Most Recommended Books

Track reading, wishlists & new-book alerts

Get
Skip to content
Share:

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:

  1. Search for "best lgbtq books" and study the top 5+ pages.
  2. Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
  3. Rank the results neatly here.

27 Best LGBTQ Books

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you).

1

The Color Purple

by Alice Walker
2

Call Me by Your Name

A Novel

by André Aciman

Also recommended by:

Sam Altman, Tavi Gevinson, Jack Edwards

3

Giovanni's Room

by James Baldwin
4

The Great Believers

by Rebecca Makkai
5

The Guncle

by Steven Rowley
6

A Little Life

by Hanya Yanagihara
7

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

Also recommended by:

Sam Altman, Jenn Im, PewDiePie, Zack D'Aleo

8

Red, White & Royal Blue

A Novel

by Casey McQuiston

Also recommended by:

Debra Akins, Jack Edwards

9

Middlesex

A Novel

by Jeffrey Eugenides

Also recommended by:

Oprah Winfrey

10

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

by Jeanette Winterson

Also recommended by:

Emma Watson

11

Shuggie Bain

A Novel

by Douglas Stuart

Also recommended by:

Jack Edwards

12

The Hours

A Novel

by Michael Cunningham

Also recommended by:

Danielle Teller

13

Detransition, Baby

A Novel

by Torrey Peters
14

Felix Ever After

by Kacen Callender
15

Fun Home

A Family Tragicomic

by Alison Bechdel
16

Here Comes the Sun

A Novel

by Nicole Dennis-Benn
17

How We Fight for Our Lives

A Memoir

by Saeed Jones
18

I Kissed Shara Wheeler

A Novel

by Casey McQuiston
19

I Wish You All the Best

by Mason Deaver
20

Juliet Takes a Breath

by Gabby Rivera
21

Mrs. Everything

by Jennifer Weiner
22

One Last Stop

by Casey McQuiston
23

Rubyfruit Jungle

A Novel

by Rita Mae Brown
24

The Price of Salt

by Patricia Highsmith
25

Under the Udala Trees

by Chinelo Okparanta
26

We Do What We Do in the Dark

A Novel

by Michelle Hart
27

You Exist Too Much

A Novel

by Zaina Arafat

Sources

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

Comments

Did we miss something? Have feedback?

Help us improve this page by sharing your thoughts

We only use your email to notify you about replies.

All comments are moderated.

Discover and track your reading on the go

Track your reading, manage wishlists, and get notified when new books are added.

27 Best LGBTQ Books (2026)