Best 24 LGBTQ Books of 2019, According to Lambda Literary
From memoirs to young adult novels, 2019 brought with it a bounty of books published by LGBTQ authors. If you want to get into reading one of them but feel intimidated by the onslaught of options, don’t fret. Lambda Literary, the premier organization promoting the development of emerging queer writers, recently relased its annual list of Lammy Award Recipients.
The foundation has been issuing the awards since 1987. This year, 24 books earned Lammy awards, spanning distinct categories ranging from transgender poetry to lesbian romance. William Johnson, deputy director of Lambda Literary, explains Lammy Award categories could change depending on which books readers nominate.
Queer writers are changing the master narrative
WILLIAM JOHNSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LAMBDA LITERARY
“A lot of the categories are submitted by the community, which is how we can track trends throughout the years,” Johnson told NBC News. “Humor used to be a category, but now it’s no longer, and we’re finding that the number of young adult books has been exploding each year, so there’s a lot more to select from.”
Johnson added that each category is judged by a panel of three or so authors who write in the same genre they judge.
“Queer writers are changing the master narrative,” Johnson said, adding that as a result, more mainstream media organizations have been taking note of LGBTQ authors’ contributions. “But at Lambda Literary we continue to provide a platform for the truly transgressive and outsider voices because highlighting these voices can help readers feel less alone.”
As 2019 closes, here are Lambda Literary’s awardees — a list that denotes some of the most impactful, provocative LGBTQ literature of the past year, according to the foundation.Lesbian Fiction
1. “The Tiger Flu” by Larissa Lai
The Tiger Flu$12.20$17.95AMAZON$12.20WALMART$12.29TARGETGay Fiction
2. “Jonny Appleseed” by Joshua Whitehead
Jonny Appleseed$9.29$15.95AMAZON$13.39TARGET$15.23$15.95BARNES AND NOBLEBisexual Fiction
3. “Disoriental” by Négar Djavadi; Translated by Tina Kover, Europa Editions
Disoriental$11.51AMAZON$2.99APPLE BOOKS$12.29WALMARTBisexual Fiction
4. “Out of Step: A Memoir” by Anthony Moll
Out of Step: A Memoir (Non/Fiction Collection Prize)$12.36$18.95AMAZON$13.97WALMART$13.99TARGETTransgender Fiction
5. “Little Fish” by Casey Plett
Little Fish$12.31$17.95AMAZONLGBTQ Nonfiction
6. “Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry” by Imani Perry
Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry$17.95AMAZON$14.01$17.95WALMART$17.99TARGETTransgender Nonfiction
7. “Histories of the Transgender Child” by Julian Gill-Peterson
Histories of the Transgender Child$16.76$24.95AMAZON$18.03WALMART$13.99BARNES AND NOBLELesbian Poetry
8. “Each Tree Could Hold a Noose or a House” by Ru Puro
Each Tree Could Hold a Noose or a House (First Book)$9.50$16.00AMAZON$9.50WALMART$9.50TARGETGay Poetry
9. “Indecency” by Justin Phillip Reed
Indecency$11.78$16.95AMAZON$12.79WALMART$15.35$16.95BARNES AND NOBLEBisexual Poetry
10. “We Play a Game” by Duy Doan
We Play a Game (Yale Series of Younger Poets)$14.33$45.00AMAZON$14.60WALMART$18.00$20.00BARNES AND NOBLETransgender Poetry
11. “lo terciario/the tertiary” by Raquel Salas Rivera
Lo terciario / The Tertiary$20.00AMAZON$21.00BARNES AND NOBLE$8.69TARGETLesbian Mystery
12. “A Study in Honor: A Novel” by Claire O’Dell
A Study in Honor: A Novel (The Janet Watson Chronicles)$8.79AMAZON$11.96WALMARTGay Mystery
13. “Late Fees: a Pinx Video Mystery” by Marshall Thornton
Late Fees (Pinx Video Mysteries Book 3)$9.99AMAZONLesbian Memoir/Biography
14. “Chronology” by Zahra Patterson
Chronology$12.60$18.00AMAZON$14.99WALMARTGay Memoir/Biography
15. “No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America” by Darnell L. Moore
No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America$9.00$16.99AMAZON$10.50$16.99WALMART$10.59TARGETLesbian Romance
16. “Beowulf For Cretins: A Love Story” by Ann McMan
Beowulf for Cretins: A Love Story$8.69AMAZON$12.87WALMART$12.89TARGETGay Romance
17. “Crashing Upwards” by S.C. Wynne
Crashing Upwards: MM Romance$13.99AMAZONLGBTQ Erotica
18. “Miles & Honesty in SCFSX!” by Blue Delliquanti and Kazimir Lee
Miles & Honesty in SCFSX!$5.00BLUE DELLIGUANTILGBTQ Anthology
19. “As You Like It: The Gerald Kraak Anthology Volume II” by The Other Foundation and Jacana Media
As you like it: The Gerald Kraak Anthology African Perspectives on Gender, Social Justice and Sexuality$16.69AMAZONLGBTQ Children’s/Young Adult
20. “Hurricane Child” by Kacen Callender
Hurricane Child (Scholastic Gold)$6.50$7.99AMAZON$7.60WALMART$10.99APPLE BOOKSLGBTQ Drama
21. “Draw the Circle” by Mashuq Mushtaq Deen
Draw the Circle: Acting Edition$6.22$10.00AMAZONLGBTQ Graphic Novels
22. “The Lie and How We Told It” by Tommi Parrish
The Lie And How We Told It$29.30AMAZONLGBTQ SF/F/Horror
23. “The Breath of the Sun” by Isaac R. Fellman
The Breath of the Sun$14.02$19.00AMAZON$14.02$19.00WALMART$17.10$19.00BARNES AND NOBLELGBTQ Studies