Birthday by Meredith Russo and read by Dana Aliya Levinson 

Eric and Morgan have been best friends since childhood through family struggles and growing up. Eric worries they won’t last forever. Morgan feels trapped in the wrong life and hides a big secret, hoping to become her true self and maybe tell Eric. Over six years, they grow while drifting apart.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta 

Michael, a mixed-race gay teen in London, has always struggled to feel like he fully belongs. As he grows up and comes out, he starts figuring out who he is. Finding the Drag Society changes everything, giving him the confidence, community, and identity to become the Black Flamingo.

Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (2022)  

This double concept project plays out like a therapy session in two parts: one shows people hiding pain behind ego, fame, and unhealthy coping habits, while the other turns inward, confronting trauma, family history, and personal flaws. It ultimately follows a journey toward self-awareness, healing, and choosing growth over denial.

It Rhymes with Takei by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott and illustrated by Harmony Becker 

A memoir-style story following Takei’s life from a restrictive 1950s childhood through fame, secrecy, and eventually coming out. It explores identity, fear, loss during the AIDS crisis, and finding lasting love, while reflecting on LGBTQ+ history and how personal truth and social progress are deeply connected. 

If I Can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla and read by Avi Roque 

Gael is juggling a lot: his mom’s depression, an estranged dad, and life as a transgender teen at a conservative Tennessee high school. When he meets Declan and finds a supportive friend group, things start to change—but family struggles and a tragedy force him to decide if he’s ready to let people in. 

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender and read by Logan Rozos 

Felix, a Black, queer, transgender teen, has never been in love and wonders if he ever will be. After being targeted by a transphobic classmate, he plots revenge, only to end up tangled in unexpected feelings. Along the way, he learns about love, identity, and self-acceptance. Also available as an eBook. 

Kim Petras – Feed the Beast (2023) 

A debut pop album full of upbeat dance, electropop, Eurodance, 90s house, and disco vibes, from a German trans woman. It’s all about love, freedom, and confidence, with bold, sex-positive energy. The title reflects the nonstop pressure of today’s music industry, where artists are expected to keep releasing new content constantly.

Opting Out by Maia Kobabe and illustrated by Lucky Srikumar 

Saachi is a creative storyteller who loves making fantasy worlds with her best friend Lyla. But as seventh grade begins, friendships shift and everyone starts focusing on dating. With puberty, body changes, and growing confusion about gender, Saachi struggles with who she’s becoming and wonders if she can just define herself on her own terms. 

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera and read by Noah Galvin & Froy Gutierrez 

Arthur is a hopeless romantic spending the summer in New York, while Ben is more skeptical after a breakup. A chance meeting at the post office keeps bringing them back together, but between awkward dates and mixed signals, they must figure out if their story is fate or just bad timing.

True Letters from a Fictional Life by Kenneth Logan 

To everyone else, James seems like the perfect small-town guy: athletic, funny, and dating a great girl. But in the private letters he never sends, he admits the truth: he has feelings for another boy. As his secret becomes harder to hide, James must decide whether he’s ready to be honest with everyone, including himself. 

Lady Gaga – Born This Way (2011) 

A defining LGBTQ+ life-affirming anthem album and an iconic global pop album about self-love, acceptance, and inclusivity. It celebrates being exactly who you are, no matter your sexuality, race, or background. The message is all about confidence, standing up to judgment, and embracing individuality while uplifting marginalized communities and encouraging pride in your identity.

Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide Vol. 1 written and illustrated by Mone Sorai  

Serious Asahi and relaxed Mitsuki don’t seem like a match, but they’ve agreed to travel the world together and get married once they return to Japan. As they explore different countries, cultures, and food, they slowly grow closer, discovering more about each other and themselves along the way. 

In Between Days by Camryn Garrett 

After her dad’s funeral, Mira discovers he had a boyfriend she never knew about. Wanting to understand this hidden side of him—and connect with her own queerness—she secretly befriends Richard. As she navigates grief, family secrets, and a new crush, Mira learns what it means to be true to herself. 

Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations (2018) 

Across 13 tracks, it explores the ups and downs of relationships and celebrates LGBTQ+ pride, especially women loving women. The lyrics feel personal and diaristic, touching on crushes, heartbreak, and navigating complicated feelings in modern relationships.

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley and illustrated by Cassio Ribeiro 

Neesha, a disabled activist who loves costume design, and Gabby, a cheerful surfer, are both new at school. They bond over a shared obsession with a manga series and team up to track down the missing books. Along the way, they build friendship, acceptance, and maybe even love. 

Flunk SeasonPass: Season 1 

Set in suburban Melbourne, this teen series follows shy 16-year-old Ingrid as she navigates first love, especially her feelings for her best friend, Stella. Alongside messy school drama, she deals with family pressure and growing up in a conservative household, all while figuring out identity and relationships. 

