LGBTQ+ Books

[Laralelle Susandrea]

A friend of mine (who, incidentally has a transgender daughter who I had the privilege of teaching several years ago) posted a short list of LGBTQ+ inclusive books. Partly in response to JKR's Twitter tirade, but also just because. Do you all have any recommendations for her? Kid friendly or not kid friendly.

 

[Sorcha Al'Verdan]

I have a two book set, It's called of Darkness, light and fire written by Tanya Huff - It's two separate stories, both of which have characters of differing preferences and there's a few poignant moments of people coming to terms with aspects of their own sexuality. Plus the plots are awesome

https://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Light-Fire-Book-Collectors/dp/B001PIHXBA

 

[Morgana Arakos]

I haven't read it yet, but from my TBR pile: Pet by Akwaeke Emezi might be a good addition! It's a YA book that features a Black, trans main character. I loved their book Freshwater, which also deals with gender identity but is deffffinitely not kid friendly, so I'm really excited to see what they do with a YA story.

 

[Tallan Daar]

I enjoyed Dreadnought (and its sequel Sovereign) by April Daniels - YA superhero stuff with a trans protagonist.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Juliet Takes a Breath is about a queer teen coming to terms with being queer. Very good, meant for teens.

 

[Elia LePhant]

George by Gino Alex is a middle grade/children's book, and The Bride Was A Boy by Chii is a manga style autobiography about the author's experience being Japanese, trans, and falling in love. She breaks it up between telling her story and also providing information about what transgender means for readers who might not understand or know much about it.

 

[Dianna Melear]

Reviving this thread, because LGBTQ+ fiction/fantasy has been exploding recently! :ha

Here's a non-exhaustive list of all of the books I've read recently that I'd consider LGBTQ+ (either in themes or characters):
- This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone -- A novella that as immediately become my go-to "comfort read." Time travel, love letters, and a cast made up almost entirely of badass ladies. What's not to love? Probably YA friendly, but maybe not for kids because of violence.
- Gideon the Ninth / Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir -- Wow are these books weird in the best way possible. I'm sure we've all heard the tagline, but it bears repeating: lesbian necromancers in space. Definitely not for kids. A very good time for adults.
- A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine -- If you love language / linguistics and space operas, this book is for you. Also probably not for kids, just because the language can be a bit lofty.
- The Tensorate Series by JY Yang -- Somewhat YA, so probably good for teenagers. In this series people choose their gender (or don't, if they don't want to). How/why pronouns matter is a constant subplot, and is handled in a really lovely way.
- Victories Greater than Death by Charlie Jane Anders -- Definitely YA, definitely a good time. All of the main and main/secondary characters are very sweet. One of the secondary characters is travesti (a subset of the Brazillian trans community).

I could go on, but would love to hear what other books people would recommend!! :grouphug

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey (they/them) is alternate history that is very diverse in terms of race but also gender and sexual orientation. Alternate history, with hippos!

Deadline by Stephanie Ahn was a lot of fun. Main character is a lesbian. Mystery with supernatural elements.

 

[Arella Mathara]

I really liked So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

 

[Fenya al'Caem]

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey (they/them) is alternate history that is very diverse in terms of race but also gender and sexual orientation. Alternate history, with hippos!

Deadline by Stephanie Ahn was a lot of fun. Main character is a lesbian. Mystery with supernatural elements.

Is River of Teeth the same thing as American Hippo? If so, yes!!!! So good.

I'd also recommend Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, which features a trans protagonist and is a beautiful genre mishmash of science fiction and fantasy. (Warning for deadnaming and sexual assault, but nothing graphic)

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree is a very sweet fantasy romance that features a lesbian relationship between the two main characters.

 

[Kallarn Lo'Vosh]

Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers is all round inclusive with some great sci fi.

 

[Blythe Alawdin]

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon for a very satisfying slow burn

 

[Arella Mathara]

Just finished In Deeper Waters, also by F.T. Lukens. Recommend that as well

 

[Fenya al'Caem]

I read The Four Profound Weaves by R. B. Lemberg--such a beautiful, lyrical, queer fairytale! Highly recommend. They have a full novel coming out this fall set in the same world, as well.

 

[Zeela Graystone]

I don't have specific books to add but a friend does Rainbow Crate Book Box (name is a link) which I am happy to recommend - they have a huge list and add new books all the time. They send loot crates with goodies related to their feature books, super cute stuff.

 

[Nadezhda al'Lanahrin]

Anything by Adam Silvera is kid friendly. Neve Wilder for totally not kid friendly.

 

[Satara al'Caelahn]

Once and Future by A. R. Capetta and the sequel, Sword in the Stars.

They're teen friendly and take a futuristic, sci-fi twist on Authurian legends. (King Arthur has been reborn as a teenage girl in outer space.) And what I love about it is that it's not about queerness. The LGBTQ+ characters in the book are all just incidental. It's just... how things are. Totally normal in the future to ask someone for their pronouns. Nobody assumes gender or sexuality. It's all very casual and the books are clever and emotional, too.

 

[Areandara Zukari'th]

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon for a very satisfying slow burn

I just started reading this and it seems interesting!

 

[Blythe Alawdin]

I just started reading this and it seems interesting!

I hope you enjoy it!

 

[Xylianna Paladina]

Reviving this thread, because LGBTQ+ fiction/fantasy has been exploding recently! :ha

Here's a non-exhaustive list of all of the books I've read recently that I'd consider LGBTQ+ (either in themes or characters):
- This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone -- A novella that as immediately become my go-to "comfort read." Time travel, love letters, and a cast made up almost entirely of badass ladies. What's not to love? Probably YA friendly, but maybe not for kids because of violence.
- Gideon the Ninth / Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir -- Wow are these books weird in the best way possible. I'm sure we've all heard the tagline, but it bears repeating: lesbian necromancers in space. Definitely not for kids. A very good time for adults.
- A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine -- If you love language / linguistics and space operas, this book is for you. Also probably not for kids, just because the language can be a bit lofty.
- The Tensorate Series by JY Yang -- Somewhat YA, so probably good for teenagers. In this series people choose their gender (or don't, if they don't want to). How/why pronouns matter is a constant subplot, and is handled in a really lovely way.
- Victories Greater than Death by Charlie Jane Anders -- Definitely YA, definitely a good time. All of the main and main/secondary characters are very sweet. One of the secondary characters is travesti (a subset of the Brazillian trans community).

I could go on, but would love to hear what other books people would recommend!! :grouphug

Have read all of these except Victories Greater Than Death (which is on my kindle!!) and seconding the recs!

Is River of Teeth the same thing as American Hippo? If so, yes!!!! So good.

I'd also recommend Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, which features a trans protagonist and is a beautiful genre mishmash of science fiction and fantasy. (Warning for deadnaming and sexual assault, but nothing graphic)

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree is a very sweet fantasy romance that features a lesbian relationship between the two main characters.

Have read Light From Uncommon Stars and seconding the rec!

Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers is all round inclusive with some great sci fi.

Becky Chambers is an instabuy author for me. Wayfarers is great fun! Her standalone To Be Taught, If Fortunate is also queer and is incredible. The new Monk & Robot series has book 2 coming out this summer! All highly recommended!!

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon for a very satisfying slow burn

Oh man Priory was sooooo good! wlw and dragons? yes please

Some other faves include:

all 3 of Casey McQuiston's romances: Red, White & Royal Blue, One Last Stop, I Kissed Shara Wheeler

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake

The Companion by E.E. Ottoman

The First Sister and The Second Rebel by Linden A. Lewis

She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

... I could keep going XD