9 Lovely LGBT Books That Have Nothing To Do With Coming Out
Discover your next favorite LGBT book!
LGBT Books That Aren't About Coming Out
If you're a member of the LGBTQIA2S community, you know how refreshing it can sometimes be to read LGBT books that have nothing to do with coming out. This isn't to say coming out stories don't have their place. Years ago, I came out as bisexual and when I realized I was a lesbian, I had to come out again. Each time I meet new people, I have to come out. When I first suspected I wasn't straight, I gobbled up LGBT books, many of which were about coming out.
Now that I'm older, though, I want other stories. I want to read about LGBTQIA2S people living their lives. I want to read about people I can relate to going to school, having families, struggling and helping each other in times of need. I want to read about us falling in love and getting our happily-ever-afters.
Coming out stories will always have their place in LGBT fiction, as it should, but we need stories about every aspect of life too, and that's the purpose of this article and the books include. These books are all LGBT books that aren't about coming out. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
1. Learning Curves by Ceillie Simkiss
Learning Curves by Ceillie Simkiss is a sweet romance between Puerto Rican law student and lesbian, Elena Mendez, and freelance writer, business student, and panromantic asexual, Cora McLaughlin. Close to obtaining her degree, Elena won't tolerate distractions. Not even romantic ones. She really didn't expect that lending her notes to equally career-driven Cora would change her life. The more time they spend together in the library, the stronger their friendship grows, a friendship that soon grows into more. And they learn love doesn't have to be a distraction at all.
Purchase Learning Curves here.
2. Hold Me by Courtney Milan
Featuring a trans woman and a bisexual man who wind up with their happily-ever-after by the end, Courtney Milan's Hold Me is about workaholic Jay na Thalang who thinks his friend's sister Maria Lopez is a bit of an airhead despite being attracted to her. Maria started a blog that somehow exploded in popularity, but has always managed to keep her identity secret. But she's been interacting with a frequent commenter for eighteen months now, comments that have turned into emails and then chats. What they don't know is that they already know and dislike each other and yet have been falling for each other just the same.
3. Idlewild by Jude Sierra
Prior to the beginning of Jude Sierra's novel, Idlewild, Asher Schenck and his husband opened a gastro pub in Detroit. Then he lost his husband. Now Idlewild needs new life, so Asher hires new staff, and among them is Tyler Heyward, a man who recently earned his degree and is now needs funds for med school. It doesn't take long for Asher and Tyler's relationship to grow beyond boss and employee in this tale about love and healing after tragedy.
4. Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
By Two-Spirit author, Joshua Whitehead, Jonny Appleseed follows a young Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer named Jonny Appleseed. Jonny left the reservation for the big city and now works as a cybersex worker. In a week, Jonny must return home for the funeral of his stepfather. Those seven days pass like a "fevered dream," full of sex, love, trauma, ambition, kinship, and the "heartbreaking recollection of his beloved kokum (grandmother)." During this time, Jonny discovers how to sew together the broken pieces of his life.
5. Storm Season by Pene Hensen
In Pene Hensen's Storm Season, Sydney Lien Hong has been camping with friends as they make their way to a music festival in New South Wales. Or, at least she was until she got separated from her friends and had a bad fall. As a storm approaches, Sydney gets rescued by Claudia Sokolov, a beautiful wilderness ranger. Claudia takes Sydney to her nearby cabin to wait out the weather. During that time, Sydney feels a growing connection to Claudia, one like she's never experienced before. One that will change her life forever.
6. Thaw by Elyse Springer
The second book in Elyse Springer's Seasons of Love series, Thaw is about Abigail, a biromantic asexual woman content with the quiet life she lives as a librarian. But an invited to a charity auction changes everything. Abby somehow ends up dancing with supermodel Gabrielle Levesque. Gabrielle is the most beautiful woman Abby has ever met and she's bisexual. Still, Abby's surprised when Gabrielle later calls to ask her on a date. Gabrielle knows of her reputation as the Ice Queen, but there's something about Abby that makes her warm up. Can two women from two entirely different worlds overcome their fears and secrets for a chance at love?
7. Not a Game by Cardeno C.
In Cardeno C.'s Not a Game, when Oliver Barnaby gets a job offer from the best boutique game developer in the country, it's the perfect excuse to leave Oklahoma and start over. Maybe he'll even land a boyfriend. Jaime Snow seems as if he has the perfect life, but that doesn't stop him from feeling empty. Oliver and Jaime meet in a bar and feel and instant connection to each other. They soon discover sex is the easy part, but must find out that, if they they want forever, they'll have to learn to trust each other first.
8. Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian
Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian is about Robert Selby, someone of no connections or money, determined to find an advantageous match for his sister. The thing about Robert Selby is he isn't real and is someone Charity Church, a housemaid invented, to help a friend marry well. Once she does, Robert will disappear. After having the family estate ruined by his father, Alistair, Marquess of Pembroke, is determined to protect both name and fortune. Bisexual Alistair is smitten with the young man who shows up at his door, asking him for a favor, but when he discovers Robert isn't a man, he's scared about the scandal Charity could bring. No one will get Charity to act like a respectable woman. Charity is a nonbinary character who uses she/her pronouns.
Get Unmasked by the Marquess here.
9. Recipe for Love: A Farm-to-Table Romance by Aurora Rey
Aurora Rey's Recipe for Love is the story of butch/femme couple, Hannah Little and Chef Drew Davis. Hannah isn't too interested in catering to the needs of fancy restaurants of hotshot chefs, but she does need them for her farm, Three Willows, to survive. For once, a local restaurant contacts her about her produce, thrilling Hannah. However, that means working with the restaurants hotshot (and simply hot) chef from New York. Eager to run her own kitchen one day, Drew takes a job at a farm-to-table restaurant that will help get her there faster. Hopefully. In the meantime, a certain farmer may prove to be a nice distraction from small town living.
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