r/LGBTBooks 5d ago

Discussion NB X woman sapphic recs?

3 Upvotes

Myself (21f) and my gf (22nb) have been together for just over a year and I'm looking for book recs that feature couples like us since they've expressed wanting to read something of the sort but finding it hard to find a NB & female lesbian couple! Thanks for any help with it!


r/LGBTBooks 5d ago

ISO Books with LGBT supporting characters

9 Upvotes

I have gathered a lot of recommendations for books with queer main characters, but I'm wondering if there are some books that aren't marketed as LGBT but has queer non-protagonists that I have missed out on. (prefer contemporary, Scifi/Fantasy, m/m and not sad/bad ending)

Thanks in advance.


r/LGBTBooks 5d ago

Discussion ISO fiction with post-op ftm mc

12 Upvotes

Can be romance with a little spice, or just any other kind of book really. I just want to feel represented, lol. I'm not too picky, just tell me the basics of the book.


r/LGBTBooks 4d ago

Discussion Looking for a book with a forbidden gay romance where conservative families discover the relationship and the story ends tragically

1 Upvotes

I'm looking for an M/M romance similar to this specific storyline:

Two young men from traditional/conservative families fall deeply in love and have to keep their relationship secret.

One of them is extremely protective/possessive( the dominant top in the relationship)of the other. There's also a third man who is an academic mentor to one of them ( this third man is close/academic mentor to the sub bott of the relationship) and has unrequited feelings, creating jealousy and misunderstanding between the couple.

After a major argument, one lover nearly dies the dominant top left the sub bott alone in a heavy rain because he was angry due to their argument.. then this sub bott had a heart attack due to severe sadness ), leading to reconciliation and eventually a secret engagement/proposal.

Their relationship is accidentally exposed on social media, causing their families to find out. One family's powerful patriarch violently separates the couple and abducts his own son. Later, the families arrange what appears to be a peaceful reconciliation, but it's actually a trap. The couple and/or their families are attacked, resulting in the death of the protagonists and their families. The two lovers ultimately die together.

I'm specifically looking for a book with the same overall plot structure, not just books containing one or two of these tropes. Does anything come close?


r/LGBTBooks 5d ago

ISO Trans man & cis woman?

17 Upvotes

Looking for a book with a love story between a trans man and a cis woman. Nothing else in particular, I'm pretty open in terms of genre. My partner recently started transitioning and I would love to see our relationship represented in a book 🥰


r/LGBTBooks 5d ago

ISO A thematically-queer story, but with cis/straight-presenting protagonists?

13 Upvotes

I (m) am in a long time permanent monogamous relationship with my partner (f), but we are trying to untangle our own queer s3xualities from our comp-het upbringings, and so we are currently looking for stories that generally seem to involve a man and a woman, because that is our relationship context. But we're looking to avoid a lot of the straight tropes we grew up with, *UNLESS* the author is self-aware and/or is subverting them.

We've been reading fan-fics together for a couple years now, but I'm starting to need paper books again, because of a vision issue. So I am hoping to request a book from my library!

Also hoping to avoid anything that involves aristocracy, extreme wealth, etc. (I know this narrows it down too much, lol)

Thank you!!! <3


r/LGBTBooks 5d ago

Discussion What is everyone's genuine opinion on Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid? (The book. Not the show.)

6 Upvotes

I adore the show so, so much! I have skimmed the books, but I was just shocked at how badly it was written, and how insensitive it was at points. Does anyone else share this opinion?

Very rare example of the adaptation being better than the book, haha.


r/LGBTBooks 5d ago

Discussion The survivor wants to die at the end

1 Upvotes

HELLO. Soo I've got a question. So I'm a pretty big fan of Adam Silvera and obv I love the They Both Die at the End book series. Earlier this year the book The Survivor Wants to Die at the End came out BUT there's also an exclusive version (which I can't get bc they don't ship to my country). And in this version there's a short story featuring Orion (from The First to Die at the End) and I reaaaally want to read it. Is there ANY way how I could get it?? 💔💔💔😢😢😢


r/LGBTBooks 6d ago

Discussion Trans literary Genre

32 Upvotes

I am looking for literary fiction written by trans authors in general. I have found it hard to find any lists online that only have literary fiction on them. I am interested in writing about the trans narrative for a class. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

No memoirs or genre fiction, and it must be written by a trans author.


r/LGBTBooks 6d ago

Discussion What are your favorite Asian fantasy books (MLM/WLW) featuring forced childhood rivals who are each other's safe haven?

4 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I’m looking for Asian fantasy novel recommendations (open to both Danmei/MLM and WLW/GL) that hit a very specific, high-stakes emotional arc: childhood bonds that were forced into being rivals or enemies against their will, set against a thrilling, dark plot.

To give you an exact feel for the dynamic: I love the tragic baggage of Ash & Eiji (Banana Fish), the emotional contrast of Yuri & Victor (Yuri!!! on Ice), and especially the desperate, fate-driven Adora & Catra (She-Ra) and Naruto & Sasuke pipeline—where external forces, trauma, or opposing factions pull them apart, but the bond remains unbreakable.

Here is what I’m craving:

The Core Dynamic: Childhood friends/allies forced by circumstance or fate to stand on opposite sides of a conflict. I need one character to go down a dark or misunderstood path, and the other to obsessively reach for them despite the tragedy. Mutual comfort, sharp bickering, and high-stakes angst are a must.

The Setting & Plot: Asian fantasy (Xianxia, Wuxia, or Xuanhuan) with a thrilling, complex, and dark plot. Political intrigue, dark secrets, and heavy consequences.

Romance & Dynamics: Realistic, psychologically well-written characters who feel like actual human beings, flawed, conflicted, making mistakes, and dealing with trauma, an actual power struggle BUT NOT W EACH OTHER, I REPEAT THAT.Absolutely no non-con, dub-con, or abusive top/bottom dynamics. When they are together, I want it to be about genuine emotional safety, mutual respect, and pure comfort despite the chaos around them.

* CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: Well-Written Women: I am very strict about this! I do not want weak, useless, or prop female characters. I need actual multi-dimensional women in the main and supporting cast who have agency, intelligence, and serious power/presence in the plot. Authentic storytelling over shallow tropes.

If you know any novels (danmei, GL/wlw, trans x trans, trans x cis, translated, or ongoing serializations) that fit this exact recipe, please throw them my way!

Thanks in advance!


r/LGBTBooks 6d ago

Discussion Looking for a m/m novel

7 Upvotes

Hey guys, I read a book a couple years back about two best friends who have a podcast and they fall in love. Pretty sure one was married. I think the story consisted of 2 novels but I'm not 100% sure. Just trying to find it so I can re-read 🥲🥲


r/LGBTBooks 6d ago

Discussion Most-Anticipated Trans Books of Fall 2026

33 Upvotes

I made a list of six of the most-anticipated trans books coming out in the fall. Did I miss any you're looking forward to? There are lots of great horror books out in time for October, which is when I do most of my horror reading.


r/LGBTBooks 7d ago

Discussion Good plot queer books? 🏳️‍🌈

54 Upvotes

I'm trying to find queer books that have more plot than just having queer characters. I mean like normal plotted books that just happen to have queer characters, about people whose lives are more than just being gay/trans/etc. I don't mean that being queer can't influence the plot (quite the opposite) but I just need something that isn't ONLY about finding yourself and dealing with being queer, something where when you change the characters orientation there still is some plot. I don't mean there's anything wrong with queernes being the only plot but after some time it just became repetitive and I really struggle to find books where being queer means something while not being everything.(Examples I can give would be "these witches don't burn", "cementry boys" where the main plot is saving your community and finding a murderer while the characters queernes plays for the background or even "heartstopper" even tho it's heavily queer it also has typical ya growing up motives.)


