Happy Pride! Usually, for this most colourful and joyous time of the year, I would put up a list of queer-centred books or queer authors curated to help us all expand our TBRs just a bit more…
But this year I thought, let’s hear it straight (no pun intended) from the gay horse’s mouth (you know what I mean.) So I put out some totally nonsexual feelers to my bookish friends celebrating Pride to get their can’t-fail book recs, and they totally came through in spades. The queerest of spades!
So if you’re looking to add some rainbow colours to your June reading, this is the list for you!
Check them out — the books and the friends — and get that library card or your “add to cart” finger ready!
@VIKTORIAWITHAKREADSBOOKS
ABOUT ME: I’m Vik! I’m a neurodivergent bi and nonbinary writer/podcaster/bookstagrammer with a History and English double major. When I’m not writing or reading, I can be found gardening, sewing or cuddling with my cats.
MY BOOKSTA: My booksta consists of ramblings and reviews, but also the occasional bit about my life and my experience as a reader, student and writer. Now that I’ve finished university, I’m going to be getting back into reviewing books and taking photos!
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall. I think it’s such a beautiful take on a historical romance, featuring a trans-fem heroine, as well as a great exploration of trauma and disability. Viola is such a lovable character whose story is worth sinking your teeth into.
THE FUCKING DETAILS: When Viola Carroll was presumed dead at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But freedom does not come without a price, and Viola paid for hers with the loss of her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood.
Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognizes her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become.
As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.
@LOLAS_LALALAND
ABOUT ME: Hi, my name is Lola! I am a 28-year-old bisexual/demisexual woman. My pronouns are she/her, but I’m not fussy about what you call me. I love reading, watching movies, writing and playing video games – which are way too many hobbies to have while completing my master’s degree in clinical mental health counselling. My hope is to work as a counsellor for youth facing all kinds of problems – from LGBTQ+ discrimination, addiction and juvenile delinquency. Some other fun facts about me are that I have one dog, three cats and a bearded dragon. I currently work part-time as a librarian, I stream on Twitch, and I suck at cooking. I suck at eating in general. In fact, I would probably be a shrivelled, starved corpse if it weren’t for my amazing husband!
MY BOOKSTA: I don’t remember when I started using Instagram to share my love of books, but it’s been a little while now. It’s been a great place to meet wonderful people and to ramble and rant about favourite (or not so favourite) books. I read primarily fantasy books, but I dabble in lots of genres like horror, sci-fi, graphic novels and manga. Anything I’m in the mood for! I mostly post reviews which can be “post-bombed” by Barnicus the ghost, who doesn’t like to read. Why does he haunt me, a book lover?? Not a clue! But he’s harmless. Cynical, crass and overly critical at times, but harmless. Oh, and he loves movies! So he often compares the books I review to movies and shows unless he’s just feeling like being unhelpfully pri — …maybe I shouldn’t use that word here. Did I also mention that I don’t censor myself? Although my Booksta is just a tiny corner of this amazing community, I’m so happy to be here!
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: Razorblade Tears by S.A. Crosby. This book made me sob; it is action-packed, emotionally heavy and incredibly reflective. On top of all the emotions and self-reflection, the story itself is just *chef’s kiss*! From how Ike and Buddy Lee get started on their investigation of their gay sons’ murders, to the dangers that are revealed, the twists, the high stakes, and the people they meet. I was so invested in everything that happened, and the pacing of it was pure adrenaline. I don’t want to say too much because I feel this book is such a trip, you need to just go on it. I can’t recommend this enough!
THE FUCKING DETAILS: A Black father. A white father. Two murdered sons. A quest for vengeance.
Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid.
The last thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah’s white husband, Derek. Ike had never fully accepted his son but is devastated by his loss.
Derek’s father Buddy Lee was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed his father was a criminal. Buddy Lee still has contacts in the underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy.
Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, hardened men Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.
@LEXGETBOOKISH
ABOUT ME: I’m Lex! I’m a queer 26-year-old single cat mom who likes long walks to the hot dog stand🌭
MY BOOKSTA: A scrapbook of bright rainbow smut and smiles✨💜
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: Odd One Out by Nic Stone!!! I read this right after coming out to my entire family. I wish I had this book in high school.
THE FUCKING DETAILS: From the author of Dear Martin comes this exploration of old friendships, new crushes, and the path to self-discovery.
Courtney “Coop” Cooper
Dumped. Again. And normally I wouldn’t mind. But right now, my best friend and source of solace, Jupiter Sanchez, is ignoring me to text some girl.
