Anticipated LGBTQ+ Book Releases(May 2021)
- Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee (Trans Bi MC // Gay LI // Cuban Non-Binary Ace SC // Cuban Lesbian SC)
People are calling Meet Cute Diary a Felix Ever After meets Becky Albertalli, where Noah, our Trans MC,
runs a blog called, you guessed it, The Meet Cute Diary, where he curates stories with happily-ever-after
trans love stories, which blows up all over the globe. We have fake dating, we have trans teen love,
and we have the wonderful lessons of life where our MC finds that unscripted love is the best type of love.
Seriously, I can’t wait to read this book. ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 4th, 2021~
- When You Get the Chance by Tom Ryan & Robin Stevenson (Gay MC // Sapphic MC // Pan Non-Binary LI)
Cousins on a road trip to Pride? Sign me up. Honestly, I’m the only LGBTQ+ member in my family, so I’m
jealous of Mark and Talia, our MCs, but maybe this will fill that hole in my heart (or make me yearn to
experience what they will in this book). ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 4th, 2021~ - All Kinds of Other by James Sie (Trans Gay MC // Gay MC)
Here we have a coming-of-age, love story between two boys (one cis and one trans) where Jules is
still figuring out what it means to be gay and Jack is reeling from a fall-out with his best friend and
isn’t ready for everyone to know about it. Then a video linking Jack to a pair of popular trans
vloggers is leaked to the school, the revelations thrust both boys into the spotlight they’d tried
to avoid. They must decide whether to stay under the radar, or claim their space in the
world — together. ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 4th, 2021~ - Indivisible by Daniel Aleman (Mexican-American mlm MC)
A novel about a teen’s efforts to keep his family together as his parents face deportation.
I already know this book is going to ruin me, but I’m really looking forward to reading this regardless.
Mateo and his sister Sophia have been conditioned into fearing deportation their entire lives, and
when Mateo returns from school one day to find his parents have been picked up by ICE, his deepest
fears manifest to reality. He struggles to find out who he is and what he’s capable of while fearlessly
protecting his parents and little sister. ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 4th, 2021~ - Any Place But Here by Sarah Van Name (F/F relationship)
A contemporary coming of age story set at a picturesque Virginia boarding school.
An all-too familiar story about being in love with your best friend, except June is ripped away from
Jess and sent off to a boarding school, where she befriends other girls and meets a boy named
Sam. I’m getting bisexual MC vibes from this summary, but can’t be 100% sure. Totally a letting-go-
of-your-old-life-to-make-room-for-a-new vibes, which is always filled with enough heartbreaking
lessons to go around. I can’t wait. ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 4th, 2021~
- Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler (Russian Jewish Bisexual MC)
Honestly, you’ve got to love bisexual panic, which is exactly what Lara experiences when the girl she spent
a wonder summer with shows up at her school as she’s on Chase’s arm (essentially, her dream man). An
enrapturing story about self-discovery and what we need versus what we want. Not to mention the lesson
of unconditional love and people who accept us for who we truly are. This book just screams with bi power.
Not to mention that book cover. I mean, c’mon! ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 11th, 2021~ - Stone Fruit by Lee Lai (Queer Aunts MCs)
Okay, I’m stupid hyped about this one. A graphic novel about queer aunties?! My gay heart. Bron and Ray,
on their play dates with their niece, Nessie, find their emotional intimacy eroding, which leads them to
attempt to mend their broken family ties with their sisters. This seems like a hugely anticipated novel
that will touch on vulnerability in honest conversation with family who may or may not understand queer
folks and how mending those broken ties can be emotionally draining, but strangely liberating. Now, take
my money! ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 11th, 2021~ - Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan (Lesbian MC // Bisexual LI)
In this YA contemporary queer romance from the author of Hot Dog Girl, an openly gay track star falls for
a closeted, bisexual teen beauty queen with a penchant for fixing up old cars. This features a budding ship
and the angst around one girl wanting to be out, and the other clinging desperately to the closet door.
Honestly, need I say more? ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 18th, 2021~ - It Goes Like This by Miel Moreland (F/F Ship)
A story about a queer group of friends that have a band?! Truly, 2021 is for the gays. Eva, Celeste, Gina,
and Steph have been though a lot together, including the astronomical rise of Moonlight Overthrow, the
world-famous queer pop band they formed in middle school. A sudden falling out leads to the dissolution
of the teens’ band, their friendship, and Eva and Celeste’s starry-eyed romance, but a storm that wrecks
their town brings them back together for one last show. ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 18th, 2021~ - May the Best Man Win by ZR Ellor (Trans Gay MC // M/M Ship)
Jeremy Harkiss, cheer captain and student body president, won’t let coming out as a transgender boy
ruin his senior year. Instead of bowing to the bigots and outdated school administration, Jeremy decides
to make some noise―and how better than by challenging his all-star ex-boyfriend, Lukas for the title of
Homecoming King? This book is gonna be filled with so much gay angst, I literally cannot wait for this one.
~RELEASE DATE: MAY 18th, 2021~
- In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland (Pan MC // Lesbian LIs // Ace Non-binary SC // M/F/F Polyamory)
A pansexual, bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living
and the dead, in this dark YA fantasy… Although the age rating is from 15-18 years old, I’m definitely getting
some more mature vibes outside YA. And although I don’t read a whole lot of fantasy, this is certainly
intriguing, to say the least. A worldwide rebellion involving the mortal world and the underworld? Sounds
like a truly thrilling ride. *buckles seat-belt* ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 18th, 2021~ - Fence: Disarmed (Book 2 of Fence Series) by Sarah Rees Brennan (M/M Ship)
The second installment of the Fence Series drops in mid-may, and although I haven’t read the first, I can
honestly say my interest in LGBTQ+ graphic novels is at an all-time high. The boys of Kings Row are off to
a training camp in Europe! Underdog Nicholas can’t help but feel out of place, but a local legend helps the
team find it within themselves to face superior fencers, ex-boyfriends, expulsion, and even Nicholas’s
golden-boy, secret half-brother, the infamous Jesse Coste. Will Aiden and Harvard end up together, though?
