Hi friends! I hope you are doing okay ? Happy Pride Month to everyone! Whether you are sharing this part of yourself with the world, still questioning, quiet or loud, you are valid and wonderful.
Today and for this Pride Month, I thought I’d take some time as usual to share some book recommendations…. as always, I started my list and realized I had easily over 40 books to share, sooooo after a little bit of time, I managed to narrow it down to 20 books, otherwise we’d still be here tomorrow. Oops.
I hope you’ll take some time to add these lovely books to your TBRs, because, whether I’ve read and recommend them or am eagerly anticipating them, they all sound SO! Very! good! and we always need this kind of goodness in our lives okay.
This Is What It Feels Like, Rebecca Barrow
This is one of the most underrated, yet most amazing books I’ve read, really, I adore it. It deals with complicated friendships, teenage motherhood, addiction, unhealthy relationships, it has music at its heart and some of the most wonderful f/f romance as well. I! Love! This! Book!
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
How To Make A Wish, Ashley Herring Blake
Oh this is another little gem I’ll recommend to everyone. It’s an emotional contemporary with a very complicated and sometimes even hard to read mother/daughter relationship, but it also has one of the softest f/f romance between a bisexual main character and her love interest, a biracial lesbian girl. I just fell for them and ahh I loved themmmm!
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
By Any Means Necessary, Candice Montgomery
I’m on a roll with the underrated books I hope you’ll pick up here! By Any Means Necessary was such a great surprise, I enjoyed it SO much. With a witty writing voice and a great main character, this book tackles family, friendship, gentrification, homophobia. We have a black gay lead and an Afro-Latino bi love interest in this, too.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Small Town Hearts, Lillie Vale
My favorite ahh I’m just very soft for this book okay. The small town sea side setting, the cakes, the warmth of this book, the fact that it deals with friendships, too. Oh and the romance! Our lead is a bisexual café baker and her romance with the sweet, soft Levi was slow burning and wonderfully amazing to read.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Black Veins, Ashia Monet
This book was one of these fun, addictive reads with this cast of characters that are squad goals, really. The magic and adventure of it all, the diverse and queer cast of characters, the action and and just plain fun of this all makes The Black Veins an urban fantasy book I 200% recommend reading and devouring.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
We Set The Dark on Fire, Tehlor Kay Mejia
It’s been a hot minute since I screamed about We Set The Dark on Fire, so here I am again. THIS DUOLOGY IS FIERCELY AMAZING AND I ADORE IT okay. From the stunning world building to the characters you’ll root for, to the f/f romance I SCREAMED ABOUT, this, this is amazing okay.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Final Draft, Riley Redgate
An underrated read I mentioned quite a few times now, Final Draft remains one of these amazing little gems you should check out. Aside from the fact that it has a main character that struggles with writing (and 200% relatable), our lead is also a pansexual, biracial Equatorian plus-size girl with anxiety and we also have a Korean, lesbian character and friendships to loversssss hello.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Verona Comics, Jennifer Dugan
I really, really enjoyed Verona Comics, because despite its endearing illustrated cover, this book was much deeper (and much harder to read) than it seems. Aside from dealing with mental health, this book gives us a wonderfully complex and realistic relationship with a queer and a bisexual main character and I really enjoyed this book.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Everything Leads To You, Nina Lacour
Ooh would you look at that, an old favorite! Everything Leads To You just makes me happy, okay. I loved the Hollywood setting, the hint of mystery, the f/f romance and just everything about this okay.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Fever King, Victoria Lee
Hello, if you haven’t added The Fever King to your TBR what are you doing?? This duology was such a stunning work of art. I loved the world-building, the incredible cast of diverse, queer characters, the complexity of it all and I just was out of breath reading this because it was so good.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
10 More LGBTQIA+ YA Books To Read for Pride Month
The Henna Wars, Adiba Jaigirdar
The Henna Wars is such a heartwarming story about a Bangladeshi-Irish teenager coming out to her conservative parents as a lesbian. There’s a henna business war with a girl she’s attracted to, incredible sisters‘ friendships and I really recommend it!
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Crier’s War, Nina Varela
I’m obsessed with Crier’s War, it’s such an excellent book. Aside from the fabulous world-building, it has this slow-burn, f/f relationship you’ll YEARN for and will love. 200% recommending it.
Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Cinderella Is Dead, Kalynn Bayron
Cinderella is Dead is a… Cinderella retelling, but with queer characters, YAY. It’s a really great story about queer girls overthrowing the patriarchy of the world they live in and I really enjoyed and recommend it!
