40 Inspiring LGBTQ Books For Teens To Read

It can be hard for LGBTQ+ teens to feel represented in literature, and to find books that they can relate to. It can be an inspiring and empowering reading experience for any young adult.

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LGBTQ+ Books 40 Inspiring Books For Teens To Read

It’s also important for LGBTQ+ writers to have a share of the market and to develop a fan base.

There are a lot of excellent and inspiring LGBTQ+ books for teens, but this list includes 40 top recommendations to read today. There are different genres and styles included so there is something for everyone.

40 Inspiring LQBTQ Books For Teens

Here are 40 recommendations for inspiring LGBTQ+ books for teens to read.

Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe By Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Dante and Ari are total opposites. Ari can’t swim but Dante can. Dante loves poetry and art but Ari struggles with words and spends time worrying about his brother in prison.

Ari has dark skin and Dante has fair skin. Dante is open and curious. Ari has built up walls around him that nobody can break down. Or almost no one.

When Dante and Ari cross paths they defy the odds and form a special bond. Dante helps Ari to open up, and Ari shows Dante a different perspective.

They find in each other a special friend who will help them to become the person they want to be.

But there are obstacles to their friendship, and people who want to separate them. They will have to be strong to overcome their hurdles.

Pros

  • This is a beautifully written coming of age story that deeply explores the character’s personalities and individuality

Cons

  • The plot is simple as the book focuses more on character development than events, which some readers may not like

Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda By Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

This is a story about the difficulties teenagers face when coming out at high school, as they come to terms with their sexuality in a high pressure environment.

It has been adapted into a hit movie called ‘Love, Simon’. Simon is a 16 year olds high school junior who is gay but not openly, and he wants to keep it that way.

When an email falls into the wrong hands it could expose his sexuality, but also the secret identity of Simon’s pen friend, Blue.

Simon finds himself the subject of blackmail – if he doesn’t help Martin, the class clown, then his secret will be revealed.

He must balance this stress alongside teenage drama in his circle of friends and a developing connection with Blue. Perhaps it is better to come out before he is pushed out, but how?

Pros

  • This book is a quick read with an impressive range of diverse characters

Cons

  • The second half of the book is not paced as well as the first half

Felix Ever After By Kacen Callender

Felix Ever After

Felix has never been in love. He is afraid that his identity – Black, queer, and transgender – will make it hard for a partner to accept him, even though he accepts himself.

Felix begins to receive transphobic messages from an anonymous bully, who also posts public images of Felxi before his transition alongside his dead name.

But while he plans for revenge, Felix finds himself in a strange love triangle.

As he navigates this tricky situation he learns more about himself and what love really means.

Pros

  • This is a moving yet fun book about identity and self-understanding with strong themes of friendship and art and very diverse representation

Cons

  • The plot has more of a chaotic pace than a steady flow which represents teenage life but some readers might not like it

So This Is Ever After By FT Lukens

So This Is Ever After

This is a funny, light-hearted LGBTQ+ fantasy romance. Arek has somehow saved the kingdom from the evil king and isn’t sure what to do next.

His best friend and Mage, Matt, convinces him to take the throne to provide stability until the true heir can be rescued.

When they find out she’s dead, Arek must remain King, but he needs to find a spouse before his eighteenth birthday.

Matt helps him on his hopeless quest for love, but perhaps what he was looking for was right in front of him all along.

Pros

  • This is a charming romance that explores what happens to the hero after he has saved the day

Cons

  • This is a slow burn romance and the pace might be too slow for some readers

They Both Die At The End By Adam Silvera

They Both Die at the End (They Both Die at the End Series, 1)

Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio are total strangers. They each receive a call on September 5th just after midnight with some bad news – they are going to die today.

They both need a friend for their last day on earth, so they use the ‘Last Friend’ app.

Matteo and Rufus meet and form a short lived but important friendship which takes them on an adventure.

This book has an interesting format, as there are chapters from lots of different perspectives. This can often feel chaotic or interrupt the flow, but it works perfectly in this novel.

The characters are diverse and well-written- Matteo is a gay Puerto Rican and Rufus is a bisexual Cuban. They have contrasting yet complementary personalities that work really well together.

