It's time once again to look at some of the best queer books being released this year with characters on the asexual spectrum. From queer horror to asexual sci-fi, demisexual fantasy and queer-platonic relationships, here are our 10 most anticipated ace & demisexual books coming 2025. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and covers may change. Thanks for Listening Molly Horan Genre: YA Romance Queer Rep: Asexual Women, Queer Cast 16 January 2025 A sweet ace romance and a secret social media advice account that goes wonderfully, terribly astray. Mia knows what she’s talking about. Class schedules, significant others, existential life crises - you name it, she’s talked someone through it. The problem? No one actually takes her advice. So when her latest round of (very sensible!) guidance is ignored, resulting in a class flyer stapled to her best friend’s arm and her brother going steady with a girl he doesn’t have feelings for, Mia is done talking. Instead, she creates HereToHelp, an anonymous account to give advice. If her friends don’t know it’s her behind the account, maybe they’ll finally listen for once. Throw in the girl of her dreams, a plethora of sound (and not-so-sound) advice, and a couple of best friends who seem to have a lot more to hide than Mia knows…and Mia could use some advice of her own to make it through this senior year. This Ends in Embers (Book 2) Kamilah Cole Genre: YA Fantasy Queer Rep: Demisexual Women, Queer Women 06 February 2025 Faron Vincent was once the saint of San Irie. Now, she’s done the unthinkable: betrayed her country. Alone, disgraced, and kidnapped, Faron is forced to help Iya grow his bloody empire. With her soul bonded to a ruthless killer, Faron has become an enemy to her people… and she fears they might be right. Elara Vincent - the new Empyrean - must undo the damage her sister has caused. San Irie has been brought back to the brink of war as Iya proclaims no nation will be safe from his brutal invasion. But how can Elara save her sister, her best friend, her country, and her world when she’s already cracking under the pressure? This heart-pounding conclusion to the Divine Traitors duology pushes these unforgettable heroines to their breaking point and beyond. Because when the lines between hero and villain are blurred, deadly sacrifices must be made. Don't Let The Forest In CG Drews Genre: YA Horror/Mystery Queer Rep: Asexual Men, Queer Cast 16 January 2025 High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality—Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more. But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won’t say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork—whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew’s wicked stories. Desperate to figure out what’s wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster—Thomas’s drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. The Last Hour Between Worlds Melissa Caruso Genre: Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy Queer Rep: Biromantic Asexual Women 08 July 2025 Kembral Thorne is spending a few hours away from her newborn, and she's determined to enjoy the party no matter what. But when the guests start dropping dead, Kem has no choice but to get to work. She's a member of the Guild of Hounds, after all, and she can't help picking up the scent of trouble. She's not the only one. Her professional and personal nemesis, notorious burglar Rika Nonesuch, is on the prowl. They quickly identify what's causing the mayhem: a mysterious grandfather clock that sends them down an Echo every time it chimes. In each strange new layer of reality, time resets and a sinister figure appears to perform a blood-soaked ritual. As Kem and Rika fall into increasingly macabre versions of their city, they'll need to rely on their wits - and each other - to unravel the secret of the clock and save their city. That's What She Said Eleanor Pilcher Genre: Adult Contemporary Fiction Queer Rep: Demisexual Women, Bisexual Women, Platonic Relationships 08 May 2025 Serena and Beth are best friends who couldn’t be more different - Beth is an avowed demisexual, who lacks confidence in her career and in her chances at a happy relationship due to her sexual orientation. Serena is a free spirit who oozes with confidence, both in her job and her sexual proclivities. And yet, since the moment they met, they knew they were platonic soulmates. So, when Beth decides that she officially wants to take charge of her sex life and explore the things that scare her the most, Serena is more than happy to help. Speed-dating, sex therapy, tantra, a perplexed but ultimately very nice escort—it’s all on Beth’s Sexual Odyssey List. But when Beth’s crush from her old job comes back and Serena’s favorite friend-with-benefits pushes for more than just sex, it throws their whole world into a tailspin. And suddenly, this sexual odyssey is more than a fun gag. It’ll set them down a course that’ll make them so much closer—or end their friendship for good. Les Normaux Janine Janssen & S Al Sabado Genre: Fantasy Romance - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Demisexual Men, Queer Cast 13 February 2025 Boy moves to new city. Boy meets vampire. They kiss, then become friends. But both would like something more… Sébastien recently moved to supernatural Paris hoping to get away from his troubles at home and live a peaceful life learning magic. But what are you going to do when the really hot vampire you made out with last night to forget your troubles turns out to be your new neighbor? Sébastien (a demisexual boy with “main character hair” and a bunny named Pierre), meet Elia (a hot, supermodel, vampire neighbor and crush). Join Elia, Sébastien and their assorted crew of wonderful friends, as they navigate the ins and outs of dating in a modern and paranormal love story. Cage of Starlight (Book 2) Jules Arbeaux Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy Queer Rep: Aro/Ace Spec, Gender Non-Conforming, Queerplatonic 12 June 2025 A grumpy healer must work with his captor when a mission strands them in enemy territory in this action-packed, queer romantic fantasy by the author of  Lord of the Empty Isles . Don't make waves, don't get attached, and never let anyone see the tattoos.  Those rules have kept Tory Arknett alive, alone, and on the run for years in a country eager to put his healing hands to work on the front lines of a brutal war. When a desperate display of magic outs him to the authorities, Tory flees - right into the hands of cold and competent Sena Vantaras. Caged in a cruel training facility and implanted with a magical tracker, Tory needs to get out before he gets dead. There’s just one thing to do before he goes: make Sena pay. But Sena is already paying more than Tory knows, and when a mission strands them both in enemy territory, they must cooperate to survive. As they learn the truth about each other and the myth behind the magic that connects them, Tory and Sena find belonging with each other.  Love Points to You Alice Lin Genre: YA Romance Queer Rep: Asexual & Demisexual Women, Biromantic Women 04 March 2025 A swoony asexual romance between driven, practical Lynda Fan and her rich, arrogant classmate, Angela Wu. When Angela offers Lynda the chance to design characters for her otome game, Lynda discovers things she never knew about herself... or her heart. Sixteen-year-old Lynda Fan has the skills and the drive to get into the Rhode Island School of Design - but not the money. Her parents are too busy paying for her stepsister’s violin lessons to help Lynda get into art school. So when her rich and arrogant classmate, Angela Wu, offers to hire Lynda as a character designer for an otome game - a love story-based video game - she jumps at the opportunity. Lynda isn’t exactly a romantic, but in pursuit of her dreams, she discovers things she never knew about herself while also finding love with every heart she draws. Being Ace: An Anthology Edited by Madeline Dyer Genre: Contemporary, SciFi & Fantasy Queer Rep: Asexual Stories, Queer Cast 17 February 2025 Discover the infinite realms of asexual love across a collection of fourteen sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary stories from queer, trans, femme and disabled writers. From a wheelchair user racing to save her kidnapped girlfriend and a little mermaid who loves her sisters more than suitors, to a slayer whose virgin blood keeps attracting monsters, the stories of this anthology are anything but conventional. Whether adventuring through space, outsmarting a vengeful water spirit, or surviving haunted cemeteries, no two aces are the same in these 14 unique works that highlight asexual romance, aromantic love, and identities across the asexual spectrum. What Wakes the Bells Elle Tesch Genre: YA Gothic Fantasy Queer Rep: Demisexual Women 25 April 2025 Built by long-gone Saints, the city of Vaiwyn lives and breathes and bleeds. As a Keeper, Mina knows better than most what her care of Vaiwyn’s bells means for the sentient city. It’s the Strauss family’s thousand-year legacy - prevent the Vespers from ringing, or they will awake a slumbering evil. One afternoon, to Mina's horror, her bell peals thirteen times, shattering the city’s tenuous peace. With so much of the city's history and lore lost in a long-ago disaster, no one knows the danger that has been unleashed - until the city begins to fight back. As the sun sets, stone gargoyles and bronze statues tear away from their buildings and plinths to hunt people through the streets. Trapped in Mina’s bell, the soul of a twisted and power-hungry Saint festered. Now free of his prison, he hides behind the face of one of Vaiwyn’s citizens, corrupting the city and turning it on itself. Time is running out, and the only chance Mina has to stop the destruction and horrific killings is to find and destroy the Saint’s host. Everyone is a suspect, including Mina's closest loved ones. She will have to decide how far she’ll go to save her city - and who she’s willing to kill to do it. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore  or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk  ✌

It's 2025 and comics are gayer than ever before!! As usual, we're taking a look at some of the incredible queer graphic novels being released later this year. From sapphic sports romances to slice-of-life BL manga and cosy queer fantasy, here are 20 of our most anticipated LGBTQ+ graphic novels coming out in 2025. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and covers may change. Toxic Summer Derek Charm Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror/Comedy Queer Rep: Queer Men 22 April 2025 Best friends Ben and Leo are ready to celebrate the summer after graduation by patrolling the beaches of idyllic seaside town Port Dorian as lifeguards - allowing them to also check out the hottest hunks and snag invites to the best parties, of course. But they arrive to find that a mysterious toxic spill has turned the water unswimmable and littered the shore with rotting fish carcasses. Their jobs become beach cleanup and the hunks are nowhere to be seen - like hermit crabs. When they save a local historian with suspiciously glowing eyes from the water, and tentacled monsters begin snatching people in the night, Ben and Leo have to team up with the only other teens in town to uncover the cause of the spill, save their new friends and family, and try to get this sexy summer back on track before it’s too late. Kirby's Lessons For Falling (In Love) Laura Gao Genre: YA Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women 24 April 2025 From Laura Gao, the acclaimed creator of  Messy Roots ,  comes an authentic slow-burn romance and coming-of-age story perfect for fans of  Heartstopper ,  lovers of astrology and tarot, and anyone looking for answers on the right way to fall (in love).  Once dubbed the Queen of Balance as her school’s top rock climber, Kirby Tan suffers an injury that sidelines her for the rest of the season. Now she’s forced to join the newspaper club for some desperately needed extra credit. Worse, she’s recruited by crystal-wearing, tarot-reading Bex Santos for her astrology-based love advice column. As Kirby reluctantly agrees to orchestrate “matches made in heaven” with Bex, she begins to wonder if their own stars could be aligned. But loving who she wants isn’t so easy when her family and church community are on the line. Can Kirby pull off her greatest balancing act yet? Grand Slam Romance Book 3 Ollie Hicks & Emma Oosterhous Genre: Adult Sports Romance Queer Rep: Non-Binary, Queer Women, Polyamory 19 June 2025 A raucous celebration of queer joy and magical girl mayhem, Farewell to Babes is the third and final graphic novel in the Grand Slam Romance series In Grand Slam Romance: Farewell to Babes, softball’s favorite throuple, Mickey, Astra, and Wolfgang have finally given in to their undeniable attraction: but it is true love or just temporary lust? Wolfgang’s ready to go public with the relationship, Mickey’s still sorting out their feelings, and Astra has conveniently peaced out on a mysterious eurotrip that she neglected to inform her partners about. Between Berlin and Belle City, magic and havoc follow these lovebirds wherever they go—but in pursuit of love, they’re going to swing for the fences.    EAT Nagabe Genre: Dark BL Manga Queer Rep: Queer Men 25 February 2025 From bestselling creator Nagabe comes an anthropomorphic Boys’ Love manga about dark, unspoken desires and the delicious temptation to give in. Professor Lufria has a secret: he finds pleasure in watching others eat. As a strict and intimidating law professor, this wolf hides his unusual obsession behind a stern demeanor. But when one of his students dares to bite him, it awakens a hunger deep inside him. This time, it’s not just about food - it’s about passion, intimacy, and the thrill of being devoured. Will Lufria give in to his primal desires, or will he be left endlessly craving for more? DC Pride: To the Farthest Reaches Various DC Authors Genre: Superhero Anthology Queer Rep: Queer Cast 27 May 2025 DC's Eisner and Ringo award-winning Pride comics anthology returns in the form of a universe-spanning travelogue like you've never seen! In this volume, Dreamer makes a first-time pilgrimage to her ancestral planet, Naltor! Poison Ivy and Janet from HR go spore-hunting on Portworld! Superman (Jon Kent) gets the boys together for a night out in A-Town, but things go sideways when The Ray vanishes into thin air! Steel (Natasha Irons) works up the courage to face Traci 13 at the Oblivion Bar's Pride party for the first time since they broke up! Aquaman (Jackson Hyde) catches an unexpected ride to the Fourth World just in time for their annual Love Festival! All this and more in a volume celebrating how the LGBTQIA+ community is everywhere and belongs anywhere - even the very furthest reaches of the universe. My Boyfriend is a Dog, Vol. 2 Kadiro Genre: BL Slice-Of-Life Manga Queer Rep: Queer Men 18 February 2025 A pawsitively adorable furry and fluffy slice-of-life Boys' Love manga following on from My Boyfriend is a Dog, Vol. 1 Exciting developments are afoot for Kentarou and boyfriend Inukai, as a sudden proposal is followed by a visit to meet the family! Meanwhile, Inukai-kun's coworker Nekomiya-kun and his feline boyfriend Shimada-san, whose daily lives are already full of shared affection, take their relationship to the next level! Mismatched Anne Camlin & Isadora Zeferino Genre: YA Romance Queer Rep: Queer Men, Queer Cast 02 January 2025 Evan Horowitz has it beauty, brains, and a not-so-secret flair for matchmaking! An Insta influencer with a talent for makeup and a taste for romance, he’s no stranger to playing cupid for those hopelessly clueless in finding love. So when shy transfer student Natalia shuffles into school one day, Evan can’t help but get his hands messy! With so many matches to choose from, it’s not long before he sets a plan in motion for Natalia. But he takes things too far, creating a web of drama that spirals out of his control. Can Evan learn to put the people closest to him before his misguided ambition? Or will he lose them and his own chance at romance, too?  How Do We Relationship? Vol. 12 Tamifull Genre: Yuri Manga Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women 13 March 2025 A romance of convenience between two college women soon becomes the real thing. Shy Miwa has always dreamed of finding love, but living in small-town Japan made finding the right match difficult - especially since she likes girls! Even going away to college didn’t seem to help, until one day her outgoing classmate Saeko suggests they might as well start dating each other since it’s not like either of them has other options. Miwa is trying so hard to make things work with Tamaki, despite the strain their mismatched libidos put on their relationship. Saeko is throwing all her energy into supporting Yuria’s dream of becoming a beautician, even though Yuria doesn’t seem to want her help at all. They both love their girlfriends so much, but sometimes love isn’t enough… Hungry Heart, Volume 1 Jem Milton Genre: YA Romance Queer Rep: Queer Men, Queer Cast 02 January 2025 An endearing queer rom-com that grapples with self-discovery, finding your voice, and the power of acceptance. Laurie, a plucky young food writer, gets his big break interviewing heartthrob chef, Oryan Adjei. Laurie has idolized Oryan since watching him rise to fame in the UK Kitchen Trials back when they were both teens. But Oryan's life is lonelier than it seems from the outside and his career has taken a direction he isn't sure he wants to continue. Laurie seems to get Oryan in a way few others do. Their clumsy first meeting turns into a series of interviews that takes them on a food tour across London, from a coffee shop in a snow flurry to a hole-in-the-wall burger shack and Oryan's own kitchen. Despite their attempts to keep things professional, the two begin to bond over cheesesteaks, flat whites, and stolen hors d'oeuvres. As the pair find themselves in a pressure cooker of celebrity and personal struggles that threatens their chance at romance, will Oryan learn to trust himself and follow his heart? Motherlover Lindsay Ishihiro Genre: Adult Slow-Burn Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women, Queer Parents 19 June 2025 Imogen has an exciting new neighbor! Alex just moved from the big city back into her late parents' house, and she seems to have it all: She's a cool single mom with a thriving career, a fun look, and a cosmopolitan life of adventure. Imogen certainly has dreams of a more carefree life, but being a stay-at-home mom of four is a more-than-full-time job, and that's all she can handle. How does Alex do it? She's captured Imogen's imagination. But what we see on the surface isn't always the whole story. Alex's return has given her a lot to ponder. Her parents are gone, and she's just starting to realize her privileged childhood wasn't as happy as it seemed. Now she's adrift, learning how to relate after a lifetime of pushing everyone away. Chance brought these two fast friends together... and everything that happens next is unlike anything they could have planned! Rainbow Volume 2 Sunny & Gloomy Genre: YA Coming-Of-Age Fantasy Queer Rep: Queer Women 8 May 2025 Heartstopper meets Magical Boy in this heartwarming YA graphic novel full of heart, adorable illustrations, and a storyline every teenager can relate to. Teenager Boo Meadows's story continues in this second volume! With pink hair and a very vivid imagination, Boo has trouble separating from the real world. In her daydreams, she dances beautifully at balls or fights monsters as a magical girl. In reality, she has a complicated home life, work stress, school stress, and a wicked crush on the girl of her dreams. After life became too toxic to endure, Boo has moved out of her alcoholic mother's house. Can Boo and Mimi stick together? And is dealing with Mimi's unapproving mother any better than Boo's mom? I Heart Skull-Crusher! Josie Campbell & Alessio Zonno Genre: Dystopian Sports Comic Queer Rep: Queer Women, Queer Cast 13 February 2025 Mad Max meets dodgeball in this wild sports graphic novel set in a post-apocalyptic America. 