logo
11 New Young Adult LGBTQ+ Books You Should Read for Pride Month

11 New Young Adult LGBTQ+ Books You Should Read for Pride Month

It's time for Pride month, and I'm here to tell you about some of the many, many LGBTQ+ books coming out in June 2025, starting with books for young adults. From romcoms to horror, there's something for every reader to celebrate in their own way.
Here's a list of Young Adult LGBTQ+ books to read for Pride! Young Adult LGBTQ+ Books June 3 I'll Pretend You're Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan
Pop star Summer Ali is finally free from her controlling stage parents and ready to chart her own course. When writer's block stalls her momentum, she agrees to a risky PR stunt: a fake romance with reformed tabloid heartthrob Jules Moradi. At first, Jules keeps things strictly business—but as the facade slips, Summer discovers the real man behind the headlines. And the more real their connection becomes, the more Summer must ask herself: Is chasing her dream worth risking her heart?
I'll Pretend You're Mine is a powerful book about unlearning abuse, the road to recovery and regaining agency. Tashie Bhuiyan's newest release features a pansexual protagonist, fake dating and the wild world of the music industry. Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales
Princess Rose of Henland is focused on salvaging her reputation after a scandal cost her the public's trust, and her best friend. Distraction is not an option. But then Danni arrives. A gifted pianist on scholarship at Rose's elite boarding school, Danni expects to be an outsider. Instead, she's unexpectedly welcomed, especially by the intriguing, tightly wound princess. As sparks fly between them, so do the rumors. With the palace watching and gossip mounting, Rose and Danni must choose: keep their growing feelings hidden, or risk everything for a chance at love. Because if Rose slips up again, the crown won't hesitate to tear them apart.
Sophie Gonzales knows how to write a YA romance. With a vibrant, light writing style and well developed characters, Nobody in Particular is a great way to start off Pride month. Lady's Knight by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Gwen is tired of hiding: her blacksmithing skills, her dreams of knighthood, and especially her attraction to girls. Lady Isobelle of Avington has never had to hide anything, until she's named the prize in a tournament where the victor wins her hand. Desperate for a way out, she strikes a deal with Gwen: Gwen will enter the tournament disguised as a knight, and if she wins, they'll both get what they want—freedom and glory. But as sparks fly and dragons loom, one thing becomes clear; love was never part of the plan, but it might just change everything.
An irresistibly fierce, laugh-out-loud queer feminist romp through medieval England, Lady's Knight delivers an epic quest full of valor, freedom and unexpected love. Bestselling authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner bring sharp wit and big heart to a story that's part A Knight's Tale and part My Lady Jane , with a splash of The Great .
RELATED: New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on June 3 Kill Creatures by Rory Power
Last summer, Nan's three best friends vanished in Saltcedar Canyon. She's spent the year grieving – and hiding the truth. Because Nan knows what no one else does: she's the one who killed them. Now, on the anniversary, their families gather for a memorial. But the vigil is shattered when one of the missing girls returns…alive. Everyone is thrilled. Everyone, that is, except Nan.
Kill Creatures is an atmospheric, fast-paced thriller about secrets, jealousy and revenge. I love Rory Power's work, and her new book release is perfect for fans of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and Gone Girl . Devils Like Us by L.T. Thompson
Cas has two secrets: their discomfort with their gender, and visions of death that never lie. They only broke that rule once, and it cost them their best friend, Remy. Remy's spent years hunting the secret society that stole her father. She doesn't need Cas, or their version of the past. And Finn, hopelessly in love with Remy, is hiding a bargain with deadly consequences. When Cas sees a future none of them can survive, the three must reunite to face buried secrets, forbidden magic and the truth about who they really are before time runs out.
Our Flag Means Death meets The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue in this YA historical fantasy about three queer and trans teens. L.T. Thompson's debut has just the right amount of scary elements alongside themes of found family and self-discovery, making it a great Pride month adventure.
RELATED: LGBTQ+ Books to Keep Pride Going for the Rest of 2025 June 10 Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli
