Though June is widely recognized as Pride Month, October is recognized as LGBTQ+ History Month. Formally established in 2009, this month is dedicated to the history of queer people, historical figures, and activism.
With that in mind, what better way to spend this month than by reading works written by queer authors? Whether you’re searching for representation or a fresh perspective, this list gives you some highlights of my personal favorite queer authors to keep on your radar this month and beyond.
- TJ Klune
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TJ Klune is an openly gay, bestselling author of over 20 books featuring queer characters. Klune himself emphasizes the importance of accurate, positive queer representation in stories for all. His breakout bestselling novel, and my personal favorite, The House in the Cerulean Sea, is a quintessential cozy fantasy with perfect fall vibes.
His newest release, a standalone novel titled We Burned So Bright, follows an older queer couple “on an end-of-the-world road trip.” He has several books lined up for release in 2027, so keep an eye out for more!
- Ocean Vuong
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Ocean Vuong is an award-winning Vietnamese-American novelist and poet who also serves as a professor at New York University (NYU). His novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, is a beautifully written letter from a son to a mother who will never be able to read it. It touches on identity, the immigrant experience, and first love. It’s the kind of book that will definitely make you cry and then cry some more.
His latest release, The Emperor of Gladness, was published in 2025 and follows a college dropout who unexpectedly becomes a caregiver for a widow with dementia. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to check out his poetry collections, not just his novels. I absolutely cannot wait to see what he cooks up next!
- Casey McQuiston
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By now, we probably all know and love Red, White, and Royal Blue (RWRB). Casey McQuiston is the nonbinary author behind the beloved romance between a British Prince and a President’s son. If you’ve managed not to read RWRB by now, consider this a friendly reminder that you absolutely should!
Adapted into an Amazon Prime movie in 2023, RWRB has captured the hearts of millions and will soon be continued in a novella and a subsequent sequel film. Beyond RWRB, McQuiston is the author of a few other queer romantic comedy novels that I can’t wait to explore, including I Kissed Shara Wheeler and One Last Stop. If they’re anything like their other books, I have a feeling I’ll love them.
- Douglas Stuart
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Douglas Stuart is a Scottish-American writer and fashion designer from Glasgow. His debut novel, Shuggie Bain, was the winner of the 2020 Booker Prize and is an absolute heartbreaker, along with his second standalone novel, Young Mungo. His third novel, John of John, was shortlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize.
Stuart’s novels are set against the Scottish landscape, exploring the intersection of poverty, queer identity, and family. His stories exist somewhere just this side of heartache; they are certainly not lighthearted but make for deeply profound and unforgettable reads.
Reading the works of queer authors is not about checking a box off a list. More often than not, the stories we are told about queer lives are not being told by the ones living them. Though representation has come a long way, we are far from finished.
Queer people deserve to see themselves in every genre, not just through coming-out stories or narratives of struggle. Reading queer literature gives these voices the space they deserve, reminding us that representation is an important practice that saves lives.
Happy LGBTQ+ History Month, and happy reading!
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