I like books. Actually, I love them. Especially young adult fiction. For me, YA fiction is so much more than just books for young adults. They’re fun, relatable books that really speak to deeper issues. Regardless of whether the YA is labeled as contemporary or sci-fi, I usually end up loving it. What makes me love it even more is LGBTQ+ representation. As any member of the community will tell you, finding books with accurate representation is rare. This year was a great year for the LGBTQ+ community in YA, so I thought I’d put together a list of 5 recently published books with LGBTQ+ characters that deserve to be added to your To-Be-Read pile.
1. Dreadnought by April Daniels
“Danny Tozer has a problem: she just inherited the powers of Dreadnought, the world’s greatest superhero. Until Dreadnought fell out of the sky and died right in front of her, Danny was trying to keep people from finding out she’s transgender. But before he expired, Dreadnought passed his mantle to her, and those secondhand superpowers transformed Danny’s body into what she’s always thought it should be. Now there’s no hiding that she’s a girl. It should be the happiest time of her life, but Danny’s first weeks finally living in a body that fits her are more difficult and complicated than she could have imagined. Between her father’s dangerous obsession with ‘curing’ her girlhood, her best friend suddenly acting like he’s entitled to date her, and her fellow superheroes arguing over her place in their ranks, Danny feels like she’s in over her head. She doesn’t have much time to adjust. Dreadnought’s murderer—a cyborg named Utopia—still haunts the streets of New Port City, threatening destruction. If Danny can’t sort through the confusion of coming out, master her powers, and stop Utopia in time, humanity faces extinction” (Daniels, Dreadnought).
This book is described as a classic superhero origin story, and fans of the superhero genre will love this innovative YA novel. It has everything you could possibly need: cool superpowers, awesome representation, and strong character development. I personally love that the book is an own voices book, meaning that the protagonist is a trans lesbian and the author is one, too! If you like LGBTQ+ representation and superheroes, I definitely recommend that you pick up this book immediately.
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Yes, Book 1/2
Goodreads Rating: 4.15/5
Own Voices: Yes
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia and Transphobia. This book contains an incredible amount of trans- and homophobia, and it can be hard to get through at times. Read at your own discretion.
2. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee
“Henry ‘Monty’ Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits or waking up in the arms of women or men. But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy. Still, it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores” (Lee, The Gentlemen’s Guide to Voice and Virtue).
Imagine historical fiction + queer adventures. That’s this book. Two boys fighting pirates and their feelings for each other. This book had ALL THE HYPE before it came out in June. Monty, Percy and Felicity are the new golden trio in this hilarious and incredible novel. Representation is high as the three main characters are bisexual, gay and asexual! The plot can be a bit over the top at times, but if you want a swashbuckling historic queer adventure, this is for you!
Fun Fact: The author, Mackenzie Lee, went to Simmons! She has a BA in history and an MFA in writing for children and young adults.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Originally a stand-alone, however, there is a sequel/companion novel that to this book (The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy) coming out in 2018.
Goodreads Rating: 4.54/5
Own Voices: The author and the protagonist, while different genders, are both bisexual.
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, Racism, Epilepsy, Ableism, PTSD, Alcoholism, Parental Abuse
3. Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee
“After a shout-out from one of the Internet’s superstar vloggers, Natasha ‘Tash’ Zelenka finds herself and her obscure, amateur web series, Unhappy Families, thrust into the limelight: She’s gone viral. Her show is a modern adaptation of Anna Karenina—written by Tash’s literary love Count Lev Nikolayevich ‘Leo’ Tolstoy. Tash is a fan of the forty thousand new subscribers, their gushing tweets, and flashy Tumblr GIFs. Not so much the pressure to deliver the best web series ever. And when Unhappy Families is nominated for a Golden Tuba award, Tash’s cyber-flirtation with Thom Causer, a fellow award nominee, suddenly has the potential to become something IRL—if she can figure out how to tell said crush that she’s romantic asexual. Tash wants to enjoy her newfound fame, but will she lose her friends in her rise to the top? What would Tolstoy do?” (Ormsbee, Tash Hearts Tolstoy).
Asexuals are rarely seen at the forefront of YA. Tash Hearts Tolstoy is an exception. In this quirky novel about internet stardom, Anna Karenina, friends, family and self-discovery became an instant hit. Not only is the protagonist is asexual, but there is a bisexual character in the novel as well. This book has a very cute and ‘fluffy’ romance and is overall a fun read. If you liked Simons vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda or Anna and the French Kiss, you’ll like Tash Hearts Tolstoy.
Genre: Contemporary
Series: No
Goodreads Rating: 4.06/5
Own Voices: Yes
Trigger Warnings: Aphobia, Parent with Cancer
4. How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake
“All seventeen-year-old Grace Glasser wants is her own life. A normal life in which she sleeps in the same bed for longer than three months and doesn’t have to scrounge for spare change to make sure the electric bill is paid. Emotionally trapped by her unreliable mother, Maggie, and the tiny cape on which she lives, she focuses on her best friend, her upcoming audition for a top music school in New York, and surviving Maggie’s latest boyfriend—who happens to be Grace’s own ex-boyfriend’s father. Her attempts to lay low until she graduates is disrupted when she meets Eva, a girl with her own share of ghosts she’s trying to outrun. Grief-stricken and lonely, Eva pulls Grace into midnight adventures and feelings Grace never planned on. When Eva tells Grace she likes girls, both of their worlds open up. But, united by loss, Eva also shares a connection with Maggie. As Grace’s mother spirals downward, both girls must figure out how to love and how to move on” (Blake, How to Make a Wish).
Ashley Herrin Blake’s second published book, How to Make a Wish, is powerful. This book is about family struggles, finding the love and happiness that you deserve and learning when to accept that you’re not okay. The main character, Grace, is bisexual. Her story doesn’t revolve around coming out or searching for acceptance of her sexuality; her sexuality simply is. Eva, the love interest in this story, is a biracial lesbian. All of the relationships in this story, between friends, lovers and family, were captivating. I highly recommend this book.
Genre: Contemporary
Series: No
Goodreads Rating: 4.16/5
Own Voices: Yes
Trigger Warnings: Parental Neglect, Verbal Abuse
5. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
“On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure and to live a lifetime in a single day” (Silvera, They Both Die at the End.”
I love Adam Silvera’s work. All of his books star gay protagonists, and this particular book, much like his debut novel, More Happy Than Not, features the perfect blend of contemporary fiction and futuristic elements. In this universe, you are told when you are going to die so that you can ‘cross off your bucket list’ on your final day. Mateo and Rufus decide to spend their final day together, but they end up developing feelings for each other during this time. The title does little to prepare you for the emotional rollercoaster that is this book. Even though these characters are destined to die, this is a story about them living. I definitely recommend that you read this book, and have tissues ready.
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Series: No
Goodreads Rating: 4.31/5
Own Voices: Yes
Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Death, Violence, Suicide
I hope that this list has inspired you to open up Amazon or run down to your local bookstore (support independent booksellers!) and get these books on your shelf A.S.A.P. If you love YA and LGBTQ+ representation half as much as I do, I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy them! :)
Happy Reading!