Amelia Applebaum is not in love with moderately famous, chaotically bisexual YouTuber Walter Holland. She just invited him to prom—totally ironically. (Unless he says yes.) When a surprise meet-and-greet offers a chance to finally meet Walter, Amelia convinces her best friends to hit the road for one last adventure before graduation. Even Natalie, her newly single, guitar-strumming, cynicism-fueled best friend, is in. But somewhere between the playlists, gas station snacks, and promposals, Amelia starts to wonder: what if the butterflies she's chasing aren't for Walter at all?
Becky Albertalli, the queen of Pride YA, is back with a new story of a fantastic, fully-realized friend group. Amelia, If Only is perfect for anyone who's ever had a slightly parasocial relationship with a celebrity. Finding Prince Charming by Jamar J. Perry
Tyriq Howell is done with love. After his cheating ex costs him a college scholarship interview, he swears off dating until Desmond, a charming guy from the scholarship office, offers him a second chance. The catch? Tyriq has to pose as Desmond's date to a swanky gala. Tyriq expects awkward small talk and fancy snacks, not the revelation that Desmond is Prince Desmond of Catalina. Now that they've been outed as a couple, the palace is calling. When Desmond begs Tyriq to keep up the act a little longer – to help convince the King he's serious about coming out and giving the crown to his sister – Tyriq agrees. But between navigating royal expectations and very real feelings, Tyriq may have broken his biggest rule: never fall in love again.
With elements of Red, White and Royal Blue and Coming to America , Finding Prince Charming is a swoony love story. Jamar J. Perry's YA debut has star-crossed lovers, fake dating and a truly royal romance.
RELATED: 10 More LGBTQ+ Webtoon Series to Read for Pride Month June 17 America's Not-So-Sweetheart by Blair Hanson
Alec Braud may have won Campfire Wars, but betraying fan-favorite Joaquín Delgado made him the most hated teen in America. But Joaquín forgave him, so why can't anyone else? When Joaquín invites him on a road trip to recreate iconic movie kisses, Alec sees a chance to fix his image—and maybe their relationship. But as fake kisses start to feel real and a shot at Campfire Wars: All-Stars looms, Alec must choose between chasing redemption on-screen or something real off-camera.
America's Not-So-Sweetheart is messy and witty with a unique premise. Blair Hanson's writing blurs moral lines and doesn't shy away from big emotional moments. If We Survive This by Racquel Marie
Six months into a rabies mutation outbreak that's turned people into violent 'rabids,' Flora Braddock Paz is still alive – despite never seeing herself as a survivor. With her mother dead and father missing, she and her brother set out for their childhood cabin in Northern California, hoping for safety and answers. But the road north is littered with danger, old wounds, and the truth that death is never far behind.
The Walking Dead meets Yellowjackets in Racquel Marie's tense and emotional YA horror novel. I f We Survive This is her first horror novel, but it's also an intense, moving character study just right for anyone that wants to add some healthy fear to their Pride month.
RELATED: 6 Great Books to Help Satisfy Your Yellowjackets Craving June 24 A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek
Raised by a sorcerer, Odile is ready to pull off the heist of a lifetime: impersonate a princess, steal the king's enchanted crown and restore magic to the realm. But when someone murders the king, Odile must team up with the real Princess Marie d'Odette. Falling for her, however, was never part of the plan.
A Treachery of Swans is a sapphic Swan Lake retelling full of deception, magic and impossible choices. A.B. Poranek's second novel is perfect for Pride month, and perfect for fans of Allison Saft and V.E Schwab. Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones
Eli Jones never knew other witches existed, until he meets James and discovers the magical world of the Arcana. As Eli, James and their friends dig into the truth behind their parents' deaths and the Arcana's ruling Majors, they uncover a dangerous curse that ties them all together. To survive, they'll have to unravel dark secrets, challenge powerful forces and decide who they ultimately want to become.
Debut author-illustrator Sam Prentice-Jones explores defying fate and confronting ancestral legacies in his tarot-inspired fantasy graphic novel. Arcana: The Lost Heirs is a strong start to a promising new series.
These are just a few of the amazing new Young Adult LGBTQ+ books coming out this Pride month. All are available for purchase or preorder now at your local, queer-owned bookstore or Bookshop.org. What are you reading to celebrate Pride this year? Let us know below, and happy reading!
Sapphics with Swords: 6 Books Featuring Queer Lady Warriors

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Iconic '60s Rocker Talks Wild Times With Elton John, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and More
Iconic '60s Rocker Talks Wild Times With Elton John, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and More

