Love, Simon is now officially stealing hearts in theaters everywhere, but before there was Love, there was Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, the funny, romantic young adult novel by Becky Albertalli, upon which the film was based. Fans who loved Simon can re-enter his world through Albertalli’s book, or find new ones on this list of 13 YA books with LGBTQ+ protaganists.
Sixteen-year-old Simon Spiers has managed to keep the truth of his sexuality a secret so far, but when an email falls into the wrong hands, Simon’s secret – and those of his flirty pen-pal, Blue – are at risk. On top of the normal drama of high school, Simon has to take the truth in his own hands or be exploited by a blackmailer. Order a copy here.
This book tells the story of when Ari, an angry and isolated young man, met Dante, his sensitive, emotional counterpart. From their first meeting at 15 years old through the hardships and joys of their teen years, Ari and Dante’s friendship deepens in poignant and intimate ways. Order a copy here.
After dealing with tragedy, Marin has retreated into her first semester of college, alone and estranged from her former life. She’s forced to confront her past when Mabel, her best friend and former girlfriend, comes to visit, stirring up Marin’s feelings of loss, heartbreak, and loneliness that leave her unable to move forward. Order a copy here.
Amanda Hardy faces the same challenges any new kid in school would face, finding her place in the social hierarchy. But as a trans girl, Amanda is excited to make a new start and close the book on her old life. When she meets Grant, she finds someone with whom she wants to share all of herself – including the past she wanted to leave behind. Order a copy here.
I’ll Give You the Sun is told from dual perspectives of twins Noah and Jude, and the dual timelines of the years when the twins were inseparable, and the years where their relationship has fallen apart. Noah narrates age 13, falling in love for the first time with the boy next door, while at age 16, Jude picks up the pieces in the aftermath of tragedy. Order a copy here.
Based on a true story, Two Boys Kissing is the story of Harry and Craig, who attempt to set a new Guinness World Record by kissing for 32 hours straight. The tale of their amazing feat is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS. From David Levithan, a prolific writer for LGBTQ+ stories, whose novel Every Day was recently adapted as a film. Order a copy here.
Julie Anne Peters has written many young adult novels featuring a variety of LGBTQ+ perspectives, including Keeping You a Secret. The novel is about Holland Jaeger, a girl whose average high school career is turned on its head by new girl Cece Goddard and their growing feelings for one another. Order a copy here.
They Both Die at the End is a whirlwind love story with a sci-fi twist. Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio are both contacted by Death-Cast and told they’re going to die. Through an app called Last Friend, Mateo and Rufus find each other and spend their final day living life as fully as they can. Order a copy here.
Henry “Monty” Montague is a young British lord in the 18th century, embarking on a Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend and secret crush, Percy. He plans to spend the year avoiding responsibility and flirting with his friend, but when the trip takes a turn, he and his relationship might be in danger. Order a copy here.
The Trials of Apollo is the latest series set at Riordan’s wildly popular Camp Half-Blood, where Percy Jackson got his start. This time, however, it’s the god Apollo who is punished by Zeus, stripped of his power and sent to Earth. Not for the first time, Riordan populates his fantastical world with characters of diverse ethnicities and sexualities, including the sexually-fluid Apollo. Order a copy here.
Against a backdrop of magical realism, Miel and her boyfriend Sam, who is trans, go head to head with the infamous Bonner sisters, rumored to be witches. When the Bonner sisters want the roses that bloom from Miel’s wrists, she and Sam are confronted by questions of love and identity. Order a copy here.
Kristen Lattimer has everything going for her in high school – popularity, college scholarships, and an amazing boyfriend. But when a doctor unexpectedly reveals that Kristin is intersex, her world is turned upside down, and her perfect high school experience begins to crumble. Order here.
Riley Cavanaugh, a gender fluid teen, is trying to blend in at a new school, using an anonymous blog as an outlet to discuss identity and experiences that they can’t share in real life. But when their blog goes viral, Riley’s secret is at risk, and their life upended. Order a copy here.
