Pride Month Book Picks

You Weren’t Meant to be Human by Andrew Joseph White

In Appalachia, parasitic hives trade salvation for loyalty and corpses. Crane finds acceptance, transition, and Levi: a handsome ex-Marine and brutal killer who treats him like a real man, mostly. But when Levi gets him pregnant and the hive demands the child’s birth at any cost, Crane’s desperation to make it stop will drive the community that saved him into a devastating spiral that can only end in blood.

Bec says: "You Weren’t Meant To Be Human is a story of trans rage and revenge, and is especially important in our current political climate. Crane’s tale of finding himself after being pushed to conform (albeit in a cult controlled by worms) and protecting what’s his is a must read."

Our edition of You Weren’t Meant to be Human featured in our Evernight subscription in October 2025 and is available for purchase here.

The Bone Season (series) by Samantha Shannon

Set in an alternate 2059, The Bone Season series follows Paige Mahoney, a "dreamwalker" clairvoyant living in a society where psychic powers are illegal. A blend of dark fantasy and dystopia, Samantha Shannon's seven-book series weaves together criminal syndicates, interdimensional alien conquerors, and high-stakes political rebellion.

Imi says: "Samantha Shannon's queernormative worlds mean a lot to me. The Bone Season imagines an oppressive dystopia where misogyny and homophobia have been erased by the oppressors. Throughout the series, Paige embraces her demisexuality through her relationship with the pansexual Arcturus, while a wider cast of queer characters enriches the story."

Our Illumicrate Exclusive set of the first three books in the series (The Bone Season, The Mime Order, The Song Rising) is available for purchase here.

The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso

Renowned investigator Kembral Thorne is determined to enjoy herself at the year-turning ball despite the presence of her nemesis, notorious cat burglar Rika Nonesuch. But when the guests start dropping dead, Kem has no choice but to get to work. As a mysterious clock sends the ballroom into strange and increasingly dangerous layers of reality, Kem must rely on her wits - and Rika - to unravel the mystery before catastrophe is unleashed on their world.

Rowan says: "I love so many things about The Last Hour Between Worlds: the plot-driven chaos as the main character gets stuck in a reality-bending time loop at a party, and the sapphic rivals love story playing out between each new dangerous layer of reality. Perfect for fans of older protagonists, weird magic, mysteries, murder, and sapphic yearning."

Our edition of The Last Hour Between Worlds featured in our Illumicrate subscription in November 2024 and is available for purchase here.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

Theo and Kit have been best friends, crushes, lovers and estranged exes. When they discover they've both booked the same dream European food and wine tour, they're stuck together for three weeks through France, Spain, and Italy. To prove they're over each other, they turn the trip into a European hookup competition - but sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can't have.

Kat says: "This book challenges the boundaries of gender, sex, and sexuality with a pair of lead characters who had to fall apart in order to come back together. It perfectly captures the messiness of best friends turned lovers turned exes turned… something else? All set against the backdrop of a food, wine and sex drenched tour of Europe."

Our edition of The Pairing featured in our Afterlight subscription in August 2024 and is available for purchase here.

The Build-a-Boyfriend Project by Mason Deaver

Eli Francis is stuck: in an assistant position at the online magazine Vent and working alongside the ex who has had no trouble moving on. After a disastrous blind date with the awkward but handsome Peter Park, Eli agrees to a series of simulated dates while secretly interviewing Peter for the article he hopes will finally earn him a promotion. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to tell what's real and what's fake.

Romie says: "This book is the definition of trans and queer joy, of being loved for exactly who you are; not despite but because of."

Our edition of The Build-a-Boyfriend Project featured in our Afterlight subscription in August 2025 and is available for purchase here.

The Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino

Grey Flynn has dedicated her life to her mage, Kier, serving as his blade, healer, protector, and source of power. When a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom draws them into the heart of a war, they must decide what they are willing to sacrifice to protect their secret: Grey is heir to the lost island of Locke, the root of all power. If she dies, all magic dies with her.

Caitlin says: "The Second Death of Locke had me by the throat from the very first chapter. Deliver me impeccable writing, a compelling plot and a friends to lovers queer romance subplot full of pining and I’m yours."

Our edition of The Second Death of Locke featured in our Illumicrate subscription in September 2025 and is available for purchase here.

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. On a voyage to the sacred Goddess's Mountain, the heirs of the twelve provinces - each blessed with a secret magical ability, except class clown Ganymedes Piscero - find themselves trapped with a killer. As the body count rises, Ganymedes must unmask the murderer before they reach shore.

Emily says: "I love Voyage of the Damned because it features a range of LGBTQIA+ characters set in a queer normative world with no need for trauma or secrets in relation to their queer identities. The main character is also hilarious and made it really hard to put the book down!"

Our edition of Voyage of the Damned featured in our Illumicrate subscription in January 2024 and is available for purchase here.

Written in the Stars (series) by Alexandria Bellefleur

These three interconnected standalones are warm, witty, spicy contemporary queer rom-coms set around an intertwined friend group - three love stories that each explore falling (or re-falling) for someone in ways that feel very rom-com fun, but with real emotional stakes.

Yas says: "Written in the Stars is an own voices queer rom-com that combines a wholesome opposites-attract sapphic relationship with astrology in the most delightful way. The characters are just so endearing and well-developed and the romance is incredibly well written, with the chemistry between them sparking off the page! Truly a delight of a read."

Our Afterlight Exclusive set of all three books (Written in the Stars, Hang the Moon, Count Your Lucky Stars) is available for purchase here.

YA novels by Andrew Joseph White

Three stories of trans teens fighting for survival and self-determination. In The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, a violet-eyed boy in 1883 London resists becoming a “Speaker wife” under state control. In Hell Followed With Us, a trans boy on the run from a cult finds refuge with LGBTQ+ teens. In Compound Fracture, a trans autistic teen survives an attempted murder and resists a town’s cycle of violence and control.

Tiffany says: "If there's one thing Andrew Joseph White is going to do in his books, it's make you squirm and be super queer while doing it. His writing is so vivid, you can feel all the gore, pain and love he pours into his stories."

Our Evernight Exclusive set featuring three of Andrew Joseph White’s YA novels (The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, Hell Followed with Us, Compound Fracture) is available for purchase here.

The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri

In a Britain fuelled by stories, the knight and the witch are fated to fall in love and doom each other over and over across hundreds of lifetimes. Simran is a witch of the woods. Vina is a knight of the Queen’s court. When they begin to fall for each other, they must resist a fate that says love means destruction. As they seek to break the cycle, a mysterious assassin begins targeting stories like theirs - and they must write a tale stronger than fate.

Layla says: "The Isle in the Silver Sea is genuinely the Peak Sapphic Yearning Experience. What could be better than a knight and a witch, destined to kill each other in every timeline yet desperately in love and seeking to stop the curse so they can be together? It's a beautifully written tale and one that everyone should read."

Our edition of The Isle in the Silver Sea featured in our Illumicrate subscription in October 2025 and is available for purchase here.