LGBTQ+ Young Adult Fiction Books

Reading level : 12 years and up.

A novel that will have you laughing out loud one minute, and swooning the next!

"Simon James Green is one of the most hilarious, heart-flippingly romantic, charmingly observant writers in the game right now." Becky Albertalli, author of Love, Simon

In the town of Newsands, painfully shy Alex is abandoned by his two best friends for the summer.

But he unexpectedly lands a part-time job at Wonderland, a run-down amusement arcade on the seafront, where he gets to know the other teen misfits who work there.

Alex starts to come out of his shell, and even starts to develop feelings for co-worker Ben... who, as Alex's bad luck would have it, has a girlfriend.

Then as debtors close in on Wonderland and mysterious, threatening notes start to appear, Alex and his new friends take it on themselves to save their declining employer.

But, like everything in Wonderland, nothing is quite what it seems...

 

Reading level - 8 to 12 years.

When twelve-year-old Ana-Marie Jin, the reigning the U.S. Juvenile Champion in figure skating, learns that they'll be portraying a princess in their new skating program, they're less than thrilled, to say the least. Ana's just not a frilly -- dress kind of girl, after all! Nevertheless, Ana's determined not to let anything derail the dream of achieving another national title-not after all these years of hard work and Mom's many sacrifices.

But when Ana meets Hayden, a transgender boy new to the rink, Ana's thoughts about gender identity throw her for a loop she wasn't expecting. And when Hayden mistakes Ana for a boy, Ana decides not to correct him, and soon settles into a comfortable, boyish identity whenever he's around. But as their friendship develops, Ana soon realises that it's not easy to juggle two different identities on one slippery sheet of ice. And with a major competition approaching, Ana must decide whether the truth is worth risking everything they've trained for.

Ana on the Edge is a contemporary #ownvoices novel that offers a behind-the-scenes look into the world of competitive figure skating, while also giving readers a nonbinary protagonist to root and cheer for along the way.

Reading ages 13-16 years.

The unforgettable debut novel by co-author with John Green of Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

To be together with someone for twenty years seems like an eternity. I can't seem to manage twenty days.

How do you stay together?

Paul has been gay his whole life and he's confident about almost everything. He doesn't have to hide his feelings like best friend Tony or even cope with loving the wrong guy like his other best friend Joni.

But heartbreak can happen to anyone. Falling in love changes everything.

Intimate, feel-good and quick-fire - Guardian 

Funny and clever and touching - Telegraph

This is gay life, not as we know it, but as we wish it was when we were 15. - Time Out 

Levithan has created a scrumptious new sub-genre; teen literature where sexuality isn't treated as a problem and isn't a coming out story. An immensely likeable read. - Gay Times

Author: David Levithan
Format: Paperback
Pages: 222
ISBN: 9780007533039

Reading age 12 and up.

Fall wig first into a world of big hair, high heels and even higher stakes in George Lester's debut novel Boy Queen.

Life's a drag until you try . . .

Robin Cooper’s life is falling apart.

While his friends prepare to head off to University, Robin is looking at a pile of rejection letters from drama schools up and down the country, and facing a future without the people he loves the most. Everything seems like it’s ending, and Robin is scrabbling to find his feet.

Unsure about what to do next and whether he has the talent to follow his dreams, he and his best friends go and drown their sorrows at a local drag show, where Robin realises there might be a different, more sequinned path for him . . .

With a mother who won't stop talking, a boyfriend who won't acknowledge him and a best friend who is dying to cover him in glitter make up, there's only one thing for Robin to do: bring it to the runway.

Reading age - 13 years and up.

It's 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but the fairytale is over.

Sophia knows the story though, off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily, from when she's tiny until the night she's sent to the royal ball for choosing. And every girl knows that she has only one chance. For the lives of those not chosen by a man at the ball . are forfeit.

But Sophia doesn't want to be chosen - she's in love with her best friend, Erin, and hates the idea of being traded like cattle. And when Sophia's night at the ball goes horribly wrong, she must run for her life. Alone and terrified, she finds herself hiding in Cinderella's tomb. And there she meets someone who will show her that she has the power to remake her world .

An electrifying twist on the classic fairytale that will inspire girls to break out of limiting stereotypes and follow their dreams!

