17 LGBTQ+ Romance Books About Growing Up and Coming Out

When their paths cross at the MET, Liza feels an immediate connection with Annie, an aspiring singer from a very different background. Under the protection of a compassionate teacher, their unlikely friendship gives way to the all-consuming passion of first love—and sparks a slew of controversy at home and at school. One of the first lesbian love stories to feature an HEA, Annie on My Mind is as heartwarming as it is powerful: “Don’t let ignorance win,” Annie’s teacher says at one point. “Let love.” 

Sunshine, Tennessee is place of Friday night football games, loud pick up trucks, and weekly Bible studies. But despite what its name suggests, the town isn’t without its dark sides—bigotry, homophobia, and racism run rampant among the community. While prejudice and expectation have pressured Kaycee to deny her homosexuality, her current flame, Brenn, has always embraced it. But in a place that's so close-minded, can Kaycee truly open her heart to what it wants most?  

The coming-of-age novel that The New York Times calls "groundbreaking" follows Molly Bolt, the adoptive daughter of a poor Southern couple. Published in 1973, Rubyfruit Jungle offers a charm that some readers compare to Mark Twain's voice. 

Molly finds women drawn to her wherever she goes and refuses to apologize for loving them back, despite the beliefs of the time. She presses on boldly, even when she discovers that the grass is not always greener on the other side. 

Between a fading friendship and a troubled home life, “V” feels as though everything is falling apart. As she weathers the stormy seas of her mother’s alcoholism and her father’s illness, she finds an anchor in the chaos: Jane, the spirited new girl in-town. Their friends-to-lovers romance takes V off guard, but she soon learns that if she wants to get closer to healing—and to Jane—she'll have to set aside her fears and dive straight in.

Neil Byrne is a star rugby player, a class clown, and a closeted homosexual to his friends and family. When Love Comes to Town follows his coming-of-age journey throughout 1990s Ireland when Catholicism was at its height. The pope took a strong stand against homosexuality while the younger generation showed tolerance and acceptance. Neil becomes desperate for company of his own and luckily finds confidants. Eventually, Neil goes to Dublin where many adventures and experiences await him—perhaps even love! Funny and heartbreaking, honest and uplifting, this novel is a match made in heaven for fans of Stephen Chbosky's Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Sana Kiyohara has plenty of secrets. For example, she's pretty sure that her father is having an affair ... and then there's the one she can barely admit even to herself. 

Sana hoped her family's move to California would be a chance to wipe the slate clean and try honesty. But things are more complicated than ever: Her crush, Jamie Ramirez, doesn't fit in with Sana's friends, and a nice guy named Caleb is being a little too friendly.

She always imagined that speaking her truths would be the hardest thing. She's learning, though, that what comes after the confession can be even messier.

In The Passing Playbook, Spencer Harris doesn't need to come out to his family. They, of course, know that he's transgender have already supported him through his difficult transition. But after bullies drove him out of his old school, Spencer has decided not to tell any of his new classmates that he's trans.

For a time, it seems like Spencer has it all: He's performing well on the soccer team for Oakley, a liberal private school in Ohio. But a discriminatory law forces Spencer to the bench, where he must make a decision to either cheer his team on from the sidelines or come out and fight for his right to play. After being burned by his last school, however, Spencer isn't sure he wants everyone to know ... especially the guy he's falling for.

It’s the summer of 1987, and new friends Aristotle and Dante couldn’t be more different. While Aristotle is confident and self-assured about his sexuality, Dante is reserved and unsure of his place in the world. Together, they endure family hardships and personal crises, changing the course of each other’s lives and hearts. Ultimately, Aristotle and Dante will realize that bond they share goes much deeper than friendship—and that love should never be shameful. Grab a bucket, dear reader. You’ll need it for your tears.

A violent incident sends Amanda from her Atlanta home to her estranged father in Tennessee. Presented with this fresh start, she’s determined to keep her past hidden—namely that she, Amanda, was once a boy named Andrew. But a new romance sees Amanda’s walls begin to crumble, and she must decide if true love is worth revealing her true self...Whether you're a romance junkie or a newbie to the genre, this standout portrayal of the trans experience is an indispensable addition to everyone's personal library.

For Hannah, the perfect senior year includes wild parties, joy rides, and lazy beach days—not falling in love with a girl. But as always, the heart wants what it wants, and it seems that Hannah’s heart yearns for Baker. Her Name in the Sky charts Hannah and Baker’s relationship as they grapple with their changing friendship, their families' conservative beliefs, and the powerful feelings they share.

Nate has always been the odd boy out, and it’s little wonder: as a clairvoyant, he can see and talk to the dead. With only ghosts for company, Nate is unbearably lonely—until James moves to town and takes an immediate interest in him. Though their chemistry is off the charts, relationships are unfamiliar territory for Nate, and it'll take a few unusual guardians to get him to open himself to love...

Though Travis has settled comfortably into his adult life, he can’t stop thinking about his high school lover, Craig, from 20 years before. Determined to fill the Craig-shaped hole in his heart, he sets out on a cross-country voyage to win back the one that got away...Told through letters, journal entries, and more, Travis and Craig's decade-spanning romance is a reminder that sometimes our first loves deserve a second chance.

When Simon’s romantic emails to his pen pal, Blue, fall into the wrong hands, he’s prepared to do anything to keep their relationship a secret. To prevent the gossip from spreading—and potentially blindsiding his friends—Simon agrees to play matchmaker for his blackmailing classmate, Martin. But when things don't go according to plan, Simon must decide how far he'll go to protect someone he's never even met. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is the adorable, sweeter-than-sugar romance you've been waiting for since David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy. 

Ray Bruno and Kip Hayes are complete opposites. They really shouldn't work together, but they do. In fact, they're getting married. 

Things go wrong, however, when the couple try an early honeymoon at a luxury resort in Ray's hometown. There's another couple at the hotel who will tempt the couple and test their relationship. Can they work through their issues before making the ultimate commitment?

Jonathan Forest planned on firing Sam Becker from his bed and bath retailer, but Sam ruined that plan by bumping his head and implying that he lost his memory. Now, Jonathan has to find a way to care for the “wounded” Sam, while Sam has to continue the charade and deal with Jonathan's guilt about the injury. Sam and Jonathan quickly grow closer, but that little lie hangs over their newfound relationship…

Fans of Gothic romances and Regency romances will enjoy this work from KJ Charles. The plot follows Gareth Inglis, a shabby London clerk who finds himself thrust into his late father's position as a baronet. He moves to the country manor in the remote Romney Marsh, which is run by a ruthless game of smugglers. 

Joss Doomsday is the leader of the pack, and he isn't happy to see his old lover return to the Marsh. But when circumstances demand their reunion, the pair soon find themselves drawn back to one another time and again…

Star authors Katee Robert and R.M. Virtues teamed up for this pair of tales, which spin classic fairy tales into pulse-quickening romantasy stories. The first, Wicked Pursuit, reimagines Little Red Riding Hood with forbidden love. Divine Intervention, influenced by Goldilocks, offers a ménage romance full of betrayal and revenge.