Let’s be real—finding books that reflect our LGBTQ+ lives and experiences feels more important than ever. It’s not just about seeing ourselves on the page; it’s about finding stories that really resonate with us and help us understand our community better.
This month, we’re exploring some LGBTQ+ reads that come highly recommended and truly capture what it means to be queer. Whether you’re in the mood for a heartfelt memoir, a fun graphic novel, or something that really makes you think, these books offer a peek into different queer experiences and can be a great way to connect with our own stories! Here’s what’s on our reading list:
You Exist Too Much: A Novel by Zaina Arafat
In You Exist Too Much, a 12-year-old Palestinian-American girl is shamed for exposing her legs in Bethlehem, a moment that haunts her adolescence. When she later comes out as queer, her mother’s words—“You exist too much”—deepen her shame. Told through vignettes spanning the U.S. and the Middle East, the novel follows her journey from a shy teen to an aspiring writer and DJ in Brooklyn, grappling with love, identity, and her own self-destructive impulses. Her search for healing leads her to a treatment center for "love addiction," where she confronts her internal struggles. This debut novel is a powerful exploration of cultural, religious, and sexual identity.
"Her novel is an unlimited space for those whose identities have always been too uncomfortable for society . . . When being a queer Muslim seems too complex for the world to handle, You Exist Too Much is a testimony as otherwise. There is nothing more of an attestation to our narratives than an LGBTQ Muslim author with a bisexual Palestinian-American main character." —Zainab Almatwari, Teen Vogue
Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls: A Memoir by T Kira Madden
Madden grew up in a life of luxury, but beneath it all was chaos. As the only child of parents battling addiction, she faced a world of instability, assault, and objectification alone. Her lifeline? The fiercely loyal friendships of other fatherless girls. Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls is a raw, lyrical memoir that spans decades, exploring trauma, forgiveness, and the families we build from both blood and love. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the beauty in brokenness.
“The literary equivalent of sucking on a Warhead: at once nostalgically sweet, stingingly sour, and unnervingly satisfying. Set mostly against the helter-skelter backdrop of Boca Raton-a place of both privilege and immense squalor-these vignettes acutely capture the grit of girlhood.” ―O, The Oprah Magazine
Heartstopper Volume One by Alice Oseman
We absolutely loved the show adaptation of Heartstopper, so we’re excited to read the graphic novel that started it all. Charlie and Nick are at the same school, but they've never met ... until one day when they're made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realized.
"You'll smile watching Charlie and Nick open up to one another, and sigh as they tiptoe into romance… falling in love doesn’t get more charming than this." -- Ngozi Ukazu, New York Times bestselling author of Check, Please!
Detransition, Baby: A Novel by Torrey Peters
Reese almost had it all—a loving relationship with Amy, a New York City apartment, and a decent job—until Amy detransitioned to become Ames, and everything fell apart. Now, Reese is stuck in a self-destructive cycle, while Ames regrets his decision and misses their relationship. When Ames’s boss, Katrina, becomes pregnant with his baby, he sees a chance to create an unconventional family with both women. This bold debut by Torrey Peters explores the messy, emotional complexities of gender, sex, and relationships with wit and originality.
“An unforgettable portrait of three women, trans and cis, who wrestle with questions of motherhood and family making . . . Detransition, Baby might destroy your book club, but in a good way.”—Andrea Lawlor, author of Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl