Happy Pride! To celebrate, check out these titles written by and about LBGTQ+ folks.

Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

This collection of short stories has a fever dream like quality. All of the stories are delightful, twisted, and fantastically queer, effortlessly slipping between science fiction, horror, and magical realism while grappling with the very real violence that often happens to women. Machado is a master storyteller, and I think about this collection at least once a month. "The Husband Stitch" and "Real Women Have Bodies" are standouts for me, but every story is worth a read.

Greedy: Notes from a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much

This debut collection of essays from Jen Winston is life-changing. Winston recounts her life experiences growing up in Southern Indiana and learning to embrace her sexuality and gender. Her writing is casual and comedic (think Lindy West-esque), and the way she blends together theory, history, and personal experience is delightful. This is one of those books where I finish reading and immediately buy a copy for myself. 

The Black Flamingo

I just finished this stunning novel-in-verse, which follows the life of Michael, a young boy growing up in London. Michael is half-Jamaican and half-Cypriot Greek, and many of his verses revolve around his identity, sexuality, and place within society. The book follows Michael as he moves from childhood to adulthood, making friends and mistakes along the way. It's a lovely coming-of-age novel about finding yourself and finding your group, and Atta's free verse poetry is perfect.

Tell No Tales: Pirates of the Southern Seas

If you are like me, then you are looking for ways to fill the Our Flag Means Death void in your life. Well, look no further! This adventurous graphic novel follows Anne Bonny and her rag-tag crew of pirates on the high seas as they face off against Woodes Rogers, a man who has sworn to eliminate piracy. I will read anything that Sam Maggs writes and Kendra Wells really captures the action with her excellent illustrations.

The House in the Cerulean Sea

This was the best book I read last year and has made me a T.J. Klune fan for life. Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. But when he is sent on assignment to the Marsyas Island Orphanage to check on a group of dangerous children, Linus begins to realize that perhaps dangerous is a matter of perception. The story is sweet, full of heart, and an absolute joy to read. I cannot recommend this book enough.