Celebrate Pride with these fiction selections for all ages.
Adults
Family meal
Bryan Washington
2023
ISBN: 9780593421093
"Cam is living in Los Angeles and falling apart after the love of his life has died. Kai's ghost won't leave Cam alone; his spectral visits wild, tender, unexpected, and explosive. When Cam returns to his hometown of Houston, he crashes back into the orbit of his former best friend, TJ, and TJ's family bakery. TJ's not sure how to navigate this changed Cam, impenetrably cool and self-destructing, or their charged estrangement. Can they find a way past all that has been said--and left unsaid--to save each other?"-- Provided by publisher.
Ebook and audiobook available from the Alaska Digital Library.
The emperor and the endless palace
Justinian Huang
2024
ISBN: 9780778305231
"In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor--but quickly discovers they are both ruled by blood, sex and intrigue. In 1740, a lonely innkeeper agrees to help a mysterious visitor procure a rare medicine, only to unleash an otherworldly terror instead. And in present-day Los Angeles, a college student meets a beautiful stranger and cannot shake the feeling they've met before. Across these seemingly unrelated timelines woven together only by the twists and turns of fate, two men are reborn, lifetime after lifetime. Within the treacherous walls of an ancient palace and the boundless forests of the Asian wilderness to the heart-pounding cement floors of underground rave scenes, our lovers are inexplicably drawn to each other, constantly tested by the worlds around them. As their many lives intertwine, they begin to realize the power of their undying love--a power that transcends time itself...but one that might consume them both"-- Provided by publisher.
Audiobook always available on hoopla.
Mimosa
Archie Bongiovanni
2023
ISBN: 9781419752438
Best friends and chosen family Chris, Elise, Jo, and Alex work hard to keep themselves afloat. Their regular brunches hold them together even as the rest of their lives threaten to fall apart. In an effort to avoid being the oldest gays at the party, the crew decides to put on a new queer event called Grind-specifically for homos in their dirty thirties. Grind is a welcome distraction from their real problems: after a messy divorce, Chris adjusts to being a single parent while struggling to reconnect to their queer community. Elise is caught between feelings for her boss and the career of her dreams. Jo tries to navigate the murky boundaries of being a supportive friend and taking care of her own needs. And Alex is guarding a secret that might change his friendships forever. While navigating exes at work, physical and mental exhaustion, and drinking way, way too much on weekdays, this chosen family proves that being messy doesn't always go away with age.--Amazon
Comic always available on hoopla.
The Mars house : a novel
Natasha Pulley
2024
ISBN: 9781639732333
"A queer sci-fi novel about a marriage of convenience between a Mars politician and an Earth refugee. In the wake of an environmental catastrophe, January, once a principal in London's Royal Ballet, has become a refugee in Tharsis, the terraformed colony on Mars. There, January's life is dictated by his status as an Earthstronger--a person whose body is not adjusted to lower gravity and so poses a danger to those born on, or naturalized to, Mars. January's job choices, housing, and even transportation are dictated by this second-class status, and now a xenophobic politician named Aubrey Gale is running on a platform that would make it all worse: Gale wants all Earthstrongers to naturalize, a process that is always disabling and sometimes deadly. When Gale chooses January for an on-the-spot press junket interview that goes horribly awry, January's life is thrown into chaos, but Gale's political fortunes are damaged, too. Gale proposes a solution to both their problems: a five year made-for-the-press marriage that would secure January's future without naturalization and ensure Gale's political success. But when January accepts the offer, he discovers that Gale is not at all like they appear in the press. They're kind, compassionate, and much more difficult to hate than January would prefer. As their romantic relationship develops, the political situation worsens, and January discovers Gale has an enemy, someone willing to destroy all of Tharsis to make them pay--and January may be the only person standing in the way." -- provided by publisher.
