9 LGBTQ+ Books for Pride Month

 

Hello, everyone! Since we've entered Pride Month, it is a good opportunity to talk about books by LGBTQ+ authors or that feature LGBTQ+ themes. In this list, I've tried to select a wide range of genres so that you can find something that appeals to you. Let's celebrate Pride Month together! 

#1 The Emperor of Gladness, by Ocean Vuong

Of course, you know that this list could not exist on my blog without mentioning Ocean Vuong. I've decided to include The Emperor of Gladness instead of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, but both books would be a great pick for Pride Month. 

This is the only book on the list that I haven't completed yet, but I'm a decent way into it, and suffice to say that it doesn't disappoint. And how could it, when the first line of the books is "The hardest thing is the world is to live only once"?

Edit: You can read my review here.

#2 Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernardine Evaristo

Girl, Woman, Other is a phenomenal book, and if you haven't picked it up, I couldn't recommend it more. It tells the stories of 12 black women, all with very different life paths and experiences. As you can imagine, it is a diverse and polyphonous read that still manages to create a cohesive narrative. By the end, it had me crying. 

If you want to read a book with lgbtq+ characters and strong, feminist themes, this is the one for you. To me, it feels like one of the most important books of recent years, reminding us that "gender is one of the biggest lies of our civilization."

#3 De Profundis, by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde is an author that you would expect to find in a list like this one. Instead of choosing The Picture of Dorian Gray though, I have selected De Profundis, which is my favourite Oscar Wilde piece of writing.

In reality, you could call De Profundis a nonfiction book, as it is a letter written by Oscar Wilde while imprisoned. The letter of addressed to Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas, the author's lover. This letter is one of the most heart-breaking things I have ever read while also containing some of the most beautiful lines I've come across. A quote I really like is "The most terrible thing about it is not that it breaks one’s heart—hearts are made to be broken—but that it turns one’s heart to stone."

#4 Fortune Favors the Dead, by Stephen Spotswood

So far, we've seen some literary fiction and nonfiction in this list. With Fortune Favors the Dead, we are getting a mystery recommendation. This book, which is book 1 in a series, was one of my most surprising reads of last year and I would want to see more people talking about it. 

In Fortune Favors the Dead we are following Willowjean “Will” Parker as she finds employment near Lillian Pentecost. The last is a private investigator, but faces some health issues that prevent her from moving a lot. 

The book not only has a 1940s New York setting, it have a noir atmosphere, and a very interesting protagonist. Will Parker is a butch ex-circus performer with an interesting past. If you want a wild ride of a book, I can't recommend it enough. 

#5 A Single Man, by Christopher Isherwood

Back to the heart-breaking recommendations, we have A Single Man. The first time I had heard of this book was after watching the 2009 movie by Tom Ford. Soon after, I picked up the book and it was amazing. 

A Single Man is the story of a man, George, that tries to deal with the death of his lover, Jim. After the fact, George is caught between two states - despair and determination to carry on. 

If you want a quick read, this is a short book, around just 150 pages. Plus, I'm positive that you are going to love setting that transfers us to 1960s California. 

#6 My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness, by Kabi Nagata

My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness is the perfect recommendations for manga lovers. In this autobiographical manga, the creator explores her experiences while she was grappling with her sexuality and mental health. In fact, Kabi Nagata has turned that into a series with around 6 diary manga. 

This will be for you, if you are interested in comic books and graphic novels and are looking for something relatable. The creator doesn't shy away even from some of the most embarrassing parts of her journey.

#7 Confessions of a Mask, by Yukio Mishima

My most recent read on this list is Confessions of a Mask, which I finished reading a couple of days ago. This classic Japanese literature piece is about a boy that feels different from the people around him. We read his first memories and learn where his obsessions first manifested. And these two are the body of the ephebe and blood dripping from said body. 

This is a very interesting book. However, I do need to warn you that the author overanalyzes his obsessions, so be prepared. 

#8 Crush, by Richard Siken

It is no secret that I love poetry, and I try to add poetry books to my recommendations whenever I get the chance. Therefore, it would be a big omission to not recommend Crush by Richard Siken. This poetry collection is filled with emotions, raw, strong, and utterly breath-taking. They are full of obsession, blood, and death. There is also a thread of a story, but it's not placed on the forefront. 

If you are looking for a poetry collection this month, don't hesitate to give Crush a go. 

Here is a small taste:

We have not touched the stars,

nor are we forgiven, which brings us back

to the hero’s shoulders and the gentleness that comes,

not from the absence of violence, but despite

the abundance of it.

#9 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

You don't need me to tell you to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. This is one of the most popular viral books in recent years, so there is a high chance that you have already read it. 

The reason why I wanted to add this book to my list though, is the fact that I loved the bisexual representation in the book. I found it so relatable, more so than many other books I've read with bi characters. 

So, if you haven't happened to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo yet, this is a great month to do so. 

Which books would you recommend for Pride Month?  

See more of my lists here!