Henrico County Public Library is proud to offer a wide range of titles with LGBTQIA+ authors, themes, and characters. Looking for a beach read starring a bi spy? We’ve got you covered. A pictorial history of protest movements? It’s here. Whether you’re looking for books you see yourself in, histories you weren’t taught, or a more diverse reading list, we have LGBTQIA+ titles for you.

Libbie Mill Library also hosts a monthly discussion group focused on LGBTQIA+ books. Visit the adult information desk at Libbie Mill for a copy of their next selection!

Fiction

Once Ghosted Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole – Likotsi is the dapper advisor to a prince from Alyssa Cole’s Reluctant Royals series, but all the jet-setting in the world can’t cure her heartbreak. Fabiola had her reasons for breaking off their fling, but there are limits to what she’s willing to share. When a chance encounter reunites them, the reader is in for a sweet rekindling and a bit of intrigue about what could have come between them before.

Who Is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht – An undercover CIA agent in 1960’s Argentina finds her secrets closing in on her as political unrest builds. Part slow-burn thriller, part historical fiction, part reflection on living hidden in plain sight, Who is Vera Kelly? is an immersive, atmospheric read.

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor – A genderfluid protagonist drifts between moments and movements in LGBTQ+ history, quite literally morphing into new shapes in each context. Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl reads like a whirlwind romance with the world – a world that nevertheless contains a dark current of inherited trauma.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong – Written in the form of a letter from a son called Little Dog to his mother, a Vietnamese immigrant who cannot read, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous presents life in the vibrant prose of a poet. The narrator revisits difficult memories, first loves, and small joys, all set side-by-side as they are in life.

Memoir and Biography

Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden – Madden’s book is a testament to every manner of bond between women, the ways love can persist amid dysfunction, and the strangeness of turn-of-the-millennium Boca Raton, FL. Vivid descriptions of girlhood longings give way to thoughtful writing on loss and the astonishing forms family can take.

How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee – Chee’s interconnected essays about understanding and communicating who he is deftly incorporate a wide range of subjects. Through meditations on late 80’s HIV/AIDS activism, rose gardening, his first night in drag, working as a caterer, Korean-American identity, money, 9/11, and yes, outstanding writing advice, Chee allows the reader insight into his growth and invites them to consider their own.

Jane Crow: The Life of Pauli Murray by Rosalind Rosenberg – Murray, a figure closely connected to 20th century movements for racial and gender equality, recorded experiences of gender dysphoria from childhood onward. Rosenberg’s biography looks at Murray’s contributions to political causes alongside the personal experiences that fed them.

History

We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation by Leighton Brown and Matthew Riemer – Co-curators of the popular Instagram account @lgbt_history present a visual history of advocacy and resistance. The book-length format requires them to organize information thematically and allows them to delve more deeply into context than social media rewards, making this a fascinating extension of their existing work.

Real Queer America: LGBT Stories From Red States by Samantha Allen – Transgender journalist Samantha Allen tours the US, visiting vibrant LGBT+ communities far from major coastal cities. She unpacks misconceptions about contemporary demographics and highlights stories of life and love all over the United States.

Gay and Lesbian Richmond by Beth Marschak – Local historian Beth Marschak focuses on people and places from the region’s gay and lesbian movements. Bonus: many of her references point to primary sources held by nearby libraries that you can visit for further reading or research of your own!