With four months left in 2025, it is important to make a list of upcoming LGBTQIA books that you can read to complete your yearly challenge. This month, we highlight seven new stories that might entertain you and help you feel more seen in a world that seems to be getting more and more complicated.
If you have read the books in our LGBTQIA picks for July, we have 7 new titles to add to your TBR list. Elle Gonzalez Rose, Jamie D’Amato, and Karmen Lee are among the authors we highlight this month.
In order of release date, here are 7 LGBTQIA books we are looking forward to reading this August:
1. Marisol Acts the Part by Elle Gonzalez Rose – August 12
Marisol feels her personal and professional lives aren’t going as she expected. Her boyfriend, Miles, dumped her because he believed she wasn’t taking her career seriously. Meanwhile, Marisol continues to do everything in her power to land the role that will show she is a great performer.
In the hope of landing that role, she starts acting in a drama series alongside her ex-boyfriend. However, things aren’t going as she’d hope, especially because she seems to be falling for Miles’s co-star, Jamila.
Book Description: A teen actress lands a role on the same high-profile show as her ex-boyfriend—only for things to get messy when she falls for his cute scene partner—in a dazzling sapphic rom-com from the author of Caught in a Bad Fauxmance.
“A swoony celebrity romance sure to steal your heart.” —Jennifer Dugan, author of Some Girls Do
Actress Marisol Polly-Rodriguez might be entering her flop era. After wrapping up a hit show, she’s neither booked nor busy. Not to mention, her former costar turned boyfriend, Miles, recently dumped her for being an “unserious” performer. Can you imagine?
To prove to Miles—and online trolls—that she takes her craft very seriously, Marisol lands a role on the same upcoming drama series he does. But with the eccentric director constantly rewriting her lines and a snobby castmate trying to upstage her, Marisol quickly realizes that her hope of nabbing an award nomination might be a pipe dream.
The only person she doesn’t have to put on a performance for is the show’s leading lady, Jamila. Marisol hasn’t been able to look away from her since their first audition. Falling for Jamila wasn’t part of Marisol’s plan, but even the most dedicated actors go off script sometimes, right?
2. Sunset Year by C.J. Ellison – August 19
Will and Maggie are two students who believe their lives are over. As they struggle with their new realities, they decide to find peace in watching the sunset in a place that has always brought them solace by the river.
As they attempt to get away from things as they know them, the two become friends. This new friendship shows them that maybe showing up when things get rough is what matters the most.
Book Description: The sun will rise, and we will try again.
Will Grześkiewicz believes his life is over. Magnolia Castillo knows her sister’s is. Feeling that the world is crashing down around them, individually unsure of what else to do, Will and Maggie both retreat to watch the sunset in a place they’ve previously found solace, a park settled on the river a few minutes’ drive from campus.
What starts as an attempt to get away from it all becomes an evening routine to watch the sunset with a new friend, and Will and Maggie realize that simply showing up—for themselves and for each other—might have the power to change everything.
3. The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends by Jamie D’Amato – August 26
After attempting to take his own life, Brennan goes back to college, hoping to have a “normal” life. However, his plan is ruined when he turns into a vampire. Now, he must work as hard as possible to adjust to his new reality, which won’t be as easy as he expects after Cole, a cute librarian, discovers his secret.
Even though Cole is happy to keep Brennan’s secret and adjust to his new life, it gets complicated when a group of students goes missing. While most think the disappearances are due to animal attacks, Brennan knows it has something to do with a secret vampire clan that he must uncover.
Book Description: Heartstopper meets Buffy in this queer paranormal rom-com where a college sophomore must survive becoming a vampire—and the cute boy who discovers his secret.
It’s only natural nineteen-year-old Brennan’s life would be upended by something as ridiculous and unexpected as turning into a vampire. But if there’s one thing Brennan can do, it’s pretend everything’s fine when he’s close to losing his mind. Brennan is nineteen and just clawed his way back to Sturbridge University after recovering from a suicide attempt, and this is not the new life he was hoping for.
Brennan’s newly bloodthirsty existence gets way more complicated when Cole, the super cute librarian and everyone’s campus crush, stumbles on Brennan drinking from a stolen blood bag. Luckily, adorable Cole is happy to keep Brennan’s secret, and even seems to maybe like him? Navigating a new relationship is hard enough without the added struggles of vampire puberty, an eclectic clan of self-proclaimed “good” vampires, and growing feelings for the one person who makes Brennan feel normal. With swirling rumors of a missing student and a rise in strange “animal attacks” near campus, Brennan must uncover the secrets of the clan and figure out how to balance vampirism and humanity, or risk losing the first real friends he’s ever had.
Filled with humor and heart, The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends has a gentle bite.
4. The Secret Crush Book Club by Karmen Lee – August 26
Dani is a single mom who has dedicated her entire life to her family. Suddenly, her sister announces she is moving out, and Dani feels lonely. Meanwhile, Zoey is an author who has decided to move to Peach Blossom and work as a librarian to do research for her upcoming book.
As the two join the same book club, Dani and Zoey start to feel something growing between them. Between stolen glances and dates around town, the two women must decide if their relationship is what they want or if they should go their separate ways back to their routines.
Book Description: A dedicated single mother and a librarian with a secret write their own sweet and sexy love story in this small-town rom-com about family, friendships and embracing the next chapter.
