The 20 best books with lesbian characters for your TBR list

Recently updated on November 29th, 2024 at 08:04 pm

Looking for books with lesbian characters? Here are 20 lesbian romance novels you’ll obsess over!

This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself

As a proud lesbian, I think any sapphic romance makes a book a million times better.

The problem is, finding books with lesbian characters is tricky. Matter of fact, finding books where characters openly identify as a lesbian is almost impossible.

I’m always trying to find the best Sapphic books to read. And I’ve spent hours searching for books with lesbian characters.  So I’ve compiled the absolute best books with lesbian characters.

This post isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list of every single lesbian romance novel I’ve read. It’s a guide to the absolute best books with lesbian characters.  I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself. You can rest assured every book has passed my scrutiny.

This post is all about books with lesbian characters

What are the best books with lesbian characters?

Lesbian Romance Novels

1. Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Written in the Stars is a feel-good romance with fake dating and grumpy/sunshine. It features a romance with an open lesbian character.

We follows Elle and Darcy. Elle is a free-spirited social media astrologer. She agrees to a disastrous first date with uptight actuary Darcy. 

After the terrible blind date, Darcy is determined to stop her brother from setting her up again. So she lies and starts a fake relationship with Elle.

Written in the stars is incredible. It’s a queer and contemporary version of Pride and Prejudice. The characters were so well-developed and well-written. The fake-dating trope always allows for lots of character development.  But you could feel the chemistry through the pages  – it was written so well!

If you’re looking for Christmas wlw books this would be a great pick because it has great holiday vibes. It’s also set in Seattle and the imagery makes me want to visit there so much. A great choice if you’re looking for festive books with lesbian characters

Good Reads Rating: 3.93

2. One last stop by Casey Mcquiston

Fan of Red, White and Royal Blue? Then you’ll love One Last Stop. This popular contemporary novel features a romance between a lesbian and bisexual character. I highly recommend you pick this one up.

We follow cynical August, she is trying to survive in New York. But then she meets this gorgeous girl on the train.

Jane.

Jane is dazzling, mysterious and insanely charismatic. But there’s one problem. She’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s.

From droolworthy food imagery and hilarious banter to incredible friendships. One Last Stop has it all. The writing is easy to read and makes this impossible to put down.

Jane is a butch lesbian from the 1970s. She participated in the fight for equality and we can see through her how queer rights have changed.

This is one of the most popular books on this list. If you haven’t read One Last Stop, I highly recommend picking this up.

Good reads rating: 4.10

3. Honey girl by Morgan Rogers

Honey Girl is an excellent summer read. It features a lesbian main character and a diverse cast of queer characters. This is often described as a romance, but it is much more than that. This is an exploration of burnout and mental health issues.

Honey Girl follows Grace. She’s just completed her PhD in astronomy. She goes on a girls trip to Las Vegas and accidentally marries another woman. But she doesn’t even know her name. And this is very uncharacteristic of Grace.

Meanwhile Grace is struggling under the weight of her ex-military father’s expectations. And she starts to wonder why she doesn’t feel more fulfilled from completing her degree. So she leaves home and decides to spend the summer with the wife she barely knows.

This book has many relatable elements. The main character suffers mental health issues and burnout after tirelessly working on her degree. This is something many can probably identify with. It also features an adorable friends and the found family trope.

The writing style is more adult and so this won’t suit everyone. But many will love this sapphic romance.

Good reads rating: 3.79

4.  Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

A spicy small-town romance with a touch of spice. Delilah Green doesn’t care is a romance between a lesbian and bisexual character

Delilah Green swore she would never return to Bright Falls. Only memories of a lonely childhood with a distant stepfamily remain in Bright Falls. Her life is in New York with her photography career. 

But then Delilah’s estranged stepsister pressures her into photographing her wedding. And Delilah finds herself back in the town. She plans to breeze in and out. 

Claire Sutherland has raised her eleven year old daughter mostly on her own while also running a bookstore. With an unreliable ex, Claire Sutherland depends on a life without surprises. 

And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surprise…at first.

This is such a quick read.  I binge read this in one sitting!

The writing is funny and easy to read. With a fast-paced plot.  It’s funny, steamy and heartfelt at the same time. Everything you want in a romance. If you’re looking for wlw books with spice, I recommend the Bright Falls trilogy.

YA books with lesbian characters

5. Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

Her Royal Highness features one of my favourite lesbian characters in Flora. It’s a light-hearted teen romance set in a school. It also features a great bisexual character.

