Top 5 Wednesday – Favorite LGBTQ+ Reads + LGBTQ+ TBR

Before I get into this list, know one thing about me—I own a lot of books that I have not read yet. I may have a bit of a problem. One thing I’ve noticed, when perusing my Goodreads account to form a list for this week’s post, is that I own a lot of the hyped and well-known LGBTQ+ books, especially in YA. But almost all of them are still waiting in the wings for me to read. It’s tragic, really. I need to reorder my shelves to prioritize these books. So! When I say this list was difficult to draft, it’s only because I don’t read as fast as I purchase. I’m working on it. Ha.

So! I’m altering this post a little bit. I’m also including the top 5 LGBTQ+ books that are on my TBR and that I already own. Meaning I’ll be reading them soon. To try to even the playing field!

Without further ado…

5. Lone Wolf + Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

These were my first foray into LGBTQ+ issues in books, I’m sorry to say. Not that JP doesn’t do a great job, I just feel I should have gone outside my comfort zone earlier in my esteemed reading career. Jodi Picoult, around this time, started adding at least one LGBT (usually L or G) character to each of her books, which I loved and appreciated and wanted more of. I don’t know why it took me so long to seek out more books with LGBTQ+ representation, but it took me a while. And now here I am.

If you’re wondering about these two in particular, here’s the barest of synopses. Lone Wolf is about an esteemed researcher of gray wolves, known for leaving his family and living in the wilderness with a wolf pack for a period of time. He is in a car accident with his daughter and is brain dead, and his son decides to take him off life support after not being in his life for years. There is a lawsuit, as in most JP books. It’s different and really good. Sing You Home is also different and really good – there is a singer/songwriter who has been trying to conceive with her husband for years. They’ve depleted their savings and he finally leaves her. She still wants to use their frozen embryos to keep trying without him (eventually with her new partner), but he doesn’t want that. Another lawsuit.

They’re both really good, but neither has the LGBTQ+ issue at the forefront. Which, I guess, maybe makes them even better, because it isn’t used as a plot device. You decide.

4. Out on Good Behavior by Dahlia Adler

Oh my goodness, this book. It’s the third in the Radleigh trilogy (although it can stand alone), and is about Frankie and Samara, and it’s just lovely and sexy and a joy to read. It’s new adult, so the romance is at the forefront. So good. You can read my review here.

3. Jerkbait by Mia Siegert

Twins who play hockey together—that’s what this book is about. It’s narrated by Tristan, but it’s really about Robbie, who comes out and whose world goes to shit because of it. The issues of LGBTQ+ bullying in sports is something I had never thought much about, but wow, did this book bring that to the forefront for me. You can read my review here.

2. Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

Alex is a powerful young bruja but thinks her powers drove her father away, so she tries to give them back to Los Lagos. In return, her family is kidnapped and trapped in another realm, and Alex has to rescue them with a brujo named Nova and her best friend Rishi. Alex is clearly attracted to both of them, making her the first bisexual protagonist that I’ve ever read. I hope to read many many more. You can read my full review here.

1. Dreadnought by April Daniels

Okay okay. Trans girl superhero. Do I need to say more? This book is just so good. I can’t wait for the second one! You can read my full review here.