7 Books to Finish Pride Month

It may be the last day of Pride Month, but queer books are here all year long. Here are seven books–ranging from contemporary to classic to fantasy–to add to your bookshelf.

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MM Humor (Romantasy)
The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune
Spice Rating: 4

Before Klune became a bestseller with The House in the Cerulean Sea, he wrote a raunchy romantasy about a prince and a knight. Klune really let his humor off the hook with this one, but it’s still got a lot of heart. And of course, we have to mention that he’s a Pacific Northwest author.

Bisexual Classic Erotica
Emmanuelle by Emmanuelle Arsan
Spice Rating: 5

This French erotica, published in 1959, is a journey of one woman’s sexual quest. The story is both sensual and philosophical, and in addition to being a dang good read, is essential for anyone interested in queer history and literary erotica.

FF Graphic Novel (Historical Romance)
Patience & Esther: An Edwardian Romance by Sarah Winifred Searle
Spice Rating: 3

A sweet and sensual romance between servants at a country manor.

MM (Trans) YA Fantasy with Romantic Subplot
The Witch King by H. E. Edgmon
Spice Rating: 2

“To save a fae kingdom, a trans witch must face his traumatic past and the royal fiancé he left behind.”

This fantasy adventure has a distinctive voice, told by Wyatt, who fled his home in the fae kingdom. But his ex-fiancé slash ex-best friend, Prince Emyr, hunts him down and claims they must still marry, or risk losing the throne and putting the kingdom in danger.

MM Slowburn
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
Spice Rating: 4

This erotic romance is character driven, enemies to lovers, and has a delicious slowburn across three books. Despite the slow burn, it’s spicy from the very beginning. If you’re not a swords and dragons type, don’t worry, this is a political fantasy without magic, about two princes from enemy nations.
Content warning: Rape, sexual slavery.

FF Classic Romantic Suspense
The Price of Salt (Carol) by Patricia Highsmith
Spice Rating: 1

“The novel of a love society forbids.”

This novel of queer attraction published in 1952 is groundbreaking in that its characters got a happy ending when “bury your guys” was a hard rule. It describes so well what’s it’s like to be nineteen and fall in love. How small moments, details, objects can become weighted with significance.

If you’ve somehow managed to go this long without a crush on Cate Blanchett, don’t miss the 2015 movie starring Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

FF Contemporary Romance
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Spice Rating: 3

I have to admit, I’m a sucker for a punk dyke. This is a fun, sexy, and occasionally moving read with a touch of time travel. McQuiston calls it ‘unbury your gays’ fiction.