Rae Evelyn Chin
I assumed “new girl” would be synonymous with “pariah,” but Jupiter and Courtney make me feel like I’m right where I belong. I also want to kiss him. And her. Which is . . . perplexing.
Jupiter Charity-Sanchez
The only thing worse than losing the girl you love to a boy is losing her to your boy. That means losing him, too. I have to make a move. . . .
One story.
Three sides.
No easy answers.
@INSTALOVEWITHBOOKS
ABOUT ME: Hello! My name is Michelle (they/them), and I am nonbinary, Demi and pan. I am an ancient account on Booksta and have been here since March 2014🧓, and I have seen so much through this community (anyone remember Soapgate?) I have two very spoiled and loved cats named Bruno and Eris, who are my entire world. I read mainly fantasy, romance, manga and sci-fi. I have a very large collection of books (last counted, I was around 640!) I love doing reading challenges, book bingo, and anything that will expand my reading. I’m currently doing eight reading challenges, and almost all of them are year-long. Currently, I’m expanding what I post and share on Booksta, and I hope you all are interested in joining me!
MY BOOKSTA: I see my Booksta as a Fae Forest that doesn’t quite make sense, but you love the atmosphere and vibes, so you just deal. I used to post quite frequently within themes, but over the last year, I have broken out of that mould, and now it’s organized chaos. Since I’ve been here 10 years, I was getting bored and drained with my Booksta. I recently took a month off and removed all social media. In that time, I realized that I wanted to expand on what I post and focus more on making connections and fostering friendships. I’ve started to enjoy being on Booksta again, and intend to continue on this path. Would love to see you come with me!
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: My top rec for Pride is Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun. The story is a queer romance that centres around second chances, forgiveness, cancer, grief, and how sometimes it’s worth it to try, even if you get hurt. You really do see the two main characters flourish during their road trip, even when they know the ending will lead to the death of their beloved teacher and lifelong mentor, who has been fighting cancer. I hugged this book so hard and cried at the end. It is so full of warmth, and the author takes care of the hard-hitting parts of this road trip.
THE FUCKING DETAILS: The author of Kiss Her Once for Me returns with a new queer rom-com following once-childhood best friends forced together to drive their former teacher across the country.
A long time ago, Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale used to be friends. They spent their childhood summers running through the woods, rebelling against their conservative small town, and dreaming of escaping. But then an incident the summer before high school turned them into bitter rivals. After graduation, they went ten years without speaking.
Now in their thirties, Logan and Rosemary find they aren’t quite living the lives of adventure they imagined for themselves. Still in their small town and working as teachers at their alma mater, they’re both stuck in old patterns. Uptight Rosemary chooses security and stability over all else, working constantly, and her most stable relationship is with her label maker. Chaotic and impulsive Logan has a long list of misguided ex-lovers and an apathetic shrug she uses to protect herself from anything real. And as hard as they try to avoid each other—and their complicated past—they keep crashing into each other. Including with their cars.
But when their beloved former English teacher and lifelong mentor tells them he has only a few months to live, they’re forced together once and for all to fulfill his last cross-country road trip. Stuffed into the gayest van west of the Mississippi, the three embark on a life-changing summer trip—from Washington state to the Grand Canyon, from the Gulf Coast to coastal Maine—that will chart a new future and perhaps lead them back to one another.
@HCPANDA
ABOUT ME: I’m Panda! My two favourite genres are Romance and Horror. I am asexual, bi-romantic and I love how accepting the Booksta community is!
MY BOOKSTA: I don’t have a dedicated Booksta account, but I love to share my reviews and thoughts on the books I’m reading on my account, and I always share posts from other Booksta accounts!
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: I suggest The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. I am a STEM gal, and I love the confidence and strength of the main character in this book. The book is a romance with a demi-sexual character, and that really resonated with me. I hope everyone checks this out and learns more about the Ace spectrum! Happy Pride!!
THE FUCKING DETAILS: As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships–but her best friend does, and that’s what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.
That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor–and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford’s reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive’s career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding… six-pack abs.
Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.
@HAUNTEDSTACKS
ABOUT ME: My name is Sarah and I’m a Canadian, queer horror bookstagrammer from Toronto, Ontario! I’m a professional writer with a background in film and television, and I’m currently finishing a college program for book publishing. My favourite authors are V.E. Schwab, Neil Gaiman, and Stephen Graham Jones, and I’m a big fan of horror books. When I’m not reading or watching true crime docs, I’m knitting, listening to spooky podcasts, rollerskating, and collecting Funko Pops.
