It’s National Coming Out Day, a day to honor the experiences and stories of LGBTQIA+ folk and to advocate for representation of queer identities in media, books, TV, etc. To that end, I have several recommendations. After all, what better way to celebrate than with reading?
In no particular order:
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan – A fun premise and some very sweet moments. An exuberant celebration of friendship and love and the importance of finding people with whom you can be your full self.
- How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones – This is the first book I read in 2020, and if that didn’t set a tone…I love this beautifully written memoir.
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – Gorgeous retelling of The Iliad (you should read it even if revisiting Homer doesn’t sound appealing).
- Carry On by Rainbow Rowell – Be still, my fannish heart. Rowell took the fictional series her main character geeked out over in Fangirl and made it into an actual series that exists so that the rest of us could squee along with her as Simon and Baz’s relationship developed. Tomorrow, the box set of the trilogy releases, and the holidays are coming. I’m just saying.
- I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver – I just finished this one on Friday, and as I type this I’m sitting here getting teary over this heartbreaking and hopeful story. I really do wish the main character in this book all the best. They deserve all the good things.
- Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram – I started this one last night. I was already rooting for Darius since reading the last one (Darius the Great Is Not Okay), so I’m looking forward to this next chapter in his adventures.
Obviously, there are way more books that center or reference coming out stories than these, and apparently my list is skewed in a generally (although not completely) masculine direction. Looks like I have some more expanding to do. Here’s a good list to start with for all of us.
Happy National Coming Out Day!
M. Suzanne Terry 
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