Ah, June. The time of year when seemingly every business and corporation in the country tries to sell you a rainbow themed product and tweets a statement of support for the LGBTQIA+ community. While it’s easy to get cynical about the way that this support often seems to disappear at the end of the month, I also think that there’s something really amazing about seeing that flash of rainbow everywhere.
This year, I’ve been thinking a lot about the rainbow flag. It’s so bright. It’s impossible to ignore. Everywhere it gets posted (in a hashtag, in a logo, in a product, in a picture), you have to notice it. It never hides in the background. For me, this is closely tied to what it means to celebrate queer joy. In the face of frustrating Supreme Court rulings and continued attacks on trans rights and bodies, it strikes me as especially important that the flag that marks Pride is so bright, colorful, and unapologetic.
Additionally, the Pride flag stands in direct opposition to the narrative that we are so often given about being queer. One of the things the mainstream media gets wrong about being queer is how much they still focus on queer trauma and coming out, often even intertwining those things in some way. This narrative - that being queer means pain and suffering and dying young - keeps many of us in the closet for much too long. “If I can just ignore this part of myself,” we think to ourselves, “maybe I can be happy.” It’s given to us as a choice: we can be happy, or we can be queer.
Don’t get me wrong. I know we still need coming out stories (we all had to figure it out somehow). We still need stories about grief and trauma (we’re also people who lose love and make bad choices with consequences). We still need stories that acknowledge where we’ve been and the people who have fought to make the world we live in now (Stonewall reminds us that the first pride was a riot).
But we also need stories that highlight the joy of being queer. When sitting down to read a story about queer joy, we can feel less alone. When I was talking to some of my fellow queer librarians about this joy, one theme came up over and over again: the collective nature of queer joy. That’s the thing about centering queer trauma and coming out—they are often (though not always) lonely experiences. Queer joy, however, is often found and celebrated as a collective experience. Djaz (they/them) had this to say: “There's queer joy in every book written by an author who gives us true love and happy endings. There's queer joy in a march, in a protest, in signs and chants that push for justice. We're here, we're queer, and we demand our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of joy and happiness.” The reality is that not every queer person has access to this community, especially not at the beginning. As Marlene (they/them) put it, “Queer joy is about our community, and our found families, and banding together to say, despite everything, ‘I am happy and proud of who I am.’” I wasn’t sure what to expect when I came out, but this has been the most delightful discovery—how much JOY there is in queer community, and how much happiness there is to be found. There’s joy in the shared experiences, inside jokes, and in the art that queer people make. There’s something to be proud of about the fact that we found ourselves in a world that wanted us to stay hidden. Books that center and celebrate pride about being queer, queer joy, and collective queer happiness offer a window into a world of possibility for people who haven’t found that in the real world yet. They allow us to imagine a world of happiness and possibility, rather than one of limits.
That’s why this list is pure and authentic gay joy, plain and simple. I wanted to highlight some of the best and happiest queer experiences that I’ve read. One of the most fun things about putting together this list was finding the queerness and happiness in a range of genres and formats. There is queerness in magic and on spaceships, beautifully illustrated in graphic novels, celebrated as a part of coming-of-age in YA stories, and in traditional romance novels. These days, queer people of all kinds can find delightful, hopeful narratives in any genre. Get ready for found family and queer love stories and messy feelings and happy endings. So grab your crop top and rainbow sunnies, cuff your pant legs, blast some Lady Gaga, and pick up one of these books for happy feelings this month. I’ve highlighted six of my favorites below, but you can click here (link to the full booklist) for even more queer joy!
The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite
If you like period dramas like The Portrait of a Lady on Fire or Ammonite but would like to see them without so much longing and angst, this book is for you. Lucy is a translator and scientist who takes on the project of translating a French text on astronomy. While she works, she finds herself drawn to the widow who is financing the project. This is a fun, feminist love story that takes traditional tropes in romance and turns them on their head.
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
By now, you’ve probably heard of One Last Stop by CMQ, which is taking publishing by storm this summer. (If you haven’t yet had a chance to pick that up, I highly recommend it!) But have you taken the time to read McQuiston’s first book yet? This royal adventure features the son of the President of the United States falling in love with the Prince of England, and shenanigans ensue as they try to avoid the paparazzi. It’s a delightful romance that had me alternately tearing up and laughing.
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Prom season in Campbell, Indiana is what everyone looks forward to. Becoming queen of the court isn’t just about social cache--it also comes with a big scholarship, which could allow Liz to attend the college of her dreams. Though she’s usually an outsider, she makes it her goal to get on the court. There’s just one problem: the new girl in school is funny, cute, and charming, and Liz just might fall for her. This is a queer coming-of-age story that doesn’t focus on “coming out,” and it is delightful throughout.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Reading this book felt like being given the biggest hug the whole time. Linus Baker is a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He is given a special assignment to go and check up on a very special magical school, where he meets an unlikely and unusual cast of characters and finds himself drawn to their caretaker. The joy in this book is infused into every page, as Linus finds himself opening up to unexpected adventures.
Bingo Love by Tee Franklin
This cute graphic novel tells the story of two women who fell in love as teens, both decide to follow a more traditional path with their lives, and reconnect as older women. It is a kind, heartwarming story about the choices that we make and the way that love finds a way. The illustrations are gorgeous and warm, and I found myself rooting for everyone involved.
Space Opera by Catherynne Valente
The fastest way to describe this book is “Eurovision in space.” It is a glampunk, genderqueer, glittery, fast-paced, highly imaginative story about what happens when humanity is given a chance to sing for our future (or be destroyed). Valente’s writing is fun and playful, and Decibel Jones is an unforgettable character. Perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams (except much gayer).
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