Impact Report 2023 / 24

Read ICA’s latest report here Impact Report 2023-24

Celebrating Diverse LGBTQIA2S+ Voices: A Reading List of 50 Must-Read Books

In honor of Pride Month and in celebration of LGBTQIA2S+ literature, we’re thrilled to present a curated reading list of 50 exceptional books featuring a diverse range of LGBTQ+ authors and characters. From captivating novels to thought-provoking memoirs, these works offer diverse perspectives, celebrate queer identities, and explore the complexities of love, identity, and acceptance. Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community or an ally looking to broaden your reading horizons, there’s something for everyone on this list. Let’s dive in and discover the vibrant and powerful voices of LGBTQIA2S+ literature:

1. “Freshwater” by Akwaeke Emezi

A mesmerizing exploration of fractured identity and spirituality, following Ada, a young Nigerian woman navigating her life with multiple selves, written by Akwaeke Emezi, a non-binary Nigerian author.

2. “Fire Song” by Adam Garnet Jones

A poignant and powerful YA novel that follows Shane, a gay Anishinaabe teenager living on a reserve in Northern Ontario, as he grapples with grief, love, and identity in the wake of his sister’s suicide and his mother’s struggle with addiction, navigating the complexities of family and community while dreaming of a brighter future for himself and his boyfriend, written by Adam Garnet Jones, a Cree-Métis filmmaker and writer known for his authentic and compassionate portrayal of Indigenous and LGBTQ+ experiences.

3. “Crooked Tooth” by Danny Ramadan

A poignant and courageous novel that follows the journey of Zain, a Syrian refugee grappling with identity, love, and survival in the face of adversity, written by Danny Ramadan, a queer Syrian-Canadian author and LGBTQ+ activist known for his powerful storytelling and advocacy for refugee rights.

4. “Jonny Appleseed” by Joshua Whitehead

A lyrical and raw debut novel that follows Jonny, a Two-Spirit Indigiqueer young man, as he returns to his hometown to attend his stepfather’s funeral and reflects on his past, his family, and his identity as he navigates the complexities of modern Indigenous life and urban queer culture, written by Joshua Whitehead, a Two-Spirit, Oji-Cree author from Peguis First Nation.

5. “The Subtweet” by Vivek Shraya

A sharp and incisive novel that explores friendship, jealousy, and the complexities of social media fame through the perspectives of Neela and Rukmini, two South Asian musicians whose friendship is tested when a subtweet goes viral, uncovering tensions around race, gender, and power in the music industry and online culture, written by Vivek Shraya, an Indian-Canadian author, musician, and multidisciplinary artist known for her bold and boundary-pushing work.

6. “Stone Butch Blues” by Leslie Feinberg

A poignant and powerful novel depicting the struggles and triumphs of Jess Goldberg, a butch lesbian coming of age in working-class America, written by Leslie Feinberg, a transgender activist and author.

7. “Small Beauty” by jia qing wilson-yang

A poignant and introspective novel that follows Mei, a mixed-race trans woman of Chinese descent, as she returns to her childhood home in a small Canadian town after the death of her cousin, exploring themes of grief, memory, and self-discovery through Mei’s journey of healing and connection with her family and community, written by jia qing wilson-yang, a Taiwanese-Canadian trans writer and artist.

8. “Juliet Takes a Breath” by Gabby Rivera

A coming-of-age novel following Juliet Milagros Palante, a Puerto Rican lesbian from the Bronx, as she navigates her identity, feminism, and love during a transformative summer internship, written by Gabby Rivera, a queer Puerto Rican author and activist.

9. “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett

A gripping and thought-provoking novel exploring race, identity, and family secrets, following the lives of twin sisters Desiree and Stella, one of whom chooses to pass as white, written by Brit Bennett, a talented African-American author.

10. “Cantoras” by Carolina De Robertis

A beautiful and evocative novel set in Uruguay during a period of political turmoil, following the lives of five women who find refuge, love, and freedom in each other’s company, written by Carolina De Robertis, an Uruguayan-American author known for her lyrical prose.

11. “The Death of Vivek Oji” by Akwaeke Emezi

A haunting and lyrical novel exploring the life and death of Vivek Oji, a young Nigerian who grapples with questions of identity, gender, and acceptance in a society that struggles to understand and embrace difference, written by Akwaeke Emezi, a non-binary Nigerian author.

