queer book recommendations that are **actually** good

[@allenscottrogers5106]

We love James Baldwin in this house

[@bonsaidaddy9970]

the song of achilles BROKE ME like i didn't expect a booktok book to have that much of an effect on me

[@smilingplum]

No literally! I had no expectations and not was I taken on a TRIP with that book. It was so beautiful and I was so emotional throughout the entirety of reading it.

[@shanii_lvh]

If you’re into sapphic/intense love and despair etc, I would recommend The Songs of Bilitis! It’s written as though it’s fragmentary remains by an ancient Greek poet, but it’s actually quite a great read. There’s some beautiful lines, and it’s on kindle for like 75p! (there are some portrayals of men x women love but the main focus is woman x woman) I think it’s one of my favourite books.

[@phlegethcn]

can i just say that i love your vibe? this is only the second video of yours i've seen (first was the fall recs one) but you seem cool so i'll be sticking around. for recs i second these violent delights by micah nemerever it's my favorite book ever even just the mention of it makes me feel insane. other books i liked: - if we were villains - m.l. rio (adult mystery/thriller) - paradise rot - jenny hval (adult, sapphic, okay i didn't Love this but it was weird and unlike anything i've ever read before, it's very short and there's a lot of pee in this book in case that's something that would make you uncomfortable) - crier's war + iron heart (duology, ya sapphic fantasy romance about a human girl and a girl who's "made") - the dead and the dark - courtney gould (sapphic ya, mystery/paranormal) - the lesbiana's guide to catholic school - sonora reyes (ya romcom) - i wish you all the best - mason deaver (ya contemporary romance w nonbinary mc) - radio silence - alice oseman (ya, more character driven than about romance but this is alice's best book in my opinion. but you can read their other books as well) - anger is a gift - mark oshiro (ya, again not romance focused) i honestly haven't read ya in a while but i do remember liking all of those. i'm hunting for good queer adult recs. here are some that i've heard of but not yet read: - gideon the ninth - tamsyn muir (part of a series, described as lesbian necromancers in space?) - the priory of the orange tree - samantha shannon (standalone fantasy w dragons and sapphics) - this is how you lose the time war - amal el-mohtar and max gladstone (sapphic, time travel) - honey girl - morgan rogers (contemporary romance, lesbian) sorry for the long comment. if you read any of these i can't wait to hear what you think of them. hope you're having a nice day

[@smilingplum]

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much and welcome! I will definitely add all of those to my TBR and will read ALL of them

[@beth4389]

I love the top that you're wearing

[@HeiferTheHeliumHuffer]

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden (coming of age story about two young lesbians w/ a happy ending), The Dark Wife by Sarah Diemer (Hades and Persephone retelling but Hades is a woman), All Boys Aren'T Blue by George M Johnson (this one is non-fiction), Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal Al-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (sapphic sci-fi) - these are all relatively tame for a general audience with mild triggers aside from All Boys Aren'T Blue, trigger should be checked just in case.

[@carolinh4236]

this channel feels so cozy

[@smilingplum]

🕊️🎀💖

[@clairefillbrandt9474]

i really really enjoyed her name in the sky by kelly quindlen and we are okay by nina lacour! both lesbian romances

[@smilingplum]

Oooooo thank you!! Will check those out 💗

[@love_vallll]

i literally NEEDED this, so thank you so so much

[@smilingplum]

Yay yay yay✨🎀

[@sarahsho9799]

some of my favs were on this list, but here are some more that you NEED to check out swimming in the dark (they read giovannis room in it!!) sedating elaine (very unhinged) just as you are

[@pointybeetle]

i am absolutely in love with your videos omg………… we love weird girls on booktube

[@smilingplum]

Thank you! Checking out your channel now too 🥰💗✨

[@astrosoma222]

okay definitely recommend "ravages" by Violette Leduc and "oranges are not the only fruit" by Jeanette Winterson 🥺

[@maryamjuma1704]

i’d recommend sirens and muses by antonia angress 😊

[@Idunsofie]

If you love Hamlet, sci-fi, and locked-room mysteries, I cannot recommend The Death I Gave Him enough. I absolutely loved the book. It is a hamlet retelling (Hamlet is my favourite Shakespeare play, it is phenomenal. and horatio and hamlet are incredible), but set in 2047, and has sci-fi elements. I think that if you have read hamlet previously you will be getting a lot of beautiful easter eggs, whether they were intentional or not. I cannot put into words how good the book actually was, even though i knew the plot of hamlet, knowing honestly made the story better to me. The ending is a hopeful one (You will be feeling a lot of emotions thoughout, but the book is so worth it.) It became one of my all-time favourites, my review on goodreads was over 2800 words long because I just had so much to say about it, it was an AMAZING read. And gay :D

[@smilingplum]

Yessssss!!!! Thank you 💗🕊️

[@analyn1313]

Last Night at the Telegraph Club is one of my all time favorites! Would recommend.

[@simarisblack3748]

There’s retelling of Carmilla that is soooo good and very underrated it’s called Carmilla & Laura by SD simper It is a very good book in my opinion.

[@StellaBezemer]

Lie with me by Philippe Besson is a lovely one too, it's a tad sad but beautiful

[@smilingplum]

I will definitely check that out!!! Thank you!

[@lianadelaine]

For lit fic I recommend milk fed or the rachel incident, for fantasy I recommend priory of the orange tree and if you want to cry, song of Achilles is perfect👌

[@melxcx]

one last stop by casey mcquiston is such a lovely book!!! i also love ander & santi were here by jonny garza villa, this one is YA and it tells the story of a nonbinary teen who falls in love with an undocumented boy. it made me sob, but i loved every second of it. ive heard good things about our wives under the sea! i think its within the horror genre.

[@smilingplum]

Ooooo so many recs!!! Thank you!!!! 💖😭

[@mynameissiddharth]

I've read Baldwin's _Giovanni's Room_ . Great book. But, I'm upset you didn't mention the following 3 books. They are among the best books that deal with homosexuality. 1. _The Well of Loneliness_ by Radclyffe Hall. 2. _Maurice_ by E. M. Forster. 3. _Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit_ by Jeanette Winterson.

[@susannak4368]

My favorites are these violent delights by micah nemerever and swimming in the dark!!

[@smilingplum]

Thank you!!!! I’m going to add them to my TBR ✨🎀

[@sagaki_]

a lesbian book that i’ve heard a lot about is carmilla by j. sheridan le fanu (haven’t read it yet, but it’s supposed to be good!!)

[@smilingplum]

Ooooooooooo thank you✨

[@cookiegamer3696]

Thank you!

[@smilingplum]

Thank YOU 🕊️

[@emospider9296]

saw the title and automatically subscribed

[@smilingplum]

Yay!! Welcome, friend!

[@rubyruthw]

thank u

[@smilingplum]

💓💓💓

[@ayoolukoga9829]

Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read. Isaiah 34:16

[@smilingplum]

I have