Epic Romance, Otherworldly Adventures, & More

This is just a little peek at our Big Gay Book List - which has over 170 titles. Thirsty for more? Scroll to the bottom where the complete list of titles is stashed.

Staff Favorites | Book To Film | Darlings of Booktok | Otherworldly Adventures | Epic Romance | Graphic Novels | Young Adult and Teen | Children's Books

Staff Favorites

These are books we personally adore - titles our booksellers carry around extra copies to give to their friends. Stories that we just won't shut up about. If you want the absolute BEST books on this list, here they are!

Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

"A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft in this epic fantasy about a group of childhood friends who are also witches. 'If you look hard enough at old photographs, we’re there in the background: healers in the trenches; Suffragettes; Bletchley Park oracles; land girls and resistance fighters. Why is it we help in times of crisis? We have a gift. We are stronger than Mundanes, plain and simple.' At the dawn of their adolescence, on the eve of the summer solstice, four young girls--Helena, Leonie, Niamh and Elle--took the oath to join Her Majesty's Royal Coven, established by Queen Elizabeth I as a covert government department. Now, decades later, the witch community is still reeling from a civil war... "

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

"Greta lives with her friend Sabine in an ancient Dutch farmhouse in Hudson, New York. The house is unrenovated, uninsulated, and full of bees. Greta spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a sex coach who calls himself Om. She becomes infatuated with his newest client, a repressed married woman she affectionately refers to as Big Swiss. One day, Greta recognizes Big Swiss’s voice in town and they quickly become enmeshed. While Big Swiss is unaware Greta has eavesdropped on her most intimate exchanges, Greta has never been more herself with anyone. Her attraction to Big Swiss overrides her guilt, and she’ll do anything to sustain the relationship…"

Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

"Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer. So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world forty years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage. Alongside her Ministry colleagues and a familiar person from her past, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city—or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems…"

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

"Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays. But in terms of caretaking and relating to two children, no matter how adorable, Patrick is, honestly, overwhelmed. So when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and Patrick's brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian. Despite having a set of 'Guncle Rules' ready to go, Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled acting career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. Quickly realizing that parenting--even if temporary--isn't solved with treats and jokes, Patrick's eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you're unfailingly human. With the humor and heart we've come to expect from bestselling author Steven Rowley, The Guncle is a moving tribute to the power of love, patience, and family in even the most trying of times."

Book to Film

Read it before you see it! The book is always better anyway.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

"One postwar summer, in his home in rural Warwickshire, Dr. Faraday is called to a patient at Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for more than two centuries, the Georgian house, once impressive and handsome, is now in decline. Its owners--mother, son, and daughter--are struggling to keep pace with a changing society. But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr. Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become entwined with his." #BookToFilm

Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

"When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse." #BookToFilm

Darlings of #BookTok

We're getting a little tired of hearing about these, that's how popular they are. Catch up with the latest trending titles and don't forget to tag us when you post!

The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

"A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret. An enchanting story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place - and realizing that family is yours."

Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

"A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest lights - and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes." #StaffPick #AwardWinner 

Epic Romance

Love is love is love. Soccer stars, socially awkward heiresses, fake boyfriends... the stories may vary, but the happy endings are delightfully familiar.

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

"A sapphic rivals to lovers rom com for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own, where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup. Grace Henderson has been a star of the US Women’s National Team for ten years, even though she’s only 26. But when she’s sidelined with an injury, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot. 22-year-old Phoebe is everything Grace isn’t—a gregarious jokester who plays with a joy that Grace lost somewhere along the way. The last thing Grace expects is to become teammates with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival. Phoebe Matthews is too focused on her first season as a professional soccer player to think about seducing her longtime idol. But when Grace ends up making the first move, they can’t keep their hands off of each other. As the World Cup approaches and Grace works her way back from injury, a miscommunication leaves the women with hilariously different perspectives on their relationship. But they’re on the same page on the field, realizing they can play together instead of vying for the same position. With every tackle the tension between them grows, and both players soon have to decide what's more important—being together or making the roster."

Most Ardently by Susan Mesler-Evans

"Elisa Benitez is proud of who she is, from her bitingly sarcastic remarks, to her love of both pretty boys and pretty girls. If someone doesn't like her, that's their problem, and Elisa couldn't care less. Particularly if that person is Darcy Fitzgerald, a snobby, socially awkward heiress with an attitude problem and more money than she knows what to do with. From the moment they meet, Elisa and Darcy are at each other's throats -- which is a bit unfortunate, since Darcy's best friend is dating Elisa's sister. It quickly becomes clear that fate intends to throw the two of them together, whether they like it or not. As hers and Darcy's lives become more and more entwined, Elisa's once-dull world quickly spirals into chaos in this story of pride, prejudice, and finding love with the people you least expect."