Cleat cute : a novel
Meryl Wilsner
2023
ISBN: 9781250873309
"A sapphic rivals to lovers rom com for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own, where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup. Grace Henderson has been a star of the US Women's National Team for ten years, even though she's only 26. But when she's sidelined with an injury, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot. 22-year-old Phoebe is everything Grace isn't-a gregarious jokester who plays with a joy that Grace lost somewhere along the way. The last thing Grace expects is to become teammates with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival. Phoebe Matthews is too focused on her first season as a professional soccer player to think about seducing her longtime idol. But when Grace ends up making the first move, they can't keep their hands off of each other. As the World Cup approaches and Grace works her way back from injury, a miscommunication leaves the women with hilariously different perspectives on their relationship. But they're on the same page on the field, realizing they can play together instead of vying for the same position. With every tackle the tension between them grows, and both players soon have to decide what's more important-being together or making the roster. The perfect blend of funny and steamy, Meryl Wilsner's Cleat Cute is about being brave enough to win on and off the field"-- Provided by publisher.
Audiobook available from the Alaska Digital Library.
Manywhere : stories
Morgan Thomas
2022
ISBN: 9780374602482
"Stories about genderqueer characters in the American South"-- Provided by publisher.
BeatNikki's Café
Renee James
2023
ISBN: 9781612942674
"Nikki Finch is a successful transgender woman with a thriving Beatnik cafe and a comfortable life until the first summer of the Trump presidency sets off a wave of violence against minorities. Nikki's carefully curated world is shattered when a neo-Nazi thug attacks her business partner. She comes to his rescue, but her efforts launch a chain of events that imperil her and everyone she loves, especially her angst-ridden daughter, Morgan. Nikki will do everything she can to keep her loved ones safe, but as her civilized options begin to evaporate, she is left with no choice but to go places she's never gone before. Kill or be killed. It should be a simple choice. But it's not that simple for Nikki Finch -- it would have to be a cold-blooded murder and she'd have to get away with it. It could work, but what kind of example would she set for her daughter?"--Back cover.
Ebook always available on Hoopla.
Endpapers
a novel by Jennifer Savran Kelly
2023
ISBN: 9781643751849
"In 2003 New York, a genderqueer book conservator who feels trapped by her gender presentation, ill-fitting relationship, and artistic block discovers a decades-old hidden queer love letter and becomes obsessed with tracking down its author"-- Provided by publisher.
Dead in Long Beach, California
Venita Blackburn
2024
ISBN: 9780374602826
"A form-shifting and soul-crunching chronicle of grief and crisis, Venita Blackburn's debut novel, Dead in Long Beach, California, is a fleet-footed marvel of self-discovery and storytelling that explores the depths of humankind's capacity for harm and healing. With the daring, often hilarious imagination that made her an acclaimed short-fiction innovator, Blackburn crafts a layered, page-turning reckoning with what it means to be alive, dead, and somewhere in between." -- Publisher annotation.
The 30-day engagement
Waverly Decker
2023
ISBN: 9798986621005
"Emory needs a win, a promotion...and a date to her ex-fiancée's Hollywood wedding. Emory Jordan has been rising through the ranks of the boys' club at a venture capital firm in New York, where she's competing for her dream promotion. When Emory's estranged ex-girlfriend Mari-who broke off their engagement to pursue her acting ambitions-sends a wedding invitation, it's the perfect opportunity for her to pitch a deal to Mari's new tech mogul fiancé. More importantly, it's a chance for Emory to prove to Mari that she has moved on from their breakup. The wrench in her plans: she's been putting work at the top of her to-do list, and there's nobody she can ask to be her plus-one. But Emory has a knack for business strategy. When Bliss Tully, a struggling florist with a good-vibes-only attitude, accidentally stabs her with a cactus, Emory sees an opportunity. Bliss is short on trust-her father's white-collar crimes left her with a deep aversion to the business world-but she's also short on cash, so she agrees to pose as Emory's fiancée. The job is only for a month and it should be easy money. Right? As Mari's wedding approaches, Emory and Bliss grow closer, aware their engagement is nothing more than a thirty-day sham. When it comes to kissing the bogus bride, though, both of them want to say I do. You are cordially invited to the fakeout in this slow-burn contemporary romance about letting go of the past-and loving your future"-- Provided by publisher.