Not only does it include the enemies-to-lovers trope. But it also features the room-mates trope, royalty, an ex-girlfriend and a posh boarding school.

Oh, and did I mention it’s all set in stunning Scottish highlands.

The book follows Millie who is heartbroken when she discovers that her kinda girlfriend has been kissing someone else. After getting into a super elusive boarding school, she moves to Scotland. And this is where she meets Princess Flora.

It’s a sweet, lighthearted and irresistibly charming book.  You can easily binge-read it in one sitting. If you haven’t read it you absolutely need to.

Good reads rating: 3.79

6. She drives me crazy by Kelly Quindlen

She drives me crazy is a high school queer enemies to lovers romance with the fake dating trope. It features both a lesbian and bisexual main character.

We follow Scottie Zajac. She loses spectacularly to her ex-girlfriend in their first game since their break up. So she gets into a fender bender with the worst possible person. Her nemesis Irene Abraham.

And it only gets worse the more time they spend together. But then an opportunity presents itself for Scottie to get back at her ex. And she bribes Irene into playing along.

The characters are well-developed and both have excellent character development. Both characters are flawed and relatable. Consequently, they feel like realistic teenage characters.

Good reads rating: 4.09

7. Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron

Cinderella is dead is a sapphic Cinderella retelling. While it doesn’t openly identify the character as a lesbian, it is heavily implied through the plot/context of the story.

In Cinderella is dead, teen girls must now appear at an annual ball where men select wives. But Sophia wants to marry her childhood best friend Erin. And isn’t a fan of the whole parade in front of suitors thing.

So Sophia flees and decides to take down the King once and for all.

The dystopian premise in this book gives a unique twist on the classic story. The romance is insta-lovey but well-developed and adorable.

The plot kept me hooked. And I enjoyed the concept of women overthrowing a dystopian patriarchy. There is also much cottagey and woodland imagery. And I think this is something Kalynn Bayron writes exceptionally well. And it made me want to live in the forest.

If you’re looking for fantasy books with lesbian characters – then I highly recommend Cinderella is Dead

Good reads rating: 3.73

8. Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

If you’re looking for a wlw fantasy book

Girls of Paper and Fire is an enchanting dystopian fantasy. It features a character coming to terms with her sexuality and attraction to women.

We follow Lei, a member of the Paper Caste.  She sees the royal guards take her mother. Afterwards, Lei suffers with trauma. But they return to take Lei.

She has to learn skills fitting of a King’s Consort. But she falls in love.

This is such an excellent ya fantasy book. The plot is dark but well-written. This is offset with an adorable slow burn romance.

Malaysia inspired the enchanting world-building in this book. The descriptive worldbuilding crafts a vivid world you escape into.

My only issue with this book is that the pacing felt a little off. More time was spent on ‘getting to the palace’ than I think was completely necessary. But it didn’t detract from how much I enjoyed the book.

Good reads rating: 3.83

9. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

A Dark and Hollow Star is a captivating urban fantasy. It features a diverse cast of queer characters and several queer romances. But Nausicaä is an excellent lesbian main character. Smart, sarcastic and sassy.

A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans.  Four queer teens – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.

The characters make this book. Nausicaä is one of my favourite lesbian characters. A grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. But she also has depth, and her narrative explores mental health issues and immortality.

I listened to the audiobook version which you can find on audible. It features a full cast of narrators which made it really engrossing. The voices of Vehan and Nausicaä are so spot on! And you can listen to it on Audible with a free trial. Or you can buy a physical copy on Amazon – you can buy it here.

Good reads rating: 3.83

10. The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska

An underrated fantasy featuring witches, a curse and sea-wild world-building. While it doesn’t openly identify the character as a lesbian, it is heavily implied through the plot/context of the story.

It follows Lina. She lives on a small island where the dark tide could cause it to sink. So, every year the Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace and sacrifices her on the full moon. And so keeps the island city from sinking.

Lina is convinced her brother is going to be taken. She asks Thomas Lin to help. Thomas is the only person to survive the sacrifice. But they draw the Queen’s attention. And instead, Thomas is taken.

Lina offers herself instead of Thomas. But the queen is nothing like Eva expected. And they must choose between saving the island or themselves.

This is such an angsty slow burn romance. Lina and Eva had an amazing grumpy/sunshine dynamic. The setup made this story so tragically romantic. It’s also beautifully written with atmospheric worldbuilding that gave it a dark tone.