The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

"As Lucy Muchelney watches her ex-lover’s sham of a wedding, she wishes herself anywhere else. It isn’t until she finds a letter from the Countess of Moth, looking for someone to translate a groundbreaking French astronomy text, that she knows where to go. Showing up at the Countess’ London home, she hoped to find a challenge, not a woman who takes her breath away. Catherine St Day looks forward to a quiet widowhood once her late husband’s scientific legacy is fulfilled. She expected to hand off the translation and wash her hands of the project—instead, she is intrigued by the young woman who turns up at her door, begging to be allowed to do the work, and she agrees to let Lucy stay. But as Catherine finds herself longing for Lucy, everything she believes about herself and her life is tested. While Lucy spends her days interpreting the complicated French text, she spends her nights falling in love with the alluring Catherine. But sabotage and old wounds threaten to sever the threads that bind them. Can Lucy and Catherine find the strength to stay together or are they doomed to be star-crossed lovers?" See also: The Hellion's Waltz and The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

"Luc O'Donnell is tangentially - and reluctantly - famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship... and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately, apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened. But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go."

Graphic Novels

Is it a comic or is it a book? Who cares! It's a beautifully illustrated story, and we can't put it down.

Nimona by ND Stevenson

"Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from ND Stevenson... Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit." #BookToFilm

The Tea Dragon Society by K O'Neill

"Available for the first time in paperback, The Tea Dragon Society is the two-time Eisner Award-winning gentle fantasy that follows the story of a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons."

Heartstoppers by Alice Oseman

"Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn't think he has a chance. But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works." #BookToFilm

Otherworldly Adventure

Dragons and witches and mermaids, oh my! The only thing better than a great story is a great magical story. Shape shifting lesbians, princes finding their happily ever after... you name it, we probably have it covered.

The Witch King by H. E. Edgmon

"In Asalin, fae rule and witches like Wyatt Croft...don't. Wyatt's betrothal to fae prince Emyr North was supposed to change that. But when Wyatt lost control of his magic one devastating night, he fled to the human world. Now a coldly distant Emyr has hunted him down. Despite transgender Wyatt's newfound identity and troubling past, Emyr claims they must marry now or risk losing the throne. Jaded, Wyatt strikes a deal with the enemy, hoping to escape Asalin forever. But as he gets to know Emyr again, Wyatt realizes the boy he once loved may still exist. And as the witches face worsening conditions, he must decide what's more important--his people or his freedom." See also: The Fae Keeper

The Captive Prince by C. S. Pacat

"Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos. But when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity, and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave. Beautiful, manipulative, and deadly, his new master, Prince Laurent, epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country. For Damen, there is just one rule: never, ever reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reason to hate him than anyone else..." See also: Prince's Gambit (The Captive Prince Trilogy #2) and Kings Rising (The Captive Prince Trilogy #3)

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

"It's 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl's display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella's mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all--and in the process, they learn that there's more to Cinderella's story than they ever knew..." #LGBTQ+

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Young Adult and Teen

Kids who love reading turn into adults who love reading. Also... we're still reading "young adult" books. You can too!

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

"When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too. Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures. As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly?"

Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

"Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the feeling took root—that desire to look, to move closer, to touch. Whenever it started growing, it definitely bloomed the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. Suddenly everything seemed possible."

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

"Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here--it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up." #AwardWinner #LGBTQ+

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Children's Books

Heartwarming stories of found family abound here - also, Frog & Toad. We really like Frog & Toad.

Our Subway Baby by Peter Mercurio

" 'Some babies are born into their families. Some are adopted. This is the story of how one baby found his family in the New York City subway.' So begins the true story of Kevin and how he found his Daddy Danny and Papa Pete. Written in a direct address to his son, Pete's moving and emotional text tells how his partner, Danny, found a baby tucked away in the corner of a subway station on his way home from work one day. Pete and Danny ended up adopting the baby together. Although neither of them had prepared for the prospect of parenthood, they are reminded, 'Where there is love, anything is possible.' "

Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

"Celebrate the power of friendship in these five adventurous stories starring Frog and Toad—a Caldecott Honor Book! From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other—just as best friends should be. Frog and Toad Are Friends is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success." #BookToFilm

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson

"At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own. "

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Not enough? Here's the rest of the list: 

A few more children's titles we didn't have space for above:

• Sewing the Rainbow: A Story about Gilbert Baker by Pitman
• My Shadow Is Pink by Scott Stuart
• C Is for Country by Lil Nas X
• Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Brannen
• I am Jazz by Herthel
• From Archie to Zack: A Picture Book by Kirsch
• Papa, Daddy, & Riley by Kirst
• Second Dad Summer by Klas
• Melissa (Previously Published as George) by Gino, Alex
• Rick by Gino, Alex

But wait - there's more! 