Teens
Fake dates and mooncakes
Sher Lee
2023
ISBN: 9780593569955
Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs--in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt's struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn. Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan's stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons. In Theo's glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo's relatives reveal their true colors--but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can't risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems. Can Dylan save his family's business and follow his heart--or will he fail to do both?
If I can give you that
Michael Gray Bulla
2023
ISBN: 9780063091702
Seventeen-year-old Gael, a trans boy, learns to let his walls down while finding community, discovering his sexuality, falling in love, and navigating difficult family situations.
Audiobook always available on hoopla.
Bianca Torre is afraid of everything
Justine Pucella Winans
2023
ISBN: 9780358721642
Sixteen-year-old Bianca Torre is an avid birder undergoing a gender identity crisis and grappling with an ever-growing list of fears. Some, like Fear #6: Initiating Conversation, keep them constrained, forcing them to watch birds from the telescope in their bedroom. And, occasionally, their neighbors. When their gaze wanders to one particular window across the street, Bianca witnesses a creepy plague-masked murderer take their neighbor's life. Worse, the death is ruled a suicide, forcing Bianca to make a choice--succumb to their long list of fears (including #3 Murder and #55 Breaking into a Dead Guy's Apartment), or investigate what happened. Bianca enlists the help of their friend Anderson Coleman, but the two have more knowledge of anime than true crime. As Bianca and Anderson dig deeper into the murder with a little help from Bianca's crush and fellow birding aficionado, Elaine Yee (#13 Beautiful People, #11 Parents Discovering They’re a Raging Lesbian), the trio uncover a conspiracy much larger--and weirder--than imagined. And when the killer catches wind of the investigation, suddenly Bianca's #1 fear of public speaking doesn't sound so bad compared to the threat of being silenced for good.
Audiobook always available on hoopla.
Where darkness blooms
Andrea Hannah
2023
ISBN: 9781250842626
Two years after their mothers mysteriously went missing, Delilah, Bo, and twin sisters Jude and Whitney begin to unearth secrets that cause the girls to question everything they thought they knew about their small Kansas town.
Audiobook always available on hoopla.
Anything but fine
Tobias Madden
2022
ISBN: 9781645674382
Luca's entire identity and future are entwined around dance until he loses his performing arts scholarship after a debilitating injury. Gutted and demoted to public school attendee, the only bright spots in his new future are two friends he quickly makes, but knowing that one is gorgeous, popular, and avowed heterosexual, Luca can't help feeling he is setting himself up for another heartbreak.
Audiobook always available on hoopla.
The days of bluegrass love
Edward van de Vendel ; translated by Emma Rault
2022
ISBN: 9781646140466
Deciding to break away from everything, Tycho Zeling flies to America to spend his summer as a camp counselor, where he meets Oliver, another counselor, and feels his life stop, and finally begin again, as his.
Lies we sing to the sea
Sarah Underwood
2023
ISBN: 9780063234475
Hanged in an annual sacrificial ritual to Poseidon, seventeen-year-old oracle Leto awakens on an island inhibited by Melantho, a strange immoral girl with oceanic powers, who tells Leto the only way to break Poseidon's curse is to return to Ithaca and kill the prince.
Audiobook always available on hoopla.
Ode to my first car
Robin Gow
2023
ISBN: 9780374388430
Claire Kemp, a closeted bisexual who might be in love with her best friend, gets a summer job at a local nursing home where an eighty-eight-year-old lesbian helps Claire grow more confident in her identity.
Audiobook always available on hoopla.
Night of the living queers : 13 tales of terror & delight
edited by Shelly Page & Alex Brown
2023
ISBN: 9781250892966
A collection of 13 horror stories all written by queer authors of color and each told through the lens of a teenager of color about the Halloween night that changed their lives forever.
