As the days grow shorter and the air gets crisper, it’s the perfect time to lean into the warmth of a cozy read. Whether you're sipping a pumpkin spice latte or curling up with a spiced cider, there's nothing quite like the embrace of a great book to make the most of these chilly October evenings.
This month, we’re celebrating the season with a fresh lineup of LGBTQ+ reads that are sure to light up even the gloomiest of days. From page-turning novels to a poignant memoir and a vibrant graphic history of queerness, there’s a little something for everyone. So, grab your coziest blanket, settle in, and let’s explore our top October reads.
Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour
Sara Foster, who fled her troubled past at sixteen, is now a celebrated LA bartender with a mysterious aura. Meanwhile, Emilie Dubois yearns for the vibrant legacy of her Creole roots yet feels lost and directionless. A job arranging flowers at the elegant Yerba Buena restaurant brings Emilie and Sara together, igniting a connection that’s immediate and intense. As Sara’s past threatens her newfound stability, Emilie begins to carve out her own path. Together, they must decide if their love is strong enough to overcome the weight of their pasts.
“Quietly powerful…Brilliantly observed… Sara and Emilie are such fully realized characters that by the end of the novel, you will feel as though you’ve spent time with cherished friends. Bursting with emotionally resonant moments and vivid details of LA neighborhoods, Yerba Buena is a remarkable story of queer love and childhood trauma, addiction and forgiveness, family legacies and new beginnings.” ― BookPage
Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir by Lamya H
In Hijab Butch Blues, Lamya H navigates the complexities of being a queer, devout Muslim immigrant. Growing up between South Asia and the Middle East, she hides her attraction to women, masking her true self behind the roles of overachiever and class clown. A turning point comes during a Quran class, where a passage about Maryam makes Lamya question if her own desires might have a place in her faith. Through a series of essays, she connects her personal journey to stories from the Quran, ultimately building a life that embraces her identity. This memoir is a powerful exploration of faith, belonging, and self-discovery.
“Hijab Butch Blues is quite simply a new classic of queer literature, just like its allusive title implies... Smart and compassionately written . . . Every chapter is incredibly moving and unfailingly surprising in the ways it connects Quran passages with Lamya’s life.”— Autostraddle (Best Queer Books of 2023)
All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews
Sneha is a recent graduate navigating the harsh realities of an American recession. Relocating to Milwaukee for a demanding corporate job, she finds a sense of independence — treating friends to dinner, helping her college buddy Thom land a job, and supporting her parents back in India. As she starts dating women, a magnetic romance with Marina, a captivating dancer, draws her in. But soon, life becomes more precarious, with secrets surfacing, jobs unraveling, and eviction threats looming. Amidst these struggles, her friend Tig proposes a daring solution, offering a glimmer of hope in a world that often feels unforgiving.
“A darkly witty and finely wrought exploration of the struggle to embrace one's identity, this debut also illuminates the hardships of immigrant life, the elusiveness of lasting romantic love—and ultimately the joy and belonging that can come from a 'family' of friends.” — People
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
University student Ludwik meets Janusz at a summer agricultural camp, and what begins as curiosity quickly turns into an intense, all-consuming affair. They spend a few idyllic weeks together in the countryside, sharing an illicit copy of Giovanni’s Room and escaping the constraints of their Communist and Catholic society. But back in Warsaw, their lives diverge—Janusz ascends the ranks of the party, while Ludwik is drawn to acts of protest against the regime. As political tensions rise, their love is tested by secrets, ambition, and the harsh realities of their world, all of which threaten to tear them apart.
“One of the most astonishing contemporary gay novels we have ever read. Swimming in the Dark is extraordinarily beautiful . . . Erotic, mesmeric, heart-rending and brutal, this is a masterpiece.” — Attitude magazine (UK)
Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker (Author) and Jules Scheele (Illustrator)
Activist-academic Meg-John Barker and cartoonist Jules Scheele bring queer theory to life in Queer: A Graphic History. This nonfiction graphic novel unpacks the evolution of LGBTQ+ thought, from identity politics and gender roles to privilege and exclusion. It explores how our views on sex, gender, and sexuality are shaped by culture, biology, psychology, and sexology — and how these ideas have been challenged over time. Along the way, it highlights key moments, like Alfred Kinsey's spectrum of sexuality and Judith Butler's concept of gender as performance. Engaging and witty, it’s a fresh and accessible dive into the world of queer ideas.
“Fresh interpretations and clever illustrations help bring new life to academic constructs and an understanding of the intersection of biology, psychology, and modern culture.” — The Washington Blade