Celebrate Pride 2026 with 7 New LGBTQIA Books: Her Sharp Embrace, Dearly Departed, and more

Even though Pride month seems to be the only socially acceptable month in which queer people can be loud and proud, we should be able to exist freely, loudly, and proudly all year round. That is why authors craft worlds with their words in which simply existing as a queer person is accepted. Worlds in which readers can submerge without fear of judgment.

If you have read the books in our LGBTQIA picks for May, we have 7 new titles to add to your TBR list. Stephan Lee, Jennifer Moffatt, and Chip Pons 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 June:

1. Knitting Needles by Ezra Wren – June 1

Oscar and Aaron meet at the gender clinic the day of their top surgeries. Oscar goes home, completely struck by Aaron’s presence, hoping he will hear from him soon. Even though at first he doesn’t, Aaron eventually tracks him down on a gaming server, and the two begin a friendship that leads to more.

Through pancakes, coffee, dates, and knitting, Oscar and Aaron come to realize that they cannot get enough of each other. But as things get serious and Oscar begins to think about their future, life throws them for a loop and brings unexpected news.

Book Description: Two men walk into a gender clinic…and the rest…is history.

OSCAR PETERS HAS NEVER GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO WHAT HIS FOREVER MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

When Oscar meets Aaron at the gender clinic on the morning of their top surgeries, it feels like a stroke of fate, but weeks later, Oscar still hasn’t heard from the stranger and he hasn’t stopped thinking about him.

In a twist of luck, Aaron tracks Oscar down on a gaming server and they start texting back and forth, day and night, leaving Oscar irrevocably hooked.

Several pancakes, coffee dates and dinners later, Oscar and Aaron still can’t get enough of each other, and Oscar can just about picture a happy life full of farmers’ markets, sweet treats and lazy afternoons. More than this, a life full of Aaron.

But life is always cooking up one storm or another, and when hardship comes knocking on their door, Oscar must decide whether he’s in this for the long haul; in sickness and in health.

A Queer T4T Contemporary Romance that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the cover on the final page. Knitting Needles is a heartwarming romance set to a backdrop of found family, identity and the one cardinal truth–that whatever life may throw at you, love always wins.

2. Like We Were in Paris by Stephan Lee – June 2

Ben is thrilled at the opportunity of exploring Paris with his French Club. He is excited to see the sights and find a way to connect with his late dad as he visits the places where his parents honeymooned. However, things take a complicated turn when he misses curfew and finds himself locked out of the hostel. It’s even more chaotic when his former friend and the most popular kid in the club, Tyler Travers, finds himself locked out as well.

The two decide to take the opportunity and explore Paris in its nightly glory. A glittering Eiffel Tower, a drag show, and a moped lead Oscar to realize there might be an evergrowing attracting for Tyler. But does he remember they used to be friends? Could the attraction be mutual?

Book Description: Heartstopper meets Before Sunrise in this irresistible, swoony YA rom-com about two boys unexpectedly falling in love over the course of one night in Paris. Ben Lim is so excited for his French Club’s trip to the most romantic city, Paris. Ben’s even made a to-do list of all the things he wants to accomplish, like see the Mona Lisa IRL and read a book in a sophisticated cafe. Also, Ben’s parents honeymooned in Paris, and being there will help Ben connect more to the memory of his late dad. But things go wrong the first night when Ben misses curfew and finds himself locked out of the youth hostel…until morning. Also locked out? Tyler Travers, the most popular and handsome boy in school. Who, oh yeah, happens to be Ben’s former friend and current nemesis. Ben cannot deal with Tyler’s entitled-jock attitude. But now that they’re thrown together, the two of them end up roaming around Paris and stumbling upon some cool sights–like the glittering Eiffel Tower, a drag show in the Marais, and even a chance to “borrow” a moped. As their misadventures take them all across the city, Ben fights his growing attraction to Tyler, which was NEVER part of the plan. The two of them couldn’t be more different. Besides, Tyler doesn’t even remember that they were once friends. Right? Acclaimed author Stephan Lee (K-Pop Confidential) brings the City of Light to dazzling life in this enchanting, funny, and adorable rom-com about croissants, crushes, and kisses that’s perfect for fans of Alice Oseman and Jenny Han.