Good reads rating: 3.83

11. These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling

Sapphic Witches! These Witches Don’t Burn features several lesbian characters and a bisexual love interest. This ya fantasy follows witches in urban salem.

These Witches Don’t Burn follows Hannah. She is a witch living in Salem. A dark blood ritual interrupts her end of school bonfire. And she investigates with her ex-girlfriend Veronica.

She also meets Morgan. But trying to date in the middle of a supernatural crisis is not easy and will test Hannah’s limits.

This is one of my favourite duologies! I love all the magical, fantastical elements and I really enjoyed the modern setting in Salem. The representation is absolutely fantastic. And the pacing of the plot really kept me hooked.

Good reads rating: 3.76

12.  Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth

Not My Problem is a heartwarming coming-of-age novel. It tackles poverty, alcoholism and parental expectations. But still stays funny and cute. It features a romance between a lesbian and bisexual character.

We follow Aideen.  Aideen has plenty of problems she can’t fix…

 Her best (and only) friend is pulling away.

Her mother’s drinking problem is a constant concern.

She’s even running out of outlandish diseases to fake to skip PE.

But Aideen stumbles on her nemesis, overachiever Meabh Kowalski, in a full-blown meltdown. She sees a problem that seems easy to solve. Meabh is desperate to escape her crushing pile of extracurriculars. Aideen volunteers to help. By pushing Meabh down the stairs.Problem? Solved. Meabh’s sprained ankle is the perfect excuse to ditch her overwhelming schedule.

But then another student learns about their little scheme. And they bring Aideen another “client” needing her “help”. It kicks off a term of traded favours,  ill-advised hijinks, and an unexpected chance at love.

The concept behind this book worked perfectly. It allowed for hilarious antics and plenty of character development. The main character and side characters are all instantly likeable. Likewise, the writing style is easy to read.

You need to read this adorable romance if you’re after light-hearted lesbian books.

13. The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

The Henna Wars is incredible!  This ya contemporary book features a lesbian main character. The plot follows Nishat as she comes out to her parents as a lesbian.

The Henna Wars follows Nishat as she comes out to her parents as a lesbian. They’re happy for her to be whoever she wants to be. As long as she isn’t herself – because Muslim girls aren’t lesbians.

Her life becomes harder when she is reacquainted with a childhood friend – Flavia. Especially when in a school competition they both decide to start their own henna business.

Adiba Jaigirdar wrote The Henna Wars. She’s a  Bangladeshi, Irish writer who has been living in Dublin, Ireland from the age of 10.   

This book includes a lovely queer f/f romance. But it’s also so much more than a romance

It navigates homophobia, bullying, racism and cultural appropriation. It also includes one of the best main characters in Nishat. Nishat bravely deals with so many things being thrown at her.

But it still manages to remain a cute, funny and romantic debut novel. Please pick it up and read it!

Good reads rating: 4.03

14. The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

Searching for books with lesbian characters? You’ll love The Falling in Love Montage. Lesbians will identify with this hilarious and profound read.

The Falling In Love Montage follows Saoirse. She is struggling to cope because her mother is in a home with dementia. Also, it’s a hereditary condition. One day she might inherit it. So she doesn’t  really see the point in a relationship. Until she meets Ruby at a party.  And they decide to have a relaxed summer fling.

Ciara Smyth wrote The Falling in Love Montage. And she previously worked as a mental health trainer. This definitely comes across in the book. And it deals with many mental health issues. It also deals with the consequences of early-onset dementia.

The debut novel balances mental health struggles perfectly with relatable lines. I enjoyed ‘Not for the first time, I thanked God I was a lesbian’

If you love a good rom-com then you should read this debut novel!

Good reads rating: 3.93

15. The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl

The Grimrose Girls is a modern take on classic fairytales such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. It features a diverse cast with several queer characters, including a lesbian.

The heroines are re-imagined as friends attending an elite boarding school. After their friend dies, the police rule the death as suicide. But they decide to investigate to find out what happened.

Grimrose Girls is a unique concept and fantasy retelling. The gripping mystery was intriguing and well-paced. And the story kept mentioning tantalizing details that kept me engaged.

The story also uses the darker versions of the fairytales. And this added to the dark academia tone and sense of mystery.

The book is also full of queer characters including lesbian, bi and transgender representation in the book. If you’re looking for a fantasy retelling or love the dark academia aesthetic then you need to pick this up.

