15 LGBTQ+ Books to Read for Pride Month

B&N Press is excited to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community with this list of 15 books that show, no matter the genre, good reads come in all colors of the rainbow. Celebrate love, celebrate individuality, and celebrate these wonderful contributions to the world of literature.

Explore the collection and find a new favorite today!

Murder on the Champse-Elysees by Alex Mandon

Paris, 1900. The height of the Belle-Époque: decadence, wealth, hedonism…and murder. Homicide investigator Guillaume Devré stands for the silenced victims. He is bound to seek justice as he makes his way from the wide boulevards frequented by the tout-Paris to the narrow byways of Montmartre. The on to the shadow of the Tour Eiffel and the lush elegance of Maxim’s. When the most famous courtesan in Paris becomes the prime suspect in the death of a wealthy young man, Inspector Devré is reluctantly drawn into the opulent parlors and witty manners of high society. As the investigation unfolds, he must contend with a bloodthirsty press and the outrageous behavior of his suspect…as well as his own prejudices and unfulfilled needs. Devré soon realizes that solving this murder could expose him and his darkest secret.

Fourteen Summers by Quinn Anderson

Identical twins Aiden and Max Kingsman have been a matched set their whole lives. When they were children, Aiden was happy to follow his extroverted brother’s lead. But now that they’re in college, Aiden is determined to carve out his own identity. Fun-loving Max takes one thing seriously: his role as “big brother.” And when Aiden drifts away, Max can’t understand the path his brother has taken and the boy who has captured Aiden’s attention. Summer won’t last forever, and with friendship, family, and happily ever after on the line, they’ll have to navigate their changing relationships before it’s too late.

Discovering Delilah by Melissa Foster

After the death of her parents, Delilah Armstrong thought she could finally follow her heart and come out to her closest friends, but the guilt of going against her parents’ beliefs still haunt her. And the feelings she has for her best friend, Ashley, are stronger than anything she’s felt before. But Ashley Carver promised herself that she would never again date another girl who wasn’t out. When another girl offers to teach Delilah the ropes, it changes Delilah’s whole world and gives her the courage to go after the only girl she really wants. But coming out isn’t as easy as Delilah imagined, and moving past her parents’ death and the feelings of guilt she is left with is even harder. The intense passion between Ashley and Delilah is too strong to deny, but coming together means risking everything.

The Magician Murders by Josh Lanyon

Nothing up his sleeves. Nothing but murder…

While FBI Special Agent, Jason West, recuperates from a recent hit-and-run accident, he’s asked to consult on the theft of a priceless collection of vintage magic posters. But before Jason can say “presto change-o,” the owner of the art collection turns up murdered in a National Forest. When the dead man is revealed to be the Kubla Khanjurer, a much-hated part-time magician accused of revealing the highly guarded secrets of professional illusionists, it seems clear this is a simple revenge killing–until Jason realizes an earlier suspicious death at the trendy magic club Top Hat White Rabbit might be part of the same larger and more sinister pattern.

Medium, Sweet, Extra Shot of Geek by R. Cooper

Former soldier Octavio “Tavio” Reyes works as a barista, a favorite with the customers—especially Tommy O’Shaughnessy. An avowed geek, Tommy comes in daily to flirt, usually under the guise of Trekkie talk. Tavio hesitates; now that he’s out of the army, he’s not sure how out he should be, or whether to take his chances on a geek devoted to sci-fi and comic books. But when Tommy compares him to an unemotional Vulcan, Tavio finally considers dating an out-and-proud nerd. Then Tommy surprises him again and introduces him to his daughter, whom Tommy loves even more than Star Trek or Tavio. Now Tavio has a whole new decision to make: Is he ready to romance a family man?

Bend by Nancy J. Hedin

Lorraine Tyler is the only queer person in Bend, Minnesota. Or at least that’s what it feels like when the local church preaches so sternly against homosexuality. Which is why she’s fighting so hard to win the McGerber scholarship — her ticket out of Bend — even though her biggest competition is her twin sister, Becky. But everything changes when a new girl comes to town. Charity is mysterious, passionate, and qeer too. Now Lorraine may have a chance at freedom and real love. Except when Becky disappears, Lorraine uncovers an old, painful secret that could tear the family apart. They need each other more than ever now, and somehow it’s Lorraine–the sinner, the black sheep–who holds the power to bring them together. Only if she herself can learn to bend.

Love and Other Hot Beverages by Laurie Loft

After a rough breakup, Todd Addison wants time alone to grieve. While still dreaming of winning back his ex’s love, he moves across the country and finds work with a construction company. The last thing he needs is the cute office boy, Sebastian, developing a crush on him, especially since he’s back in the closet. Looking for a way to mend Todd’s broken heart, Sebby is determined to prove that love, and acceptance, are worth fighting for.