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Iconic '60s Rocker Talks Wild Times With Elton John, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and More

Iconic '60s Rocker Talks Wild Times With Elton John, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and More originally appeared on Parade. An iconic '60s heartthrob singer/songwriter gave a new interview divulging all of the fun shenanigans he had back in the day, in honor of turning 80 in 2025. , the last surviving member of the 1960s music group and TV series , regaled People with stories of seeing American debut, nabbing Jimi Hendrix as an opening act for The Monkees (which was a disaster), and hanging out with the Beatles. On being at the legendary Hollywood club The Troubadour with the likes of Alice Cooper, Harry Nilsson, and : "It was the 'go-to' place. That was where we went all the time. Doug Weston was the impresario, and he helped introduce Elton John, Buffalo Springfield, Neil Diamond, . Just an incredible list."Dolenz went on to say he watched Elton John debut there in 1970 — and they accidentally wore the same outfit. "We went down to the Troubadour. My wife at the time had just got back from England…she'd always bring me these great clothes from Carnaby Street and all that stuff. [This time] she brought me this great T-shirt. It was a reproduction of the Andy Warhol [silkscreen] of Marilyn Monroe — the multiple images that he did. I wore that to the show, and my friend said, 'Come over to the afterparty at my house and meet Elton.' So I go over there and Elton John's in the kitchen leaning up against the refrigerator, drinking a beer … wearing the same T-shirt. And, I swear to God, he takes one look at me and he goes, 'Oh f**k!' And he never forgave me," said Dolenz. In 1967, he hung out with at his house in London, "Just me, him and Martha the sheepdog," the Monkees drummer next day, McCartney invited Dolenz to the Abbey Road studios and he was so excited that he got all dressed up in his psychedelic '60s finest — "I looked like a cross between Ronald McDonald and Charlie Manson" — and when he got there, everyone was just sitting around casually and John Lennon said to Dolenz, "Hey Monkee Man, you want to hear what we're working on?" "From then on, he called me Monkee Man," said Dolenz. The singer also made a brief mention to People that he invited a young Jimi Hendrix to open for the Monkees, and both Dolenz and the Monkees' music director were "pleasantly surprised by the reaction" they got. However, the Hendrix/Monkees pairing was notoriously terrible. According to The History Channel, the four Monkees members — Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork — were all huge fans of Hendrix, but unfortunately, the Monkees' fans were not. Hendrix joined the tour in 1967 and only lasted for seven performances before he bailed because he was constantly getting booed by Monkees fans. As Dolenz wrote in his book I'm a Believer, "Jimi would amble out onto the stage, fire up the amps and break into 'Purple Haze,' and the kids in the audience would instantly drown him out with, 'We want Daaavy [Jones]. God, was it embarrassing." 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 But in the book, Dolenz acknowledged what a massive fan of Hendrix the Monkees all were, especially him, writing, "[Hendrix was] not just your ordinary opening act. It was evident from the start that we were witness to a rare and phenomenal talent. Jimi was virtually the only act I ever made a point of getting to the hall early to see. I would stand in the wings and watch and listen in awe. I felt incredibly lucky just to have been there." So it's funny that the People interview has such a casual, brief mention of Hendrix because that tour was quite the debacle. But anyway, in the People interview, Dolenz also admitted he has a hilariously terrible memory sometimes, like the one time someone asked him if he'd ever met frontman and Dolenz said he saw Morrison play, but he never met him, then his wife jumped in and said, "Micky, he slept on the living floor for three days at our house!" Iconic '60s Rocker Talks Wild Times With Elton John, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and More first appeared on Parade on Jun 4, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.