Pros

  • This book has an interesting concept that is very well executed and provides a good setup for an exploration of emotions

Cons

  • There isn’t much mystery as you already know what is going to happen at the end

Cemetery Boys By Aiden Thomas

Cemetery Boys

Yadriel’s family is having problems accepting his gender. Yadriel is determined to prove himself to his Latinx family, so he sets out on a quest to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

He performs a ritual but ends up summoning the wrong ghost. Instead, he is stuck with Julian, the deceased bad boy of the school.

Yadriel must help Julain with his unfinished business and find out what happened to him before he can be set free into death. But the more time Yadriel spends with Julian, the more he wants him to stay.

Pros

  • The character development in this story is amazing, set against a backdrop of magic and mystery

Cons

  • The pace of this story is quite inconsistent which makes the mystery less intriguing

The Falling In Love Montage By Ciara Smyth

Falling in Love Montage, The

Saoirse is a teenager struggling to cope with her mother’s dementia and the chance that she will also suffer from the condition in the future.

She swears off the love and relationships, unable to deal with the thought of putting her partner through the pain she is currently experiencing.

Saoirse meets Ruby at a house party and is instantly drawn to her – she is fun and mischievous and a hopeless romantic.

Ruby finds a loophole in Saoirse’s no-dating rule and comes up with a plan – they will have one perfect summer of cheesy rom-com style dates and will go their separate ways in the fall.

It sounds like a great plan until Ruby and Saoirse fall in love.

Pros

  • This book deals with complex themes of illness, blended families, and sexuality in an accessible and enjoyable way

Cons

  • The narrative style is quite abstract and often breaks the fourth wall which some readers might find strange

Hani And Ishu’s Guide To Fake Dating By Adiba Jaigirdar

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

Hani is one of the most popular girls in high school. When she comes out as bisexual, her friends dismiss her by saying she can’t be bisexual if she has only dated guys.

Hani panics and traps herself in a lie, claiming that she is dating Ishu. Ishu is one of the highest-achieving students in the school and is hated by Hani’s popular friends.

Ishu agrees to help Hani and go along with the lie in exchange for help becoming head girl, as she needs the popular vote.

But what happens when their fake relationship starts to feel real? Will they be able to have a happy ending?

Pros

Cons

  • It is a great story and fun read but there could have been more character development

Icebreaker By AL Graziadei

Icebreaker

Mickey James is a college freshman who is almost guaranteed the hockey league’s top draft spot.

He comes from a family of NHL legends and has his own talent to back him up. Also going after the spot is Jaysen Caulfield, one of Mickey’s teammates.

The rivalry between them is intense, but they soon realize that there is a different kind of passion burning underneath it.

Mickey is faced with a difficult decision – does he choose the path he always wanted, or take a chance on love?

Pros

  • This is a fun enemies-to-lovers romance that also explores themes of mental illness and the pressure of family expectations

Cons

  • If the character development had been stronger then the book would have been more gripping

Meet Cute Diary By Emery Lee

Meet Cute Diary

The Meet Cute Diary is a blog full of happy ever after stories about trans people.

Noah Ramirez started the blog as a way to express his fantasies, but it has become much more – it is inspiring trans people all over the world and giving them hope of finding love.

Everything Noah has created is threatened when an online troll exposes the blog as being fake. Noah must try to convince people that it’s not true, but he doesn’t have any proof.

Then Noah meets Drew, who agrees to pretend to date Noah to save the blog. But Noah soon realizes that falling in love in real life is different from the stories he imagined in his head.

Pros

  • This is a fun and uplifting story with an easy reading style that makes it very quick to get through

Cons

  • Noah’s character can be very frustrating at times and he makes a lot of bad decisions

How It All Blew Up By Arvin Ahmadi

How It All Blew Up

When Amir Azadi comes out to his Muslim family, it does not go well.

This is just what he expected, but he is still struggling with the pressure of their disappointment, a failed relationship, and the effects of online bullying.

He decides to escape his problems by traveling to Rome. He makes new friends and begins to look for romance, but soon his old life catches up with him.

