Reading LGBT Books From Around the World

Call Me Esteban by Lejla Kalamujić

Obligations to the Wounded: Stories by Mubanga Kalimamukwento

The Night of Baba Yaga follows two alternating stories that merge together as the book goes on. It is a story of diverse sexuality and gender, that doesn't shy away from the tough topics of family control, rape, violence, and the horrors of the Yakuza. I felt that this novel was a lot less "explosive queer thriller" than it was pitched to me. But it's certainly a very interesting book about freedom.

While most recommendations I've found for LGBT Novels from non-western countries are Literary Fiction, this one is pure fantasy. In this duology, Rin Chupeco introduces us to a world of vampires and vampire hunters engaged in complex political machinations. With political tensions far more complex that your average vampire story. They provide us with a tastefully constructed nb/m/f polyamorous romance. The second book draws more heavily into our main character, Remy's, fantasy Filipino-inspired background, but both books are far more grounded in fantasy than anything else.

Another Science Fiction book! This book is a lot of fun, it includes space battles, mechas, weird team dynamics and an ending that makes you very confused about whether there is going to be a sequel or not. I have not read their Tensorate series but I've heard good things about it.

A series of interconnected stories about being gay in Seoul (and about finding love). I also need to give a special shout-out to the (also queer) translator. Anton Hur does a fantastic job with his Korean-English translations and has worked on a number of other queer Korean books. I highly recommend his LitHub article where he talks about the book!

I came pretty close to crying at the end of this book (but didn't). I will say I love a book that warns you on the cover, although sometimes it can leave you with unrealistic expectations. It tells a touching love story from the past combined with the heartbreaking realities of the present.

This book was pitched to me as Science Fiction but I think it fits better into Speculative Fiction. It's an interesting dystopian novel that deals with censorship, and encapsulates the feeling of being a cog in a machine. I once again highly recommend the audiobook, it really encapsulates a feeling of creeping dread.

Another fantasy novel!! This book is fascinating, original, refreshing, frustrating, and interesting. Did I like it? Yes. Did I like the ending? You should just read it. We're getting to the point in the backlog where the reviews start making less sense.

A series of incredibly interconnected stories about queer people in Greenland. I found the writing engaging and the characters interesting. This was another short and easy read.

Any of Alice Oseman's books would have worked well for this category, and the UK has no shortage of queer books to choose from. I found this book relatable as an aroace-spec person, and an interesting look into the university culture of the United Kingdom

A series of moving and compelling vignettes that sketch out the lives of our two characters and the relationship between them, with very few (but certainly interesting) side characters. A short and easy read (or listen, this is another one where I recommend the audiobook).

I wasn't sure which book to choose for Nigeria so I decide to put two books by the same author: Akwaeke Emezi. Both books are realistic fiction set in modern day Nigeria and deal with queer topics from a queer author. I wouldn't call either of them happy books but I would call them captivating.

This book winds and twists its way through a complicated and deeply personal narrative of one girl growing up in Nunavat. I highly recommend the audiobook read by the author with her throat singing in between each chapter.

While most recommendations I've found for LGBT Novels from non-western countries are Literary Fiction, this one is pure fantasy. Fantasy and Science fiction are my favorite genres so I really enjoyed reading this novel from a nonbinary author from the Philippines. (Also it's about Vampires!)

I had been wanting to read this book for a longtime before I finally got around to it. It is an introspection into relationships. Romantic relationships, friendships, acquaintance-ships. At times I was reminded of all the many people I have met at different points in my life. Overall I found it a bit of a sad novel, but I still enjoyed it as a whole.