Pride Month Reading Guide

Incredible books with LGBTQ+ themes, queer characters and/or queer authors

Jun 28, 2026

Hi Bookstackers!

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

This is a book list to celebrate and commemorate our LGBTQ+ identifying friends and facilitate conversations about gender and sexual identity. And some of these books are just plain fun but support our queer authors. I hope you add some new books to your TBR from this list. Let me know what I should add to mine!

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My Recommended Books

#1. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

Shuggie Bain was not only a book club with lauren pick, but also one of my six star reads this year. Shuggie Bain follows a young boy - Hugh, “Shuggie” - grappling with his own identity in socially devastated Glasgow public housing during the 1980s. He cares for his alcoholic mother while navigating poverty and survival. Shuggie Bain was impressively author Douglas Stuart’s debut novel and it won the Booker Prize in 2020. Although fiction, Shuggie Bain draws on Stuart’s personal experience growing up queer in working-class Glasgow.

Stuart’s newest 2026 release John of John is out now and I will be reading soon!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#2. A Family Matter by Claire Lynch

This is a short, yet brilliant book with depth. A Family Matter is an impressive debut novel that explores prejudice against women and LGBTQ+ relationships among the cultural climate at the 1980s. Similar timeframe to aforementioned Shuggie Bain but a completely different feel of a book.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#3. Girl’s Girl by Sonia Feldman

Girl’s Girl - a June 2026 release and Feldman’s debut novel - follows three teenage friends and one fateful summer where protagonist Mina navigating falling in love with one of the other two girls. This novel is so witty and poignant - Feldman captured teenage woes so effortlessly. There is nothing as quintessential as a teenage love and coming of age.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#4. Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Of course I am including my favorite book of the year so far on this list! Almost Life is a stunning sapphic literary fiction novel about two women who meet one fateful summer in Paris. If you are looking to get your heart shattered into a zillion pieces, then add this to your TBR immediately.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#5. Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin

This is such a gem of a novel; Emily Austin’s voice is such a gift. Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead is a dark comedic story about our atheist lesbian protagonist Gilda who takes a job as a receptionist at a Catholic Church. This is such a deeply profound and human novel about identity, sexuality, falling in love, and mental health. I laughed and cried the entire time.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#6. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

A beautiful, quirky novel about a bisexual/queer poet Cyrus who is grappling with his recent sobriety and loss of his parents. This is such a stunning novel about identity, grief, and addiction while exploring how one cements their own legacy in the world. I’ve never read anything like Martyr! before!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

#7. The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue

Maybe a lighter read on this list, but still some deeper messaging woven throughout the story. Rachel and James are best friends at university. Rachel is obsessed with her married professor Dr Fred Bryne and ends up assisting James with his affair with Fred. It’s a story that explores sexuality, relationships, and friendship amidst Ireland in financial ruin. I included this on my recent Non Romance Beach Reads list.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#8. Razorblade Tears by SA Cosby

SA Cosby isn’t just another thriller writer. All of his books typically have explore deeper themes of systematic racism or prejudice. I recently described one of this other books All The Sinners Bleed akin to True Detective Season 1 (if you know, you know). Razorblade Tears is a story about two married gay sons - one black man and one white man - and their ex convict dads who never fully accepted their sexuality. When the sons are murdered, their dads form an unlikely friendship in order to avenge their murder. This definitely has the pacing and tension of an excellent thriller while exploring much more beneath the surface.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#9. Kin by Tayari Jones

You may be surprised to see Kin on a pride list, where the novel is known for its exploration of familial meaning during the peak of the Civil Rights movement. There are subtle explorations of sexuality in Kin however. It’s such a wonderful, moving novel that everyone should read.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#10. We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

We Could Be Rats is a unique story about two estranged sisters - Sigrid and Margit - told through Sigrid’s attempted suicide note drafts. Heavy themes of addiction, sexual abuse, and identity are explored in this coming of age novel. Sigrid has a longing desire to be a carefree carnival rat - an homage to her nostalgia for childhood and unhindered imagination. It’s such a gem of a novel!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#11. Nymph by Sofia Montrone

