A List of Very Queer (And Very Good) YA Books

Think back to the YA section of your favorite bookstore five years ago. How many books featuring LGBT+ characters could you find? It's not many, right? You might be able to name a couple, but they were few and far between. What about now? It feels like every time I turn around there is a new queer YA novel coming out (pun absolutely intended), and I love it.

And so, as a celebration of Pride month, our Teen Council as compiled some of our very favorite LGBT+ novels. With each book comes a quick little blurb to tell you why the book is so good & try to convince to go out and get it immediately! Also, I am going to try to tag each book with every type of queer representation featured within it, but I probably missed a few here and there.

One last thing before I get to the books! Please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the page with some of your favorite LGBT+ reads. We (I) are (am) always looking for new recommendations with diverse characters (especially if it's fantasy), and what better place is there to get them than you guys?

And now, without further ado, I present: The Books, organized by genre!

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Realistic Fiction

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

"This book tells the story of two boys, two polar opposites, who become best friends through the power of circumstance. Saenz captivates the reader with poetic prose that captures the very essence of his characters."

- Ezra Alixandra

Representation: mlm, Gay, Bi

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

"When I first heard about this book I was skeptical, scared it would fall back into some harmful tropes that sometimes happen with women writing [men love men] ships. But I was absolutely blown out of the water with this book, it has so much heart and made me cry at least 4 times! Spoilers: Simon and Bram will always have a special place in my heart!"

- Charlotte W.

Representation: Gay

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

"Leah on the Offbeat is a great book featuring Leah, and interesting main character who is funny and relatable. It's a nice follow up on the characters we know and love from Simon vs the Homo Sapien Agenda, and [it] includes excellent bisexual representation!"

- Sarah

Representation: wlw, Bi

The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

"Real, raw, and honest to a fault, The Nowhere Girls lies at the core of every girl who's been a victim of everyday sexism and [the book] voices everything she's been afraid to. It cuts to the truth and it tells it like it is, portraying what it really means to find a sisterhood while also representing LGBT+ and neurodiverse characters accurately and authentically."

- Jennie

Representation: wlw, ambiguously queer

It's Not Like It's A Secret by Misa Sugiura

"This book challenges readers to think outside the box just like the main character, Sana, does. When her family moves to a new town, she is forced to confront the feelings that she hasn't been able to before, such as liking girls. it tackles racism and homophobia in a refreshing way and leaves you with many lessons learned."

- Ezra Alixandra

Representation: wlw, Lesbian

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

"What If It's Us is like a Hallmark movie for the modern gay. It's got a charming meet-cute, wild and goofy characters, and several attempts to date (yes, there is musical karaoke involved). It warms your heart and makes you melt and reminds you why romances are read: to prove that regardless of what happens, people can be happy together."

- Jennie

Representation: Gay

Fantasy

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

"It is rare that I literally read a book in one sitting, not even getting up for food, but Girls of Paper and Fire was so amazing that I did. It's that good. Like... Everything in this world was so beautiful a glittering on the outside, yet absolutely terrible on the inside, and that is one of my favorite high fantasy aesthetics. Also, humans with animal attributes are always a bonus, even if most of them are antagonists."

- Suzie

Representation: wlw, Lesbian

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

"This is an incredibly beautiful epic fantasy stand-alone where gay is normal and the women ride dragons and rule kingdoms! It's a wonderful read all around, and the 800+ pages won't feel like a chore at all. You'll want to sit down and read it through to the end in one sitting!"

- Cat

Representation: mlm, wlw, ambiguously queer

There Will Come A Darkness by Katy Rose Pool (Out on September 3, 2019)

"You know how ancient greek prophecies have a habit of coming true purely because of the steps characters took to prevent them? This book is that, but even better. It's a tale of five stories interwoven into a brilliant, tangled mess, and I could not get enough of it. The characters felt real and authentic, and I am so excited for the sequel!"

- Suzie

Representation: mlm, Gay, Bi, ambiguously queer

The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta

"The Brilliant Death is a book that will take your breath away. Capetta has created a fantastic cast of gender-bending and norm-breaking characters [who are] certain to leave any reader spellbound."

- Ezra Alixandra

Representation: Non-binary, wlw, mlm

Rule by Ellen Goodlett

"Three girls, three dark secrets. Oh, and apparently they're all half sisters; illegitimate daughters of a dying king. They must work out how to live in the palace as royals, keep their secrets from each other and enemies unknown, and work out a big mystery that I'm not gonna say anything about because, ya know, spoilers."

- Suzie

Representation: wlw, Bi, ambiguously Queer

Vicious by V. E. Schwab

"Vicious is a story of grey morality and super humans created by violent deaths and awakenings. Set in a modern world that's slightly different from our own, Victor Vale is our "villain" and protagonist, and he's an absolute delight to get into the head of, what with his one goal – to end what he helped create. Superhero dynamics are flipped around, and you're left to ask yourself Who do I want to win? "

- Cat

Representation: Ace

Furyborn by Claire Legrand

"Furyborn is about two fierce bi women fighting for the things they love, and honestly: what more could Legrand give me in a book? A lot, apparently. Such as (but not limited to): an epic plot, beautiful world building, dynamic characters, swoon-worthy love interests, captivating villians, etc. etc. The list goes on. Seriously. This book is amazing, just like all of Legrand's books."

- Suzie

Representation: Bi, Gay, (wlw in book 2)

Historical Fiction

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

"When I first picked it up, it seemed like a typical YA novel set in the 18th/19th century, but it ended up being so much more. The plot has so many aspects to it, and there are so many subplots and twists that keep the story interesting. [It also] included the undertones of magic, science, and feminism. There is so much character development and growth that is written very well and developed even better."

- Grace

Representation: mlm, Gay, Bi

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy

"The perfect follow up to Gentleman's Guide, [this book] is a historical adventure filled with even more diverse and lovable characters that will make you feel as if you just traveled across Europe. I loved how Felicity's voice, determination, and snark got to shine through her own novel."

- Cora

Representation: Ace

Sci-Fi/Thriller

Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

"If you've eve dreamed about a lesbian genderbent King Arthur, a gay twink Merlin (looking at you, BBC fans), and a squad of dysfunctional knights gallavanting around space while running from the sci-fi exaggeration of capitalism, then you will absolutely adore Once & Future. It's got rampant diversity, pop culture references, and dragons. Because come on, what's a good fantasy, er – sci-fi story without dragons?"

- Jennie

Representation: Gay, Bi, Pan, Lesbian, Non-binary, Queer

Wilder Girls by Rory Power (out on July 9,2019)

"Wilder Girls is a phenomenal powerhouse in sci-fi horror and it certainly is going to take the world by storm. It speaks to the power of women and our adaptability and how nature itself even knows that. Like speaks to like, as we all know. Turn after turn leads these wild girls through terrors and onto the biggest twist of all that left me staring horrified, yet not entirely surprised, at the ceiling."

- Cat

Representation: wlw, Lesbian, Pan

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

"Sawkill Girls is, quite simply, amazing. It is one of my all time favorite books, and I cannot recommend it enough. It's fast paced, filled with amazing characters, beautiful writing, and thrilling mysteries, and the entire time I was reading it I felt like there was an inexplicable buzzing in my veins (not unlike the Bone Cry featured in the book). Please do yourself a favor and read this book!"

- Suzie

Representation: wlw, Bi, Ace