It's the day after Valentine's Day, but love is still in the air, and we know many of you are dying to keep the celebrations going. Fear not! We here at the LGBTQ+ team have literary treats in store for you. So, however you choose to spend the occasion – whether that’s listening to a romantic audio eBook whilst wrapped in the embrace of a loved one or becoming engrossed in a book as a step in your much-deserved self-care session, we’ve got something for you.
A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson
For those of you who are sick to death of the stereotypical gushy love stories centred around improbable meet-cutes and are looking for something that takes these unlikely scenarios to hilarious extremes, we’ve got just the book for you! Follow along with Noa, who wakes up to find himself on board the Qriosity spaceship (ingenious use of suggestive language there) alongside DJ and Jenny as they try to understand how they came to be on board the ship and why they were chosen – all whilst battling their feelings for each other and a tumultuous past.
Love is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann
Fifteen-year-old Phoebe has no idea why anyone would want to succumb to Cupid’s arrow. You forget about your friends, become sex-obsessed and hold your significant other on a pedestal when, really, they give you far more crumbs than cake. She can’t understand why anyone would want to be this way and promises herself that she isn’t going to fall in love, ever. Then she meets Emma, and her whole world turns upside down. This witty, life-affirming book delves into many themes of teenage life, and it’s refreshing for an LGBTQ+ novel to explore an age group for queer teens that is not often represented in young adult fiction.
When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri
Some people look like they have it all. That’s exactly what can be said for Katie Daniels, a perfection-seeking twenty-eight-year-old lawyer living the American dream in New York City. This is, of course, until her world comes crashing down when Katie is suddenly dumped by her fiancé, Michael. She decides to drown her sorrows with Cassidy Price - a self-assured, sexually promiscuous woman she meets at work, who makes Katie question everything she thought she knew about sex and love. This rom-com novel explores both gender equality and sexual gratification, and is a real leap forward for publishers exploring f/f romance.
Yesterday Is History by Kosoko Jackson
For those that are interested in reading literature that overcomes the common issue of lack of diversity within published fiction and are looking for a love story featuring a minority ethnic love interest, we highly suggest this wonderful read. The author of this book is quoted as saying “I wanted to write a book where a black boy is seen as a love interest. I wanted to explore things not often seen by black and queer authors - love triangles, adventures, coming of age stories that don't feature black pain.” Not only is this a superbly written book with a myriad of uplifting messages, but, by purchasing this book, readers will be supporting a black queer man.
Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju
With a host of main characters, covering a multitude of gender expressions, sexual orientations and other queer identity markers, you’re sure to feel represented as you follow along with eight young drag performers as they come to terms with who they are and discover who they would like to be – thanks largely to the freedom against societal norms and expectations that their drag performances provide them with. Our central main character, Nima, goes through a particularly interesting metamorphosis in the form of character development thanks to a thoroughly intriguing sequence of events that will leave readers thoroughly invested in her story. Most intriguing of all about the book, however, is the relatable scenarios and teenage dramas that occur throughout which leave you feeling seen as a queer person – moments like a queer character falling in love with their straight friends or dealing with a suddenly absentee parent.
We here at The Publishing Post would love nothing more than to hear from you all about your top romantic LGBTQ+ book recommendations. Similarly, if you’ve already read any of our previously mentioned books, please feel free to let us know any and all of the opinions you formed whilst reading them, and we could proceed to have a discussion on these topics in the comment section. We look forward to hearing from you.