List

Pride Reads

By Skokie Staff Advisory Services

Celebrate Pride Month with a great book!

  • Late Bloomer

    2024 by Eddings, Mazey

    After winning the lottery, Opal Devlin decides to get a fresh start by buying a failing flower farm in North Carolina. But her plans for isolation don't last long when she meets Pepper Boden, who claims she's the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms. This is a fun, steamy, opposites-attract romance with sapphic and neurodivergent representation.

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  • Old Enough

    2023 by Jakobson, Haley

    Set during Savannah Henry's sophomore year of college, this coming-of-age novel follows a young bisexual woman who is pulled between the new life she's creating for herself and the life she worked so hard to escape. Despite the heavy themes of sexual assault and trauma, the significance of community and found family ultimately make this a heartwarming read.

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  • Dear Wendy

    2024 by Zhao, Ann

    This young adult novel taking place at Wellesley College follows aromantic and asexual Sophie Chi, aka online advice account "Dear Wendy," who finds herself in a virtual feud with her relationship advice rival, "Sincerely Wanda." Although the two unwittingly become friends in real life, will their friendship survive when the truth comes out? This is a great read if you love stories focusing on friendship rather than romantic relationships.

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  • Small Joys

    2023 by Mensah, Elvin James

    While working at a dead-end job at a movie theater, college dropout Harley attempts to take his own life but is interrupted by his new roommate, who takes him under his wing. Quiet but impactful, this reflective book is, at its core, a story about friendship, while also exploring themes of mental health, homophobia, racism, and self-acceptance.

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  • Family Meal

    2023 by Washington, Bryan

    Haunted by the ghost of Kai, the love of his life, Cam returns to his hometown of Houston where he reconnects with his former best friend, TJ, and his family's bakery. At times, this melancholy novel will make your heart ache, but it is not without reward. This is an intimate, intensely candid story about loss, love, addiction, and found family, and it will stick with you long after you read it.

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  • A Shot in the Dark

    2023 by Lee, Victoria

    Tender and grounded, this profound romance covers some emotional topics, such as addiction, recovery, acceptance, and guilt. Back in New York to study photography, an ex-Orthodox bisexual woman hooks up with a man who turns out to be her teacher, a legendary artist who was disowned by his family and discharged from the military for being transgender.

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  • Being Ace: An Anthology of Queer, Trans, Femme, and Disabled Stories of Asexual Love and Connection

    2023

    Looking for a unique, engaging, diverse collection of short stories to read this Pride Month? From a wheelchair user racing to save her kidnapped girlfriend and a little mermaid who loves her sisters more than suitors, to a slayer whose virgin blood keeps attracting monsters, the stories in this anthology are anything but conventional. No two aces are the same in these 14 unique works that highlight asexual romance, aromantic love, and identities across the asexual spectrum.

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  • Icarus

    2024 by Ancrum, K.

    If you're looking for an exciting read, this suspenseful romance is a queer, modern retelling of the tale of Icarus. Icarus Gallagher is a thief who steals priceless art and replaces it with his father's impeccable forgeries while targeting Mr. Black, the man responsible for his mother's death. But soon Icarus is torn between family loyalty, revenge, escape and Mr. Black's son--the boy he's come to love.

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  • Different for Boys

    2023 by Ness, Patrick

    Exploring teen sexuality, friendship, and romance, this daring short novel follows Anthony Stevenson as he navigates relationships with three boys, which leads to loneliness, intimacy, unexpected support, and heart-ripping betrayal. Featuring full-page illustrations and unique interactions with the text, this book may be concise, but it is a powerful, thought-provoking glimpse into the the lives of teenagers.

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  • Here We Go Again

    2024 by Cochrun, Alison

    This queer rom-com follows childhood best friends forced together to drive their former teacher across the country. Funny and heartwarming, this romance featuring two neurodivergent lesbians is especially great as a summer read since it spans the course of a road trip!

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  • Endpapers

    2023 by Savran, Jennifer

    In this page-turning novel set in 2003 New York City, a genderqueer book conservator feels trapped by her gender presentation, her ill-fitting relationship, and her artistic block—until she discovers a decades-old hidden queer love letter and becomes obsessed with tracking down its author. If you love character-driven novels, there is much to explore within Dawn, a fascinating, well-written protagonist.

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  • Bellies

    2023 by Dinan, Nicola

    Two queer men who hit it off during their university's drag night begin a relationship and eventually plan a life together, but they face a momentous challenge when one of them announces an intention to transition. This book is beautifully nuanced, right down to its title, and it is rich with vulnerable moments and complex character discovery.

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