Hi Reader,

Before Pride Month comes to a close, I wanted to share my all-time favorite LGBTQ+ books with you.

Nearly all were five-star reads for me, and they all remain very memorable to this day.

With these fiction and nonfiction picks, you’ll truly walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. They showcase characters often silenced in books, doing so in unforgettable ways.

Let's explore this reading rainbow! 🌈

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My Top 3 LGBTQ+ Books

• The tear-jerker A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
• The coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• The Hollywood glam story about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

All 10 LGBTQ+ Books I Loved

★★★★★

​Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx: historical romance

This Western and O. Henry Award winner is my all-time favorite short story, and it’s well worth reading, even if you’ve seen the movie. It’s beautifully told through literary prose and is bound to haunt you for years to come.

​The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne: historical and literary fiction

This Book of the Month Club's "Book of the Year" follows a gay man in Ireland from the 1940s to the present day. The story itself is nothing short of epic, and the dialogue, in particular, is some of the most perfectly written you will ever read. Many consider it their all-time favorite book.

​The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin: historical family drama

The New York Times bestselling story of four adult siblings whose dates of death were predicted when they were children includes one LGBTQ+ storyline, which felt the most emotional and impactful of the four siblings to me. It makes you think about the most pressing of all life’s questions.

​The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe: contemporary fiction about friendship

The most underrated book I’ve ever read, this story follows the unlikely friendship between Bunny, a volleyball player with a violent streak, and Michael, her gay, self-destructive neighbor. It explores themes of identity, violence, and loyalty in a literary manner, appealing to fans of character-driven novels and the author's more popular title, Margo's Got Money Problems.

​A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: contemporary fiction about friendship and found family

Though long (around 800 pages), this Kirkus Prize winner consistently earns rave reviews. It’s an emotionally charged novel about four college friends in New York City. Central to the story is Jude, whose traumatic past and struggles with his sexual identity, abuse, and self-worth unfold throughout the book. It’s a tearjerker that shows the profound impacts of trauma and the power of “found family.”

​The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: contemporary fiction about friendship

This #1 New York Times bestseller was one of the best books I’ve ever read. Outsider Charlie experiences love and personal growth after trauma when a group of unique friends includes him. This novel exquisitely explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ persons, who are minor characters, in a high school setting.

​The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: historical romance

Virtually everyone loves this New York Times bestseller, which tells the story of an aging, glamorous Hollywood actress recounting her life and the truth behind each of her seven husbands. So, what’s LGBTQ+ about that? Well, I hate to be vague, but I think you need to read the book to learn that. Trust me, it’s worth it.

​This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel: contemporary family drama

Another widely beloved book, this Reese's Book Club pick narrates the process of parenting a very young transgender child. The reader embarks on the journey and steps right into this family’s shoes as they try to figure it all out while living it. The writing feels so intimate and tender.

★★★★☆

​The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai: historical fiction about friendship and found family

Set amidst the AIDS pandemic of the 1980s and 1990s, this Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Finalist exquisitely weaves the beauty of art and what remains. One chapter, in particular, is one of the most poetic works of fiction I have read.

​The Guncle by Steven Rowley: contemporary fiction family dramedy

The bestselling story of a formerly famous Hollywood actor who cares for his young niece and nephew after a family tragedy is both comical and heartwarming. For fans of David from Schitt’s Creek, this is the kind of book that makes your heart swell.

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Lastly, in the spirit of Pride Month, I wanted to share with you the prettiest rainbow I've ever seen in real life last week on a little weekend getaway to Cooperstown, New York!

Remember, it's a good day to read a book.

-Jules

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