3. Her Sharp Embrace by Kate Koenig – June 9

New Soleil is a city full of beauty and danger. In it, the Nightshades use their magical powers to create glamorous façades to get closer to the rich for their power. They do it with the goal of fighting the corrupt and the forgotten. Captivated by their leader, Lennon, Noa Toussaint leaves her life as a Saint to join the outlaws.

Noa decides to use her alchemy talents to capture Lennon’s heart, but her deep bond with her family brings trouble to the group she now belongs to. To keep Lennon safe, Noa must uncover the real threat.

Book Description: In the glittering city of New Soleil, beauty masks danger at every turn. The Nightshades, a crew of magical outlaws, are no different.

Their glamorous facades conceal the terror they strike into the hearts of the rich and powerful as they steal from the corrupt and fight for the forgotten.

Noa Toussaint fled her cossetted life as a Saint to join the Nightshades. Infatuated with their ferocious leader, Lennon, Noa aims to capture her heart and keep it. Her talent for alchemy is valuable, but her connection to her family puts all of the Shades in danger.

Now enemies are closer than Lennon knows and Noa must uncover the threat and keep them both alive. Because in a city where lies are lethal and magic is fading, secrets aren’t just costly—they’re deadly.

4. Bump, Set, Sparks by Jennifer Moffatt – June 16

Jess absolutely hates losing, so her undeniable losing streak while playing with her best friend, Tania, in the Southern California Beach Volleyball League has left her with no confidence in herself. As she prepares to compete in the championship and earn a spot in the pro league, Jess needs to regain her confidence and find joy in the things that used to make her happy.

It all becomes harder when a pretty girl ghosts her, and Jess finds herself always failing in front of her nemesis, Vivienne. But when Jess needs someone to fake-date, and Vivienne needs a new partner, things take a turn that neither woman could have predicted.

Book Description: Two rival volleyball players compete for the championship in this summer romp full of community, crushes, and confidence building from the author of Flirty Dancing.

Jess loves volleyball—she really does. Playing in Southern California Beach Volleyball League with her best friend Tania is a blast, but their recent losing streak has destroyed her confidence. In fact, a lot of what used to bring her joy—stargazing, hanging with friends at Maggie’s bar, and her adorable wiener dog, Fleming—just doesn’t seem like enough anymore. It doesn’t help that Vivienne, one of Jess’s rivals in the league, always seems to be around just when she’s feeling her worst. Vivienne is everything Jess isn’t: beautiful, confident, effortlessly charming, and, most infuriatingly, winning.

When Jess is ghosted again, it’s another blow to her confidence. Who better to challenge her than the most confident girl she knows? And as Jess gets to know Vivienne, she discovers there’s much more to her than just a pretty face (and wicked serve). But even though there’s an undeniable connection between them, they’re competing for the same spot in the pro leagues. Jess has the opportunity to build self-confidence and a better life, but she’ll have to learn to believe in herself, and the people around her, if she doesn’t want to lose everything she’s gaining. And there’s nothing Jess hates more than losing.

5. Dearly Departed by Chip Pons – June 16

Hayden Harlow used to be the god of the Underworld, literally. But his life as Hades has come to an end as the Immortal Retirement Act forced him out of his immortality. Now he owns a funeral home and spends his days trying to find a way to regain the power he lost. However, a lively, joyful florist named Levi Wilder starts to turn things around in a way that Hades…Hayden never expected.

When Hayden walks into Levi’s store to complain about a bouquet that was not funeral-appropriate, he comes face-to-face with that smile that will change everything. Now, Levi’s infectious spirit has Hayden wondering if there is a different future for him. But could it be that the threads of fate are actually playing in his favor?

Book Description: Hope is a dangerous thing for gods. Even former ones.

From the highly beloved author of “contemporary romance magic” (Christina Lauren) Winging It with You comes a Hades-inspired gay rom-com, in which the former god of the Underworld turned grumpy funeral director must find a loophole in the Immortality Retirement Act that banished him to Earth, until the florist next door who sees life in full bloom begins to unravel all his carefully laid plans.

Hayden Harlow, once the mighty Hades, has spent centuries quietly resenting his fall from immortality. Stripped of his godhood by the allegedly irreversible Immortal Retirement Act, he now runs Harlow and Sons Funeral Home—a front for his eternal sentencing among mortals, and a bleak reminder of the purpose he’s lost. Still, he’s determined to claw his way back…if only the Fates at City Hall would stop toying with him.

