I’ve been keeping a lot of my queer reading lists on the d/l, but I recently shared with someone and our reading match rate was super high, which led to some great discussions and additional recommendations. So, here are a few of my favourite reads from the past few years (with a strong YA leaning) that center on queer female characters.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post – Emily M. Danforth
This coming-of-age story centers around a girl (Cameron Post) growing up in a small town in Montana and how a relationship with her best friend turns her world upside down (and not in a good way). While it’s hard to read how the adults in her life seem to consistently betray her, the story provides an excellent insight into what it is to discover yourself and then to fight for it. Plus, descriptions of scenic Montana!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book blew up a year after I read it, and suddenly seemed to be featured in reading lists everywhere. The story follows two actresses who surge to fame during the Golden Era of Hollywood and become icons. And, while it does involve seven husbands, they sure as hell aren’t where the love story is at. It’s easy to get swept up in this entrancing narrative, which is also being adapted for Netflix!
Crier’s War – Nina Varela
When I read the synopsis, I most certainly said, “Wait…what?” What exactly is a “Made” girl? Well, don’t worry – you’ll quickly find out. The story follows a royal synthetic life-form – or Automae – and a human woman who is trying to bring her royal “robot” overlords down. It sounds bizarre, but just run with it.
Girls Made of Snow and Glass – Melissa Bashardoust
This book is supposedly a queer re-imagining of Snow White, but it’s really its own awesome thing complete with dark magic, complex mother-daughter relationships, and a journey of self-discovery. A very easy read with lyrical storytelling style and feminist ideals. If you like the queer retelling of classics, you might also enjoy Ash by Malinda Lo.
Girls of Paper and Fire – Natasha Ng
I will give a trigger warning that there is a fair bit of violence against women in this book, but I also absolutely love a good ol’ rise of justice/prevail over evil vibe, which is abundant throughout this book (and the remainder of the trilogy.) Being chosen as one of eight Paper Girls means directly serving the Emperor (an actual demon-king) as a consort, but hidden in their midst is a girl seeking to end his rule, and another coming into her power.
The Girls I’ve Been – Tess Sharpe
“The daughter of a con artist is taken hostage in a bank heist.” SOLD. This book reads like a movie, which is probably why it is is getting made into a Netflix adaptation with Millie Bobby Brown. Follow Norah as she uses all her wiles to try to get her ex-bf/best friend and girlfriend to safety, without revealing too much of her mysterious past. Loved this YA thriller!
Adaptation – Malinda Lo
Even my wildest fever dream couldn’t have come up with this plot. A strange world event happens causing birds to fly into planes and fall out of the sky. When Reese and her debate partner David get into a car accident and wake up in a military hospital, they have no memory of what happened. They only know they are different now. So begins a story that unravels what happened to them and who – or what – they have become.
We Are Okay – Nina LaCour
This book gave me major melancholy feels akin to how I felt when I first watched Garden State. It deals with themes of loneliness, isolation, grief, and more generally, how you cope with life not going the way you planned. I read it at a time when I felt pretty melancholy myself so it was comforting to be connected to a character inhabiting that headspace.
ETA August 2024: See more WLW books in my latest post WLW Novel I’ve Enjoyed Lately.
