'Queer books we've loved' - a new open-access resource

I'm so excited to share a new resource made by, for and with LGBTQ+ readers. 'Queer Books We've Loved' is a spreadsheet that invites, collates and shares queer book recommendations - open to everyone to add to, take inspiration from, and share. It was begun with the Lithgays - my local queer community group here in Linlithgow, but is quickly finding readers and contributors all across the UK.

Queer Books We've Loved grew out of a desire to connect with wider thinking around queer and social justice causes, to find new brilliant things to read, and to pass on recommendations of things we loved to others. We also hope it'll be a landing place and a starting point for anyone just delving into the wonderful world queer books (wherever in the world you are) - whether as a queer person, someone exploring their identity, as an ally or friend / family member.

Most of all, it's a shared resource. A place to add to, build and grow together. It will change over time, and we'll keep working on it to reflect the growing collection, and to try to keep it manageable, navigable and helpful.

For now, you can find around 200 book receommendations by queer authors or about queer lives and experiences. They're divided into categories to help find something that matches your interest, currently including themed collections on:

• General LGBTQ+ reads

• Trans / non binary experiences

• Families, sex and relationships

• Anti-racism

• Fat lib / body positivity

• For kids / young adults

• Politics and activism

• Disability and neurodivergence

  
  

And we added a place to share our favourite queer bookshop recommendations, too - because we love indy bookshops and want to support the wider queer bookish community.

This is an open invitation - please add your favourite queer reads! You don't need to ask for permission or wait for an invitation. Classics, cult favourites, niche interests and weird finds all welcome. If something's been meaningful to you from a queer perspective, it has a home here. Add one book, add twenty, share with a friend, pass it on, add more. And do shout me (email: hello at kathrynwelch dot co dot uk) with any immediate questions, feedback or thoughts (it's very new, so we're learning as we go).

Welcome home, we hope you find something great to read.