Does anybody have recommendations for some good lgbt books for adults? Not in a smutty kind of a way, but a lot of those YA books like love, Simon etc. never interested me even when I was a teenager. I’m a 23 year old lesbian living with my partner and I still find it hard to be fully accepting of myself, and worry what people think of us a lot. I want to expose myself to as much LGBT literature as I can as I think it will help me to work through it through a less self-centred lens. I adored the book Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe, so it can be books that are technically for teenagers, but really what I’m looking for is something with some substance and grit and realism. Not sickly-sweet and perfect. Thank you in advance
by Feeling-Public-6524
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Have you checked out “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid? It’s got that complexity you’re looking for without being preachy, and the main character’s journey with her sexuality feels really authentic and messy in the best way
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden surprised me with its intense scenes, if you can do historical fiction. It is also excellent writing.
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is a memoir by Jeanette Winterson
This is how you lose the time war by El Mohtar and Gladstone
Black water sister by Zen Cho
Personal fave is Priory of the Orange Tree (and accompanying prequels)
“Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo is a coming of age story about a Chinese-American girl in the 50s who realizes she’s a lesbian. It’s got themes of self-acceptance and discovery, but it’s also about the problems she faces in that era both because of her heritage and because of her sexuality.
It’s considered YA, but it’s still heart-wrenching and complex, in my opinion! I really enjoyed it when I read it.
Idlewilde byJames Frankie Thomas. The perks of being a wallflower.