MY BOOKSTA: My account focuses on queer horror because that’s my absolute favourite genre. I read and recommend queer horror books across all age groups, from middle-grade to YA to adult novels. When I’m not reading queer horror, I’m reading queer books of all other genres, from fantasy to graphic novels to biographies and history. I love to collect special editions and bookish merch, and there are plenty of sprayed edges, autographed copies, and collectibles to be found on my bookstagram. I’m also a big fan of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse series, so you’ll also see lots of Six Of Crows, and Shadow and Bone content from me, too!
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: This was a super difficult choice, but I’d have to say my top rec for Pride is The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh. This was the first queer horror book I ever fell in love with. It has tons of WLW rep, a nearly all-female cast, and chronic illness rep. It’s scary, a perfect summer read, and unashamedly queer through and through!
THE FUCKING DETAILS: Dare Chase doesn’t believe in ghosts.
Privately, she’s a supernatural skeptic. But publicly, she’s keeping her doubts to herself—because she’s the voice of Attachments, her brand-new paranormal investigation podcast, and she needs her ghost-loving listeners to tune in.
That’s what brings her to Arrington Estate. Thirty years ago, teenager Atheleen Bell drowned in Arrington’s lake, and legend says her spirit haunts the estate. Dare’s more interested in the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death—circumstances that she believes point to a living culprit, not the supernatural. Still, she’s vowed to keep an open mind as she investigates, even if she’s pretty sure what she’ll find.
But Arrington is full of surprises. Good ones like Quinn, the cute daughter of the house’s new owner. And baffling ones like the threatening messages left scrawled in paint on Quinn’s walls, the ghastly face that appears behind Dare’s own in the mirror, and the unnatural current that nearly drowns their friend Holly in the lake. As Dare is drawn deeper into the mysteries of Arrington, she’ll have to rethink the boundaries of what is possible. Because if something is lurking in the lake…it might not be willing to let her go.
@GAYDHDBOOKSHELF
ABOUT ME: I am a late bloomer in all ways. Came out as queer in college. Was finally diagnosed with ADHD in my mid-twenties. I rediscovered my love for books in my late twenties, after decades of having the joy of reading squashed by formal schooling. And now, in my thirties, I am starting to actually embrace my identity and to stop trying to be what anyone else expects of me. Hence my Instagram handle!
MY BOOKSTA: It’s a queer bonanza!! 99.9% of what I read is written by and/or featuring LGBTQ+ folx. I genre-hop as the mood takes me. Some of my recent bookish hyperfixations have been queer pirate tales, trans retellings of classic novels and ex-vangelical stories.
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans. First published in 2023, this book is a campy YA thriller that had me laughing out loud. Our main character is a socially awkward nonbinary lesbian who meticulously tracks her (many) anxieties in an ordered list and, through a strange turn of events, finds herself caught up in a murder investigation.
THE FUCKING DETAILS: Murder most fowl? In this sardonic and campy YA thriller, an anxious, introverted nonbinary teen birder somehow finds themself solving a murder mystery with their neighbour/fellow anime lover, all while falling for a cute girl from their birding group . . . and trying not to get murdered.
Sixteen-year-old Bianca Torre is an avid birder undergoing a gender identity crisis and grappling with an ever-growing list of fears. Some, like Fear #6: Initiating Conversation, keep them constrained, forcing them to watch birds from the telescope in their bedroom. And, occasionally, their neighbours. When their gaze wanders from the birds to one particular window across the street, Bianca witnesses a creepy plague-masked murderer take their neighbour’s life. Worse, the death is ruled a suicide, forcing Bianca to make a choice—succumb to their long list of fears (including #3: Murder and #55: Breaking into a Dead Guy’s Apartment) or investigate what happened.
Bianca enlists the help of their friend Anderson Coleman, but the two have more knowledge of anime than true crime. As Bianca and Anderson dig deeper into the murder with a little help from Bianca’s crush and fellow birding aficionado, Elaine Yee (#13: Beautiful People, #11: Parents Discovering They’re A Raging Lesbian), the trio uncovers a conspiracy much larger—and weirder—than imagined. But when the killer catches wind of the investigation, Bianca’s #1 fear of public speaking doesn’t sound so bad compared to the threat of being silenced for good.