Enter Levi Wilder: a florist with an artist’s heart, an infectious smile, and a gift for finding beauty in life’s messiest moments. When Hayden storms into Levi’s shop to complain about a bouquet of sunflowers—an offensive choice for a funeral, in his opinion—their worlds collide. Hayden is all restraint and shadows; Levi is all sunshine and charm. But beneath the clash lies an undeniable spark neither can ignore.

As their connection blossoms, Hayden finds himself caught between the life he once knew and the bright future Levi dares him to imagine. But trusting Levi means risking the walls he’s kept in place all these years—and it’s not just his heart on the line. Because in the threads of fate, one choice can change everything.

6. The Lovers, the Liars, and Me by DeAndra Davis – June 23

Even though she was her high school’s valedictorian, Jaliya has always faded into the background. This Summer, she plans to change that by traveling to Jamaica to stay with her uncle and learn more about her estranged mother. However, upon her arrival, Jaliya discovers that the place she remembered isn’t the same. Her aunt and uncle aren’t the same people, her cousin keeps shutting her out, and her childhood crush has gotten hotter.

As Jaliya begins to feel even more lost, she meets India, a free-spirited young woman who makes her feel things she’s never felt before. Even though the trip was about her mother, Jaliya finds herself trapped in complicated relationships, secrets, and a new love that might change her perspective forever.

Book Description: A teen travels to Jamaica hoping to answer questions about her absent mother, only to discover more about her identity than she could have ever expected—and find herself caught up in an unexpected love triangle—in this dazzling young adult coming-of-age novel.

Jaliya Powell has never had a real adventure, a real boyfriend, or spoken up for herself. She’s never even been kissed. Despite being valedictorian of her high school class, Jaliya is used to fading into the background.

But this summer will be different.

This summer, Jaliya is visiting her uncle and his family in Jamaica. Under the guise of one last vacation before college, she plans to find out more about her estranged mother, whose absence has remained an unspoken mystery. But things have changed in the seven years since Jaliya last visited. Her cousin has his own life and is reluctant to let Jaliya in, her childhood crush has only gotten hotter and more unavailable, and her aunt and uncle aren’t everything she remembered, either. Then she meets India, who’s vibrant, gorgeous, and free-spirited. And who makes Jaliya feel something she’s never felt before.

While searching for traces of her mother across the island, Jaliya finds herself entangled in complicated relationships, tricky secrets, and a passionate new love. As she navigates this perfectly complicated summer, Jaliya must choose between who she has always been or who she hopes to become.

7. Good Luck, Babe! by Erin Baldwin – June 23

Noelle and Yumi used to be best friends who watched every reality show together until an awkward kiss sent them their separate ways. They spent a year apart, but when the opportunity to participate in their favorite show falls into their laps, they can’t say no. The only complication? It’s a season about couples.

Noelle is willing to fake-date her former best friend in order to win the show and use the prize money to help her sick father with medical bills. But can she run around the world, pretend to date her best friend, and keep her true feelings a secret? Or will she burn herself and her heart?

Book Description: Two former best friends find themselves fake dating on their favorite race-around-the-world reality TV show competition in Erin Baldwin’s newest YA sapphic romance. The perfect book for fans of Heated Rivalry, Becky Albertalli, and The Amazing Race.

Reality TV enthusiasts Noelle and Yumi spent a decade attached at the hip—until one ill-fated night (and one awkward kiss) ended their friendship. After a year of no contact, fate throws the girls back together when they’re offered a last-minute spot on The Adventureverse, their favorite race-around-the-world reality show.

It’s a chance to put their superfan status to the test, a dream come true. Except for a few snags: It’s an all-couples season, filming starts in two days, and Noelle hasn’t spoken to her “girlfriend” in a year. But she already has plans to use the prize money on her ailing father’s medical expenses, and she would do anything for him—including fake date her ex-bestie on national television.

Can Noelle walk a tightrope between reality and TV while juggling a pretend relationship and true feelings? Or will she get sent home empty-handed and brokenhearted?

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What will you be reading in June? Share your picks in the comments below!

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