17 Great Books With LGBT Characters

A little bit magical Harry Potter, a little bit Island of Misfit Toys, with a touch of budding gay love, that tests your definition of family. A perfect book for young adults – especially LGBT individuals.

One of my all-time favorite books is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The story begins with Monique, a struggling reporter, who is hand selected to interview the aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo. The writing shifts between eras and perspectives, with most of the action taking place from Evelyn’s point of view from the 1950’s through the 1980’s. Readers soon learn that a forbidden love from Evelyn’s past has had a far greater effect on her than anyone realized.

If you’d like to introduce the concept of LGBT to your kids, try reading this book to them. The main character didn’t even know he was gay, until he started noticing his future partner. I like the way they build up the character latter, where they focus on his positive traits. I think this book would be good for kids who are also trying to figure out themselves, what they like and don’t like. I highly recommend this also for parents who want to express their love and acceptance to their LGBT kids.

This is a series of 6 books about police procedural and gay romance. I suggested this book because unlike many LGBTQ love stories that were written by women, Urban and Roux treat their male characters with respect rather than turning them into fetishes. Besides, the book’s intimate moments are immersive and well-written, and the banters are hilarious. If you love good humor, I guarantee you’ll be so hooked on the book that you will not believe how fast you will finish it.

I am suggesting this book because it is one of the coming-of-age stories you must read. Alire perfectly illustrates the glimpse of Dante’s mindset when he discovers his sexuality. He makes you feel comfortable with the confusion of self and identity, which helps in coming out as a lesbigay person. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you loved The Songs By Achilles.

Ash is no stranger to feeling like an outcast. For someone who cycles through genders, it’s a daily struggle to feel in control of how people perceive you. Some days Ash is undoubtedly girl, but other times, 100 percent guy. Daniel lacks control too—of his emotions. He’s been told he’s overly sensitive more times than he can count. He can’t help the way he is, and he sure wishes someone would accept him for it. So when Daniel’s big heart leads him to rescue a dog that’s about to be euthanized, he’s relieved to find Ash willing to help. The two bond over their four-legged secret. When they start catching feelings for each other, however, things go from cute to complicated. Daniel thinks Ash is all girl .. . . what happens when he finds out there’s more to Ash’s story? With so much on the line—truth, identity, acceptance, and the life of an adorable pup named Chewbarka—will Ash and Daniel forever feel at war with themselves because they don’t fit into the world’s binaries? Or will their friendship help them embrace the beauty of living in between?

This groundbreaking book is an indispensable resource for families navigating those first conversations around sex, puberty, gender, and consent. Therefore, it’s a must-read book for caregivers and parents of all genders, irrespective of LGBTQs, along with those who want their kiddos to know the values of diversity and kindness. Being an inclusive and stunning compilation, it’s medically precise, body-positive, gender-affirming, and comprehensive while delivering equal education to all.

The price of salt is an amazing book that has all the elements to keep a reader hooked. High voltage romance, nail-biting suspense, and a rollercoaster of emotions, the price of salt is not just a book, it soon becomes a part of life. It revolves around two women who fall in love. Add to it the fact that it was written in the 1950s and a realization dawns that the book was way ahead of its time. The characters are intense, the story fast-paced and the erotic elements are sure to give you a high. I have seen the movie too, but it was nowhere close to the book. A must-read for anyone with an appetite for amazing yet twisted love stories.

Simon vs. is a book every lgbtq+ teen should read. It’s a beautiful coming-of-age story about a gay teen – Simon Spier, living in a world where being straight is the default. The character is still trying to define himself and all of his edges, to learn to be unafraid of his wants and love who he loves while facing conflicts that are too familiar to a lot of us. It’s a story firmly stating a world where being straight isn’t the default, where there aren’t any sexuality assumptions, and where lgbtq+ people aren’t being pressured to “come out”. It also advocates that coming out is a very personal thing and NO ONE should take it away. It’s more than a happy sigh of a book about two boys falling in love. But, the themes of friendship, family, growing up, and coming to terms with who you are, are some subjects well-explored.

Six of Crows is a twisting, masterfully designed masterwork that had me enthralled from start to finish. It’s one of those all-too-rare, impossible-to-put-down books that keep your eyes glued to the page and your mind racing to figure out what will happen next. There’s a tension between morality and amorality, as well as a need for occasionally grimace-inducing brutality, which brings to mind the Game of Thrones series. But there are pages of explosive dialogue and beautiful descriptions for every brutal encounter. Bardugo immerses himself in this universe in full colour and sound.

The book is full of heart and full of laughs and full of pain. But it is ultimately uplifting. And all I can say is that everyone must have a Tiny Cooper in their life. The characters themselves are easy to understand. It is a pretty quick read because you won’t want to put it down. It is undoubtedly funny to the point where you will be laughing out loud, by the end you will cry at least once. I suggest this book if you are looking for some wildly weird puns, touching moments, and a play about the tallest guy in the school.

Every Good Boy Does Fine is renowned Kansas City musician Calvin Arsenia’s debut book of poetry and prose. Named for the classic mnemonic used to teach the lines of the treble clef (EGBDF), his collection speaks to his passion as a musician while also exploring his tumultuous journey as a queer, Black man raised in the Evangelical community. Showcasing a profound connection to music, Arsenia uses his lyrical talent to examine identity and belonging, ultimately concluding that there is always somewhere to go no matter where you come from.

Here We Go Loop De Loop has greed, lust, sexuality, spiritual enlightenment, xenophobia, and the meaning of a life worth living all woven into a single, outrageous knot in the insulated town of Rita Blanca, Texas. Discussions – and discoveries – of sexuality abound as characters strive to find happiness and meaning. It’s a story wrought with humanity, full of characters doing the best they can – just not terribly well.

Twins Jude and Noah take on an adventure of their lives. Noah is a charismatic boy who keeps falling in love with the boy next door while Jude is the adventurous one. Their story unfolds as the twins go from inseparable to how-do-we-talk, sharing the ups and downs of each other’s growth.

“Lowering Clouds” is a novel about mature women. Gabriele is a sixty-two-year-old bisexual actress when she takes a trip to the city where she spent her adolescence. Her visit awakens something unexpected in two of her friends. Marianne is older and hardly remembers the actress because she has Alzheimer’s disease. Silvia is a housewife that feels the monotony of marriage and she must care for their grandchildren daily. Through her friends, the actress sees the life she could have had, but this trip awakens passions and changes the lives of everyone she visits… When the novel was published for the first time in Catalan, mature people and young adults, not especially LGBT, involved with these characters too. They understood well how a housewife like Silvia, taking care of the grandchildren, can still feel in love and look for a chance after Gabriele’s visit.

This book explores what it’s like to question and explore your sexuality. Holland is by all accounts a seemingly straight girl, that is until she meets Cece. A deep connection and love are explored as Holland discover what it’s like to love a woman. A must-read for anyone who wants to explore attraction and connection to the opposite sex.

The British classic Maurice is a beautiful and poignant tale of love between two men in England during the late 19th century. Set in the summer Maurice and Philip meet and become close, despite their families’ disapproval. The story shows how they overcome social trends and religious pressures to be together despite their society’s prejudices. Although the pair do not live happily ever after it is a story that has stood the test of time because it speaks to all humans about love, prejudice, freedom, and overcoming hardship. It is a must-read because it is about an LGBT love story, but also one of overcoming adversity. The book has so many themes that go beyond sexuality and also religion. It is a must-read for anyone who is looking for LGBT literature for teenagers or young adults.