Queer Books I've Read/Am Reading

I want to give short & easy to read descriptions of these books I own that are about LGBTQIA+ characters. In my experience, when queer media is recommended to others, the person recommending it often only recommends it on the basis of the representation alone and doesn't actually say what the piece of media is actually about. I hope to see this change, so I won't be doing that here.

The book covers shown here will be based on the versions I have.

Hope you enjoy! :D


Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: 2020

Yadriel is a transgender brujo looking to win his traditional community's acceptance by summoning the spirit of his cousin Miguel after a tragic incident befalls him. However, he accidentally ends up summoning the ghost of resident "bad boy" Julian Diaz.

  • Latine characters/Latin American influence
  • Fantasy & Romance
  • Multiple queer characters, recurring as well as main
  • Own Voices
  • Disclaimer: Minor transphobia and misgendering; racism and talks of deportation/the impact it's had on the community

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova: 2016

Alex is the most powerful bruja/witch in her generation, but she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, she performs a spell to try and get rid of it, but it backfires.

Her whole family vanishes and now all she has is Nova, a brujo she can't trust, but who could be the key to Alex saving her family.

  • Latine characters/Latin American influence
  • Fantasy & Romance
  • First book in a series

Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann: 2018

Alice planned a happy summer full of all-you-can-eat buffets and tv watching with her best friends (with some adulting included), but Alice's girlfriend recently broke up with her after Alice confessed she's asexual.

Now Alice has decided that she's done with dating, but when she meets a guy named Takumi that she can't stop thinking about, she has to decide if she's willing to risk their friendship for a love that might not be reciprocated or understood.

  • Main character is black, biromantic, and asexual
  • Romance
  • Found Family
  • Disclaimer: Aphobia

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender: 2020

Felix Love, who desperately wants to be in love but hasn't been able to find anyone, enacts a plan of revenge when an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages after they publicly posted his deadname and pictures of him pre-transition.

However, his catfishing scheme lands him in the middle of a quasi-love triangle with his former enemy and his best friend.

While navigating his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps him redefine how he feels about himself.

  • Main character is black, queer, and transgender
  • Romance - Love Triangle
  • Multiple queer characters, recurring as well as main
  • Own Voices
  • Disclaimer: Transphobia

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell: 2019

The sequel to Carry On, this book explores the lives of our heroes after their initial journey, complete with a roadtrip across America.

  • Multiple Perspectives
  • Romance
  • Strong friendships
  • Second in a trilogy of books
  • Unreliable Narrators

Carry on by Rainbow Rowell: 2015

Simon Snow is considered by his evil vampire roommate Baz to be the worst Chosen One ever, and despite their shared animosity, Simon may agree.

Through not being able to make his wand work, or causing accidents with it, his girlfriend breaking up with him, and a magic-eating monster wearing his face, Simon is determined to solve the mystery of why his infuriating nemesis didn't bother to show up to their last year at the Watford School of Magicks.

  • Multiple Perspectives
  • Romance
  • Strong friendships
  • First in a trilogy of books
  • Unreliable Narrators

Rainbow Islands by Devon Harnois: 2018

In the Christian Republic, homosexuals can either choose conversion therapy or exile to the distant islands populated by other queer people.

16 year old Jason, a trans boy, chooses exile and though he expects to face incredible hardship in the islands, he instead finds an incredible and supportive community.

However, the Christian Republic is planning a war against them, so the people of the Rainbow Islands have to stop them before they're exterminated.

  • Adventure and fantasy based: Krakens, naval battles, flying islands built by asexuals, etc.
  • Romance with bisexual bucaneer girl named Sky
  • Own Voices
  • Multiple queer characters, recurring as well as main

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills: 2012

An aspiring radio DJ and trans boy named Gabe faces difficulties concerning being himself while also building a small community of supporters influenced by his shows.

  • Partial romance
  • Disclaimer: Transphobia/transphobic violence