{"id":196548,"date":"2024-06-17T07:30:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-16T23:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/?p=196548"},"modified":"2024-11-20T19:12:02","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T11:12:02","slug":"lgbtq-books-to-read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/lgbtq-books-to-read\/","title":{"rendered":"Queer stories matter! LGBTQ books that should be on your reading list"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the torrential rain<\/a> we often get in Hong Kong, there\u2019s nothing better than staying home and curling up with a good book. If you\u2019ve already gone through your list of books to read<\/a>, why not add some queer stories into the mix? Not only are many queer reads incredible literary works, they also offer unparalleled representation and an opportunity for you to learn about queer characters in greater depth. Next time you visit a bookstore in Hong Kong<\/a>, try tracking down these great LGBTQ books.<\/p>\n

15 of our fave LGBTQ books for Pride Month and beyond<\/h2>\n

1. Giovanni\u2019s Room<\/em> by James Baldwin<\/h3>\n
\"lgbtq
Queer desire is explored in Giovanni\u2019s Room<\/i> (Photography: Vintage Books & Anchor Books via Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Legendary writer James Baldwin\u2019s novel about desire and regret is a queer classic. Giovanni\u2019s Room<\/em> follows David, an American living in Paris waiting for his girlfriend to return; in the meantime, he meets a handsome Italian bartender named Giovanni. As his relationship with Giovanni deepens and gets more complicated, David struggles with his sexuality and future. A controversial book when first released, Baldwin broke barriers as a black author writing about homosexuality. Baldwin\u2019s prose is as exquisite as always and brings you face to face with David\u2019s lust and fear, giving a layered look into queer life in the 1950s.<\/p>\n

2. Big Swiss<\/em> by Jen Beagin<\/h3>\n
\"lgbtq
A weirdly funny book, Big Swiss<\/i> is a must-read LGBTQ book (Photography: Simon & Schuster via Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A funny, unconventional love story unravels in Jen Beagin\u2019s Big Swiss<\/em>. As Greta works as a transcriber for sex therapy sessions, she finds herself fantasising about a married female client whom she affectionately nicknames \u201cBig Swiss\u201d. Matters become complicated when Greta finds Big Swiss in person, and the two begin an affair. A delightfully weird and original story, you\u2019ll find yourself smiling from ear to ear while on the edge of your seat with each page.<\/p>\n

3. They Both Die at the End<\/em> by Adam Silvera<\/h3>\n
\"they
Young-adult novel They Both Die at the End<\/i> is a wonderful book about life and death (Photography: HarperTeen via Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Adam Silvera pens They Both Die at the End<\/em>, a young-adult novel about life and death. In the distant future, a company called Death Cast can predict death with frightening accuracy. Teen boys Mateo and Rufus both receive a call from Death Cast informing them that they have a day to live. Using an app called Last Friend, Mateo and Rufus meet up to not be alone on their final day. A novel that manages to surprise despite laying out its ending at the start, Silvera develops the characters of Mateo and Rufus wonderfully. You may even shed a few tears as you follow the two boys going through life knowing that death is imminent.<\/p>\n

4. Detransition, Baby<\/em> by Torrey Peters<\/h3>\n
\"lgbtq
Detransition, Baby<\/i> is a thoughtful exploration of gender and family (Photography: Random House via Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The debut novel by trans writer Torrey Peters, Detransition, Baby<\/em> is a nuanced exploration of gender, family, and trans life. When Ames (a detransitioned man previously identifying as a trans woman named Amy) gets his cisgender boss Katrina pregnant, he has to grapple with what it means to be a father. He turns to his trans ex-girlfriend Reese \u2013 with whom he has a very complicated history \u2013 to create a makeshift family and help with his qualms about gendered parenthood. With messy, complicated characters trying to get through life, this is a book you wouldn\u2019t want to put down until the last line.<\/p>\n

5. Heartstopper<\/em> by Alice Oseman<\/h3>\n
\"lgbtq
Nick and Charlie\u2019s tender love story has made Heartstoppe<\/i>r a bestseller (Photography: Alice Oseman via Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether you\u2019ve been following Heartstopper<\/em> since its Tumblr days, or are itching for more material after bingeing the Netflix series<\/a>, you\u2019re in luck because this popular graphic novel series now has over four volumes! Following Nick and Charlie, two schoolboys who become friends before eventually falling in love, this bestseller has been praised for its adorable and realistic depiction of queer teen love. With a fully fleshed-out world featuring nuanced depictions of diverse LGBTQ+ experiences, Heartstopper<\/em> is a visually striking series, perfect for a wide range of audiences.<\/p>\n

6. The Price of Salt<\/em> by Patricia Highsmith<\/h3>\n
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A post shared by Beinecke Library (@beineckelibrary)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n