Representation matters.

This rings true whether you’re BIPOC, neurodivergent, a person with disabilities, an ethnic minority, or queer. Seeing people like you represented in art and in your community is extremely valuable. 

Most importantly, it can help you feel seen and validated. And it also helps people who don’t belong to your community learn about and respect the experiences of people who aren’t the same as them.

But did you know that reading fiction actually increases empathy? That’s something the world could always use more of.

No matter where you fall on the gender and sexuality spectrums, reading queer lit will enrich your heart and mind. To help you get started, we’ve compiled 10 of the best LGBTQ books to add to your reading list.

1. “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” — Ocean Vuong

Set in Connecticut in the 1990s and 2000s, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” follows Little Dog, a Vietnamese American who knew he was gay even as a young boy. Little Dog faces discrimination for both his sexuality and his inability to fit the stereotype of a “real boy,” highlighting a uniquely queer experience that many in the community face in 21st-century America.

This autobiographical New York Times bestseller was Ocean Vuong’s first novel, and it’s as breathtaking as the poetry Vuong is famous for.

2. “Giovanni’s Room” — James Baldwin

Often regarded as one of the best gay books of all time, “Giovanni’s Room” follows David, a young American in Paris who falls for an Italian bartender — named Giovanni — who’s awaiting execution for murder. Throughout the story, David reflects on his youth in America and the relationships that have shaped the man he’s become.

The quality of writing is part of what makes “Giovanni’s Room” exceptional. But what’s even more impressive is that James Baldwin, a Black man, published a book with homosexual and bisexual themes in 1956, when being gay was still criminalized in most U.S. states.

3. “Less” — Andrew Sean Greer

Part satirical comedy, part love story, “Less” is among the best gay romance books. The story follows a lovesick novelist named Arthur Less on the cusp of his 50th birthday. When his ex-boyfriend, Freddy, invites Arthur to his wedding, Arthur avoids the invitation the only way he knows how — by launching himself on an around-the-world literary tour, leading to a series of humorous and heartwarming events.

When he chose to tackle the serious themes of aging and queerness through a comedic lens, Andrew Sean Greer might have expected some of the accolades the book received, like a spot on The New York Times bestseller list and a nod as a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction. What Greer didn’t expect was a Pulitzer, an honor usually reserved for more “serious” works. “Less” won the prize in 2018 — that’s how hilarious and poignant this story is.

4. “Detransition, Baby” — Torrey Peters

One of our favorite things about trans author Torrey Peters’ debut novel is that it doesn’t have to wrestle with the battles facing the larger transgender community — it’s just the everyday stories of three everyday characters, two of whom happen to be trans. “I had the freedom to imagine trans people as just quotidian, boring, flawed people,” Peters said in a Guardian interview.

The novel follows a trans woman named Reese, her former partner Ames (who transitioned and detransitioned), and Katrina, Ames’ current cisgender partner. It’s more about parenthood than politics, and it’s a fun, emotional read that serves as a necessary reminder that trans people are simply people, just like anybody else.

5. “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” — Alison Bechdel

A memoir in graphic novel format, this "tragicomic" revolves around Alison Bechdel's childhood, focusing on her relationship with her father and her experience coming out as a lesbian. Through intricate illustrations and prose, the story paints a vivid picture of family, identity, and sexuality. If you’re looking for visually stimulating gay books to read, “Fun Home” should be at the top of your list.

6. “The Line of Beauty” — Alan Hollinghurst

A historical novel set in 1980s Britain, “The Line of Beauty” follows Nick, a gay man who some critics have likened to Nick Carraway, the narrator of “The Great Gatsby.” Nick, a middle-class man, moves into the Notting Hill home of the well-to-do Fedden family, who tolerate Nick’s sexuality as long as he never makes them think about it.

“The Line of Beauty” won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2004, celebrated for its beautiful language, accurate portrayal of Britain’s ruling class, and thoughtful exploration of an apolitical gay man’s place in a highly political and hypocritical society.

7. “The Price of Salt” — Patricia Highsmith

If you’d tried searching for this book by the author’s name in 1952, you would have come up empty-handed. While that was the year of publication, Patricia Highsmith, a successful suspense writer, released it under the name Claire Morgan.

In the ’50s, most lesbian fiction didn’t have happy endings. But “The Price of Salt” did, making it one of the first mainstream gay love stories that doesn’t devastate its characters in the end. Read the book, then watch Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara bring the story to life (and have some steamy sex) in the 2015 film version, “Carol.”

8. “Shuggie Bain” — Douglas Stuart

A tribute to the Scottish-American author's own upbringing, “Shuggie Bain” paints a bleak but tender picture of a young gay boy growing up in a working-poor family in 1980s Glasgow. Shuggie's relationship with his alcoholic mother offers a raw exploration of love and sacrifice.

“Shuggie Bain” isn’t as light or fun as other books on this list. But it’s a beautifully written and important tale that earned every ounce of its 2020 Man Booker Prize. And Stuart followed it up with a sophomore book that’s just as good, “Young Mungo.”

9. “Real Life” — Brandon Taylor

Another autobiographical novel that’s so true to life it could almost be a memoir, “Real Life” follows Wallace, a Black gay man from the South navigating his way through an overwhelmingly white Midwestern doctoral program. The book delves into the intersections of race, queerness, and isolation.

10. “Dancer From the Dance” — Andrew Holleran

Published in 1978, “Dancer From the Dance” was a major player in post-Stonewall gay literature, which strayed from the tragic endings typical of pre-Stonewall books. The novel switches perspectives several times to tell the stories of Anthony, a young Midwestern lawyer who comes to New York looking for fun, and Andrew, a socialite and drag queen.

Holleran uses decadent language to paint a vivid, intoxicating portrait of sex, drugs, and dancing in 1970s New York and Fire Island, deftly depicting the lives of what he called “that tiny subspecies of homosexual, the doomed queen, who puts the car in gear and drives right off the cliff!”

Trade the paperback for a pair of headphones

This list is just the tip of the queer-lit iceberg, so don’t wait until Pride Month to fill your shelf with LGBTQ books. And when you’re in the mood for sexy stories without committing to a full-length novel or memoir, try Quinn, the audio erotica app created by women for the world. 

With everything from M4M audios to stories for women who love women, there’s a wide range of erotic content on Quinn for you to enjoy. To access thousands of guided masturbation sessions and audio stories you can listen with a partner or solo, download the Quinn app for iOS or Android.