What is a summer read or a beach read? And are those two different things? We spent a lot of time thinking about these questions when putting together Book Riots list of the Best Beach Reads of All Time, but here, Im defining things narrowly. Obviously these are all YA book with queer main characters. They also all take place in the summerin fact, most of them have summer in the title. Theyre contemporary or romances, and while they might include serious subjects, they are overall light and heartwarming reads.
While fall is probably my favorite reading month, summer reading definitely has its charms. I just spent a day on the beach and powered through an entire 400 page romantasy novel. Theres something about sunshine and fun reads that perfectly pair together, and oftentimes, its YA that does it best. And because Im me, if it can also have a queer main character, thats even better.
Here are five excellent queer YA summer reads, including summer camp, summer vacations, summer road trips, summer romance, and more. Oh, and if you cant get enough queer books, theres a bonus list of 15 new queer books out this week at the end of this post for All Access members.
Juliette is counting down the days until she can go to Fogridge Sleepaway Camp. This is the last year she can be a counselor there, and its the place she feels most at home. But on the first day, she discovers her cabinmate for the summer is her nemesis, Priya. Priya already has everything: millions of adoring fans on social media, the perfect track star boyfriendand now shes stealing Juliettes camp friends and ruining her favorite place in the world. As the weeks go on, though, Juliette starts to realize she may have had Priya all wrong&
Mac is a gay teen whose father is not accepting, so hes relieved to make a gay friend: Cammy. But it turns out that Cammy is also judgmental, and even cruel. Over the course of the summer, Mac makes two more gay friends, Flor and Mikey, which makes him rethink his friendship with Cammy. Prepare for a whole lot of slang in this one. Sandra Cisneros, the author of The House On Mango Street , says, Im 110 abso living for this #slay. Puro perra fierce. Thanks, mijo. #MamaLovesIt #ForReals.
Haley and Talia were born on the same day at the same hospital and have been best friends ever since. Theyve supported each other through everything, including coming out (Haley as a lesbian, Talia as trans, bi, and possibly demiromantic/demisexual). Neither of them have dated anyone, and they decide to make a pact to find love this summer through romcom-worthy strategies. When they finally do get dates, though, they realizewell, you can guess what they realize from the cover. I love a friends to girlfriends story!
Harrison and Linus are queer best friends who have one last summer together before collegeat least, that was the plan. But then Linus drops the bomb that his family is moving at the end of the week. Inspired by Ferris Buellers Day Off, Harrison is determined to fit a summers worth of experiences into a day together, including a Pride parade, a mini road trip, and a rooftop dance party.
Jennifer Dugan is the reigning queen of summer sapphic YA. Hot Dog Girl is a personal favorite of mine, which is a bisexual romcom about saving an amusement park. Then theres Melt With You, about two exes who work in an ice cream truck together. And now we have Summer Girls. Cass is a townie who resents the summer girls who vacation at her beach town. Birdie is a rich summer girl who crashed her boyfriends car. In punishment, Birdie has to get a job this summer, and Cass has to supervise. At first, both of them resent this arrangement, but as they spend more time together, they begin to see each other differently.
For more queer summer reads, check out 9 of My Favorite Queer Beach Reads, Queer Beach Reads for Every Kind of Seaside Reader, and 15 of the Best New LGBTQ Beach Reads.
