7 of the Most Exciting New Queer Books Out May 7, 2024
Including a gay historical sports romance, sapphic cozy fantasy, Brittney Griner's memoir, and more.
Today’s Our Queerest Shelves is brought to you by: Penguin Teen
From bestselling Gender Queer author Maia Kobabe and University of Michigan professor Sarah Peitzmeier.
A graphic guide to chest binding with real-life stories and research-backed advice from bestselling Gender Queer author MAIA KOBABE and University of Michigan professor SARAH PEITZMEIER.
Breathe is both a practical resource for trans and nonbinary folks and an engaging and perspective-broadening read for anyone interested in what it means to be on a journey of expressing one’s gender in ways that are joyful, healthy, and affirming. Find out more about Penguin Teen here!
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Today is one of the biggest release dates of the year, and I had such a hard time narrowing down which books to feature! I’m saving the children’s and YA releases for Thursday, but even still, I had to leave off 20 new releases, many of which I’m also excited about. It’s an embarrassment of new LGBTQ book riches. (Oh, and our sponsor today is also out this week!)
New LGBTQ Releases This Week
Cinema Love by Jiaming Tang (Gay Fiction)
This literary fiction title follows gay men and the women they marry from 1980s China to 2020s Chinatown in New York City. Bao Mei used to sell tickets to closeted gay men like Old Second at the Workers’ Cinema, where the men met up in secret. She was having her own affair at the cinema, with the projectionist. When the safety of the theater collapses, though, Old Second and Bao Mei agree to get married and immigrate to the U.S. together.
You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian (M/M Historical Romance)
This is one of the most-anticipated queer releases of May. Mark is a reporter in the 1960s who’s stuck interviewing the obnoxious New York shortstop for his whole first season. Eddie is having a tough enough time on the team, so he’s also reluctant, but neither of them are exactly given a choice. Mark is still mourning the death of his partner, the one no one knew about. He’s vowed to never have a secret relationship again — but now Mark and Eddie are falling for each other…
Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni (F/F Romance)
Ellie is attending PakCon, a food packaging conference, on behalf of her parents’ business — and for the chance to land them a Superbowl ad spot. There, she meets Vanya, and they immediately hit it off. They have so much in common, including both being Armenian and living in the Bay area. But then they discover another connection they share: their parents, with their competing businesses, are sworn enemies.
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne (F/F Fantasy)
This sapphic fantasy was originally self-published, and now it’s being republished by Tor (specifically, Bramble, the romance imprint of Tor). This new edition has sprayed edges, if that tempts you! It’s about Reyna and Kianthe, who just want to run a tea shop together. But Kianthe is a powerful mage and Reyna is one of the Queen’s guard, so they’re reluctantly pulled into adventures. Opinions differ on whether this counts as cozy fantasy, since there’s a lot of action and adventure, but either way, there are plenty of cozy moments between the dragon fights!
The Brides of High Hill (The Singing Hills Cycle #5) by Nghi Vo (Nonbinary Fantasy)
This is the newest in the Singing Hills Cycle, which follows a nonbinary scribe as they record stories from across this fantasy world. The Brides of High Hill is a gothic mystery, where Cleric Chih and a bride-to-be explore the mystery of Lord Guo's previous wives and search the halls of this possibly haunted estate.
Coming Home by Brittney Griner with Michelle Burford (Lesbian Memoir)
Here’s another book I named as one of the biggest new LGBTQ titles of the month! I’ll just quote myself: “There are a ton of great queer books coming out in May, but this is the biggest and most-anticipated new release. For the first time, WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Griner opens up about her time in a Russian penal colony and how she finally came home. She also discusses how her wife, friends, and family kept her hopeful during a terrifying time.”
The Jellyfish by Boum, translated by Robin Lang and Helge Dascher (Nonbinary Graphic Novel)
Odette’s life is going pretty well: they enjoy their job at the bookstore — including getting a crush on a customer — and they even have an adorable pet rabbit. There’s just one problem: there’s a jellyfish in front of one of their eyes that no one else can see. Then, the jellyfish starts multiplying. Reviews say this graphic novel effectively portrays the experience of losing your sight.
✨ Paid subscribers can find 20 more LGBTQ books out this week at the end of this post! ✨
For more new releases, check out our New Books newsletter and the New Release Index — you can even filter by queer books!
Queer Bookish Goodies
This woven throw blanket features a quote by Black lesbian feminist author Audre Lorde: "I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own." $85
That's it for me! Until next time, you can find me at my sapphic book blog the Lesbrary. You can hear me on All the Books, and you can also read my Book Riot posts and subscribe to my other Book Riot newsletter, Read Harder.
Happy reading!
Danika
Book Riot has podcasts to keep your ears listening for days! Check them out and subscribe.
20 More LGBTQ Books Out This Week
Pathologies: The Downfall of Johan van Vere de With by Jacob Isräel de Haan, translated by Brian Doyle–Du Breuil (Gay Fiction)
How It Works Out by Myriam Lacroix (Sapphic Fiction)
The Last Syrian by Omar Youssef Souleimane, translated by Ghada Mourad (Gay Fiction)
Bad Seed: Stories by Gabriel Carle, translated by Heather Houde (Queer Short Stories)
Sluts: Anthology edited by Michelle Tea (LGBTQ Anthology)
Love Cake by Douglas Bell Trans (F/M Romance)
Dulhaniyaa: A Desi Lesbian Romance by Talia Bhatt (F/F Romance)
Stars of Chaos: Sha Po Lang (Novel) Vol. 3 by Priest (M/M Steampunk)
Snowblooded by Emma Sterner-Radley (Sapphic Fantasy)
The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin (Queer Fantasy)
The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller (Bisexual/Sapphic Horror)
Cheryl by Jillian Fleck (Lesbian Graphic Novel)
I'm in Love with the Villainess (Manga) Vol. 6 by Inori, Aonoshimo, and Hanagata (F/F Manga)
Gospel of a Whole Sun by Katerina Jeng (Queer Poetry)
The Dead Don't Need Reminding by Julian Randall (Queer Memoir)
My Child Is Trans, Now What?: A Joy-Centered Approach to Support by Ben V. Greene (Trans Nonfiction)
Queer Villains of Myth and Legend: A Revelry of Queer Rogues and Outlaws through the Ages by Dan Jones (LGBTQ Nonfiction)
Queer Power Couples: On Love and Possibility by Hannah Murphy and Billie Winter (Queer Nonfiction)
The T in LGBT: Everything You Need to Know About Being Trans by Jamie Raines (Trans Nonfiction)
The Little Book of Pride Heroes: Icons of the LGBTQIA+ Community by Jared Richards (LGBTQ Nonfiction)