Will he be able to preserve his newfound freedom?

Pros

  • This is a moving book about self-discovery and acceptance that takes you through emotional ups and downs

Cons

  • The narrative switches between past and present which interrupts the flow of the story

Loveless By Alice Oseman

Loveless

This is a very well written story that explores the journey of discovering your sexual identity.

Georgia has always been obsessed with romantic stories, yet she had never found love. She hadn’t even had a crush on anyone.

She worried that something was wrong with her – would she always be loveless?

When she goes to university, she sets out on a mission to find romance. It doesn’t quite go to plan, and she ends up more confused than she was before, questioning whether she is asexual.

But perhaps she has been looking for the wrong kind of love.

Pros

  • This is a funny, sex-positive novel with a strong theme of friendship

Cons

  • The book starts off a little slow so you have to stick with it

If I Was Your Girl By Meredith Russo

If I Was Your Girl

Amanda has moved to a new school and is desperate to fit in, but she has a secret that is stopping her from getting too close to anyone.

When she meets Grant, she can’t help but feel drawn toward him. He is kind and easy-going and he makes her feel comfortable.

The more time they spend together, the more Amanda has to lose by telling Grant the truth. But she can’t keep her secret forever.

But how will Grant react when he finds out that Amanda used to be Andrew?

This novel deals with the difficulties of transitioning to a different gender and how to navigate dating as a transgender person. It is also about how to fit in when you feel different.

Pros

  • This book deals with important themes and is enjoyable to read

Cons

  • Some of the experiences of transitioning are simplified to make it easier to tell the story

Last Night At The Telegraph Club By Malinda Lo

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

This is a moving love story that deals with themes of racism and homophobia in 1950s America.

Lily Hu is 17 years old and finds herself asking questions about who she is, and who she wants to be.

She begins to find the answer with Kath and the neon lights of The Telegraph Club, a lesbian bar in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

But their blossoming love is not safe, and Lily is already facing prejudice as a Chinese American.

Her father has worked hard for his American citizenship but is still facing the threat of deportation. Are Lily and Kath willing to risk everything to be together?

Pros

  • This book is an important exploration of historical and cultural themes and is enjoyable to read

Cons

  • Lily’s character is great but Kath felt a bit under-developed and more of a mechanism for storytelling than an individual person

Jay’s Gay Agenda By Jason June

Jay's Gay Agenda

Jay is used to being the openly gay guy in his small hometown. He can only dream about the first date, first kiss, and first love experiences that his straight friends are having.

He decides to write a romantic to-do list that he can start crossing off once he finishes school and moves away.

When Jay’s family unexpectedly moves to Seattle, he ends up completing his senior year in a school with a diverse LGBTQ+ community.

He finally feels like he fits in, and he starts working his way through his list with hilarious consequences.

Pros

  • This is a funny, entertaining, and romantic story about first-time experiences told in a sex-positive way

Cons

  • Jay’s character is funny but is not particularly likable and makes some immoral decisions throughout the book

Boy Meets Boy By David Levithan

Boy Meets Boy

This LGBTQ+ romantic comedy is the perfect book for teens who want to be inspired and entertained.

It is set in a high school where everyone is accepted – The cheerleaders ride Harley Davidsons, the homecoming queen is a transgender quarterback, and there is a firm alliance between the straight kids and the gay kids.

Paul is a Sophomore who finds the boy of his dreams in Noah, but he messes it up. Paul tries desperately to win Noah back whilst also dealing with best-friend drama and an ex-boyfriend who is causing trouble.

Pros

  • This book is short and sweet and a fun read

Cons

  • The setting of the book is lovely but is very idealistic and doesn’t take into account what it is like to be an LGBTQ+ teen in high school.

Between Perfect And Real By Ray Stoeve

Between Perfect and Real: A Novel

Dean Foster knows he is a transgender male, but he is struggling to get everyone else to accept his identity. His peers at school see him as a lesbian, even his girlfriend does.

He wants to live as his true self, but wonders whether it will be easier to wait until he goes to college to come out as trans.

