Queer Reads for 2024 and Beyond

Comics/Graphic Novels and Memoirs

Nino Bulling's slice-of-life graphic novel explores queer ennui in contemporary Europe, while Julie Delporte's memoir showcases her journey of self-discovery and healing. Emil Ferris's Visually stunning work continues the story of Karen Reyes, and Sarah Leavitt's visceral and heartbreaking graphic memoir expresses the despair and illogic of intense grief. Theo Parish's heartwarming debut YA graphic memoir traces their gender journey.

Fantasy

The Weavers of Alamaxa continues the complex friendship between two feminist women in a politically charged setting. R.B. Lemberg's latest novella highlights the transformative powers of story, and Tasha Suri's Burning Kingdoms trilogy concludes with heart-pounding action and character growth. Rebecca Thorne's cozy fantasy novel features an unexpected sapphic pirate love story, and Nghi Vo's fifth installment in the Singing Hills Cycle seamlessly blends historical fantasy with elements of horror and mystery.

Historical Fiction

Briony Cameron's page-turning historical adventure traces the rise of a mixed-race queer woman pirate captain. Katrina Carrasco's historical novel explores the life of a gender-fluid bi protagonist in 1888 Washington Territory. Temim Fruchter's debut novel contemplates history and its impact on generations of women, and Jake Klein's remarkable story intertwines the lives of two trans people in 1984 Massachusetts. Loghan Paylor's elegantly imagined love story centers queer and non-binary characters in Southern Ontario during WW2, infusing the protagonist's trans identity with magic.

Horror

Clements and Datta's wildly unpredictable novel features queer characters and a chilling ancient evil. Gretchen Felker-Martin's sequel to her post-apocalyptic debut is equally dark and terrifying, set in a 1990s queer conversion camp. Elliot Gish's slow-burn horror novel effectively escalates tension in a small farming town. Rivers Solomon's haunted house story upends the horror sub-genre, exploring childhood sexual trauma, racism, and segregation. Wilmot's debut novel is a suspenseful read that plays with haunted house story conventions and investigates themes of grief, mental illness, and disordered eating.

Literary/Contemporary Fiction

Drew Burnett Gregory praises Chuck Chamberland's debut autofiction for its emotional resonance, intellectual thrills, and dark humor. Emma Copley Eisenberg's celebratory yet critical novel explores art, chosen family, and the beauty and mess of the contemporary US. Naomi Kanakia's story critically examines left-wing San Francisco tech bro culture, while Myriam Lacroix's debut asks the question: what if you could rework and relive your queer relationship in alternate realities? Laura Chow Reeve's short story collection boldly takes on the contradictions of queer life in Florida, and Greta & Valdin is a sparkling debut about two neurodivergent queer siblings and their eccentric family.

Memoir/Biography

Zoë Boisserie's memoir traces their journey as a "boy kid" to a gender fluid adult, and KB Brookins's profoundly moving book challenges the conventional understanding of memoir. Alexis Pauline Gumbs's biography of Audre Lorde is praised for its queer approach and structure. Nikkya Hargrove's memoir is a testament to her resilience and the power of queer motherhood. Shayla Lawson's travelogue defies genre conventions and explores race, gender, and disability through a personal lens.

Mystery/Thriller

Robyn Gigl's Erin McCabe mystery series continues with another thrilling installment that tackles systemic racism and homophobia. Swan Huntley's unhinged thriller examines the dangers of becoming trapped in a relationship with a charismatic and domineering person. Pek's latest novel is an engaging literary mystery featuring a compelling queer Chinese American protagonist. Lev A.C. Rosen's historical mystery series returns with a twisty puzzling mystery evoking classic film noir vibes. Maggie Thrash's thrilling adult debut blends thriller, murder mystery, and psychological drama to create a riveting read.

Nonfiction

Tania De Rozario's debut is an essential investigation into growing up as a queer person in Singapore. Chase Joynt's unique text explores memoir through the lens of media, while Allyson McOuat's essays touch on motherhood, anxiety, true crime, and horror movies with remarkable insight. Nico Lang's portrait of eight trans and non-binary teens challenges transphobia and is a powerful read. Shannon Rogers's collection of essays illuminates the oppressive aspects of the American South and is a thoughtful exploration of race and identity.

Poetry

Cheryl Clarke's collection celebrates the diversity of her creative output, ranging from joy and sensuality to politics and loss. Joshua Jennifer Espinoza's latest stunning collection is praised for its risks and playfulness. Grace Kwan's debut poetry collection fully commits to an exploration of the titular motel's spaces and the ghosts left there. El Ghourabaa is an anthology of fiction and poetry that celebrates the "fullness of queer Arab and Arabophone identity," and Danez Smith's latest collection is a powerful reckoning and exploration of hope, rage, and honesty.

Romance

Higgins's latest contemporary romance is full of humor and heart, following two best friends who find themselves on a path of love and self-discovery. Lowell's enchanting historical romance is a standout in the genre, featuring a trans man and a cis woman in a Victorian setting. Katz's beautiful and moving contemporary romance explores the complexities of friendship and love following the loss of a mutual friend. Kelly's basketball romance offers much-needed sapphic ace spectrum representation and explores the physical and emotional dynamics of relationships. Liao's sophomore contemporary romance is an irresistible story of a femme trans woman discovering her bisexuality and falling in love with a butch lesbian.

Science Fiction

Armfield's quietly dystopian retelling of King Lear focuses on the everyday lives of three estranged queer sisters, while Emet North's multiverse novel uses speculative premise to explore personal identity, love, and loss. Time's Agent is an impressive work of speculative fiction that interrogates corporate greed and examines the implications of discovering alternate realities. Bogi Takács's latest collection of stories is a distinctive blend of science fiction, fantasy, and the new weird. Wasserstein's debut cyberpunk thriller combines a murder mystery, clones, and a post-apocalyptic world to create a captivating read.

Young Adult Contemporary/Historical/Romance

Akhbari's dazzling debut novel is a best-friends-to-lovers sapphic love story told in lyrical prose and poetry. Greenfield's debut contemporary romance features two disabled Jewish lesbians and a time loop that explores themes of stasis and growth. Hunsinger's charming graphic novel is a sweet and authentic portrayal of a young girl's first queer crush. Lippincott and Derrick's heartwarming Christmas novel blends fake relationships, small town romance, and ex-friends-to-lovers tropes. Nguyen's sapphic romance set in Sài Gòn is a heartfelt tale of love, loss, and self-discovery.

Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

Brophy's fantasy romance features a break-up and second-chance love story with unique plot twists. Croucher's irreverent and feminist take on the Robin Hood legend is full of adventures and charming characters. Ha's graphic novel reimagines Korean myth with a queer and feminist twist. Ostertag's horror graphic novel is a captivating and complex exploration of identity, grief, and a bloodthirsty monster. Shea's sequel to their Black queer teen ballerina horror duology continues Laure's struggle with monstrous and ordinary lives.

Share your favorite 2024 queer book recommendations in the comments!