Stuck for Christmas present ideas - books make great presents or stocking fillers, especially a good book centred around LGBTQIA+ characters! From intersex love stories to feminist utopias, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite books featuring queer characters...
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
If you’re looking for a book to obsess over long after you’ve read it, Radio Silence could be the answer. Millennials will especially appreciate this book as it is peppered with pop culture and music references such as The 1975, podcasts and London Grammar. Radio Silence is a fabulous example of diversity done right. The protagonist is biracial and bisexual, her best friend is gay and demisexual….basically everyone is queer in some way (how refreshing!). This book is especially important for those of us who grew up in abusive households, but now have “found families.” It explores themes on going low/no contact with family, the pressure of living up to unrealistic expectations, the faults of the education system and so much more.
Rough Paradise by Alec Butler
Terry is a bi-gendered, two-spirit person born with an intersex condition...and they’re about to fall in love for the first time. It’s a quick but powerful read - perfect for a quiet weekend in. However, it features a lot of heavy topics such as conversion therapy, rape, assault and threats of unneccesary surgery on intersex people. It’s inspiring to see these topics covered, though, as it helps start the dialogue on and with intersex people and their experiences.
The Female Man by Joanna Russ
of the best feminist science fiction novels...and for good reason. The story centres around three women each from very different worlds: Joanna, Janet and Jeannine. Janet is from a world where a plague killed all men around 800 years ago. Joanna comes from a world where the feminist movement is just starting and Jeannine lives on a planet where the Great Depression never ended. The novel questions gender roles and sexism - something very relevant still to this day.
Herland by Charlotte Perkins-Gilman
A Safe Girl to Love by Casey Plett
A collection of stories all bundled up in one place, featuring the life and times of several trans women. It’s pretty diverse sexuality-wise with bisexual, lesbian and straight trans women, to name but a few. All the stories are deliciously written...and there’s even a story written from a cat’s perspective! Every story is carefully crafted, helping trans women feel seen and cis people empathise with the dreams and struggles of transgender women.
Erik the Pink by Matthew J. Metzger
This is one for those of you who are looking for a sweeter, lighter story. The story is all about parenting and pregnancy from a trans gay male perspective. Andreas struggles to adjust after his pregnancy and we see him deal with his mental health issues such as depression and dysphoria. This is a character-driven story so it’s more about emotions and experiences than the plot itself. It’s a fascinating read and a great introduction to trans male pregnancy and relationships.
And for the book lover in your life how about our book print shirt?
Are there any LGBTQIA+ novels you’d like to recommend? Let us know on our Facebook and Twitter pages...or in the comments below!