18-year-old Trini will do anything to compete in her favorite sport, Screaming Pain Ball, alongside her longtime hero Skull-Crusher! But she can’t do it alone, and a gaggle of misfits is just what she needs to cross the American wastes and battle in Queen Mob’s deadly tournament. With Trini’s dreams of being just like Skull-Crusher on the line, do she and her friends have what it takes to win a coveted spot on their team? Hey, Mary! Andrew Wheeler & Rye Hickman Genre: YA Religious Coming-Of-Age Queer Rep: Queer Men 15 April 2025 Mark is a good Catholic boy. He goes to church, he says his prayers, and he spends too much time worrying about hell. When Mark realizes he has a crush on another boy in his school, he struggles to reconcile his feelings with his faith as the weight of centuries of shame and judgment - and his fear of his parents' response - presses on his shoulders. Mark seeks advice from his priest, as well as a local drag performer, but also receives unexpected input from key figures in Catholic history and lore, including Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, St. Sebastian, and Savonarola. Ultimately, only Mark can answer the question: Is it possible for him to be both Catholic and gay? The Restaurant at the Edge of the World Oliver Gerlach & Kelsi Jo Silva Genre: YA Cosy Fantasy Queer Rep: Queer Women, Non-Binary, Queer Cast 02 January 2025 At seventeen, Soup is at a crossroads, eager to make her mark on the world, yet reluctant to leave the restaurant she calls home. The last thing on her to-do list is to overthrow the patriarchy, but when her elven boss snaps at her she begins to see his pattern of abuse, starting in the kitchen. Something's got to give, and the answer is a bet for the restaurant. If Soup wins the cooking competition, she'll claim the business and protect her village. If she loses, she'll have to leave her home and stand by as the food community she loves is razed to the ground. With friends and chosen family rallying around her, Soup has a chance to win. Yet, everyone knows villains don't fight fair and this restaurateur is not going to give up his throne so easily . . . The Metalhead Next Door Mamita Genre: BL Slice-Of-Life Manga Queer rep: Queer Men 02 January 2025 A tale of two neighbors - a shy metalhead and a broke graduate student - who slowly learn about each other over shared meals with a hope for something more. Impoverished graduate student Kento nearly freezes to death outside his new, cheap (unheated) apartment during a blizzard. Luckily, he’s saved by neighbor Soushi, a quiet and somewhat frightening young man who dresses in all black. Although he exudes an aura that screams “keep away,” his eyes, hidden behind long rocker hair, plead for something else. Over the following year, the two share meals together, but as the time passes, the closeted Kento finds it increasingly difficult to ignore his growing feelings. Will he choose to maintain the peaceful, happy times he’s grown to love or risk it all for the possibility of something more? Les Normaux Janine Janssen Genre: Paranormal Romance Queer Rep: Queer Men, Demisexual Men 13 February 2025 Boy moves to new city. Boy meets vampire. They kiss, then become friends. But both would like something more… Sébastien recently moved to supernatural Paris hoping to get away from his troubles at home and live a peaceful life learning magic. But what are you going to do when the really hot vampire you made out with last night to forget your troubles turns out to be your new neighbor? Join Sébastien (a demisexual boy with “main character hair” and a bunny named Pierre), and Elia (a hot, supermodel, vampire neighbor and crush), as they navigate the ins and outs of dating in a modern and paranormal love story. Mobsters In Love, Vol. 3 Chiyoko Origami Genre: BL Romance Manga Queer Rep: Queer Men 07 January 2025 A wholesome Boys Love rom-com between a handsome but oblivious mob boss and his young, simplehearted but moody second-in-command! Absence makes the heart grow fonder after mob boss Sawatari kicks his right-hand man, Kashima, out of the family. Free of the previous ties that bound them, their relationship begins to undergo changes that trigger a realization... Sawatari finally notices that what he’s feeling toward his second-in-command is love! Things seem like they might be too awkward to go on—until Sawatari kisses Kashima out of nowhere! But just as their budding romance has started to bloom, an enemy targets the boss’s life and he winds up in a coma... In this final volume of the series, can their love ever come to fruition? To Broadway Maurane Mazars Genre: Historical Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Men 19 June 2025 Germany, April 1957. Uli is a modern dance student at the prestigious Folkwang University of the Arts who will do anything to pursue his dream of becoming a famous Broadway dancer. But Uli’s dream and his energetic, outgoing personality hardly fit the melancholy culture of postwar Europe. During a fateful trip to Berlin, Uli meets Anthony, a young American dancer. The attraction is immediate, and Anthony convinces Uli to move to New York to try his luck on Broadway. The young men part ways, and Uli is inspired to pack his bags and embark on an adventure. Will Uli be able to seize his dreams in New York City? Or is he just one of the many young artists doomed to find a disappointing reality check in the Big Apple? Kickflip, Vol. 1 LD Lapinski & Logan Hanning Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction Queer Rep: Non-Binary & Genderqueer 19 June 2025 A poignant LGBTQ+ graphic novel about self-discovery, skateboarding and finding your true community of friends, perfect for fans of Heartstopper . What happens when your two worlds collide... At school, Elliot gets bullied for being 'different to other girls' whereas at the skate park, everyone welcomes Elliot - presuming they're male - but neither label feels right. As Eliot's love of skateboarding and friendships grow, their worlds collide at a sports expo where the school netball team and skate crew are competing. Can Elliot find the courage to share what they've learned about non-binary identity? Will best friend Jess or the skateboarding crew accept Elliot for who they are? And what about Ryan, the skater who Elliot has been feeling increasingly close to? The Unsinkable Ship of Fools Jonas Goonface Genre: Erotic Fantasy Queer Rep: Non-Binary, Queer Cast 17 July 2025 A super raunchy, super explicit fever-dream of fun from Jonas Goonface and Iron Circus Comics. Cum one, cum all! Jump aboard the Ship of Fools for your final ride. An ensorcelled train hurtles through the night, with no stops and no hope for its passengers; everyone is welcome, and no one can leave. Freaks, kooks, misfits, no one is too strange! No bosses! No brakes! Only thrills, mutual support, and carnal bliss. These vagabonds only have each other now, and in a collection of magical erotic encounters, we get to meet them all - a ragtag group of castoffs who must find the answer: Who's driving this thing, and who's ultimately in charge of your fate? Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore  or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk  ✌

2024 was a great year for queer fiction, but as it comes to an end we're looking forwards to some of the gay and bisexual MLM books coming out in 2025. From paranormal mysteries to hilarious gay rom-coms and beautifully written literary fiction, here are 20 of our most anticipated MLM books coming in 2025. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and covers may change. Love at Second Sight F. T Lukens YA Paranormal Mystery Romance 29 April 2025 When a teen has an unexpected vision about a future murder, he must juggle newfound interest from the supernatural community with trying to prevent the murder from happening in this new romantic fantasy. Fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds wants to spend his sophomore year flying under the radar. That shouldn’t be too hard, considering he’s a human going to school with kids who have paranormal powers, like his best friend and witch, Al, and his longtime werewolf crush, Mateo. Then Cam has a psychic glimpse of the future in front of most of the student body, seeing a gruesomely murdered teen girl from the point of view of the killer. When Cam comes to, he knows two someone he goes to school with is a future murderer, and his life is about to change. No longer a mere human but a clairvoyant, one of the rarest of supernatural beings, Cam finds himself at the center of attention for the first time. The Resurrectionist A. Rae Dunlap Adult Gothic Thriller/Horror 30 January 2025 Historical fiction, true crime, and dark academia intertwine in this queer gothic thriller about gay grave robbers in 19th century Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland, 1828. Naïve but determined James Willoughby has abandoned his posh, sheltered life at Oxford to pursue a lifelong dream of studying surgery in Edinburgh. A shining beacon of medical discovery in the age of New Enlightenment, the city’s university offers everything James desires - except the chance to work on a human cadaver. For that, he needs to join one of the private schools in Surgeon’s Square, at a cost he cannot afford. In desperation, he strikes a deal with Aneurin “Nye” MacKinnon, a dashing young dissectionist with an artist’s eye for anatomy and a reckless passion for knowledge. Nye promises to help him gain the surgical experience he craves - but it doesn’t take long for James to realize he’s made a devil’s bargain... Nye is a body snatcher. And James has unwittingly become his accomplice. Once Upon You And Me Timothy Janovsky Adult Eoritic Romance 24 April 2025 What if your Prince Charming had dated your boss? When Taylor Frost’s boss flies him across the country to prep for her daughter’s sweet sixteen at the Storybook Endings Resort, the solo mission is well within his wheelhouse. Taylor is excellent at his job – except, he’s probably not supposed to flirt with the resort’s mountain man of a manager, Ethan Golding. Because the rugged older man is also the birthday girl’s father, aka Amy’s ex-husband. Oops. For Ethan, his divorce seemed like the bad ending to his romantic story. And now, making his daughter’s sweet sixteen dreams come true is the closest he’ll get to the kind of magic happiness in fairy tales. Until adorable Taylor has him wondering if maybe this is just the beginning of a more erotic kind of bedtime story… The Broposal Sonora Reyes Adult Contemporary Romance 12 Feb 2025 A Latinx adult romance debut from Sonora Reyes where two friends enter into a marriage of convenience to save one from deportation - but everything changes when they unexpectedly fall in love. Alejandro (Han for short) has never been in love. He purposefully keeps his heart at arm’s length from anyone who might want it, which he lets his family and friends think is due to commitment-phobia paired with a heavy dose of emotional constipation. Now, though, he's coming to learn that it might have more to do with his fear of looking too deeply inward, whether that be his sexuality or the looming anxiety about being undocumented in an increasingly hostile environment. On the other hand, Han’s roommate and best friend, Kenny, is stuck in a soul-sucking relationship with a woman who wants nothing more than for Kenny to ditch Han and marry her. Kenny can't stand being alone, and has always been afraid of being punished for making the wrong choice, so his girlfriend happily makes most of his decisions for him. But when she forces his hand and makes him choose between their relationship and his best friend, he finally knows without a doubt who the correct choice is. Espíritu (Cemetery Boys 2) Aiden Thomas Genre: YA Fantasy Romance 16 September 2025 Aiden Thomas returns to the beloved world of Cemetery Boys  in Espiritu, this time following Julian, who is dealing with newfound powers, a new relationship with Yadriel, and the return of demons he had hoped were gone forever! Ever since being sacrificed as part of a forbidden ritual, Julian has been able to see and communicate with the spirits of passed brujx. And that would be okay, if it allowed him to be part of his new boyfriend's community. But Julian’s also seeing other things: shadows in the corner of his eyes, glowing eyes in the dark, and “dark spots” on people – gaping, black gashes that are somehow wrong. He did ask his new magical boyfriend about it, but Yadriel has never heard of anything like it either, and he’s so busy with his new Brujx responsibilities, trying to figure out where all the new malingos are coming from, that Julian hates for his problems to ruin what little time together they have. Then, a strange new brujx shows up. Ángel, as a nonbinary brujx, can heal the living and release the dead, but more than that, they can also see the same dark spots as Julian. The Build-A-Boyfriend Project Mason Deaver Genre: Adult Rom-Com 11 September 2025 Eli Francis is stuck. Stuck in an assistant position at the online magazine Vent when he should be a writer. Stuck with a boss who dangles a promotion but would rather he just fetch the coffee. Stuck working alongside the ex who has had no trouble moving up at work… or moving on. When Eli’s roommates push him to date so he can get over his ex once and for all, they set him up with Peter Park. Tall, handsome, and unbelievably awkward. The date is a complete disaster, and further proof to Eli that love isn’t for him. But when his boss overhears Eli recounting the catastrophic night, he suggests teaching Peter to be a better boyfriend through a series of simulated dates so he can write an article about it. Eli plays along, pretending to write the article. But the more time Eli spends with Peter, the closer they become, and the lines between what’s real and what’s fake begin to blur. The Metalhead Next Door Mamita BL Manga - Graphic Novels 02 January 2025 A tale of two neighbors - a shy metalhead and a broke graduate student - who slowly learn about each other over shared meals with a hope for something more. Impoverished graduate student Kento nearly freezes to death outside his new, cheap (unheated) apartment during a blizzard. Luckily, he’s saved by neighbor Soushi, a quiet and somewhat frightening young man who dresses in all black. Although he exudes an aura that screams “keep away,” his eyes, hidden behind long rocker hair, plead for something else. Over the following year, the two share meals together, but as the time passes, the closeted Kento finds it increasingly difficult to ignore his growing feelings. Will he choose to maintain the peaceful, happy times he’s grown to love or risk it all for the possibility of something more? Sunstruck William Rayfet Hunter Adult Contemporary Fiction 15 May 2025 It’s summer and a young man walks through the gates of a luxurious mansion in the south of France. At the dinner table, the Blakes are waiting for Annie, the family matriarch and world-famous singer, her inscrutable husband David and their children, Dot, aloof and rebellious, Lily, the man’s carefree university friend, and their enigmatic older brother Felix. Between sun-drenched days spent lounging by the pool and nights blurring into endless, opulent parties far from the reality of life in London, a restless attraction grows between Felix and the man. The possibility to be part of a family – and an entire world – in which he doesn’t belong is suddenly within reach. But the idyllic haze of the summer slowly fades as they return to the city. While the man struggles with his troubled past and the challenges of navigating Felix’s world as a black, working-class person, Felix is tormented by demons of his own. Les Normaux Janine Janssen Paranormal Romance - Graphic Novels 13 February 2025 Boy moves to new city. Boy meets vampire. They kiss, then become friends. But both would like something more… Sébastien recently moved to supernatural Paris hoping to get away from his troubles at home and live a peaceful life learning magic. But what are you going to do when the really hot vampire you made out with last night to forget your troubles turns out to be your new neighbor? Join Sébastien (a demisexual boy with “main character hair” and a bunny named Pierre), and Elia (a hot, supermodel, vampire neighbor and crush), as they navigate the ins and outs of dating in a modern and paranormal love story. The Corruption of Hollis Brown K. Ancrum YA Paranormal Horror 24 April 2025 Hollis Brown is stuck. Born to a Blue-Collar American Dream, Hollis lives in a rotting small town where no one can afford to leave. Hollis's only bright spots are his two best friends, cool girls Annie and Yulia, and the thrill of fighting his classmates. As if his circumstances couldn’t get worse, a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger named Walt results in a frightening trap. After unknowingly making a deal at the crossroads, Hollis finds himself losing control of his body and mind, falling victim to possession. Walt, the ghost making a home inside him, has a deep and violent history rooted in the town Hollis grew up in and he has unfinished business to take care of. As Walt and Hollis begin working together to put Walt’s spirit to rest, an unspeakable bond forms between them, and the boys begin falling for one another in unexpected ways. But, it’s only a matter of time before Hollis’s best friends begin to notice that something about Hollis isn’t quite… right. Toxic Summer Derek Charm Sci-Fi Horror Comedy - Graphic Novels 22 April 2025 Best friends Ben and Leo are ready to celebrate the summer after graduation by patrolling the beaches of idyllic seaside town Port Dorian as lifeguards - allowing them to also check out the hottest hunks and snag invites to the best parties, of course. But they arrive to find that a mysterious toxic spill has turned the water unswimmable and littered the shore with rotting fish carcasses. Their jobs become beach cleanup and the hunks are nowhere to be seen - like hermit crabs. When they save a local historian with suspiciously glowing eyes from the water, and tentacled monsters begin snatching people in the night, Ben and Leo have to team up with the only other teens in town to uncover the cause of the spill, save their new friends and family, and try to get this sexy summer back on track before it’s too late. Collects Toxic Summer Volumes 1–3. The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King Harry Trevaldwyn YA Rom-Com 30 January 2025 Patch Simmons has decided that this is the year he will get a boyfriend, so it's goodbye to his French pen-pal Jean-Pierre and hello to the world! Unfortunately, the only other "out" boys in his school year are dating each other, so finding a boyfriend isn't going to be easy... Until fate finally intervenes and two new mysterious boys join drama club: Peter, who’s just moved from New York (very chic) and his best friend, Sam. Patch is confident that one of them (although either of them will do!) will be his first boyfriend. So armed with his single mum’s outdated self-help books, his over-supportive best friend Jean and an alarming level of self-confidence, Patch is confident that this mission will be a complete success. Whether or not they actually like boys or him is a problem for later. The Boy I Love William Hussey YA Historial Romance 23 January 2025 At just nineteen, Stephen has already survived a year at the front. Now he is returning to the trenches to lead a platoon, despite his wounds. Broken-hearted from the loss of his first love, Stephen wonders what he's fighting for. Then he meets Private Danny McCormick, a smart, talented young recruit. From their first meeting, there's something undeniable between them – something forbidden by both society and the army. Determined to protect Danny, Stephen must face down the prejudices and ignorance of his superiors as well as the onslaught of German shells and sniper fire. As the summer of 1916 ticks down to one big push on the Somme, can Stephen and Danny stay together – and will their love save them – or condemn them? The South Tash Aw Adult Literary Fiction 13 February 2025 A radiant novel of longing that blooms between two boys over the course of one summer - about family, desire, and what we inherit - from celebrated author Tash Aw. When his grandfather dies, a boy named Jay travels south with his family to the property he left them, a once-flourishing farm that has fallen into disrepair. The trees are diseased, the fields are parched from months of drought. Still, Jay’s father, Jack, sends him out to work the land, or whatever land is left. Over the course of these hot, dense days, Jay finds himself drawn to Chuan, the local son of the farm’s manager, different from him in every way except for one. Out in the fields, and on the streets into town, the charge between the boys intensifies. Inside the house, the other family members confront their own regrets, and begin to drift apart. Like the land around them, they are powerless to resist the global forces that threaten to render their lives obsolete. Deep House Jeremy Atherton Lin Memoir and Queer Culture - Non-Fiction 0 5 June 2025 Jeremy Atherton Lin lays bare a love outside the law - the blooming of his binational relationship through pivotal years in the gay marriage debate. In 1996, Jeremy meets the boy of his dreams, nicknamed “Famous” - a mumbling, starry-eyed Brit - just as US Congress prepares the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies same-sex couples