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
On a Sunbeam, Tillie Walden
This is a beautiful, emotional graphic novel set in space. It has found family, an all-queer cast, it’s soft and quiet and beautiful, really.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Summer of Salt, Katrina Leno
If you’re looking for a magical time, give Summer of Salt a try. This is a haunting kind of read with sisters, an island, some magic, a little bit of adorable queer romance and it’s SO lovely!
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Queens of Geek, Jen Wilde
This book is so much fun and definitely for you if you’ve ever been part of a fandom. I loved that it tackled mental health, I loved the adorable relationships and those characters SO much.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Girl, Serpent, Thorn, Melissa Bashardoust
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a beautiful, very entertaining fantasy inspired from Persian mythology. If you love morally grey characters, unique, fairytale-like storytelling and a little bit of queer romance, you’ll love this one!
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
I Think I Love You, Auriane Desombre
When a die-hard romantic and a no-romance-thanks work to get into a movie contest…Sparks end up flying and not in the way they expect it to. Perfect for fans of f/f enemies-to-lovers romances and great groups of friendships!
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Perfect on Paper, Sophie Gonzales
Perfect on Paper is about Darcy, a bisexual teenager running an anonymous relationships advice business at school. Everything’s great until Alexander asks for her help winning his ex-girlfriend back… An incredible book discussing biphobia, being queer enough and prejudices that comes with being bisexual.
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Girls of Paper and Fire, Natasha Ngan
Set in a world where a demon king takes 8 human concubines each year, Lei finds herself forced to become one… and falls for one of the other concubines. A dark premise (beware of triggers for rape and sexual abuse), but with a stunning world-building and lovely f/f relationship!
☂️ Buy on: Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
You might also be interested in: 10 of my Favorite Romances in YA Books
📌 Pin 20 YA books to read for Pride Month
Did you read any of these books? Do you want to?
What are some books you’d recommend for Pride Month? Let me know in comments!
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The Dacian She-Wolf says
Ooh I can’t wait for Cinderella is Dead!! I’m sure it would be amazing!
Marie says
It sounds incredible, I can’t wait to read it either! 😀
Thank you for stopping by! <3
The Dacian She-Wolf says
I do hope it is going to be so good! I’ll definitely stop by too after you read it to see your thoughts! ?
Marie says
yes please do 😀
Teri Polen says
I haven’t read the others, but The Fever King and its sequel were outstanding – loved the characters.
Marie says
Agree, I loved it so, so, so much! 🙂
thank you for your comment <3
ilsa @ A Whisper Of Ink says
I’m so excited to read the Wight of our stars!! I feel like it will be a five star read for me!! Also you literally made me add small town hearts to my tbr even though I’m picky when it comes to ya contemporary…you just made it sound so awesome!! Everything leads to you was so cute and the romance was SO soft. I seriously think more people should read it. This is such a great list Marie!
Marie says
Aaah yay me too! It sounds like such an excellent read.
This made my entire day, thank you so much <3 I hope you'll love Small Town Hearts, and thank you so, so much! 😀
Heather says
Love this list, thank you so much for crafting it! I like how you included both books you’ve read and books you want to read but haven’t yet.
Marie says
Oh thank you so much, so happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Laurie @ReadBetweentheSkylines says
YAY! I really hope you’ll like Dark and Deepest Red, I’ll try to read it this month 🙂
Marie says
Aaah I can’t wait to hear what you think of it 🙂
Books Teacup and Reviews says
Great list! I enjoyed Verona Comics. I loved Autoboyography too, it was best book I read this year.
Marie says
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Linda @ flourishreader says
Verona Comics seems like something I’d enjoy because it seems like the cover might fool you – just as you say – and end up being emotionally-hitting, haha. // Really good list!
Marie says
Ahh I hope you’ll give it a try, it was a really good read 🙂 thank you so, so much! <3
Amber Elise @ Du Livre says
You Should See Me in a Crown is on hoopla! I hope to get to it soon.
Marie says
Aah that’s great, I hope you will enjoy it 😀
CJR The Brit says
I cant wait for Cinderella is Dead, looks so good.
Marie says
Right? Let’s hope we both adore it! 😀
CJR The Brit says
Yes! Cross fingers ?
Sam@WLABB says
Rebecca Barrow’s book is so underrated. That book was fabulous! The friendship dynamics were quite complex, and I loved watching these three young women tackle their individual problems, while repairing their friendship.
Marie says
I so agree with you, this book is incredible and deserves ALL of the hype. I loveed these characters so much <3
Thank you, Sam! <3
anovelglimpse says
What great recommendations! Some of these are on my TBR.