When Dean is cast in the school play as a nontraditional Romeo, playing the role of a man helps him to connect with his identity.

He decides to do whatever it takes to make people see him for who he really is, both on stage and off it.

Pros

  • This is a wonderful story about self-discovery and also deals with the issue of invalidating someone’s identity and the impact it can have

Cons

  • Dean’s girlfriend is framed as a villain for no longer wanting to continue the relationship, but she identifies as a lesbian not a pansexual so it would make sense that she wouldn’t want to date someone who identifies as a man.

All Boys Aren’t Blue By George M Johnson

All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto

This book isn’t a novel, but a series of personal essays exploring the experiences of the author.

George M Johnson is a journalist and LGBTQ+ activist who writes about his childhood experiences, teenage years, and college life in New Jersey and Virginia.

As a Black Queer man, he has had to deal with racism and homophobia, but he has also experienced joyful and loving moments and connections.

This memoir is a moving telling of genuine experiences and is both an educational and inspiring read for teenagers and adults alike.

Pros

  • This is a moving reading experience with clear messages that are important for young adults

Cons

  • Some of the events detailed in the book might be upsetting for some readers

A Million Quiet Revolutions By Robin Gow

A Million Quiet Revolutions

Two trans teenagers in a small town have grown accustomed to only having each other – they come out together, help each other buy their first binders, and they fall in love.

When one of them moves away they feel stranded and alone. They begin a project together, looking through America’s history to find comfort.

They come across the story of two soldiers in the Revolutionary war who they believe to be transgender men.

As a tribute to the soldiers, the two boys take their names – Aaron and Oliver. They search for more Queer hidden stories in the past and discover the importance of reclaiming your history.

Pros

  • This book has beautiful prose and the author has such a beautiful way with words that it is a joy to read

Cons

  • Some of the themes of this book might be upsetting to some readers and don’t come with a trigger warning

Cinderella Is Dead By Kalynn Bayron

Cinderella Is Dead

This imaginative take on a fairytale is a very entertaining read. 200 years after Cinderella married the prince, the tradition of the annual ball continues.

Men select their brides based on their beauty and status. But if a girl is not chosen, she disappears into a life of shame.

Sophia doesn’t want to be chosen by a man- she wants to be with her best friend, Erin.

Sophia flees from the ball and finds herself in the mausoleum of the legendary Cinderella.

This is where she meets Cinderella’s last known descendant, Constance, and together they hatch a plan to bring down the King.

As they put their plan into action, they discover the truth behind Cinderella’s story.

Pros

  • This is a fun, fantasy story that empowers women and challenges gender and sexual stereotypes

Cons

  • Some of the plot points are quite predictable

Late To The Party By Kelly Quindlen

Late to the Party

Codi Teller is a 17 year old lesbian who doesn’t really fit in with the cool kids.

She would rather spend her weekends watching television with her friends instead of going out and socializing. She’s never stayed out late, never been to a party, never kissed a girl.

When Codi and her friends decide to crash a party, it sends her life in an unexpected direction.

Codi catches Ricky, one of the most popular boys in school, kissing another boy in secret. She promises not to tell his secret, and in exchange, Ricky gives her a summer she will never forget.

He takes her to parties, keeps her out late, and introduces her to Lydia, the cutest girl Codi has ever met.

Pros

  • This is a sweet coming of age story which explores the lead character’s first lesbian romance

Cons

  • This book seems to glorify teen drinking which isn’t ideal

Cool For The Summer By Dahlia Adler

Cool for the Summer

This book deals with the confusion of trying to figure out your sexuality in high school.

Lara has had a crush on Chase since she started high school. But the handsome, sweet football star would never fancy her, or would he?

Chase and Lara begin to hit it off and she gets everything she’s ever wanted, so why can’t she stop thinking about Jasmine?

Lara and Jasmine spent one romantic but confusing summer together, and Lara can’t Jasmine out of her mind.

When Jasmine unexpectedly transfers to Lara’s school, things get very complicated for Lara.

