The 10 Best LGBT Books
This wiki has been updated 28 times since it was first published in March of 2018. Wherever you are on the sexual spectrum, these LGBT books can provide illuminating insights into the lives and experiences of those who are still struggling to gain full acceptance in many societies. We've selected both nonfiction and fiction works covering a wide range of genres and writing styles, with selections that are heart-wrenching, inspirational, and informative. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Call Me By Your Name
2. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
3. We Are Everywhere
Editor's Notes
May 15, 2020:
Representation is paramount in literature, which is why we curated a range of perspectives for this list. If you're looking for a history lesson and gripping narrative in one, Love Wins is an excellent choice, while anyone interested in fiction will appreciate Call Me By Your Name and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.
And while we still believe The Art of Being Normal is a compelling YA novel, we decided to remove it in favor of the recently released On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, a lyrical, emotional portrait of family and love, with plenty of trials and tribulations thrown in. It manages to explore notions of masculinity, mother-son love, hardship, happiness, and survival without sacrificing its message of hope. Be warned, though, that it touches on abuse and addiction, and so might be triggering. The same goes for A Little Life, which revolves around trauma in a much more intensive way.
If you're looking for YA fiction, then we still recommend The Miseducation of Cameron Post, a coming of age tale that sees its protagonist deal with and overcome conversion therapy. For more novels in this vein, you'll want to peruse our list of diverse YA novels.
We also added We Are Everywhere during today's update to supplement our selection's nonfiction offerings. This visually appealing volume features over 300 meticulously curated images in both color and black and white and serves as a coffee table book with substance as well as an exhaustively researched history book.
Special Honors
Dreamspinner Press Dreamspinner Press offers an endless array of ebooks, audiobooks, and paperbacks that can be searched by orientation. Readers can access everything from anthologies and coloring books to graphic novels and novellas in a wide range of genres, including horror, fantasy, mystery, romance, and more. Some works are available in French, Italian, German, and Spanish. dreamspinnerpress.com
Carnation Books Founded by lovers of fan fiction, Carnation Books is an independent publisher of ebooks featuring characters, romances, and stories that represent lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, and queer people. They work exclusively with fanfiction authors to publish original works that feature LGBTQIA+ and MOGAI romance. carnationbooks.com
4. Blue is the Warmest Color
5. Becoming Nicole
6. A Day In the Life of Marlon Bundo
7. A Little Life
8. The Miseducation of Cameron Post
9. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
10. Love Wins
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.