The most recommended books about coming out

Who picked these books? Meet our 54 experts.

54 authors created a book list connected to coming out, and here are their favorite coming out books.
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Book cover of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

Heather DiAngelis Author Of Speech and Debacles

From Heather's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Animal rescuer Endo sufferer Audiobook fanatic

Heather's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Plus, Heather's 8-year-old's favorite books.

Heather DiAngelis Why did Heather love this book?

Fake dating story? Check. Queer characters? Check. A fragile web of lies? Another check! In Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating, Hani and Ishu do not like each other.

They might be the only Bengali girls in their predominantly white Irish school, but that doesn't mean they're anything alike. If pretending to date someone will get you ahead in life, though, sometimes you do what you have to do. And if that turns into real feelings, well...that's a problem for another day.

I was totally smitten by this story. It's cute, well-written, and heartwarming, and it's sure to add a little bounce to your step after you turn the final page.

By Adiba Jaigirdar,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

WINNER OF THE YA BOOK PRIZE 2022! Hani and Ishu couldn't be less alike - and they definitely don't like each other. But when fates collide and they pretend to date each other, things start to get messy... A heart-warming queer YA love story for fans of Becky Albertalli.

Everyone likes Hani Khan - she's easy going and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they don't believe her, claiming she can't be bi if she's only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she's in a relationship... with…


Book cover of Hello, Little Fish! A Mirror Book

Marianne C. Bohr Author Of The Twenty: One Woman's Trek Across Corsica on the GR20 Trail

From Marianne's 1-year-old's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Terminal wanderlust Francophile Outdoors nut Travel writer Introverted

Marianne's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Plus, Marianne's 1-year-old's favorite books.

Marianne C. Bohr Why did Marianne's 1-year-old love this book?

A wonderful book for young children, baby-2 years old.

Little Fish swims in the sea and sees all his friends. He says hello and wants the readers to say hello too.  There are lots of brilliantly colored fish in every color. Then there’s Striped Fish, Spotted Fish, Ele-Fish, and Shelly Fish and many others. There’s also Mommy Fish, who has lots of kisses. And then Little Fish gets to meet himself in the mirror.

The rhymes, colors, and patterns, are all wonderful. My grandson giggles all the way through the book. 

By Lucy Cousins,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hello, Little Fish! A Mirror Book as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Little Fish leads an underwater journey to say hello to friends of all stripes—including the little creature peering into the novelty mirror.

Hello, hello, hello fish,
red, blue, and yellow fish.

Little Fish is swimming in the sea and saying hello to all his friends. Who wants to come along and meet them? First you’ll see brilliant fish in every color. Then come Striped Fish, Spotted Fish, Ele-Fish, and Shelly Fish. Look out for Eye Fish and Shy Fish, Fly Fish and Sky Fish! Best of all is Mommy Fish, who is always ready with a bunch of kisses. But…


Book cover of The Saint of Bright Doors

Rita Chang-Eppig Author Of Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea

From Rita's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Nerd Writing teacher Chaotic neutral Psychologist

Rita's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Rita Chang-Eppig Why did Rita love this book?

Chandrasekera first came onto my radar when I read a brilliant short story of his in 2021.

When I learned he had a novel coming out this year, I immediately preordered despite vague doubts about his ability to extend his meta, liminal brand of short fiction into novel form. Well, I’m pleased (and annoyed and envious) to admit I was wrong.

In The Saint of Bright Doors, a boy named Fetter is raised by his mother to one day kill his father, who is a saint not in the figurative sense of the word but in the has-godly-powers sense of the word. Meanwhile, in his city, strange, colorful, unopenable doors have been popping up all over the place.

The beautiful prose alone makes this book worth reading, but those who read for the plot will still find plenty to enjoy in this imaginative, fast-paced, and thought-provoking book.

By Vajra Chandrasekera,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Saint of Bright Doors as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Saint of Bright Doors sets the high drama of divine revolutionaries and transcendent cults against the mundane struggles of modern life, resulting in a novel that is revelatory and resonant.

Fetter was raised to kill, honed as a knife to cut down his sainted father. This gave him plenty to talk about in therapy.

He walked among invisible powers: devils and anti-gods that mock the mortal form. He learned a lethal catechism, lost his shadow, and gained a habit for secrecy. After a blood-soaked childhood, Fetter escaped his rural hometown for the big city, and fell into a broader…


Book cover of I Am Purpose

Dawn Doig Author Of Hair Peace

From my list on inspire children to be happy with who they are.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, but inherited ‘travelling DNA’ from my sailor father which has led to a life of work and travel around the globe. In addition to being an audiologist and teacher, I am also the author (and sometimes illustrator) of 15 children’s picture books. Many of my books have been inspired by the special children I have had the privilege to work with as both an audiologist and teacher. My books are on a variety of topics including childhood hearing loss, dysgraphia and writing challenges, bullying and forgiveness, learning English as an additional language, and positive self-image. Some of my books are written to evoke giggles and belly laughs. 