federal rights, including immigration. Being together across borders means dropping out, hiding away, and seeking out sanctuary among unlikely allies in a “city of refuge.” Layering their experiences with those of past outliers, including his parents’ interracial romance, Jeremy Atherton Lin explores the many forms of intimacy and questions the mechanisms that legitimize love. Told through personal and historical memory and structured like a mixtape, DEEP HOUSE weaves a chorus of whispered disclosures of undocumented domestic life with the courthouse battles, media spin, and political maneuvers surrounding the most contentious civil rights issue of an era. I Can't Even Think Straight Dean Atta YA Coming-Of-Age 29 May 2025 Big decisions and messy relationships. It's all part of life for Kai. A must-read queer coming-of-age story for fans of Sarah Crossan and Sex Education, written in verse by Dean Atta. Kai is going into a new school year with some big decisions to when to come out as gay, what he wants to do in life and who he wants to date. Is it any wonder he can't think straight? Best friends Matt and Kai made a promise to each other to stay in the closet. Matt isn't ready to come out, but Kai wants nothing more than to write his own story. He decides it's time to break his promise and show his true self to the world. Now out and proud, Kai starts dating super-hot Obi, but it's far from smooth sailing. Is love closer to home than Kai realises? The Bones Beneath My Skin TJ Klune Adult Sci-Fi Adventure 0 6 February 2025 In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his older brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington DC. With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty – but it’s not. Inside is a man named Alex, and an extraordinary little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. There’s far more to Art than meets the eye. But as Alex and Nate bond over just how special she truly is, they discover that powerful forces are closing in – forces that want nothing more than to control her. As danger draws near, Nate decide whether to drown in the memories of his past, or fight for Art and a future he never thought possible. The Earl Meets His Match TJ Alexander Genre: Historical Romance 11 March 2025 It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. But Lord Christopher Eden is no ordinary man… Lord Eden has always preferred the comfortable company of his staff to the prying eyes of the debutantes at the ton’s latest soirée. So, when he receives word that he must find a wife by the end of the Season, or lose his fortune, Christopher knows that he can’t do it alone. Enter the distractingly dashing – if rather stoic – James Harding. As Lord Eden’s mysterious new valet, James must ensure Christopher’s reputation appears as faultless as his cravat. But as sparks fly, and Christopher’s deadline to find love looms, will James find himself vying for the position instead? Hey Mary Andrew Wheeler & Rye Hickman YA Coming-Of-Age - Graphic Novels 15 April 2025 Mark is a good Catholic boy. He goes to church, he says his prayers, and he spends too much time worrying about hell. When Mark realizes he has a crush on another boy in his school, he struggles to reconcile his feelings with his faith as the weight of centuries of shame and judgment - and his fear of his parents' response - presses on his shoulders. Mark seeks advice from his priest, as well as a local drag performer, but also receives unexpected input from key figures in Catholic history and lore, including Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, St. Sebastian, and Savonarola. Ultimately, only Mark can answer the question: Is it possible for him to be both Catholic and gay? The Good Vampire's Guide to Blood and Boyfriends Jamie D'Amato YA Vampire Rom-Com 21 August 2025 It’s only natural nineteen-year-old Brennan’s life would be upended by something as ridiculous and unexpected as turning into a vampire. But if there’s one thing Brennan can do, it’s pretend everything’s fine when he’s close to losing his mind. Brennan is nineteen and just clawed his way back to Sturbridge University after recovering from a suicide attempt, and this is not the new life he was hoping for. Brennan’s newly bloodthirsty existence gets way more complicated when Cole, the super cute librarian and everyone’s campus crush, stumbles on Brennan drinking from a stolen blood bag. Luckily, adorable Cole is happy to keep Brennan’s secret, and even seems to maybe like him? Navigating a new relationship is hard enough without the added struggles of vampire puberty, an eclectic clan of self-proclaimed “good” vampires, and growing feelings for the one person who makes Brennan feel normal. With swirling rumors of a missing student and a rise in strange “animal attacks” near campus, Brennan must uncover the secrets of the clan and figure out how to balance vampirism and humanity, or risk losing the first real friends he’s ever had. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore  or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk  ✌

As 2024 comes to a close, we're taking a look at some of the best trans and non-binary books coming out in 2025. From chilling trans horror to non-binary romance and genderfluid fantasy, here's our list of 20 trans and non-binary books to keep an eye out for in 2025. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and covers may change. They Bloom At Night Trang Thanh Tran Genre: YA Horror Queer Rep: Non-Binary 04 March 2025 A red algae bloom has taken over Mercy, Louisiana. Ever since a devastating hurricane, mutated wildlife lurks in the water that rises by the day. But Mercy has always been a place where monsters walk in plain sight. Especially at its heart: The Cove, where Noon’s life was upended long before the storm at a party her older boyfriend insisted on. Now, Noon is stuck navigating the submerged town with her mom, who believes their dead family has reincarnated as sea creatures. Alone with the pain of what happened that night at the cove, Noon buries the truth: she is not the right shape. When Mercy’s predatory leader demands Noon and her mom capture the creature drowning residents, she reluctantly finds an ally in his deadly hunter of a daughter and friends old and new. As the next storm approaches, Noon must confront the past and decide if it’s time to answer the monster itching at her skin. Grand Slam Romance Book 3 Ollie Hicks & Emma Oosterhous Genre: Sports Romance - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Non-Binary, Queer Women, Polyamory 19 June 2025 A raucous celebration of queer joy and magical girl mayhem, Farewell to Babes is the third and final graphic novel in the Grand Slam Romance series In Grand Slam Romance: Farewell to Babes, softball’s favorite throuple, Mickey, Astra, and Wolfgang have finally given in to their undeniable attraction: but it is true love or just temporary lust? Wolfgang’s ready to go public with the relationship, Mickey’s still sorting out their feelings, and Astra has conveniently peaced out on a mysterious eurotrip that she neglected to inform her partners about. Between Berlin and Belle City, magic and havoc follow these lovebirds wherever they go—but in pursuit of love, they’re going to swing for the fences.    Emberclaw (Dragon Scales 2) L.R. Lam Genre: High Fantasy Romance Queer Rep: Genderfluid, Queer Men 06 March 2025 The final book in a new romance epic fantasy duology, in which long-banished dragons, revered as gods, return to the mortal realm. Arcady faces their greatest heist yet: posing as a noble student at the arcane University of Vatra. When the University announces the reinstatement of archaic trials of magic, the ever-penniless Arcady seizes the chance. If they win, they not only prove their worth, but the scholarship will give them more time to unlock secrets and reveal, once and for all, that their grandsire was not the Plaguebringer. Yet grief still leaves Arcady broken, and when they close their eyes, they dream of a certain dragon. Everen, once the hope of dragons, is now hated by his kind. When he is eventually released from his prison, the Queen is clear: while he may help protect the island from wraith attacks, he is no longer a prince of the realm. As he struggles to find his place in Vere Celene, visions of the past, the future, and tantalizing glimpses of Arcady still haunt him. If he steers the wrong path through fate’s storm, he may never be able to create a future where both humans and dragons live in harmony. Disappoint Me Nicola Dinan Genre: Adult Contemporary Fiction Queer Rep: Trans Women 23 January 2025 Max is thirty, a published poet and grossly overpaid legal counsel for a tech company. She’s living her best life. Or is she? The debris of years of dysphoria and failed relationships rattle around in her head. When she tumbles down the stairs at a New Year’s Eve party and wakes up in hospital alone, she decides to make changes. First up: a stab at good old-fashioned heteronormativity. Enter Vincent, corporate lawyer and hobby baker. His trad friendship group may as well speak a different language to Max, and his Chinese parents never pictured their son dating a trans woman. It’s uncertain terrain, but Vincent cares for Max in a way she’d long given up on as a foolish fantasy. Yet he is carrying his own baggage. On his gap year in Thailand a decade prior, Vincent vies for the attention of a gorgeous traveller, Alex, with secrets of her own. Is he really the new face of the Enlightened Man, or will the ghosts of his past sabotage his and Max’s happiness? A/S/L Jeanne Thornton Genre: Contemporary Fiction Queer Rep: Trans Women 10 April 2025 It is 1998; Lilith, Sash, and Abraxa are teenagers, and they are making Saga of the Sorceress, a game that will change everything, if only for the three of them. 18 years later, Saga of the Sorceress still exists only on the scattered drives of its creators. Lilith might be the first trans woman to ever work as an Assistant Loan Underwriter at Dollarwise Investments in Brooklyn. Sash is in Brooklyn as well, working as a research assistant and part-time webcam dominatrix. Neither knows that the other is there, or that Abraxa, the third member of Invocation LLC, is just across the Hudson River, sleeping on the floor of a friend’s grandparents’ Jersey City home. They have never met in person, and have been out of touch for years, but none have forgotten the sorceress, or her quest, still far from finished. The Earl Meets His Match TJ Alexander Genre: Historical Romance Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men 11 March 2025 It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. But Lord Christopher Eden is no ordinary man… Lord Eden has always preferred the comfortable company of his staff to the prying eyes of the debutantes at the ton’s latest soirée. So, when he receives word that he must find a wife by the end of the Season, or lose his fortune, Christopher knows that he can’t do it alone. Enter the distractingly dashing – if rather stoic – James Harding. As Lord Eden’s mysterious new valet, James must ensure Christopher’s reputation appears as faultless as his cravat. But as sparks fly, and Christopher’s deadline to find love looms, will James find himself vying for the position instead? Homegrown Magic Jamie Pacton & Rebecca Podos Genre: Fantasy Romance Queer Rep: Non-Binary, Queer Women 13 March 2025 A delightful queer romantic fantasy full of friends-to-lovers chemistry, found family, rival family drama, and cozy garden magic from two acclaimed YA authors making their debut in the adult space. Yael Clauneck is the only scion of an obscenely wealthy banking family with its fingers in every pie in the realm. They’re on the precipice of a predetermined life when they flee their own graduation party, galloping away in search of…well, they’re not sure, but maybe the chance to feel like life can still be a grand adventure. Margot Greenwillow - talented plant witch, tea lover, and greenhouse owner - has never felt further from adventure in her life. She’s been desperately trying to keep what remains of her family's magic remedies business afloat. So when her childhood friend and former crush, Yael, rides back into her life, she’s shocked. But perhaps this could be a good thing. After all, Margot could use an assistant in the greenhouses. Espíritu (Cemetery Boys 2) Aiden Thomas Genre: YA Fantasy Romance Queer Rep: Trans Men, Non-Binary, Queer Men 16 September 2025 Aiden Thomas returns to the beloved world of Cemetery Boys in Espiritu, this time following Julian, who is dealing with newfound powers, a new relationship with Yadriel, and the return of demons he had hoped were gone forever! Ever since being sacrificed as part of a forbidden ritual, Julian has been able to see and communicate with the spirits of passed brujx. And that would be okay, if it allowed him to be part of his new boyfriend's community. But Julian’s also seeing other things: shadows in the corner of his eyes, glowing eyes in the dark, and “dark spots” on people – gaping, black gashes that are somehow wrong. He did ask his new magical boyfriend about it, but Yadriel has never heard of anything like it either, and he’s so busy with his new Brujx responsibilities, trying to figure out where all the new malingos are coming from, that Julian hates for his problems to ruin what little time together they have. Then, a strange new brujx shows up. Ángel, as a nonbinary brujx, can heal the living and release the dead, but more than that, they can also see the same dark spots as Julian. Human Rites (HMRC 3) Juno Dawson Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy Queer Rep: Trans Women, Queer Women 17 July 2025 Niamh, Ciara, Leonie, Elle and Theo. Five very different witches with one thing in common: they were unwittingly chosen by the dangerously charming Lucifer, the demon king of desire, to fulfil a dark prophecy: Satanis will rise and the daughters of Gaia will fall. The coven is reunited - but broken. Niamh is back from the dead… but she hasn’t come back alone. Elle mourns a son she never had. Ciara languishes in a prison for witches, and Leonie reels from a very unexpected surprise. Meanwhile, Lucifer offers fledgling witch Theo a deal: if she helps him, her coven - her family - will be spared. But the magic he asks for will take her out of London - out of time , entirely. Murder in the Dressing Room Holly Stars Genre: Murder Mystery Queer Rep: Non-Binary 06 February 2025 By day, shy hotel accountant Joe hides behind their desk and plays by the rules. By night, Joe takes to the stage as Misty Divine, an upcoming star of the London drag scene. But when Misty’s mentor, Lady Lady, is found dead in her dressing room, Misty finds herself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Because Lady Lady was murdered – and as the only ones with access to her room, Misty and her fellow performers quickly become prime suspects. Heartbroken by the loss, and frustrated by the inaction of the police, Joe is determined to uncover the killer in their midst. But what can they, a mere hotel accountant, possibly do? This is a case for Misty Divine… Stag Dance Torrey Peters Genre: Contemporary Short Stories Queer Rep: Trans Women 13 March 2025 In Stag Dance, this collection’s titular novel, a Paul Bunyan-type lumberjack working an illegal winter logging outfit recounts how the lonely woodsmen entertain themselves with a dance at which some of the loggers must volunteer to attend as women. Three equally visionary novellas surround Stag Dance. Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones imagines a sci-fi future in which everyone must choose their own gender - the vengeful consequence of a rogue trio of charismatic trans women who destroy civilization as we know it. In The Chaser, a secret romance between roommates at a Quaker boarding school brings out intrigue and cruelty. In The Masker, a party weekend on the Las Vegas strip turns horrific when a young crossdresser must choose between two a handsome mystery man who objectifies her in thrilling ways, or a cynical veteran trans woman offering unglamorous sisterhood. Radical, witty, and gripping, these four narratives coalesce to form a portrait of identity-in-crisis that unsettles and delights. And They Were Roommates Page Powars Genre: YA Romance Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men 29 May 2025 Romance is the last thing on Charlie’s mind. On his first day at Valentine Academy for Boys, Charlie’s carefully crafted plan to hide his identity as the school’s only trans student is set in motion. Only to be immediately destroyed. Charlie has been assigned the worst roommate in the world (possibly the universe): Jasper Grimes, the boy who broke Charlie’s heart the year before he transitioned. Except, Jasper doesn’t recognize Charlie. Who knows how long until Jasper realizes the truth? Charlie has one shot at freedom and a dorm room all to himself, but only if he helps Jasper write love letters on behalf of their fellow students first. No problem. Charlie can help Jasper with some silly letters. My Best Friend's Honeymoon Meryl Wilsner Genre: Erotic Rom-Com Queer Rep: Non-Binary Lesbian, Pansexual Women 29 April 2025 Elsie Hoffman has been engaged to her college boyfriend for a year and a half. Ginny Holtz has been in love with Elsie for almost a decade and a half. When Elsie discovers her fiancé already planned their wedding and honeymoon as a surprise and she’s expected to be in a white dress in seven days, she swiftly realizes she’s let herself become too comfortable with a future she never wanted. She breaks things off, and a week later is on a plane to the Caribbean for her non-refundable honeymoon with her best friend Ginny instead. Ginny thinks it’s high time Elise learned how to speak up for herself. So, they make a deal with her. For the next week, Elsie can have whatever she wants, wherever, however, and whenever she wants it, as long as she asks. They never expected Elsie to want them. Love in Exile Shon Faye Genre: Memoir/Non-Fiction Queer Rep: Trans Women 06 February 2025 Shon Faye grew up quietly obsessed with the feeling that love was not for her. Not just romantic love: the secret fear of her own unworthiness penetrated every aspect and corner of her life. It was a fear that would erupt in destructive, counterfeit versions of the real love she craved: addictions and short-lived romances that were either euphoric and fantastical, or excruciatingly painful and unhinged, often both. In Love in Exile, Shon Faye shows love is much greater than the narrow ideals we have been taught to crave so desperately that we are willing to bend and break ourselves to fit them. Wise, funny, unsparing, and suffused with a radical clarity, this is a book of and for our times: for seeing and knowing love, in whatever form it takes, is the meaning of life itself. The Build-A-Boyfriend Project Mason Deaver Genre: Adult Rom-Com Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men 11 September 2025 Eli Francis is stuck. Stuck in an assistant position at the online magazine Vent when he should be a writer. Stuck with a boss who dangles a promotion but would rather he just fetch the coffee. Stuck working alongside the ex who has had no trouble moving up at work… or moving on. When Eli’s roommates push him to date so he can get over his ex once and for all, they set him up with Peter Park. Tall, handsome, and unbelievably awkward. The date is a complete disaster, and further proof to Eli that love isn’t for him. But when his boss overhears Eli recounting the catastrophic night, he suggests teaching Peter to be a better boyfriend through a series of simulated dates so he can write an article about it. Eli plays along, pretending to write the article. But the more time Eli spends with Peter, the closer they become, and the lines between what’s real and what’s fake begin to blur. This Feast of a Life Cynthia So Genre: YA Coming-Of-Age Queer Rep: Non-Binary, Queer Women 09 January 2025 From the author of If You Still Recognise Me comes a delicious story of two people brought together by a shared love of food as they figure out themselves and each other. Auden is finding different ways to be themself. The first - using their new chosen name, which feels most authentically them. The second - starting a food blog where they can share their passion for food, through family recipes and the stories behind them. And when the blog brings them Valerie, they discover more than they'd ever expected. It's been over a year since Valerie lost her mum - her beautiful, vibrant mum who loved cooking. Since her mum's death, Valerie and her dad have drifted further and further apart, the kitchen left cold and empty, until Valerie finds Auden's blog. The blog (and its writer) spark something in Valerie. Could she have found a recipe for happiness? Chaos King (Infinity Alchemist 