100 books like Breaking Character

Ask, Tell is the story of Captain Sabine Fleischer, a surgeon in the US Army during the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era. The book is told entirely from Sabine’s point of view, so as a reader, I could really feel her pining for her superior officer, stunning and competent Colonel Rebecca Keane. It’s a story that will make you laugh and cry and understand much better what LGBT+ people serving in the military went through during that time. 

This book is the epitome of a slow-burn romance, so as a reader, you get to know both main characters—small-town doctor Maddie and new-in-town librarian Syd—really well and fall in love with them as you watch them slowly fall in love with each other. The author has a unique sense of humor, and the witty banter between Maddie and Syd made me laugh out loud several times. 

Without a Front combines two of the genres I enjoy most: a heart-warming romance with three-dimensional characters and a well-written sci-fi novel with amazing world-building. The culture and history of Alsea, a planet of empaths, is portrayed in fascinating detail, but it never distracts from the love story. I fell in love not only with the world but also its characters, most of all Salomen, a stubborn farm owner who is a worthy opponent and eventual love interest for Tal, the ruler of Alsea. 

Just from the book’s back cover description, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did because any kind of cheating and love triangles are not my cup of tea in a romance novel. If you are the same, give this book a chance anyway. Jan—who cared for her husband for years—and the much-younger writer Terry never planned to fall in love, but when they do, the author handles it with complexity and integrity. It’s a book that will make you feel all the emotions the characters are going through. 

One of the biggest draws for me in this story is that both women are both around fifty years old. One, Ida, is a closeted lesbian, having hidden her sexuality for decades to protect her Hollywood career. The other, Faye, has never considered the possibility that she might not be 100% straight, until she and Ida ‘play gay’ for a movie and have to kiss. But it isn’t just the kiss that sets Faye’s mind whirling – it’s how fascinating she finds Ida as a person. The more time they spend together, the more confused Faye gets. It’s so well written, with alternate chapters from each woman’s point of view, but all in first person, which is cleverly done.

It’s not a “deep cut” by any means, but I had to start this list with this book. It’s the book that made me fall in love with the graphic novel format and remains perhaps my favorite book of all time.

Bechdel weaves together her coming-of-age as a lesbian, her discovery of her father’s homosexuality, and rich literary allusions, all with beautiful, detailed artwork.

When I read this book for the first time as a closeted teenager, I was captivated not only by the queer representation but by the rich storytelling. The way Bechdel’s words and illustrations work together to create a whole that’s greater than the sum of their parts opened my mind to the magic and power of the comic medium. 

When I was writing my first mystery series, I knew very little about the history of the lesbian detective novel. Because I wanted to work within the genre’s boundaries, I spent almost as much time researching it as writing. With the 2022 publication of The Lesbian Detective Novel, Megan Casey has made this task way easier for future lesbian mystery authors. She lists over 1,000 titles along with their creators and adds a few pertinent notes about each book or series. When you finish my first four picks and are looking for other lesbian mysteries to enjoy, this is the book to have by your bedside. I certainly have it beside mine.

Lena Martin is given the job of tracking down Shattergirl, a black lesbian superhero who has dropped out of sight. I love this book because it’s not your usual superhero story. 

It takes a dive into how public perception affects who we are willing to accept as heroes, how other people’s preconceptions care wear down marginalized people, and how having to hide parts of yourself can distance you from those around you.

I love Yolanda Wallace, and I love tennis, so this one was an easy pick up for me. My son is an avid tennis player, which makes me a tennis mom. I know the ups and downs of tennis players, and I personally find it the most mentally grueling sport of them all since you are out there on your own with no one to help pick you up when you’re down. I think the setting is rife with angst, and Yolanda Wallace is such a beautifully descriptive writer. She never misses an opportunity to paint a real picture with her words. 

I listened to this book, so it helped that it had a great narrator in Melissa Moran. Since I usually listen to books before bed, you can understand that finding a good book that makes me laugh probably wouldn’t help me get much sleep, and this is one of those books. The story is a fake romance, which is a trope in this genre that everyone seems to love. Lacey is dry and sarcastic, which is my favorite kind of character, and it takes place on a TV show set, so if you’re into celebrities and Hollywood romances like my Celebrities Series, this one is for you. I’ve probably listened to this book at least 5 times already.