It’s almost time for Pride, and I’m here to tell you about some of the many, many LGBTQIA+ books coming out in June 2022! From anthologies to romcoms to graphic novels – there’s something for every reader to celebrate. Read on!
June 7
Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler
After the tragic death of their quarterback, no one wants to see him get replaced by newcomer Jack Walsh. When it turns out Jack is actually a girl, things get even worse. The cheerleaders are determined to take her down, with cheer-captain hopeful Amber leading the charge. But as the two girls get to know each other, it’s clear there’s something more than rivalry between them. Dahlia Adler‘s newest book adds to a long list of great Pride reads.
Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane
Achilles has fled her home, vowing to die rather than fight as a man. When Odysseus arrives at her haven to recruit her, the goddess Athena intervenes. She transforms Achilles’ body into the woman she always longed to be. Athena promised her glory, power, victory and a child born of her own body. In return, Achilles sets out to battle with a vengeance and bring her divine mother honor. Maya Deane‘s debut is well-researched while completely transforming a familiar story.
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Nuclear Family by Joseph Han
Mr. and Mrs. Cho think that all their dreams are coming true when Guy Fieri himself visits their restaurant, Cho’s Delicatessen, in Hawaii. Their children are on the right track too. Grace is almost done with her senior year of college, while her older brother Jacob is teaching English in Seoul. But everything comes crashing down when a video of Jacob trying to cross the Korean demilitarized zone goes viral. When the government detains Jacob, no one knows that he’s been possessed by the ghost of his lost grandfather, who only wishes to return to the family he left in the north. Full of both dry humor and heartfelt determination and set just before the 2018 false missile alert in Hawaii, Nuclear Family is an incredible debut.
So Happy for You by Celia Laskey
Best friends Robin and Ellie have been there for each other through breakups, tragedies and even coming out. But Robin is reluctant when Ellie asks her to be her maid of honor. Her loyalty wins out against her disdain for heteronormative and increasingly elaborate wedding rituals. As the wedding day approaches; however, Ellie’s demands grow increasingly unhinged. What starts with something as benign as carrying bouquets of sage and garlic to ward off evil quickly escalates to blood sacrifice. This dark satire on the wedding industry is perfect for both Pride and wedding season.
Out There: Into the Queer New World edited by Saundra Mitchell
This collection brings together 17 fantastic YA authors writing brand-new queer science fiction stories. Each one is incredibly different from the others, ranging from emotional to hilarious. From an alien helping a girl tell her crush how she feels to teens stuck in a time loop at a space station, there’s something for everyone in this fabulous anthology. If even this isn’t enough Pride stories for you, there are two other anthologies in this collection!
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
Trans sixteen-year-old Benji is on the run from the cult that unleashed the apocalypse and destroyed the world; they also raised him to become a deadly bioweapon. When a group of teens from the local LGBTQ+ center rescues him, Benji must learn to control the monster inside him and use it to defend his new friends.
June 14
This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron
If Briseis is going to save her mother’s life, she’ll need to do the impossible. She must find the missing piece of the deadly Absytrus Heart; to do so, she must learn about the secret magic her relatives possess and take her place in an ancient lineage she knows nothing about. But Briseis isn’t the only one seeking the Heart, and her journey may end in even more death and destruction. This Wicked Fate is a sequel, so make sure to read This Poison Heart first!
Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey
Proper ladies by day, Eustaquia “Kiki” de Sonza and Ana Lezama de Urinza spend their nights fighting, gambling and falling in love with each other. They know their secret lives can’t last, but they cling to their time on the crime-ridden streets of Potosí, Peru. On the night Kiki’s family announces her engagement, however, her brother and heir to their fortune is found dead. Kiki and Ana take it upon themselves to investigate his murder. Fun fact: author Melissa Grey drew her inspiration from stories of real-life seventeenth-century teenagers known as the Valiant Ladies of Potosí.
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Heckin’ Lewd edited by Mx. Nillin Lore
This collection of own voices trans and nonbinary erotica, features every kind of story you can imagine. From elvish sex shows to erotic pirate sword fights, Heckin’ Lewd celebrates sexual nonconformity, queerness, kink and pleasure.
The Wet Hex by Sun Yung Shin
Sun Yung Shin incorporates sources including Ovid’s Metamorphoses, traditional Korean burial rituals and her own immigration documents into her newest poetry collection. In doing so, she explores questions of identity, evolution and violence, conjuring up a new reality in sharp contrast with our own.
The Comedienne’s Guide to Pride by Hayli Thomson
Taylor Parker has two big secrets: she isn’t out yet, and she applied for a contest where the grand prize is an internship at SNL. Now that she’s a finalist, however, both secrets may come crashing down, especially because she checked the LGBTQ box on the application without thinking about it. If she’s going to win the internship, Taylor will have to come out whether she’s ready or not.
June 21
The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
Sylah dreams of her past: the days she knew she would spark a revolution, the days before her parents were murdered in front of her. Anoor’s mother may be the most powerful ruler in the empire, but she’s also disappointed in the daughter she deems a nobody. Hassa knows how to remain invisible to the upper classes, able to find out the secrets no one else can. When the three come together, rebellion begins, and absolutely no one is safe.
Epically Earnest by Molly Horan
Everyone knows Jane Grady as the #BagBaby, found as a one-year-old in a Gucci bag by her adoptive father. Now finishing her senior year of high school, her life is pretty good. She has her parents, her best friend Algie and a major crush on his beautiful cousin Gwen Fairfax. But when Algie pushes Jane to find her birth family, she must be honest with her family, her friends and herself if she’s going to figure out what she really wants out of life. This YA homage to Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is a fun, fast read that’s perfect for Pride.
The Loophole by Naz Kutub
Equal parts a love story and a retelling of mythology, The Loophole follows a queer Indian-Muslim boy named Syyed on a journey across the world. After his boyfriend dumps him, Syyed can only wish for a second chance at love…which is exactly what happens when he literally runs into a mysterious girl. Will Syyed use his wishes wisely, rebuild his life and find love once and for all?
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June 28
The Romance Recipe by Ruby Barrett
Restaurant-owner Amy Chambers thought hiring a celebrity chef would be just the thing to kickstart her failing business. But Sophie Brunet doesn’t want to be a reality star; she just wants to cook. And while both women have secret crushes on each other, an opportunity for a new reality show threatens the fragile friendship Amy and Sophie started. This book is bi-positive, sex-positive and a lot of fun. The Romance Recipe is a great celebration of Pride.
M Is for Monster by Talia Dutton
Frances swore she would bring her younger sister Maura back from the dead. But what awakens on the slab is definitely not Maura. Instead, “M” doesn’t remember anything about Maura’s life and just wants to find her own way. The more Frances tries to steer M into following Maura’s life plan, the more she resists. If the two new sisters are going to move on with their lives, they’ll have to figure out their identities for themselves. Talia Dutton’s debut graphic novel takes a look at what it means to live up to other people’s expectations as well as our own.
Godslayers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
This sequel to Gearbreakers picks up months after the Gearbreakers struck a devastating blow against Godolia. Now Eris is a prisoner, wishing she had died in the attack on the capital; Sona, the girl she loves, has been captured and brainwashed by their enemies. With the rebellion shattered and the odds stacked against them, will Eris and Sona find their way to freedom and back to each other?
These are just a few of the amazing new LGBTQIA+ books coming out this June! All are available for preorder now at your local, queer-owned bookstore or at Bookshop.org. What are you reading to celebrate Pride this year? Let us know below, and happy reading!
This article was originally published on 5/24/22.
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