“Kalynn Bayron does more than re-write a fairytale ... She breaks it apart and rebuilds it into a wholly original and captivating story where girls finally decide for themselves who lives happily ever after” –  New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer

“A richly diverse and lovely read ... relevant, modern and inclusive” –  NetGalley Reviewer

“This was gay, romantic and perfectly set, with a mixture of traditional fairy tale elements that were flipped on their head and new elements that made it seem less susceptible to tropes and problems. It was a really enjoyable read and really put an exciting, original spin on the Cinderella tale” –  NetGalley Reviewer

“Did somebody say feminist? As someone who was raised on fairy tales and Disney, practically conditioned to believe the woman was supposed to be rescued by the man, I ADORED this book. I was captivated from the start and the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ themes warmed my heart. I can't wait to see what Bayron does next” –  NetGalley Reviewer

“Cinderella Is Dead is an incredible feminist retelling of the classic tale I never knew I needed in my life, but I'm so glad it exists” –  NetGalley Reviewer

“Full of power, humour, strength and love, "Cinderella Is Dead" shows itself to be one of the most engaging novels I've encountered this year. With a powerful story that is about doing what is right and a host of characters you come to care for deeply, I can find so few faults with this. It will be one I recommend to everyone over the next few months” –  NetGalley Reviewer

Suitable for 13 - 18 years.

‘One of the most adorable, big-hearted, charming books in existence’ – Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Everyone at Fairvale Academy knows Bryson Keller, the super-hot soccer captain who doesn’t believe in high-school relationships. They also know about the dare Bryson accepted – each week he has to date the first person who asks him out.

A single school week is all anyone gets. There have been no exceptions to this. None.

Until me, that is.

Because brilliant Bryson Keller forgot one thing. He never said it could only be girls . . .

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this irresistible LGBTQ+ rom com.

‘An adorable featherlight romance’ – Guardian.

Author: Kevin van Whye
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780241435267

Reading level : 14 and up

I am Cal Adams what does that mean?

Sixteen years old.

Black hair.

Blue eyes.

Short.

Gay.

For Cal, coming out is explosive, but that is nothing compared to the fallout from his family, friends and foes. When events in Cal's life reach critical, he is shaken to his core. Can he rely on his loved ones to help avoid meltdown?

'A devastatingly raw reminder that some LGBTQ+ kids still face prejudice, hate and a daily struggle just to live their lives. But Fall Out is also full of hope, humour and the promise that things will, eventually, get better.' SIMON JAMES GREEN (author of Noah Can't Even and Alex in Wonderland)

Suitable for 11 - 13 years.

“Allow me to introduce you to a remarkable book, full of love, wonder, hope, and the importance of getting to be who you were meant to be. You must read this.” – David Levithan, author of Every Day and editor of George.

When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl.

George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte.

But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part . . . because she’s a boy.

Author: Alex Gino
Format: Paperback
Pages: 224
ISBN: 9781407170978

Reading level - 12 to 18 years.

The mesmerising New York Times bestseller!

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honour they could hope for . . . and the most demeaning. This year, there's a ninth.

And instead of paper, she's made of fire.

'A timely reminder that, in the right hands, the fantasy genre has things to say about injustice and abuse of power in the real world' Guardian

Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. Ten years ago, her mother was snatched by the royal guards, and her fate remains unknown. Now, the guards are back and this time it's Lei they are after - the girl with the golden eyes, whose rumoured beauty has piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit a king's consort. There, Lei does the unthinkable - she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world's entire way of life. Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

Suitable for 13 - 18 years.

Faking the best summer ever is a lot harder than it looks…

At the start of summer, Jack and Nate find themselves dumped as their respective exes, Dylan and Tariq, start up a new relationship together. Not only that, their exes start posting pics on social media, showing the whole world how fabulous their new life together is!

Jack and Nate are reeling. Not to be outdone, they decide to create their own ‘highlights reel’ and show their exes that they’re having an even better time.

But between the depressing motorway service station motels, damp campsites, and an ultimate showdown with the exes, something epic really is happening: Jack and Nate are learning to get over their heartache and open themselves up to new possibilities for love.

A hilarious story of heartbreaks and hijinks from award-winning author Simon James Green.

Author: Simon James Green
Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9781407194257

Reading level - 12 to 16 years.

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. An LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between - for fans of The Art of Being Normal, Holly Bourne and Love, Simon.

'Absolutely delightful. Sweet, romantic, kind. Beautifully paced. I loved this book.' RAINBOW ROWELL, author of Carry On

Charlie and Nick are at the same school, but they've never met ... until one day when they're made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realised.

Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

'The queer graphic novel we wished we had at high school.' Gay Times

This is the first volume of Heartstopper, which has now been optioned for television by See-Saw Films.

Reading level - 12 to 16 years.

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. An LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the third volume of HEARTSTOPPER, for fans of The Art of Being Normal, Holly Bourne and Love, Simon.

'Absolutely delightful. Sweet, romantic, kind. Beautifully paced. I loved this book.' RAINBOW ROWELL, author of Carry On

Charlie didn't think Nick could ever like him back, but now they're officially boyfriends. Nick's even found the courage to come out to his mum.

But coming out isn't just something that happens once - there's Nick's older brother, and a school trip to Paris, not to mention all the other friends and family - and life can be hard, even with someone who loves you by your side. As their feelings get more serious, Charlie and Nick will need each other more than ever before.

Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

'The queer graphic novel we wished we had at high school.' Gay Times

This is the third volume of Heartstopper, which has now been optioned for television by See-Saw Films.

Reading level - 12 to 16 years.

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. An LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the second volume of HEARTSTOPPER, for fans of The Art of Being Normal, Holly Bourne and Love, Simon. *Includes exclusive Tara/Darcy story!*

'Absolutely delightful. Sweet, romantic, kind. Beautifully paced. I loved this book.' RAINBOW ROWELL, author of Carry On

Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie's gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn't.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family ... and himself.

Heartstopper is about friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

'The queer graphic novel we wished we had at high school.' Gay Times

This is the second volume of Heartstopper, which has now been optioned for television by See-Saw Films.

Reading level - 11 to 14 years. 

A tender, witty ghost story – and an exciting new direction for the internationally bestselling author of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.

Celeste and Sorrel, Reuben and Orlando: high school friends who hang out together all the time. When Sorrel gets hit by a car one rainy night, it’s not surprising the others fall apart in various ways.

But it’s not just grief they’re struggling with – it’s parents.

Unfair, demanding, challenging parents who are, quite frankly, making their lives a misery. That’s why Sorrel decides she’s not going to be properly dead till she’s sorted out her friends' lives and can leave them with a clearer sense of what they want out of life.

From the bestselling author of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, this is a tender comedic ghost story which touches on some important issues, like bullying, coming out, and the life-denying way the old want to live through the young and impose their failures on them. It’s about the importance of being the person you want to be – or else, being miserable.

Author	Dyan Sheldon
Format	Paperback
Pages	304
ISBN	9781406363043

Reading level - 12 to 17 years.

Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sort-of-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. Heartbroken and ready for a change of pace, Millie decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools...the farther from Houston the better.

Soon, Millie is accepted into one of the world's most exclusive schools, located in the rolling highlands of Scotland. Here, the country is dreamy and green; the school is covered in ivy, and the students think her American-ness is adorable. The only problem: Mille's roommate Flora is a total princess.

She's also an actual princess. Of Scotland. At first, the girls can't stand each other, but before Millie knows it, she has another sort-of-best-friend/sort-of-girlfriend.

Princess Flora could be a new chapter in her love life, but Millie knows the chances of happily-ever-afters are slim...after all, real life isn't a fairy tale...or is it?

 

Author	Rachel Hawkins
Format	Paperback
Pages	304
ISBN	9781524738280

Reading level - 12 to 18 years.

 'I love this book!' Rainbow Rowell

'... a tender, funny, absolutely heart-holding novel about a boy who is forced to share his room with his lifelong crush for fifteen days. It's a gay romance that would have changed my world if I'd read it as a teen.' David Levithan

Felipe doesn't believe someone like Caio could ever fall for someone like him. But over the next fifteen days, everything will change ... If you love Rainbow Rowell and Heartstopper, you'll fall for this body-positive love story about the assumptions we make about each other, and the bravery you need to be yourself.

Felipe is fat. And he doesn't need anyone to remind him, which is, of course, what everyone does. That's why he's been waiting for summer: a break from school and the classmates who tease him incessantly. His plans include catching up on TV, finishing his TBR pile, and watching YouTube tutorials on skills he'll never actually put into practice.

But things get a little out of hand when Felipe's mom informs him that Caio, the neighbour kid from apartment 57, will be spending the next fifteen days with them while his parents are on vacation. Felipe is distraught because A) he's had a crush on Caio since, well, for ever, and B) Felipe has a list of body image insecurities and absolutely NO idea how he's going to entertain his neighbour for two full weeks.