Loved Love, Simon? Try these Queer YA books next
Love, Simon is now officially stealing hearts in theaters everywhere, but before there was Love, there was Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, the funny, romantic young adult novel by Becky Albertalli, upon which the film was based. Fans who loved Simon can re-enter his world through Albertalli’s book, or find new ones on this list of 13 YA books with LGBTQ+ protaganists.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Sixteen-year-old Simon Spiers has managed to keep the truth of his sexuality a secret so far, but when an email falls into the wrong hands, Simon’s secret – and those of his flirty pen-pal, Blue – are at risk. On top of the normal drama of high school, Simon has to take the truth in his own hands or be exploited by a blackmailer. Order a copy here.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
This book tells the story of when Ari, an angry and isolated young man, met Dante, his sensitive, emotional counterpart. From their first meeting at 15 years old through the hardships and joys of their teen years, Ari and Dante’s friendship deepens in poignant and intimate ways. Order a copy here.
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
After dealing with tragedy, Marin has retreated into her first semester of college, alone and estranged from her former life. She’s forced to confront her past when Mabel, her best friend and former girlfriend, comes to visit, stirring up Marin’s feelings of loss, heartbreak, and loneliness that leave her unable to move forward. Order a copy here.
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
Amanda Hardy faces the same challenges any new kid in school would face, finding her place in the social hierarchy. But as a trans girl, Amanda is excited to make a new start and close the book on her old life. When she meets Grant, she finds someone with whom she wants to share all of herself – including the past she wanted to leave behind. Order a copy here.
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
I’ll Give You the Sun is told from dual perspectives of twins Noah and Jude, and the dual timelines of the years when the twins were inseparable, and the years where their relationship has fallen apart. Noah narrates age 13, falling in love for the first time with the boy next door, while at age 16, Jude picks up the pieces in the aftermath of tragedy. Order a copy here.
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Based on a true story, Two Boys Kissing is the story of Harry and Craig, who attempt to set a new Guinness World Record by kissing for 32 hours straight. The tale of their amazing feat is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS. From David Levithan, a prolific writer for LGBTQ+ stories, whose novel Every Day was recently adapted as a film. Order a copy here.
Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters
Julie Anne Peters has written many young adult novels featuring a variety of LGBTQ+ perspectives, including Keeping You a Secret. The novel is about Holland Jaeger, a girl whose average high school career is turned on its head by new girl Cece Goddard and their growing feelings for one another. Order a copy here.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
They Both Die at the End is a whirlwind love story with a sci-fi twist. Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio are both contacted by Death-Cast and told they’re going to die. Through an app called Last Friend, Mateo and Rufus find each other and spend their final day living life as fully as they can. Order a copy here.
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Henry “Monty” Montague is a young British lord in the 18th century, embarking on a Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend and secret crush, Percy. He plans to spend the year avoiding responsibility and flirting with his friend, but when the trip takes a turn, he and his relationship might be in danger. Order a copy here.
The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
The Trials of Apollo is the latest series set at Riordan’s wildly popular Camp Half-Blood, where Percy Jackson got his start. This time, however, it’s the god Apollo who is punished by Zeus, stripped of his power and sent to Earth. Not for the first time, Riordan populates his fantastical world with characters of diverse ethnicities and sexualities, including the sexually-fluid Apollo. Order a copy here.
When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
Against a backdrop of magical realism, Miel and her boyfriend Sam, who is trans, go head to head with the infamous Bonner sisters, rumored to be witches. When the Bonner sisters want the roses that bloom from Miel’s wrists, she and Sam are confronted by questions of love and identity. Order a copy here.
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
Kristen Lattimer has everything going for her in high school – popularity, college scholarships, and an amazing boyfriend. But when a doctor unexpectedly reveals that Kristin is intersex, her world is turned upside down, and her perfect high school experience begins to crumble. Order here.
Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
Riley Cavanaugh, a gender fluid teen, is trying to blend in at a new school, using an anonymous blog as an outlet to discuss identity and experiences that they can’t share in real life. But when their blog goes viral, Riley’s secret is at risk, and their life upended. Order a copy here.