Dawn's book list on inspire children to be happy with who they are

Dawn Doig Why did Dawn love this book?

Cute story about a little seed named Purpose who wants to be a tree. I love the picture where he looks so tiny next to the flower and he is holding a leaf in each hand with a sprout coming out of his head. He is oblivious to the fact that what he longs for is already growing inside him. The author has done a wonderful job incorporating the special “talents” of nature to counsel Purpose about the true potential that dwells within him. A great story for children who are trying to figure out who they are and what they want to be. This story would also be great for adults who doubt their abilities or question their potential. A source of inspiration for all ages

By Icia Ragsdale, Zsade Fleming (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Am Purpose as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

I am Purpose is a fictional children's book that uses nature to share in the journey of a seed, Purpose, in hopes of becoming a tree. Purpose must navigate his way, while expressing emotions in a manner that teaches children to do the same. In addition to helping children develop and expand their emotional vocabulary, I am Purpose illustrates how to persevere until the end.


Book cover of Casting Lacey

Nicole Pyland Author Of No After You

From my list on sapphic romance that will make you laugh.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve published more than 30 books in this genre, and more are on the way. I am passionate about it because I started writing Sapphic romance myself after reading a few really great books in the genre for the first time and the books that made me want to write myself were the ones that made me laugh and had great character development to go along with the laughter. The books I write today are often funny, some are sarcastic, and they’re focused on characters. These books also fit that bill. 

Nicole's book list on sapphic romance that will make you laugh

Nicole Pyland Why did Nicole love this book?

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. 

By Elle Spencer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Casting Lacey as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Coming out is easier when you’ve got someone by your side. At least that’s how the hyper-private Quinn Kincaid sees it. When her publicist suggests a good old-fashioned sham of a Hollywood relationship, Quinn reluctantly agrees. And that’s how the star of Jordan’s Appeal, TV’s highest rated legal drama, ends up with a fake girlfriend—the very real, very sexy, and very gay soap star, Lacey Matthews.

The two clash immediately, and often hilariously, as they figure out how to fake a budding romance. And of course, things are never as simple as they seem. A freak accident, some reluctant caregiving,…


Book cover of Tonight We Rule the World

Kelly Murashige Author Of The Lost Souls of Benzaiten

From my list on quiet, mousy, teenaged me feel seen.

Why am I passionate about this?

Aside from my brief stint as a bossy know-it-all when I was little, I have always been that quiet girl no one notices. In high school, it took me at least ten minutes and five tries to get myself to wish my desk partner a happy birthday. I spent a lot of my adolescence trying to find myself, so I understand what it’s like to feel lost. My greatest wish is for my book to help at least one person feel how these books helped me.

Kelly's book list on quiet, mousy, teenaged me feel seen

Kelly Murashige Why did Kelly love this book?

I will never pass up an opportunity to discuss one of Zack Smedley’s books. This one is one of the most beautiful, truthful, and book-hangover-inducing stories I have ever enjoyed reading.

Its narrator, a boy struggling to tell and come to terms with a difficult truth, will live in my heart and mind forever. I advise people to check for content warnings, as Smedley’s work never fails to leave me an emotional wreck.

By Zack Smedley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tonight We Rule the World as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Owen Turner is a boy of too many words. For years, they all stayed inside his head and he barely spoke-until he met Lily. Lily, the girl who gave him his voice, helped him come out as bi, and settle into his ASD diagnosis. But everything unravels when someone reports Owen's biggest secret to the school: that he was sexually assaulted at a class event.
As officials begin interviewing students to get to the bottom of things, rumors about an assault flood the school hallways. No one knows it happened to Owen, and he's afraid of what will happen if…


Book cover of Dreadnought

C.T. Phipps Author Of The Rules of Supervillainy

From my list on superheroes not from Marvel or DC.

Why am I passionate about this?

Hi, my name is CT Phipps, and I am a crazy nerd from Ashland, Ky. I'm married with two dogs and love superheroes. I mean love. I used to wallpaper my bedroom wall with Spider-Man comics in their polybags. I've been a lifelong superhero fan and just love all the melodrama, hilarity, and weird science as well as magic that are the undercurrents of the genre. I've never lost my love of the characters and their stories, so when the MCU first came out, I ended up writing this book as well as its sequels. I’ve also written a bunch of other humorous sci-fi/fantasy books but this is the series closest to my heart.

C.T.'s book list on superheroes not from Marvel or DC

C.T. Phipps Why did C.T. love this book?

Dreadnought is a fantastic story about a young trans girl who inherits the powers of the most powerful superhero in the world.

Like Captain Marvel, it bestows upon her the looks of her idealized form. Unfortunately, this goes over like a ton of bricks with her family that she hadn't revealed herself to. The coming-of-age drama doesn't take a back seat to the superheroics, though, and I absolutely love the characters created by the author. 

By April Daniels,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Dreadnought as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An action-packed series-starter perfect for fans of The Heroine Complex and Not Your Sidekick.

