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Ten years in the past it was tough to discover a vary of LGBTQ+ YA tales and views, whilst increasingly requires this illustration in teen literature have been made and heard all through the business. At this time, although it actually nonetheless doesn’t symbolize the fullness of the queer expertise, nor does it seize the complete actuality of right now’s teen lives, the variety of books accessible is thrilling. Pausing to think about that’s necessary. It serves as a reminder that extra works will come and extra works will come from queer authors who’re in a position to present mirrors, home windows, and sliding glass doorways to the LGBTQ+ expertise.
This may proceed to be true, regardless of continued, ongoing makes an attempt to silence and erase queer voices by ebook banners nationwide.
One of many arenas that has been particularly fruitful in YA over the previous few years has been in books queering the literary canon. Taking a beloved story or creator and twisting the textual content to offer it a blatantly queer storyline is an extended custom. In YA, some of the queered authors is none apart from Jane Austen. Austen, whose work is beloved for its voice, its well-developed characters, and its feminist themes, celebrates her 250th birthday later this 12 months. It appears acceptable to get the occasion began just a few months early with these glorious LGBTQ+ twists on Austen classics.
Discover beneath a handful of LGBTQ+ takes on Jane Austen. This roundup is much from complete. As an alternative, it features a vary of Austen retellings throughout a number of codecs. It’s price noting that variety in these retellings is a bit of lighter than I’d favor, however that’s not a sign of a scarcity of numerous Austen retellings in YA. There’s merely extra room on the cabinets ready for queer authors of coloration and queer characters of coloration to reach.
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The Cuffing Recreation by Lyla Lee (November 18, 2025)
It’s most likely not honest to start this roundup with a ebook that gained’t be out for a number of months. However consider it as getting excited a couple of title that you should have prepared made on your winter studying season. On this Okay-Drama remix of Pleasure and Prejudice with queer lead characters, readers who love actuality TV and YA books with older teenagers will discover loads to love.
Mia bought a full journey to movie college behind her mother’s again, and it’s her method out of an unfulfilling small city life. She’s now working to supply a relationship present, however all of her plans are challenged when she’s pressured to ask her secret crush Noah to assist her. She’d a lot fairly simply hate him as an alternative.
Noah’s some of the eligible bachelors on campus, and regardless of stress from his friends, he’s okay with that. He doesn’t want a relationship proper now. However his eyes are on Mia, and he’s delighted when she asks him to assist her on her present. He’ll be one of many eligible contestants.
However watching Noah go on dates from behind the scenes isn’t sitting nicely with Mia. And people emotions are reciprocated by Noah, who wonders if he’s actually meant to be relationship the lady behind the digital camera.
Emmett by L. C. Rosen
Emmett Woodhouse lives the nice life and he is aware of it. So to maintain himself humble, he likes to volunteer. Amongst these issues are charity work and letting an irritating pal sit with him at lunch. Then Emmett decides he’s going to supply his providers as a matchmaker. He arrange his bestie together with her boyfriend they usually’ve been very completely satisfied.
Now he’s placing his expertise to the check with Harrison. Harrison, who occurs to be considered one of Emmett’s friends-with-benefits, needs a boyfriend and per Emmett’s intensive checklist of issues that at a part of homosexual tradition, this example is okay. Emmett doesn’t need a boyfriend and Harrison does, so he’ll discover Harrison an excellent one.
Within the quest to pair Harrison up, although, Emmett’s beliefs about what he does and doesn’t need by way of his personal romantic life come into query. What occurs when he’s so decided to make another person completely satisfied that he loses his personal happiness within the course of?
It is a queer retelling of Emmett.
Recent by Margot Wooden
Elliot McHugh has no thought what she needs out of faculty and he or she’s not going to rush to seek out out. Her freshman 12 months goes to be stuffed with partying, of constructing new buddies, and of getting nice intercourse. It’s all going nicely till the fact of the place she is and what’s taking place units in. She may not do nicely on her finals. Her roommate’s bought an absolute jerk for a boyfriend. The intercourse she’s having? Actually not that nice.
However it’s in making these errors and muddling by means of the mess that Elliot is ready to start to know who she actually is and what it’s she needs out of her life.
