LGBTQIA+ Reads (YA)

These are some of our favourite titles -- in no particular order of preference (except alphabetical by the author's surname, of course!) -- that feature LGBTQIA+ characters or themes. Of course, there's way more than just this in our collection. Check out the Out On The Shelves booklists for more titles -- if you find any that we don't have, please let us know!

Updated April 29, 2024
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Wellington City Libraries
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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens agenda
Albertalli, Becky
Now a major motion picture: Love, Simon, starring Nick Robinson and Katherine Langford! William C. Morris Award Winner: Best Young Adult Debut of the Year * National Book Award Longlist "A remarkable gift of a novel."--Andrew Smith, author of Grasshopper Jungle ...
Reps: gay, bisexual, lesbian
One man guy
Barakiva, Michael
Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Why bother, when their home cooking is far superior to anything "these Americans" could come up with? Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and...

Reps: gay

The darkest part of the forest
Black, Holly
A girl makes a secret sacrifice to the faerie king in this lush New York Times bestselling fantasy by author Holly Black In the woods is a glass coffin. It rests on the ground, and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives.... ...

Reps: gay

The long way to a small, angry planet
Chambers, Becky
National Bestseller! The acclaimed modern science fiction masterpiece, Hugo Award winner for Best Series! Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space--and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe--in this...

Reps: lesbian, gay, bisexual, diverse genders

Dreadnought
Daniels, April (Young adult author)
An action-packed series-starter perfect for fans of The Heroine Complex and Not Your Sidekick. "I didn't know how much I needed this brave, thrilling book until it rocked my world. Dreadnought is the superhero adventure we all need right now."--Charlie Jane...

Reps: trans, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary

I wish you all the best
Deaver, Mason
Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, Mason Deaver's stunning debut will rip your heart out before showing you how to heal from tragedy and celebrate life in the process."Heartfelt, romantic, and quietly groundbreaking. This book will save lives." -- Becky Albertalli,...

Reps: nonbinary

Pet
Emezi, Akwaeke
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * STONEWALL BOOK AWARD WINNER * ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S 100 BEST YA BOOKS OF ALL TIME NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR by The New York Times * Time * Buzzfeed * NPR * New York Public Library * Publishers...

Reps: trans

Symptoms of being human
Garvin, Jeff
Starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist * YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers * ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults List * 2017 Rainbow A sharply honest and moving debut perfect for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Ask the Passengers. ...

Reps: genderfluid

Picture us in the light
Gilbert, Kelly Loy.
"Picture me madly in love with this moving, tender, unapologetically honest book."--Becky Albertalli, #1 best-selling author of Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda Danny Cheng has always known his parents have secrets. But when he discovers a taped-up...
Reps: gay
Perfect on paper
Gonzales, S.
"Perfectly wonderful." --Becky Albertalli, New York Times-bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda "An electrifying love story." --Booklist FROM NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY-BESTSELLING AND INDIE NEXT PICK AUTHOR Sophie Gonzales...

Reps: bisexual

That inevitable Victorian thing
Johnston, E. K
Speculative fiction from the acclaimed bestselling author of Exit, Pursued by a Bear and Star Wars- Ahsoka. Victoria-Margaret is the crown princess of the empire, a direct descendent of Victoria I, the queen who changed the course of history. The imperial tradition...

Reps: intersex, bisexual

Magical boy : a graphic novel. Volume 1
Kao Studios
  A breathtakingly imaginative fantasy series starring Max - a trans high school student who has to save the world as a Magical Girl ... as a boy! Although he was assigned female at birth, Max is your average trans man trying to get through high school as himself. But on top...

Reps: trans

The Extraordinaries
Klune, TJ
An Indie Bestseller! An Indie Next Pick! A Gold Nautilus Book Award Winner! Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune's YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about...

Reps: gay, bisexual, lesbian

Fake dates and mooncakes
Lee, Sher
Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer. Dylan Tang wants to win a...

Reps: gay

Wide awake
Levithan, David.
Now with exclusive bonus content from author David Levithan, the New York Times bestselling mind behind Every Day and Another Day. An emotional and politically charged novel that's a must-read for turbulent times when the very democratic process itself is called...

Reps: gay

Last night at the Telegraph Club
Lo, Malinda
Winner of the National Book Award A New York Times Bestseller "The queer romance we've been waiting for."--Ms. Magazine Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the feeling took root--that desire to look, to move closer, to touch....

Reps: lesbian

The many half-lived lives of Sam Sylvester
MacGregor, Maya
"Look no further for your next favorite read, because The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester has it all- a gripping murder mystery that will keep you turning pages, ghosts, romance, and a treasure trove of queer characters with depth and heart. Here's something rare-a suspenseful story...

