If you’ve read our Three Favorites feature, you know we love asking authors for book recommendations. And to celebrate Pride, we thought a perfect way to showcase books to read this month and beyond was to ask some established and debut queer authors what their favorite queer books are–but with happy endings!
Briony Cameron, author of The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye recommends Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend by Emma R. Alban
Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban is the Victorian sapphic Parent Trap you didn’t know you needed until now. Debutantes Gwen and Beth are obsessed with each other at first sight, and it’s not long before Gwen hatches a scheme to set up Gwen’s rakish earl father and Beth’s recently widowed mother to save the girls from the marriage market. The only problem? Their parents seem to hate each other. This story is a joyful queer romance filled with mischief and stolen kisses that you won’t want to miss.
Mae Marvel, author of Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous recommends Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
We haven’t stopped singing about Morgan Rogers’s 2021 debut Honey Girl since we first read this romantic, beautiful coming-of-age Sapphic romance. The main character, Grace—as high-achieving and STEMinist as they come—gets accidentally drunk-married in Vegas to a woman she doesn’t know while trying to celebrate the end of her graduate degree program. It is the very first time Grace has ever departed from the strict plans by which she (but really her father) arranges her life, and this action is the catalyst for Grace to make more decisions that lead her away from everyone else’s expectations, away from her Portland home, and straight into the arms of her gorgeous new wife, Yuki, in New York City. Honey Girl is a heart-achingly, joyfully lyrical book about defying expectations and finding the perfect, messy life and love you’ve always, really (not-so-secretly) wanted.
Derek Milman, author of A Darker Mischief recommends Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver
In Okay Cupid, by Mason Deaver, Jude, a trans Cupid, falls for Huy, a trans Vietnamese American boy, when Jude’s celestial assignment is actually to arrange for Huy to fall back in love with Alice (who attends the same high school, where Jude is posing as a student). With Jude already having a chaotic history of falling for humans, the book explores forging one’s own self amidst societal expectations. The tone remains upbeat even with the threat of heartbreaking consequences, which come, cannily, not because of anyone’s perceived identity, but because Jude struggles to contain their all-too-human emotions. A gem.
Simon James Green, author of Boy Like Me recommends Camp by L.C. Rosen
One of the things I love about Rosen’s books are how gloriously, unapologetically queer they are. Camp is the perfect example – set at a summer camp for queer teens, it’s both hilariously funny and swooningly tender, but as is typical for one of Rosen’s novels, it packs in so much more. This is a book which has a lot to say about identity, and about embracing our authentic selves. It’s a fun, heart-warming read with pitch-perfect dialogue and a stunning cast of characters. You can’t help coming away from it feeling better about the world.
Sami Ellis, author of Dead Girls Walking recommends Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters
I think my favorite genre is “watch these two gay nerds have the time of their life” and Winters delivers just about as soon as you start reading. I fell in love with Isaac as the quintessential painfully-awkward-but-actually-anxious teen – but the deep connection I felt was really with that younger version of me, always desperate to see that con or parade or event “Just one time, mom, please!” A heartfelt slice-of-life (with a dash of “y’all are already practically married”), this is an ultra-sweet YA classic.
Ana Ellickson, author of The Vanishing Station recommends The Breakup Lists by Adib Khorram
Calling all theater kids (and beyond!), The Breakup Lists is an absolute summer must-read! I loved the slow-burn romance between shy theater techie Jackson Ghasnavi and the swim captain who turns into an unexpected leading man. Sure, the plot is a standard Rom Com with a sibling twist — but all those knees touching, eyes-locking, “will they-won’t they” moments were pitch perfect. I spent my own teenage years in the dark alcoves of theaters helping with costume design, and Khorram perfectly captures all the hilarious and heartbreaking drama. I also appreciated the deaf representation skillfully woven into the story — I devoured it in a day!
Sidney Karger, author of The Bump recommends The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore
A fresh, queer take on the classic rom-com, Pretty Woman? I’m in. In Steven Salvatore’s latest novel, main characters Teddy and Cole switch up the roles that Julia Roberts and Richard Gere made famous and twist the familiar story into something wholly original. The book portrays New York in all its fairytale glory and not only is this romance charming, fun and sexy but it has a ton of heart.
Christen Randall, author of The No-Girlfriend Rule recommends Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans
I come back to Bianca whenever I need a campy, cozy hug in book shape. Full of bird puns and big gender feelings, this unusual birding murder mystery is a celebration of queer friendship, lesbian crushes, and showing up for yourself exactly as you are. Come for Bianca’s relatable anxiety and stay for their gorgeous exploration of what it means to be non-binary. If mystery isn’t usually your thing, don’t worry; this one has plenty of big laughs to balance out the spooky parts. As an extra treat, check out the audiobook, narrated by Vico Ortiz!
Bianca was one of my favorite reads of the last year and has one of my favorite Coming of Gender moments ever. So much fun! And a lower-stakes, happy ending, the-gays-are-okay thriller/mystery feels like the perfect summer read for Pride.
Jonny Garza Villa, author of Canto Contigo recommends Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli
I never really knew what it was to have a “comfort read” before Becky Albertalli’s Imogen, Obviously. This gorgeous coming-of-age story by one of my favorite people in the entire world is joy and humor and such a big, big hug of a book. The days we follow Imogen in her life, seeing her being welcomed into new places and meeting new people and discovering new things about herself had me laughing, gasping, and kicking my feet. It is a story about finding yourself and first kisses and friendship. It’s so messy. And I just really, really love this book.
James L. Sutter, author of The Ghost of Us recommends If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich
I didn’t let myself read If This Gets Out until I’d finished revising my own queer band-guy romance, Darkhearts—but when I finally did, it was absolutely the delicious treat I’d been hoping for. The realistic bromance-to-romance, the complex dynamics between bandmates (and their parents), the pressures of fame and the music industry—it all positively sparkled. I literally couldn’t make myself get out of bed until I’d finished the last hundred pages. If you’ve ever wanted to peek through the stage door and see what life is like for the members of a boy band—and hoped they were secretly kissing—this is the book for you!
Brianna Robinson is a book publicist and Sarah Lawrence College alum. She lives in New York with too many books and two enthusiastic dachshunds. You can find her on twitter @blrobins2.
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