In this absurdist, bizarrely comical YA thriller that is at turns a deceptively deep exploration of anxiety and identity, perhaps the real murder investigation is the friends we make along the way.
@ELLISMEETSWORLD
ABOUT ME: Ellis (they/them.) Lexington, KY. Mid-thirties and thriving. I read a lot of horror and sad, queer books with the occasional sprinkle of smut. I love translated fiction and tend to look for hidden gems and debuts over bestsellers.
MY BOOKSTA: My @ is the same on IG, X and Substack. I took a left turn recently and merged my personal and booksta accounts. You’ll find my adventures in the forest with🍃 gummies, along with what I’m reading, watching, and listening to. It’s chaos, but good vibes. Come hang out with me✌️
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: Grey Dog by Elliot Gish. Historical literary horror + female rage.
THE FUCKING DETAILS: A subversive literary horror novel that disrupts the tropes of women’s historical fiction with delusions, wild beasts, and the uncontainable power of female rage.
The year is 1901, and Ada Byrd ― spinster, schoolmarm, amateur naturalist ― accepts a teaching post in isolated Lowry Bridge, grateful for the chance to re-establish herself where no one knows her secrets. She develops friendships with her neighbours, explores the woods with her students, and begins to see a future in this tiny farming community. Her past ― riddled with grief and shame ― has never seemed so far away.
But then, Ada begins to witness strange and grisly a swarm of dying crickets, a self-mutilating rabbit, a malformed faun. She soon believes that something ancient and beastly ― which she calls the grey dog ― is behind these visceral offerings, which both beckon and repel her. As her confusion deepens, her grip on what is real, what is delusion, and what is traumatic memory begins to fail. Ada takes on the wildness of the woods, and begins to wonder which is more dangerous: the grey dog, or herself.
@BOOKSONTUESDAY
ABOUT ME: I’m Kristy! My booksta handle comes from new release day, always a Tuesday! I have a wife and two dogs, which is honestly just the best thing.
MY BOOKSTA: I post when my mental health allows it, always focusing on diverse books!
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: One of my favourite books from last year was She Is A Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran.
THE FUCKING DETAILS: A house with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.
When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She’s always lied to fit in, so if she’s straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.
But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound, while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don’t belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can’t ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves her cryptic warnings: Don’t eat.
Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believes that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house—the home her family has always wanted—will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house’s rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.
@BOOKSONTHEKNIGHTBUS
ABOUT ME: 32. Asexual naturalist witch. My best friend is my Familiar (Cat), Ghost.
MY BOOKSTA: Reader of lesser-known books. Adult fantasy, horror, thrillers, and YA.
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: A Curse of Roses by Diana Pinguicha. A Portuguese retelling of King Midas. 5 stars! Highly recommend.
THE FUCKING DETAILS: With just one touch, bread turns into roses. With just one bite, cheese turns into lilies.
There’s a famine plaguing the land, and Princess Yzabel is wasting food simply by trying to eat. Before she can even swallow, her magic—her curse—has turned her meal into a bouquet. She’s on the verge of starving, which only reminds her that the people of Portugal have been enduring the same pain.
If only it were possible to reverse her magic. Then she could turn flowers…into food.
Fatyan, a beautiful Enchanted Moura, is the only one who can help. But she is trapped by magical binds. She can teach Yzabel how to control her curse—if Yzabel sets her free with a kiss.
As the King of Portugal’s betrothed, Yzabel would be committing treason, but what good is a king if his country has starved to death?
With just one kiss, Fatyan is set free. And with just one kiss, Yzabel is yearning for more.
She’d sought out Fatyan to help her save the people. Now, loving her could mean Yzabel’s destruction.
Based on Portuguese legend, this #OwnVoices historical fantasy is an epic tale of mystery, magic, and making the impossible choice between love and duty…
@ARIANNEREADSHORROR
ABOUT ME: I’m Arianne. I’m 28 from the UK, and still waiting for a bisexual flag emoji 😢 I spend most of my time taking care of my large variety of animals, and when I’m not doing that, I’m reading (obviously), crafting, gaming or finding cool things to watch.
MY BOOKSTA: My account handle is self-explanatory for the most part! I read horror, both real-life (especially WW2 books) and fictional, and often read and review extreme horror and splatterpunk books. When not reading those, I love thrillers and crime novels.
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: The Only Safe Space Left Is The Dark by Warren Wagner. This is a unique take on the apocalypse; it’s brutal and unforgiving. The plot is brilliant, and the general idea has a deeper meaning as well, making for a brilliant story. It’s so worth the read, and I guarantee you, it will stay with you as it has done with me.