12. “The Book of Salt” by Monique Truong

An enchanting and immersive novel set in 1930s Paris, following the life of Bình, a Vietnamese cook who works for Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, as he navigates love, desire, and cultural displacement in the City of Light, written by Monique Truong, a Vietnamese-American author known for her elegant prose and intricate storytelling.

13. “Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction” edited by Joshua Whitehead

A groundbreaking anthology featuring speculative fiction stories by Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer authors from across Turtle Island, exploring themes of love, identity, resistance, and survival through a diverse range of genres and storytelling styles, showcasing the rich and vibrant imagination of Indigenous writers within the LGBTQ+ literary landscape, edited by Joshua Whitehead, a Two-Spirit, Oji-Cree author known for his innovative and boundary-pushing work.

14. “Frying Plantain” by Zalika Reid-Benta

A captivating collection of interconnected short stories that explore the life of Kara Davis, a second-generation Jamaican-Canadian girl growing up in Toronto, as she navigates family expectations, cultural identity, and the complexities of adolescence, including themes of LGBTQ+ identity, written by Zalika Reid-Benta, a Jamaican-Canadian author known for her vivid portrayal of Toronto’s Caribbean diaspora.

15. “Scarborough” by Catherine Hernandez

A powerful and compassionate novel that delves into the lives of a diverse group of residents living in a low-income neighborhood in Scarborough, Ontario, including LGBTQ+ characters, as they navigate poverty, prejudice, and the bonds of community amidst the challenges of everyday life, written by Catherine Hernandez, a Filipina-Canadian author and playwright known for her vivid and empathetic portrayal of marginalized voices.

16. “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

A beautiful and heartwarming novel about friendship, identity, and first love, following Aristotle and Dante, two Mexican-American teenagers who form an unlikely bond and discover the truth about themselves and the world around them, written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, a celebrated Mexican-American author and poet known for his lyrical prose and heartfelt storytelling.

17. “Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernardine Evaristo

A vibrant and interconnected novel that follows the lives of twelve characters—mostly women, mostly black, mostly British—as they navigate love, identity, and community in contemporary Britain, including LGBTQ+ characters, written by Bernardine Evaristo, a British author of Nigerian and British heritage, known for her innovative narrative style and exploration of diverse voices.

18. “The City of Brass” by S.A. Chakraborty

An epic fantasy novel set in a magical world inspired by Islamic mythology, featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes, written by S.A. Chakraborty, an American author of Bangladeshi descent known for her richly imagined worlds and intricate plotting.

19. “They Both Die at the End” by Adam Silvera

A heart-wrenching and thought-provoking novel set in a near-future world where people receive a phone call on the day they’re going to die, following the unlikely friendship and budding romance between Mateo and Rufus, two teenage boys who meet through an app for “Deckers” (those who will die within the next 24 hours), written by Adam Silvera, a queer Puerto Rican author known for his emotionally resonant storytelling and diverse representation.

20. “From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea” by Kai Cheng Thom

A beautifully illustrated children’s book that celebrates gender diversity and self-acceptance through the story of Miu Lan, a child who can change into any shape they choose, and their journey to find acceptance and belonging in a world that tries to fit them into narrow definitions of boy or girl, written by Kai Cheng Thom, a Chinese-Canadian writer, performer, and therapist known for her work in queer and trans liberation movements and her commitment to intersectional storytelling.

21. “The Gods of Tango” by Carolina De Robertis

A sweeping and lyrical novel set in early 20th-century Argentina, following the journey of Leda, an Italian immigrant who disguises herself as a man to pursue her passion for the tango, as she navigates love, identity, and the vibrant world of Buenos Aires, written by Carolina De Robertis, an Uruguayan-American author known for her evocative and richly textured prose.

22. “Call Me by Your Name” by André Aciman

A tender and sensuous novel about first love and desire, following the passionate romance between Elio, a precocious teenager, and Oliver, a charming graduate student, as they spend a summer together in the sun-drenched Italian countryside, written by André Aciman, an Egyptian-American author known for his lush and evocative writing style.

23. “When We Speak of Nothing” by Olumide Popoola

A powerful and lyrical novel set in London, exploring themes of race, masculinity, and friendship, following the lives of two teenage boys, Karl and Abu, as they navigate the complexities of growing up black and queer in a city that is both familiar and alienating, written by Olumide Popoola, a Nigerian-German author known for her poetic prose and compassionate storytelling.

