Pride Month is a time to celebrate love, diversity, and the vibrant stories within the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you're looking to immerse yourself in poignant memoirs, delve into compelling fiction, or enjoy evocative poetry, here’s our top picks to add to your bookshelf this June!
"Red, White & Royal Blue" by Casey McQuiston
What happens when America's First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales? Alex Claremont-Diaz is handsome, charismatic, and the perfect image of millennial-marketing gold for the White House ever since his mother became President. However, when a photo of Alex and Prince Henry involved in an altercation surfaces, it threatens U.S./British relations. To manage the fallout, their families devise a plan to stage a truce. But what starts as a fake friendship for the cameras soon develops into a deeper, secret romance that could jeopardize the presidential campaign and upend both nations.
"Sergius Seeks Bacchus" by Norman Erikson Pasaribu
A powerful collection of poetry that delves into the lives of queer individuals in Indonesia, "Sergius Seeks Bacchus" provides a poignant and intimate look at their experiences. Winner of the first prize in the 2015 Jakarta Arts Council Poetry Manuscript Competition and a finalist for the Khatulistiwa Literary Award for Poetry, this collection blends humor, melancholy, and resilience, offering a unique and deeply moving perspective on the queer experience in Indonesia.
"Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides
"Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides is an epic family saga that traces the genetic history and personal journey of Calliope Stephanides, who later becomes Cal. Spanning three generations, the novel explores the family's emigration from Greece to Detroit and the resulting complexities of their lives in America. At the heart of the story is Cal's intersex identity, which leads to a profound exploration of gender, identity, and self-discovery. Richly layered with historical and cultural insights, "Middlesex" is a compelling narrative about transformation, belonging, and the search for personal truth.
"Nick and Charlie" by Alice Oseman
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?
Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson have been inseparable for two years. Charlie knows Nick likes rugby, Formula 1, dogs, the Marvel universe, rain, and drawing on shoes—and he also likes Charlie. Nick and Charlie's relationship thrives on simple joys: watching films, texting from different rooms, cooking together, and just being in each other's presence.
But with Nick heading off to university and Charlie staying behind at Sixth Form, their perfect relationship faces a daunting test. As the days to their separation dwindle, both begin to wonder if their love can withstand the distance. Will their first love last forever, or are they just delaying the inevitable? "Nick and Charlie" is a heartfelt exploration of young love, the challenges of growing up, and the fear of saying goodbye.
"One Last Stop" by Casey McQuiston
Twenty-three-year-old August moves to New York City with a cynical outlook, convinced that magic and love stories are just fiction. However, her mundane life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Jane, a captivating girl on the subway who seems to defy time itself. As August falls for Jane, she discovers that Jane is not only charming and mysterious but also displaced in time from the 1970s. Determined to help Jane find her way back, August must confront her own past and beliefs, leading to a magical and heartwarming journey of love, self-discovery, and belief in the impossible.
