Each year during the month of June, the LGBTQI+ community celebrate and raise awareness on issues impacting their community across the world. In celebration of pride month, Good Reading for Young Adults pulled together a list of our top five favourite YA LGBTQ+ books.

1. Stars in Their Eyes
Jessica Walton
Illustrated by Aśka

Maisie has always dreamed of meeting her hero, Kara Bufano, an amputee actor who plays a kick-arse amputee character in her favourite show. Fancon is big and exciting and exhausting. Then she meets Ollie, a cute volunteer who she has a lot in common with. Could this be the start of something, or will her mum, who doesn’t seem to know what boundaries are, embarrass her before she and Ollie have a chance?
Age Guide 12+

2. Love, Simon
Becky Albertalli

Straight people should have to come out too. And the more awkward it is, the better.

Simon Spier is 16 and trying to work out who he is – and what he’s looking for. But when one of his emails to the very distracting, Blue, falls into the wrong hands, things get all kinds of complicated. Because, for Simon, falling for Blue is a big deal …

It’s a holy freaking huge awesome deal.
Age Guide 13+

3. Anything But Fine
Tobias Madden

Luca is ready to audition for the Australian Ballet School. All it takes to crush his dreams is one missed step … and a broken foot.

Jordan is the gorgeous rowing star and school captain of Luca’s new school. Everyone says he’s straight – but Luca’s not so sure …

As their unlikely bond grows stronger, Luca starts to wonder: who is he without ballet? And is he setting himself up for another heartbreak?
Age Guide 14+

4. The Henna Wars
Adiba Jaigirdar

When Nishat comes out to her parents, they say she can be anyone she wants – as long as she isn’t herself. Because Muslim girls aren’t lesbians. Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, which only gets harder once Flavia walks into her life.

Beautiful and charismatic, Flavia takes Nishat’s breath away. But as their lives become tangled, they’re caught up in a rivalry that gets in the way of any feelings they might have for each other.

Can Nishat find a way to be true to herself… and find love too?
Age Guide 13+

5. They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera

On September 5th, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: they’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: there’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure – to live a lifetime in a single day.
Age Guide 14+