Award winning books about the LGBTQ+ experience

Rebecca Makkai

This acclaimed novel follows Yale Tishman, a development director in 1980s Chicago, as he navigates the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic on his friends and community. The story also follows Fiona, Nico's sister, as she searches for her missing daughter in contemporary Paris, confronting the lasting effects of the crisis on her life. Through intertwining narratives, the characters strive to find hope amidst tragedy in both past and present, exploring themes of friendship, redemption, and loss. The book has been praised for its emotional depth and powerful storytelling, earning multiple awards and recognition as one of the best books of the 21st century.

Huw Lemmey

"Bad Gays" by Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller explores the unconventional history of homosexuality by shedding light on lesser-known figures whose lives challenge mainstream assumptions. The book delves into the stories of individuals like Emperor Hadrian, Margaret Mead, Ronnie Kray, Lawrence of Arabia, and J. Edgar Hoover, revealing how their lives inform LGBTQ+ history and identity. Through a diverse cast of characters, the authors argue for a rethinking of gay politics beyond identity, encouraging readers to seek solidarity across boundaries and consider the complexities of sexual identity throughout history.

Justin Torres

"Blackouts" by Justin Torres is a novel that delves into the intertwined lives of a young man and a dying soul named Juan Gay in the desert. Through the lens of a book called "Sex Variants: A Study of Homosexual Patterns," the story explores themes of memory, storytelling, and the impact of history on personal narratives. Torres weaves together accounts of queer subjects from the early twentieth century, revealing the power of reclaiming forgotten stories and challenging the erasures of the past. The book is a bold exploration of art, love, and the transformative potential of storytelling.

Torrey Peters

Reese had built a life many women could only dream of: a stable relationship with her partner Amy, a decent job, and a cozy New York City apartment. Her life was filled with small, comfortable routines, but she still yearned for something more—a child. Everything unraveled when Amy decided to detransition, becoming Ames, and their relationship fell apart. Now, Reese finds herself stuck in a cycle of self-destruction, filling the void of her loneliness through affairs with married men. Ames isn't thriving either. Believing that detransitioning would simplify his life, he instead found himself alienated from Reese, the person he considered his true family. Despite their breakup, Ames can't shake his longing for connection with her. When his boss and lover, Katrina, reveals she’s pregnant and unsure about keeping the baby, Ames sees a glimmer of possibility. Could this unexpected situation be the opportunity to build an unconventional family—with Katrina, Reese, and the baby? In this daring debut, Torrey Peters delves into the raw, untidy realities of gender, identity, and relationships that polite conversation often avoids. With sharp wit and emotional depth, this novel explores the complexities of womanhood and the human desire for connection, delivering a bold and unforgettable story.

Natalie Diaz

"Postcolonial Love Poem" is a powerful collection of poetry that explores themes of love, desire, and autonomy through the bodies of indigenous, Latinx, black, and brown women. Author Diaz challenges societal norms and the erasure of marginalized bodies, pushing language to its limits to evoke both grief and joy, violence and sensuality. The poems question the future we can create by examining the choices we make in the present, offering a poignant reflection on identity, love, and the complexities of human experience.