Favorite LGBTQ+ Memoirs Archives

Untamed

by Glennon Doyle

Shortly before the release of her second memoir Love Warrior, which was supposed to explore marriage and healing within her own, Glennon Doyle announced she was lesbian and divorcing her husband. Untamed is her account of that divorce, navigating a new relationship with soccer star Abby Wambach, and forming a blended family. So many friends have read this as well, and I appreciate how the book has prompted many meaningful conversations.

Tomorrow Will Be Different

by Sarah McBride

This grabbed me from the first page: why had no one mentioned McBride is an incredible storyteller? This is her powerful and brilliantly written memoir about coming out as a trans woman in college, her activism around trans rights, and the heartbreak she experienced after her husband died of cancer a few days after they married. She takes readers behind the scenes of her entry into politics and her work at the Human Rights Campaign, including the passing of the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act of 2013 in Delaware. This is a great starting point for anyone wanting to better understand gender identity and the issues facing the trans community, or interested in getting a firsthand glimpse into the political sphere.

Here for It: Or How to Save Your Soul in America

by R. Eric Thomas

If you love heartfelt, thoughtful memoirs that also make you laugh, then you must pick up this collection of essays by pop-culture critic R. Eric Thomas. Eric shares stories from childhood to adulthood, detailing his coming-of-age with bracing candor and hilarious honesty. He writes about discovering his identity, feeling like an outsider, and finding his voice, all while injecting hilarious pop culture references, bits of wisdom, and his signature wit. While he relays plenty of difficult experiences, his tone is persistently hopeful. I highly recommend the audiobook version, narrated by the author, for full humorous effect.

Broken Horses: A Memoir

by Brandi Carlile

I've long enjoyed Brandi Carlile's music but knew nothing about her personal life (unless the simple fact that she's one of The Highwomen counts). I was on the fence about trying this one, but I'm so glad I did: the audio was superb. Each chapter flows beautifully into a song—or more often, two. Because Carlile draws heavily from her life experience when writing lyrics, this format works beautifully: her stories leave you hungry to hear the music, which often captures the experience she just wrote about in prose. After talking to numerous friends and fellow readers, I'd be inclined to pass this up in print, but the audio version was exceptional. So you know what to expect: the last 90 minutes of the audiobook consists of all those songs together, as a bonus chapter.

Soldier: A Poet’s Childhood

by June Jordan

I so appreciate memoirs by poets; this memoir by poet and activist June Jordan’s is told in a series of short and vivid vignettes, detailing her tumultuous upbringing in post-World War II Harlem and Brooklyn, the only child of a father who desperately wanted a son. She captures her childhood voice and memories through rich details. I especially appreciated glimpsing Jordan's early love of words and rhyme, and the cadence of her storytelling, as she often juxtaposed difficult moments with snapshots capturing childhood delights, like her ardent love for orange juice.

Favorite LGBTQ+ Memoirs

Untamed

Tomorrow Will Be Different

Here for It: Or How to Save Your Soul in America

Broken Horses: A Memoir

Soldier: A Poet’s Childhood

Find your next read with:

100 Book recommendations
for every mood

Favorite LGBTQ+ Memoirs

Untamed

Tomorrow Will Be Different

Here for It: Or How to Save Your Soul in America

Broken Horses: A Memoir

Soldier: A Poet’s Childhood

Find your next read with:

100 Book recommendations for every mood

100 Book recommendations
for every mood