YA LGBT Books discussion

I'm a cat-astrophe wrote: "Hello! Does anyVintage: A Ghost Storyone know of any good YA mysteries with LGBT+ characters (they could be the MC or an important side character)? Possibly even paranormal mystery?

I'd really appreciate the help! ^^"

It's hard to find second genre LGBT YA - we need more books that are mystery or historical or SciFi etc where the LGBTQ character just is who they are.

Vintage: A Ghost Story is a paranormal mystery of sorts with a gay MC
One Boy's Shadow
Gives Light series has a mystery component
Dreadnought - this is about superheroes and villains, so there is a bit of mystery-like action to the plot

I'm a cat-astrophe wrote: "Hello! Does anyone know of any good YA mysteries with LGBT+ characters (they could be the MC or an important side character)? Possibly even paranormal mystery?

I'd really appreciate the help! ^^"

Check out A Boy Worth Knowing

Thanks! I'm really excited to read these ^^

Hi, if anyone has any recommendations for forbidden m/m books.

Define forbidden?

For example, in 1800s or earlier

Or one married to a woman or another man

Keeping in mind this is a YA group, MCs old enough to be married aren't going to be something this particular group would focus on. You can try the main MM Romance group for that.

But for historicals with YA characters, we're reading The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue. It was pretty weak on the historical aspect but still an okay read.

I meant an affair and I have alreasy read a gentleman's guide to vice and virture

Fern wrote: "I meant an affair and I have alreasy read a gentleman's guide to vice and virture"

There's not a lot of YA historical, but The Celestial is set in the Gold Rush days (1870's), when gay relationships were definitely not acceptable. It's not heavily into the forbidden aspect though - more adventure with the romance.

We definitely need more YA historicals with gay male MCs.

Might want to check this list....

YA/MG Historical LGBT+ Guys

I LOVED Song of Achilles. And on the POC characters in romance thread, I'm dittoing the recommendation for Pukawiss the Outcast!

I’d like to read a book with an aromantic character, not even strictly the main character, just an aromantic character.

Hm - I know a couple in adult fic, but not in YA. I mean, there are plenty of YA where the MC has no romance interest, but not that expressly name them as aromantic. I'll be interested if anyone can rec one.

One of the short stories in 21 Proms featured a character that I would describe as aromantic. She had no interest in romance or dating or sex.

I'm looking for a paranormal fxf or mxm book. Preferably with little or no sex in it

♚ Eммαlee ♚ wrote: "I'm looking for a paranormal fxf or mxm book. Preferably with little or no sex in it"

Also any books about transgenders would be good as well!

♚ Eммαlee ♚ wrote: "I'm looking for a paranormal fxf or mxm book. Preferably with little or no sex in it"

Witch Eyes is m/m paranormal, no sex that I can recall.

♚ Eммαlee ♚ wrote: "I'm looking for a paranormal fxf or mxm book. Preferably with little or no sex in it"

Vintage: A Ghost Story
Carry On (magic and vampires)
Dreadnought (F/F, trans, superhero)
When the Moon Was Ours (trans, magic realism)

(BTW - we'd suggest that it's considered more polite to say "transgender people" or "trans characters", "transgender boys", "trans girls" - not "transgenders" - transgender is used as an adjective, not a noun. Just as an FYI. )

There are more good fantasy books, including some FxF - paranormal is a bit harder to find.
Ash is a popular FxF fantasy, for example

I was looking for any book with drarry themes in their couples. Rivals, who like each other. Smut if possible :)

Drarry?

Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "Drarry?"

Harry Potter slash fiction - Harry and Draco dynamics.

Liv wrote: "I was looking for any book with drarry themes in their couples. Rivals, who like each other. Smut if possible :)"

We can't do smut here - we stick to YA and I don't allow posting of books that aren't okay for our younger members. But we can see if anyone has YA that fits. I'm not familiar enough with that dynamic (not a big HP fan) to suggest anything.
(The adult M/M group also has a book request thread and they will happily suggest 18+ stories for you too.)

I was hoping to find a historical fiction featuring a f/f relationship involving the main character of the book. I would really appreciate some good recommendations. Thank you!

The only couple titles I know off the top of my head that might suit are Jane Eagland's Wildthorn and possibly Mackenzi Lee's upcoming Guide book #2, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy , although you may find more on the group's historical bookshelf. All the others I know are adult, not YA -- and one of those that focuses on YA characters, I can't remember well enough whether or not the content was all YA-reader appropriate.

Liv wrote: "I was looking for any book with drarry themes in their couples. Rivals, who like each other. Smut if possible :)"

Not smut, but Carry On is basically Harry Potter fanfiction with Draco and Harry falling in love.

Kayla wrote: "I was hoping to find a historical fiction featuring a f/f relationship involving the main character of the book. I would really appreciate some good recommendations. Thank you!"

Lies We Tell Ourselves is set in the 1950s. You might also want to check the Lesbian Historical YA list.

Hey y'all! :)

Does anyone of you know of any YA books that deal with pansexuality/omnisexuality?

Thanks in advance!

Good question - we have some bisexual books (at last) but I'd love to hear of pan titles. We have a few romances with one genderqueer MC but I'm not remembering any where their romantic partner specifically identified as pan.

I'm a cat-astrophe wrote: "Hello! Does anyone know of any good YA mysteries with LGBT+ characters (they could be the MC or an important side character)? Possibly even paranormal mystery?

I'd really appreciate the help! ^^"

Three Truths and a Lie by Brent Hartinger

Jules wrote: "Does anyone of you know of any YA books that deal with pansexuality/omnisexuality?"