2) Kacen Callender Genre: YA Magical Fantasy Queer Rep: Trans Men, Genderfluid, Polyamory 10 April 2025 The explosive sequel to instant New York Times bestseller Infinity Alchemist . Ever since he rose up against his father and saved New Anglia from destruction, Ash has been struggling to adapt to his new life. He has nightmares every night, haunted by strange black orbs and his screaming dead mother. Ash is sure she's trying to warn him that the world is still in danger, and becomes determined to find a way to speak to her again - but communicating with the dead isn't easy, even for an alchemist as powerful as Ash. It doesn't help that violent anti-alchemist sentiment is spreading across New Anglia. When Ash is captured by a radical alchemist group, inspired by his father's legacy, he must decide if alchemist rights can be trusted in the hands of the Houses, along with his partners Callum and Ramsay - or if Ash must follow the path his father laid for him, and become the leader of an alchemist revolution. Can Ash keep his relationships together and stop the world from falling apart? The In-Between Bookstore Edward Underhill Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men 14 March 2025 A poignant and enchanting novel about a magical bookstore that transports a trans man through time and brings him face-to-face with his teenage self, offering him the chance of a lifetime to examine his life and identity to find a new beginning. When Darby finds himself unemployed and in need of a fresh start, he moves back to the small Illinois town he left behind. But Oak Falls has changed almost as much as he has since he left. One thing is familiar: In Between Books, Darby’s refuge growing up and eventual high school job. When he walks into the bookstore now, Darby feels an eerie sense of déjà vu—everything is exactly the same. Even the newspapers are dated 2009. And behind the register is a teen who looks a lot like Darby did at sixteen. . . who just might give Darby the opportunity to change his own present for the better—if he can figure out how before his connection to the past vanishes forever. One of the Boys Victoria Zeller Genre: YA Contemporary Sport Queer Rep: Trans Women 19 June 2025 Grace Woodhouse has left a lot behind. She used to have a great friend group, an amazing girlfriend, and a right foot set to earn her a Division I football scholarship—before she came out as trans. As senior year begins, Grace is struggling to find her place in early transition, new social circles, and a life without football. But when her skills as the best kicker in the state prove to be vital, her old teammates beg her to come out of retirement, dragging her back into a sport—into a way of life—she thought had turned its back on her forever. When a chance meeting cracks the door to college football back open, she has to decide how much of herself she's willing to give up for the game she loves. Realistic Fiction Anton Solomonik Genre: Short Stories/Humour Queer Rep: Trans Cast 01 April 2025 Have you ever engaged in totally normal male behavior like: Stealing porn magazines? Hooking up with guys on Grindr? Attempting to work in an open-pit mine despite having no relevant job experience? Crossdressing as a woman?Attending Gnostic Mass? Running for government office? Then this is a book for you! It is definitely not a deeply felt collection of transsexual short stories, engaged in dissident metaphysical investigation of the normative tenets of gender in our society! Bro, how could you say that? It is very dramatic and exciting, yes, but it is not metaphysical at all. In fact, it is Realistic Fiction. As if Charlie Chaplin re-wrote the works of Kafka, and he was a Russian trans man, Anton Solomonik brings a funny, heartbreaking, and startlingly unique new voice to contemporary short fiction. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore  or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk  ✌

As 2024 comes to a close, it's time to take a look at what sapphic books are being released in 2025. From twisted sapphic horror to epic WLW fantasy romances and hilarious adult fiction, here are 20 of our most anticipated sapphic books coming out in 2025. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and covers may change. The Coven Tendency Zoe Hana Mikuta YA Fantasy Horror 01 April 2025 A bloody and unrelenting fantasy about young witches dangling on the edge of love and obsession, of magic and madness, of life and death (and death and death and death). Just like her mother and her mother’s mother, 18-year-old Vanity Adams is destined to lead a lavish life under the patronship of the Museum, someday taking her place as its premiere necromantic Spectacle and the centerpiece of their weekly soirees thrown for the City’s elite. But until that day, Vanity (and the other young witches of the Museum) is isolated from the outside world and purged of her magic - magic being particularly unstable for teenagers and often leading to antisocial conduct, mood swings, bloodlust, delusions, and, most concerning, a habitual, violent obsession with one another. Idolfire Grace Curtis Adult High Fantasy 13 March 2025 On one side of the world, Aleya Ana-Ulai is desperate for a chance. Her family have written her off as a mistake, but she's determined to prove every last one of them wrong.  On the other, Kirby of Wall's End is searching for redemption. An ancient curse tore her life apart, but to fix it, she'll have to leave everything behind. Fate sets them both on the path to Nivela, a city once poised to conquer the world with the power of a thousand stolen gods. Now the gates are closed and the old magic slumbers. Dead - or waiting for a spark to light it anew . . . The Last Bookstore on Earth Lily Braun-Arnold YA Dystopian Fiction 09 January 2025 The world is about to end. Again. Ever since the first Storm wreaked havoc on civilization as we know it, seventeen-year-old Liz Flannery has been holed up in an abandoned bookstore in suburban New Jersey where she used to work, trading books for supplies with the few remaining survivors. It’s the one place left that feels safe to her. Until she learns that another earth-shattering Storm is coming... and everything changes. Enter Maeve, a prickly and potentially dangerous out-of-towner who breaks into the bookstore looking for shelter one night. Though the two girls are immediately at odds, Maeve has what Liz needs—the skills to repair the dilapidated store before the next climate disaster strikes—and Liz reluctantly agrees to let her stay. Brewed with Love Shelly Page YA Fantasy Romance 14 January 2025 A cozy, contemporary romantasy about a lesbain teen witch who wants to keep her family’s apothecary from falling to the competition but can only do so with assistance from her first crush. Plant witch, Sage Bishop, is determined to run her family’s old apothecary one day. She spends her time trying to invent the perfect tonic to put Bishop Brews on the map. And she’s going to need one quickly, too, because their biggest competitor is drawing away customers. Short-staffed, her nana hires Ximena Reyes, Sage’s ex-best friend and first crush, who’s more of an unwelcome distraction than anything. Ximena has always dreamed of leaving their small town behind while Sage wants to tend to her roots. And during one of their first shifts together, someone breaks into Bishop Brews, stealing several tonics, including the one Sage has been working tirelessly on, the same one that wipes a councilmember’s kid’s memory. Where Shadows Bloom Catherine Bakewell YA Fantasy Romance 13 March 2025 Ofelia has lived her life dreaming of entering Le Château Enchanté—the mysterious court of the gods-blessed King Léo, where the shadow monsters that roam Ofelia’s home never trespass. Lope has lived her life as a knight, defending Ofelia and her home from Shadows even as she dreams of escaping with Ofelia by her side. When the Shadows venture too close, Lope and Ofelia are thrust into a journey that will lead them to the heart of the darkness haunting their home: the dazzling and deceptive Château Enchanté itself. Where Shadows Bloom pits terrifying monsters, chilling secrets, capricious gods, immortal kings, and death itself against the unstoppable love between two girls. Hungerstone Kat Dunn Adult Gothic Horror 13 February 2025 Lenore is the wife of steel magnate Henry, but ten years into their marriage the relationship has soured, and no child has arrived to fill the distance growing between them. Henry's ambitions take them from London to the Peak District, to the remote, imposing Nethershaw estate, where he plans to host a hunting party. Lenore must work to restore the crumbling house and ready it for Henry's guests - their future depends on it. But as the couple travel through the bleak countryside, a shocking carriage accident brings the mysterious Carmilla into Lenore's life. Carmilla, who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night, Carmilla who stirs up something deep within Lenore. And before long, girls from the local villages fall sick, consumed by a terrible hunger... Love Points to You Alice Lin YA Romance 04 March 2025 A swoony asexual romance between driven, practical Lynda Fan and her rich, arrogant classmate, Angela Wu. When Angela offers Lynda the chance to design characters for her otome game, Lynda discovers things she never knew about herself... or her heart. Sixteen-year-old Lynda Fan has the skills and the drive to get into the Rhode Island School of Design - but not the money. Her parents are too busy paying for her stepsister’s violin lessons to help Lynda get into art school. So when her rich and arrogant classmate, Angela Wu, offers to hire Lynda as a character designer for an otome game - a love story-based video game - she jumps at the opportunity. Lynda isn’t exactly a romantic, but in pursuit of her dreams, she discovers things she never knew about herself while also finding love with every heart she draws. Amelia, If Only Becky Albertalli YA Romance 19 June 2025 Amelia Applebaum isn’t in love with Walter Holland. He just happens to be her favorite moderately famous, chaotically bisexual YouTuber. Who she just happened to invite to prom. (But it’s fine. No, for real. If you delete the post, it didn’t happen.) Okay, maybe her friends are right: She’s slightly parasocially infatuated. But Amelia just knows sparks would fly—if only she could connect with Walter for real. If only he would host a meet and greet. If only it were just a short road trip away. And if only Amelia could talk her best friends into making it the perfect last hurrah before graduation—even her newly single, always-cynical, guitar-toting best friend Natalie. One thing’s for sure: All roads lead to butterflies. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil V.E. Schwab Adult Vampire Fantasy 10 June 2025 A brand new genre-defying, unforgettable novel about sapphic vampires to sink your teeth into. Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 1532. London, 1837. Boston, 2019. Three young women, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots. One grows high, one grows deep, one grows wild. And all of them grow teeth. This Ends in Embers Kamilah Cole YA Fantasy 06 February 2025 Faron Vincent was once the saint of San Irie. Now, she’s done the unthinkable: betrayed her country. Alone, disgraced, and kidnapped, Faron is forced to help Iya grow his bloody empire. With her soul bonded to a ruthless killer, Faron has become an enemy to her people… and she fears they might be right. Elara Vincent - the new Empyrean - must undo the damage her sister has caused. San Irie has been brought back to the brink of war as Iya proclaims no nation will be safe from his brutal invasion. But how can Elara save her sister, her best friend, her country, and her world when she’s already cracking under the pressure? The Relationship Mechanic Karmen Lee Adult Rom-Com 16 January 2025 Jessica Jae-un Miller came to Peach Blossom, Georgia, for a visit, not a breakdown. But when her rental car dies on the outskirts of town, mechanic Lavenia “Vini” Williams provides a tow - and a very welcome jump start to Jessica’s heart. It’s been a minute since Jessica’s last fling and Vini checks all the right boxes. If only the sexy car whisperer seemed interested… Vini knows herself and what she wants. She loves her job, her family, her hometown—but she’d love to fall in love. Jessica stirs up all the right feelings, but the city girl has no intention of staying in Peach Blossom. Why sign up for a broken heart? But the temptation is real as Vini goes out of her way to drive a carless Jessica around town. The pair can’t seem to keep their distance—or their hands to themselves. With only six weeks to figure out where their red-hot chemistry might lead, Vini and Jessica will have to decide if home can be where the heart is when the heart only knows how to run. Thanks for Listening Molly Horan YA Romance 16 January 2025 Perfect for fans of Loveless and You Should See Me in a Crown, this wry and insightful novel from the author of Epically Earnest features a sweet ace romance and a secret social media advice account that goes wonderfully, terribly astray. Mia knows what she’s talking about. Class schedules, significant others, existential life crises -you name it, she’s talked someone through it. The problem? No one actually takes her advice. So when her latest round of (very sensible!) guidance is ignored, resulting in a class flyer stapled to her best friend’s arm and her brother going steady with a girl he doesn’t have feelings for, Mia is done talking. Instead, she creates HereToHelp, an anonymous account to give advice. If her friends don’t know it’s her behind the account, maybe they’ll finally listen for once. Dream On, Ramona Riley Ashley Herring Blake Contemporary Adult Romance 13 May 2025 A small-town waitress and a Hollywood star’s worlds collide in this new bisexual romance by Ashley Herring Blake. When a big-budget romantic comedy comes to Clover Lake to film, Ramona Riley wonders if this could be her chance. There’s only one problem - Dylan Monroe, her first kiss and Hollywood’s favorite wild child - is the star. Dylan Monroe has always lived an unconventional life, having famous rock icons for parents. But she wants to prove that she’s not some chaotic, talentless nepo baby, that she has actual skills, that she’s just a normal person. To do that, Dylan takes on a project at a charming lake town—she even works at the town’s café (very quaint), shadowing a local waitress there (very cute), and asks her to take Dylan around to do Normal People Things. But Dylan soon realizes it’s not just some small-town waitress she’s getting to know—Ramona Riley is someone she’s met before, someone who remembers her even more vividly. Thank You For Calling the Lesbian Line Elizabeth Lovatt Historical Fiction 06 February 2025 With warmth and humour, Elizabeth Lovatt reimagines the women who both called and volunteered for the Lesbian Line in the 1990s, whilst also tracing her own journey from accidentally coming out to disastrous dates to finding her chosen family. With callers and agents alike dealing with first crushes and break-ups, sex and marriage, loneliness and illness (or simply the need to know the name of a gay bar on a night out), this is a celebration of the ordinary lives of queer women. Thank You for Calling the Lesbian Line is timely and vital exploration of how lesbian identity continues to remake and redefine itself in the 21st century, and where it might lead us in the future. The Lamb Lucy Rose Weird Contemporary Horror 30 January 2025 A FOLK TALE. A HORROR STORY. A LOVE STORY. AN ENCHANTMENT. Margot and Mama have lived by the forest since Margot can remember. When Margot is not at school, they spend quiet days together in their cottage, waiting for strangers to knock on their door. Strays, Mama calls them. Mama loves the strays. She feeds them wine, keeps them warm. Then she satisfies her burning appetite by picking apart their bodies. But Mama’s want is stronger than her hunger sometimes, and when a white-toothed stray named Eden turns up in the heart of a snowstorm, little Margot must confront the shifting dynamics of her family, untangle her own desires and make her own bid for freedom. With this gothic coming-of-age tale, debut novelist Lucy Rose explores how women swallow their anger, desire and animal instincts – and wrings the relationship between mother and daughter until blood drips from it. Fable for the End of the World Ava Reid YA Dystopian Fantasy 04 March 2025 LESBIAN HUNGER GAMES! By encouraging massive accumulations of debt from its underclass, a single corporation, Caerus, controls all aspects of society. Inesa lives with her brother in a half-sunken town where they scrape by running a taxidermy shop. Melinoë is a Caerus assassin, trained to track and kill the sacrificial Lambs. When Inesa learns that her mother has offered her as a sacrifice, at first she despairs—the Gauntlet is always a bloodbath for the impoverished debtors. But she’s had years of practice surviving in the apocalyptic wastes, and with the help of her hunter brother, she might stand a chance of staying alive. For Melinoë, this is a game she can’t afford to lose. Despite her reputation for mercilessness, she is haunted by painful flashbacks. After her last Gauntlet, where she broke down on livestream, she desperately needs redemption. It's a Love/Skate Relationship Carli J. Corson YA Sports Romance 06 Ju 13 Mar 2025 A sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance between a hotheaded butch lesbain hockey player and the ice princess at the figure skating rink next door. Charlie Porter is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the hockey rink. When she accidentally starts a brawl after a game, she's suspended from school, meaning no hockey this season--and no chance to play in front of college scouts. Alexa Goldstein's pairs skating partner was hurt in the fight, and with only four months until their next competition, pickings for a replacement are slim. So she strikes a deal with Charlie--skate with her at the competition well enough to place, and her Olympian mother will use her formidable connections to get Charlie in front of scouts at D-1 schools, even without her team. It seems impossible, and not just because Charlie has never figure skated before. Where Charlie is powerful, Alexa is elegant; where Charlie is quick to blow up, Alexa is cold as ice. But as the frostiness between them starts to thaw, they begin to wonder if they've found a partner for more than just skating. Stop Me If You've Heard This One Kristen Arnett Contemporary Adult Fiction/Humor 18 March 2025 Cherry Hendricks might be down on her luck, but she can write the book on what makes something funny: she’s a professional clown who creates raucous, zany fun at gigs all over Orlando. Between her clowning and her shifts at an aquarium store for extra cash, she’s always hustling. Not to mention balancing her judgmental mother, her messy love life, and her equally messy community of fellow performers. Things start looking up when Cherry meets Margot the Magnificent—a much older lesbian magician—who seems to have worked out the lines between art, business, and life, and has a slick, successful career to prove it. With Margot’s mentorship and industry connections, Cherry is sure to take her art to the next level. Plus, Margot is sexy as hell. It’s not long before Cherry must decide how much she’s willing to risk for Margot and for her own explosive new act—and what kind of clown she wants to be under her suit. The Starving Saints Caitlin Starling Medieval Horror 03 July 2025 Aymar Castle has been under siege for six months. Food is running low and there has been no sign of rescue. But just as the survivors consider deliberately thinning their number, the castle stores are replenished. The sick are healed. And the divine figures of the Constant Lady and her Saints have arrived, despite the barricaded gates, offering succor in return for adoration. Soon, the entire castle is under the sway of their saviors, partaking in intoxicating feasts of terrible origin. The war hero Ser Voyne gives her allegiance to the Constant Lady. Phosyne, a disorganized, paranoid nun-turned-sorceress, races to unravel the mystery of these new visitors and exonerate her experiments as their source. And in the bowels of the castle, a serving girl, Treila, is torn between her thirst for a secret vengeance against Voyne and the desperate need to escape from the horrors that are unfolding within Aymar’s walls. As the castle descends into bacchanalian madness, these three women are the only ones to still see their situation for what it is. But they are not immune from the temptations of the castle’s new masters… or each other Dead Real Poppy T. Perry YA Zombie Horror/Comedy 03 July 2025 Nora Inkwell is totally, completely, absolutely going to tell her best friend and fellow horror movie superfan, Ruby, that she’s in love with her. It doesn't matter that Baxter from Body Combat wrote on the college wall that Nora's frigid. Or that Ruby is more interested in losing her lesbian v-plates before they start university. And it certainly doesn't matter that Nora's old school friends said that all bisexuals are attention-seeking wannabes! ... It might matter that the entire town has turned into flesh-eating zombies. Guess there's no time like the (deadly, dangerous, zombie-swamped) present to confess your undying love. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore  or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk  ✌

