12 New LGBTQ Books That Prove Pride Isn’t Just for June

Caroline wants a laidback wedding, and her fiancé Tiny isn’t really sure what kind of wedding she wants. But their parents have lots of big plans for the destination wedding in Bermuda. As guests arrive with their own drama in tow, the wedding event spirals out of Tiny and Caroline’s control. This gossipy read is laugh-out-loud funny, full of surprising twists, and has characters readers will love (and love to hate).

These absurdist, gritty, and ennui-filled short stories follow Cambodian immigrants in California and their first generation Cambodian American children. Each character grapples with generational trauma of the Khmer Rouge genocide in their own way, and must also navigate through family conflict, racism, and complicated relationships. But while each story is touched by shared trauma, they’re also expansive in scope and darkly hilarious. Anthony Veasno So passed away tragically before his debut story collection was released. Afterparties is a testament to his incredible talent and a book you absolutely don’t want to miss.

This queer Hamlet retelling brings fresh life to classic characters, set in modern New York City. Ben Dane is a neuroatypical physicist reeling from the sudden loss of his Broadway theatre baron father, followed quickly by the ill-advised marriage of Ben’s mother and uncle. He hasn’t talked to his best friend, Horatio Patel, since their platonic relationship turned into something more. But loyal to a fault Horatio jumps on a plane to New York, where a stranger foretells impending doom. Meanwhile, Ben’s former fiancé Lia meets three mysterious florists from New Orleans whose flower arrangements are more than they seem. The King of Infinite Space packs all the drama of a Shakespearean play with delightful new twists.

This new memoir from the author of All Boys Aren’t Blue is a touching story of Black boyhood and brotherhood. Johnson focuses this memoir on their relationship to Nanny, the grandmother who raised them alongside three other boys in their family, Garrett, Rall, and Rasul. Tucked between family stories are sweet letters from the children to their grandmother. Written with vulnerability, honesty, and much love, We Are Not Broken is a love letter to Black boys, and to the matriarchs who raise them.

Dev fully believes in fairytale romances — even if they require a little scripting and engineering, like on the reality dating show he produces, Ever After. But his latest star bachelor, tech mogul Charlie, is a unique challenge thanks to his social anxiety and disbelief in true love. As Dev tries to help Charlie charm the other contestants, Charlie realizes that Dev is the person he connects with most. With endearing characters, reality TV drama, and authentic conversations about mental health, you’re sure to fall in love with The Charm Offensive.

Mark Oshiro’s middle grade debut novel is full of hope, heart, and magic. Héctor Muñoz is struggling to adjust to his new town and school, where being gay makes him feel like an outsider. He spends most school days hiding in the janitor’s closet — until one day the closet changes before his eyes, transporting him to a magical space where he can meet other kids struggling with the same feelings of loneliness across the country. With his hidden portal, Héctor and his friends can find community — and new ways to help each other survive middle school.

Mina Simpson is a successful surgeon and an out trans woman and lesbian. She’s also alienated from her family and has avoided her home country of Lebanon for decades. But when she gets a desperate call from a friend at an NGO in Lesbos, Greece, Mina leaves her job, home, and wife behind to treat Syrian refugees. Although the journey takes her closer to her home country than she prefers, Mina hopes to make a difference during a humanitarian crisis — and she may walk away changed as well.

Fay Wu-Goodson is used to examining life from the outside, thanks to her videography work documenting the identity journey of New Yorkers. But when Fay’s Taiwanese father passes away and sets off a string of family conflicts, she must examine how her own identity as a queer, multiracial twentysomething has shaped her life and her relationships. It’s a fascinating and nuanced exploration of the experiences of Taiwanese American women, and how their lives are shaped by Confucian patriarchy.

Drag superstar Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 is a familiar face to fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race. In this photographic memoir, we get a hilarious and brutally honest look at Alaska’s life pre- and post-Drag Race fame. Alaska doesn’t hold back, even from some of the most unflattering parts of her life. From her small town childhood to experimenting with form in drag to her messy public breakup, this memoir shares the story behind the drag queen with Alaska’s signature humor. The beautiful images included will keep you coming back for more.

The third book in the Montague Siblings series is coming to a bookstore near you this fall! Adrian Montague is an emerging political writer and activist, and the sole heir to his father’s sizable estate. But he’s also battling debilitating anxiety, much like his mother, who recently passed away unexpectedly. When a keepsake of his mother’s leads Adrian to discover an older brother he never knew he had, he goes on a mission to find more family secrets. This journey across the seas and through ghosts of Montague family past is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

A year after her husband passed away, Renu Amin is still grappling with what happens now. She tells her son Akash, an aspiring songwriter in Los Angeles, that she plans to sell the family home, and he returns to say goodbye, hoping it will bring closure from his past heartbreaks and allow him to finally commit to his boyfriend. Packing up the house reveals a long history of secrets between Renu and Akash — and even some new secrets. It’s a funny and moving story about forgiveness and learning to move forward.

This upcoming book by beloved YA authors Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera is a sequel to their first collaboration, What If It’s Us. Ben spent much of his first year of college with his writing partner, Spanish tutor, and kissmate Mario. But now his ex-boyfriend Arthur is back in town for a dream internship on Broadway, and even though he has his own boyfriend back home, Ben and Arthur have to wonder if their feelings for each other ever stopped. As much as they try to focus on their own futures, the universe seems to be pushing them together.