"I didn't know how much I needed this brave, thrilling book until it rocked my world. Dreadnought is the superhero adventure we all need right now."-Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky

Danny Tozer has a problem: she just inherited the powers of Dreadnought, the world's greatest superhero. Until Dreadnought fell out of the sky and died right in front of her, Danny was trying to keep people from finding out she's transgender. But before he expired, Dreadnought passed his mantle to…


Book cover of Before I Had the Words: On Being a Transgender Young Adult

James Sie Author Of All Kinds of Other

From my list on the world of trans masculine teens.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a gay author, father, and voice actor living in Los Angeles. When I started writing All Kinds of Other, there was very little literature centering trans characters in YA fiction, and virtually none about trans masculine characters. Trans teens have to face a lot of challenges—in school, at home, even from the government that is supposed to protect them. It’s hard enough to just be a teenager, let alone face such discrimination. I wanted to write something that would reflect them and affirm their right to live and love, to be. Happily, since that time, there have been a number of books for teens that center trans characters, and I’m happy to include some of them here.

James' book list on the world of trans masculine teens

James Sie Why did James love this book?

A rollicking and touching memoir from trans vlogging pioneer, artist, and musician Skylar Kergil. Skylar writes with honesty and wit, taking us through his whole childhood, coming out, and transitioning. If you’ve ever seen any of his transition vlogs on YouTube, you know how engaging Skylar is, and his voice shines through in this book. It feels very much like he’s talking to you over a cup of coffee. 

By Skylar Kergil,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Before I Had the Words as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"A must-read for anyone who is trans or has trans family or friends." -Chase Ross, trans activist and speaker.

Revealing entries from the author's personal journals as well as interviews with his mother, brother, and friends lend remarkable depth to a groundbreaking memoir of change, loss, discovery, pain, and relief.

At the beginning of his physical transition from female to male, then-seventeen-year-old Skylar Kergil posted his first video on YouTube. In the months and years that followed, he recorded weekly update videos about the physical and emotional changes he experienced. Skylar's openness and positivity attracted thousands of viewers, who followed…


Book cover of Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun

Elizabeth Arroyo Author Of On the Edge of Broken Pieces

From my list on YA LGBTQIA coming out.

Why am I passionate about this?

I remember how it was to be an awkward teen, misunderstood, questioning, and having nowhere to turn. I remember living in a violent world where I had to grow up to survive. The world was a scary place for a neurodivergent who lived more in her head than in real life. I want to be able to bring stories to our young people where they might see themselves and not feel so alone because we all are a bit awkward, a bit misunderstood, and filled with stories that deserve to be told.

Elizabeth's book list on YA LGBTQIA coming out

Elizabeth Arroyo Why did Elizabeth love this book?

Coming out to the people you love is difficult enough. Julian comes out to the world in a tweet–and has to live with it the following day when he remembers. Oops.

This is a heartfelt story of a boy trying to find his place in the world despite not being understood by the people who matter most. For Julian, it’s his dad. Funny, heartfelt, and much deserving of a HEA.

By Jonny Garza Villa,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A poignant, funny, openhearted novel about coming out, first love, and being your one and only best and true self.

Julian Luna has a plan for his life: Graduate. Get into UCLA. And have the chance to move away from Corpus Christi, Texas, and the suffocating expectations of others that have forced Jules into an inauthentic life.

Then in one reckless moment, with one impulsive tweet, his plans for a low-key nine months are thrown-literally-out the closet. The downside: the whole world knows, and Jules has to prepare for rejection. The upside: Jules now has the opportunity to be his…


Book cover of The Vast Fields of Ordinary

Abigail de Niverville Author Of I Knew Him

From my list on coming of age to make you feel seventeen again.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a lover of YA fiction, and writing YA books! Growing up in small-town Eastern Canada, I had a difficult time connecting to the popular YA novels of the time. There were few that really reflected my experience, or even felt relatable. Now, as a writer, I seek to write novels that others who may feel underrepresented for any number of reasons can build a connection to. And as a reader, I’m constantly on the lookout for works that speak to me.

Abigail's book list on coming of age to make you feel seventeen again

Abigail de Niverville Why did Abigail love this book?

One of my favourite YA novels ever! The narration in this book truly comes alive. Reading it, the narrator Dade just popped right out of the page and into my inner reading voice. He was so vibrant and full of personality, and while his misadventures were very unlike my own experiences, I still felt a connection to him. I was hooked from beginning to end! This book also inspired me to get back into writing my own novel, so it has a really special place in my heart.

By Nick Burd,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Vast Fields of Ordinary as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

It's Dade's last summer at home, and things are pretty hopeless. He has a crappy job, a "boyfriend" who treats him like dirt, and his parents' marriage is falling apart. So when he meets and falls in love with the mysterious Alex Kincaid, Dade feels like he's finally experiencing true happiness. But when a tragedy shatters the final days of summer, he realizes he must face his future and learn how to move forward from his past.