Halloween is coming up and what better thing to watch than something queer and spooky? From gay ghosts to sapphic vampires and bloodthirsty queer horror - here are 10 queer films and TV shows perfect for spooky season. (All shows available in the UK at time of publishing.) 1. AGATHA ALL ALONG (2024 - present) Everyone's been talking about AGATHA ALL ALONG , and for good reason! It's a fun and campy supernatural fantasy adventure following the events of WANDAVISION (though if you haven't seen it, there's not much you won't get). After breaking the spell she was under (thanks to a helpful teen), a once-powerful witch regains her freedom and embarks on a journey down the Witches' Road with a hastily-formed coven. It's camp and fun and spooky and surprisingly gay. Where to watch it: DISNEY+ LGBTQ+ rep : Queer Men, Queer Women, a lot of Queer Subtext Genre : Supernatural, Fantasy, Adventure Episode Run Time : 50m 2. BIT (2019) BIT is a smart and witty, modern take on the vampire film genre. The film follows Laurel, a trans teenage girl who meets four queer feminist vampires while on vacation in Los Angeles. Their goal - to rid the city's streets of predatory men. It a fun film with a trans actress as its lead and a great soundtrack - perfect for fans of THE LOST BOYS. Where to watch it: AMAZON PRIME (FREEVEE) LGBTQ+ rep : Trans Women, Queer Women Genre : Vampire, Horror, Action, Comedy Film Run Time : 1hr 30m 3. DEAD BOY DETECTIVES (2024) Based on the comics by Neil Gaiman, DEAD BOY DETECTIVES  follows a group of mystery-solving teens - two of whom are dead - as they help their ghostly clients find closure and move on to the afterlife... all while trying to escape death, witches and demons. It's queer and funny, spooky and dark, and everything you want from a supernatural mystery. Perfect for fans of Buffy and Scooby-Doo (just with a few more violent deaths). Where to watch it: NETFLIX LGBTQ+ rep : Queer Men, Queer Women Genre : Supernatural, Mystery, Horror, Comedy Episode Run Time : 50m 4. FIRST KILL (2022) In FIRST KILL , Sixteen-year-old vampire Juliette Fairmont needs to make her first kill in order to enter adulthood and take her place among her powerful family of Legacy vampires. Calliope, who belongs to a monster-hunting family, needs to slay her first monster in order to gain her family's approval. As both families become unavoidably involved, and Juliette and Calliope's relationship develops, the girls realize that killing each other is not so simple. Where to watch it: NETFLIX LGBTQ+ rep : Queer Women Genre : Drama, Horror, Mystery Episode Run Time : 60m 5. DEAD HOT (2024) DEAD HOT  is wild. It's a short and sweet six-part comedy thriller mini-series about love, loss, sexuality, identity, and class. It follows two friends (Elliot and Jess), brought together by the loss of Peter - Jess's Brother and Elliot's first love. It's dark and funny and creepy and very very gay. Where to watch it: AMAZON PRIME LGBTQ+ rep : Queer Men Genre : Comedy, Thriller, Mystery Episode Run Time : 30m 6. THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR (2020) Though some would class THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR  as a horror, I'd be more inclined to say its a love story with plenty of ghosts thrown in. After an au pair’s tragic death, a young American nanny is hired to care for two orphaned children. As creepy as this mini-series is, it's also beautiful and incredibly well-acted and the lesbian love story feels authentic and sweet. Where to watch it: NETFLIX LGBTQ+ rep : Queer Women Genre : Drama, Horror, Mystery Episode Run Time : 60m 7. FEAR STREET: PARTS 1-3 (2021) FEAR STREET is a trilogy of supernatural horror films - the first film set in 1994, the second in 1978, and the third in 1666. Based on the RL Stein books of the same name, each film revolves around a group of teenagers trying to break the curse that has been over their town for hundreds of years. Expect lots of blood, gore, suspense, and supernatural horror running throughout all three films. Where to watch it: NETFLIX LGBTQ+ rep : Queer Women Genre : Horror, Slasher, Supernatural, Mystery Film Run Time : 1hr 50m each 8. DEAD END PARANORMAL PARK (2022) DEAD END: PARANORMAL PARK  is an animated fantasy horror comedy series created by Hamish Steele for Netflix - based on the graphic novel series, DEADENDIA . The show follows Barney and Norma, the newest employees at their local theme park, along with Pugsley, Barney's childhood dog, and Courtney, a thousand-year-old demon as they discover the secrets of the theme park they work in. Super fun, super spooky and super queer with some great musical numbers. Where to watch it: NETFLIX LGBTQ+ rep : Trans Men, Queer Men, Queer Women Genre : Animation, Paranormal, Fantasy, Adventure Episode Run Time : 30m 9. JENNIFER'S BODY (2009) JENNIFER'S BODY has become a bit of a cult classic. The original marketing of this film didn't do it justice - it's a feminist revenge horror/comedy with themes of toxic friendship, grief, and sexuality at its core. Jennifer is different after a traumatic evening at a local bar, her male classmates are steadily being killed off and it's up to her best friend Needy to uncover the truth. Is Jennifer evil now? Yes, and she wants to eat your boyfriend. Where to watch it: DISNEY+ LGBTQ+ rep : Queer women Genre : Supernatural, Horror, Dark Comedy, Satire Film Run Time : 1hr, 40m 10. THE OWL HOUSE (2020-2023) After accidentally going through a door to the world of the Boiling Isles, a teenage human named Luz discovers magic is real and longs to become a witch. With the rebellious witch Eda to guide her and pint-sized demon King at her aid, Luz starts to learn magic, make some friends, and mayybeee gets a girlfriend?!?!? Expect magic, mayhem, and queer characters a-plenty in THE OWL HOUSE - a perfect treat for fans of Gravity Falls, Amphibia and films about magical academies. Where to watch it: DISNEY+ LGBTQ+ rep : Queer Women Genre : Witchy, Fantasy, Adventure, Animation Episode Run Time : 20m BONUS: LIVING FOR THE DEAD (2023) LIVING FOR THE DEAD is a paranormal reality tv show following a group of queer paranormal experts. Each episode follows the group as they travel to haunted locations across the US in hopes of communicating with the dead and helping to put their spirits to rest. The show ran for eight episodes and was created for HULU - so UK viewers may have a hard time finding a place to stream it. Where to watch it: DISNEY+ & HULU (if you live in America) LGBTQ+ rep : Trans Women, Queer Men, Queer Women, Queer Cast Genre : Reality TV, Paranormal, Ghost Hunting, Horror Episode Run Time : 50m Think we've missed something off our list that's perfect to watch this spooky season? Send us a message @ProudGeekStore  or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk  ✌

As Halloween comes around again, we're taking another look at queer horror with black queer protagonists and narratives. From gruesome graphic novels to seductive queer vampires and camp slashers, here are ten queer horror books and comics with black characters at the center: The Forest Demands Its Due YA Fantasy Horror Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 14+ A Lesson in Vengeance  meets The Taking of Jake Livingston  in this page-turning YA horror/fantasy set in dark academia about a queer Black teen who discovers the sinister history of his boarding school and the corrupt powers behind it all. Regent Academy has a long and storied history in Winslow, Vermont, as does the forest that surrounds it. The school is known for molding teens into leaders, but its history is far more nefarious. Seventeen-year-old Douglas Jones wants nothing to do with Regent's king-making; he’s just trying to survive. But then a student is murdered and, for some reason, by the next day no one remembers him having ever existed, except for Douglas and the groundskeeper's son, Everett Everley. In his determination to uncover the truth, Douglas awakens a horror hidden within the forest, unearthing secrets that have been buried for centuries. A vengeful creature wants blood as payment for a debt more than 300 years in the making—or it will swallow all of Winslow in darkness. You're Not Supposed To Die Tonight YA Slasher Horror/Mystery Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ At Camp Mirror Lake, terror is the name of the game . . . but can you survive the night? Charity Curtis has the summer job of her dreams, playing the “final girl” at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business. But the last weekend of the season, Charity's co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity's role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they'll need figure out what this killer is after. Is there is more to the story of Mirror Lake and its dangerous past than Charity ever suspected? Perfect for fans of Fear Street. Specs 80s Horror Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 14+ A supernatural 80s throwback perfect for fans of Stranger Things via Killer Queens! Small town. Ohio, 1986. All Kenny and Ted want is to not feel like outcasts. What happens when a pair of X-ray glasses mysteriously appear? The magic specs open a world of possibilities for these misfit teens through the granting of literal wishes! Things start out innocent, but when they wish that their bully would disappear, things take a cursed turn, with far darker consequences than they thought possible... In this mysterious and nostalgic tale from writer David M. Booher and artist Chris Shehan ( House of Slaughter ), Kenny and Ted realize they've received much more than they bargained for... Collects Specs volumes 1-4. The Neighbors Horror Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Families Reading Age: 18+ The neighbors are anything but what they seem… When Janet and Oliver Gowdie move to a quaint mountain town, their teenage daughter Casey and two-year-old Isobel become part of a horrific chain of events that will forever change their family... It’s impossible to know who to trust or who is still human. Casey’s behavior is increasingly unpredictable. Janet is more distant. Isobel is happy-go-lucky and seems to enjoy the attention poured onto her by Agnes. And Oliver? He’s out to uncover whatever malevolent forces seems to have taken root under and inside his home. Steeped in Celtic, Irish and English folklore, Jude Ellison S. Doyle joins artist Letizia Cadonici, and colorist Alessandro Santoro to tread new ground in changeling horror. A tale perfect for fans of Eat the Rich and The Nice House on the Lake!. House Of Hunger   Gothic Horror Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 18+ Marion Shaw has been raised in the slums, where want and deprivation is all she knows. Despite longing to leave the city and its miseries, she has no real hope of escape until the day she spots a peculiar listing in the newspaper, seeking a bloodmaid. Though she knows little about the far north--where wealthy nobles live in luxury and drink the blood of those in their service--Marion applies to the position. In a matter of days, she finds herself the newest bloodmaid at the notorious House of Hunger. There, Marion is swept into a world of dark debauchery--and at the center of it all is her. Countess Lisavet, who presides over this hedonistic court, is loved and feared in equal measure. She takes a special interest in Marion. Lisavet is magnetic, and Marion is eager to please her new mistress. But when her fellow bloodmaids begin to go missing in the night, Marion is thrust into a vicious game of cat and mouse. She'll need to learn the rules of her new home--and fast--or its halls will soon become her grave. The Taking Of Jake Livingston   YA Horror/Thriller Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 14+ Jake Livingston is one of the only Black kids at St. Clair Prep, one of the others being his infinitely more popular older brother. It’s hard enough fitting in but to make matters worse and definitely more complicated, Jake can see the dead. In fact he sees the dead around him all the time. Most are harmless. Stuck in their death loops as they relive their deaths over and over again, they don’t interact often with people. But then Jake meets Sawyer. A troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life. Now a powerful, vengeful ghost, he has plans for his afterlife–plans that include Jake. Suddenly, everything Jake knows about ghosts and the rules to life itself go out the window as Sawyer begins haunting him and bodies turn up in his neighborhood. High school soon becomes a survival game–one Jake is not sure he’s going to win. Perfect for fans of Get Out and Danielle Vega. House Of Slaughter, Vol 1-4 Violent Horror Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 18+ Uncover a story of the Scarlet Masks within the House of Slaughter as the secrets of the world of Something Is Killing The Children are laid bare! What secrets do the mysterious scribes of the Order of St. George, the Scarlet Masks, record within the shadows of the House of Slaughter? Enamored with stories of ancient hunters, as well as those in his midst, Edwin Slaughter only gets to write the stories... never live them. That is, until a legendary Oscuratype that's taken the lives of countless children brings Edwin into the field. Will he live to survive long enough to document his experience, or perish with his story left untold? Four volumes currently available. The Blonde Dies First YA Slasher /Mystery Thriller Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ A group of friends fight to choose their own fates in this trope-savvy, self-referential young adult thriller from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games , about a demonic force that acts according to horror movie rules in the spirit of the Scream movies. Devon is always being left behind by her genius twin sister, Drew. At this point, it’s a fact of life. But Devon has one last plan before Drew leaves for college a whole year early—The Best Summer Ever. After committing to the bit a little too much, the twins and their chaotic circle of friends learn why you don’t ever mess with a Ouija board if you want to actually survive the Best Summer Ever, and soon find themselves being hunted down by…a demon? But while there’s no mistaking the creeping, venomous figure is not from around here, their method doesn’t feel very demonic at all. In fact, it’s downright human—going after them in typical slasher movie kill order. And that means Devon, the blonde, is up first and her decade-long crush, Yaya, is the Final Girl who must kill or be killed to end the cycle. Abbott: 1979 Supernatural Horror Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 18+ If supernatural horror is more your thing, the Hugo Award-nominated series Abbott may be just what you're looking for! On the eve of the 1980s and the Reagan Administration, Detroit is burdened with an oppressive darkness–both political and supernatural. Dejected and tough tabloid reporter Elena Abbott, who previously defeated the occult forces responsible for her husband’s death, must dig herself out from rock bottom if she’s going to save Detroit from the Umbra, one last time. You can also find the previous volume - Abott 1973 - HERE Dead Girls Walking YA Slasher Horror Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ A shocking, spine-chilling YA horror slasher about a girl searching for her dead mother’s body at the summer camp that was once her serial killer father’s home—perfect for fans of Friday the 13th and White Smoke Temple Baker knows that evil runs in her blood. Her father is the North Point Killer, an infamous serial killer known for how he marked each of his victims with a brand. He was convicted for murdering 20 people and was the talk of countless true crime blogs for years. Some say he was possessed by a demon. Some say that they never found all his victims. Some say that even though he’s now behind bars, people are still dying in the woods. Despite everything though, Temple never believed that her dad killed her mom. But when he confesses to that crime while on death row, she has no choice but to return to his old hunting grounds to try see if she can find a body and prove it. Do you have a queer book recommendation that you think more people should be reading? Why not leave a comment below or send us a message at contact@proud-geek.co.uk  ✌

Getting back into reading can be tricky. One of the best ways to dive back into it is to pick up an anthology. They're a great way to consume stories - short and sweet, perfect if you only have 30 minutes on your commute to work, and if you're not vibing with what you're currently reading just flip a few pages ahead and start something new. From queer comic collections to terrifying horror, and stories of trans joy, here are fifteen LGBTQ+ anthologies for every kind of reader: Transmogrify YA Fantasy Anthology - Fiction Queer Rep: Trans & Non-Binary Reading Age: 14+ This anthology claims a seat at the table of fantasy literature for trans and gender-nonconforming stories. Transness is as varied and colorful as magic can be. In Transmogrify!, you’ll embark on fourteen different adventures alongside unforgettable characters who embody many different genders and expressions and experiences—because magic is for everyone, and that is cause for celebration. Featuring stories from AR Capetta and Cory McCarthy, G. Haron Davis, Mason Deaver, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Emery Lee, Saundra Mitchell, Cam Montgomery, Ash Nouveau, Sonora Reyes, Renee Reynolds, Dove Salvatierra, Ayida Shonibar, Francesca Tacchi and Nik Traxler. Eyes Guts Throat Bones Horror/Short Stories - Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 18+ This startling and irresistibly witty collection from the phenomenally talented Moïra Fowley is an exploration of all our darkest impulses and deepest fears. What will the end of the world look like? Will it be an old man slowly turned to gold, flowers raining from the sky, or a hole cut through the wire fencing that keeps the monsters out? Is it someone you love wearing your face, or a good old fashioned inter-dimensional summoning? Does it sound like a howl outside the window, or does it look like coming home? Young Men In Love Romance Comic Anthology - Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Men, Trans Men Reading Age: 14+ An original graphic novel anthology of queer male romances by a host of amazing queer male (cis/trans) creators. Haphazard pirates, wayward ghosts, dashing knights, rampaging kaiju (and down-to-earth regular joes!) are all assembled here to amaze and delight you in a wildly unique anthology celebrating love between men, from an astounding array of comics creators who know exactly how it feels. Young Men in Love is a heartwarming, uplifting, and vibrant return to the glory days of romance comics! Large Animals Contemporary Erotic Fiction - Fiction Queer Rep: Trans & Queer Cast Reading Age: 18+ Daring, witty, and strange, the twelve stories in Large Animals confront what it means to have a body. Jess Arndt's often-unnamed narrators battle with inhabiting a form that makes them feel both deeply uncomfortable and detached, constantly challenging the limits of gender and reality as they try to connect with other people and with themselves. These are stories that rebel against accepted ideas of human identity and present a new normal that is as ambiguous as it is messy. Soupy, visceral, and often disconcerting, Large Animals sets a new standard for language, challenging our concepts of gender and body in a way that feels radical, insightful, and incredibly relevant. Truth and Dare Contemporary Short Stories - Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Cast Reading Age: 18+ Cornish mermaids take to the football pitch to protest warming seas. Trans students in Manchester searching for the perfect dick accidentally warp the fabric of spacetime. England's worst pogrom comes for York's particle collider, powered by bread and gender energy. On Bournemouth beach, a storm delivers an ancestor across oceans of time to sire a drowning descendant. The devil stands a drink at London's famous gay pub, The Black Cap, while