THE FUCKING DETAILS: An HIV-positive gay man must leave the relative safety of his cabin in the woods to brave the zombie apocalypse and find the medication he needs to stay alive.
“There’s a raw, primordial scream echoing from each and every page of Warren Wagner’s The Only Safe Place Left is the Dark. It’s the scream of an exciting and impressive new voice in horror fiction. Deceptively clever and ferociously brutal, Wagner’s astonishing novella is a testament to LGBTQ+ survival against all odds-a gruesome, blood-soaked celebration of queerness.”
-Eric LaRocca, author Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke
“Warren Wagner’s The Only Safe Place Left is the Dark is a visceral queer nightmare where, in an alternative history branching off from the AIDS crisis, HIV gives some survivors a narrow edge in enduring a terrifying zombie apocalypse. Wagner introduces a series of grisly twists to the classic zombie narrative, and opens our hearts to stoic loner Quinton and charismatic risk-taker Billy as they search for a motherlode of the medication that will keep them alive as the world around them disintegrates. This boldly cinematic edge-of-your-seat thriller gets under your skin in more ways than one.”
-David Demchuk, author of Red X and The Bone Mother
@ALEXREADSALL
ABOUT ME: I am Alex, 37 years old. I am a Latine aromantic pansexual demi girl! This means I am someone who does not feel romantic feelings towards others, but I am sexually attracted to all. I use she/they pronouns. I consider myself queer to cover all my identities.
MY BOOKSTA: My account is kind of all over the place all the time? I try to read a little bit of everything although, lately, I have been reading a lot of one thing – literary fiction. I have no idea where the off switch is! Mainly my vibe is cozy all year round because it is my favourite state of being.
MY PRIDE BOOK REC: I have to say The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimmons. It’s a YA sure, but it’s so good. And tackles difficult things including performative allyship in the LGBTQ+ community, but it’s also a bundle of joy and love!
THE FUCKING DETAILS: Fifteen-year-old Spencer Harris is a proud nerd, an awesome big brother and a Messi-in-training. He’s also transgender. After transitioning at his old school leads to a year of bullying, Spencer gets a fresh start at Oakley, the most liberal private school in Ohio.
At Oakley, Spencer seems to have it all: more accepting classmates, a decent shot at a starting position on the boy’s soccer team, great new friends, and maybe even something more than friendship with one of his teammates. The problem is, no one at Oakley knows Spencer is trans—he’s passing.
So when a discriminatory law forces Spencer’s coach to bench him after he discovers the ‘F’ on Spencer’s birth certificate, Spencer has to make a choice: cheer his team on from the sidelines or publicly fight for his right to play, even if it means coming out to everyone—including the guy he’s falling for.
And here’s a rec from me! Bath Haus by P.J. Vernon was one of my favourite reads of 2022, and it has stuck with me ever since. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read a fucking amazing thriller that is full of juicy drama and twisty twists. The plot feels personal to the gay community, but the themes – marriage, cheating, lying and straight-up fucking murder – are universal.
The Fucking Details: Oliver Park, a young recovering addict from Indiana, finally has everything he ever wanted: sobriety and a loving, wealthy partner in Nathan, a prominent DC trauma surgeon. Despite their difference in age and disparate backgrounds, they’ve made a perfect life together. With everything to lose, Oliver shouldn’t be visiting Haus, a gay bathhouse. But through the entrance he goes, and it’s a line crossed. Inside, he follows a man into a private room, and it’s the final line. Whatever happens next, Nathan can never know. But then, everything goes wrong, terribly wrong, and Oliver barely escapes with his life.
He races home in full-blown terror as the hand-shaped bruise grows dark on his neck. The truth will destroy Nathan and everything they have together, so Oliver does the thing he used to do so well: he lies.
What follows is a classic runaway train narrative, full of exquisite escalations, edge-of-your-seat thrills, and oh-my-god twists. P. J. Vernon’s Bath Haus is a scintillating thriller with an emotional punch, perfect for readers curious for their next must-read novel.
🌈And that’s it – the gay horses have spoken! I hope you found some new books to add to your TBR!
And the biggest thank you to all the Bookstagrammers who put themselves out there openly for this post and took the time to answer my little questions. Everyone had their own take and brought their own vibe, and I appreciate it so much!
Readers, I hope you check out their accounts and give them a follow ♡
Until next time, Booknerds!
heresthefuckingtwist.com 