Queer books, for very obvious reasons, are my favorites coming out this year. Here are several you should all be very excited about. Trans historical romance heroines, 1920s sapphic historical fantasy, Lesbian Knives Out, trans Achilles, queer dark academics, and gay goth wizards are all up there with some of my most anticipated releases.
Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Release date: February 1st from Avon
Genre: Adult Rom-com
From the author of Written in the Stars and Hang the Moon, Alexandria Bellefeur continues her astrology inspired series with a sapphic estranged friends-to-lovers rom-com. Margot doesn’t expect her best friend’s wedding planner to be the girl that broke her heart but after some unfortunate circumstances leave Olivia without a place to stay in Seattle Margot invites her to stay at her apartment. But Olivia’s close proximity to Margot makes her question their relationship, their past, and the possibility of second chances.
The Thousand Eyes by A.K. Larkwood
Release date: February 15th from Tor Books
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy
The sequel to A.K. Larkwood’s epic fantasy of gay goth wizards features walking disaster, Tal Charossa. While Csorwe and her mage girlfriend are cozy in their life together, Tal sulks in the aftermath of his defiance. But when the fragments of an angry goddess awaken, they find an ancient common enemy is all it takes to bring the band back together.
Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin
Release date: February 22nd from Tor Nightfire
Genre: Adult Horror
Trans women and men in a post-apocalyptic world survive by harvesting men’s organs. ManHunt follows Beth and Fran as they hunt the New England coast for feral men to ensure their fate. A story of survivors navigating TERFs, billionaires, and relationships.
Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
Release date: February 22nd from Berkley
Genre: Adult Rom-com
If you’re looking for a small-town romance but sapphic, be sure to add Ashley Herring Blake’s romantic comedy featuring a photographer and a single-mom bookseller. When a Delilah Green reluctantly returns to her hometown from New York City to her stepsister’s wedding, sparks fly when she meets a former mean girl. Forced together during wedding preparations, Claire Sutherland and Delilah Green discover they can’t resist each other.
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Release date: March 1st from Tor Books
Genre: Adult Fantasy, Dark Academia
From the viral Dark Academia it-girl of Tiktok, The Atlas Six features a shiny published edition for fans. Six powerful young rival magicians are selected to compete for a spot within The Alexandrian Society, protectors and benefactors of the world’s greatest source of knowledge.
The City of Dusk by Tara Sim
Release date: March 22nd from Orbit Books
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy
Tara Sim’s Adult fantasy debut, The City of Dusk, imagines a dark epic world for the queer goths. The first in the Dark Gods trilogy, the gods enact their vengeance against a vibrant metropolis, the city of dusk. An elementalist, a necromancer, a soldier, and a shadow-wielding rogue become the reluctant allies in a quest for their city.
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
Release date: May 10th from Tordotcom
Genre: Adult Fantasy
For fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, Nghi Vo envisions a magical inspired 1920s Hollywood in Siren Queen. A coming-of-age story about the dangers of the movie business for Chinese American girls like Luli Wei. She’s desperate to be a star, even if it means playing the monster. But the real monsters are behind the screen.
A Lady For A Duke by Alexis Hall
Release date: May 24th from Forever
Genre: Historical Romance
In a Queer historical romance, A Lady For A Duke features a romance between trans woman and her best friend. Presumed dead at the battle of Waterloo, Viola decided to live her life as she deserved. But with that transition, she lost her title and her wealth.
Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane
Release date: June 7th from William Morrow
Genre: Adult Speculative
Debut author Maya Deane reignites The Iliad through the perspective of a trans woman in Wrath Goddess Sing. Achilles fled her home to live her life with the transgender priestesses of the Great Mother Aphrodite. Achilles is goddess-blessed with everything she’s ever wanted: glory, power, fame, victory in war, a child born of her own body. A spin on the infamous tale, for fans of Song of Achilles and the Inheritance trilogy.
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian
Release date: June 7th from Avon
Genre: Historical Romance
The Duchess of Clare has just shot her husband. Marian Haynes flees her evil husband to the countryside, finding help in a charismatic criminal. Rob Brooks is a highwayman, a con artist, and cheerful villain. He can’t resist this woman who tied him up in a seedy inn, covered in her husband’s blood. In the companion novel to The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, Cat Sebastian returns to a queer Georgian London bisexual romance with The Perfect Crimes of Marian Haynes.
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
Release date: June 21st from TorDotCom
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy
If the Goblin Emperor via a Queer Magnificent Century sounds absolutely delicious to you, then look forward to A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland. A Queer slow burn romantic fantasy inspired by the Ottoman Empire, a shy prince and a cold hearted bodyguard get on each other’s nerves when he gets involved in a conspiracy.
A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows
Release date: July 26th from Tor Books
Genre: Adult Fantasy
If you’re ready to succumb to another queer romantic fantasy with arranged marriage, then A Strange and Stubborn Endurance should be on your list. Velasin vin Aaro prefers men in a nation that expects he marry a woman. When a diplomatic union between him and a woman from Tithena is ruined, his future promises a sultry romance with her brother instead when they are arranged to be married.
A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
Release date: July 26th from TorDotCom
Genre: Adult Fantasy
In the companion to Freya Marske’s romantic historical fantasy series, comes a shipboard romance which the author describes as a Lesbian Knives Out.
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