Artemis, in the guise of Joan of Arc, roams a life-or-death night in East Sussex. This is England, (but not?) as we know it. A queer quantum tour through what was, what is, what could have been and may yet still come to pass, in a collection that braids high-wire believe-it-or-not memoir with cutting-edge science fiction (or is it?) from alternate timelines that vibrate very close to ours. This Arab Is Queer Anthology & Memoir - Non-Fiction Queer Rep: LGBTQ+ Cast Reading Age: 18+ A ground-breaking collection featuring the compelling and courageous memoirs of eighteen queer Arab writers – some internationally bestselling, others using pseudonyms. Here, we find heart-warming connections and moments of celebration alongside essays exploring the challenges of being LGBTQ+ and Arab. From a military base in the Gulf to loving whispers caught between the bedsheets; and from touring overseas as a drag queen to a concert in Cairo where the rainbow flag was raised to a crowd of thousands, this collection celebrates the true colours of a vibrant Arab queer experience. Gender Euphoria Memoir/Anthology - Non-Fiction Queer Rep: Trans & Non-Binary Reading Age: 18+ In this groundbreaking anthology, nineteen trans, non-binary, agender, gender-fluid and intersex writers share their experiences of gender euphoria: an agender dominatrix being called ‘Daddy’, an Arab trans man getting his first tattoos, a trans woman embracing her inner fighter. What they have in common are their feelings of elation, pride, confidence, freedom and ecstasy as a direct result of coming out as non-cisgender, and how coming to terms with their gender has brought unimaginable joy into their lives. The Color Of Always Romance Comic Anthology - Fiction Queer Rep: LGBTQ+ Cast Reading Age: 16+ The flutter of first dates, the thrill of a text-back, the heart-stopping seconds before coming out, and the rush when finally discovering who you truly are - all of these life-changing moments across the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ experience are ready to explore in this bright and inspiring comics anthology! The Color of Always is a collection of personal stories, testimonies, heirlooms, evocations, and evangelisms for queer creators and readers that celebrates feeling good about who you are, and coming into your own at last. Featuring stories and art from BRENT FISHER, MARIO CANDELARIA, PRIYA SAXENA, MICHELE ABOUNADER, JAZZLYN STONE, ELISA ROMBOLI, LAURA HELSBY, RACHEL DISTLER, KATIE HICKS, LIANA KANGAS, and many more! Unreal Sex Erotic Sci-Fi/Fantasy - Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Cast Reading Age: 18+ In these ten stories, everything is sex: walls, wax, the past, your future, your neighbours, hankies, candles, circuit boards, petri dishes, scrap metal – and language itself. Conjuring experiences for which there are no words, our amazing queer authors generate new tongues from the heat of their communing with a wild variety of lifeforms. From Diriye Osman’s spiritualised Peckham to Jem Nash’s time-travelling trans multiverse, these stories transport you to new ways of being and feeling. Whether you get horny from aliens, ghosts, robots, utopia, possession, ritual, or the completely surreal, there’s a story here for you. But why stop at one when you can taste pleasure in each and every one? Out Now: Queer We Go Again YA Fantasy/Anthology - Fiction Queer Rep: LGBTQ+ Cast Reading Age: 14+ QUEER WE GO AGAIN! A follow-up to the critically acclaimed All Out anthology, Out Now features seventeen new short stories from amazing queer YA authors. Vampires crash prom, aliens run from the government, a president’s daughter comes into her own, a true romantic tries to soften the heart of a cynical social media influencer, a selkie and the sea call out to a lost soul. Teapots and barbershops, skateboards and VW vans, Street Fighter and Ares’s sword. Out Now has a story for every reader and surprises with each turn of the page! The Out Side Queer Comic Anthology - Non-Fiction Queer Rep: Trans & Non-binary Reading Age: 17+ A vibrant and affirming comics anthology where 29 trans & nonbinary comic artists share their personal journeys of self-discovery and acceptance. Featuring the work of Sage Coffey, Kyla Aiko, and Coco Ouwerkerk, The Out Side: Trans & Nonbinary Comics includes 29 creators' tales of self-love and affirmation and detailing their experiences with gender and identity. Equal parts encouraging, comforting, and life-affirming, The Out Side is a love letter to the trans and nonbinary community, designed to inspire anyone who may be struggling with their own identity and to help educate those who seek greater understanding.r mom. But when he confesses to that crime while on death row, she has no choice but to return to his old hunting grounds to try see if she can find a body and prove it. Sluts Erotic Stories - Fiction & Non-Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Cast Reading Age: 18+ Boyfriends masquerade as straight bros to have fun on an early internet porn site. Sex on Viagra; sex on acid. A lesbian bar sells out, turning barflies into doms for hire. In Spain, an exchange student lets two young men flip a coin to see who will have her. A stranger on a train. A collegiate lesbian ‘it’ couple. Whether an insult or badge of honor, an identity or a state of mind, SLUTS engages some of the hottest minds of the moment to riff on the subject, exploring the nature of desire and its cultural consequences, creating a collection bound to become a classic of sex writing. Parallel Hells Horror/Short Stories - Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Cast Reading Age: 18+ In this deliciously strange debut collection, Leon Craig draws on folklore and gothic horror in refreshingly inventive ways to explore queer identity, love, power and the complicated nature of being human. Some say that hell is other people and some say hell is loneliness . . . In the thirteen darkly audacious stories of Parallel Hells we meet a golem, made of clay, learning that its powers far exceed its Creator's expectations; a ruined mansion which grants the secret wishes of a group of revelers and a notorious murderer who discovers her Viking husband is not what he seems. Proud YA Short Stories/Anthology - Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Cast Reading Age: 14+ A stirring, bold and moving anthology of stories and poetry by top LGBTQ+ YA authors and new talent, giving their unique responses to the broad theme of pride. Each story has an illustration by an artist identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community. A celebration of LGBTQ+ talent, PROUD is a thought-provoking, funny, emotional read. Contributors: Steve Antony, Dean Atta, Kate Alizadeh, Fox Benwell, Alex Bertie, Caroline Bird, Fatti Burke, Tanya Byrne, Moira Fowley-Doyle, Frank Duffy, Simon James Green, Leo Greenfield, Saffa Khan, Karen Lawler, David Levithan, Priyanka Meenakshi, Alice Oseman, Michael Lee Richardson, David Roberts, Cynthia So, Kay Staples, Jessica Vallance, Kristen Van Dam and Kameron White. Edited by Juno Dawson Someone In Time Science Fiction Short Stories - Fiction Queer Rep: Queer Cast Reading Age: 18+ Time-travel is a way for writers to play with history and imagine different futures – for better, or worse. When romance is thrown into the mix, time-travel becomes a passionate tool, or heart-breaking weapon. A time agent in the 22nd century puts their whole mission at risk when they fall in love with the wrong person. No matter which part of history a man visits, he cannot not escape his ex. A woman is desperately in love with the time-space continuum, but it doesn’t love her back. As time passes and falls apart, a time-traveller must say goodbye to their soulmate. With stories from best-selling and award-winning authors such as Seanan McGuire, Alix E. Harrow and Nina Allan, this anthology gives a taste for the rich treasure trove of stories we can imagine with love, loss and reunion across time and space. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

To celebrate the release of DEAD BOY DETECTIVES, we thought we'd take a look at some of the best queer TV shows from the past couple of years. From gay reality tv dating shows, to hilariously dark sitcoms and queer highschool dramas that everyone should be watching - here are 10 more queer and LGBT+ inclusive TV shows available to watch in the UK right now. (All shows available in the UK at time of publishing.) 1. DEAD BOY DETECTIVES (2024) Based on the comics by Neil Gaiman, DEAD BOY DETECTIVES follows a group of mystery-solving teens - two of whom are dead - as they help their ghostly clients find closure and move on to the afterlife... all while trying to escape death, witches and demons. It's queer and funny, spooky and dark, and everything you want from a supernatural mystery. Perfect for fans of Buffy and Scooby-Doo (just with a few more violent deaths). Where to watch it: Netflix LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men, Queer Women Genre: Supernatural, Mystery, Horror, Comedy Episode Run Time: 50m 2. I KISSED A BOY/I KISSED A GIRL (2023 - present) I KISSED A BOY is a British dating game show where ten single gay men are paired up at an Italian villa and spend several weeks getting to know each other after meeting for the first time with a kiss. It's full of drama, romance and Dannii Minogue - along with some really lovely conversations about queerness and dating. BBC3 also released the cast for the spinoff series I KISSED A GIRL this week - think the same show, but with lesbian couples - set to be released on the 5th of May. Where to watch it: BBC iPlayer LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men/Queer Women Genre: Reality TV, Drama, Romance Episode Run Time: 45m 3. FEEL GOOD (2020-2021) Yes, it's been out for a while, but it's now available to watch on Netflix and it's SO damn good. Written and starring comedian Mae Martin, FEEL GOOD is a romantic comedy-drama following recovering addict and comic Mae and their new girlfriend George. With a truly fantastic script and brilliant acting performances from the entire cast, FEEL GOOD tackles addiction, queer relationships, gender identity and past trauma with heart and humour. Where to watch it: Channel 4, Netflix LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women, Non-Binary Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Episode Run Time: 30m 4. DEAD HOT (2024) DEAD HOT is wild. It's a short and sweet six-part comedy thriller mini-series about love, loss, sexuality, identity, and class. It follows two friends (Elliot and Jess), brought together by the loss of Peter - Jess's Brother and Elliot's first love. It's dark and funny and creepy and very very gay. Where to watch it: Amazon Prime Video LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Comedy, Thriller, Mystery Episode Run Time: 30m 5. SUCH BRAVE GIRLS (2023) SUCH BRAVE GIRLS is another darkly funny British sitcom - this time about trauma, identity, narcissism and a self-sabotaging dysfunctional family. The show follows Josie (a depressed lesbian who doesn't know who she is), her sister Billie (who she has a love/hate relationship with), and their mother Deb (a compulsive liar) as they make terrible life decisions and fight their way through ridiculous situations. Where to watch it: BBC iPlayer LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama Episode Run Time: 25m 6. HEARTBREAK HIGH (2022 - present) HEARTBREAK HIGH is back for a second season! After a graffiti map detailing the sexual exploits of Hartley High's students is discovered on the wall of the school, all of the students whose names were on it are forced to attend a new sex education class. Amerie, the map's creator, becomes a social outcast after taking the fall for its co-author, Harper, who has stopped talking to her following a tragedy at a music festival they attended. Where to watch it: Netflix LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women, Non-Binary, Queer Men, Asexual Men Genre: Highschool Drama, Comedy, Romance Episode Run Time: 50m 7. BIG BOYS (2022-present) BIG BOYS is a British sitcom set in 2013 following two first-year university students who live together and follows Jack as he recovers from his father's death and explores his sexuality for the first time. Expect themes of self-discovery, unlikely friendships, hilarious situations and teenage exploration. Season two was released earlier this year in January. Where to watch it: Channel 4 LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Comedy, Drama Episode Run Time: 30m 8. THE BISEXUAL (2018) Another oldie (but now it's available on Disney+ too). THE BISEXUAL is a British comedy-drama series following an Iranian-American woman called Leila after a recent breakup with her long-term girlfriend. Having come to the realisation that she's bisexual, Leila has left her girlfriend/business partner Sadie and moved in with Gabe, a neurotic novelist who is having relationship problems of his own. Perfect for people searching for some messy bisexual representation. Where to watch it: Channel 4, Disney + LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women Genre: Comedy, Drama Episode Run Time: 40m 9. CAPTAIN LASERHAWK: A BLOOD DRAGON REMIX (2023) CAPTAIN LASERHAWK: A BLOOD DRAGON REMIX is a wild, violent, daft and often explicit animated miniseries perfect for fans of Ubisoft games. Inspired by the video game Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon and incorporating several other Ubisoft franchises, CAPTAIN LASERHAWK follows Dolph Laserhawk - a supersoldier assassin - in an alternative, dystopian 90s New York City as he's missioned to stop his ex-boyfriend's evil plans. Where to watch it: Netflix LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Animated, Dystopian Sci-Fi, Action-Comedy Episode Run Time: 20m 10. EVERYTHING NOW (2023) EVERYTHING NOW is a queer British drama focusing on the very real impacts of anorexia and eating disorders. The show follows Mia as she tries to find her place back in her friendship circle and life after spending the last 7 months in a facility helping her manage her eating disorder. But life has moved on and life is terrifying and oh my god everything is going wrong in every single way possible. Where to watch it: Netflix LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Women, Queer Men Genre: Drama, Comedy Episode Run Time: 45m BONUS: LOST BOYS AND FAIRIES (TBA later This Year) We may not know much about LOST BOYS AND FAIRIES at this point, but from what we do know, we're excited. The upcoming four-part series is set to be released later this year on BBC iPlayer and is said to follow two men looking to adopt a child in Cardiff, Wales. Expect themes of queer parenting, childhood memories and difficult family dynamics. Where to watch it: BBC iPlayer LGBTQ+ rep: Queer Men Genre: Drama, Mini-Series Episode Run Time: Unknown Have we missed your favourite new queer TV show? Is there something coming out soon you think we should add to this list? Send us a message @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

As 2023 comes to a close, we're taking a look at some of the amazing sapphic book releases coming out in 2024. From contemporary wlw romance to long-awaited high fantasy sequels and thrilling adult fiction, here are 20 of our most anticipated sapphic books coming in 2024. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and covers may change. Late Bloomer - Mazey Eddings Adult Romance 16 April 2024 Winning the lottery has ruined Opal Devlin's life. After quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she’s bombarded by people knocking at her door for a handout the second they found out her bank account was overflowing with cash. And Opal can’t seem to stop saying yes. With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business. But her plans for isolation and self-preservation go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Smith is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper states she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms, and isn’t moving out. Interesting Facts About Space - Emily Austin Contemporary Fiction 01 February 2024 Enid is many things: lesbian, serial dater, deaf in one ear, space obsessive, true crime fanatic. When she's not listening to grizzly murder podcasts, she's managing her crippling phobia of bald people and trying hard not to think about her mortifying teenage years - which is hard, when she's lost the password to her old YouTube account and the (many) vlogs that her teen self once uploaded. Enid is obsessed with space. She can tell you all about black holes and their ability to spaghettify you without batting an eye in fear. Her one major phobia? Bald men. But she tries to keep that one under wraps. When she’s not listening to her favorite true crime podcasts on a loop, she’s serially dating a rotation of women from dating apps. At the same time, she’s trying to forge a new relationship with her estranged half-sisters after the death of her absent father. When she unwittingly plunges into her first serious romantic entanglement, Enid starts to believe that someone is following her. Monster Crush - Erin Ellie Franey Graphic Novel - YA Fantasy 12 March 2024 A whirlwind adventure exploring love, gender, and big emotions, Monster Crush is the perfect read for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. Since her parents split up, Ruby Reid has been having a tough time at Crestwood High. But everything changes the day Ella Mooney moves to town. Ella isn’t like most she’s never been on a Ferris wheel, never had an ice cream cone, and sometimes she grows fangs and a tail! It’s not just Ruby who takes an interest in the new girl, and the pair find themselves on the run from a mysterious group that wants to capture Ella and her whole family! Spoilt Creatures - Amy Twigg Adult Contemporary Fiction 06 June 2024 32-year-old Iris is newly single, living at home with her mother and working a dead-end job. Her life changes when she meets the mysterious and beguiling Hazel, who lives at a women's commune on a remote farm hidden in the Kent Downs. At the farm, the women can be loud and dirty, live and eat abundantly, under the leadership of the gargantuan Blythe. Drawn to Hazel and the possibility of a new start away from a world of men who have only let her down, Iris throws herself into this alternative way of life, seizing on new experiences and hidden desires. But even among the women, she witnesses power struggles, cruelty and transgressions that threaten their precarious existence. When a group of men arrive on the farm, the commune's existence is thrown into question, culminating in an act of devastating violence. Cheryl - Jillian Fleck Graphic Novel - Science Fiction 20 June 2024 A story about a newly realized lesbian woman in her 40s, hellbent on reaching spiritual enlightenment. Even if it kills her. Cheryl just came out and she's been doing just fine, thanks for asking!!!! She just broke up with her dog, quit gluten, cut contact with her father, and is just really trying to focus on getting enough water daily! It's all going great!! Except it isn't and everything is terrible, because no matter what Cheryl does she really can't shake that there's something wrong deep down in the core of her being. What would really fix things would be to address her lingering internalized homophobia and childhood trauma. Or reach total spiritual enlightenment, reaching total enlightenment sounds easier, let's go with that one. As Cheryl falls further down the New Age wellness industrial complex however, the world turns out to be a lot weirder and sicker than she could have ever imagined. Now Cheryl is forced to confront that not only is it not all about her, but that she might have some part to play in making it better. My Darling Dreadful Thing - Johanna Van Veen Adult Horror 14 June 2024 Roos Beckman has a spirit companion only she can see. Ruth—strange, corpse-like, and dead for centuries—is the only good thing in Roos’ life, which is filled with sordid backroom séances organized by her mother. That is, until wealthy young widow Agnes Knoop attends one of these séances and asks Roos to come live with her at the crumbling estate she inherited upon the death of her husband. The manor is unsettling, but the attraction between Roos and Agnes is palpable. So how does someone end up dead? Roos is caught red-handed, but she claims a spirit is the culprit. Doctor Montague, a psychologist tasked with finding out whether Roos can be considered mentally fit to stand trial, suspects she’s created an elaborate fantasy to protect her from what really happened. But Roos knows spirits are real; she's loved one of them. She'll have to prove her innocence and her sanity, or lose everything. So Let Them Burn - Kamilah Cole YA Fantasy 16 January 2024 Faron Vincent can channel the