All Releases,  Book Releases,  Literature

Book Releases: LGBT YA Books of January-June 2023

Calling all YA lovers! I’m here bringing gifts! And by gifts I mean over 170 (!) LGBT YA books coming out in the first half of the year. For context, first half of last year only saw around 150, and even that was after multiple rounds of adding missed books throughout the year…

So without further ado, Enjoy and preorder! And hey, a lot of those titles are (or will be) available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

See also: LGBT YA books of 2022 – January-June & July-December; 2019-2023 releases by rep and genre

JANUARY

My Love Mix-Up!, Vol. 6 by Wataru Hinekure & Aruko (bi mc, m/m relationship)
Tears in the Water by Margherita Scialla (nonbinary pan mc, transmasc demi li, Chinese lesbian character, Black aroace side character, bi side character)
The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim (side f/f relationship)
The Wrong Kind of Weird by James Ramos (lgbt characters)
Cool. Awkward. Black. ed. by Karen Strong (anthology; Black cast, trans mc, m/m relationship, f/f relationship)
Brighter Than the Moon by David Valdes (gay mcs)
A Tale of Two Princes by Eric Geron (gay mcs)
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert (Black bi mc, m/f relationship)
Friday I’m in Love by Camryn Garrett (Black sapphic mc, f/f relationship)
As You Walk on By by Julian Winters (m/m relationship, Black achillean mc)
The Minus-One Club by Kekla Magoon (Black gay mc, gay li, m/m relationship)
6 Times We Almost Kissed (+1 Time We Did) by Tess Sharpe (bi mcs, f/f relationship)
Then Everything Happens at Once by M-E Girard (fat bi mc, sapphic li)


Pearl of the Sea by Anthony Silverston, Willem Samuel & Raffaella Delle Donne (biracial gnc lesbian mc)
The Hidden Crystals by R. Dawnraven (m/m relationship)
A Ruinous Fate by Kaylie Smith (bi mcs, lgbt cast)
Hex You by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast (lesbian mc)
Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare (bi mc, lesbian mcs)
The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan (bi mc, gay mc)
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson (bi disabled li, f/m relationship)
For Lamb by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Black lesbian mother)
The Black Queen by Jumata Emill (f/f relationship)
Another Dimension Of Us by Mike Albo (m/m relationship)
Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame by Meg Long (side sapphic characters)
Over The Moon by S.E. Anderson (f/f relationship)
Broken Valley by Owen Lach (gay mc)

FEBRUARY

Out of Character by Jenna Miller (lesbian mc, f/f relationship, lgbt side characters)
The Long Run by James Acker (m/m relationship)
Afterglow by Phil Stamper (gay mcs)
And Other Mistakes by Erika Turner (f/f relationship)
Like a Hurricane by Jonathan Bécotte (gay mc)
Always the Almost by Edward Underhill (trans gay mc, pan li, m/m relationship, lesbian side characters)
Last Chance Dance by Lakita Wilson (Black bi mc)
If I Can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla (trans mc, m/m relationship)
Every Gift a Curse by Caroline O’Donoghue (sapphic mc, bi genderfluid li, lesbian side characters)
Monstersona by Chloe Spencer (bi mcs, f/f relationship)


Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb (bi female characters)
The Severed Thread by Leslie Vedder (f/f relationship, m/f relationship)
The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa (Latine cast, transmasc nonbinary mc, achillean li, nb/m relationship, genderfluid character)
Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong (f/f relationship)
I’ll Take Everything You Have by James Klise (gay mc & side characters)
The Pledge by Cale Dietrich (gay mc)
She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran (Vietnamese American bi mc)
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury (Black gay character, Sri Lankan lesbian side character)
Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah (sapphic mc, f/f relationship)
Youth, Season 2: Badlands by Curt Pires, Alex Diotto, Dee Cunniffe & Micah Myers (m/m relationship)
Project Nought by Chelsey Furedi (gay mcs, m/m relationship, nonbinary mc, sapphic mc, nonbinary & sapphic side characters)
The Sea in You by Jessi Sheron (f/f relationship)

MARCH

So You Wanna Be a Pop Star? by Zachary Sergi (lgbt cast)
Dear Medusa by Olivia Cole (sapphic mc)
Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa (Jewish lesbian mc, Afro Brazilian fat lesbian mc, Japanese lesbian mc, f/f relationship)
The Quiet and the Loud by Helena Fox (sapphic mc, f/f relationship)
Study Break ed. by Aashna Avachat (anthology; lgbt characters)
Different for Boys by Patrick Ness & Tea Bendix (gay mc)
In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee (memoir)
The Memory Eater by Rebecca Mahoney (bi mc, lesbian li, f/f relationship)
Ravensong by Cayla Fay (f/f relationship)
The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores (f/f relationship)
The Blood Hours by Ann H. Fox (bi mc, lgbt side characters)
Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia (f/f relationship)
Clash of Fate and Fury by Rachel Menard (f/f relationship)
The Future King by Robyn Schneider (bi mc)