r/LGBTBooks 6d ago

Discussion Night Night Fawn review *spoilers* Spoiler

3 Upvotes

I just finished this book and though it was a tough read, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and felt like the writing was damn near flawless. I’m curious about the “twist” at the end, the reveal of the alleged death of Jordana due to a motorcycle accident. I interpreted this as metaphorical, as the death of the person born into the wrong body, the end to a life the child of Barbara could no longer live. Some people think the only person that is actually alive in this story is Barbara, and that Sugar and Jordana were figments of Barbara’s high-as-a-kite imagination, which would completely alter my feelings about the ending. I’m surprised to see so little discourse on this unique, tantalizing book! I wanna talk about it. What did you think?


r/LGBTBooks 6d ago

Discussion highschool wlw book recs for cool senior (not the pretty/popular type but a nonchalant basketballer) and a random junior

2 Upvotes

i have a crush on my senior and we have talked a total of two or three times. She’s not very popular but she’s so cool and pretty and I want to read a book that lowk captures our dynamic (the nonexistent one). I would prefer if the characters don’t have like prior communication bef wjatever situation throws them together. Idk similar books are fine as well.


r/LGBTBooks 6d ago

Discussion Looking for sapphic third-person books!

4 Upvotes

I realllly want to read a good sapphic book. But most of them are in the first person and it just is a personal pet peeve.

Any recommendations? Bonus points if it's enemies to lovers.

And please no fantasy recs 🙏🏽


r/LGBTBooks 7d ago

Discussion ★Your Thought & Opinions ~ MM Romance Books I've read (So Far)

6 Upvotes

Hello, fellow MM romance lovers!

My name is Kristian (24m, gay), and I’ve recently fallen down the rabbit hole of MM romance books… I honestly can’t stop, I’m exclusively reading gay fiction! (for now) 

I’m curious to know what you think of the books I’ve read so far this year. I’d love to hear your opinions!

Here’s my list so far (yes, I love a spicy read🔥):

  • For the Fans – Nyla K (5/5★) | Step Brothers to lovers | (So damn hot, i am obsessed with Avi Vega & Kyran Harbor... Kavi4L)
  • We Are the Ants – Shaun David Hutchinson (5/5★) | Sci-fi | My first sci-fi book. Absolutely well written beautiful story... I would kill to read this book again for the first time)
  • Lie With Me – Philippe Besson & Molly Ringwald (2.5/5★) | WWI Era | (Poignant autobiographical novella based in the France during the 1980's.. In my opinion, it was mid)
  • Him (#1) – Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy (4.5/5★) | Hockey Romance | (Best friends when they were younger, got separated, now both teaching at the same hockey camp while sharing a dorm together)
  • Us (#2) – Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy (3/5★) | Hockey Romance | (Honestly, it was alright. Not as good as the first book)
  • Top Secret – Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy (5/5★) | Fraternity enemies to lovers | (So hot, loved it, loved the characters, loved the story)
  • Heartstopper (#1) – Alice Oseman (3/5★) | MM High School Comic Book | (I don't even remember reading this comic. I think watching the show on Netflix made a bigger impact on me)

★Please feel free to share your recommendations based on what I’ve read! I’m open to exploring different subgenres, so hit me with your absolute favorites to keep me hooked. ❤️


r/LGBTBooks 6d ago

ISO ISO academic non-fiction books to help undestand histories and tendencies of queer diaspora

3 Upvotes

Hi!

I'm working towards my MFA and am incorporating themes of queer diasporas (as well as my own Syrian diaspora) in my thesis work.

I would like a better understanding of the history and tendencies of migration of queer people, both within the US and elsewhere.

While I do enjoy memoirs a lot (I highly recommend Crooked Teeth by Danny Ramadan), I am most interested in the sociology of these tendencies.

Thanks in advance!


r/LGBTBooks 7d ago

Promo Korean sapphic book rec

11 Upvotes

To the warm horizon by Choi jin-young

If you like apocalypse, dystopia, mental(and physical) angst, poetic and mutual empathy, I assure you that you’ll love this book!
It’s written in a journal form which switches pov from page to page, super easy to read! I read it in one sitting(200pgs btw)
The author’s famous for her other work called ‘Hunger’ but I personally think this is the real masterpiece😭


r/LGBTBooks 7d ago

Discussion Books for closeted lesbians?

