Book Recs that Feature LGBTQ Characters

We’re in the middle of Pride Month so I wanted to round up some books I loved or really enjoyed that feature prominent LGBTQ characters.

I’ve written book reviews for most of these and the only exception is Two Truths and a Guy but I just finished that one last night and will post a review in a few days.

1. They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera – This book follows teenagers Mateo and Rufus. At the beginning of the novel they don’t know each other and come from very different backgrounds. What do they have in common? They both got phone calls that day from Death-Cast informing them they would die in the next 24 hours. In this novel, people are notified when it’s their last day on Earth. When you get the phone call you don’t know if you’ve got 23 hours left or 20 minutes. You just know you’re going to die. Mateo and Rufus meet through an app that connects people who are also going to die and decide to stick together all day and do all the things they want to do before they run out of time. Over the day together they bond, become friends, and even begin to have romantic feelings for each other. You can find my mini review here
2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – This novel is about Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo. She sits down for an interview with a young journalist that she wants to write a book about her life – an authorized biography. Her humble upbringing and how she worked to climb her way to the top of the Hollywood elite and the seven husbands she had along the way. But was her true love one of those husbands?
3. The Magi Menagerie by Kale Lawrence – I just reviewed this book recently. Taking place in the early 1900s, a group of magi work to protect teenager, Ezra, who is being hunted by a rival group of magi. Two of the main characters are gay and have a history with each other, but given the time period it has proven to be a difficult journey.
4. Night Owls and Summer Skies by Rebecca Sullivan – I reviewed this book back in 2020 and I really enjoyed it so I wanted to include it in this list. In the novel, Emma thought she would be spending the summer with her mother as she lives primarily with her father. But upon her arrival at her mom’s she is told that her mom and stepfather are going off on vacation and dropping her off at summer camp. That’s problematic enough, but the camp she’s being dropped off at is one she went to when she was younger and she hated it. Left with no choice Emma goes to camp and learns more about herself and comes into her own.
5. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – I just wrote about this book a few days ago. Addie LaRue was born in 1600s France and longs for a bigger life where she can travel and explore. She makes a deal with a god to be freed from all responsibilities and people in exchange for her soul once she is satisfied and ready to move on. What she didn’t realize is that now no one remembers her or will ever remember her. Over the centuries that she lives she has affairs with men and women. Though it’s never explicitly said we can assume Addie is bisexual. She does meet a guy named Henry who somehow can remember her and he describes himself as pansexual.
6. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – You can read my review here. Alex Claremont-Diaz is the son of the President of the United States. He hates Prince Henry of England (or does he?) and after a social disaster between the two at Henry’s brother’s wedding, their teams are in disaster mode and doing anything to make it seem to the world that the two not only get along but are actually great friends. Forced to spend time together brings the two closer together.
7. Two Truths and a Guy by Jeannine Henvey – This novel is told in a duel pov by twins Stella and Peter. They recently moved from Pennsylvania to California. What their new friends don’t know is that they moved for a fresh start in a more progressive state because Peter used to be Petra. I’m going to post a review on this in a few days, but I really liked this book. It was interesting to see Peter’s thoughts and feelings and how he always felt trapped in the wrong body and Stella’s point of view as someone who is protective of her brother, but also missing the closeness she used to share with Petra.

I highly recommend any of these books!

I have a Reel going up on instagram with these recs today – if Reels are working that is. It was glitching again last night and no audio was working so here’s hoping it’s all fixed now.

*This post contains affiliate links.*