From graphic novels to epic fantasies to novella memoirs, the LGBTQ+ books that I read and loved the most this year cover a fairly broad range of genre and emotional intensity.

My 9 Favorite Queer Books Read in 2023

At the Feet of the Sun by Victoria Goddard. A compulsive doorstopper of a novel that takes everything from the first book of this series (helpful to read first but not strictly necessary) and elevates it. Read if you would like to read a middle-aged m/m asexual romance in a fantasy setting that is squee-worthily cute.

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli. A sweet YA contemporary fiction for all my girlies who needed time to realize their queerness due to compulsive heterosexuality and an experience of attraction that doesn’t match what’s typically talked about. Read if you want to catch college feelings and enjoy a f/f romance bloom amongst amazing friendships.

That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey. If the above description sounded great but you’d rather read an adult romance, this is the book for you! Read if you want to relive summer camp experiences from an adult perspective with a f/f romance.

Heathen by Natasha Alterici. A graphic novel with beautiful artwork telling a Viking story with a queer female lead? Um, obviously it’s very good. Read if you love Norse mythology and gender-swapped hero journeys.

The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro. I will apparently never stop loving Nico di Angelo in any of the Percy Jackson books, and this YA novel that focuses on him and his boyfriend descending into Hades and Tartarus is no exception. Read if you love an established couple m/m romance combined with modernized Greek mythology.

Babel by R. F. Kuang. A doorstopper for revolutionary word nerds, this gorgeously written alternate history novel addresses heavy themes of colonization, translation, and racism within an increasingly compelling plot. Read if you want to think deeply about nuanced forms of oppression.

Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies by Michael Ausiello. A m/m romantic tragedy memoir that manages to be a story about a couple dealing with cancer that avoids trauma-porn sentimentality. Read if you want to laugh-cry your way through love, life, and death.

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian. A YA historical fiction set in late 1980s NYC, this novel follows three teens dealing with m/m love, the AIDS crisis, and activism. Read if you want to see the recent past with a fresh perspective.

Peter Darling by Austin Chant. A sequel to Peter Pan that leans into deliciously fanfic-y territory by queerifying its characters (Peter is a trans man) and giving us the Pan/Hook romance I didn’t know I wanted. Read if you want to experience the magic of Peter Pan through a queer lens.

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What were some of your favorite books read in 2023? Leave a comment to let me know, and I’ll work on reading them in 2024!