A list of recent SFF books by trans and gender-nonconforming authors? We have you covered. A list of books about gender identity? We have you covered there, too. We’ve written a list of LGBTQ books that will make you cry, and a list of LGBTQ books with happy endings. We have a list of books featuring ‘queernorm’ worlds — worlds in which homophobia and transphobia do not exist. We even have a list of TikTok’s favorite LGBTQ books. But yes, most of our lists have YA on them somewhere or another, and we promised. This list will only feature adult LGBTQ books. Still, it’s hard to distill so much queer excellence into such a small list. But I did my best here, bringing my absolute favorites to the front of the pack, and trying to highlight a couple big bestsellers alongside books that people may not have heard of. I included content warnings wherever I was able, but things can slip through the cracks. Please make sure to do additional research on your own if you have specific concerns.
Literary/Contemporary Fiction
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Have recommendations for queer novels that should have made the list? Let me know on Twitter! I assume your library hold lists and bookstore shopping carts are overflowing by now, but you can check out our queer books tag for more recommendations. Content warnings for sexual assault, torture, conversion therapy, homophobia, violence, suicide. Content warnings for bullying and violence, abuse, drug addiction, homophobia, mental illness, animal violence. Content warnings for parental death, depression, grief, hanging (depicted in a dream), homophobia, miscarriage, misogyny, PTSD, rape. Content warnings for homophobia, domestic abuse, misogyny. Content warnings for sexual assault, domestic abuse, child abuse, miscarriage, racism, transphobia, and homophobia. Content warnings for violence, racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. Content warnings for drug addiction, mental illness, medical dismissal, ableism, suicidal ideation, gaslighting, PTSD. Content warnings for suicide, self-harm, hard drug use, f slur, homophobia, violence, abuse. Content warnings for vivid violence, body horror, racism, and sexual, domestic, and psychological abuse. Content warnings for violence, misgendering, mentions of racism and fatphobia. Content warnings for child abuse, death, genocide, gore, murder, racism, rape, slavery, violence, infanticide, mention of cannibalism. Content warnings for reproductive restrictions, suppression, depression, suicide. Content warnings for anti-Indigenous sentiment and persecution, sexism, torture, violence, miscarriage. Content warnings for rape, rape culture, body and gender dysmorphia, violence, illness. Content warnings for slavery, graphic violence and torture, racism, racist violence and slurs, rape, miscarriage. Content warnings for sexual assault, racism, homophobia, drug abuse, child abuse, and racist and homophobic slurs. Content warnings for depictions of graphic violence and torture, rape, imperialism, racism. Content warnings for classism, homophobia, racism, emotional abuse.
