Are you looking for a few fantastic LGBTQ+ books to add to your reading list?? This month, I wanted to feature a few authors who identify as LGBTQ+ and have written amazing books for a young adult audience (YA) over the last several years.

You may see a few familiar titles on this list (I couldn't help it. Some of these books are just SO GOOD!) but I hope you'll also find something new!!

1. Casey McQuiston

"Casey McQuiston is a New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies and a pie enthusiast. They write stories about smart people with bad manners falling in love. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, they now live in New York City with their poodle mix/personal assistant, Pepper." Oh my gosh. I have a poodle mix too! AND Casey actually graduated from Louisiana State University and is from Baton Rouge, so I love being able to support a fellow Louisianian!

Casey's book One Last Stop is my Karli Sherman Productions September Book of the Month!! I have also featured Red, White, & Royal Blue on a few of my recommended reading lists because I just love it! I'm SO excited to see the movie adaption of Red, White, & Royal Blue. It's currently in production (as of September 2022) and doesn't have a release date yet. But it's in the works and I can't wait!!

Books by Casey McQuiston:

One Last Stop

Red, White, & Royal Blue

I Kissed Shara Wheeler

2. Alice Oseman

"Alice Oseman is an award-winning author, illustrator, and screenwriter, and was born in 1994 in Kent, England. She has written four YA contemporary novels about teenage disasters: Solitaire, Radio Silence, I Was Born for This, and Loveless. She is the creator of LGBTQ+ YA romance webcomic Heartstopper, which is now published in physical form by Hachette Children’s Group, and she is the writer, creator, and executive producer for the television adaptation of Heartstopper, which is set to be released on Netflix.

Alice’s first novel Solitaire was published when she was nineteen. Her YA novels have been nominated for the YA Book Prize, the Inky Awards, the Carnegie Medal, and the Goodreads Choice Awards."

Books by Alice Oseman:

Heartstopper

I Was Born for This

Solitaire

Radio Silence

Loveless

3. TJ Klune

"TJ Klune is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories."

I featured The House in the Cerulean Sea as my March 2022 Book of the Month! I've seen The House in the Cerulean Sea described as "being wrapped in a big gay blanket" and they are NOT wrong. This book is such a comfort read and TJ Klune does an excellent job of creating diverse characters with rich stories you can't help but love.

Books by TJ Klune:

The House in the Cerulean Sea

The Extraordinaries

Under the Whispering Door

In the Lives of Puppets (Coming April 2023!)

4. Becky Albertalli

"Becky Albertalli is the number one New York Times bestselling author of William C. Morris Award winner and National Book Award longlist title Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (now a major motion picture, Love, Simon); The Upside of Unrequited; Leah on the Offbeat; the Simonverse novella Love, Creekwood; What If It’s Us (cowritten with Adam Silvera); Yes No Maybe So (cowritten with Aisha Saeed); and most recently, Kate in Waiting. Becky lives with her family in Atlanta."

Books by Becky Albertalli:

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

The Upside of Unrequited

Leah on the Offbeat

What If It's Us

Here's to Us

Yes No Maybe So

Kate in Waiting

5. Adam Silvera

"Adam Silvera is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Infinity Reaper, Infinity Son, They Both Die at the End, More Happy Than Not, History Is All You Left Me, and—with Becky Albertalli—What If It's Us and Here’s to Us. All his novels have received multiple starred reviews. He worked in the publishing industry as a children's bookseller, community manager at a content development company, and book reviewer of children's and young adult novels. He was born and raised in New York. He lives in Los Angeles and is tall for no reason."

Adam Silvera and Becky Albetalli (author #4 in this list) have actually partnered to co-write two books, one of which was a New York Times Bestseller!

Books by Adam Silvera:

More Happy Than Not

They Both Die at the End

The First to Die at the End

History is All You Left Me

What If It's Us

Here's to Us

There are SO many excellent LGBTQ+ authors it was hard to narrow it down to just five!! But I hope you found something new to read from this list!

If you're looking for more reading recommendations, be sure to check out this section on my blog! I've recommended TONS of great titles, so if YA isn't your thing, don't worry. You'll definitely find something good to read on one of my other lists!!

Stay excellent (and happy reading!)

P.S. Did you know that you can grab resources like my Reading Reflection Worksheet AND a checklist of all of my 2020 and 2021 recommended books all in one place?? Head over to this link to get access!