Recs if you like Swimming in the Dark...

are all of those historical fiction? probably not. are all of those queer? well of course.

Historical fiction books with queer characters

Book titles that represent reasons you might go to the doctor, what you might say to each other, or what treatments might be offered to cure your ailments. It's up to you to decide what is what😉

(This is not a commentary on these books or authors! The focus of this list is purely on the titles---but if you find a favorite new read here, I'd love to know🤭)

books that feel:

claustrophobic like the summer heat like stifling longing flushed cheeks like unbidden realisations melancholically sweet like painful emptiness existential like utter confusion

I haven’t read all book on this list (yet). Feedback regarding books/authors is welcome🫶🏻 PLS CHECK TW

musical inspiration: fourth of july - Sufjan Stevens Habibi - Tamino implosion - Labrinth now, run - Hania Rani ozean - AnnenMayKantereit

Aka Dua Lipa’s reading list. Everyone’s fave popstar on permanent holiday with a massive list of books to read, and she always seems to have incredible recommendations.

I am not part of Service95 or affiliated with Dua Lipa. I am just a fan curating this list based on the @service95bookclub IG account 💋

Some classic, popular, and lesser-known books about the lives and relationships of men who love men. Recommendations welcome---I'm specifically in search of more books centering trans men! [Created Sep '25]

Book about or by authors from Slavic countries that aren't Russia!

Dua Lipa’s book clip picks

A list of books that have LGBTQ+ characters and at around 200 pages or less can in theory be read in a single day - Id love recommendations as well

Focused on stories with beautiful prose, depth, and explore the intricate realities of the LGBTQ+ experience. Sub-genres could range from historical, contemporary, science fiction, magical realism, and classics (even romance!).

I will continue to update this, so comment if you have more!

ownvoices books across genres by queer men/masc authors that feature queer men as main characters

disclaimer: this is all just based on my own research and may not always be 100% accurate to the author’s identity - feel free to comment any edits or suggestions!

reading diversely is not a trend. it’s the bare minimum. and if your shelves don’t reflect that, you’re missing out.

Emotional, sensual, sexual…precious intimacy in many forms but all deeply rooted in queerness and profoundly intense experiences.

Queer Lit (adult/general audience) titles.

Based for now on titles I have engaged with- thus mlm dominating at the moment

Recs welcome!!

See comments also for more titles (and films!)

Service95 Book Club Monthly Reads + more and more books from their lists :)

southern gothic; religious horror; intergenerational trauma; dysfunctional families; obsessive love; cannibalism; rot and decay in a small town

a list of books that catapult you right into a different historical & cultural context and part of the world because of how vivid the writing is.

pain, pain and more pain, but make it queer.

I will continue to update this, so feel free to add more suggestions

These books have lgbt+ representation in them even if sometimes it's not the main focus or the leading couple. It's important to me to have a list that has variety and of not just stories about love but also those exploring gender identity and about those who don't experience love the same way like asexuals and aromatics. So far thare's a lot of sapphic books as well as quite a few books w/transgender mc's.

Queerness + Water

Queer stories that have scenes with water, water as a theme, etc.

The intimacy of nude swimming, water encasing the body, the way a river flows and connects to other bodies of water, the life that lives in its depths, the fact we have not descovered much of the ocean which holds secrets we cannot reach…water is a queer thing, and a theme found continually in queer stories both minutely and wholly encompassing

Adult-audience fiction mostly, some mature YA

Recs welcome!