En garde! ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 18th, 2021~ - Off the Record by Camryn Garrett (Black Bisexual MC)
*T/W sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault*
From the author of Full Disclosure; The behind-the-scenes access of Almost Famous meets the searing
revelations of #metoo in this story of a teen journalist who uncovers the scandal of the decade. This book
was an instant add to my wish-list because I already know it’s going to infuriate and empower so many women
by shedding light on sexual abuse and the ramifications women face for speaking out against their abusers.
Our MC, Josie, is a seventeen-year-old journalist who finds herself brushing elbows with A-list celebrities when
this story falls into her lap. She feels the need to expose the man responsible, but fears it will end her journalism
career before it even has a chance to start. ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 18th, 2021~ - After Francesco by Brain Malloy (Gay MC)
*T/W Death, AIDS pandemic, suicide*
Return to New York City and Minneapolis in 1988, at the peak of the AIDS crisis. To be published on the
40th anniversary of the disease’s first reported cases, this story is both a tribute to a generation lost
to the pandemic as well as a powerful exploration of heartbreak, recovery, and how love can defy grief.
Two years after his partner, Francesco, died, twenty-eight-year-old Kevin Doyle is dusting off his one good
suit jacket for yet another funeral, yet another loss in their close-knit group. Some people might insist that
Francesco is in a better place now, but Kevin definitely isn’t. He spends his days in a mind-numbing job and
his evenings drunk in Francesco’s old apartment, surrounded by memories. Kevin struggles to keep going,
and one night, he stops trying. When Kevin awakens in a hospital, he knows it’s time to move back home to Minnesota and figure out how to start living again—without Francesco. ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 25th, 2021~ - How to Find a Princess (Book 2 of Runaway Royals Series) by Alyssa Cole (Black Sapphic MCs)
New York Times and USA Today bestseller Alyssa Cole’s second Runaway Royals novel is a queer Anastasia retelling, featuring a long-lost princess who finds love with the female investigator tasked with tracking her
down. I already know this book is gonna be steamy as f**k just based on the cover. I mean, a sapphic
princess and PI?! *swoons* I guess this means I need to invest in the first book before this one drops.
~RELEASE DATE: MAY 25th, 2021~
- The Guncle by Steven Rowley (Gay MC)
Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick, has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves
spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for week-long visits, or when he heads
home to Connecticut for the holidays. But when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother
and Patrick’s brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of
primary guardian, leaving him completely overwhelmed. This seems like such a bitter-sweet read about
family and how queer people might approach parenthood differently than straight people. Also, the cover
is absolutely adorable. ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 25th, 2021~ - How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby
I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to include this book on my list because it doesn’t really showcase much
LGBTQ+ MC/SC stuff because, well, it’s a children’s/adolescent book. The reason I did include it is
because it talks about how social acceptance plays an important roll in mental health with our pre-teens.
I think this book is going to start much-needed discussions about mental illness in pre-teens and how
gender and social expectations mold and shape their minds into adulthood. ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 25th, 2021~ - Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth (Lesbian MC)
Ciara Smyth is on a roll. Not even a year after publishing The Falling In Love Montage, her second book is
set to hit shelves late May of this year. Aideen, our MC, has plenty of problems she can’t solve. But when she
stumbles upon overachiever Meabh Kowalska having a meltdown, she sees one that she can actually fix.
Meabh is desperate to escape her crushing pile of extracurriculars, so Aideen volunteers to help—by
pushing her down the stairs. Meabh’s sprained ankle is the perfect excuse to ditch her overwhelming
schedule, but as classmates learn about their scheme, they start asking for Aideen’s “help”—kicking off
a semester of traded favors, hijinks, and an unexpected chance at love. Yes, I am laughing as well. This
book sounds like a trip. *pun intended* ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 25th, 2021~ - Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar (Bangladeshi-Bengali Muslim Bi MC)
Author of The Henna Wars, Jaigirdar is set to release another highly anticipated book featuring a Bi MC
and sapphic love interest. Humaira “Hani” Khan is easy going and one of the most popular girls at school.
But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity, saying she can’t be bi if
she’s only dated guys. More bi-panic occurs and Hani blurts out that she’s in a relationship…with a girl
her friends absolutely hate—Ishita “Ishu” Dey. Ishu is the complete opposite of Hani. She’s an overachiever
who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. Ishita agrees to help Hani,
if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl.
~RELEASE DATE: MAY 25th, 2021~ - Coming Home (Book 2 of Cherrington Series) by Rebecca J. Caffery (Gay MC // Pan MC)
This year, Logan’s in charge. Of the dormitory, of his future, and over his unresolved feelings towards
Isaac. He holds the cards to stop his final year of high school going the way eleventh grade did. He has
no desire for it to suck. Meanwhile, Isaac’s trying to get to grips with a new university, new friends, and his sexuality. All he wants is to succeed, make his parents proud, and fix all of the problems he caused last
year. Not exactly light work. But, when a homophobic sports team, Noah’s brother, all the heartbreak of
eleventh grade, and four-hundred miles stands in both of their ways, will either of them achieve what
they want this time round? ~RELEASE DATE: MAY 25th, 2021~