Best Young Adult LGBTQ Books (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Finding the best young adult lgbtq books gets easier once you know the reader: some teens want a swoony romance, others a quiet story about identity. We compared five books by reading age, grade level, print length and theme.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Loveless by Oseman	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
2	She Gets the Girl by Lippincott	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Some Girls Do by Dugan	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	We Are Okay by LaCour	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
5	The Gravity of Us by Stamper	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Loveless by Oseman

Alice Oseman·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A funny and honest story of Georgia, who discovers she is asexual and aromantic at college.

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Pros

• 432 pages, the longest book here
• From the author of Heartstopper
• Asexual and aromantic representation

Cons

• 14+ reading age, the highest floor here
• No series; a standalone story
• College setting, not high school

2

She Gets the Girl by Lippincott

Rachael Lippincott·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A hate-to-love YA romantic comedy about Alex and Molly on a college campus.

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Pros

• Best-selling hate-to-love romantic comedy
• 416 pages, a long read
• Reprint edition from April 4, 2023

Cons

• 15+ reading age, the oldest target here
• College setting, not high school
• Romance-focused; lighter on other themes

3

Some Girls Do by Dugan

Jennifer Dugan·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A queer romance between Morgan, a track athlete, and Ruby, a pageant competitor.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 2, a series start
• 352 pages from G.P. Putnam's Sons
• Published April 19, 2022

Cons

• First in a series; the story continues
• 12-17 reading age spans a wide range
• Romance-focused plot

4

We Are Okay by LaCour

Nina LaCour·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A quiet novel about Marin, grief, and a winter-break visit from her best friend.

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Pros

• Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award
• 256 pages, the shortest here
• Reprint edition from Dutton Books

Cons

• 2019 publication, the oldest here
• Heavy themes of grief and loss
• 256 pages; a shorter read

5

The Gravity of Us by Stamper

Phil Stamper·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Two teens fall in love during a NASA mission to Mars that upends their families.

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Pros

• NASA Mars mission setting
• 336 pages from Bloomsbury YA
• Published February 2, 2021

Cons

• 2021 publication predates the 2022 and 2023 picks
• Space-program plot may not suit every reader
• 13-17 reading age, a wide range

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More picks to compare

• Everything Leads to You by LaCourA 336-page summer romance for ages 14 and up, from LaCour.Check on Amazon
• A Scatter of Light by LoFor readers 14-17, a 336-page companion to Last Night at the Telegraph Club.Check on Amazon
• None of the Above by GregorioFor readers 14 and up, a 352-page story of intersex teen identity.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a young adult reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. All five listings give both numbers.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best young adult lgbtq books

Match the theme to the reader

Romance readers get the most here: She Gets the Girl is a hate-to-love comedy, Some Girls Do is a first-love story, and The Gravity of Us wraps its romance in a Mars mission. Loveless centers on asexual and aromantic identity, while We Are Okay is the quietest pick, about grief.

Check the reading age and the grade level together

Grade level usually comes from the publisher, while Amazon marks reading age as from customers. When they agree, as with We Are Okay (grade 9-12, reading age 14-17), you can trust the range. The widest span here is Some Girls Do at 12-17.

Count the pages

Lengths run from 256 pages (We Are Okay) to 432 pages (Loveless). A reluctant reader may finish the shorter Printz winner faster.

Before you buy

• Check the reading age: the picks span 12-17 to 15+.
• Some Girls Do is Book 1 of 2; the story continues past this volume.
• Match the theme: romance, identity, grief, or adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book is best for a teen questioning their identity?

Loveless, where Georgia discovers she is asexual and aromantic. It is 432 pages, for reading age 14 and up.

Which pick won an award?

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour won the Michael L. Printz Award. It is 256 pages, for reading age 14-17.

Which books are romances?

She Gets the Girl, Some Girls Do, and The Gravity of Us. Loveless centers on identity, We Are Okay on grief.

Are any of these part of a series?

Some Girls Do is Book 1 of 2. The other four are standalones.

Still deciding? Our top pickLoveless by Oseman

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