Micky Dolenz Making Rare Appearance With 'Legendary' Piece of Monkees Memorabilia
Micky Dolenz Making Rare Appearance With 'Legendary' Piece of Monkees Memorabilia

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Micky Dolenz Making Rare Appearance With 'Legendary' Piece of Monkees Memorabilia

Micky Dolenz Making Rare Appearance With 'Legendary' Piece of Monkees Memorabilia originally appeared on Parade. Drummer is the last surviving member of the hit 1960s group , which started as a fictional band for an NBC sitcom and turned into a music phenomenon. Dolenz still tours, rocking out to his favorite Monkees songs (or other songs that have special meaning to him), and he also does appearances. At one such appearance this summer at Nickel City Comic Con, he will be doing a photo op with the original, iconic, "legendary" Monkeemobile. "Get ready to monkee around with one of the most iconic rides in TV & music history! 🔥," announced Nickel City Comic Con on Instagram. "The legendary Monkeemobile is pulling into Nickel City Comic Con! And guess what? Micky Dolenz himself will be doing photo ops with this one-of-a-kind ride! Don't miss your chance to snap a pic with a music and pop culture legend! Get your tickets now at Nickel City Comic Con is held annually in Buffalo, New York. This year's dates are June 27-29 and celebrities include Danny Trejo, Randy Quaid, Beverly D'Angelo, Jon Heder, Michael Biehn, Gabrielle Carteris, Christine Elise, Ric Flair, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Dolenz and many famous Monkeemobile was used all the time on the show (though there actually two separate Monkeemobiles). It was a bright red 1966 Pontiac GTO modified with special accessories to make it unique for The Monkees. It was made by Dean Jeffries, a stuntman and car customizer who was also the man responsible for The Green Hornet's car Black Beauty, and various futuristic hover cars for Logan's Run. Among the modifications are "a very tall split windshield, a third row of seats where the rear deck was, a T-bucket-type convertible top, large fender flares, exaggerated taillamps, and even a parachute. The show's producers wanted a flamboyant car, and Dean delivered in spades," according to The site also says that over 7 million model kits of the Monkeemobile were sold, a number only surpassed by The Dukes of Hazzard's General Lee. In an interview with the site in 2001, Jeffries said that the producers of the show couldn't decide which kind of car they wanted to use until the last minute and then the customizers worked "around the clock for four weeks to get the cars done in time" — they made two versions of the car, one for use on the show and one for display at car shows and promotional events. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Micky Dolenz Making Rare Appearance With 'Legendary' Piece of Monkees Memorabilia first appeared on Parade on Jun 5, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.

Last Surviving Member of The Monkees Writes Poignant Tribute to Late Bandmates: 'Magic'
Last Surviving Member of The Monkees Writes Poignant Tribute to Late Bandmates: 'Magic'

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Last Surviving Member of The Monkees Writes Poignant Tribute to Late Bandmates: 'Magic'

Last Surviving Member of The Monkees Writes Poignant Tribute to Late Bandmates: 'Magic' originally appeared on Parade. burst on the scene in the mid-1960s as a fictional band created for a TV show on NBC. But they became so popular with viewers that the show's songs were released on LPs and the band recorded two studio albums and went out on several tours. Unfortunately, after the cancellation of the show in 1968, The Monkees only lasted two more years together. But they did reunite over the years several times for concerts. However, by now in 2025, there is only one surviving member left — drummer , who turned 80 years old in March. Lead singer Davy Jones died in 2012, and bassist Peter Tork died in 2019. In 2021, drummer Dolenz and guitarist Michael Nesmith went on a farewell tour, and Nesmith sadly passed away from heart failure just weeks after the tour Wednesday, June 4, Dolenz made a TikTok video remembering his bandmates as their hit 1967 song "Words" plays over top. It was one of several Monkees' hits where Dolenz was the lead singer; he shared the lead on "Words" with Tork. In the caption, Dolenz wrote, "It's Wednesday, halfway to the weekend, and I've got 'Words' on my mind. "Every time I hear this one, I think back to those days on set with Davy, Mike, and Peter — the laughs, the late nights, and the magic that somehow happened between takes (and often during them). "We were just a bunch of guys trying to keep up with the whirlwind, and somehow, we made something that still means so much to so many. "So here's to midweek memories — and the music that brings them back." 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 In the comments, fans are gushing about the sweet message and wonderful video of old footage, with one writing, "I love any Monkees footage of you four as a band! Live 1967 is my favorite live album of all time, you absolutely rose to the occasion and nailed it as a real rock band 🔥." Another fan wrote, "Micky, you are and always will be my wife's favorite Monkee. Thanks for being so nice to her when we were one of the sponsors of your concert for the library in Mount Dora." Last Surviving Member of The Monkees Writes Poignant Tribute to Late Bandmates: 'Magic' first appeared on Parade on Jun 4, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store