Whether you’re looking for stories of love, identity, resistance or joy, there’s no shortage of powerful reads that amplify LGBTQ+ voices and experiences. Here are five of the most exciting new books to add to your reading list this Pride Month.
To take you late into the night
The Knowing by Emma Hinds is a captivating debut novel blending gothic fiction, historical fantasy and LGBTQ romance, set against the gritty backdrop of 19th-century New York. Flora, the only female tattoo artist in the slums, works under the thumb of her abusive partner while earning a living as a tarot card reader and tattooist. She meets Minnie, a circus performer who offers her an escape from her grim existence, introducing her to a new life in a luxurious but ominous home owned by the enigmatic Mr Chester Merton.
As Flora struggles to harness her supernatural gift, “The Knowing” — an ability that allows her to communicate with the dead — she becomes entangled in a dangerous love triangle with Minnie and Chester. Her first public seance reveals the ghost of a murdered boy, setting off a chain of events that puts her life at risk. The novel is inspired by historical figures such as Maud Wagner, one of the first female tattoo artists, characters from PT Barnum’s circus and notorious New York Irish-American gangs like the Dead Rabbits.
Richly atmospheric and filled with suspense, The Knowing explores survival, love, betrayal and female empowerment in a male-dominated society. Hinds’ masterful storytelling weaves history with the paranormal, creating a haunting narrative that transports readers into a world of dark secrets and supernatural intrigue.
Self-immolation outside Trump Tower
Yr Dead by poet Sam Sax is a deeply introspective debut that explores the life of Ezra, a nonbinary queer Jewish individual, in the moments leading up to their self-immolation in New York. The novel’s structure unfolds through fragmented vignettes, giving readers glimpses into Ezra’s life, relationships and memories, from their childhood to the moments before their death.
The narrative does not follow a traditional linear progression but offers a poetic and emotional exploration of Ezra’s existence. It reflects on grief, loss, identity and the oppressive weight of societal and global crises such as systemic racism, the climate emergency and political turmoil. Ezra’s personal struggles, including the abandonment by their mother and the loss of their first love, Edwin, further compound their feelings of isolation and despair.
Sax skilfully intertwines personal pain with larger societal concerns, portraying Ezra’s final act as both a personal decision and a form of political protest. While the novel deals with heavy themes of death and despair, it also offers moments of levity through Ezra’s wry observations and sardonic humour. Yr Dead is a poignant, meditative and lyrically crafted narrative that tackles complex issues with empathy and emotional depth.
Dark academia meets forbidden love
Mrs S by K Patrick is a hypnotically atmospheric novel that explores desire, identity and the complexities of gender expression. Set in an elite, all-girls English boarding school, the story follows an unnamed butch protagonist who becomes the new matron at the school. She quickly finds herself drawn into a torrid affair with Mrs S, the wife of the headmaster.
K Patrick uses sparse, lyrical prose to delve into the protagonist’s internal world, her grappling with her butch identity, and the power dynamics that come with attraction and desire. The affair with Mrs S is laden with tension and restraint, creating a voyeuristic tone that permeates the narrative. The protagonist’s interactions with the students, the other staff members and Mrs S reveal much about how she sees herself in a world that often feels alien and unwelcoming.
Through subtle, sensory details, Patrick paints a picture of a woman who is constantly aware of her body, both in its awkwardness and in its power. The novel’s focus on bodies — how they are perceived, desired and controlled — reflects larger themes about the fluidity of gender and the boundaries we construct around identity.
With its raw emotion, charged silences and moments of quiet yearning, Mrs S is a sensual exploration of queer love and identity. Direct, bold and deeply resonant, it’s an inviting, compelling read.
When it’s time to quit Instagram
Trust and Safety, by Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman, is a sharp, satirical novel about modern relationships, social expectations and the pursuit of authenticity. The story centres on Rosie and Jordan, a millennial couple who flee New York City in search of a more idyllic, rural life in the Hudson Valley. Driven by Instagram-inspired fantasies, they purchase a fixer-upper, hoping to find the simplicity and fulfilment they feel is missing from their urban existence.
However, their dreams quickly unravel when Jordan loses his job, forcing them to rent out a dilapidated outbuilding on their property to a queer couple, Dylan and Lark. The new tenants embody the ideal lifestyle Rosie had envisioned — self-sufficiency, artisanal craftsmanship and a close-knit community — causing her to question her choices and become infatuated with Dylan.
As the couples’ lives intertwine, Trust and Safety explores themes of authenticity, entitlement and the social pressures of fitting into a curated, picture-perfect life. With incisive humour, the novel critiques the commodification of experiences and the often artificial pursuit of the “perfect” existence, while highlighting the challenges that arise when ideals meet reality — Instagram fantasies will almost never match up to their real-life counterparts. Clever, witty and deeply relevant, this novel is a biting social commentary and a reflection on the complexities of modern millennial love.
Sexiest romcom of the year
Experienced by Kate Young is a frank and empowering exploration of women’s lives as they age, challenging stereotypes around desire, love and self-fulfilment. The novel centres on Bette, a woman in her 40s who embarks on an awkward but heartfelt journey of self-discovery after her girlfriend, Mei, suggests they take a break. With Mei’s encouragement, Bette dives headfirst into the world of dating apps to explore her newfound single status and, hopefully, gain the dating experience she never had.
A romance is about the final payoff, and Young cleverly plays with this, twisting the traditional narrative into a heartfelt and humorous odyssey of first dates. Bette’s adventures in modern dating are filled with quirky, relatable moments that avoid clichés while still delivering an emotionally satisfying journey. Her encounters with a range of British lesbian baddies, including the standout character Ruth, a PhD student and seasoned casual dater, are equal parts funny and insightful.
Chapter titles counting down to the date when Bette and Mei are supposed to reunite add tension, mirroring the anxiety and anticipation of contemporary dating. Young’s warm, witty prose and the young millennial quirkiness of Bette’s interior world make Experienced a joy to read. It’s a charming and profound exploration of love in the 21st century, celebrating the complexities of relationships and the power of self-discovery. Whether you’re lonely or happily in love, Experienced is a must-read.
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