Suddenly, the days ahead of him that once promised rest and relaxation (not to mention some epic Netflix bingeing) end up bringing a whirlwind of feelings, forcing Felipe to dive head-first into every unresolved issue he has had with himself - but maybe, just maybe, he'll manage to win over Caio, too.

A queer love story for anyone who's ever got into a pool with their shirt on.

'It's a sweet, funny, warm-hearted gem of a story - exactly the sort of thing the world needs right now!' Simon James Green

Author	Vitor Martins
Format	Paperback
Pages	282
ISBN	9781444958492

Suitable for 14 - 18 years.

Arvin Ahmadi has written a novel that is authentic, hilarious and heart-wrenching all at once. A unique point of view combined with riveting storytelling, How It All Blew Up will grab you from the first page and won’t let go – Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE HATE U GIVE and ON THE COME UP

Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew that coming out to his Muslim family would be messy, but he wasn’t expecting it to end in an airport interrogation room. Now, he’s telling his side of the story to the stern-faced officer.

Amir has to explain why he ran away to Rome (boys, bullies, blackmail) and what he was doing there for a month (dates in the Sistine Chapel, friends who helped him accept who he is, and, of course, drama) . . . all while his mum, dad and little sister are being interrogated in the room next door.

A nuanced take on growing up brown, Muslim and gay in today’s America, HOW IT ALL BLEW UP is the story of one boy’s struggle to come out to his family, and how that painful process exists right alongside his silly, sexy romp through Italy.

Author: Arvin Ahmadi
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9781471409929

Reading level - 13 to 18 years.

J spun. His stomach clenched hard, as though he'd been hit. It was just the neighbour lady, Mercedes. J couldn't muster a hello back, not now; he didn't care that she'd tell his mother he'd been rude. She should know better. Nobody calls me Jeni anymore.

J always felt different. He was certain that eventually everyone would understand who he really was: a boy mistakenly born as a girl. Yet as he grew up, his body began to betray him; eventually J stopped praying to wake up a 'real boy' and started covering up his body, keeping himself invisible - from his family, from his friends...from the world.

But after being deserted by the best friend he thought would always be by his side, J decides that he's done hiding - it's time to be who he really is. And this time he is determined not to give up, no matter the cost.

A fierce and fabulous drag queen colouring book perfect for fans of Ru Paul's Drag Race!

The ideal stocking filler for the drag queen in your life!

Get creative and get fabulous with this drag queen colouring book.

Channel your fiercest self and let go of your inhibitions as you paint these beautiful illustrations in your own unique way. De-stress and set your sassy side free as you fill each page with colour.

So don't throw shade, just keep calm and colour in!

Gorgeously illustrated with over 75 pages of drag queens, this is a perfect secret santa gift for fans of colouring books.

If they love Ru Paul's Drag Race, drag queen bingo and dress up, they'll love I Heart Drag Queens!

Reading level - 10 to 13 years.

An own-voices LGBTQ novel from the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season, about eighth grader Brie, who learns how to be true to herself and to her relationships with family, friends, and faith.

Introducing Brie Hutchens: soap opera super fan, aspiring actor, and so-so student at her small Catholic school. Brie has big plans for eighth grade. She's going to be the star of the school play and convince her parents to let her go to the performing arts high school. But when Brie's mom walks in on her accidentally looking at some possibly inappropriate photos of her favourite actress, Brie panics and blurts out that she's been chosen to crown the Mary statue during her school's May Crowning ceremony.

Brie's mom is distracted with pride--but Brie's in big trouble: she has not been chosen. No one has, yet. Worse, Brie has almost no chance to get the job, which always goes to a top student. Desperate to make her lie become truth, Brie turns to Kennedy, the girl everyone expects to crown Mary. But sometimes just looking at Kennedy gives Brie butterflies.

Juggling her confusing feelings with the rapidly approaching May Crowning, not to mention her hilarious non-star turn in the school play, Brie navigates truth and lies, expectations and identity, and how to--finally--make her mother really see her as she is.

Author	Nicole Melleby
Format	Hardback
Pages	272
ISBN	9781616209070

Suitable for 11+ years.

Lie #1: I’m not afraid.

Lie #2: I’m sure I’m doing the right thing.

Lie #3: I don’t care what they think of me.

It’s 1959. The battle for civil rights is raging. And it’s Sarah’s first day of school as one of the first black students at previously all-white Jefferson High. No one wants Sarah there. Not the Governor. Not the teachers. And certainly not the students – especially Linda, daughter of the town’s most ardent segregationist.