There is a pansexuality list that includes YA books, but I can't vouch for its accuracy.

Thank you, Rainbowheart! :)

Samantha wrote: "I’d like to read a book with an aromantic character, not even strictly the main character, just an aromantic character."

The 57 Bus (which I am currently reading) has a main character who self identifies as agender and quoiromantic. It's a nonfiction selection about two teens and a crime that took place in California in 2013.

I'm looking for M2F Trans YA. And also...does anyone know of any trans ya that is epistolary?

Kevin wrote: "I'm looking for M2F Trans YA. And also...does anyone know of any trans ya that is epistolary?"

M2F - maybe try Having Her Back or If I Was Your Girl

Epistolary - True Letters from a Fictional Life kind of fits, although they are more a diary in letter form, and are not the whole book. I'm not aware of a back-and-forth traditional epistolary story, although it seems like there should be some. (I wrote a short story like that on one of the freebie stories for this group. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... )

Jules wrote: "Does anyone of you know of any YA books that deal with pansexuality/omnisexuality?"

Just came across a new one. Final Draft by Riley Redgate has a pansexual-identified MC.

Rainbowheart wrote: "Jules wrote: "Does anyone of you know of any YA books that deal with pansexuality/omnisexuality?"

Just came across a new one. Final Draft by Riley Redgate has a pansexual-identifie..."

Pansexual writer?! I am all over this one.

Kaje wrote: "Kevin wrote: "I'm looking for M2F Trans YA. And also...does anyone know of any trans ya that is epistolary?"

M2F - maybe try Having Her Back or If I Was Your Girl

..."

Thanks so much for your help! Looking into them now. (-:

Does anyone know of a book with a demigirl character in it?

Mayke wrote: "Does anyone know of a book with a demigirl character in it?"

I'd be interested if anyone knows one - there are a few books with NB (non-binary) characters - my favorite being Symptoms of Being Human; there's also a good book with a teen character whom I see as a butch lesbian but whom some might consider to push the envelope of gender identity - Girl Mans Up

Kevin wrote: "Kaje wrote: "Kevin wrote: "I'm looking for M2F Trans YA. And also...does anyone know of any trans ya that is epistolary?"

I know some on Wattpad if you're interested! A lot of the trans YA that I've heard of seems to have been mentioned!

https://www.wattpad.com/list/21318665...
https://www.wattpad.com/story/3114764...

I just read Educating Simon which has an 11 year old side character who identifies as m2f

I'm a cat-astrophe wrote: "Hello! Does anyone know of any good YA mysteries with LGBT+ characters (they could be the MC or an important side character)? Possibly even paranormal mystery?

I'd really appreciate the help! ^^"

Well, I have one book in mind. The book is Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. the book has the same settings and similar stories as Harry Potter. Trust me, the book is very fun to read. It's enemy-to-lover kind of story. Sorry if I spoiled it a bit. I recommend it to you. I read the book twice by the way. It's so good!!

Kim wrote: "dilan wrote: "Hey guys! I'd be very glad if you could recommend me good LGBT+ romances with POC characters like Ari&Dante Discover The Secrets of The Universe."

Hi, dilan. Here's a list of potenti..."

What rep does Girl at Midnight have?

Kaje wrote: It's hard to find second genre LGBT YA - we need more books that are mystery or historical or SciFi etc where the LGBTQ character just is who they are.


That's honestly something that's always bugged me about LGBT books--they're nearly always LGBT BOOKS with big important things to say. Sometimes I just wanna read a book with a cute love story and some cool stuff, yunno?

On that note, does anyone know of any YA LGBT horror novels or stories, particularly those featuring M/M relationships?

If you are looking for a cute love story that LGBTQ then I recommend Simon Vs the Homo Sapien. I really enjoyed it.

Hi! I'm looking for f/f books with interracial couples for a project I'm doing for university. Any sub-genre is okay with me. Thanks!
P.S. I already own Lies we Tell Ourselves and I hope to read it soon.

Charlotte wrote: "Hi! I'm looking for f/f books with interracial couples for a project I'm doing for university. Any sub-genre is okay with me. Thanks!
P.S. I already own Lies we Tell Ourselves and I hope to read it..."

*It's Not Like It's a SecretIt's Not Like It's A Secret by Misa Sugiura (japanese-american/mexican-american)
*The Nowhere GirlsThe Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed has an interracial f/f couple (white/mexican-american)
*The Abyss Surrounds UsThe Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie (Chinese-American/White)
*How to Make a WishHow to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake (biracial black girl/white girl)
*We Are OkayWe Are Okay by Nina LaCour (mexican-american/white)
*Everything Leads to YouEverything Leads to You by Nina LaCour (biracial girl/white girl)
*Not Your SidekickNot Your Sidekick by CB Lee (white/vietnamese-chinese)
*Labyrinth LostLabyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova (latinx/guyanese-indian)
*Tell Me Again How a Crush Should FeelTell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan (iranian-american/white)

those are just some i know of and have read :) hope this helps!

Xander wrote: "Kaje wrote: It's hard to find second genre LGBT YA - we need more books that are mystery or historical or SciFi etc where the LGBTQ character just is who they are.


That's honestly something that'..."

Horror book - Three Truths and a Lie

Cute and low key - Maps
Sock it to Me, Santa!
Looking for Group
The Suicidal Peanut (despite the title)
Love Spell
One Man Guy

Charlotte wrote: "Hi! I'm looking for f/f books with interracial couples for a project I'm doing for university. Any sub-genre is okay with me. Thanks!
P.S. I already own Lies we Tell Ourselves and I hope to read it..."

maybe Not Your Sidekick