16 works of LGBTQ+ short fiction for Pride month
June marks the start of Pride Month in the UK, a time for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to celebrate diversity, equality, and progress.
To honour this occasion, here is a list of short fiction that explores queer experiences, challenges societal norms, and celebrates love, identity, and resilience.
From James Baldwin’s “Giovanni’s Room” to Alice Oseman’s “Nick and Charlie,” these books offer captivating narratives that illuminate the rich tapestry of queer life and love.
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
In this epistolary sci-fi novel, two time-traveling agents from warring factions leave letters for each other across various eras, embarking on a romantic and dangerous dance that challenges their loyalty and alters the course of history.
The Opposite of a Person by Lieke Marsman
When climatologist Ida takes an internship in the Italian Alps, she leaves her girlfriend Robin behind to join her colleagues as they prepare to demolish a decommissioned dam. This introspective novel explores love, loneliness, and longing against a backdrop of one woman working out her place in a society that refuses to address climate change.
Salt Slow by Julia Armfield
This captivating collection of short stories explores the experiences of diverse female characters, delving into themes of desire, transformation, and the constraints of society. With a touch of the supernatural, Armfield’s haunting prose offers a thought-provoking exploration of femininity and power.
Large Animals by by Jess Ardnt
The twelve stories in Large Animals challenge the norms of human identity. Jess Arndt’s unnamed narrators struggle with inhabiting a form that feels both uncomfortable and detached. They push the limits of gender and reality to connect with others and themselves, creating a new, ambiguous, and messy normal.
I hope this diverse selection of 16 stories opens new doors of exploration and enriches your bookshelves with a kaleidoscope of voices and experiences. As we celebrate Pride month, let these narratives remind us of the importance of embracing and amplifying the stories that may be different from our own. Wishing you happy reading and a joyful Pride month filled with love and acceptance!