24. “Under the Udala Trees” by Chinelo Okparanta

A poignant and lyrical novel set in Nigeria during the civil war, exploring themes of love, identity, and societal expectations through the lives of two young women, Ijeoma and Amina, who fall in love amidst the chaos of war and religious conflict, written by Chinelo Okparanta, a Nigerian-American author known for her beautiful prose and nuanced exploration of LGBTQ+ themes in African literature.

25. “Pet” by Akwaeke Emezi

A haunting and genre-defying novel set in a utopian world where monsters no longer exist—or so everyone believes—until Jam accidentally awakens Pet, a creature born from her mother’s painting, and discovers the truth about her society’s dark secrets and the power of love and resistance, written by Akwaeke Emezi, a non-binary Nigerian author known for their imaginative storytelling and exploration of themes related to identity, trauma, and justice.

26. “Black Leopard, Red Wolf” by Marlon James

An epic and immersive fantasy novel set in a richly imagined world inspired by African mythology and history, featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes, written by Marlon James, a Jamaican author known for his bold and imaginative storytelling.

27. “America is Not the Heart” by Elaine Castillo

A poignant and moving novel about family, identity, and the immigrant experience, following the journey of Hero, a Filipino-American woman who escapes political violence in the Philippines to build a new life in California, written by Elaine Castillo, a Filipino-American author known for her lyrical prose and keen insight into the Filipino diaspora.

28. “Gideon the Ninth” by Tamsyn Muir

A dark and thrilling science fantasy novel following the necromancer Gideon Nav and her reluctant ally, the cavalier Harrowhark Nonagesimus, as they compete in a deadly trial to become Lyctor, the Emperor’s immortal servants, written by Tamsyn Muir, a New Zealand author known for her inventive world-building and irreverent humor.

29. “Under the Udala Trees” by Chinelo Okparanta

A poignant and lyrical novel set in Nigeria during the civil war, following the forbidden love between Ijeoma, a young Igbo woman, and Amina, a Hausa girl, as they navigate love, identity, and the complexities of their divided country, written by Chinelo Okparanta, a Nigerian-American author known for her beautiful and evocative prose.

30. “Funny Boy” by Shyam Selvadurai

A moving and coming-of-age novel set in Sri Lanka during the 1970s and 80s, following the experiences of Arjie, a young Tamil boy who explores his own identity and sexuality amidst the backdrop of ethnic tensions and political unrest in his country, written by Shyam Selvadurai, a Sri Lankan-Canadian author known for his evocative prose and candid portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes in Sri Lankan society.

31. “The Gilda Stories” by Jewelle Gomez

A groundbreaking and genre-defying novel that spans two hundred years in the life of Gilda, a black lesbian vampire who navigates love, friendship, and survival across different historical periods and communities, written by Jewelle Gomez, an African-American author known for her pioneering work in queer literature and speculative fiction.

32. “Here Comes the Sun” by Nicole Dennis-Benn

A powerful and unforgettable novel set in Jamaica, exploring themes of family, sexuality, and societal expectations through the lives of three women: Margot, a hotel worker and closeted lesbian; Thandi, her ambitious younger sister; and Dolores, their mother who sacrifices everything for their future, written by Nicole Dennis-Benn, a Jamaican-American author known for her lyrical prose and nuanced characterizations.

33. “All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto” by George M. Johnson

A powerful and candid memoir that explores George M. Johnson’s experiences growing up black and queer in America, challenging stereotypes and celebrating the diversity of Black LGBTQ+ identity, written by George M. Johnson, a queer black journalist and activist known for their advocacy work and intersectional approach to storytelling.

34. “Real Life” by Brandon Taylor

A searing and introspective novel exploring race, sexuality, and trauma, following the experiences of Wallace, a queer black biochemistry student at a predominantly white Midwestern university, as he grapples with loneliness, desire, and the complexities of human connection, written by Brandon Taylor, a queer African-American author known for his incisive and emotionally resonant prose.

35. “Lot: Stories” by Bryan Washington

A poignant and intimate collection of interconnected short stories set in Houston’s diverse neighborhoods, exploring themes of love, identity, and community through the lives of its vibrant and complex characters, written by Bryan Washington, a queer Nigerian-American author known for his evocative and deeply human storytelling.

36. “The Prophets” by Robert Jones Jr.

A lyrical and haunting novel set on a Mississippi plantation, exploring the forbidden love between two enslaved men, Samuel and Isaiah, as they navigate the brutalities of slavery and dream of a future where they can be together, written by Robert Jones Jr., an African-American author and LGBTQ+ activist known for his poetic prose and powerful storytelling.