Marie says
Thank you so much! I hope you’ll love them 😀
Sofii @ A Book. A Thought. says
OMG, SO MANY on your list that I want to read, I’m happy that you recommend them, it sounds incredible and I LOVE each cover ???✨❤️
Marie says
Thank you so, so much! So happy you liked it 😀
Aria says
This is an amazing list!!! I just finished reading the Henna Wars, and it is amazing! The sister relationship is so sweet, and all aspects of it are great. I really want to read the Weight of the Stars, Cinderella is Dead and You Should See me in a Crown, because they all look fantastic!
Marie says
Aaah thank you so much, I’m so happy you loved the henna wars. I am SO excited to read it 😀
Ash @ Starlight Strands says
The Henna Wars was so good, i hope you enjoy it when you read it!! the sister relationship in it was definitely one of my favorite parts. i’m currently reading Everything Leads To You right now and it’s so interesting!! i’m really glad to hear that you liked it. ? i want to read You Should See Me In A Crown, Dark and Deepest Red, and The Sound Of Stars so badly as well, i hope we both love all of them! amazing post ❤❤
Marie says
Aaah I’m so pumped, I can’t wait to get a copy of it. I hope I will love it as much as you <3
Thank you so much! <3
Sophie Li says
Hi Marie!
I really love this list. I’ll have to add Cinderella is Dead to my TBR because it sounds really fascinating. The Sound of Stars also sounds like an amazing book and it has the most beautiful cover 🙂
Marie says
OH thank you so, so much, Sophie! So happy I could make your TBR grow 😀
Jas @ XIV blog says
Love these recs!! Most of them are on my TBR and I can’t wait to read them 🙂
Great list! <3
Marie says
Ahh hope you’ll love them 🙂 thank you! <3
Charlotte says
I can’t believe I haven’t read We Set The Dark On Fire yet ? I definitely hope to soon as it sounds incredible. Same with Criers War which I’ve also heard a lot of wonderful things about. I have quite a few of these on my TBR tbh but the ones I hope to get to first, other than the two that I just mentioned are Dark & Deepest Red, Black Veins, Fever King (mostly because I’ve heard that the villain in it is amazing ?) Small Town Hearts & Cinderella Is Dead (I seriously need to read more retellings!!). I hope you enjoy all of the ones on your TBR ☺️
Marie says
Ahhh I hope you can soon, it’s so, so, AMAZING <3
The villain is incredibly well crafted in The Fever King, I can highly recommend this book, I loved it so much 🙂
Thank you so much Charlotte!
Lydia Tewkesbury says
I haven’t read any of these! I need to do some serious catching up on my YA contemporaries. I think they all sound amazing but for the title alone the first one I want to read is Cinderella Is Dead. I mean… title goals. If that isn’t a thing it should be a thing.
I have also been meaning to read a Nina LaCour book for absolutely ever. I LOVED You Know Me Well, the book she co-wrote with David Levithan a few years back and somehow still have not got around to picking up one of her solo novels. I’ve heard We Are Okay is amazing too.
Marie says
I so agree with you, this is title goals ahah I’m obsessed with it. I can’t wait to read it 🙂
I hope you’ll love Nina LaCour’s books! Everything Leads To You is the only one I read, but I heard We Are Okay is incredible 🙂
Thank you! <3
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
Oh, you really made me want to read Verona Comics now. I’d seen that one around but didn’t know much about it.
Marie says
Ohh I’m so happy to hear that! It was a lovely read 🙂
Thank you, Nicole <3
Lauren Becker says
I LOVED Picture Us in the Light. I definitely recommend that one. I also want to read You Should See Me in a Crown. Great rec’s!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Marie says
Ohh so happy to hear this, I can’t wait to read it 😀
Thank you, Lauren!
Caitlin @ Caitlin Althea says
love this post so much, marie!! i can’t tell you how excited i am for The Black Veins and You Should See Me in a Crown! even though they’re both by Black authors and have Black characters, I think they’re not going to focus on the hardships of being Black much. and i love that, because i think we should read and uplift books about Black joy as much as we do ones about Black pain. i also recently read The Henna Wars, and it was so much better than I thought it would be! i love how it followed a gay character from a culture that has a lot of homophobia, and it showed me that qpoc books just Hit Different compared to white queer books, haha
Marie says
Ahh I’m so, so excited for you to read both of them! The Black Veins was such a thrilling, addictive kind of read and I grew fond of all the characters so quickly. I hope you will, too 😀
I so agree with you on that, we need to read these kind of books so much!