Pros

  • The story is told by switching between last summer and the present day which works really well in this case

Cons

  • A lot of the characters were poorly developed which made the setting feel less immersive

Pumpkin By Julie Murphy

Pumpkin (Dumplin')

Waylon is an openly gay High School student in a small town in Texas. When his audition tape for a Drag Queen television show is accidentally shared with the whole school he is nominated for prom queen as a joke.

He takes it in his stride and decides to run for prom queen, going after the sparkly crown he has always deserved.

Waylon realizes that there is a lot more to the battle for prom queen than posters, and he ends up spending a lot of time with prom king nominee Tucker.

With the help of some local drag Queens, will Waylon be able to leave high school a true queen?

Pros

  • This is a heartwarming story that is fun to read and encourages self-love and acceptance

Cons

  • The main character has a bit of an obsession or fixation with people’s appearance which might be difficult for some readers

How To Excavate A Heart By Jake Maia Arlow

How to Excavate a Heart

Shani throws herself into a month-long internship hoping to distract herself from her recent heartbreak.

What kind of heartless woman would dump their girlfriend a few days before winter break? Shani’s plan backfires when she accidentally hits May with her car.

Luckily, May isn’t injured and they cross paths soon afterward. Shani finds herself distracted from her breakup but also her internship as she spends more time with May.

When they are snowed in together things start to heat up, but Shani is afraid of being hurt again.

Pros

  • This is a very sweet and romantic story with a festive winter setting

Cons

  • This book is advertised as an enemies-to-lovers romance but it doesn’t really fit with that trope

The Miseducation Of Cameron Post By Emily M Danforth

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

This popular book has now been turned into a movie starring Chloe Grace Moretz.

When Cam’s parents die in a car crash she is devastated, but she also feels slight relief that they will never find out that she was kissing a girl only hours earlier.

Still reeling from grief and trying to come to terms with her sexuality, Cameron is forced to move in with her conservative aunt and traditional grandma, which means relocating to Montana.

Cam meets Corey, a beautiful cowgirl, and they quickly form an intense friendship. Even though Corey has a boyfriend, there is chemistry between them that neither can deny.

But just as a romance begins to feel possible, Cameron’s aunt sends her to a homophobic Christian conversion camp.

Does Cam have the strength to stand up for who she really is, and who she wants to be with?

Pros

  • The writing in this book is beautiful – the descriptions of the landscapes and the building of emotional tension are amazing

Cons

  • Some readers found that the ending didn’t tie up all the loose ends and tell them everything they wanted to know about the characters

I Wish You All The Best By Mason Deaver

I Wish You All the Best

When Ben comes out as non-binary, their parents kick them out. Ben moves in with their estranged older sister and her husband, Thomas.

Hannah, Thomas, and Ben’s therapist are the only ones in the area who know about Ben’s gender identity, and Ben plans to keep it that way so they can fly under the radar in their new school.

Ben is struggling with their parent’s rejection and the anxiety of being in a new school, but they find a ray of hope in Nathan.

As the two of them spend more time together, a close bond forms and Ben gets a second chance at happiness.

Pros

  • This is a book about the experience of a non-binary person written by a non-binary author which makes it an important LGBTQ+ book for teens to read

Cons

  • The plot is not particularly fast-paced

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

This book has become a modern classic young adult novel and has been adapted into a movie starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller.

The lead character is Charlie, a 15 year old neurodivergent introvert who is struggling with depression.

He has suffered from depression for a long time but is also unknowingly suffering from PTSD after his close friend committed suicide.

Charlie struggles to make friends in high school but manages to connect with Sam and her stepbrother Patrick.

Charlie’s experiences of the ups and downs of friendship and romance are told from his poignant perspective as someone who always feels like they are on the outside, never in the middle of anything.

He witnesses homophobia towards Patrick and tries to make sense of his own feelings for Sam.

Pros

  • This is a well written coming of age story which has captured the hearts of many readers

Cons

  • The protagonist doesn’t seem to obviously fall into the LGBTQ+ community

The Witch King By H.E. Edgmon

The Witch King (The Witch King Duology, 1)

This stunning LGBTQ+ fantasy romance is an immersive and inspiring read for young adults.

Wyatt is a transgender witch who is forced to face his traumatic past in order to save a fae kingdom.

