Literature and representation have always been intertwined with each other. Books and novels have always been one of the few places where people speak their minds. From Shakespeare’s plays with homosexual undertones to Oscar Wilde’s mentions and writings about it, the queer community has been an integral part of literature since the beginning.
Having said this, here are a few queer book recommendations to add to your reading list this pride month:
ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE
This is a story about two young boys who over the course of two years discover that they are queer. Both the protagonists are Mexican-Americans who struggle with their identity throughout the book. The boys live in different states for about half the book but still manage to communicate through letters. In a heartfelt letter Dante, the best friend of the protagonist, tells him that he thinks he is gay. Ari (the protagonist) contemplates his own repressed sexuality with that revelation. The book is written with ringing simplicity but the journey it takes you through is a roller coaster.
RED WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE
The story takes place in an alternate world where the 45th US president is a fictitious politician named Ellen Claremont. The protagonist is the FSOTUS who falls for the prince of England. The story deals with the complications of being queer in the public eye. The main character discovers that he is bi and realizes what it means to his identity, a half Mexican kid on the road to become a politician. The intermingling of politics and fame gives the story a soul and the way the characters are written makes you relate to them even though we aren’t royals or children of presidents. It is a very fun and exciting read which follows the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trope much famous in the YA genre.
THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END
As the title says, they both die at the end. If not for the beautiful cover, then for this intriguing title, this book is bound to catch your eye. It makes you pick it up just for the sake of figuring out why the book would give away one of the biggest spoilers (or is it?) in the title. The story starts with two boys in their late teens who have just received a call from the ‘Death-Cast’— which is an organization that calls you to tell you that you are going to die today. Mateo and Rufus become each other’s ‘Last Friend’ via an app and spend their last day together. They are both dealing with their own problems in life and try to accept their death and the fact that they will leave most of them unresolved. The mundane way in which the book is written makes it a beautiful read.
CARRY ON
If you like the Harry Potter book series and are a sucker for fan fiction then this one is for you. The book is set in a magickal world where the protagonist, Simon Snow, is the chosen one. He is in his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, roommates with his arch-nemesis (not really). Simon suspects that his roommate, Baz, is a vampire and up to no good since he doesn’t even bother showing up to school. The story captures the rivalry and banter of the two boys and how they fall in love with one another. Another enemies-to-lovers trope book because YA can’t get enough of them.