Sarah and Linda are supposed to despise each other. But the more time they spend together, the less their differences matter. And both girls start to feel something they’ve never felt before. Something they’re determined to ignore. Because it’s one thing to stand up to an unjust world – but another to be terrified of what’s in your own heart.

‘The main characters are terrific in what is a moving YA novel. And an important one.’ – The Telegraph’.

This is so thought-provoking it almost hurts to read it, yet every word is needed, is necessary and consequently this is a novel that lingers long after you’ve finished it’ – Lovereading.

‘This is an emotional and compelling read that I did not want to put down. It is [...]beautifully written and the tension just simmers on the pages.’ - Bookbabblers.

‘This book packs a very powerful punch’ – Historical Novel Society ‘With great characterisation, tough issues covered, and a plot which had me guessing right up until the last pages, this is a must-read. Massively recommended!’ – The Bookbag.

‘This exceptional novel of first love and sexual awakenings is set against a backdrop of shocking racism and prejudice. It is incredibly well written as the tense, riveting story seamlessly combines fiction with historical fact.’ – Booktrust.

‘Every now and then a Young Adult book comes along that I want to push into every readers hands both young and old and Lies We Tell Ourselves is that book for 2014’ – Jess Hearts Books.

‘Talley has mixed two controversial topics together to create a firecracker of a story’ – Cheryl M-M’s Book Blog.

Author: Robin Talley
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781848452923

Reading level - 13 to 16 years.

FINALIST FOR THE PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE 2019-20

Sail away this summer with the unexpected romance of Scotland's most determined teenager...

Lily couldn't have planned life better herself. She lives in the best house in town and she's dating the most popular boy in school. Everything else she can fix. Mum's apathy? On it! The stuffy gala committee? Watch this space!

Tom has enough on his plate without trying to drag Newton St Cuthbert into the 21st Century. His sister is sick and there's nothing anyone can do. Not doctors, not his parents, and certainly not Lily Hildebrand.

This novel covers everything from mental health issues and chronic illnesses to LGBTQ rights in a small town.

The perfect summer romance for fans of Morgan Matson's Since You've Been Gone, Stephanie Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss, and Jennifer E Smith's novels.

Author	Gill Stewart
Format	Paperback
Pages	228
ISBN	9781782264804

Reading level 14 - 17 years.

'A fascinating and thoughtful exploration of faith in the modern world. If you're wondering why it matters and how to make sense of it, read on.' Clare

"I'm pretty sure I'm the only guy in my school who can replace a faulty kick-down switch and also create the perfect smoky eye."

The Weyward family has been haunted by a curse for generations-if a Weyward falls in love before their seventeenth birthday, the person they love dies.

Sam doesn't plan to fall for anyone in the weeks before his birthday. He'll spend his time working at the Eezy-Freeze with his dad; cooking up some midsummer magic with his grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother (the Grands); and experimenting with drag with the help of the queens at the Shangri-La, the local gay club.

But when a new guy comes to town, Sam finds himself in trouble when they strike up a friendship that might be way more than that.

As Sam's birthday approaches and he still hasn't quite fallen in love, the curse seems to get more powerful and less specific about who it targets.

A mysterious girl Sam talks to on the phone late at night and a woman he's only seen in a dream might have the answers he's been looking for-but time is running out to save the people he cares about.

Author: Michael Thomas Ford
Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9780062791214

Suitable for 14 - 18 years.

The fourth novel from the phenomenally talented Alice Oseman – one of the most authentic and talked-about voices in contemporary YA.

It was all sinking in. I’d never had a crush on anyone. No boys, no girls, not a single person I had ever met. What did that mean?

Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush – but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she’s sure she’ll find her person one day.

As she starts university with her best friends, Pip and Jason, in a whole new town far from home, Georgia’s ready to find romance, and with her outgoing roommate on her side and a place in the Shakespeare Society, her ‘teenage dream’ is in sight.

But when her romance plan wreaks havoc amongst her friends, Georgia ends up in her own comedy of errors, and she starts to question why love seems so easy for other people but not for her. With new terms thrown at her – asexual, aromantic – Georgia is more uncertain about her feelings than ever.

Is she destined to remain loveless? Or has she been looking for the wrong thing all along?

This wise, warm and witty story of identity and self-acceptance sees Alice Oseman on towering form as Georgia and her friends discover that true love isn’t limited to romance.

Author: Alice Oseman
Format: Paperback
Pages: 448
ISBN: 9780008244125