Witches never get to rule in Asalin, but Wyatt’s betrothal to his best friend Emyr, the fae prince, was supposed to be the start of a new era.

When Wyatt loses control of his magic one night, he flees to the human world to escape the devastating consequences.

Emyr comes looking for Wyatt, but with both of them so changed, will their love still prevail? Will they be able to work together to help the Witches overcome their poor treatment?

Pros

  • This is an enjoyable book with an exciting premise and a diverse range of characters

Cons

  • The pacing is inconsistent and some of the concepts are overexplained using internal monologue rather than external dialogue

Let’s Talk About Love By Claire Kann

Let's Talk About Love

Alice’s plans for the perfect summer are ruined when she comes out as asexual to her girlfriend the relationship comes to an end. Instead of TV marathons and snacks, it’s heartbreak and despair.

Alice swears off dating and throws herself into her part-time job at the library. Whilst at the library, Alice meets Takumi.

He makes her question her decision to give up on love. But will Takumi understand Alice’s asexual identity?

Pros

  • This is a sweet summer story that explores the difficulty of finding the right way to communicate your sexuality to new and existing partners

Cons

  • This book has an unusual flow which sometimes makes it difficult to keep up with the story

Fifteen Hundred Miles From The Sun By Jonny Garza Villa

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun: A Novel

Julian plans to lay low and stay under the radar until he graduates high school, then he can leave Texas and study at UCLA, where he will finally be able to live as his true self.

One impulsive moment changes all of that when he uses Twitter to come out. Now everyone knows his secret, but at least he can live as his authentic self.

When Mat, a Twitter crush from Los Angeles, pops up in Mat’s DMs, Jules feels that he can tell him anything.

They begin an online friendship that helps Mat to get through a difficult time. But when things get really tough, the 1500-mile distance between them makes Jules feel so alone.

Pros

  • This is a coming of age and coming-out story that encourages teens to take control of their life and live courageously

Cons

The Sky Blues By Robbie Couch

The Sky Blues

Sky is an openly gay high school student in a small town who tries hard to be as invisible as possible.

But feeling fed up with not living as his true self, he decides to attempt the gayest, most extravagant prom proposal his high school has ever seen. He has 30 days to make it happen, and he is feeling positive.

When Sky’s plans get leaked to the whole school by a homophobic hacker, the 30 day countdown to prom becomes a race against time to expose the culprit.

With the help of friends, will Sky be able to keep his newfound confidence?

Pros

  • This is a fun and moving story about the struggle of being yourself when facing the pressures of small-town life. It also deals with homophobia and online bullying in a high school environment which is an important theme.

Cons

  • The ending felt a little unsatisfying and didn’t seem to tie up all of the loose ends of the story

Things We Couldn’t Say By Jay Coles

Things We Couldn't Say

Gio has had a difficult life. His mother abandoned his family when he was young, and his father became dependent on alcohol to cope with the pain. He has also had to face prejudice as a Black bisexual.

Now, after 8 years, his mother is back in life unexpectedly. Gio doesn’t know how to react- should he forgive her or shut her out?

He is also struggling to navigate a new friendship with David, a basketball teammate.

Could they be more than friends? And is Gio ready for a romantic relationship right now with everything else going on in his life?

Pros

  • This is a moving story that explores a lot of complex and emotive themes

Cons

  • The writing style is very simplistic which some readers might find distances them from the story

When The Moon Was Ours By Anna-Marie McLemore

When the Moon Was Ours: A Novel

This book falls into the magical realism genre and is a unique, beautifully told story.

Miel is a Latina girl who is said to have been spilled out of a water tower. She has the ability to grow roses from her wrists, there is a rumor that the scent of those roses can make anyone fall in love.

Samir is an Italian-Pakistani transgender boy whose life is also shrouded in mystery. He paints colorful moons and hangs them in as many places as possible.

Miel and Samir are inseparable, and they know each other’s secrets.

When the Bonner girls, four witch sisters, decide that they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, they will use those secrets to get them.

