Feel-Good Queer Stories

In some ways Shesheshen's problems are not very relatable. I'll wager that few of us have personally battled the urge to lay parasitic eggs inside of our partners, or have been forced to dodge homicidal in-laws. But underneath her grotesque exterior, Shesheshen is any of us asking to be accepted in our fucked-up entirety. This tender ace romance between polar opposites is equal parts humorous and healing. I came for the shapeshifting shenanigans, but stayed for the gentle ways only survivors of abuse can make each other feel truly seen.
—Esmé, Firestorm Collective member

Chambers’ writing is always tender and healing, but this book has something else braided into it — something more... This is a book that, for one night, made me stop asking ‘what am I even for?’ I’m prescribing a preorder to anyone who has ever felt lost. Stunning, kind, necessary.
—Sarah Gailey, author of Magic for Liars

The plot is largely beside the point in a book that serves vibes like steaming cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven: sweet, unhurried, and comforting through to the gooiest final bites. Add some slow burn sapphic romance drizzled on top and we've got my favorite queer novel to recommend for the fall!
—Esmé, Firestorm Collective member 

I loved it. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect.
—V.E. Schwab, author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

I discovered Alyssa Cole through her thriller When No One Is Watching, which I loved, and I was curious to check out one of her romance titles. It did not disappoint! This bite-sized novella made me fall in love with the (incredibly swoon-worthy) pair, Likotsi and Fabiola, right off the bat. I was instantly invested in their "the one that got away" story, and even though the payoff was swift it still felt like a long time coming.
—Esmé, Firestorm Collective member 

Another delicious case of opposites attract in this food magazine workplace romance. I loved seeing how a shared love for the kitchen thawed the guarded hearts of these reluctant lovers. Fair warning, you will get hungry reading some of these recipe descriptions!
—Esmé, Firestorm Collective member 

Part romance, part fantasy, this gorgeous novel is about meeting someone on your daily commute — a girl, it turns out, who has been riding the train since the 1970s, thanks to a magical timeslip. But it’s also about loneliness, and being unmoored from normal time, and missing people you’ve lost, and dealing with generational trauma and fearing an unknowable future.
—The New York Times Book Review

I love a chaotic extrovert + Capital A Anxious character pairing! Bonus for an adorable roller skating date that isn't a date... but is totally a date. The book also addresses class, identity, substance use, and some complicated mother-daughter dynamic stuff.
—Esmé, Firestorm Collective member 

Two non-binary teens from very different worlds meet amidst a drawn-out war, becoming intergalactic pen pals and devoted friends. Through their messages we learn about the players in this conflict: a powerful empire, a relentless resistance army, and an egalitarian society of humans and AI on the run. Blue Delliquanti breathes life into a very queer cast of characters who must find the courage to question their directives and create new paths towards freedom. It is beautifully illustrated, heartwarming, and unapologetically anti-authoritarian.  
—Esmé, Firestorm Collective member 

A band of lovable weirdos are on a quest to save the kingdom! Slapstick illustrations meet plenty of heart in this exciting adventure that plays with overdone archetypes. The boisterous cat and the brainy dog are inseparable, and the buffest lizard you've ever seen has unbeatable conflict resolution skills. For an hour or two of delightful banter, sword-fights, and casual queerness look no further than Dungeon Critters!
—Esmé, Firestorm Collective member 

When prom night goes awry and ends in an accidental death, a group of ride or die friends - and witches - have to sort it out or face the consequences. Will they be able to revive Alexis’ deceased prom date? Will Alexis finally be able to admit to her best friend that she loves her?
—Esmé, Firestorm Collective member 

Snapdragon is a unique and perfect story about a witch in the woods, girls who live in a trailer park, and the unexpected web of connections tying everyone together. It’s a book about finding your power, in more ways than one. I laughed and cried, and you will, too!
—Molly Knox Ostertag, author of The Witch Boy series