Best LGBTQIA+ Nonfiction and Memoirs to Add to Your TBR
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There’s something powerful about reading real stories from queer voices—whether they explore joy, grief, sex, resilience, or humor. If you’re in the mood for memoirs and essays that feel like heart-to-hearts with a best friend, these picks from Jason Blitman, host of the Gays Reading podcast, belong on your list.
The Dry Season by Melissa Febos
In this intimate memoir, Melissa Febos shares her experience going without sex for an entire year—and what that reveals about her identity, pleasure, and inner life.
Why You’ll Love It:
Febos is always vulnerable and sharp. This is a raw, brilliant reflection on desire, boundaries, and healing.
Walk Like a Girl by Prabal Gurung
Fashion designer Prabal Gurung explores gender identity, queerness, and self-invention in this memoir that’s equal parts glamor and grit.
Why You’ll Love It:
For fans of fashion, activism, and queer joy, this book is full of heart and honesty.
Buy on Amazon
This Is Your Mother by Erica J. Simpson
A moving memoir about a mother who did everything she could to give her daughters a better life, this story grapples with poverty, resilience, and love in the face of loss.
Why You’ll Love It:
A deeply personal story of family, struggle, and survival that’s both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Congratulations, The Best Is Over by R. Eric Thomas
Thomas brings his signature wit and insight to this essay collection about adulthood, identity, and the humor in life’s awkward moments. He also narrates the audiobook!
Why You’ll Love It:
Laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly moving—perfect for fans of David Sedaris or Samantha Irby.
Buy on Amazon
Here for It by R. Eric Thomas
Originally a Read with Jenna book club pick, this earlier essay collection established Thomas as a must-read memoirist in the queer lit space.
Why You’ll Love It:
Heartfelt, hilarious, and endlessly relatable.
Buy on Amazon
Want to read more like this?
Check out Jason’s podcast Gays Reading and join our newsletter for more queer nonfiction and memoir recommendations every month.
Looking for More Book Recommendations:
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