Nothing cures a lonely heart quite like a good book
and an unexpected crush…
For Dani, life is a juggling act. As a single mom devoted to her son and family, she barely has a moment to herself. But when her sister announces she’s moving out of the house, the ache of loneliness creeps in, and Dani can’t help but wonder if there’s something else she’s been missing in her life…
Zoey came to Peach Blossom eager to start her new job as the town’s librarian and do a little research for her next book. Yet she never expected to find inspiration in fellow book club member Dani, whose captivating brown eyes tell a story of their own. Before they know it, lingering glances over their favorite fiction turn into first dates and sizzling nights.
As their connection deepens, the two women must decide if they should turn the page on what their lives used to look like or if this thrilling plot twist is the happily-ever-after they’ve been chasing all along.
5. Lady Dragon by A.M. Strickland – August 26
After the last war, humans and dragons live in a land of truce. The women have the throne of Andrath, and the dragons are free to fly through human lands. The only way to maintain the peace is that no man will ever retake the throne. As both queendoms continue their traditions, Samansa is the current human princess, and Kirek is in line for the draconic queenship.
Now, Kirek must shift into human form to keep the peace and study the humans. Once a human, Kirek gets close to Samansa. The two realize there are secrets and treasons that might put their peace at risk. They must face these new challenges while simultaneously exploring their feelings for one another.
Book Description: Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina meets The Priory of the Orange Tree in Lady Dragon, a sapphic YA romantasy from A.M. Strickland.
The age of queens is over . . . unless they can save it..
Since the last war between humans and dragons left the leaders of both species slain—the last human king of Andrath and the legendary dragon queen—both queendoms have been living under a tentative truce: only women will sit on the throne of Andrath, the dragons will have free passage through the human lands . . . and if men ever try to retake the throne, the draconic realm will retaliate.
Samansa and Kirek are two new leaders coming of age in war-scarred lands—Samansa a reluctant human princess and Kirek the favored contender for the draconic queenship. Per tradition, Kirek must undergo the distasteful task of using a mysterious gem called the Heartstone to shift into human form and maintain the strained ties between the species . . . and study human weaknesses, a new and secret task she’s been given by her queen. As the princess and the dragon girl grow closer, they are sent to investigate a potential breach of the treaty and encounter a plot that could reignite an even bloodier war. While fighting to maintain the peace their ancestors fought for and uncovering centuries-old secrets, Samansa and Kirek must grapple with betraying their clashing nations . . . or their unexpected feelings for each other.
6. The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch – August 26
Sebastian and Elethior attend the same University but lead different lives. Sebastian is a human and the first in his family to choose college over the military. Elethior is a half-elf and the last in a long line of Touraels who attended the same college. The two are rival wizards.
Both are competing for the Mageus Research Grant that might change their lives forever. To reach their goals, they are forced to work together. Will this create more chaos, or will it push them to fall for each other?
Book Description: Ali Hazelwood meets Dungeons & Dragons in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy academia romcom where rival grad student wizards are forced to work together without killing―or falling for―each other.
Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.
Sebastian Walsh: twenty-four. Grad student at Lesiara University in the Mageus of Evocation program. Human. The first of his family to go to college rather than the military (and it goes over at family get-togethers about as well as you’d think).
Elethior Tourael: also twenty-four. Also a grad student, but in the far more inferior Mageus of Conjuration program. Half-elf. The latest in a long line of Touraels to grace the hallowed halls of Lesiara U (what would the world do if the Touraels ran out of rich douches to lead their magical weapons manufacturing empire?).
―and the other finalist for the Mageus Research Grant.
Sebastian needs that grant to fund the last few months of research for his degree, after which he’ll get a job that actually helps people. He isn’t about to let anyone snatch this from him, least of all a snob who doesn’t even need the money because his family is loaded thanks to war profiteering.
But there’s something worse than having a conceited academic nemesis steal grant money from you: you could be forced to work with him. Thio is secretive, broody, and his stunning biceps take up far too much shared lab space―but even as volatile as their partnership is, Sebastian just might find himself falling for his rival―and it could blow up his whole future.
7. Breakpoint: A Sapphic Rivals to Lovers Romance by Candi Tab – August 26
Jazmine Mason has been a tennis legend for over two decades, staying at the top of the game. Even though she is the oldest woman on the tour, she still believes she can win. Things change when Daniela Kappas, a newcomer, comes into the tournament to dethrone Jazmine and become number one.
Her plan is also derailed when both women are forced to join forces and become doubles partners. The two must learn to play together as one if they want to win the tournament. This new plan throws the women together, pushing them to choose between ambition and love.
Book Description: Love is a game they never expected to play.
Jazmine Mason is a legend and has dominated women’s tennis for over two decades. Despite being the oldest woman on the tour, she’s clinging to her title as America’s top tennis player. Daniela Kappas, an ambitious, brash newcomer to the pro circuit, is determined to dethrone Jaz as America’s number one.
When a twist of fate throws them together as a doubles team, they’re forced to set aside their bitter competition to play as one. Suddenly, their shared court becomes a battleground of a different kind. Forced to cooperate, their animosity gives way to a grudging respect, then something far more a sizzling attraction neither can deny. As they navigate the high-pressure world of professional tennis, Jaz and Dani must choose between their lifelong ambitions and a love that could cost them everything.
From the adrenaline-pumping world of professional tennis comes a captivating story of ambition, unexpected love, and discovering that sometimes, the greatest victory comes off the court.
Breakpoint is a scorching rivals-to-lovers age gap romance set in the high-stakes world of professional tennis. Prepare for passion, suspense, and a love match you won’t forget.
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What will you be reading in August? Share your picks in the comments below!
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Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). In addition to Eulalie Magazine, you can find her work published on Tell-Tale TV, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.