Hello, lovely readers! I hope the new year is treating all of you well. As I was putting together my most anticipated lists for 2019, I realized there were a lot of YA book with lgbt+ lead characters that were flying under the radar. I wanted to make sure everyone knew about the queer books that were coming out this year so I made this video and post to share with you all. I will be uploading a similar post for every month of 2019 so that no one misses out on these awesome titles.
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America - Edited by Ibi Zoboi
January 8
Black Enough is an anthology of coming-of-age stories about Black youth written by Black authors. The stories written by Kekla Magoon, Justina Ireland, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Jay Coles feature queer characters.
January 8
Black Enough is an anthology of coming-of-age stories about Black youth written by Black authors. The stories written by Kekla Magoon, Justina Ireland, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Jay Coles feature queer characters.
The Gilded Wolves - Roshani Chokshi
January 15
The Gilded Wolves is a historical fantasy set in 1889 Paris. It involves treasure hunting, secret societies, and ancient artifacts and has been described as National Treasure meets Six of Crows. The book features an ensemble cast with at least two queer characters as well as other representation. There is a gay boy, a bisexual boy, many characters of color, and a Jewish and autistic character.
January 15
The Gilded Wolves is a historical fantasy set in 1889 Paris. It involves treasure hunting, secret societies, and ancient artifacts and has been described as National Treasure meets Six of Crows. The book features an ensemble cast with at least two queer characters as well as other representation. There is a gay boy, a bisexual boy, many characters of color, and a Jewish and autistic character.
Firestarter - Tara Sim
January 15
Firestarter is the third and final book in the Timekeeper trilogy which is a steampunk historical fantasy series. This series features a m/m romance between a gay mechanic and a pansexual clock spirit.
January 15
Firestarter is the third and final book in the Timekeeper trilogy which is a steampunk historical fantasy series. This series features a m/m romance between a gay mechanic and a pansexual clock spirit.
Our Year of Maybe - Rachel Lynn Solomon
January 15
This is a dual POV contemporary novel about aspiring choreographer Sophie and her best friend and secret crush Peter whom she donates a kidney too when he is in need of a transplant. Even though he has also had feelings for Sophie, after the transplant, Peter starts having feelings for a fellow musician named Chase. Peter is bisexual and both main characters are Jewish.
January 15
This is a dual POV contemporary novel about aspiring choreographer Sophie and her best friend and secret crush Peter whom she donates a kidney too when he is in need of a transplant. Even though he has also had feelings for Sophie, after the transplant, Peter starts having feelings for a fellow musician named Chase. Peter is bisexual and both main characters are Jewish.
The Birds, The Bees, and You, and Me - Olivia Hinebaugh
January 22
This is a contemporary high school story about Lacey, a teenager who has never kissed anyone and hates breaking the rules. However, she starts to see how harmful her school’s assistance only sex-ed curriculum is and begins to campaign against it. The main romance is straight but one of the side characters is asexual and there are ace flags on the cover.
January 22
This is a contemporary high school story about Lacey, a teenager who has never kissed anyone and hates breaking the rules. However, she starts to see how harmful her school’s assistance only sex-ed curriculum is and begins to campaign against it. The main romance is straight but one of the side characters is asexual and there are ace flags on the cover.
Song of the Dead - Sarah Glenn Marsh
January 22
Song of the Dead the second and last book in the Reign of the Fallen duology. It is a high fantasy series about a necromancer named Odessa who is tasked with bringing dead nobility back to life and hunting dangerous shades to keep the kingdom safe. Odessa is bisexual and the series features a main f/f romance.
January 22
Song of the Dead the second and last book in the Reign of the Fallen duology. It is a high fantasy series about a necromancer named Odessa who is tasked with bringing dead nobility back to life and hunting dangerous shades to keep the kingdom safe. Odessa is bisexual and the series features a main f/f romance.
The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali - Sabina Khan
January 29
This is a contemporary novel about a girl from a conservative Muslim family who is living a double life by acting and dressing conservatively at home and only expressing herself when she is away from her parents. When she is caught kissing her secret girlfriend, her parents send her to Bangladesh and begin to arrange a marriage for her. Rukhsana has to decide how to fight for her love while not losing her entire sense of community and family. Rukhsana is a queer, Muslim girl in a f/f relationship. I believe she identifies as a lesbian but I have not been able to confirm this.
January 29
This is a contemporary novel about a girl from a conservative Muslim family who is living a double life by acting and dressing conservatively at home and only expressing herself when she is away from her parents. When she is caught kissing her secret girlfriend, her parents send her to Bangladesh and begin to arrange a marriage for her. Rukhsana has to decide how to fight for her love while not losing her entire sense of community and family. Rukhsana is a queer, Muslim girl in a f/f relationship. I believe she identifies as a lesbian but I have not been able to confirm this.
The Music of What Happens - Bill Konigsberg
January 29
This music of What Happens contemporary novel taking place over the course of a summer. Two boys, Max and Jordan, are complete opposites but find themselves having chemistry as they work together on a food truck. Both boys have secrets and they must face their fears and decide how much they want to risk to get the things they want most. It is a m/m romance. Max is gay and Mexican-American. I believe Jordan is also gay but I haven't been able to confirm how he identifies.
January 29
This music of What Happens contemporary novel taking place over the course of a summer. Two boys, Max and Jordan, are complete opposites but find themselves having chemistry as they work together on a food truck. Both boys have secrets and they must face their fears and decide how much they want to risk to get the things they want most. It is a m/m romance. Max is gay and Mexican-American. I believe Jordan is also gay but I haven't been able to confirm how he identifies.
The Cerulean - Amy Ewing
January 29
The Cerulean is a fantasy novel about a sapphic, polyamorous society. The main character, Sera, is chosen as a sacrifice to save their city in the sky but ends up surviving the fall. She finds herself in a completely different society and has to find a way to return home. The main character is the only straight person in her sapphic society and the main secondary character is a lesbian.
January 29
The Cerulean is a fantasy novel about a sapphic, polyamorous society. The main character, Sera, is chosen as a sacrifice to save their city in the sky but ends up surviving the fall. She finds herself in a completely different society and has to find a way to return home. The main character is the only straight person in her sapphic society and the main secondary character is a lesbian.
Death Prefers Blondes - Caleb Roehrig
January 29
Death Prefers Blondes is a mystery about a teenage socialite named Margo who, at night, pulls off high-stakes cat burglaries with a team of flamboyant young men. Her personal life takes a dark turn and her crew ends up in deadly peril so she and her four kickboxing drag queen friends must use their special skills to survive. Margo is bisexual.
January 29
Death Prefers Blondes is a mystery about a teenage socialite named Margo who, at night, pulls off high-stakes cat burglaries with a team of flamboyant young men. Her personal life takes a dark turn and her crew ends up in deadly peril so she and her four kickboxing drag queen friends must use their special skills to survive. Margo is bisexual.
Bloom - Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau
January 29
Bloom is a graphic novel about Ari who wants to move to the big city and quit working at his family’s bakery. While interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. Over time, the two begin to grow closer and romance ensues. This story is a m/m romance.
January 29
Bloom is a graphic novel about Ari who wants to move to the big city and quit working at his family’s bakery. While interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. Over time, the two begin to grow closer and romance ensues. This story is a m/m romance.
I hope this post helps you find some wonderful, queer releases this month! Let me know if I missed any YA titles that should be included in this post and tune in next month for my list of February titles. Happy reading!