Gay lit

This anthology offers a chronological survey of writing that represents, interprets, and constructs the experience of love, friendship, intimacy, and desire between men over time--that is, what most readers would call gay male literature. Discover the best gay and queer books of all time with The Advocate's recommendations. From classics like "Giovanni's Room" to modern hits like "The Little Life," explore LGBTQ+ literature. To be understood, to be accepted, the LGBTQIA+ community needs first to be seen.

This has meant that centuries of authors writing about the experiences, love, and pain of the queer community have been crucial in making progress towards a radical acceptance. If The Pilgrim Hawk is an invisible classic, then Glenway Wescott is an overlooked legend—an openly gay man, born in in the midwest, who moved to Paris with his partner in the s. The story of a romance between an American and an Italian man living in Paris, Giovanni’s Room is an all-time classic of gay literature and a document of the love, longing, and violence that happens at the margins of society.

You need something with humour? We can do that. Wait, it needs to be humorous and feature gay protagonists? A truly unique take on diplomatic relationships in our world. Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry are both described as young and handsome men, so you can guarantee Hollywood will rustle up its finest chiselled young actors to take on these roles, and why not?

Seeing American authority and British royalty get steamy with each other onscreen is probably the best way to bring about world peace. The story itself ticks all the bestseller boxes; humour, forbidden love, secret romance, characters with loveable chemistry and twists and turns to keep the pages moving. In this novel, author Casey McQuiston takes inspiration from related Chick lit classics and adapts them for a story about same sex love in the modern world.

The great, as-of-now unanswered twist of this book is, what would become of a world in which two of the greatest superpowers were joined by a love that is still, in some places, taboo? I mean, do I really need to say more? Less is more. The clue is very much in the name regarding this book. Achieving less than he should in his career.

Arthur feels a duty to the LGBT community to write about them in a positive and encouraging light whilst he struggles to find any encouragement in his own life. This, to put it mildly, backfires in a story that is beautifully crafted by Greer, coming full circle by the conclusion in a way that seeks to find the comedy in the everyday tragedy of midlife crisis, and trying to find something to hold onto when everything in your world has gone tits up.

What better way to do all this than by telling it as a story of an American finding his way abroad? The story follows James, 34, adrift and newly single after his six-year relationship went kaput. Inspired by his best friend to try out online dating, James writes about each of his romantic encounters on his blog under the persona of Romeo.

James is also portrayed as a three dimensional character, full of flaws and bad personality traits that he really needs to work on before becoming the gay Romeo. In The Last Romeo, author Justin Myers has crafted a fully rounded story with great characters and a resounding message for all of us: being alone in the world is scary. Having everyone in the world know your private business is even scarier.

Discover the best gay and queer

Deep Carrie Bradshaw vibes. A gay pop icon at rock bottom, and a gaggle of gay friends and fans with their own battles to fight: the perfect recipe for a series of hilarious and over-the-top adventures in London. Harry, a confused writer; Matteo, the hopeless romantic; the delusional Alistair; emotionally unavailable Erik … will they help Paulina get her career back on track, and win her fans back? More importantly, will Paulina be able to return the favour?

My all time favourite show is Sex and the City, so I thought to myself—what if it was gay? This novel is the answer to that question. The perfect candidate is Oliver, a successful, handsome and dapper barrister who is also in dire need of a plus one to an important event. Sounds like a good arrangement for both of them, right? A very well-crafted story with charismatic and messy protagonists, slow boiling romance, laugh out loud moments interspersed with hints of good old drama.

The chemistry between the characters is so electric and strong that you wish that they will end up together from page one! There you have it, my current Hall of Fame of books featuring gay protagonists. What are your thoughts about this list?