Reps: aromantic, asexual, nonbinary

Every heart a doorway
McGuire, Seanan
Winner: 2022 Hugo Award for Best Series Winner: 2017 Hugo Award Winner: 2017 Alex Award Winner: 2017 Locus Award Winner: 2016 Nebula Award Nominated: 2017 World Fantasy Award ...

Reps: asexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian, trans

I kissed Shara Wheeler : a novel
McQuiston, Casey
*INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* *INSTANT #1 INDIE BESTSELLER* *INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER* From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a romantic comedy about chasing down what you...

Reps: bisexual, lesbian, nonbinary

Red, white & royal blue
McQuiston, Casey
* Instant NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestseller * * GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER for BEST DEBUT and BEST ROMANCE of 2019 * * BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR* for VOGUE, NPR, VANITY FAIR, and more! * What happens when America's First Son falls in love with the...

Reps: gay

Ramona Blue
Murphy, Julie
The fourth novel from Julie Murphy, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin'--now a Netflix feature film starring Danielle Macdonald and Jennifer Aniston, with a soundtrack by Dolly Parton! For fans of Rainbow Rowell and Morgan Matson, Julie Murphy has created another fearless...

Reps: bisexual

Most ardently : a Pride & prejudice remix
Novoa, Gabe Cole
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. This bittersweet Pride & Prejudice remix follows a...

Reps: gay, trans

Heartstopper. Volume 1
Oseman, Alice
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. A sweet and charming coming-of-age story that explores friendship, love, and coming out. This edition features beautiful two-color artwork. Now streaming on Netflix! Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to...

Reps: gay, bisexual, lesbian, trans, demisexual, asexual

Loveless
Oseman, Alice
For fans of Love, Simon and I Wish You All the Best, a funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of a girl who realizes that love can be found in many ways that don't involve sex or romance. From the marvelous author of Heartstopper comes an exceptional YA novel about...

Reps: asexual, aromantic

Juliet takes a breath
Rivera, Gabby
"Even if Holden Caulfield was born in the Bronx in the 1980s, he could never be this awesome." Inga Muscio, author of Cunt Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn't sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet...

Reps: lesbian

Carry on : the rise and fall of Simon Snow
Rowell, Rainbow
#1 New York Times best seller! Booklist Editors' Choice 2015 - Youth! Named a "Best Book of 2015" by Time Magazine, School Library Journal, Barnes & Noble, NPR, PopSugar, The Millions, and The News & Observer! Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One...

Reps: gay

Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe
Sa?enz, Benjamin Alire.
Now a major motion picture starring Max Pelayo, Reese Gonzales, and Eva Longoria! A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021) A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Aristotle is an...

Reps: gay

Down comes the night
Saft, Allison
"A YA fantasy classic in the making." - Christine Lynn Herman, author of The Devouring Gray "Fans of Leigh Bardugo's "Grisha Trilogy" and Marie Rutkoski's "Winner's Trilogy" have been waiting for this Darkling-esque romance..." - School Library Journal...

Reps: bisexual

Lizard radio
Schmatz, Pat
In a futuristic society run by an all-powerful Gov, a bender teen on the cusp of adulthood has choices to make that will change her life--and maybe the world. Fifteen-year-old bender Kivali has had a rough time in a gender-rigid culture. Abandoned as a baby and raised by Sheila,...

Reps: trans, genderfluid, agender

Lumberjanes [1] : beware the kitten holy
Stevenson, ND
Friendship to the max! Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together...and they're not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! Not only is it the second title launching in our new BOOM! Box imprint but...

Reps: lesbian, trans, nonbinary

Cold
Tamaki, Mariko
A boy, a murder, a girl, a secret. From award-winning author Mariko Tamaki comes Cold, a haunting YA novel about a shocking crime, told by a boy who died--and a girl who wants to know why. Who was Todd Mayer, and why don't any of his fellow students at...

Reps: lesbian, gay

The mermaid, the witch, and the sea
Tokuda-Hall, Maggie.
In a world divided by colonialism and threaded with magic, a desperate orphan turned pirate and a rebellious imperial lady find a connection on the high seas. The pirate Florian, born Flora, has always done whatever it takes to survive--including sailing under false flag on the...

Reps: genderfluid, nonbinary, bixesual, lesbian

On a sunbeam
Walden, Tillie
"Tillie Walden is the future of comics, and On a Sunbeam is her best work yet. It's a 'space' story unlike any you've ever read, with a rich, lived-in universe of complex characters." --Brian K. Vaughan, Saga and Paper Girls Two timelines. Second chances....

Reps: lesbian

Shatter the sky
Wells, Rebecca Kim
New England Book Award Finalist "A top-notch dragon story...Both nuanced and real." --Shelf Awareness (starred review) "I absolutely devoured it." --Mackenzi Lee, bestselling author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue "Perfect for fans...

Reps: bisexual, lesbian


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