Celebrating the Literature of Pride

Book recommendations by queer authors

An important part of Pride Month – and of continued support of the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the year – is sharing the stories and voices of those in the community. Whether you’re a fan of fiction, nonfiction or poetry, you should find something to savor from this list of stories by and about people who identify as LGBTQIA+.

Nonfiction, Essays

Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby

Irby is an American author, comedian and blogger. In this third collection of essays, Irby discusses aging, marriage and settling down with stepchildren in white, small-town America. Irby’s other essay collections are Meaty and We Are Never Meeting in Real Life.

Fiction, Short Stories

Apsara Engine by Bishakh Som

“In turns both fantastical and familiar, this graphic short-story collection with South Asian roots is immersed in questions of gender, the body and existential conformity,” the publisher writes of the book. Sepia-toned watercolors accompany its eight stories. This is Som’s debut, although she has contributed short pieces to publications such as The New Yorker.

Nonfiction, History

The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle by Lillian Faderman

In this book, Faderman chronicles the struggle for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights in the United States from the 1950s to the early 21st century. The writing is based on interviews with politicians, military figures, legal activists and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Faderman is an American historian who focuses on lesbian and LGBTQ history. The New York Times named three of her books to its Notable Books of the Year list.

Poetry Collection

Soft Science by Franny Choi

Choi is a Korean-American queer writer and poet whose Soft Science is a collection of “Turing Test-inspired poems ground[ed] in its exploration of questions not just of identity, but of consciousness – how to be tender and feeling and still survive a violent world filled with artificial intelligence and automation.”

Fiction, Contemporary
Less by Andrew Sean Greer

This satirical comedy novel follows gay writer Arthur Less as he travels the world on a literary tour with his 50th birthday looming. The book covers themes such as romantic love, relationships, aging and travel. Greer is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of six works of fiction, including another bestseller, The Confessions of Max Tivoli.

Fiction, Fantasy

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The cover blurb for Gideon the Ninth – the first in a planned series – reads, “Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space!” New Zealander Muir is an author in the fantasy, science-fiction and horror genres who has been nominated for the Nebula Award, Shirley Jackson Award, World Fantasy Award and Eugie Foster Memorial Award.