Pros

  • The use of language in this book is unique and stunning, and the representation in the cast of characters is impressive

Cons

  • The unusual nature of this story and the fantastical elements might be confusing for some readers

Darius The Great Is Not Okay By Adib Khorram

Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Darius comes from an Iranian family and has grown up in America. He feels like an outsider, not quite fitting in with either community.

He suffers from clinical depression, has a limited social life, and has a strained relationship with his father. He finds comfort in fantasy worlds like Star Trek and Lord Of The Rings.

Darius is dreading his first trip to Iran to visit his maternal grandparents, but when he arrives they are welcoming and loving.

Darius is befriended by the boy next door, Sohrab, who takes him under his wing. Sohrab makes Darius feel accepted like no one has ever done before.

He makes sure people speak English around him so he can keep up with a conversation, he buys him an Iranian football Jersey, they play soccer together, and enjoy local delicacies while taking in the stunning city skyline.

Sohrab even calls Darius by his Persian name, Darioush, and he has never felt more like himself.

But when the time comes to return to America, will Darioush find the strength to be himself even when Sohrab isn’t around?

Pros

  • The setting of Yazdi is beautifully described in this book, as is the blossoming connection between the two boys. There are also some very touching moments between Darius and his family.

Cons

  • The writing style is quite unusual and it takes a few chapters to get used to it

A Dark And Hollow Star By Ashley Shuttleworth

A Dark and Hollow Star (1) (Hollow Star Saga)

Four queer teenagers form a strained alliance in a magical world to solve a series of gruesome, ritualistic murders.

Until now, the magical world has been concealed from humans and is under oath to cause them no harm.

A mysterious killing spree in Toronto threatens to expose the faeries to the humans, and it is down to four unlikely teammates to stop that from happening.

But with a looming war between the mortal and immortal realms, each move they make risks tipping the scales one way or the other.

Pros

  • Fans of the fantasy genre will love this magical story featuring four strong LGBTQ+ characters in lead roles

Cons

  • Whilst the LGBTQ+ representation is strong, the ethnic and racial representation isn’t which is not a true reflection of Toronto as a city.

Flip The Script By Lyla Lee

Flip the Script

This book is perfect for fans of K-dramas (Korean dramas) and is an exciting enemies-to-lovers-style story.

Hana is a keen watcher of K-dramas and is thrilled when she lands her own role in a new drama.

She keeps in mind the most important rule – never fall in love with your co-star. A fake romance is what the producers want, and that is all they are going to get.

This seems easy enough until a new female lead is cast alongside Hana as competition for her on-screen love interest’s attention.

Hana must fight to keep her position on the show, whilst trying to resist her real-life feelings for her rival.

Pros

  • This book is set in South Korea and is an interesting and entertaining exploration of Korean popular culture.

Cons

  • The story is quite predictable at certain points and it loses pace from time to time

The Hidden Oracle By Rick Riordan

Hidden Oracle, The-Trials of Apollo, Book One

This is book 1 of a very popular fantasy series called The Trials Of Apollo. When Apollo angers his father, Zeus, he is punished by being turned into a mortal teenage boy.

He is sent to New York City, where he struggles to adapt to his new life as a weak human.

He must find a way to regain favor with his father, whilst also trying to navigate the modern world on Earth.

Apollo’s many enemies hear of his downfall and seek to destroy him. Apollo’s only refuge is Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for demigods.

Pros

  • This is a very well-written and engaging fantasy series that is ideal for fans of mythology

Cons

  • Whilst LGBTQ+ characters feature in this book series, it is not the main focus

Beyond The Ruby Veil By Mara Fitzgerald

Beyond the Ruby Veil (Beyond the Ruby Veil, 1)

Emanuela is a cunning socialite who has her sights set on a wealthy, high-status lifestyle.

She has arranged to marry her best friend, Alessandro, heir to the wealthiest house in all of Occhia.

Emanuela and Alessandro are both gay, but the marriage is advantageous and neither of them is seeking love.

But Occhia is a strange city. The only person with the power to make water is the watercreas, who must sacrifice random citizens and drain them of life to prevent the majority from dying of thirst.

Occhians know when they have been chosen when a small bruise-like mark appears on their skin called an omen.