It is a sex-positive tackle Emma.
I Shall By no means Fall in Love by Hari Conner
George inherited their household’s failing property. That’s not their solely subject although. They’re additionally having sophisticated emotions about greatest pal Eleanor and have to make sure they by no means get caught dressing in males’s garments.
In the meantime, Eleanor is somebody who strives to be proper in all she does. The problem she has is rarely discovering a boy who has felt fairly proper for her. Her time with George and cousin Charlotte is way more satisfying. At the least till a shock suitor involves city and now, Eleanor has to face some emotions and ideas she by no means has earlier than. To not point out that that suitor would possibly come between her and the 2 folks she cares most about on this planet.
It is a joyfully queer Jane Austen mashup retelling with the flavour of The Prince and the Dressmaker.
Most Ardently: A Pleasure and Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
In 1812 London, Oliver Bennet feels constrained by the world round him. He doesn’t need balls or fancy robes. Nevertheless it’s his lot, no less than for now, as everybody in his world believes him to be Elizabeth.
However Oliver finds pleasure within the occasions he slips out of his home dressed like a boy. He’s even taken a shine to Darcy, a younger man he’s run into on the streets–that shine comes regardless of Darcy being impolite to Oliver when he believed Oliver to be Elizabeth. As Oliver will get to know Darcy as his true self, he discovers Darcy is a lot greater than what he appears.
The problem is that suitors have gotten extra daring and determined, and Oliver’s mom is able to discover his excellent companion. It’s now as much as Oliver to resolve whether or not to take the secure life–one which’s boring, unfulfilling, and never true–or take the chance to reside as his true self.
Mismatched by Anne Camlin and Isadora Zeferino
Evan Horowitz is a star. He’s attractive, good, and a mega Insta influencer in his city with a knack for matchmaking. When Natalia strikes to city, Evan is aware of he’s bought the chance to indicate off these love connection expertise. There are such a lot of potential matches for Natalia. When Evan chooses one towards the recommendation of his greatest pal Davi, it may be that his personal ambition turns into not solely his downfall however chaos that Natalia, Davi, and others must cope with, too.
Sure, it’s one other queer adaptation of Emma!
Northranger by Rey Terciero
Sixteen-year-old Cade is within the closet as a result of he needs to be; he’s a Latino dwelling in rural Texas. His escape is horror films.
This summer season, he’s working at an area ranch to assist make ends meet at house. He hates it although, save for the 2 teenagers who reside on that ranch. Particularly the very engaging Henry.
The 2 begin to turn into nearer over the summer season, however Henry is dodgy about numerous issues, together with his mom’s dying. Cade worries there may be extra that his crush isn’t telling him.
That is impressed by, as you would possibly guess by the title, Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It’s romantic and gothic and queer as heck.
Beneficial Studying by Paul Coccia
Earlier than we even get into speaking about this queer tackle Emma, a second to understand a fats boy on the duvet of a YA romance? It’s so uncommon, and it’s completed so nicely right here.
Bobby loves a essential character second, and he’s obsessive about the entire rom-com tropes on the market. So he’s able to carry out a grand gesture to draw the eye of his crush and ask him out. Bobby is prepared for the right summer season earlier than school along with his crush.
However the gesture goes embarrassingly dangerous. Now, all of these plans Bobby had are out the window. He’ll spend this summer season doing one thing far much less glamorous than cavorting along with his crush: he’ll be working at his uncle’s bookstore. It’s not a nasty gig, after all, particularly as a result of Bobby’s a ebook nerd and has the abilities to make sure that each individual searching for the right ebook will get matched.
What Bobby didn’t count on this summer season was Luke strolling into the bookstore. Luke, an area life guard. Luke, a grumpy man with out an oz. of romanticism to him. Luke, a man that Bobby can’t cease occupied with . . . a man that Bobby might make a danger on, regardless of nonetheless attempting to heal from his final makes an attempt at romance.
It will be unfair to wrap up this have a look at queer YA takes on Austen with out sharing this piece from just a few years again about why and the way readers see queerness in Emma. When you’re searching for much more queer takes on Austen past the YA world, dive into this roundup of LGBTQ+ Austen retellings. You’ll see just a few acquainted titles there, plus loads extra.
