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Even though Pride Month is coming to a close for another year, the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t simply disappear. Similar to other events such as Black History Month, we all must continue to acknowledge and celebrate every individual, no matter who they are. As part of Pride Month and beyond, we have curated a list of the best books to read in 2021 that have been written by or about the LGBTQ+ community.
From essay compilations to graphic novels, this list will surely have a book that will pique your interest. Happy reading!
“The Queer Bible” by Jack Guinness
If you’re looking for a fresh read that features everyone’s queer favourites, The Queer Bible is one of the newest additions to the LGBTQ+ library. Compiled by Jack Guinness, this book features an illustrated collection of essays written by Elton John, Tan France, Gus Kenworthy, Paris Lees, Russell Tovey, Munroe Bergdorf, and many others. These contemporary queer icons write about the people that paved the way for their own lives.
amazon.com
From 12.99
“The Lucky List” by Rachael Lippincott
Itching for a slow-burn lesbian romance novel set in a small town? The Lucky List has those bases covered. This story from the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Five Feet Apart stars a girl named Emily who is coming to terms with her mother’s death, moving out of her childhood home, and a destroyed relationship with her boyfriend. However, her luck turns around when she finds her late mother’s bucket list and takes her newfound companion Blake on a journey to complete the list.
amazon.com
From 10.99
“Detransition, Baby” by Torrey Peters
Who said transgender people can’t be parents? This novel directly challenges the traditional family dynamic with its three characters: Reese, Amy, and Katrina. The story is about Reese, a trans woman living in New York who had a relationship with Amy before Amy detransitioned to Ames, identifying as a cis man. Ames enters into a relationship with Katrina, who becomes pregnant with his child. Ames feels he isn’t ready to become a father and asks Reese — who always wanted to be a mother — to co-parent with him and Katrina. It’s a refreshing blend of relationship struggles, gender identity, and motherhood.
amazon.com
From 13.99
“The Secret to Superhuman Strength” by Alison Bechdel
From the award-winning lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel, comes her newest graphic novel about her own love for exercise, featuring the most notable fads of past decades. Between her experiences as a cyclist, climber, skier, martial artist, and yogi, Alison illustrates her soul-searching journey towards enlightenment. With Alison’s artistic style being akin to Tintin and mentions of retro exercise trends, this graphic novel is sure to give anyone a sense of nostalgia.
amazon.com
From 12.99
“She Who Became the Sun” by Shelley Parker-Chan
Are you looking for a story that will inspire you to change your fate? This novel is set to release on July 20, 2021, and has been described as “Mulan meets The Song of Achilles.” Set in 14th century China, this upcoming novel appears to be a brilliant re-imagining of the familiar story of Mulan. When Zhu’s brother dies following a bandit attack, she takes on his identity and joins a monastery disguised as a male novice. After the monastery is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against the Mongols, Zhu takes this event as a chance to continue on her late brother’s path to greatness.
amazon.com
From 14.99
“How to Find a Princess: Runaway Royals” by Alyssa Cole
Are you a sucker for civilian-to-royal fantasies? Look no further. This romance novel is reminiscent of Anastasia, featuring a long-lost princess of Ibarania named Makeda. When an attractive investigator named Bez finds Makeda and convinces her to return to Ibarania to fulfill her duties, it kickstarts a wild transatlantic adventure that forces Makeda to learn that she must fight for what she desires.
amazon.com
From 5.99
“I Think Our Son Is Gay” by Okura
If you’re a manga nerd (or even if you aren’t), chances are you’ll love this new slice-of-life comic. This is a family-friendly comedy about a mother and her two sons, one of which she suspects is gay. However, not only is she accepting of her son Hiroki, but she steps back and allows him to figure himself out. This light-hearted manga set in the tumultuous years of high school sets the standard for how all parents should treat their children.
amazon.com
From 8.99
“Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993” by Sarah Schulman
Not in the mood for YA fiction or graphic novels? Check out this brilliant historical analysis of the ACT UP coalition that changed the world by tackling the AIDS crisis. Made up of activists of various backgrounds, races, genders, and sexualities, the coalition fought for things such as needle exchange programs, including women in the definition of AIDS, and changes in the insurance industry. This book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to find where these monumental changes originated from.
amazon.com
From 19.99
“The 2000s Made Me Gay: Essays on Pop Culture” by Grace Perry
With the internet, accessing representation and information about the LGBTQ+ community has never been easier. However, this wasn’t the case for millennials growing up, such as Grace Perry, who had to search for her own representation in the early 2000s. This collection of essays takes you back to the era of Gossip Girl, before LGBTQ+ acceptance became mainstream.
amazon.com
From 10.99
“Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex” by Angela Chen
Asexuality is something that is only recently being talked about, yet it is still misunderstood. This misunderstanding is precisely what Angela addresses in her book. As someone that identifies as asexual herself, she writes about how our society has created a love hierarchy that values romance and sex over friendship. Angela also includes in her book how even within the small amount of representation that asexuality has received, it has been whitewashed and dismissive of disabled people.
amazon.com
From 14.99
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