Everyone obeys the rules, except for Emanuela. She has hidden her bruise for years, but the watercrea appears on her wedding day to expose Emanuela’s deceit.

Emanuela fights back and kills the watercrea to free herself from her obligation, but now she must find a way to stop everyone in the city from dying of thirst. But it is a race against time.

Pros

Cons

  • Emanuela’s character is not very likable which could prevent some readers from connecting with the story

Ace Of Spades By Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Ace of Spades

Niveus is a private academy where students from rich families pave the way to their wealthy futures.

Devon and Chiamaka are both gunning for spots on the senior prefect team to boost their college resumes, but an anonymous texter is threatening to destroy their chances by revealing their secrets to the whole school.

They must expose their enemy before it is too late, but they soon discover this is more than just a high school prank.

Pros

  • This book deals with themes of racism and privilege in the setting of an elite school which makes for an interesting and dynamic story

Cons

  • The otherwise gripping story loses pace in the final chapters

The Honeys By Ryan La Sala

The Honeys

Mars grew up in his twin sister’s shadow, never meeting his family’s expectations.

But when Caroline dies in unexpected and horrible circumstances, Mars must learn all that he can about the sister who always kept him at arm’s length.

His gender fluidity always excluded him from being taken to the Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy alongside his sister, but this year he is determined to go in her place.

He immediately knows that he doesn’t fit in, but he seeks out his sister’s friendship group to see what he can learn.

The Honeys, as they are called, are equal parts beautiful and terrifying, and Mars knows they hold the secret to Caroline’s death.

Pros

  • This is a very atmospheric horror that throws you right into the deep end with a gruesome first few chapters and keeps you hooked throughout

Cons

  • The ending didn’t really tie together all of the concepts and ideas introduced throughout the book

How To Choose The Right Book

All of these books come highly recommended, but you need to decide which ones are going to be best for you to read. Here is some advice that you can follow to help you choose.

Genre

There are LGBTQ+ books in every genre of literature, from romance to fantasy to sci-fi to thrillers.

If you want to find a book that you are very likely to enjoy, it is best to choose one in a genre that you already like to read.

If you are choosing more than one book, you could pick one from a different genre as well so that you can expand your horizons and read something new.

Setting

It is a good idea to choose a book with a setting that appeals to you. Perhaps it takes place in a high school, a small town over summer break, a college, or a bookshop.

You might prefer a more fantastical setting that will get your imagination going. The setting can make a big difference in the reading experience.

Characters

When you read a book synopsis, often a particular character will catch your attention. They could be a mysterious person with a dark past or someone who is shy and ready to break out of their shell.

Perhaps their circumstances are familiar to you or their journey resonates with you in some way.

This is a good sign that you will enjoy the book, as you will connect with the character and become more invested in their story.

Length

It is always important to consider the length of any book that you are going to read.

If you don’t have a great attention span or you don’t like reading the same book for weeks at a time then it is not a good idea to choose a very long book. You might be better off with something short and snappy.

If you enjoy getting stuck into a story and disappearing into that universe, you may want to keep an eye out for a book that is part of a series.

Conclusion

LGBTQ+ books come in a range of different genres and styles, with various settings to explore and themes to delve into.

There is something for everyone on this list, and these are perfect for inspiring teens and young adults. I

f you are looking for a satisfying reading experience, you could choose any of the books on this list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about LGBTQ+ books for teens.

What Does LGBTQ+ Mean?

LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.

The ‘+’ represents other types of gender expression and sexual identity that don’t fall into the previous categories, such as asexual, pansexual, intersex, and more.

What Is An LGBTQ+ Novel?

An LGBTQ+ novel includes characters or themes that do not fit in with conventional/traditional definitions of gender expression and sexuality.

They include characters from the LGBTQ+ community and often deal with themes that are relevant to those people.

Why Are LGBTQ+ Books For Teens Important?

Books that have accurate and inclusive portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters help teens to feel represented and to know that they are not alone, inspiring them to be their true selves.

It also gives them positive role models to look up to and is an accurate representation of our diverse society and culture.

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Anna Davis