| By Hazel Taylor-Quick and Zoe D'Elia | April 11, 2022 |
Are you tired of seeing only straight people in books? Want more representation? We’ve got you covered! Check out our list of books with good queer representation. Happy reading!
For more recommendations visit our website, and resource: https://taylorquickh.wixsite.com/booksandqueeries
Graphic novels
Title: Moon Cakes
Author: Wendy Xu, Suzanne Walker, Joamette Gil
# of Pages: 256
Summary: Follow Nova Huang, a young witch, and her crush Tam Lang, a werewolf, on a dangerous task to defeat a horse-demon and overcome a nefarious cult. In an awe-inspiring graphic novel with stunning art and complex characters, Mooncakes shows us the art of healing, love, and trust .
Representation: Non-binary love interest, lesbian and gay couples throughout, main charecter is hard of hearing (uses hearing aides), plus sized charecters.
Content warning: References to abuse, deceased parents, cults, captivity, body horror, witchcraft, death
Title: The Girl From The Sea
Author: Molly Knox Ostertag
# of Pages: 247
Summary: Morgan is a fifteen-year-old girl in high school. She can’t wait for the school year to be over so she can leave the small island that she grew up on. Sure, she has best friends, but they don't even really know her that well. Everything changes when a mysterious girl (Keltie) saves Morgan from drowning one night. Morgan can’t bear the thought of falling in love with another girl - I mean, what would her mom say - but some things are just meant to be, and as they spend more and more time together Keltie and Morgan fall for each other. Molly K Ostertag takes us on an adventure of love, loss, and acceptance.
Representation: Main lesbian couple
Content warning: Homophobia, divorced parents, self-harm, suicidal thoughts
Title: Heartstopper
Author: Alice Oseman
# of Pages: (Four book series)
Summary: Charlie and Nick become friends after being put next to each other in class. Charlie starts to develop feelings for Nick. Despite how implausible that would be, Nick likes Charlie more than they both thought.
Representation: Gay romance, gay main character, bisexual main character, side lesbian romance and characters,
Content warning: Emotionally abusive relationship, references to past homophobia including homophobic slurs, bullying, eating disorder
Title: Lumberjanes
Author: Noelle Stevenson
# of Pages: 128
Summary: Follow along with Jo, Molly, April, Ripley, and Mal, 5 girls with a mission to figure out what mystical forces are at work in their summer camp. These badass, patriarchy-smashing, stereotype-breaking, women explore the great outdoors, from sea monsters, and 3 eyed foxes, to holy kittens and ancienne greek mythology.
Representation: Defies gender norms and stereotypes, main lesbian couple, transgender main character
Content warning: Violence, drowning
Novels (fiction)
Title: Written in the Stars
Author: Alexandria Bellefleur
# of Pages: 320
Summary: Darcy Lowell does not want to fall in love, but says that her date with Elle went well, so her brother will stop matchmaking her. Elle can not wait to find her soul mate and is positive that no-nonsense Darcy is not the one. She is puzzled when her new business partner, Darcy’s brother, tells her how great it is their date went well. Darcy gets Elle to agree to fake dating, to keep up appearances, on the condition that Darcy helps her handle her family over the holidays until New Year’s Eve.
Representation: Lesbian couple, bisexual main character, lesbian main character, pansexual side character
Content warning: Abandonment, mention of alcoholism, cheating, child neglect, loss of a loved one
Title: Moon At Nine
Author: Deborah Ellis
# of Pages: 224
Summary: It is 1988 in Iran, since the Shah was overthrown Iran has been controlled by an extremist religious conservative government. Farrin’s family has been secretly rebelling against the new regime, but if the government finds out about her mother’s “Bring Back The Shah” work, then their whole family could be thrown in jail, or hung. Not to mention that Farrin may have fallen for her best friend, who’s arranged marriage is already in sight. Living in a place where being gay in ounishable by death, Farrin must find out how far she will go for her country, and her love.
Representation: Lesbian couple, anti-racism, fighting against mysgogigy, rebel.
Content warning: Death, homophobia, violence, police brutality, arranged marriage, religious extremists, assault, mentiones of sexual assault.
Title: Cinderella is Dead
Author: Kalynn Bayron
# of Pages: 385
Summary: Ever since Cinderella’s fairytale ended 200 years ago, teenage girls have to go to the yearly ball to be chosen by the men and become their wives. Sophia wants to marry her childhood best friend, Erin, instead. After running away from the ball, she takes shelter in Cinderella’s mausoleum and meets Constance, a descendant of Cinderella and her stepsisters. While working to overthrow the king, the two find out that Cinderella’s story is much more complicated than they thought.
Representation: Black main characters, lesbian main characters, lesbian romance, gay side character
Content warning: Animal death, corpse description, domestic abuse, homophobia, kidnapping, misogyny, murder, physical assault, human trafficking, sexual assault
Title: Crown of feathers
Author: Nicki Pau Preto
# of Pages: (Trilogy) 512
Summary: Veronyka has always been told about the phoenix riders, warrior women who ruled the world for centuries. Ruled by a legendary queen of fire who, as stories go, had power unmatched by anyone else. The phoenix rider fought evil, and was known throughout the land. Veronyk has always dreamed of becoming a phoenix rider someday. But a lot had changed in the past 16 years, empires fell, people were slaughtered, and veronyka and her sister are war orphans being hunted by the military for their magical abilities to communicate with animals. But when Veronyka discovered the lies her sisters had told her she knew nothing would ever be the same. A tale of betrayal, healing and bravery, we journey through a vivid and unique landscape that reveals who we truly are as humans.
