If you're looking for a little inspiration this Pride month for titles by LGBTQ+ authors or with LGBTQ+ themes, we've put together the following selection.
June is Pride Month, time to celebrate by checking out the LGBTQ+ books at Calibre! Here are some great reads from our constantly growing collection:
A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo (16683)
Aria Tang West thought she'd be spending one last summer on Martha's Vineyard with her friends before starting university where she intends to study astronomy, like her late grandfather. But after topless photos of her are posted online, she's abruptly uninvited from her friends' summer homes. Aria's sent to stay with her artist grandmother in Northern California. Although Aria has never been attracted to girls before, she finds herself drawn to the gardener, Steph Nichols, an aspiring musician. The only problem? Steph isn't single; she lives with her girlfriend, Lisa. But the chemistry between Aria and Steph seems undeniable, and this will be a summer that will turn her world upside down.
All Down Darkness Wide: A Memoir by Sean Hewitt (15573)
A luminous and haunting memoir from the prize-winning poet. When Seán meets Elias, the two fall headlong into a love story. But as Elias struggles with severe depression, the couple comes face-to-face with crisis. Wrestling with this, Seán Hewitt delves deep into his own history, enlisting the ghosts of queer figures and poets before him.
All In by Billie Jean King (17015 - USB only)
An inspiring and intimate self-portrait of the champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice. In this spirited account, Billie Jean King details her life's journey to find her true self.
Angela Davis: an Autobiography by Angela Davis (15618)
A powerful and commanding account of the life of trailblazing political activist Angela Davis. An Autobiography describes her journey from a childhood on Dynamite Hill in Birmingham, Alabama, to one of the most significant political trials of the century: from her political activity in a New York high school to her work with the US Communist Party, the Black Panther Party and the Soledad Brothers, and from the faculty of the philosophy department at UCLA to the FBI's list of the 10 Most Wanted Fugitives. Told with warmth, brilliance, humour and conviction, it is an unforgettable account of a life committed to radical change.
Gentleman Jack: The Real Anne Lister by Anne Choma (13768)
Anne Lister was remarkable. Fearless, charismatic and determined to explore her sexuality, she forged her own path in a society that had no language to define her. Historian Anne Choma draws from Anne's explosive diaries to recreate the life and times of one of the most fascinating figures of the 19th century.
Mr Loverman by Bernadine Evaristo (13733)
Barrington Jedidiah Walker is seventy-four and leads a double life. Born in Antigua, he's lived in Hackney since the sixties. A flamboyant local character, Barrington is a husband, father and grandfather - but he is also secretly the lover of his childhood friend, Morris. When his marriage goes into meltdown, Barrington wants to divorce Carmel and live with Morris, but after a lifetime of fear and deception, will he manage to break away?
Soft Lad: A Collection of Stories (About Me) by Nick Grimshaw (16815)
For the first time, Grimmy shares his outlooks, surprising obsessions and personal experiences with the world. From his 14 year career climbing to the helm of the Radio 1 breakfast show, he discusses everything from his love of music through to self-care and partying, Red Nose Day, coming out, dogs, family, ADHD, Catholicism, and his journey from Oldham, Lancashire to the bright lights and big city of London. A heartfelt read that's unmistakeably Grimmy.
Working Girls: Trixie and Katya’s Guide to Professional Womanhood by Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova (16387)
Trixie and Katya dole out both savvy and satirical advice for every stage of working life, from choosing a career path to sailing into a blissful retirement, in step-by-step guides, quizzes, the world's most bizarre aptitude test and more. Trapped in one of the Nine Circles of Retail Hell? Agonising over how to get that raise? Suspicious that your colleague doesn't really hope that their email 'finds you well'? Trixie and Katya have got you covered
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters (10280)
It's 1922, and London is tense. Ex-servicemen are disillusioned, the out-of-work and the hungry are demanding change. And in South London, in a genteel Camberwell villa, life is about to be transformed, as impoverished widow Mrs Wray and her spinster daughter, Frances, are obliged to take in lodgers. For with the arrival of Lilian and Leonard Barber, a modern young couple of the 'clerk class', the routines of the house will be shaken up in unexpected ways. And as passions mount and frustration gathers, no one can foresee just how far-reaching, and how devastating, the disturbances will be.
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka (16323)
Colombo, 1990. Maali Almeida, war photographer, gambler and closet gay, has woken up dead in what seems like a celestial visa office. His dismembered body is sinking in the serene Beira lake and he has no idea who killed him. At a time where scores are settled by death squads, suicide bombers and hired goons, the list of suspects is depressingly long, as the ghouls and ghosts with grudges who cluster round can attest. But even in the afterlife, time is running out for Maali. He has seven moons to try and contact the man and woman he loves most and lead them to a hidden cache of photos that will rock Sri Lanka.