Spin by Rebecca Caprara (f/f relationship)
Boy Like Me by Simon James Green (m/m relationship)
Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood (bi mc, f/m relationship & f/f relationship)
My Dear Henry by Kalynn Bayron (Black achillean mc, achillean li)
HappyHead by Josh Silver (m/m relationship)
The Jump by Brittney Morris (lgbt cast)
I Will Find You Again by Sarah Lyu (f/f relationship)
Into the Light by Mark Oshiro (m/m relationship)
The Immeasurable Depth of You by Maria Ingrande Mora (bi mc with OCD, ADHD, anxiety & seasonal affective disorder, nonbinary side character)
The Ojja-Wojja: A Teen Horror Mystery or Whatever, You Know? by Magdalene Visaggio, Jenn St-Onge (sapphic mc)
Life is Strange: Steph’s Story by Rosiee Thor (lesbian mc)
Seeds for the Swarm by Sim Kern (lgbt characters)
Made of Stars By Jenna Voris (gay mc)
Strictly No Heroics by B. L. Radley (fat lesbian mc with PTSD, bi li, f/f relationship)
The Shattered Lands by Brenna Nation (bi mc, lesbian mc, f/f relationship)
Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones (lesbian mc)
The Draining by Max Deacon (gay mc)

APRIL

The Love That Binds Us by Phoenix Blackwood (nonbinary transmasc li, f/nb relationship, transfem character, gay character)
Pardalita by Joana Estrela, trans. by Lyn Miller-Lachmann (sapphic mc)
Robin and Her Misfits by Kelly Ann Jacobson (sapphic mcs)
Alondra by Gina Femia (Puerto Rican American bi mc, sapphic li)
Secret Rules to Being a Rockstar by Jessamyn Violet (sapphic mc)
Stuck With You by ‘Nathan Burgoine (bi mc & li, m/m relationship)
Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick (f/f relationship, Asian American mc)
First Year Orientation ed. by Lauren Gibaldi & Eric Smith (anthology; lgbt stories)
Becoming a Queen by Dan Clay (gay mc, gay characters)
Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa (Mexican American nonbinary mc, Mexican achillean li, nb/m relationship)
Baby Drag Queen by C.A. Tanaka (trans mc)
No Boy Summer by Amy Spalding (bi mc, f/f relationship)
Changelings ed. by Ryan Vale & Ocean Riley (anthology; autistic trans mcs)
The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire Omnibus by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Michelle Wong (bi mc, f/f relationship; reprint)


Under Kingdom by Christof Bogacs & Marie Enger (achillean mc)
The Stars of Mount Quixx by S. M. Beiko (genderfluid li, f/gf relationship)
That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams (Black bi mc, sapphic li)
Remnants of Atonement by G. P. McKenna (m/m relationship)
Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker (Black gay mc)
Tell Me How It Ends by Quinton Li (lesbian mc, nonbinary ace mc)
Spell Bound by F. T. Lukens (achillean mc, nonbinary li, m/nb relationship)
Tragic, Vol. 2 by Dana Mele, Valentina Pinti & Chiara Di Francia (bi mc, f/f relationship)
The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst (bi mc)
Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans (nonbinary lesbian mc, Chinese American pan li, nb/f relationship)
This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham (bi mc, trans bi li, f/f relationship)
What Walks These Halls by Amy Clarkin (bi mc, f/f relationship, bi character)
If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch (m/m relationship)
Harley Quinn: Ravenous by Rachael Allen (bi mc)
Against The Stars by Christopher Hartland (m/m relationship)
Promises Stronger Than Darkness by Charlie Jane Anders (bi/pan mc, Black Brazilian trans female bi/pan mc, nonbinary characters)
Lethal Lit: Photobomb by Micol Ostow (bi mc, f/f relationship)
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline (Ojibwe/Metis sapphic mc)
Starseer by Katya Hernández (m/m relationship)

MAY

The Girl Next Door by Cecilia Vinesse (bi mc, f/f relationship, bi side character)
Paper Planes by Jennie Wood, Dozerdraws & Micah Myers (nonbinary mc, ace mc)
Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli (bi mc, f/f relationship)
Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl by Brianna R. Shrum & Sara Waxelbaum (lesbian mcs, f/f relationship)
The Unstoppable Bridget Bloom by Allison L. Bitz (pan mc)
You Don’t Have a Shot by Racquel Marie (queer ace mc, lesbian li, f/f relationship)
If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude (f/f relationship)
Never Trust a Gemini by Freja Nicole Woolf (f/f relationship)
Something Like Possible by Miel Moreland (bi mc, past f/f relationship)
The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes (autistic sapphic mc, f/f relationship)
Forever is Now by Mariama J. Lockington (Black bi mc)
Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko (f/f relationship)
The Secret Summer Promise by Keah Brown (Black sapphic mc with cerebral palsy, f/f relationship)