Firework by Melissa Brayden

Lucy Danaher was born into a life of privilege and has always enjoyed the view from the top. She spends her days running a Fortune 500 company, and her nights at all the trendy San Diego hot spots. When a newspaper decides to run a feature story on her company, Lucy’s thrilled to oblige with an interview. But when the reporter arrives, it turns out the story she’s writing is anything but flattering.Kristin James loves her job, and as a committed journalist will go out of her way to tell the most balanced story possible–even if it means going up against Lucy Danaher. She just has one problem. No matter what she does, she can’t seem to get Lucy off her mind…

Beyond the Break by Kristen Mae

When Hazel Duval moves with her husband Oren to the oceanside town of Conch Garden and secures her dream job playing violin with the local orchestra, she thinks she may have finally left her traumatic past behind her. She even makes a new friend–a friend who turns out to be a little more than she bargained for. Claire is brilliant and beautiful and married too. As Hazel’s infatuation with Claire grows so does the mountain of shame that comes along with it. But feelings can only be buried for so long until they reach a breaking point. And when the two women fly off to Italy for a music festival they realize their deep connection has moved beyond friendship. Finding there is more than one type of love and that salvation can come in many forms, Hazel and Claire must choose between what is easy and what feels right before it all breaks apart.

Shock & Awe by Abigail Roux

After barely surviving a shootout in New Orleans, Sidewinder medic Kelly Abbott has to suffer through a month of recovery before he can return home to Colorado. He’s not surprised when fellow Sidewinder Nick O’Flaherty stays with him in New Orleans. Nor is he surprised when Nick travels home with him to help him get back on his feet–after all, years on the same Marine Force Recon team bonded the men in ways that only bleeding for a brother can. He’s very surprised, though, when Nick humors his moment of curiosity and kisses him. Now, Kelly and Nick must figure out what they mean to each other–friends and brothers in arms, or something even deeper?–before the past can come back to ruin their tenuous future.

Loving Eleanor by Susan Wittig Albert

When AP political reporter Lorena Hickok–Hick–is assigned to cover Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the wife of the 1932 Democratic presidential candidate, the two women become deeply, intimately involved. Their relationship begins with mutual romantic passion, matures through stormy periods of enforced separation and competing interests, and warms into an enduring, encompassing friendship that ends only with both women’s deaths in the 1960s–all of it documented by 3300 letters exchanged over thirty years. Now, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert recreates the fascinating story of Hick and Eleanor, revealing the first lady as a complex, contradictory, and entirely human woman.

Riding with Brighton by Haven Francis

Yesterday, Jay was convinced his life was damaged beyond repair. Yesterday, Brighton was sure his life was perfect. Then today happened.

Realizing he’s wasted his life in the meaningless pursuit of popularity and athleticism, Jay Hall knows he has nothing in common with alternative, free-thinking artist Brighton Bello-Adler. But he’s determined to change that. Brighton’s managed to fill his life with an eclectic mix of people and interests that keep him satisfied. As the only gay guy in his small town, the one thing that’s missing is a man, but Jay’s not gay, so Brighton’s not sure what he’ll gain by letting him into his life. Still, he’s willing to find out. Heading off on an impromptu road trip, the boys chart a course connecting their worlds, and along the way discover pieces of themselves they didn’t know were missing. As the sun rises on a new day, Jay and Brighton know their lives have changed. Now they just have to figure out how to live in them.

Good Boys by Keelan Ellis

Having risen through the ranks of the Baltimore City Police Department to the elite Homicide unit as an out gay man, Paul Solomon has always prided himself on his integrity and self-reliance. When Paul and his partner, Tim Cullen, are called to the scene of a double murder of two high school students on the city’s west side, Paul finds the lives and deaths of the two boys hitting closer to home than he’d expected. While working his way through the complicated case, Paul starts getting his life back together. After a date with an enigmatic young man takes a dark turn, he reaches out to an old flame who brings some much-needed lightness to his life. But Paul finds that relationships, like murder investigations, are never as simple as he’d like.

Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn

The ocean is uncontrollable and dangerous. But to the sirens who swim the warm island waters, it’s a home more than worth protecting from the dreaded pirates who swarm their shores. Perle was the first siren captured by the ruthless pirate captain, Kian. But when another pirating vessel seizes Kian’s ship, Perle’s hope for escape is rekindled. Soon it becomes clear that Kian will hunt Perle relentlessly, taking down any siren in her path. As the tides turn, Perle must decide whether to run from Kian forever, or ride the forming wave into battle, hoping their newfound human companions will fight with them.

The Queen in Ieflaria by Effie Calvin

Betrothed since childhood, Princess Esofi of Rhodia and Crown Prince Albion have never met. At age seventeen, Esofi’s journey to Ieflaria is not for the wedding she always excepted. But instead, it’s to offer condolences on the death of the Crown Prince. Now, Ieflaria is desperately in need of help from Rhodia. And Esofi is offered a new betrothal to Prince Albion’s younger sister, the new Crown Princess Adale. But Adale has no plans of taking the throne. This leaves Esofi with battles she didn’t expect to fight and the fate of two nations in her hands.

 

 

 

For more books celebrating the LGTBQ community and Pride Month, check out our full collection of NOOK Books.

Comments are closed.