Favorite LGBTQ+ Graphic Novels and Graphic Memoirs

Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride

by Lucy Knisley

We've already mentioned Relish on the podcast and on the blog, which is a GREAT introduction to her, but all of her travelogues and graphic journals are wonderful. I give her book Something New as a gift any time a friend of mine gets engaged, because it is very meditative and expectation-setting during that time of life. She tells the story of her engagement-through-wedding’s-end and all the stress of that season, rearranging her priorities and realizing when she's making decisions based on what's expected by her family vs what she and her fiance want her day to be like, etc. --Brenna

Bingo Love

by Tee Franklin

This is a heartwarming, heartbreaking, laugh, cry, and clutch-the-book-to-your-chest-after-reading graphic novel. In 1963, Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray meet and fall in love as they come-of-age. But society rejects their love, and their families force them apart. Both women marry men and have families of their own, resulting in grandchildren and plenty of responsibilities. Decades later, both women are in their 60's when they unexpectedly meet at a Bingo hall. Their feelings for each other rush back, and the grandmothers take a risk for happiness and love. The illustrations are beautiful in this OWN voices queer love story.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me

Thanks to team member Brenna for putting this on my radar. Freddy is a 17 year old lesbian Asian American who loves her girlfriend Laura Dean ... except for when she doesn’t. When things are good, they’re really, really good. But when things are bad, Freddy falls apart. Her friends are starting to lose patience with their on-again, off-again relationship and for that matter, so is she. But it's hard to break the cycle of an abusive relationship, and Freddy finds it impossible to resist when Laura keeps luring her back in. Luckily, Freddy has the help of an advice columnist and new friends, who help her figure out how to move forward.

Check, Please!

by Ngozi Ukazu

Originally published as a webcomic, this delightful graphic memoir follows Eric Bittle, a freshman on a college hockey team. It’s a coming of age and coming out of the closet story where everything goes right. Eric’s a baker, vlogger, and figure skating champion who played co-ed hockey at his Georgia high school. The Samwell University hockey team is quite the level up. Eric is figuring out how to be an integral part of a team, while adjusting to the demands of college. The answer involves baking a whole lot of pie. He’s also figuring out what to make of his feelings for the enigmatic team captain Jack. The illustrations add a lot to the story, with hockey hijinks and pranks adding a comedic factor.

Spinning

by Tillie Walden

A graphic memoir that will be really relatable to anyone who had a childhood passion that ended up getting a little ruined for them. It’s about Tillie Walden’s childhood and teen years as a figure skater, discovering her identity, and hiding from the desire to become an artist. It’s one of those graphic novels that just flows easily along and no matter how long it was I could just read it forever. It could be an encyclopedia length account of her entire life from birth to death, and I’d be engaged the whole way. All of Tillie’s work is great, but this is her longest book. —Brenna

Favorite LGBTQ+ Graphic Novels and Graphic Memoirs

Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride

Bingo Love

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me

Check, Please!

Spinning

a gateway

to reliable joy this summer

Buckle Up!

summer reading starts May 16th