I’m so happy you loved The Henna Wars! I am so, so so sooooooooooo pumped to read it ahah i hope I can get a copy soon 😀
Thank you so much <3
utopianpages says
Thank you for taking the time to compile this amazing list! You have always been my go-to book blogger to find amazing book recommendations from!
This is What it Feels Like and The Henna Wars both have amazing book covers!! I’m excited to read the rest❤️
Marie says
Thank YOU so much for reading it, I’m so, so happy you enjoyed it and ah this just made my entire week, thank you ?
Right? They’re some of my favorite book covers of all times, they’re so wonderful <3
Dezzy @ The Thoughtful Voice says
Ahhhh I love this post, you mentioned so many wonderful books!! Thank you so much for these recs, Marie <3 My copy of You Should See Me in a Crown arrived yesterday and I'm so excited to read it 🙂 It sounds like such a cute and heartwarming read!
Marie says
Oh thank you so, so, so much Dezzy, I’m thrilled you enjoyed it so much <3 I can't wait to hear your thoughts on you should see me in a crown! 😀
Ruby Rae Reads says
Love this post and all your recs
Ah I’ve been hearing ALL THE HYPE for You Should See Me In A Crown and Fever King and I really really want to read those <3
Ahh I didn't know Verona Comics was queer. Now I'm even more hyped, it sounds so lovely. Gives me all the Tweet Cute vibes
And The Fascinators sounds so up my alley
Marie says
Oh thank you so much, so happy you enjoyed it <3
I hope you'll love these books, I adore The Fever King so, so, SO much 😀
Thank you! <3
Jessica C Writes says
This is an incredible list filled with tons of books I’ve loved. I’m definitely going to be adding a lot of these to my TBR, too, because they all sound incredible ?
Marie says
Thank you so, SO much, I’m so happy to hear this ahh <3 I hope you'll love them!
Raven @ Dreamy Addictions says
These are great recommendations! Thank you for sharing them! Some of them are on my TBR list!
Marie says
Thank you so much! I hope you’ll love them 😀
Malka @ Paper Procrastinators says
I just added By Any Means Necessary to my TBR because it sounds like exactly the kind of book I’ll love! And Final Draft sounds really good as well! I’m so happy you chose to recommend underrated books, because you helped me find some new books to read!
You Should See Me In a Crown is at the very top of my TBR! I’ll probably be reading it this weekend, and I’m so very excited! I also have recently heard such good things about The Weight of the Stars, that I’ve added that book to my TBR as well, although I don’t know how soon I’ll get to that one.
As for books you didn’t mention that I’m excited for, I just ordered a copy of The Black Flamingo yesterday because I’m a sucker for novels told in verse, and I couldn’t resist that cover! I also plan on buying myself Felix Ever After as soon as I read a few more books on my TBR, so that I have room for it on my shelves!
And I really enjoyed On a Sunbeam when I read it last year, so I hope you do to! I read a lot of LGBTQ+ graphic novels in 2019, and that’s one of the ones that stood out to me, along with Kiss Number 8, which is a really great (and really funny) graphic novel hasn’t received the attention that it deserves!
Marie says
aaah this makes me so, so happy, i’m so glad i could make you discover some new books <3
I've been seeing The Black Flamingo around lately, I think I'll have to add it to my TBR, it sounds so lovely!
I'm glad you recommend On a Sunbeam, I'm so curious to read that one. Thank you for the recommendation, I'll have to check out Kiss Number 8 as well now 😀
jillian @ jillian etc. says
This is such a great list Marie <3 Thank you so much for the recommendations, I've been looking for more books to read while at home. I've always been interested to read You Should See Me in a Crown as well as Everything Leads to You. The latter book, I've had in my TBR for so long, but I just haven't had the chance to get a copy. 🙂 Will definitely make time to read these diverse reads and more.
jillian @ jillian etc.
Marie says
Oh thank you so much, Jillian, so happy you enjoyed it <3 I hope you'll find some new books to love here 😀
Emily says
I really want to read a lot of books on this list. I’ve seen You Should See Me in a Crown everywhere, and it totally seems like a book I would love. I also have been trying to get my hands on Cinderella is Dead, but it doesn’t seem to be available in ebook format in my country! Hopefully I’ll be able to get to some of these before Pride Month is over! I did just finish a fantastic memoir for pride month, How We Fight For Our Lives by: Saeed Jones. It was a heavy read, but so well written!