Planning perfect
by Haley Neil
2023
ISBN: 9781547607495
Summer vacation quickly becomes complicated for Felicity Becker as she tries to plan a perfect wedding for her mom, figure out her feelings for her friend Nancy, and wonder what dating will look like for her as an asexual person.-- Provided by Publisher.
Audiobook always available on hoopla.
Kids
Love makes a family
Sophie Beer
2018
ISBN: 9780525554226
Whether you have one parent, two moms, two dads, a mom and a dad, or another wonderful caregiver, there's one thing that makes a family a family ... and that's love.
Mr. Watson's chickens
written by Jarrett Dapier ; illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
2021
ISBN: 9781452177144
Mr. Watson loves his three chickens, and every morning he and Mr. Nelson count them; but when they start to multiply, his house and tiny yard are soon overrun, and the noise and mess are driving Mr. Nelson crazy--so the couple set out to find a new home for the chickens.
Ebook always available on hoopla.
Papa, Daddy, and Riley
by Seamus Kirst ; illustrated by Devon Holzwarth
2020
ISBN: 9781433832390
When a classmate insists a family must have a mother and a father, Riley fears she will have to choose between Papa and Daddy until her fathers assure her that love makes a family.
'Twas the night before Pride
written by Joanna McClintick ; illustrated by Juana Medina
2022
ISBN: 9781536213430
A glittering celebration of queer families puts Pride gently in perspective--honoring those in the LBGTQ+ community who fought against injustice and inequality. Pride Day is a day that means "Together, we are strong!" With bright, buoyant illustrations and lyrical, age-appropriate rhyme modeled on "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," it tackles difficult content such as the Stonewall Riots and the AIDS marches.
Nikhil out loud
Maulik Pancholy
2022
ISBN: 9780063091924
"From the acclaimed actor and Stonewall Honor-winning author of The Best at It, Maulik Pancholy, comes a new middle grade novel about a gay Indian American boy who learns the power of using his voice. Thirteen-year-old Nikhil Shah is the beloved voice actor for Raj Reddy on the hit animated series Raj Reddy in Outer Space. But being a star on TV doesn't mean you have everything figured out behind the scenes. . . . When his mom temporarily moves them to the small town in Ohio where she grew up to take care of Nikhil's sick grandfather, Nikhil feels as out of orbit as his character. Nikhil's fame lands him the lead in the school musical, but he's terrified that everyone will realize he's a fraud once they find out he can't sing. And when a group of conservative parents start to protest, making it clear they're not happy with an openly gay TV star being in the starring role, Nikhil feels like his life would be easier if only he could be Raj Reddy full-time. Then Nikhil wakes up one morning and hears a crack in his voice, which means his job playing Raj will have to come to an end. Life on earth is way more complicated than life on television. And some mysteries--like new friendships or a sick grandparent or finding the courage to speak out about what's right--don't wrap up neatly between commercial breaks." -- Publisher marketing.
This is our rainbow : 16 stories of her, him, them, and us
edited by Katherine Locke and Nicole Melleby
2021
ISBN: 9780593303948
Featuring contributions from Eric Bell, Katherine Locke and A.J. Sass, this first LGBTQA+ anthology for middle-grade readers presents stories of queer fantasy, historical and contemporary stories for every letter of the acronym.
Like a hurricane
Jonathan Bécotte ; translated by Jonathan Kaplansky
2023
ISBN: 9781459835238
"In this novel in verse for middle readers, a young teen struggles with revealing who he really is to those he loves."-- Provided by publisher.
Ebook always available on hoopla.
The beautiful something else
by Ash Van Otterloo
2023
ISBN: 9781338843224
When Sparrow's mother is sent to rehab for opiod addiction, Sparrow is sent to live in a commune with her estranged Aunt where Sparrow begins to embrace their true gender identity.
Audiobook always available on hoopla.