power of the gods. Five years ago, she used her divine magic to liberate her island from its enemies, the dragon-riding Langley Empire. But now, at seventeen, Faron is all powered up with no wars to fight. She’s a legend to her people and a nuisance to her neighbors. When she’s forced to attend an international peace summit, Faron expects that she will perform tricks like a trained pet and then go home. She doesn’t expect her older sister, Elara, forming an unprecedented bond with an enemy dragon—or the gods claiming the only way to break that bond is to kill her sister. As Faron’s desperation to find another solution takes her down a dark path, and Elara discovers the shocking secrets at the heart of the Langley Empire, both must make difficult choices that will shape each other’s lives, as well as the fate of their world. Experienced - Kate Young Adult Erotic Romance 23 May 2024 A sexy sapphic romantic comedy about newly-out Bette, who is in love for the first time in her life. Finally, everything makes sense. Until it doesn’t. Bette’s 30th year brought with it an unexpected the reason her dating life had been lackluster was simple. She’s attracted to women. And then she fell for Mei, who’s entirely perfect. Until, out of the blue, Mei suggests they take a break. She wants Bette to do all the exploring she missed out on in her twenties--to plunge into the queer dating scene and return clearer about their future, her desires, and herself. So, reluctantly, Bette sets out on a date hot women and have hot casual sex, before returning to her loving girlfriend. Put that way, maybe it doesn’t sound so bad…Bette’s dating odyssey takes her to unexpected places, some cringingly disastrous, some heady and thrilling. And with her new friend, the gorgeous and self-assured Ruth, as a queer dating guide, Bette can’t possibly fail. Right? Big Date Energy - Bethany Rutter Adult Romance 01 February 2024 A big bisexual romcom about self-care and new beginnings. Fran's done with looking for long-term love. She's got Big Date Energy... Serial monogamist Fran has waited years for her chance to be single, and now's her time to shine. She wants to date as much as she can. She's got Big Date Energy. But her Mum has other ideas. She's desperate for Fran to find real love and nominates her for a new TV dating show, The Meet-Cute, which promises to pair people with their perfect match. And when Fran walks onto the set, hoping for a bit of a laugh and a story to tell, she's confronted with Ivy. Her first love, her high school romance. We Got the Beat - Jenna Miller YA Romance 25 April 2024 Jordan Elliot is a fat, nerdy lesbian, and the first junior to be named editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. Okay, that last part hasn’t happened yet, but it will. It’s positive thinking that has gotten Jordan this far. Ever since Mackenzie West, her friend-turned-enemy, humiliated her at the start of freshman year, Jordan has thrown herself into journalism and kept her eyes trained on the future. So it’s a total blow when Jordan discovers that she not only didn’t get the editor-in-chief spot, but she’s been assigned the volleyball beat instead. And who is the star and new captain of the volleyball team? Mackenzie West. But words are Jordan’s weapon, and she has some ideas about how to exact a long-awaited revenge on her nemesis. The Invocations - Krystal Sutherland Paranormal Mystery 30 January 2024 From the author of New York Times bestseller House of Hollow comes a darkly seductive witchy thriller where, though both men and demons lurk in shadows, girls refuse to go quietly into the night. Zara Jones believes in magic because the alternative is too painful to bear—that her sister was murdered by a serial killer and there is precisely nothing she can do to change it. If there’s anything Zara cannot stand it's feeling powerless, so she decides she will do whatever it takes—even if that means partaking in the occult—to bring her sister back from the dead. Jude Wolf might be the daughter of a billionaire, but she is also undeniably cursed. After a deal with a demon went horribly wrong, her soul is now slowly turning necrotic. Flowers and insects die in her wake and monstrous things come to taunt her at night. If Jude can’t find the right someone to fix her mistake, she fears she’ll die very soon. Can't Spell Treason Without Tea - Rebecca Thorne Fantasy Romance 09 May 2024 All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters… all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy. But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has been waiting for a chance to flee responsibility–all the better that her girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town that boasts more dragons than people, and open the shop of their dreams. What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum. In a story brimming with hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will discover just what they mean to each other… and the world. The Girl in Question - Tess Sharpe YA Thriller 29 February 2024 High school is over, but Nora O'Malley's life isn't, which is weird now that her murderous stepdad Raymond is free. Determined to enjoy summer before her (possibly) imminent demise, Nora plans a ten day backpacking trip with Iris and Wes. Her plans hit a snag when Wes's girlfriend tags along. Amanda is nice, so it's not a huge issue—until she gets taken. Or rather, mistaken...for Nora. All because of a borrowed flannel. Now Raymond has a hostage. Nora has no leverage. Iris has a spear and Wes is building boobytraps. It'll take all of their skills to make it out of the forest alive. There are three problems: Someone is lying. Someone is keeping secrets. And someone has to die. In the Shallows - Tanya Byrne YA Mystery/Romance 29 February 2024 On New Year's Day, three fishermen haul a teenage girl out of the ocean. By the time they bring her to land, it’s clear that she doesn’t know where or who she is. Her story goes viral. The media calls her Nicoletta, after the fishermen’s boat. The rumors take a dark turn the next time the fishermen head out to sea―and fail to return. People say Nicoletta lured them to their deaths―their lives in exchange for hers. And with that, the mystery becomes a legend. Eighteen months later, Mara Malakar meets Nicoletta, or Nico, at a café. The two become fast friends, but as Mara realizes she wants more from their relationship, Nico remains oblivious, focused only on remembering. She may not want to, though. Could there be a reason she’s locked everything behind a door? And once she's brave enough to open it, what will happen to her? To them? Rani Choudhury Must Die - Adiba Jaigirdar YA Romance 14 November 2024 A sapphic dual POV Young Adult romance by Adiba Jaigirdar, Meghna and Rani (ex-best-friends-turned-rivals) realize they're dating the same guy, so they team up to beat and expose him at a big science competition! Meghna Rahman is tired of constantly being compared to her infuriatingly perfect ex best friend now rival. Everyone, except, at least, her boyfriend Zak, seems to think that Rani Choudhury can do no wrong—even her own parents! It doesn’t help that Rani is always accepted into the Young Scientist Exhibition, while Meghna’s projects never make it. But this year, she finally has a chance at defeating Rani in something. Rani Choudhury is tired of feeling like she doesn’t have much say in her life—not when it comes to how her mom wants her to look and act or how her parents encourage her to date incredibly charming close family friend Zak. She would much rather focus on her coding, especially once she places high enough at the Young Scientist Exhibition to go on to the European Young Scientist Exhibition When Meghna and Rani figure out that Zak has been playing them both, they decide to do something no one would see coming: they team up. Dead Girls Walking - Sami Ellis YA Horror 25 April 2024 A shocking, spine-chilling YA horror slasher, perfect for fans of Friday the 13th and White Smoke. Temple Baker knows that evil runs in her blood. Her father is the North Point Killer, an infamous serial killer known for how he marked each of his victims with a brand. He was convicted for murdering 20 people and was the talk of countless true crime blogs for years. Some say he was possessed by a demon. Some say that they never found all his victims. Some say that even though he’s now behind bars, people are still dying in the woods. Despite everything though, Temple never believed that her dad killed her mom. But when he confesses to that crime while on death row, she has no choice but to return to his old hunting grounds to try see if she can find a body and prove it. Turns out, the farm that was once her father’s hunting grounds and her home has been turned into an overnight camp for queer, horror-obsessed girls. So Temple poses as a camp counselor to go digging in the woods. While she’s not used to hanging out with girls her own age and feels ambivalent at best about these true crime enthusiasts, she tries her best to fit in and keep her true identity hidden. The Summer Love Strategy - Ray Stoeve YA Romantic Comedy 06 June 2024 A sweet and swoony YA rom-com about two friends making a pact to find summer romance like they’ve seen in the movies—and finding love where they least expect it along the way! Hayley always has a crush. The problem is her crushes never like her back. After her latest unrequited love—a girl from her basketball team—gets a boyfriend, she decides she’s done falling for girls who are unavailable. Her best friend, Talia, wants romance too, but rarely gets crushes on anyone, and she’s tired of watching Hayley get her heart stomped on over and over. So the two girls make a plan to help each other find summer love by putting themselves in situations that always lead to romance in movies. To help carry out their summer love strategy, they make a list of all the places they could find their real-life the beach, the Pride parade, the pool, a MUNA concert, and a party. But as they go to each place and try to find the one, it seems like they just can’t catch a break. Off With Their Heads - Zoe Hana Mikuta YA Fantasy Horror Retelling 23 April 2024 In a world where Saints are monsters and Wonderland is the dark forest where they lurk, it’s been five years since young witches and lovers Caro Rabbit and Iccadora Alice Sickle were both sentenced to that forest for a crime they didn’t commit—and four years since they shattered one another’s hearts, each willing to sacrifice the other for a chance at freedom. Now, Caro is a successful royal Saint-harvester, living the high life in the glittering capital and pretending not to know of the twisted monster experiments that her beloved Red Queen hides deep in the bowels of the palace. But for Icca, the memory of Caro’s betrayal has hardened her from timid girl to ruthless hunter. A hunter who will stop at nothing to exact her On Caro. On the queen. On the throne itself. But there’s a secret about the Saints the Queen’s been guarding, and a volatile magic at play even more dangerous to Icca and Caro than they are to each other… Snowblooded- Emma Sterner-Radley Historical Fantasy Romance 09 May 2024 The Princess Bride meets Six of Crows in this uproarious fantasy debut set in 18th century Scandinavia full of assassins, magic potions, romance and rivalry. Valour and Petrichor are esteemed members of the Order of Axsten, an assassin’s guild tasked with keeping order in the rough city of Vinterstock. Plucked from the streets as children and raised to compete for their guild’s approval, Valour uses her brawn to survive, while Petrichor strives to be a gentleman assassin. When they’re given their biggest job yet—to kill Brandquist, the mysterious leader of the city's illegal magic trade—it’s a recipe for disaster. If they can quell their rivalry long enough, the reward will be enough to settle their debts with the Order and start new lives. If this job wasn’t dangerous enough, Valour is saddled with protecting the aristocrat, Ingrid Rytterdahl. Valour finds her dangerously attractive, but Petrichor can’t wait to be rid of them both. He begrudgingly accepts Ingrid’s knowledge and connections as they navigate the city’s criminal underbelly in pursuit of Brandquist. Go Lightly - Brydie Lee-Kennedy Contemporary Fiction 14 March 2024 Ada is a seeker, a perpetually moving ball of excess. A twenty-six-year-old Australian living in London, she ekes out a living as a cabaret performer and part-time temp. Yet Ada can't imagine wanting to be any other age or any other place. Every night is an opportunity to be thrilled and every morning a chance to recount her escapades to friends. So when Ada falls for Sadie and Stuart at the same time, she sees no reason not to pursue them both. But as the responsibilities of adult life begin to encroach—bills, family, more bills—and Sadie and Stuart find out about one another, the people around Ada increasingly insist it’s time for her to settle down. Can she resist the inevitable? Effortlessly hilarious and painfully relatable, Go Lightly is a love letter to girls who are the life of the party; girls who say yes without fear. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

As we enter 2024, we're taking a look at some of the best books being released this year with characters on the aromantic and asexual spectrum. From demisexual fiction to aro/ace thriller and asexual YA horror, here are our 10 most anticipated aro/ace & demisexual books coming in 2024. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and covers may change. So Let Them Burn - Kamilah Cole YA Fantasy 16 January 2024 Whip-smart and immersive, this Jamaican-inspired fantasy follows a gods-blessed heroine who’s forced to choose between saving her sister or protecting her homeland. Faron Vincent can channel the power of the gods. Five years ago, she used her divine magic to liberate her island from its enemies, the dragon-riding Langley Empire. But now, at seventeen, Faron is all powered up with no wars to fight. She’s a legend to her people and a nuisance to her neighbors. When she’s forced to attend an international peace summit, Faron expects that she will perform tricks like a trained pet and then go home. She doesn’t expect her older sister, Elara, forming an unprecedented bond with an enemy dragon—or the gods claiming the only way to break that bond is to kill her sister. I Want To Be A Wall 3 - Honami Shirono Slice-Of Life Man 04 April 2024 Yuriko, an asexual woman with a passion for Boys Love stories, agrees to take a husband to satisfy her parents - which is how she finds herself tying the knot with Gakurouta, a gay man in love with his childhood friend with his own family circumstances. And so begins the tale of their marriage of convenience. Although romance will never be in the cards for newlyweds Yuriko and Gakurouta, the bond blossoming between them promises to be a wonderful relationship—the likes of which neither has ever experienced before… Dear Wendy - Ann Zhao YA Contemporary Fiction 16 April 2024 Dear Wendy's Sophie and Jo, two aromantic and asexual students at Wellesley College, engage in an online feud while unknowingly becoming friends in real life, in this dual POV Young Adult contemporary debut. Sophie Chi is in her first year at Wellesley College (despite her parents’ wishes that she attend a “real” university, rather than a liberal arts school) and has long accepted her aromantic and asexual identities. Despite knowing she’ll never fall in love, she enjoys running an Instagram account that offers relationship advice to students at Wellesley. No one except her roommate knows that she’s behind the incredibly popular "Dear Wendy" account. When Joanna “Jo” Ephron―also a first-year student at Wellesley―created their “Sincerely Wanda” account, it wasn't at all meant to be serious or take off like it does―not like Dear Wendy’s. But now they might have a rivalry of sorts with Dear Wendy? Oops . As if Jo’s not busy enough having existential crises over gender, the fact that she’ll never truly be loved or be enough, or her few friends finding The One and forgetting her! The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist - Sophie Gonzales Magical Fantasy 26 March 2024 A fanfic writer brings her favorite TV character to life in this friends-to-enemies-to-lovers novel full of humor and heart. Ivy Winslow has the house to herself for a week while her parents are away. She’s planning to use this newfound freedom to binge-watch her favorite fantasy TV show, H-MAD, and hang out with her best friend, Henry. She’ll also have to avoid her former best friend-turned enemy (and neighbor), Mack. But things quickly go awry when Ivy wakes up to find Weston, the gorgeous, very fictional main character of H-MAD in her bedroom, claiming to be her soul mate. Ivy realizes that her fanfic writing has somehow brought Weston as she’s imagined him to life. But it turns out that the tropes she swoons over in her stories are slightly less romantic in reality, and her not-so-fictional crush is causing some real-world problems. Moth To A Flame - Finn Longman Fantasy Dystopian Thriller 31 May 2024 The epic conclusion to the dark, twisting thriller trilogy about a teen assassin’s attempt to live a normal life. Isabel Ryans has fled Espera, leaving behind her identity as teen assassin the Moth. Now she’s trying to adjust to the reality of the outside world. But her grief and trauma are catching up with her, and surrounded by civilians who will never understand what life is like in the walled city, she feels more alone than ever. When a journalist is murdered nearby, suspicion automatically falls on Isabel. And inside Espera’s walls, the abolitionist movement is gaining strength. When Isabel’s search for the killer leads to an unexpected reunion, she’s forced to decide whether she can really leave the city behind, and what part the Moth might have to play in the uprising. Is Isabel Ryans the city’s saviour . . . or its scapegoat? Lord of the Empty Isles - Jules Arbeaux Adult Sci-Fi Fantasy 06 June 2024 Five years ago, Idrian ordered a withering - a death curse - cast on Remy's brother that cost him his life, and Remy hasn't been the same since. Now Remy finally has the materials he needs to return the favour, but he has one major problem. When he casts the withering, it rebounds onto him. The implications are unthinkable: Remy is fatebound to his brother's killer. Even worse, the only way to slow the curse for long enough to find a cure is to join forces with Idrian and his criminal crew. But when he gets there, Remy discovers there are more than just their lives at stake. Idrian is the sole provider of life-saving supplies to tens of thousands of innocents, and when he dies, they'll die with him. Caught up in perilous heists and a race against time, Remy finds himself truly living for the first time since his brother died. Too bad for Remy—the only way to stop a withering is to kill the witherer. Don't Let The Forest In - CG Drews YA Psychological Horror 29 October 2024 As alluring as it is unsettling, award-winning author CG Drews’ debut YA psychological horror will leave readers breathless and hesitant to venture deeper into the woods. Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him. Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him. High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality—Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more. But something strange is going on with Thomas. Here We Go Again - Alison Cockrun Contemporary Romance 02 April 2024 A long time ago, Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale used to be friends. They spent their childhood summers running through the woods, rebelling against their conservative small town, and dreaming of escaping. But then an incident the summer before high school turned them into bitter rivals. After graduation, they went ten years without speaking. Now in their thirties, Logan and Rosemary find they aren’t quite living the lives of adventure they imagined for themselves. Still in their small town and working as teachers at their alma mater, they’re both stuck in old patterns. Uptight Rosemary chooses security and stability over all else, working constantly, and her most stable relationship is with her label maker. Chaotic and impulsive Logan has a long list of misguided ex-lovers and an apathetic shrug she uses to protect herself from anything real. And as hard as they try to avoid each other—and their complicated past—they keep crashing into each other. Including with their cars. But when their beloved former English teacher and lifelong mentor tells them he has only a few months to live, they’re forced together once and for all to fulfill his last a cross-country road trip. Asking for a Friend - Ronnie Riley Middlegrade Fiction 04 June 2024 Eden Jones has exactly three friends. And they're all fake. Why go through the stress of making friends when you can just pretend? It works for Eden and their social anxiety... until their mom announces she's throwing them a birthday party and all their friends are invited. Eden’s "friends," Duke, Ramona, and Tabitha, are all real kids from school... but Eden’s never actually spoken to them before. Now Eden will do whatever it takes to convince them to be their friends--at least until the party is over. When things start to go better than Eden expects, and the group starts to bond, Eden finds themselves trapped in a lie that gets worse the longer they keep it up. What happens if their now sort-of-real friends discover that Eden hasn't been honest with them from the very beginning? The Loudest Silence - Sydney Langford YA Contemporary Fiction 30 July 2024 Two disabled, queer teens find belonging in this poignant platonic love story about singing, signing, and solidarity. Sixteen-year-old Casey Kowalski dreamed of becoming a professional singer. Then the universe threw her a life-altering curveball—sudden, permanent, and profound hearing loss—mere months before her family’s cross-country move from Portland to Miami. Now, faced with the dual challenges of starting over at a new high school and learning to navigate the world as a Deaf-Hard of Hearing person, Casey is mourning the loss of her music while trying to conceal her hearing loss from her new schoolmates. Soccer captain Hayden González-Rossi is facing his own challenges. Three generations of González men have risen to stardom on the soccer field, including Hayden’s older brother. Hayden knows his family expects him to follow in their footsteps, but he has a secret: he wants to quit soccer and pursue a career on Broadway. If only his Generalized Anxiety Disorder didn’t send him into a debilitating spiral over the thought of telling them the truth. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Twitter @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌

It's 2024 - new year, new reads! To celebrate, we're taking a look at some of the excellent gay and bisexual books being released this year. From gay YA romance to incredible adult fiction and campy fantasy novels, here are 20 of our most anticipated Achillean books coming out in 2024. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back to later dates. The Only Light Left Burning - Erik J. Brown YA Dystopian Romance 28 May 2024 When Andrew stumbles upon Jamie’s house, he’s injured, starved, and has nothing left to lose. A deadly pathogen has killed off most of the world’s population, including everyone both boys have ever loved. And if this new world has taught them anything, it’s to be scared of what other desperate people will do . . . so why does it seem so easy for them to trust each other? After danger breaches their shelter, they flee south in search of civilization. But something isn’t adding up about Andrew’s story, and it could cost them everything. And Jamie has a secret, too. He’s starting to feel something more than friendship for Andrew, adding another layer of fear and confusion to an already tumultuous journey. The road ahead of them is long, and to survive, they’ll have to shed their secrets, face the consequences of their actions, and find the courage to fight for the future they desire, together. Only one thing feels certain: all that’s left in their world is the undeniable pull they have toward each other. Death Drop Drag Assassin - David Hazan Graphic Novel - Crime Noir 28 May 2024 Death Drop, a hitman turned drag queen, enters a race against time to find her missing drag sister as a mysterious rash of killings and disappearances spreads across the city. Spurred into action by her drag mother, Mother Henny, Death Drop must decide how far she is willing to be pulled back into a life of violence to protect her community in this supernatural queer noir. Death Drop’s investigation will lead her to a trail of supernaturally disfigured corpses, a leather-clad killer hell-bent on revenge, and an enigmatic queen from Mother Henny’s past. To make matters worse, she can’t shake the feeling that the specter of the assassin mentor she exposed and left for dead years ago is now haunting her every step. Collects Death Drop Drag Assassin 1-5. Cinema Love - Jiaming Tang Historical & Contemporary Fiction 09 May 2024 For over thirty years, Old Second and Bao Mei have cobbled together a meagre existence in New York City's Chinatown. But unlike other couples, these two share an unusual past. In rural Fuzhou, before they emigrated, they frequented The Workers' a theatre where gay men cruised for love. While classic war films played, Old Second and his fellow countrymen found intimacy in the privacy of the Workers' Cinema's screening rooms. Elsewhere, in the box office, Bao Mei sold movie tickets to closeted men - guarding their secrets and finding her own happiness with the projectionist. But when secrets are unveiled, they set in motion a series of haunting events that propel Old Second and Bao Mei towards an uncertain future in America. Spanning three timelines - post-socialist China, 1980s Chinatown, and contemporary New York - Cinema Love is a tender epic about men and women who find themselves in forbidden and frustrated relationships as they grapple with the past and their unspoken desires. Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix - Gabe Cole Novoa YA Historical Romance 12 February 2024 A trans boy searches for a future―and a romance―in which he can live and love openly as himself in this heartwrenching YA reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice , part of the Remixed Classics series. London, 1812 . Oliver Bennet feels trapped. Not just by the endless corsets, petticoats and skirts he's forced to wear on a daily basis, but also by society's expectations. The world―and the vast majority of his family and friends―think Oliver is a girl named Elizabeth. He is therefore expected to mingle at balls wearing a pretty dress, entertain suitors regardless of his interest in them, and ultimately become someone's wife. But Oliver can't bear the thought of such a fate. He finds solace in the few times he can sneak out of his family's home and explore the city rightfully dressed as a young gentleman. It's during one such excursion when Oliver becomes acquainted with Darcy, a sulky young man who had been rude to "Elizabeth" at a recent social function. But in the comfort of being out of the public eye, Oliver comes to find that Darcy is actually a sweet, intelligent boy with a warm heart. And not to mention incredibly attractive. Heartsong - TJ Klune Fantasy Romance 01 February 2024 All Robbie Fontaine ever wanted was a place to belong. After the death of his mother, he bounces around from pack to pack, forming temporary bonds to keep from turning feral. It’s enough—until he receives a summons from the wolf stronghold in Caswell, Maine. Life as the trusted second to Michelle Hughes—the Alpha of all—and the cherished friend of a gentle old witch teaches Robbie what it means to be pack, to have a home. But when a mission from Michelle sends Robbie into the field, he finds himself questioning where he belongs and everything he’s been told. Whispers of traitorous wolves and wild magic abound—but who are the traitors and who the betrayed? More than anything, Robbie hungers for answers, because one of those alleged traitors is Kelly Bennett—the wolf who may be his mate. One Love - Matt Cain Adult Romance 18 January 2024 Two men. Twenty years of friendship. One love. 2002 - Danny arrives at Manchester University determined not to hide from the world any longer. This is the year his life will begin. He locks eyes with a handsome stranger across the hall at the Fresher's Fair. It starts with a wink and soon Danny and Guy are best friends. 2022 - Now, both single for the first time in years, Danny and Guy return to the confetti-covered streets of the Gay Village for Manchester Pride. After years of shared adventures and lost dreams, Danny finally plans to share the secret he has been keeping for two decades. He has always been in love with Guy. Could this weekend be the end of a twenty-year friendship . . . or the start of something new and even more beautiful? I Think Our Son Is Gay Vol. 5 - Okura Manga - Slice Of Life 20 February 2024 Tomoko is no stranger to change. With two boys in high school and a husband who’s away on the job a lot, being able to adapt to new situations comes with the territory. Now, Hiroki is throwing himself into his afterschool activities with bestie Daigo despite nursing a potential broken heart, and he’s even found a new Dancing! Things also come to a head with Asumi, Hiroki’s childhood friend, who’s been crushing on Hiroki since probably forever! And when dad Akiyoshi gets transferred back for work, the temporary family of three returns to being a family of four! How will Tomoko and the boys adjust to Akiyoshi’s presence?! Somewhere Beyond the Sea - TJ Klune Magical Fantasy 12 September 2024 A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything. Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one. He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there. Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there’s the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children. But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve. The Boyfriend Subscription - Steven Salvatore Adult Romance 14 March 2024 After losing his marriage and his beloved retail plant business, Teddy Hughes is ready to drown his sorrows—or would be, if he could afford another beer in his favorite dive bar. He has no choice but to uproot his dreams and leave New York for good. And then a gorgeous stranger walks in with cheekbones that could cut glass and a confidence that leaves Teddy panting. Like the leather harness he wears under his designer suit, Cole Vivien is a mass of contradictions. He’s a successful entrepreneur whose app, VERSTL, allows consumers and sex workers to form real—if temporary—connections. But now Cole is in the unfamiliar position of needing something from someone else. A fake boyfriend can help Cole project a more traditional image for a potential investor. And Teddy—shy, smart and so much hotter than he knows—is perfect for the part. Maybe too perfect. Cole just has two conditions: no kissing and no falling in love. In exchange for one week together, Teddy will get enough money to get back on his feet, and no messy feelings will be in the mix. But some rules are made to be broken… Evergreen - Devin Greenlee YA Fantasy Romance 12 February 2024 All seventeen-year-old Quill wants is a break from the family business. Flowers, plants, the generations-old garden. What he wouldn’t give for a taste of the outside world. Normalcy. But his mom won’t let him out of the house, telling him he’s just not ready… All because he’s a dryad. Well, not just any dryad, but a male dryad—the first ever. And unlike everyone else in his family, he hasn’t a lick of magic. Just a shock of green hair, matching green eyes, and a growing frustration that there’s an entire world out there waiting to be discovered. Until the night when the outside world—specifically his new neighbor—discovers him. Liam Watson lives in a culture filled with electronics, mobile devices, and social media—where there is no magic or even the belief in it. And as much as Quill finds Liam irritating (he’s so cute it’s annoying), he can’t help himself. Now Quill’s getting a taste of the outside world and of Liam…and he wants more. Fence, Vol. 6: Redemption - C.S Pacat Graphic Novel - Sports Romance 29 February 2024 Return to the thrilling world of high-stakes, competitive fencing, with a brand new story featuring the beloved cast of characters from the original hit series. Are Seiji and Jesse really through? The rumors around Halverton, the prestigious fencing training camp, have spread like wildfire, but it's not long before a mystery fencer arrives-one who may finally pose a threat to the #1 spot. Will Seiji's unquenchable quest for rivalry take Nicholas' place? Where will his loyalty lie? And, when Seiji gets an up close and personal look into Nicholas' past and determination against adversity while preparing for the difficult road ahead and the State Championships, he'll have to confront a tempting thought... are they on... a date? Collects Fence: Redemption 1-4. The Prospects - KT Hossman Adult Sports Romance 09 Apr 2024 The pressure cooker of minor league baseball leads to major chemistry in this exhilarating, sexy, and triumphant rivals to lovers debut romance. Hope is familiar territory for Gene Ionescu. He has always loved baseball, a sport made for underdogs and optimists like him. He also loves his team, the minor league Beaverton Beavers, and, for the most part, he loves the career he’s built. As the first openly trans player in professional baseball, Gene has nearly everything he’s ever let himself dream of—that is, until Luis Estrada, Gene’s former teammate and current rival, gets traded to the Beavers, destroying the careful equilibrium of Gene’s life. Gene and Luis can’t manage a civil conversation off the field or a competent play on it, but in the close confines of dugout benches and roadie buses, they begrudgingly rediscover a comfortable rhythm. As the two grow closer, the tension between them turns electric, and their chemistry spills past the confines of the stadium. Revolutionary Acts: Black Gay Men In Britain - Jason Okundaye Queer History - Non-Fiction 07 March 2024 Jason Okundaye meets an elder generation of Black gay men and finds a spirited community full of courage, charisma and good humour, hungry to tell its past - of nightlife, resistance, political fights, loss, gossip, sex, romance and vulgarity. Tracing these men's journeys and arrivals to South London through the seventies, eighties and nineties from the present day, Okundaye relays their stories with rare compassion, listening as they share intimate memories and reflect upon their lives. They endured and fought against the peak of the AIDS epidemic, built social groups and threw underground parties; they went to war with institutions (and with each other) and created meaning within a society which was often indifferent to their existence. The Last Boyfriends Rules For Revenge - Matthew Hubbard YA Contemporary Fiction 30 April 2024 Ezra Hayes has always felt like a background character compared to BFFs Lucas and Finley. He would do anything to be seen as a romantic lead, even if it means keeping a secret summer boyfriend, Presley. But when he discovers that Presley is a lying cheater, and his best friends are having boy problems of their own, they want revenge. Their plans to get even involve sabotaging the largest party of the year, entering a drag competition, and having Ezra run against his ex for Winter Formal King. Then the school district starts to actively censor queer voices with their Watch What You Say initiative. Taking to TikTok to vent frustrations, Ezra begins “The Last Boyfriends Student Rebellion.” One Last Song - Nathan Evans Contemporary Romance 01 February 2024 A gentleman called Joan lands up in a care home, like a colourful, combustible cocktail… ticking. A gentleman called Jim doesn't know what's hit him… everything about his new neighbour is triggering. Battle begins. May the best man win. But beneath antics and antique armour plating, what are both hiding? Maybe they've more than a wall in common? Might they even be batting for the same team? An uproarious and uplifting romantic comedy about grey liberation. A delightful, funny and sweet love story about an older generation of gay men in modern Britain. Confounding Oaths - Alexis Hall Historical Romance/Fantasy 27 August 2024 A nobleman must work with a dashing soldier to save his sister from a mystical bargain gone wrong, diving into a world of malicious fey, enigmatic cults, and treacherous magic in this irresistible romance. The year is 1815, and Mr. John Caesar is determined to orchestrate a successful coming-out for his younger sister, Mary. Despite his best efforts, he is thwarted by the various interventions of a ragtag regiment of soldiers, a mysterious military cult, and a malicious fairy godmother. When Mary is cursed by the fair folk, the dandyish Mr. Caesar is forced to work with the stolidly working-class—yet inescapably heroic—Captain James to rescue her. While Mr. Caesar is no stranger to dallying with soldiers, until now he's never expected one to stay. Or wanted one to. But even if the captain felt the same, there'd be no chance of anything lasting between them. After all, he and Mr. Caesar come from different worlds. And lately, other worlds are the last thing either of them want to be dealing with . . . Hex Americana - Bree Wolf Graphic Novel - Supernatural Fantasy 01 February 2024 A boy-meets-ghoul story at 100 miles-per-hour! Ken Takamoto is a wannabe racer stuck at home for the summer, with only his mother for company. Dante Willow is a ghost stuck in the car he crashed while racing his rival twenty years ago. When they meet by chance, Ken has the answer to both their enter the local racing league Hex Americana and win the annual Grand Prix. If they win, Dante can pass on to the afterlife and Ken can keep Dante's fixed-up car to go anywhere he wants. What starts as a simple plan becomes a wild summer full of witches, gnomes, feelings, magical chickens, and more as they prepare for the big race. Will Ken and Dante finish first? Can they even make it to the finish line? And more importantly, what happens when this racing duo blooms into something more? Ten Bridges I've Burnt: A Memoir in Verse - Brontez Purnell Memoir - Non-Fiction 15 February 2024 From the beloved author of 100 Boyfriends, a wrenching, sexy, and exhilaratingly energetic memoir in verse. Here, in his first collection of genre-defying verse, Purnell reflects on his peripatetic life, whose ups and downs have nothing on the turmoil within. “The most high-risk homosexual behavior I engage in,” Purnell writes, “is simply existing.” The thirty-eight autobiographical pieces pulsing in Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt find Purnell at his no-holds-barred best. He remembers a vicious brawl he participated in at a poetry conference and reckons with packaging his trauma for TV writers’ rooms; wrestles with the curses, and gifts, passed down from generations of family members; and chronicles, with breathless verve, a list of hell-raising misadventures and sexcapades. Through it all, he muses on everything from love and loneliness to capitalism and Blackness to jogging and the ethics of art, always with unpredictable clarity and movement. Greta & Valdin - Rebecca K Rilley Contemporary Adult Fiction 08 February 2024 Siblings Greta and Valdin have, perhaps, too much in common. They're flatmates, beholden to the same near-unpronounceable surname, and both make questionable choices when it comes to love. Valdin is in love with his ex-boyfriend Xabi, who left the country because he thought he was making Valdin sad. Greta is in love with fellow English tutor Holly, who appears to be using her for admin support. But perhaps all is not lost. Valdin is coming to realize that he might not be so unlovable, and Greta, that she might be worth more than the papers she can mark. Helping the siblings navigate queerness, multiracial identity, and the tendency of their love interests to flee, is the Vladisavljevic family: Maori-Russian-Catalonian, and as passionate as they are eccentric. Rebecca K. Reilly's exploration of love, family, karaoke, and the generational reverberations of colonialism will make you laugh, cry, and fall for the whole Vladisavljevic bunch. Icarus - K. Ancrum YA Crime Mystery/Romance 09 May 2024 Icarus Gallagher is a thief. He steals priceless art and replaces it with his father’s impeccable forgeries. For years, one man—the wealthy Mr. Black—has been their target, revenge for his role in the death of Icarus’s mother. To keep their secret, Icarus adheres to his own strict rules to keep people, and feelings, at bay: Don’t let anyone close. Don’t let anyone touch you. And, above all, don’t get caught. Until one night, he does. Not by Mr. Black, but by his mysterious son, Helios, now living under house arrest in the Black mansion. Instead of turning Icarus in, Helios bargains for something even more dangerous—a friendship that breaks every single one of Icarus’s rules. As reluctance and distrust become closeness and something more, they uncover the bars of the gilded cage that has trapped both of their families for years. One Icarus is determined to escape. But his father’s thirst for revenge shows no sign of fading, and soon it may force Icarus to choose: the escape he’s dreamed of, or the boy he’s come to love. Reaching for both could be his greatest triumph—or it could be his downfall. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