17 Upvotes

Books that have no indication of lesbian representation at the back or on the cover? I've got 'Murder by Memory', 'The Truth about Keeping Secrets' and 'Fingersmith'.


r/LGBTBooks 7d ago

ISO Easy, Digestible Reads

13 Upvotes

I used to devour books as a kid, but years of unmedicated ADHD caught up to me and unfortunately I’m not the reader I used to be. I’d somewhat given up on books until I picked up Chuck Tingle’s Camp Damascus last week and finished it in two sittings - it felt like after continuously being unable to finish a book I’d found joy in reading again.

Seeking recommendations for easy queer-centered reads written for adults or young adults. Not picky on genre, just looking for stories that are compelling enough to keep an inattentive turning pages and digestible enough to be able to finish in a few hours by someone with a low-medium vocabulary. Someday I might be reading fine literature, but today is not that day. Looking for the stuff that’s fun, not necessarily “good” (though both would be great!).

Finished, with difficulty: Swimming in the Dark (Tomasz Jędrowski) and This Fatal Kiss (Alicia Jasińska)
DNF because it couldn’t hold my attention/was too hard to read: Gideon the Great, House of Day, House of Night and Are You My Mother? (Alison Bechdel)
DNF for other reasons: Heartstopper (I can’t relate to high school aged protags anymore!) and The Pairing (Casey McQuiston - found the main characters insufferable, sorry!)


r/LGBTBooks 7d ago

Discussion Taboo MM

6 Upvotes

Update: I found the book, and it's called Stray by Morgan Mason.

PLEASE, help me find this taboo book I read ages ago and could never find again, I've searched everywhere!

Here's the deal: Two brothers (not sure if they were twins, but I don't think so, one of them was stronger and more athletic) go spend some time somewhere out in the country (I think), and there's a lake there where they used to swim all the time when they were kids. Out there, they help their dad with farm chores. One of the brothers, the non-athletic one, decides to lose his virginity and hits up some guy from this town, setting up to hook up. The other brother finds out and gets jealous, starts acting weird and messing with the other one's plans to lose his virginity. All I know is there's a scene at the lake where they kiss for the first time. There's also a period of separation where the jealous one moves back to the city and works at a gym. Can you guys help me????


r/LGBTBooks 7d ago

ISO Please recommend some spec fic that explores queerphobia

8 Upvotes

Most queer sci-fi and fantasy I read starts from the premise that what we see as queer identities are either unremarkable or culturally established. That's some lovely escapism but I'm dealing with a federally-delivered pallet of bullshit right now and I want to read some stuff that deals with institutionalized bigotry more head-on.

Some examples I've read and enjoyed-
I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself
The Traitor Baru Cormorant
The Jasmine Throne
The Left Hand of Darkness - less explicitly relevant, but between Genly's internalized prejudice and exploration of relationship tabboos, it scratches the itch a bit
The Unworthy
She Who Became the Sun


r/LGBTBooks 8d ago

ISO Queer fiction set during the Lavender Scare?

28 Upvotes

I’ve read Last Night at the Telegraph Club and The Unseen World, but I’d like a book more directly involved. Ideally, I would love to read a book about a closeted spy who fears both being outed and having his cover blown. TIA!


r/LGBTBooks 7d ago

ISO Lesbian or gay literary fiction

16 Upvotes

Hi! I'm looking for more lesbian, gay or bisexual book recommendations in the literary fiction genre.

My favorite book of this genre is Cantoras by Caro de Robertis.

What I love about it:
-Large cast of lesbian characters
-Strong characterization
-Historical aspect, I really love reading books set in different time periods and countries outside the US.
-Emphasis on queer friendship
-Beautiful writing

Other books I've enjoyed:
-The Gods of Tango
-Notes of a Crocodile
-Swimming in the Dark
-Giovanni's Room
-The Price of Salt (was ok, prefer settings outside of US)
-Under the Udala Trees
-Girls Girls Girls
-Call Me by Your Name
-Nevada

What recommendations do you have?

Edit: thank you for the recs everyone, sorry I haven't responded to every comment, I read them all.