Too Queer for the East. Too Muslim for the West.
A growing list of books by LGBTQ+ authors of Muslim backgrounds (or from the general SWANA region) and/or focusing on such experiences in the text.
Based on books I have read or keen to do so. Recommendations are welcome
created by NasIsReading
last updated October, 2026
Comments
Oooh this is fantastic! Hijab Butch Blues works for well here too if youâre looking for recs!
I was coming to suggest exactly this!
This definitely looks like it belongs on here (and on my personal lists too haha)! Thanks đ€©
What a cool list topic, love to see it! â€ïž
This has future quest energy đ€©đ€©
Thank you hahah đđđ much appreciated
Hmmm. I think Like a Bird would fit great here. Itâs by Fariha RĂłisĂn
I think Iâve seen some of her poetry work online before but I didnât know they had a novel! Do you know if the book explores religion or queerness? I cant find hints in the description and trying to avoid spoilers đ«Ł
It definitely explores both. The MCâs parents make a lot of decisions based on religion/perception which drives the story forward and while our MC isnât queer, other important characters are. And Fariha is as well, which is why I thought her book fit well!
Also, I discovered sheâs a poet while reading the book because the prose is beautiful and I was like, there is no way this is her FIRST book. And turns out, as you said, itâs her first novel and she did so well.
Ok you have definitely got my interest haha!! Thanks for the recommendation :)
Yay! đ youâre welcome!!
how delicious ! donât mind if i do.
What a great list!!
Thought of this today because I saw: Crooked Teeth: Queer Syrian Refugee Memoir - Danny Ramadan
Thanks for the recommendation, didnât know he had a memoir but I love his work!!! Defo adding this to the list!
Of course! âš great list đââïž
immediate save, thank you for this!! đ
Appreciate this list of recs!
what a cool list concept! not sure if SWANA includes Nigeria, but if so The Death of Vivek Oji might be a good addition. the author is non-binary, main plot explores gender and sexuality. no muslim rep from what I remember though.
Thanks!!! Also, great book recommendation!! Itâs actually saved on one of my lists but I didnât include it here as it wouldnât fit the theme of intersectionality between Muslim/SWANA and queerness. Itâs definitely one I have in mind if I ever get around to making a similar concept list for African identity and queerness as that also something I like reading about
Ahh such a great list! I have some more suggestions, if you don't mind, but totally understand if they don't all fit your vision!
- "The Foghorn Echoes" by Danny Ramadan
- "Medusa of the Roses" by Navid Sinaki
- "Just Another Epic Love Poem" by Parisa Akhbari
- "What I Know About You" by Ăric Chacour
- "This Arab Is Queer: An Anthology by LGBTQ+ Arab Writers" Elias Jahshan
- "A Tale of Two Omars: A Memoir of Family, Revolution, and Coming Out During the Arab Spring" by Omar Sharif Jr.
I haven't read this one yet but it came across my desk and thought of this list! I hope to read it soon, it sounds really good!
"Summerhouse" by YiÄit Karaahmet (translated from Turkish)
This is a great find as well!! Thanks :)
Love it! I think our brains are on the same wavelength here as two are already on the list and the others all match the vibe so will be adding them in!
Great list!! There's a recent release I'm excited to get to that I think would fit here: No God But Us by Bobuq Sayed. It follows 2 gay Afghan men who meet in Istanbul after being forced to leave their home countries. Seems like it explores a lot of relevant themes!
This sounds very thrilling to read and defo a good match for the list!! Thanks for the recommendation
Sheer perfection!! Both the list and the title!! đđ Thanks for putting this together!!
Thank you so much đđ
Love the title, love the listđââïžđ€
Haha thank you so much! Bit of a passion project of mine
What a great project!
I'm not entirely sure if this fits your idea of books for the list, but I'd like to tentatively recommend These Letters End in Tears by Musih Tedji Xaviere. It's an interfaith forbidden love story set in Cameroon, where being gay is punishable by law. It was heartbreaking.
I know Cameroon isn't included in the SWANA region, but since its focus is on the relationship between a muslim woman (Fatima) and a christian woman (Bessem) in a country where they aren't accepted, I thought it might be a fit anyway. You can of course correct me if I'm wrongâ€ïž
Thanks for checking and I do think this fits into the list since Iâm including Muslim experiences and/or SWANA. It also as an important POV as the Muslim experience can vary greatly by region and culture
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I did research to quickly check (quick possibly incomplete notes below). A few come to mind:
Darius the Great Is Not Okay - Adib Khorram (Rep: Queer, MM, half-Persian teenager, mental health, traveling to Iran, + Iranian-American author)
Son of Sin - Omar Sakr (Rep: Queer, Lebanese, Muslim, Journey to Turkey, + Queer|Arab|Muslim|Australian author)
Martyr! Kaveh Akbar (Rep: Iranian & Iranian-American, parents immigrated from Tehran, Polish-Egyptian, Cultural concepts of martyrdom, + Iranian-American author)
If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan (Queer, Lesbian, Medical Transitioning, Iran, ... + Iranian-American author whose parents immigrated from Iran)
Man of War - Cory McCarthy (Trans, + Irish and Arab American + Irish|Arab|Lebanese|American|Trans|Nonbinary Author)
Really enjoyed these recommendations! Adding them to the list for sure as they fit perfectly (and my own personal reading list)!! Much appreciated đđ
Back at you! Appreciate the list regardless of if it wins quest title. Looking forward to picking out a few to put on my radar (at least).
Hahaha i mean to even be in the running for a quest title is an honor đ this genuinely just started because I hoped if someone else was looking for such books they wouldnât have to struggle to find a collection like I did
I always appreciate niche &/or rep specific lists. They're very needed and helpful!
© 2025 Pagebound