Category Archives: Queer Lit

Safe Place by Jay Northcote

Where do you go when your home is no longer a safe place? Alex is about to turn eighteen and is firmly in the closet. He’s been biding his time, waiting to escape to uni, and finally come out away from the oppressive influence of his homophobic father. When he flunks his exams, he’s stuck in the small town of Porthladock—and what’s worse is that he’s working for his dad. The only thing that makes it bearable is Cam. Cam’s comfortable with his bisexuality, but he doesn’t broadcast it. Young, free, and single, his social life revolves… Read more

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Homophobia
  • Transphobia & deadnaming
  • Adult-minor relationship & dubious consent scenario (‘dubcon’)*
  • Alcohol consumption

Context : Relationship between a 17-year-old, who turns 18 during of the book, and a 23-year-old.

A Safe Girl to Love: Stories by Casey Plett

Eleven unique short stories that stretch from a rural Canadian Mennonite town to a hipster gay bar in Brooklyn, featuring young trans women stumbling through loss, sex, harassment, and love. These stories, shiny with whiskey and prairie sunsets, rattling subways and neglected cats, show growing up as a trans girl can be charming, funny, frustrating, or sad, but never will it be predictable.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Homophobia & transphobia
  • Sexual assault
  • Depression
  • Attempted suicide recounted & self-harm
  • Alcohol consumption, drug use & smoking

The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco

Pristine beaches, lush greenery, and perfect weather, the island of Kisapmata would be the vacation destination…if not for the curse. The Philippine locals speak of it in hushed voices and refuse to step foot on the island. They know the lives it has claimed. They won’t be next. A Hollywood film crew won’t be dissuaded. Legend claims a Dreamer god sleeps, waiting to grant unimaginable powers in exchange for eight sacrifices. The producers are determined to document the evidence. And they convince Alon, a local teen, to be their guide. Within minutes of… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Domestic violence mentioned
  • Alcoholism & alcohol abuse
  • Death of a parent recounted
  • Murder
  • Gun violence
  • Plane crash mentioned
  • Colonialization & gentrification
  • Animal death mentioned (dog)
  • Animal hunting mentioned

Bad With Love by Sophie O’Dare

Warren Heardst has never been lucky. He spent his entire life in competition with his high school nemesis, Roman Markham, who has always been better in school, better in sports, and better in love. Working hard, Warren builds a life outside of his overbearing family, but he can’t seem to escape Roman. The other man is always there, pushing Warren to prove he can be successful. But on the cusp of realizing his goal, a family emergency rears up to ruin everything. Suddenly, his dream is being ripped away. With a… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Attempted sexual assault
  • Child neglect

Bad At Love by Gabriela Martins

Ever since Daniel moved to L.A. from Brazil to join the band Mischief & Mayhem, he’s become the tabloids’ bad boy. Paparazzi follow him and girls swoon over him . . . except for Sasha, who hates bad boys. When a chance encounter brings them together, Sasha sees an opportunity to get close to Daniel and write a story that will make a name for herself at the celebrity gossip magazine where she interns. But Daniel is surprisingly sweet and extremely cute—could she be falling for him? The truth is: Daniel is hiding something. When Sasha discovers his secret, will she follow her… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Ableism
  • Parental infidelity mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption & drug use mentioned
  • Heart attack mentioned

Backwards to Oregon by Jae

“Luke” Hamilton has always been sure that she’d never marry. She accepted that she would spend her life alone when she chose to live her life disguised as a man.
After working in a brothel for three years, Nora Macauley has lost all illusions about love. She no longer hopes for a man who will sweep her off her feet and take her away to begin a new, respectable life. But now they find themselves married and on the way to Oregon in a covered wagon, with two thousand miles ahead of them.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Rape & attempted rape
  • Sexual harassment
  • Domestic abuse
  • Miscarriage
  • Drowning

The Backstagers, Vol. 2: The Show Must Go On by James Tynion IV & Rian Sygh

Jory and the rest of the Backstagers have one goal this semester: to put on the best show their town’s ever seen. But best laid plans aren’t easy to achieve when there’s an entire magical world that lives beyond the curtain! When one of the actors suddenly goes missing, the Backstagers must band together to save their comrade and maintain the natural balance of . . . theater.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Ableist language
  • Disappearance of a friend

The Backstagers, Vol. 1: Rebels Without Applause by James Tynion IV, Rian Sygh & Walter Baiamonte

When Jory transfers to an all-boys private high school, he’s taken in by the only ones who don’t treat him like a new kid, the lowly stage crew known as the Backstagers. Not only does he gain great, lifetime friends, Jory is also introduced to an entire magical world that lives beyond the curtain. With the unpredictable twists and turns of the underground world, the Backstagers venture into the unknown, determined to put together the best play their high school has ever seen.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Ableist language
  • Bullying
  • Disappearance of a friend

Backhanded Compliments by Katie Chandler

Juliette Ricci dreams of only one being the best women’s tennis player in the world. She’s worked nonstop with her strict father/coach to prepare for her big chance in the Australian Open. Unfortunately, she’ll be playing Lucky Luca Kacic, an aloof player whose unorthodox style and reigning popularity deeply irritate Juliette. For months they’ve traded sly insults in their press conferences leading up to their showdown on the court, and their first ever match is the most anticipated of the season. But Juliette refuses to let her nerves—or Luca’s annoyingly perfect abs—get the… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Anxiety & panic attacks
  • Death of a parent mentioned
  • Sports injury

Baby & Solo by Lisabeth Posthuma

Seventeen-year-old Joel Teague has a new prescription from his therapist—a part-time job—the first step toward the elusive Normal life he’s been so desperate to live ever since The Bad Thing happened. Lucky for Joel, ROYO Video is hiring. It’s the perfect fresh start—Joel even gets a new name. Dubbed “Solo” after his favorite Star Wars character, Joel works his way up the not-so-corporate ladder without anyone suspecting What Was Wrong With Him. That is, until he befriends Nicole “Baby” Palmer, a smart-mouthed coworker with a chip on her shoulder about . . . well, everything… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Infidelity mentioned
  • Pregnancy & unplanned pregnancy
  • Abortion
  • Suicide & attempted suicide
  • Alcohol consumption & mentions of smoking
  • Psychiatric hospitalisation