We run some wide and varied polls on site and try and cover many aspects of reading, different themes and many genres, but we’ve never had one previously that has caused such a ruckus! Negativity aside, we received some fantastic comments when looking for book suggestions of books that feature LGBT characters.
I started out by saying I hadn’t read many books that fell into this category and then as your suggestions rolled in, I realised I had read quite a few. In all, more than 150 books were suggested and I’ll definitely be checking a few out. From that list I added together all your replies to give us a top 22 Books that have prominent LGBT characters.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson – John Green and David Levithan
John Green is the hot author of the moment with fiction aimed at young adults and many of his books have become blockbuster movies. David Levithan writes a lot about gay issues, and here their talents are combined in Will Grayson, Will Grayson, putting it at the top spot for our list!
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café – Fannie Flag
Released in 1987, the book in second place has been around a little longer and if you haven’t read it, there’s a good chance you’ll have heard of it as it’s a movie too and takes second place in our list with its subtle lesbian theme.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe US
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe UK
Fingersmith – Sarah Waters
The first Sarah Waters novel to make the list is Fingersmith, a period crime drama with a lesbian theme. For those interested in the title, Fingersmith is a Victorian word for a petty thief, making it a clever play on words.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Benjamin Alire Saenz
More YA with the critically acclaimed Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, about the friendship of two boys and the feelings they develop for each other.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe US
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe UK
Middlesex – Jeffrey Eugenides
Not exactly LGBT, Middlesex deals with the condition of being intersex. Middlesex was released in 2002 and became a Pulitzer Prize winning bestseller.
The Last Herald Mage – Mercedes Lackey
Thanks to everyone who suggested Mercedes Lackey novels, many of which have a fluid sexual theme, but it was The Last Herald Mage that made our list of books with prominent LGBT characters.
The Last Herald Mage Trilogy US
The Last Herald Mage Trilogy UK
Tipping the Velvet – Sarah Waters
The second of Sarah Waters historical novels to make our list is Tipping the Velvet. The book was Waters’ debut novel and is hugely popular with a lesbian theme.
Lord John Series – Diana Gabaldon
Lord John Grey is a prominent gay character in the Outlander series and the Lord John series continues his adventures in a series of books by Diana Gabaldon.
Lover at Last – J. B Ward
Lover at Last is a best-selling vampire novel that is actually more a gay romance novel, dealing with the relationship between Blay and Qhuinn and their feelings for each other.
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
Number 10 on our list is the 1983 Pulitzer Prize winning The Colour Purple. The novel deals with many every day issues and many characters fall outside their traditional male/female gender roles, challenging stereotypes.
We hope you enjoyed the top ten but with so many books suggested it seems a shame to stop there so here we have the next dozen books on the list making a top twenty-two in total:
Oranges are not the Only Fruit – Jeanette Winterson
Two Boys Kissing – David Levithan
Sing me Home – Jodie Picoult
Rainbow Boys Trilogy – Alex Sanchez
The perks of Being a Wallflower
Boy Meets Boy – David Leviathan
Tell the Wolves I’m home – Carol Rifka Brunt
Ruby Fruit Jungle – Rita Mae Brown
Stone Butch Blues – Leslie Feinberg
Keeping you a Secret – Julie Ann Peters
Openly Straight – Bill Konigsberg
Paying Guests – Sarah Waters
We hope you enjoyed our list and we hope it offered you some reading suggestions. For those who stated they would never read this type of book, that’s a real shame because it seems you may be the ones who could most do with picking a title off the list and surprising yourself.
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The Portrait of Dorian Gray
It’s a little more recent but “None of the Above” by I. W. Gregorio is about an intersex teenage girl dealing with transphobia and puberty. It’s wonderful and highly empathetic.
Sylvia day’s The crossfire series “Cary taylor”
I’m so glad The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy made it! I grew up in a very religious family and those books made me actually start to think for myself about what I was told. Still my favourite books.
And can we talk about Conan Doyle’s Sherlock series? So far, none of the movie/TV adaptations portray Sherlock and Watson as gay, but those texts have some serious male-on-male sexual tensions.
Elizabeth A. Lynn: Chronicles of Tornor series and A Different Light.
Running with Scissors
Times Square Kiss 😉
Tea Time Boys