27 Best LGBTQ Books
We analyzed 5+ expert sources, curated book lists, and recommendations from successful people to find the 27 best lgbtq books according to the internet — not just one person's opinion. Each book on this list was mentioned by at least two independent sources, and the ranking is based on how frequently each title appears across all sources studied. This consensus-based approach ensures you get recommendations backed by multiple experts, not a single reviewer's bias.
Goal: Find the best LGBTQ books according to the internet (not just one person's opinion).
Method:
- Search for "best lgbtq books" and study the top 5+ pages.
- Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
- Rank the results neatly here.
27 Best LGBTQ Books
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The Color Purple
Color Purple, Book 1
Also recommended by
4 people
Hillary Clinton recommended this bookHillary Clinton
"A brutally honest assessment of human nature at its best and worst." - Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton's recommendation of this book 
Emma Watson recommended this bookEmma Watson
"I've heard amazing things about this book from a person that I trust." - Emma Watson
Emma Watson's recommendation of this book 
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie recommended this bookChimamanda Ngozi Adichie
"I admired the fierce honesty in the single-mindedly feminist world-view of this book." - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's recommendation of this book 
Shonda Rhimes recommended this bookShonda Rhimes
"Brilliant." - Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes's recommendation of this book
Call Me by Your Name
A Novel
Also recommended by
3 people
Sam Altman recommended this bookSam Altman
This book was on Sam Altman's bookshelf.
Sam Altman's recommendation of this book 
Tavi Gevinson recommended this bookTavi Gevinson
"Makes you feel as lost in the characters as they are in each other." - Tavi Gevinson
Tavi Gevinson's recommendation of this book 
Jack Edwards recommended this bookJack Edwards
"Will fill [you] with love and then break [your] heart into tiny pieces." - Jack Edwards
Jack Edwards's recommendation of this book
The Great Believers
Also recommended by
1 person
Daniel Pink recommended this bookDaniel Pink
Most Recommended Books reached out to Daniel Pink directly.
Daniel Pink's recommendation of this book
Giovanni's Room
The Guncle
A Little Life
Also recommended by
4 people
Soman Chainani recommended this bookSoman Chainani
"The greatest work of fiction I’ve ever read, with the simplest theme: All of us come with baggage and wounds and pain; all of us." - Soman Chainani
Soman Chainani's recommendation of this book 
Andy Cohen recommended this bookAndy Cohen
"I LOVE this book!" - Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen's recommendation of this book 
Nate Berkus recommended this bookNate Berkus
"I will NEVER give away." - Nate Berkus
Nate Berkus's recommendation of this book - Jack Edwards recommended this book
Jack Edwards
"Probably the saddest piece of literature I have ever encountered." - Jack Edwards
Jack Edwards's recommendation of this book
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Also recommended by
4 people- Sam Altman recommended this book
Sam Altman
This book was on Sam Altman's bookshelf.
Sam Altman's recommendation of this book 
Jenn Im recommended this bookJenn Im
"I love this book." - Jenn Im
Jenn Im's recommendation of this book 
PewDiePie recommended this bookPewDiePie
"A meaningful story with horror elements to it." - PewDiePie
PewDiePie's recommendation of this book 
Zack D'Aleo recommended this bookZack D'Aleo
"Lo rileggerei ogni settimana, ma forse meglio di no. Questo è un libro che ha plasmato la mia anima." - Zac D'Aleo
Zack D'Aleo's recommendation of this book
Red, White & Royal Blue
A Novel
Also recommended by
2 people
Debra Akins recommended this bookDebra Akins
"" - Debra Akins
Debra Akins's recommendation of this book - Jack Edwards recommended this book
Jack Edwards
"A really heartwarming love story." - Jack Edwards
Jack Edwards's recommendation of this book
How We Fight for Our Lives
A Memoir
Also recommended by
1 person
Laurie Halse Anderson recommended this bookLaurie Halse Anderson
"[This] story gutted me, then filled me up again." - Laurie Halse Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson's recommendation of this book
Middlesex
A Novel
Also recommended by
1 person
Oprah Winfrey recommended this bookOprah Winfrey
"I promise it will grab you from the first sentence." - Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey's recommendation of this book
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Also recommended by
1 person- Emma Watson recommended this book
Emma Watson
On the "books read" section of Emma Watson's GoodReads profile.
Emma Watson's recommendation of this book
Shuggie Bain
A Novel
Also recommended by
1 person- Jack Edwards recommended this book
Jack Edwards
"About a child growing up with an alcoholic mother." - Jack Edwards
Jack Edwards's recommendation of this book
The Hours
A Novel
Also recommended by
1 person
Danielle Teller recommended this bookDanielle Teller
"I love [this book]." - Danielle Teller
Danielle Teller's recommendation of this book
Detransition, Baby
A Novel
Felix Ever After
Fun Home
A Family Tragicomic
Here Comes the Sun
A Novel
I Kissed Shara Wheeler
A Novel
I Wish You All the Best
Juliet Takes a Breath
Mrs. Everything
A Novel
One Last Stop
Rubyfruit Jungle
The Price of Salt
Under the Udala Trees
We Do What We Do in the Dark
A Novel
You Exist Too Much
A Novel
Sources
- 1
22 Best LGBTQ Novels of All Time 2023 - The Literary Lifestyle
julesbuono.com
- 2
The best LGBTQIA+ books: your essential reading list - Pan Macmillan
panmacmillan.com
- 3
1052854kaylen Ralphbest Lgbtq Books
parade.com
- 4
Popculturebest Lgbtq Books T256271
today.com
- 5
40 Best LGBTQ Books You Should Read This Month 2023
goodhousekeeping.com
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.
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