepted by your family and society. You will not be able to put “Sunburn” down, and the plot will leave you sitting on the floor of your room trying to process what you read when you finish (speaking from experience).
‘Gender Queer’ – Maia Kobabe
“Gender Queer” tells Kobabe’s story of struggling with gender identity, sexuality and his identity as a whole. It is also the most banned book in the United States, typically due to the book’s “sexual content.” Kobabe uses illustrations and narrations to show that everyone’s journey in figuring out their identity is different and complicated.
‘My Friends’ – Fredrick Backman
Fredrick Backman’s writing style makes this book what it is. Through witty jokes and heart-wrenching life truths, teenage Lousia learns the story of three boys in a world-famous painting from Ted, one of the boys in the painting. The story deals with found family, childhood trauma and grief.
Whether you are looking for books with grief, yearning or sarcasm, there are lots of LGBTQIA+ books to choose from – but this list is a good start.
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