Favorite LGBTQ+ YA Novels Archives

Like a Love Story

by Abdi Nazemian

I enjoyed this book after MMD team member Leigh cited it as a favorite of 2020. Here's what she had to say: "This story utterly wrecked me and might be my all-time favorite YA novel. It explores friendship, first love, queerness, AIDS, grief, Madonna, and more. Part of the enjoyment was that it's set in 1989-1990, when I was nine or ten years old. Judy, Art, and Reza are seventeen and their experiences and changing relationships gave me a new way to relive that time, particularly reflecting on what life was like for the LGBTQ+ community and those coming out in the wake of AIDS. While it’s about grief and loss, it’s also a celebration of the queer community and found family."

Perfect on Paper

by Sophie Gonzales

From the publisher: "A bisexual girl who gives anonymous love advice to her classmates is hired by the hot guy to help him get his ex back. Her advice, spot on. Her love life, way off. However, when Brougham catches her in the act of collecting letters from locker 89―out of which she's been running her questionably legal, anonymous relationship advice service―that’s exactly what happens. In exchange for keeping her secret, Darcy begrudgingly agrees to become his personal dating coach―at a generous hourly rate, at least. The goal? To help him win his ex-girlfriend back. Darcy has a good reason to keep her identity secret. If word gets out that she’s behind the locker, some things she's not proud of will come to light, and there's a good chance Brooke will never speak to her again. Okay, so all she has to do is help an entitled, bratty, (annoyingly hot) guy win over a girl who's already fallen for him once? What could go wrong?"

These Witches Don’t Burn

by Isabel Sterling

Hannah is no ordinary high school junior living in Salem, Massachusetts; she’s an Elemental witch. Despite where she lives, her magic needs to stay a secret or she’ll lose her power. When Hannah begins to believe a terrifying Blood Witch is out to get her, her coven doesn’t believe her…but her ex-girlfriend Veronica does so they team up to investigate. Add a promising crush on a new girl, a fantastic best friend, and the right amount of mystery and you have one unputdownable witchy tale.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn

by Melissa Bashardoust

From the author of Girls Made of Snow and Glass, a brilliantly imagined sapphic fairy tale featuring dangerous demons, poisonous girls, and a kingdom in peril, inspired by the Persian epic the Shahnameh. The cursed princess Soraya has been living inside her family’s palace walls—touching no one—for eighteen years. As her twin brother’s wedding day approaches, the palace guards capture a demon who may be able to tell her how to break the curse and gain her freedom. But the answers she seeks plunge her into personal crisis and political intrigue, and Soraya is soon forced to question everything she thought she knew about herself—while facing choices that may endanger not just her own fate, but that of the entire kingdom. An enthralling fantasy with broad appeal, with lyrical prose and incredible worldbuilding.

You Should See Me in a Crown

by Leah Johnson

Johnson makes a triumphant debut with her happy and poignant YA novel. Orchestra geek Liz Lighty stays out of the spotlight in small town Campbell, Indiana, and she's totally okay with her wallflower status. She has a plan to escape the Midwest and become a doctor, and it all starts with attending her elite dream school, Pennington College. When her financial aid package falls short, Liz is devastated until she remembers that her school offers a large scholarship for the prom king and queen each year. Reluctant to subject herself to extra attention but eager to win the money, Liz enters the competition for prom queen. The smart and funny new girl in school makes events leading up to prom more bearable, but Mack is also vying for the prom queen title. As Liz develops feelings for her, the competition gets complicated.

Favorite LGBTQ+ YA Novels

Like a Love Story

Perfect on Paper

These Witches Don’t Burn

Girl, Serpent, Thorn

You Should See Me in a Crown

Find your next read with:

100 Book recommendations
for every mood

Favorite LGBTQ+ YA Novels

Like a Love Story

Perfect on Paper

These Witches Don’t Burn

Girl, Serpent, Thorn

You Should See Me in a Crown

Find your next read with:

100 Book recommendations for every mood

100 Book recommendations
for every mood