We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re still thinking about Evelyn Hugo or rooting for Nick and Charlie, here’s a lineup of books that bring similar feels—with fresh voices, big emotions, and LGBTQ+ stories that stick with you.
If you loved “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Then try “The Memories of Marlie Rose” by Morgan Lee Miller
Marlie Rose has been a Broadway diva for decades, but being a star has cost her dearly. When she’s offered a procedure that would erase the painful memories of past heartbreaks and traumas, she jumps at the chance. However, when Eleanor Olson—the woman Marlie has loved for over 40 years—resurfaces, Marlie begins to regret her decision to erase those precious memories as their love is rekindled.
If you loved “Red, White and Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston
Then try “The Unlikely Heir” by Jax Calder
Thrust into the spotlight as the new heir to the British throne, Prince Callum is uprooted from his laid-back life in California. Royal life isn’t the fairy tale he imagined—until an unlikely friendship with Prime Minister Oliver Hartwell reveals a kindred spirit.
If you loved “Call Me By Your Name” by André Aciman
Then try “Isaac’s Song” by Daniel Black
Like Elio Perlman, young queer man Isaac finds himself at a crossroads. After a difficult upbringing in Missouri, he moves to Chicago in the late ’80s to explore his authentic self and his art. But as the AIDS crisis and the attack on Rodney King fundamentally alter his path, Isaac begins writing down his life story—and is forced to reckon with his past and what the future may hold.
If you loved “The Fingersmith” by Sarah Waters
Then try “The Best Bad Things” by Katrina Carrasco
“The Best Bad Things” trades the gritty streets of Victorian era London, for the rough edges of 1880s United States–specifically the Washington Territory. Alma Rosales, trained by the infamous Pinkerton Detective Agency and fired for going undercover as a man, is now chasing a stolen stash of opium for a West Coast smuggling ring. Once again donning her male alter ego, she dives into a world of double crosses and danger in this twisty, gender-bending tale.
If you loved “Delilah Green Doesn’t Care” by Ashley Herring Blake
Then try “Honey Girl” by Morgan Rogers
Much like the titular Delilah, Grace Porter is on a journey of self discovery. After earning her PhD in astronomy, Grace celebrates in Vegas—only to wake up married to a woman she doesn’t know. As she escapes to New York to figure things out, Grace is forced to confront burnout, family expectations, and the unexpected love that might help her rediscover herself.
If you loved “Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story” by Jacob Tobia
Then try “Black, Fat, Femme: Revealing the Power of Visibly Queer Voices in Media and Learning to Love Yourself” by Dr. Jonathan P. Higgins
In “Black. Fat. Femme.” Dr. Jonathan P. Higgins—aka Doctor Jon Paul—shares a powerful, personal reflection on identity, media, and what it means to live at the intersection of Black, fat, and femme. Through honest, personal storytelling and cultural insight, they highlight the importance of real representation, uplift the trailblazers who’ve made space for authenticity, and call out the ways Black Fat Femme voices are often left out of the broader LGBTQ+ narrative.
If you loved “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson
Then try “American Teenager” by Nico Lang
Journalist Nico Lang traveled the country speaking to transgender teens and their families. The result of this year of interviews and building relationships is a book that offers a deeply human and personal look at what it really means to grow up trans in today’s America. While the teens face their share of challenges, there is also joy, kinship and hope to be found along the way.
If you loved “Heartstopper” by Alice Osman
Then try “Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me” by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
Much like Nick and Charlie of “Heartstopper” fame, high schooler Frederica “Freddy” Riley is navigating life as a queer teen in love. Her girlfriend, Laura Dean, is popular and charming—but there’s one big problem: she keeps breaking up with Freddy. With help from her friends and a mysterious psychic, Freddy learns more than she expected about herself and why she just can’t quit Laura Dean.
If you loved “The Price of Salt” by Patricia Highsmith
Then try “Passing Strange” by Ellen Klages
“The Price of Salt,” also known as “Carol,” is a beloved tale of lesbian love in the 1940s with a rare hopeful ending for books of its time. Like Highsmith’s novel, Ellen Klages explores queer love in the ’40s too—this time in San Francisco, with a dash of magic. Six women’s lives collide as they navigate hidden cities and forbidden love in this fantastical tale.
Link to original story by Dana Piccoli for News is Out
