Today is the first day of Pride week here in Toronto. Usually this would mark the beginning of a week of concerts, marches, demonstrations, and parades (not to mention the excellent dance parties and celebrations on the historic Church Street), but due to Covid we are celebrating pride online again this year. And since we’re still mostly stuck at home, what better way to honour Pride than by reading some great LGBTQ+ books?

We’ve rounded up a handful of our favourite Pride reads, and would love to hear your recommendations as well. Let us know what books you’re reading for Pride in the comments!

Last Night at the Telegraph Hotel by Malinda Lo

1954 San Franciso is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not Chinatown where the Red scare paranoia runs rampant. But seventeen-year-old Lily Hu is ready to risk everything.

Moments in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan

Two strangers promise each other one night of passion. And when the sun rises, they’ll walk away—even if they’re both lying to themselves about why.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

After a rather public altercation, the Prince of Wales and America’s First Son start a fake friendship to keep the tabloids off their backs and save face for their powerful families. It doesn’t take long before that fake friendship develops into a secret, and very real, romance.

The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer

When rising star Kendall’s career starts to take off, she decides to move her best friend Peyton to LA to keep her company and keep her sane. What she doesn’t know is Peyton is hiding a secret that could make everything worse – she’s in love with Kendall.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has a unique perspective on life. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they develop a special friendship – the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime.

Before You Say I Do by Claire Lydon

What happens when a fake bridesmaid, hired by the groom to help his future wife plan their special day, starts to develop real feelings for the bride to be?

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

The lives of three women—transgender and cisgender—collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires.

Because I Need You by Drew Duncan

Ellis thought he knew exactly what to expect when he walked into the offices of Munroe Holdings as the new assistant to the CEO. But he never expected this.

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

When Grace Porter goes to Las Vegas to celebrate completing her PhD, the last thing she expected was to wake up married to a strange woman whose name she can’t even remember. But of course that’s exactly what happened, and now all of her carefully laid plans are falling apart.

The Bandalor by D K Girl

Upon his unexpected return to the world of the living, previously deceased Silas finds himself in the hands of the mysterious Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. A peculiar organization claiming skills of the supernatural persuasion determined to make Silas their new recruit. When Silas attends the Marquess of Ailsa’s grand ball, an encounter with a desperate and dashing Lieutenant will lead him ever closer to the truth behind his reanimation.

With Teeth by Kristen Arnett

Sammie Lucas is scared of her son. Working from home in the close quarters of their Florida house, she lives with one wary eye peeled on Samson, a sullen, unknowable boy who resists her every attempt to bond with him. As Samson grows from feral toddler to surly teenager, Sammie’s life begins to deteriorate into a mess of unruly behaviour, and her struggle to create a picture-perfect queer family unravels.

Blank Spaces by Cass Lennox

When a painting goes missing from Vaughn’s gallery, insurance investigator Jonah shows up to take on the case and tension ramps up both on and off the clock. Vaughn and Jonah find themselves grappling not just with stolen art, but with their own differences. Because a guy who wants nothing but romance and a guy who wants nothing but sex will never work — right?

Tell No Tales by Sam Maggs and Kendra Wells

Anne Bonny had it all—her own ship, a pirate crew, and a fearsome reputation—but a new enemy has her on the run and it’ll take all of Anne’s courage, and the support of her beloved crew, to stay afloat.

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

Tracing the full arc of a harrowing relationship with a charismatic but volatile woman, Machado struggles to make sense of what happened to her and how it shaped the person she was becoming.

I’m Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya

Vivek Shraya, a Canadian trans artist, explores how masculinity was imposed on her as a boy and continues to haunt her as a girl–and how we might reimagine gender for the twenty-first century.

Happy Pride, everyone!