The Summer Love Strategy by Ray Stoeve and read by Sophie Amoss 

Hayley keeps falling for girls who don’t like her back, while her best friend Talia is ready to find romance of her own. They spend the summer chasing rom-com moments in hopes of finding love, but unexpected mishaps, awkward dates, and growing feelings make them wonder if love has been closer than they thought.

The Moonstone Girls by Brooke Skipstone 

In the late 1960s, siblings Tracy and Spencer struggle to be themselves in a world that doesn’t accept them. After being caught with same-sex partners, they face family conflict, prejudice, and uncertain futures. Determined to find herself, Tracy sets out on a journey toward freedom, identity, and unexpected connection. 

ABBA – Gold: Greatest Hits 

Timeless joy and queer cultural staple. A 1992 greatest-hits album from the hugely successful Swedish pop group, featuring 19 of their biggest songs. It showcases their evolution from catchy, theatrical pop and ballads to upbeat, disco-inspired dance tracks, and became one of the best-selling records of all time.

Sunhead written and illustrated by Alex Assan  

High schooler Rotem feels like she’s drifting away from her friends, until she connects with a classmate in a way that finally feels right. A big fan of a popular book and film series, she bonds with shy Ayala over it but starts questioning what she really feels…and why.  

Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood and read by Saffron Coomber, Ioanna Kimbook, and Sebastian Humphreys 

Every spring, twelve girls from Ithaca are sacrificed to satisfy Poseidon’s ancient revenge. When Leto is chosen, she wakes on a mysterious island and joins forces with Melantho, a girl who commands the sea. Together, they uncover a deadly truth: the prince of Ithaca must die, or everyone pays the price.

Lying, Stealing, and Other Ways to Save the Planet by Curtis Campbell 

After a humiliating fallout, teen reporter John O’Neil goes off the rails, blackmailing the rich kid responsible. When he learns a country club plans to destroy a bird sanctuary tied to his grandfather, he teams up with the school birdwatching club, and his ex-friend Rachel to expose the scheme and save it.

Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days (2021) 

Carlile’s seventh studio album was written during early pandemic lockdowns, when the artist paused touring and reflected on life. Inspired by personal storytelling, it dives into family, legacy, relationships, parenthood, faith, and growing older, with a strong focus on honesty, vulnerability, and looking inward. 

The Girl From the Sea written and illustrated by Molly Knox Ostertag 

Fifteen-year-old Morgan can’t wait to leave her small island town and the life she feels trapped in, while also hiding big secrets about herself, including her feelings for girls. After being saved from drowning by mysterious Keltie, the two grow close and fall in love—but both are keeping things hidden that soon come out. 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Ben Alire Saenz and read by Lin-Manuel Miranda 

Aristotle is an angry teen. Dante is a thoughtful know-it-all. When they meet at a swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as their friendship grows, they learn important truths about themselves and who they want to become. (You can watch the movie version of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, too!) 

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer  

After a distress signal from Titan, two rival nations send sworn enemies together on one rescue ship. Ambrose wakes with missing memories, strange clues, and a mysterious shipmate who won’t cooperate. As secrets on board unravel, he must team up with him. After all, survival, and maybe love, depends on trust, making peace, and achieving harmony.

James Blake – Assume Form (2019)  

A deeply personal, vulnerable project that shifts from a darker, melancholic style to a more hopeful, romantic tone. It’s inspired by a real relationship and focuses on healing, self-acceptance, and learning to be emotionally present. The overall message is about stepping out of sadness and opening up to love.

Belly Full of Heart written and illustrated by Madeline Mouse  

A short, illustrated collection capturing those intense, heart-fluttering moments in love where everything else disappears. It focuses on closeness, holding someone tight, and not wanting to let go. Emotional and relatable, it’s all about those small but powerful feelings that hit you out of nowhere and stick with you. 

Something to Be Proud Of by Anna Zoe Quirke and read by David Lee Huynh and Lauren Irwin 

Imogen, a chaotic bisexual aspiring comedian, is determined to create an inclusive pride festival at her school. With help from Ollie, the openly gay football captain, and a group of talented classmates, she takes on school injustices, builds community, and discovers the power of making their voices heard. 

Alondra by Gina Femia 

Sixteen-year-old Alonda is obsessed with pro wrestling, so she’s thrilled to meet a group of teens in Coney Island who want to put on their own show. Reinventing herself as “The Fearless One,” she steps into the spotlight, but romance and self-doubt make her wonder if she can stay fearless in real life too.

Girlmode by Magdalene Visaggio and illustrated by Paulina Ganucheau 

Phoebe just wants to blend in at her new school in LA while figuring out life after transitioning. With family tensions and no clear guide on being a girl, it’s tough…until popular Mackenzie takes her under her wing. But as Phoebe finds herself, she learns staying true might come with heartbreak.

Anne+ SeasonPass: Season 1 

A Dutch coming-of-age series about a lesbian university student in Amsterdam figuring out love and life through different relationships. Each episode focuses on a past connection that shaped her. After graduation, she reconnects with her first girlfriend, sparking reflection and self-discovery. The series is in Dutch with English subtitles.