Every Pride Month everyone makes their lists—both modest and epic—of reads you should consider adding to your ever-growing TBR shelves and piles.
But I’ve got 11 more for your consideration pulled from my own shelves. A good mix of titles from the last few years from tame middle grade to oh-so-spicy adult and even some comics. I tried to include a little something for everyone and to select works that would showcase a greater variety of the queer spectrum.
You can find descriptions of what’s typically included for each “SPICE LEVEL” on this resource page.
1) Predestined
by Kat Vancil
Features: gay and bisexual male main characters & gay and trans supporting characters
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, Romantasy, Myth Punk, Small-town Romance
Spice Level: Spicy
read it
2) Red, White & Royal Blue
by Casey McQuiston
Features: gay and bisexual male main characters
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Royal Romance
Spice Level: Spicy
read it
3) Self-Made Boys
Anna-Marie McLemore
Features: trans main characters
Genre: Historical Romance, Classics Retelling
Spice Level: Zesty
read it
4) Legends & Lattes
by Travis Baldree
Features: lesbian main character
Genre: Cozy Fantasy, Cottage core
Spice Level: Sweet
read it
5) The Sun and The Star
by Rick Riordan & Mark Oshiro
Features: gay and bisexual male main characters
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, Adventure Fantasy, Myth Punk, Coming-of-age Fantasy
Spice Level: Sweet/Zesty
read it
6) Bound: The Contract
by Anne Luise Pätzke
Features: gay male main characters & lesbian and bisexual supporting characters
Genre: Fantasy, Magic Realism, Sword & Sorcery
Spice Level: Spicy/Ghost Pepper (special content is 18+)
read it
7) Heartstopper
by Alice Oseman
Features: gay and bisexual male main characters & lesbian, trans, and ace supporting characters
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Coming-of-age
Spice Level: Zesty/Spicy
read it
8) Wayward Son
by Rainbow Rowell
Features: gay and bisexual male main characters & other queer supporting characters
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, Adventure Fantasy, Coming-of-age Fantasy
Spice Level: Zesty
read it
9) Kings Rising
by C.S. Pacat
Features: bisexual and demisexual male main characters & a spectrum of queer supporting characters
Genre: Fantasy
Spice Level: Ghost Pepper
read it
10) Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard – The Ship of the Dead
by Rick Riordan
Features: a bisexual male main character & a genderfluid supporting character
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, Adventure Fantasy, Myth Punk
Spice Level: Sweet
read it
11) Spell bound
by F.T. Lukens
Features: a nonbinary main character
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Spice Level: Zesty