45 Inspiring LBGTQ+ Books Everyone Needs On Their Bookshelf

Milk Fed is the quirky, laugh-out-loud story of Rachel who meets Miriam, a young Orthodox Jewish woman who is intent upon feeding her. As the pair grow closer, Rachel begins to embark on a journey of self discovery, sexual desire and spirituality.

Soon to become an HBO series starring Jodie Comer, Big Swiss is the story of Greta, a 40-year-old Californian transplant who works as an audio transcriber for a sex therapist in the USA. As she becomes increasingly enraptured with one particular patient, Flavia, who Greta nicknames Big Swiss, things unravel from there. What ensues is an explosive affair — and fallout that makes the book impossible to put down.

Political horror story, Brainwyrms, confronts the creeping reality of political terrorism while exploring the depths of love, pain, and identity. When a TERF bombs Frankie's workplace, she blows up Frankie's life with it. What was a happy existence is derailed as the media descends like vultures onto Frankie's life, as she begins isolating herself to cope with the increased pressure before she meets the alluring Vanya. But all is not as it might seem..

Oscar-winner Elliot Page's searing memoir of his journey to living his most authentic life ought to be a must-read for everybody. As Page received global recognition for his role in 2007 film Juno, he was also on the precipice of discovering himself as a queer and trans person, which he discusses with searing honesty in his memoir. At its core, Pageboy is a beautifully touching journey of what it means to untangle ourselves from the world's expectations and to step into who we truly are with defiance, strength, and joy.

If you're currently wondering what to buy with your next pay cheque, we implore you to add The Closet to your Amazon wishlist. Written by journalist Teo van den Broeke, the memoir is a true exploration of self discovery and delves into the author's youth and career, from growing up as an LGBTQ+ teen in the 1990s to finding self-acceptance through fashion. It's original, sharp, and a beautifully touching read.

Widely regarded a classic in LGBTQ+ literature, this book explores the love affair of David and Giovanni. The pair fall madly in love with each other after meeting in a bar one night, but David's girlfriend reappears on the scene, and he chooses to pretend he never had a relationship with Giovanni. The book looks at all types of love, from the unrequited to gay, to romantic and friendship.

This is a book that follows Julia's exploration of her sexuality. The woman, in her twenties, swaps her humdrum life for one with excitement and new experiences after she goes to a warehouse party, that turns out to be a sex party, where she embarks on her first lesbian experience. What follows is a new world of gay bars and BDSM clubs for Julia, and the intricacies of polyamory.

Longlisted for the Women's Prize 2021 and a top ten Times bestseller, this book delves into the story of Reese – a trans woman who thought she had it all before she realises the only thing she truly wants is a child. Following a split from her partner Amy, who later de-transitions to become Ames, she soon learns that he is having a child with his boss Katrina, and questions whether she wants to help raise the family as a three.

A brand new book from model and activist Jack Guinness, this is a collection of essays written by famous queer individual about the people throughout history who have inspired them them. Edited by Guinness, this celebration of the LGBTQ+ community includes words from Sir Elton John, Munroe Bergdorf, Russell Tovey, Graham Norton and Tan France, as well as illustrations by queer or ally artists.

A Sunday Times bestseller, this is a guide all about how to take ownership of your mental health in order to find peace. This is a powerful book from author and Young Minds ambassador Howell - who has previously spoken about his depression and sexuality - and will serve as a profound tool for those similarly suffering with mental health issues.

Penned by O'Kane, who has 25 years experience in the NHS in his job as a psychotherapist, this book is all about using tools and techniques from therapies like CBT and mindfulness in order to get rid of bad habits and choose a healthier lifestyle. In the book O'Kane also opens up about his sexuality and growing up in Northern Ireland.

The Transgender Issue sets out to reclaim the trans narrative, which up until now has been distorted by the media and dominated by subsequent 'debates' between those who lack understanding of the transgender experience.

Drawing on her own reality, writer Shon Faye analyses the wider cultural experience of being trans in our society, and how changing the conversation could open up a more joyful world.

Writer, public speaker and model Jamie Windust takes to the pages of this book in an exploration of what it means to be non-binary.

From discussing their own lived experiences to navigating relationships and why your path may not look like everyone else's, this book presents a helping hand to those struggling with their identity and is a crucial read for those wanting to educate themselves on the challenges faced by non-binary and transgender people.

In her debut novel, acclaimed writer Paris Lees takes us back to her teenage years growing up in Nottingham during the emerging culture of the new millennium. From yearning to escape her hometown to her subsequent discoveries, this is no ubiquitous coming-of-age memoir. It's a raw and original story exploring the spectrum of sexuality, identity and adolescence.

Spoken word poet Jasmine Mann's book of poems encompasses the full experience of being a Black queer woman through her powerful prose and personal recounted moments.

From the creators and curators of the massively popular Instagram account @lgbt_history, this fresh, photographic take on the classic anthology takes you through times that were instrumental in the gay rights movement from 19th century Europe to the gender champions making change today.

In renowned Vietnamese-American poet’s debut novel, Vuong weaves a story of family, his first love and being caught in between cultures. The T.S Eliot prize-winning poet gives a sensitive portrayal of his world and the relationships within it, ultimately asking the reader never to give up on themselves.

Adapted into a 2018 award-winning film with Nicole Kidman and Lucas Edges, Boy Erased, tells the true story of author and activist Garrard Conley's teenage experience of conversion therapy in Arkansas.

The book takes you on his journey to self-acceptance in spite of his surroundings and years of therapy after the programme.

From the transgender author, this debut book suspends you in a world of underground resistance and gender transformation that ties its three characters together in a web of secrets.

A hidden manuscript from the 18th century, discovered by recently heart-broken Dr. Voth, leads the story and details the lives of the two notorious thieves and lovers – transgender escape artist Jack Shepherd (based on the real-life thief) and revolutionary mastermind Bess Kahn.

The first transgender state senator, Sarah McBride's book was written when she was the first transgender person to speak at a national political convention in 2016. Her story, which was foreworded by US president Joe Biden, is incredibly hopeful and uplifting.

In spite of fears that she wouldn’t be accepted at the university where she taught, McBride announced her coming out on Facebook. From this one act, she writes about how her decision impacted the lives of others and how she became an activist for the LGBTQ+ cause.