37. “Memorial” by Bryan Washington

A tender and insightful novel about love, family, and forgiveness, following the complicated relationship between Mike and Benson, a young gay couple living in Houston, as they navigate their differences and learn to communicate with each other while dealing with their own personal challenges, written by Bryan Washington, a queer Nigerian-American author known for his authentic and compassionate portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships.

38. “We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation” by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown

An illuminating and comprehensive history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, featuring a diverse array of voices, stories, and images that highlight the struggles and triumphs of queer activists throughout history, written by Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown, co-founders of the Instagram account @lgbt_history.

39. “In the Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado

A groundbreaking and genre-bending memoir that examines Carmen Maria Machado’s experience of domestic abuse within a same-sex relationship, blending personal narrative, cultural criticism, and literary experimentation to explore the complexities of trauma, memory, and queer identity, written by Carmen Maria Machado, a queer Latinx author known for her inventive and thought-provoking writing.

40. “Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot” by Mikki Kendall

A thought-provoking and incisive collection of essays examining the intersections of race, gender, and class in feminism, and advocating for a more inclusive and intersectional approach to social justice, written by Mikki

Kendall, a black feminist writer and activist known for her sharp analysis and uncompromising critique of mainstream feminism.

41. “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe

A heartfelt and honest memoir exploring Maia Kobabe’s journey as a genderqueer person navigating questions of identity, belonging, and self-acceptance, through illustrations and personal anecdotes, written and illustrated by Maia Kobabe, a non-binary author and artist known for their candid and relatable storytelling.

42. “Two-Spirit Acts: Queer Indigenous Performances” edited by Jean O’Hara and Denise Bolduc

This anthology explores the diverse experiences of Two-Spirit individuals, blending Indigenous traditions and LGBTQ+ identities. Through essays, interviews, and performances, it highlights the resilience, creativity, and cultural contributions of Two-Spirit people within Indigenous communities, offering insights into the intersections of gender, sexuality, and Indigenous identity.

43. “The Stonewall Reader” edited by New York Public Library

A groundbreaking anthology featuring first-hand accounts, articles, and essays chronicling the Stonewall uprising and its impact on LGBTQ+ history and activism, edited by the New York Public Library, a renowned institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating LGBTQ+ culture and heritage.

44. “The Star Side of Bird Hill” by Naomi Jackson

A lyrical and poignant novel that follows the lives of two sisters, Dionne and Phaedra, who are sent to live with their grandmother in Barbados after their mother’s mental breakdown, exploring themes of family, identity, and belonging amidst the lush landscapes and vibrant culture of the Caribbean, written by Naomi Jackson, a Caribbean-American author known for her evocative prose and authentic portrayal of Caribbean life.

45. “Lotus Blue” by Cat Sparks

A dazzling and immersive science fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by environmental collapse, following the adventures of Star and her sentient motorbike, as they navigate a dangerous landscape filled with monsters, mercenaries, and ancient secrets, written by Cat Sparks, an Australian author known for her vivid world-building and inventive storytelling.

46. “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More” by Janet Mock

A groundbreaking memoir chronicling Janet Mock’s journey as a transgender woman of color, navigating love, acceptance, and activism with courage and resilience.

47. “Felix Ever After” by Kacen Callender

A captivating and empowering YA novel about love, identity, and self-discovery, following Felix Love, a transgender teen grappling with questions of gender, race, and romance while navigating the ups and downs of high school life and a catfishing incident, written by Kacen Callender, a non-binary author of color known for their authentic and compassionate portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and experiences.

48. “Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States” by Samantha Allen

A compelling non-fiction book exploring the diverse and vibrant LGBTQ+ communities in conservative America, written by Samantha Allen, a transgender journalist and author.

49. “Boy Erased: A Memoir” by Garrard Conley

A powerful and courageous memoir recounting Garrard Conley’s experience with conversion therapy and his journey to embrace his identity as a gay man, as he confronts his family, his faith, and the trauma of his past, written by Garrard Conley, an American author and LGBTQ+ activist known for his advocacy work and commitment to social justice.

50. “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer

A charming and humorous novel following Arthur Less, a failed novelist, as he embarks on a globe-trotting journey to avoid attending his ex-boyfriend’s wedding, written by Andrew Sean Greer, a gay American author.

This collection showcases the diverse and vibrant voices of LGBTQIA2S+ authors and characters from around the world, offering readers an opportunity to explore a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and identities. Happy reading! 🌈📚


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