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee (Asian American cast, m/m relationship)
We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis (m/m relationship, gay dads)
I Like Me Better by Robby Weber (gay mc, m/m relationship)
Time Out by Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner & Carlyn Greenwald (m/m relationship)
Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido (Filipino gay mc)
Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian (Iranian gay mcs)
Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan (gay mc)
They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody (m/m relationship)
Riley Weaver Needs A Date To The Gaybutante Ball by Jason June (femme gay mc, m/m relationship, gay characters)
No Perfect Places by Steven Salvatore (m/m relationship)
Lose You to Find Me by Erik J. Brown (gay mc, m/m relationship)
The Rules of Us by Jennifer Nissley (lesbian mc, gay mc, f/f relationship, m/m relationship)


Wake by Jae Waller (bi mc, sapphic li, bi, lesbian, gay, trans, & ace/aro side characters)
Bleeding Heart by Brittany M. Willows (pan mc, ace mc)
Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore & Elliot McLemore (trans mc, bigender mc)
Transmogrify! ed. by g. haron-davis (anthology; trans & gnc characters)
Court of the Undying Seasons by A. M. Strickland (pan demigirl mc, pan li, pan, lesbian, bigender, agender, aroace side characters)
The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan & Mark Oshiro (gay mcs, m/m relationship)
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz (sapphic mc, f/f relationship)
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher (sapphic mc, achillean mc)
Lion’s Legacy by L. C. Rosen (gay mc)
This is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde (autistic sapphic mc)
Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn (lesbian mc, bi mc, f/f relationship)
Ava’s Demon: Book One, Reborn by Michelle Fus (nonbinary bi mc)


Saint Juniper’s Folly by Alex Crespo (m/m relationship)
We Don’t Swim Here by Vincent Tirado (Black lesbian mc)
All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley (f/f relationship)
We’ll Never Tell by Wendy Heard (m/m relationship)
Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts by William Hussey (m/m relationship)
DeadEndia: The Watcher’s Test by Hamish Steele (trans mc, m/m relationship, nonbinary mc; reprint)
DeadEndia: The Broken Halo by Hamish Steele (trans mc, m/m relationship, nonbinary mc; reprint)
The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro (m/m relationship)
The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley by Melissa Marr & Jenn St-Onge (f/f relationship)
City of Vicious Night by Claire Winn (bi mcs, f/f relationship)
I Have Something to Tell You (Young Readers’ Edition) by Chasten Buttigieg (memoir)
The Follower of Flowers by Natalia Hernandez (f/f relationship)
Magic Has No Borders ed. by Samira Ahmed & Sona Charaipotra (short stories; m/m relationship)
Big Island by Emily O’Beirne (f/f relationship)

JUNE

Things I’ll Never Say by Cassandra Newbould (bi mc, lesbian li)
Rhubarb Lemonade by Oskar Kroon, trans. A.A. Prime (f/f relationship)
When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw (Black bi mc, bi li, m/f relationship)
The Art of Congressional Love by Sierra Elmore (Black lesbian mc, f/f relationship)
Ode to My First Car by Robin Gow (bi mc, sapphic li, f/f relationship, lesbian side character)
Does Love Always Win? by Diane Billas (lesbian mc, pan li, f/f relationship)
The Dos and the Donuts by Adiba Jaigirdar (Bangladeshi Irish fat sapphic mc, f/f relationship)
Love Letters for Joy by Melissa See (pan ace mc with cerebral palsy)
Darkhearts by James L. Sutter (m/m relationship)
Northranger by Rey Terciero & Bre Indigo (m/m relationship)
House Party ed. by Justin A. Reynolds (anthology; lgbt characters)
Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler (bi mc, f/m and f/f relationships)
A Talent Within by Suzanne Lenoir (f/f relationship)
The Grimoire of Grave Fates by Hanna Alkaf & Margaret Owen (short stories; lgbt characters)
Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia (Mexican American gay mcs)


Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould (lesbian mc & li)
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron (f/f relationship)
The Wicked Unseen by Gigi Griffis (lesbian mc, f/f relationship, gay side character, pan mother)
Cosmoknights: Book Two by Hannah Templer (sapphic mc, side sapphic interracial relationship, side trans character)
A Spark in the Cinders by Jenny Moke (f/f relationship)
Cupid’s Revenge by Wibke Brueggemann (f/f relationship)
This Summer’s Secrets by Emily Barr (f/f relationship)
Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price (bi mc, f/f relationship)
Hearts Forged in Dragon Fire by Erica Hollis (lesbian mc, f/f relationship)
Ollie Fitzgerald’s Heartbreak Anthems by Charlie Arrigo (m/m relationship)
Butterflies In the End Zone by Jacob Gelman (m/m relationship)
Starlings by Amanda Linsmeier (bi/pan mc, sapphic li, f/m & f/f relationships)
A Circle of Stars by Craig Montgomery (m/m relationship)

Please note: we have removed titles by Stacey Anthony after on discovering they’re a pseudonym for Taylor B. Barton/Taylor Brooke who was accused of racism, bullying, & pretending to be Latine a few years back.

Which titles are your most anticipated?

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