Marie says
Ahh I hope you’ll get to read these books soon! Cinderella is dead sounds fantastic, I really hope you can pre order a copy as soon as possible <3
Thank you so much, Emily! 🙂
Caro @ bookcheshirecat says
What a great list, Marie! ? I love How to Make a Wish so much, I hope that it’ll get some more love as I wish more people would know about it! I hope to read more books by the author as well, as she’s got more YA and also some cute Middle Grade out there ? I also hope to start reading You Should See Me in a Crown soon, as I have heard only praise for the story so far ?
Marie says
Thank you so much, Caro! I want to read more by Ashley Herring Blake as well, all of her books sound so lovely 😀
Dezzy @ The Thoughtful Voice says
Absolutely wonderful post, Marie! I love so many of the books you mentioned here ☺️ Crier’s War is an incredible, emotional, & engaging read, set in such a fascinating world, and I’m so excited for you to read it !! I’m currently reading You Should See Me in a Crown and I’m reallyyy enjoying it, it’s so cute hehe ? And The Sound of Stars sounds like such a cool book as well, I ordered it recently and it should be coming soon! I’m excited to read it 🙂 I hope you’re doing well btw <3
Dezzy @ The Thoughtful Voice says
Oh my gosh Marie, I’m so dumb (I have exactly one brain cell) and I didn’t even realize I already commented on this post earlier HAHA ? sorry, please excuse my silly mistake hahahah
Marie says
oh god and I answered I didn’t realize either ? DOUBLE THE LOVE I feel so loved ????
Marie says
Ahh thank you, Dezzy!! I’m so impatient to read Crier’s War, it sounds incredibly good 😀
Thank you <3 I hope you've been okay, take care of yourself <3 <3
Margaret @ Weird Zeal says
By Any Means Necessary is next up on my TBR and I’m so excited for it 😀 And Final Draft is one that I’ve had my eye on for a while – it sounds wonderful! Everything Leads to You and On a Sunbeam are both some of my favorite queer books, and I just finished You Should See Me in a Crown yesterday and adored it!!
Marie says
Aaaah I hope you’ll love both, they are so wonderful <3 and yay! I keep on hearing incredible things about You Should See Me in a Crown, very excited to read it 🙂
Veronika @ Wordy and Whimsical says
Crier’s War is one of my all time favorite novels! The slow burn romance, the tension, the hate-to-love!! It’s all so well-written and ah, just read it already, Marie!! ❤ Sadly, that’s the only one I’ve read from your list, but there are SO MANY I do want to read, especially The Henna War, You Should See Me in a Crown, How To Make a Wish, and The Black Veins. Great post, Marie! 🙂
Marie says
You have me so, so, SO excited to read Crier’s War, it sounds INCREDIBLE. I really hope I can get a copy soon… and find a way to read all the books all at once, so many books to read ahah.
Thank you so much! <3
May @ Forever and Everly says
me seeing you put multiple recs of mine in this post: ??? but YES i am so excited for you to read the henna wars and on sunbeam (and the weight of the stars… and you should see me in a crown… and picture us in the light…) — i think you’re going to adore them all ? i really want to read this is what it feels like, it looks so lovely and soft <3 and the sound of stars looks absolutely amazing and i've heard only great things about it!!
(also originally 40 books!! more words from you!!! we were robbed)
Marie says
This post was 80% sponsored by your recommendations haha. I feel like I’d love all of these books and I really hope I will get them soon!! <3 <3
I knoooow ahah, i could have put a longer list together, but this one was exhausting already ?
Nimika @ wordhaven says
god, i need to read more of nina lacour’s books. i read ‘we are okay’ a loooong time ago and from what i remember, i loved it so why haven’t i read more of her books????? (it’s b/c of the kind of person that i am i know) ALSO GOSH ALL her covers are SO PRETTY ?
see, i devoured the fever king immediately after it came out and it WRECKED me and now i’m scared to read the sequel because paaaaiiiiiin (im weak) ✌
marie, on a sunbeam is SO GORGEOUS. i read it on my laptop and my eyes nearly cried from all the prettiness (+ the story is amaze and so so gay)
Marie says
right ahh she has the best book covers ever, I really need to read we are okay sometime. But I get it, i’m the same way ahah 🙂
BUT YOU SHOULD read The Electric Heir you will love love love love ittttttt! 😀
Ahh this makes me so happy, I need to read this as soon as possible then. Thank you!! <3
Marta @ the book mermaid says
There are so many amazing books on this list!! I’ve read The Henna Wars and it’s really, really cute, despite some minor issues I had with Flávia buuuut everything else was adorable. I also wanna read You Should See Me In a Crown asap! And I might have to look up the other books – especially The Fever King, how haven’t I read it already??
Marie says
Ahh thank you! I hope you’ll read the fever king, it is AMAZING I loved it so so much!! 😀