A coming of age novel, Nymph is an atmospheric novel for your senses. Every description is evocative of a tactile smell or feeling, depicting a sultry and lush scenery in the Italian countryside. Nymph follows Leo - a teenager navigating her father’s mental illness and her first love with an American teenager.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#12. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

A sweeping generational and family saga following the lives of Felix, Margaret, and Cal. Felix and Margaret are married, and after his return from war, Margaret begins an affair with Cal. Buckeye explores the impacts of grief and closeted sexuality on marriage and relationships through a beautiful, heartbreaking novel. I listened to this audiobook and absolutely loved it - the narrator is incredible!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#13. I Leave It Up To You by Jinwoo Chong

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jack Jr. wakes up one day after having been in a coma for over two years. His boyfriend is gone, and his parents who he hasn’t spoken to in years are by his side. He returns to his hometown to help his family run their struggling sushi restaurant. This is a story of reconciliation and rediscovery.

#14. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A beautiful novel about navigating mental health and friendship among a working class community. Ocean Vuong is also a queer author. This book had me crying on the airplane!

#15. Local Heavens by K.M. Fajardo

One of the more interesting books I have read, Local Heavens is a retelling of The Great Gatsby with a revamping of the familiar relationships. This was a pretty heavy sci-fi read so sometimes I was lost in the terminology, but diehard sci-fi fans may really love this one!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let’s Read Together! Books on my TBR

The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz (Andrea Bartz): Abby’s finance dies in a sudden tragic accident on a remote rugged coastal town. When Abby goes to investigate, mysterious things start to happen. This is a thriller from queer author and anti-AI advocate Andrea Bartz! I recently did a giveaway for her book which released in paperback on June 16. Andrea is the best - go support her and her books!!
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters: This Pulitzer Prize nominee features three short stories that delves into themes of gender identity, transness, and more! I can’t wait to read this one.
We Are Gathered Here Today by Bobby Finger: One of my most anticipated June 2026 releases, this book follows a recently engaged man who attends a chaotic wedding weekend.
John of John by Douglas Stuart: Obviously including because of Shuggie Bain, but John of John follows a father and son who are both grappling with and hiding their sexuality in a conservative town.
Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer: From Pulitzer Prize winning author Andrew Sean Greer comes a queer comedic coming of age tale about a young archivist navigating a chaotic household in Tuscany.

Social Animals by Camille Perri: Another June 2026 release about a group of friends who meet at a dog park from queer author Camille Perri.
They All Fall in Love at the End by Haili Blassingame (Haili Blassingame): A June 2026 release and debut for the author about a chaotic love quadrangle between friends. This sounds so juicy!
So Old, So Young by Grant Girder: A millennial friend group story exploring growing up but not feeling quite like an adult yet.
Is This a Cry For Help? by Emily Austin: About a librarian who returns to work after a mental breakdown. Emily Austin always does the best job exploring sexual identity, queer life, and mental health.
Take Me With You by Steven Rowley: A blend of magical realism and insightful

Canon by Paige Lewis: A non-binary teen sets off on an epic journey to slay a warlord. I’m honestly just obsessed with the cover.
No God But Us by Bob Sayed: This follows the kinship of two gay Afghan men who meet in Istanbul. I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway and have been so excited to read!
Fat Swim by Emma Copley Eisenberg: A collection of short stories exploring queer life and relationships as well as body image. I love a good short story!!
A Good Person by Kirsten King: This thriller book seems like a hoot! Bisexual antagonist Lillian places a hex on her ex-situationship.
Nothing Tastes as Good by Luke Dumas: A body horror novel about a gay man who participates in a weight loss drug trial. I’m a little nervous that it’s horror but I’m hoping that the the societal commentary overrides!

Check out this book from one of my subscribers who writes exclusively queer stories! Jade Musto

The Blessed and The Cursed is a romantic fantasy following Blossom, a boy born with the life giving powers of nature, and Asher, a prince with a death curse. They were promised to each other at a young age in order to keep Asher alive, and yet Asher’s father seems determined to keep them apart. The Shadow of Nature is the sequel and you can find more about it on Jade’s website (jademustoauthor.com)