Celebrated every June, Pride Month is a time of celebration and authenticity, as well as a reflection on those who made progress for Queer people possible. Though the month will soon be over, it is never too late to celebrate the Queer community and all who are a part of it. A great way to do so is to engage with identities — and literature — that are often politicized and censored.
These three modern books — all written by Queer authors — may be the perfect place to start. While they vary in setting, genre and time period, their themes of identity and belonging make these books great picks to celebrate Pride.
“Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo
Published in 2021, “Last Night at the Telegraph Club” tells the story of Lily Hu, a 17-year-old Chinese-American navigating the Red Scare with her family in 1950s San Francisco. After Lily finds an advertisement for a male impersonator, she discovers the Telegraph Club, a Queer club that helps Lily realize that she is a lesbian. Through the course of the novel, Lily discovers romance and new experiences that help shape her identity in a way that feels authentic to her true self, despite being surrounded by people who do not understand her.
“Last Night at the Telegraph Club” is a historically immersive read — it is clearly well-researched, giving readers the feeling that they are experiencing Lily’s story with her. Lo provides a well-balanced portrayal of the past, including negative and positive details of Lily’s experiences and family dynamics. The threat of deportation was incredibly real for people like Lily’s family during the Red Scare and that fear, combined with Lily’s secret relationship with another girl, made their experience all the more poignant.
At its core, this novel is a testament to Queerness withstanding harsh and unwelcome conditions such as racism and homophobia. Lo perfectly encapsulates Lily’s awakenings, presenting each new feeling with convincing and genuine curiosity. Lily witnesses things at the Telegraph Club that she never thought possible up to the point in life, including love, lust and belonging. Lily is born into a world that does not accept who she fundamentally is, and yet she finds the courage to carve out space for herself and her identity.
“Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall
“Boyfriend Material,” published in 2020 and written by Alexis Hall, centers on Luc O’Donnell, son of a legendary musician. As his father returns to prominence, Luc is pressured to fix his romantic image, previously defined by casual relationships that reflected poorly on his family. To change this, Luc seeks out a fake boyfriend and finds Oliver Blackwood, who is stable, safe and definitely not what Luc had ever looked for. As their fake relationship progresses, real feelings start to creep in, sending Luc into a spiral of commitment issues and insecurities that only he can fix.
This book is a romantic-comedy, with an equal focus on both parts of the genre. Luc is a humorous narrator, charming the reader with his chaotic and disheveled lifestyle and choices. Oliver provides the perfect juxtaposition, creating a couple that readers will want to root for.
This contemporary romance is a lighter read, but Hall does introduce some emotionally heavy themes throughout the novel, such as familial dysfunction and romantic insecurity. Though Luc is secure in his sexuality, he goes through much personal growth over the course of the novel, learning to not only love himself but to accept it from others. Lovers of romance will enjoy this novel as a genuine love story between two young men who find each other despite their obvious differences.
“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers
For a more futuristic story that strays from romance, one can pick up “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers. Unlike many books set in the future, Chambers’ 2021 novel crafts a comfortingly optimistic world. After mechanized robots gain consciousness and break from society, the world is rebuilt with a society that seeks to fix climate and social troubles of the past. Living in this world is Dex, a monk who, despite being passionate about helping other people through their work, moves from their ordinary life in search of their purpose. Along their way, Dex comes across a robot with one question — “What do humans need?”
Dex’s story is not stressful — it does not have high-stakes situations or intense action that many futuristic stories exhibit. Chambers writes beautifully and with excellent attention to detail, crafting a wonderfully cozy world that readers can fall into. In this ideal future, it does not matter that Dex is nonbinary — their character is not defined by this. Really, Dex is seeking meaning in their life, and Chambers spends a refreshingly short amount of time on gender identity, perhaps as a way of normalizing it.
This book is perfect for anyone seeking a short refuge from a world that can feel cold and unaccepting. The lush descriptions and pleasant scenery will suck readers right in, making Dex’s search for purpose all the more fulfilling. “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” is a beautiful discussion of life, love and purpose.
Pride Month is all about learning to accept oneself and others. These books include calm, touching, messy and beautiful stories of Queer characters finding themselves. They offer a variety of messages and ways to look at the world and the Queer community, all while promoting the message that in the past, present and future, Queer people will always be around.
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