Our Community’s Favorite LGBTQIA+ Works

It’s easy to see how the Simonverse became a teen classic so quickly. Simon’s coming out story is a great blend of blackmail (yes, blackmail), lovable teenage hijinks, mystery (who is the email pen pal Simon is falling in love with?!), and cute romance. Becky Albertalli’s debut follows the typical high school formula — a Halloween party! Homecoming! Spirit Week! An Oliver! The Musical — with enough heart and charm that it will easily win you over.

The story on the pages of “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” lives up to the elegance of its cover and mouthful of a title. Aristotle (Ari) and Dante meet when they are 15-years-old at the local swimming pool. Despite being complete opposites, they strike up an instant friendship. As the story unfolds, Ari and Dante confront the challenges of family, culture, and sexuality. Reading this book has been a visceral reminder of how formative and raw our teenage years are, and the life-altering effects that happen when you meet that one person: your first love.

Get a behind-the-scenes tour of Jonathan Van Ness’s life before he stole the show on “Queer Eye.” Van Ness has always been so “Over the Top,” but his life hasn’t always been so gorgeous because of it: while growing up gay in the Midwest, he endured ridicule and abuse. Now, of course, he’s an icon for fashion and compassion, especially toward yourself. Revel in JVN’s story and advice.

“It is not surprising that the life I concocted at 23 for a not yet extant human did not turn out to apply. But the plot twists that came later were the ones I never saw coming. One surprising thing that happened, slowly … was that my son switched from shorts to skirts,” author Laurie Frankel wrote in a Literary Hub essay about her son transitioning to her daughter. Frankel draws from her personal family experience to write this big-hearted novel about a transgender child.