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Good reads rating: 3.68

Middle Grade books with Lesbian characters

16. Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the world by Ashley Herring Blake

Ivy Aberdeen’s letter to the world is an emotional read.  We follow a character coming to terms with her identity as a lesbian.

We follow Ivy Aberdeen. A hurricane destroys her house. In the aftermath, someone steals her notebook full of secret drawings of her crush (A girl)

Oh, I wept buckets when I read this one. It made my heart swell, my eyes water. And at the end made me smile like a loon. Ashley Herring Blake is a literary genius. The writing is sublime. Vivid and beautiful.

The plot is paced exceptionally well. And all the characters were well-developed and nuanced.

An excellent take on realizing you like girls. The character starts feeling distanced from friends obsessing over boys. And the panic about coming out. Heart-breaking and heartwarming.

Good reads rating: 3.93

17. Love Frankie By Jacqueline Wilson

Jacqueline Wilson wrote a lesbian romance novel! Love Frankie is a middle-grade novel about a character coming to terms with her sexuality.

Jacqueline Wilson was my childhood! She has written over 100 books and is the most borrowed author from libraries.

Did you grow up in the 90s or 00s? Then you will definitely have read some of her work.

If you’re familiar with Jacqueline Wilson’s work, you will find this comforting to read. Jacqueline Wilson’s distinctive writing style easy to read.

We follow Frankie who is struggling to cope with her mum’s MS diagnosis when she meets Sally. The problem is Sally is perfect when it’s just them. But she ignores her at school

Wilson has never been one to avoid controversial topics. And Love Frankie is no different. It explores mental health and coming out in teens.

Good reads rating: 3.97

Graphic novels with lesbian characters

18. The LumberJanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn A. Allen and Noelle Stevenson

I read the LumberJanes series on Scribd. The graphic comic book series follows five pals at a summer camp. It features a transgender character and a lesbian. The queer content is subtle but consistent throughout the graphic novel series.

They are determined to have an incredible summer and not let supernatural critters or quests get in their way.

The incredible drawings give an emotional connection to the characters in the books. Plus, the graphic style make this easy to read. You could binge read these quickly.

The first novel opens with a bang and the plot engages you instantly. The graphic novel format and short length make them really easy to read. If you’re looking for light-hearted LGBTQ+ YA Books then you should pick this up.

Good reads rating: 4.03

19. Laura Dean Keeps breaking up with me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero O’Connell

Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me is a graphic novel about a toxic relationship.It features lesbian characters but doesn’t focus on coming out. Instead, the novel focuses on a toxic relationship.

Laura Dean is popular, funny and charming. But she can also be thoughtless. Their on-again off-again relationship has all Freddy’s friends frustrated. 

I have mixed feeling about this graphic novel. So many people I know absolutely love this book. The illustrations are beautiful and the diversity is excellent. 

And I also love the exploration of toxic relationships. It was really well  done and it showed the impact a toxic relationship can have on your mental health. 

But I found the characters to lack emotional depth  and I found it hard to emotionally connect with them. The storyline was also a bit all over the place. 

Overall however, I think this is worth reading. It’s a quick, easy read. It’s an LGBTQ+ YA Graphic novel with beautiful illustrations and a diverse cast.

Good reads rating: 3.93

20. Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker

A cute, light-hearted fantasy with lesbian and non-binary characters. Set in a small town, it features witches, werewolves and paranormal creatures.

We follow teen witch Nova. She works at her Nana’s magical bookshop. And she helps them loan out spell books. But she also investigates supernatural occurrences in her local town.

One day, she is tasked to investigate reports of a white wolf in a nearby forest. She then discovers her childhood best friend,  Tam, fighting a demon werewolf.  Together they investigate the demon and rekindle their feelings towards each other.

This is such a comfort read. The artwork is insanely beautiful. I really loved the illustrations of the magic and magical creatures living in the forest. The romance is also really adorable.

The story isn’t fast-paced and action packed. We also don’t find out much about the characters background. But it’s such a quick, cute and light-hearted read that I don’t think it matters. It also deals with serious topics like loss and difficult family relationships really well.

Good reads rating: 3.85

Those were my picks for the best books with lesbian characters

Whether you’re looking for a cute romance,  high school ya books or an unforgettable friendship group – I hope you found a book to read.

What books have you read with lesbian characters? Let me know in the comments section below.

This post was all about books with lesbian characters

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