NYPL Reveals the BEST Queer Books of 2025! You Won't Believe #1!

The New York Public Library has spoken, and its list of the best books of 2025 is finally here! For those of us always on the lookout for great reads, especially those celebrating diverse voices, this is practically gospel. A particularly bright spot in this year's selections is the strong showing of queer literature. While I'd always like to see even more, what they've included really shines.

NYPL Reveals the BEST Queer Books of 2025! You Won...

Now, full disclosure, the adult category feels a tad light with only two titles making the grade. But fear not! The teen and children's lists more than compensate, bursting with queer-inclusive stories that promise to be both engaging and important. I've also thrown in some Book Riot recommendations where applicable to give you a broader view.

Let's dive into a few highlights from the NYPL's picks for the best queer books of the year:

One that really grabbed my attention is the unnamed horror novel about twin sisters. Here's the gist: Lucy rushes to care for her ailing twin, Sarah, only to stumble upon a truly gruesome discovery – a long-dead body on her brother-in-law's property. The autopsy triggers a dark obsession in Sarah, unraveling her mental and physical health. As Sarah's behavior spirals into something sinister, Lucy must confront the terrifying possibility that her sister is transforming into something… other. Sounds like the perfect spooky read to me!

Then there's the debut collection that the NYPL describes as "A dazzling docupoetic debut collection that interweaves personal loss with the life stories of Aaliyah Haughton, Whitney Houston, Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes, Phyllis Hyman, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, and others, exploring sexuality, survival, queer mourning, and the afterlives of stardom.” That's quite a mouthful, but it promises a powerful and poignant exploration of fame, identity, and loss. I have a feeling this one will stick with you long after you finish reading.

For the teens, Sage Bishop's story is definitely worth checking out. Sage is a teenage plant witch destined to inherit the family apothecary. But things get complicated when her former best friend, Ximena, returns and a memory-erasing tonic goes missing. They have to work together to solve the mystery and save the apothecary, and well, let's just say old feelings resurface. As Rachel Brittain from Book Riot notes about the graphic novel, "I love how beautifully, respectfully, and horrifyingly this graphic novel deals with mental illness and its (often problematic) crossover with horror."

And for the little ones, there's "Who is Dorothy?", a picture book debut from Kyle Casey Chu (aka Panda Dulce, a founding drag queen of Drag Story Hour!). The NYPL sums it up perfectly: “Who is Dorothy? Find out in this playful picture book which introduces young readers to a powerful piece of queer history and encourages them to become their best, most authentic selves.” A perfect way to introduce important topics in an accessible and engaging way.

Happy reading, everyone! And remember, this is just a taste of the wonderful queer literature out there. Keep exploring, keep supporting diverse voices, and keep reading!