• Call Me by Your Name by Aciman #BookToFilm
• Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (first in a series) by Albertalli, Becky
• Our Wives Under the Sea by Armfield, Julia
• Mostly Dead Things by Arnett, Kristen
• With Teeth by Arnett, Kristen
• Legends and Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes by Baldree, Travis
• Giovanni's Room by Baldwin, James
• Clive Barker's Books of Blood by Barker, Clive #BookToFilm
• The Romance Recipe: An LGBTQ+ RomCom by Barrett, Ruby
• Girl Serpent Thorn by Bashardoust
• Trans-Sister Radio by Bohjalian, Chris
• Rubyfruit Jungle by Brown, Rita
• Felix Ever After by Callender, Kacen
• Kushiel's Dart (first in a series) by Carey, Jacqueline
• Santa Olivia by Carey, Jacqueline
• The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Chabon
• The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh by Chabon
• The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Chambers, Becky
• To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Chambers, Becky
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Chbosky #BookToFilm
• The Gilded Wolves by Chokshi
• The Bane Chronicles by Clare, Cassandra *
• Wraeththu by Constantine, Storm
• The Hours by Cunningham, Michael #BookToFilm
• The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Danforth, Emily M
• Dreadnought by Daniels
• Dhalgren by Delany
• Legendborn by Deonn
• Middlesex by Eugenides, Jeffrey
• Welcome to Nightvale (first in a series)  by Fink, Joseph *
• Maurice by Forster, E M
• Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Frasier
• Lord John and the Private Matter (first in a series) by Gabaldon, Diana *
• Annie on My Mind by Garden, Nancy
• Only Mostly Devastated by Gonzales
• Into the Drowning Deep by Grant, Mira
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson by Green, John
• Gay Club! by Green, Simon James
• Less by Greer, Andrew Sean
• Boyfriend Material (first in a series) by Hall
• The Well of Loneliness (Wordsworth Classics) by Hall
• Meet Cute Club (first in a series) by Harbon, Jack
• Never Kiss Your Roommate by Harms
• The Lost Girls: A Vampire Revenge Story by Hartl
• Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Herring Blake, Ashley *
• Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Herring Blake, Ashley *
• Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Herring Blake, Ashley *
• Salt by Highsmith, Carol #BookToFilm
• The Line of Beauty by Hollinghurst
• Pirates of Aletharia by Jackson, Britney
• The Haunting of Hill House by Jackson, Shirley #BookToFilm
• The Henna Wars by Jaigirdar
• Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Jaigirdar, Adiba
• Killing Eve (first in a series) by Jennings, Luke #BookToFilm
• Who Is Vera Kelly? (first in a series) by Knecht, Rosalie
• Gender Queer: A Memoir by Kobabe, Maia
• Boy Girl Boy by Koertge, Ron
• In a Glass Darkly (with "Carmilla") by Le Fanu, Sheridan
• The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (first in a series) by Lee, Mackenzi
• The Left Hand of Darkness by LeGuin
• The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Lepore #BookToFilm
• Boy Meets Boy by Levithan, David
• Two Boys Kissing by Levithan, David
• Ash by Lo, Malinda
• In Deeper Waters by Lukens
• Hotshot by Lydon, Clare
• The Widows of Malabar Hill by Massey
• As Meat Loves Salt by McCann, Maria
• Gearbreakers (first in a series) by Mikuta, Zoe
• Mask of Shadows (first in a series) by Miller
• The Steel Remains (first in a series) by Morgan
• Gideon the Ninth (first in a series) by Muir
• I'll Give You the Sun by Nelson
• Aurora's Angel by Noon, Emily
• Wild by O'Brien
• Princess Princess Ever After by O'Neill
• Loveless by Oseman
• The Girl from the Sea: A Graphic Novel by Ostertag, Molly Knox
• Castle of Nevers and Nightmares (first in a series) by Pecherczyk
• Witch Wolf (Kassandra Lyall) by Pennington
• Brokeback Mountain by Proulx #BookToFilm
• She Drives Me Crazy by Quindlen
• The Midnight Hunt (first in a series) by Raand
• My Policeman by Roberts, Bethan
• Consort of Fire by Rocha, Kit
• The Celebrants by Rowley, Steven
• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (first in a series) by Saenz
• Tell Me How You Really Feel by Safi
• Stung with Love: Poems and Fragments (Penguin Classics) by Sappho
• Cinnamon Gardens by Selvadurai, Shyam
• Infinite Noise (first in a series) by Shippen
• They Both Die at the End by Silvera
• The Falling in Love Montage by Smyth, Ciara
• Safe and Sound by Mercury Stardust
• A Touch of Darkness by St. Clair , Scarlett
• Captive in the Underworld: A Dark Lesbian Romance by Tan
• Cemetery Boys by Thomas, Aiden
• The Book of Salt by Truong
• Who I Was with Her by Tyndall, Nita
• Crier's War (first in a series) by Varela, Nina
• The Chosen and the Beautiful by Vo
• On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Vuong
• The Color Purple by Walker, Alice #BookToFilm
• Lover at Last by Ward, JR
• The River Has Teeth by Waters, Erica
• Affinity by Waters, Sarah *
• Fingersmith by Waters, Sarah
• The Night Watch by Waters, Sarah
• The Paying Guests by Waters, Sarah
• Tipping the Velvet by Waters, Sarah
• Brideshead Revisited by Waugh, Evelyn #BookToFilm
• Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Winterson
• Orlando by Woolfe, Virginia #BookToFilm

Did we miss your favorite? Let us know! The more the merrier...

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