The LGBTQ+ Books You Need to Read This Summer

For many, summer marks the opportunity to finally dig your teeth into a good book and relax. LGBTQ+ literature is rich in powerful biographies, romance novels, poetry, classic fiction and beyond. So, whatever your cup of tea is and whether you'll be settling down by the seaside, or a nearby park, we have you covered with this list of our top 10 favourite reads.

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The Colour Purple, Alice Walker

This 1982 novel by American author Alice Walker is a classic and won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Set in the American South it’s a powerful story of a young Black girl Celie and was described by Lenny Henry as 'One of the most haunting books you could ever wish to read ... it is stunning - moving, exciting, and wonderful'

Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan

Naoise Dolan recently said “'We need more LGBT stories because there are so many to tell” and this could not be closer to the truth. Her debut book is a must-read for romance lovers and tells Naoise’s own coming out story. Set in Hong Kong, it follows the story of 22-year-old Ava, a young Irish woman who gets mixed up in a complicated love triangle. It explores themes of sexuality and class, whilst being incredibly witty and you won't be able to put it down once you start.

Happy Head, Josh Silver

"When Seb is offered a place on a radical retreat designed to solve the national crisis of teenage unhappiness, he is determined to change how people see him and make his parents proud. But as he finds himself drawn to the enigmatic Finn, Seb starts to question the true nature of the challenges they must undergo." Telling a modern and important story about the intersection between LGBTQ+ identity and mental health, this drama novel takes a peek into the often frightening effect of heteronormativity on young queer people, with an exciting and page-turning plot to boot.

Femme in Public, Alok Vaid-Menon

'What feminine part of yourself did you have to destroy in order to survive in this world?' Femme in Public is a collection of poems by activist and artist Alok Vaid-Menon. In the words of Alok, the book "is a dream of what it could look like to celebrate transfemininity in public – both in ourselves and for the people who desire us (by which I mean: everyone, across time, always)."

Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, Jeanette Winterson

This book tells the story of Jeanette, an evangelical who considers herself one of Gods children, but her sexuality impedes her families plans for her future. Described as “for anyone who has ever grappled with the complexities of sexual orientation within a religious context” it is a lesbian coming of age story, published in 1985 but ever-relevant still today.

To My Trans Sisters, Charlie Craggs

This book is a love letter to trans women everywhere and is made up of an empowering and inspiring collection of letters written by successful trans women. Written by politicians, scientists, models, athletes, authors, actors, and activists from around the globe, they embody the diversity of the trans experience and stand up in direct defiance to the transphobia seen all too often in today’s world. Put together by Charlie Craggs, this book is a message of hope to trans people everywhere.

Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story, Jacob Tobia

“Sissy” was a word thrown at Jacob when they were younger, for their creativity, sassiness and obsession with all-things-glitter. However, as they got older, they discovered new words that they identified with, such as ‘gay’, ‘transgender’ and ‘nonbinary’. This book is Jacobs story and takes on stereotypes still rampant in today’s society, it’s a book that will “make you laugh and cry, maybe even at the same time.”

Redefining Realness, Janet Mock

Janet Mock is a force to be reckoned with, that is undeniable. She is a writer, television host, director, producer and transgender rights activist. Her debut book, Redefining Realness is a New York Times bestseller, she wrote and directed the Emmy-Award-winning series POSE and became the first transgender person to secure a multimillion-dollar contract with a major content company with her Netflix pact. This book is her memoir and offers her perspective on being young, multiracial, economically challenged and transgender in America.

Tales of the City, Armistead Maupin

You may have seen the Netflix series starring Ellen Page, but did you know the story was based on a book written 1978? The book follows the story of Mary-Ann and her adventures around San Francisco in the 1970s. This is the first book of the series, the introduction to the debacles of 28 Barbary Lane and a fundamental piece in the history of LGBTQ+ fiction.

The New Queer Conscience, Adam Eli

This book is part of the Pocket Change Collective which is a series ‘of small books with big ideas from today’s leading activists and artists.’ This one in the series is by prominent LGBTQ+ activist Adam Eli who founded Voides4, an activist group committed to achieving queer liberation that was started in New York and now has a branch in London and Berlin. Troye Sivan describes the short book as "The new manifesto for how we as queer people could and should navigate the world. It's the holding hand I never had--but wish I did.”

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