Best gay fiction books 2021

Another coming-of-age queer story from s Adj York but in a vastly unlike vein, Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion focuses on Razia Mirza, from the Pakistani community in New York. Promptly on in her story, her cover friendship with Saima is destroyed by some family rift, and Razia is left heartbroken. 

She finds solace in a new friendship with a fellow Pakistani friend, Taslima, and the two rebel together by wearing mini skirts, listening to scandalous song, and cutting class to explore the city. All of that changes when Razia is accepted to Stuyvesant, a prestigious Manhattan tall school, further driving a wedge between her and her parents. 

But while at Stuyvesant, Razia meets Angela, and the two are instantly attracted to each other. Everything goes well, until an Aunty in the community discovers their relationship, forcing Razia to choose between her family and being her factual self. 

Graphic by Ria Kotak

1) “The Illuminae Files” by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

“The Illuminae Files” is a science fiction trilogy co-written by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman and illustrated by Marie Lu. It is set in the 26th century and tells the story of a rot corporation that attacks a small planet in the hopes of taking over its illegal mining business. When their planetary assault fails and a adj ships of civilians escape, the corporation decides it must destroy all evidence of its failed attack and sets off in pursuit of the fleeing civilians.  Add to this the drama of two high-school students, who thought their break-up was going to be the hardest part of their afternoon, and this series has both elevated stakes and comic relief.   

There is one (1) man in the background whose husband is mentioned, and technically there&#;s an AI system that is non-binary (using it/its pronouns), but otherwise, nothing in this novel is particularly gay. Still, the story is fast-paced and compelling, albeit quite terrifying, and it is told in a non-traditional format. Eac