17 Books to check out for Pride Month
Pride month is almost here! What better way to anticipate and celebrate than to expand your library with some great queer reads? Here is a list of 17 books to check out for Pride Month.
1- Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
Call Me By Your Name is a great summer read for those who love love. The book follows Elio, a 17 year old at his parents’ summer house in Italy, and Oliver, their 24 year old house guest, over the course of six weeks. 10/10 would recommend reading this on a beach.
2- Find Me by André Aciman
Find Me is a continuation of Call Me By Your Name set many years forward. This book encapsulates the idea of true and destined love. Definitely a great cozy night in, classical music read.
3- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda tells the story of Simon Spier and his mystery email pal Blue. After one of his emails falls into the wrong hands, we learn through Simon and Blue’s journey what it means to be comfortable and confident, and not to mention in love with someone you’ve never met.
4- Leah on the Off Beat by Becky Albertalli
Leah on the Off Beat is the story of Leah, Simon Spier’s not-so-out bisexual best friend and her journey through senior year of high school. Filled with teen angst, relatable awkwardness, and the strangeness of first love, this book is a great read for queer teens everywhere.
5- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
A period piece about Ancient Greece- what more could one ask for? The Song of Achilles tells the story of Patroclus and Achilles. This is a love story, told throughout adolescent, teenage, and adult years, through childhood playing, training, and war. Keep a box of tissues nearby.
6- The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Told in verses, The Black Flamingo is about Michael, a mixed-race gay teen from London and his journey through life and finding a place to fit in. This book perfectly captures the essence of how complicated “identity” can be, and how it’s okay to take a while to find yours.
7- Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Wizards and magic and monsters and boyfriends — Carry On is a gay fantasy mystery love story, but it’s also so much more. The story follows Simon Snow and his quest to defeat the Insidious Humdrum with his friends (and also “enemies”). We don’t have a recommendation for where to read this book because to be honest, it’s perfect anywhere.
8- Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
Wayward Son is the much beloved sequel to Carry On. It again follows Simon and his friends, this time through America, looking for new scenery but instead finding and fighting monsters. Despite this, Wayward Son does a great job of demonstrating the complexities of anxiety and depression in characters that weren’t taught to care for themselves. A novel filled with realness and comedy, and also monsters. Truly something for everyone.
9- What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli
A cute city summer romance about the awkwardness of dating and having the perfect first date. What If It’s Us explores the meeting and development of a relationship between Arthur and Ben, two people that come from opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to the universe and destiny. This is a great read for a picnic in a park or at a cafe in the city.
10- All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
All Boys Aren’t Blue is a memoir about the childhood, adolescence, and college years of George M. Johnson. Told through personal essays, it explores the experiences of Black queer boys, as well as identity, masculinity, and family. This is a great eye-opening read for those looking to learn more about intersectionality.
11- History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
History is All You Left Me is a book about heartbreak, grief, and acceptance. After Griffin’s ex-boyfriend, Theo, dies, he is left spiraling and lost. In order to move on to the future, a future without Theo, Griffin must first confront the past. This is more of a heavy hearted somber read, probably best accompanied by a box of tissues.
12- More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
This book, while it confronts several heavy and heartbreaking topics such as homophobia, depression and suicide, is framed by a Bronx summer filled with comic book and Star Wars references. More Happy Than Not deals with many powerful themes such as accepting yourself, friendship, and what it means to be happy. A very diverse and wide reaching read.
13- It’s Not like it’s a Secret by Misa Sugiura
It’s Not Like It’s a Secret is a great casual read about the complications of secrets, friends, family, and being true to yourself. Between her father’s possible affair, her sexuality, and her friends, Sana learns about the difficulty of telling the truth and the complications that follow. This book is a good casual read.
14- I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
I Wish You All the Best follows Ben, a nonbinary teen that comes out to their parents and is subsequently thrown out of their house. While the first few chapters are heart wrenching, what follows is a very personal take on the complexities and anxiety of coming out after rejection. This book is a book about a nonbinary person written by a nonbinary person (and a personal favorite). Highly recommend reading anytime, anywhere.
15- Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
Red, White, and Royal Blue tells the story of a developing enemies-to-lovers star crossed romance between First Son Alex and Prince Henry. This is a light-hearted, fun story that you’ll probably find yourself unable to put down. It’s a happy and wholesome story all around that’s good to read if you are in need of a pick-me-up.
16- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Aristotle and Dante couldn’t be more different, but throughout Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, the reader learns that they share something that surpasses commonalities. This is a slow burn book about acceptance of oneself and learning who you want to be.
17- This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
This Book is Gay is essentially a gay instruction manual. Inside, you can find answers to questions, stories, information, and entertainment. This book teaches you that you matter, you’re loved, and you’re exceptional. A great read for the curious, the questioning, and the eager to learn.
While these are all great reads, you may notice something. There is a significant lack of mainstream books representing the women of the LGBTQ+ community, the Black and Latinx members of the community, and those who fall outside the gender binary. While there are some books on the way that represent these members of the community, there has to be more.
Pushing for and supporting more diverse representation of our community, and even doing a little yourself, can make a huge difference.
Haven is a developing virtual pride center aimed at providing young LGBTQ+ people with a community at their fingertips. The founders of Haven come from a place of love, understanding, and commitment. Haven is a community founded by young LGBTQ+ people for LGBTQ+ people. Checkout our website, havenvpc.org, and follow us on Instagram @haven.vpc for updates on our journey.
Haven is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. You can email us at havenvpc@gmail.com.
