Pride Month Reads: Three Queer Stories of Self-Discovery, Love, and Belonging
- Nicolette Alexandra Brito-Cruz
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
Pride Month is a celebration of LGBTQ+ communities, but it's also an opportunity to reflect on the power of stories. Books have long offered queer readers what the world sometimes could not: visibility, possibility, and the freedom to imagine themselves fully.
One of the most beautiful things about queer literature is its range. Queer stories can be joyful and tender, romantic and heartbreaking, fantastical and deeply rooted in everyday life. They can help us see ourselves more clearly while expanding our understanding of the lives and experiences of others.
This Pride Month, we're highlighting three books that showcase that diversity. From a picture book celebrating self-expression, to a steamy sapphic sports romance, to a reimagining of a literary classic through a trans lens, these stories remind us that there is no single way to be queer, and no single queer story worth telling.
Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Spanish)
Few books capture the joy of self-discovery as beautifully as Julián Is a Mermaid. Jessica Love's award-winning picture book follows Julián, a young boy who becomes enchanted after seeing three women dressed as mermaids on the subway. Their confidence, beauty, and sense of wonder spark something within him, and when he gets home, he sets out to create a mermaid costume of his own.
What makes this story so powerful is its simplicity. Through expressive illustrations and spare text, Love creates a world where imagination and identity intertwine. Julián's desire to dress as a mermaid is never treated as something strange or shameful. Instead, the story centers curiosity, creativity, and self-expression.
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Love and Sportsball: A Spicy Sapphic Sports Romance by Meka James
For readers looking for romance this Pride Month, Love and Sportsball delivers chemistry, humor, and plenty of heart.
Khadijah Upton has worked hard to land her dream job as an athletic trainer for a professional basketball team. Focused and ambitious, she has little interest in mixing her personal and professional lives. But after a celebratory night out leads to a memorable one-night stand, she discovers that her mysterious hookup is none other than Shae Harris, one of the team's star players.
What follows is a classic romance setup with plenty of sparks. Khadijah's cautious nature clashes with Shae's confidence and spontaneity, creating a dynamic that feels both entertaining and emotionally grounded. As the two women grow closer, they must navigate professional boundaries, personal vulnerabilities, and the possibility that what started as a fleeting encounter could become something much more meaningful.
While the romance is undeniably steamy, the novel's emotional core lies in its exploration of trust and connection. It's a joyful sapphic romance that celebrates queer love while delivering all the tension and payoff romance readers crave.
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice has inspired countless retellings, but Most Ardently offers a particularly moving reimagining.
Set in London in 1812, the novel follows Oliver Bennet, a trans boy living in a society that sees him as someone he is not. Forced to navigate a world structured around rigid expectations of gender and class, Oliver finds freedom only in fleeting moments when he can present himself as the young gentleman he knows himself to be.
When he meets Darcy, their relationship begins with the familiar friction readers expect from an Austen-inspired story. Yet beneath the misunderstandings and social barriers lies a deeply emotional exploration of identity, belonging, and the desire to be loved for who you truly are.
What makes Most Ardently so compelling is its ability to honor the themes of the original while creating something entirely its own. Oliver's journey raises questions about authenticity, safety, and the risks involved in pursuing a life that feels honest. His story is romantic, certainly, but it is also about self-determination and the courage required to claim one's place in the world.
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