Representation: Gay main charecters, cross-dressing, trauma survivors
Content warning: Death, trauma, mind control, emotional abuse, gaslighting, war, slavery
Title: None Of The Above
Author: I.W Gregorio
# of Pages: 352
Summary: Kristin has the life many dream of: she’s got a boyfriend, a wonderful group of friends, a scholarship to a college for track and field, and as of recently, has been voted homecoming queen. But when Kristin has to go unexpectedly to the doctors office, an exam reveals that she is intersex. Kristin’s life is upended when the diagnosis is leaked to her classmates. Kristin must come to terms with this new information while fighting the onslaught of hate and ignorance from the people around her.
Representation: Intersex, discussed the patriarchy+ misogynists
Content warning: Bullying, harassment, medical procedures, sex, trans-phobia.
Title: Autoboyography
Author: Christina Lauren
# of Pages: 416
Summary: Meet Tanner, a 16-year old bisexual boy with only one more semester to go of high school. His family recently moved to Utah from California. It’s love at first sight for Tanner when he sees Sebastian, a boy who is a year ahead and really smart. Sebastien isn’t out to his very religious family, but their relationship does help both boys learn to love each other and themselves.
Representation: Bisexual main charecter, gay romance
Content warning: Biphobia, homophobia (religious), internalized hate
Title: Anger Is A Gift
Author: Mark Oshiro
# of Pages: 464
Summary: Grade 10 student Moss Jefferie is not okay. His father was killed by police 6 years ago, the medias’ representation of him, his father, and other black people give him intense panic attacks. Not to mention his school’s new protocol of “random” locker searches, metal detectors and constant intimidation by the police. But the students aren't going to just lay low, instead they decide to push back against the new school policies, and hateful things around their community. When they are met with tragedy, things start to unravel and Moss Jefferie along with the rest of the youth must figure out whether anger and passion should be kept locked away, or if anger is really the key to change. Is anger actually a gift?
Representation: Gay main charecter, demonstrartions, anti-racism, mental health
Content warning: ableism, racism, racial profiling, police brulatity, death, assault, violence (often graphic)
Title: Girls Of Paper And Fire
Author: Natasha Ngan
# of Pages: (Trilogy)
Summary: Prepare to be immersed in a horrifying and gripping world full of metaphors and symbolism with complex characters and memorable plot twists. Every year 8 girls are chosen to be the king’s concubines. This year there is a ninth. People come from the farest corners of the world to see Lei, the girl with golden eyes, it was only a matter of time before the king found her. Lei must survive life in the palace; her only consolidation is Wren. A badass who is not all she seems, the two soon fall in love, and are given a new purpose: to kill the king. How far is Lei willing to go for justice, love and revenge?
Representation: Lesbian couple; asian main and side charecters; metaphores for the patriarchy, racism, military industrial complex, beauty standards, domestic violence; survivors.
Content warning: Police violence, physical assault, sexual assault, torture, murder, trauma, PTSD, abduction, genocide, forced contraception, misogyny, prostitution, sexism, racism, slavery.
Title: Carry On (#1 Simon Snow Trilogy)
Author: Rainbow Rowell
# of Pages: 517
Summary: Simon is a pretty terrible chosen one. On the off chance he gets his wand to work, he something ends up in flames, which is not exactly ideal for Baz, his vampire nemesis/roommate. Baz didn’t even show up for their final year at the Watford School of Magicks to revel in Simon’s less than enjoyable year. Not only was he dumped by his girlfriend and avoided by his mentor, there’s also a monster with Simon’s face that eats magic. This story involves a lot of mystery, ghosts, monsters, love, and kissing.
Representation: Bisexual main character, gay love interest, gay romance, indian side character
Content warning: Abuse, bullying, murder, paranormal creatures, racism, violence
Title: The Fascinators
Author: Andrew Eliopulos
# of Pages: 352
Summary: Their school’s magic club that Sam and his friends, Delia and James, is the only thing getting him through highschool in their magic-hating town. But everything starts to fall apart at the start of their senior year. Sam might be in love with James, their novice magic club is bothering Delia, and they have to worry about the sketchy people with magic that got into a misunderstanding with James. Sam has to realize that their love of magic that united them is now ruining them, and not all problems can be fixed using magic, no matter how much.
Representation: Gay main character, gay love interest, LGBTQ+ side characters
Content warning: Alcohol use, cults, drugs, homophobia, violence
Title: We Set The Dark On Fire
Author: Tehlor Kay Mejia
# of Pages: 400
Summary: A brilliant fantasy novel rich with complex characters and thought-provoking metaphors. At the Medio School for Girls, young girls are trained to play one of two roles in life: take care of the husband’s house, or raise his children. The school supplies a life of luxury and pleasure, far away from the “lower classes”. On the outside Daniela Vargas appears to be excelling in this academy but she has a big secret, her papers are forgeries. Her parents had to sacrifice everything to give her this life, and she won’t do anything to put it in jeopardy. As graduation day approaches, Daniela is set to marry a rich man's son and seems to be in the clear, until an underground resistance group asks her to spy, and play a major role in a rebellion that could bring equality to her world. What will Daniela risk for her freedom, justice and a forbidden love?
Representation: Main lesbian couple, side charecter gay couples, patriarchy smashing
Content warning: Abusive relationship, bombing, car accident, homophobia, medical procedures, misogyny, murder, police brutality, sexism, torture, violence, war, xenophobia
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