The 20 best books with lesbian characters you should definitely add to your TBR list

Written in the Stars is an incredible, feel good wlw romance. It  features the fake dating, enemies to lovers and grumpy/sunshine tropes.

It 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

If you’ve read Red, White and Royal Blue and you haven’t read One Last stop – I highly recommend you pick this one up.

It follows August. She’s a cynical 23 year old who 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.

There are so many good things about this book. If you love the friendship group in Heartstopper then this is a great choice.  The chaotic roommates and the friendships are incredible.

 The writing is also really funny with great banter. Plus the food imagery is droolworthy.

Good reads rating: 4.10

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 so many tropes and elements that are really relatable. 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 really enjoy this sapphic romance.

Good reads rating: 3.79

Evelyn Hugo is one of the best bisexual characters. There is so much hype around this book but it definitely lives up to it.

It follows an ageing movie icon, Evelyn Hugo. She is ready to tell the truth on her scandalous life. But she chooses an unknown reporter to tell the story. Why her?

There is no combination of words I can type that will accurately describe how brilliant this book is. It features a bisexual main character and a lesbian love interest. 

The writing and how the story develops through the novel is absolutely perfect.  It's one of those books that once you start reading it - you can't put it down.

The character of Evelyn was so well written and fully developed. And I absolutely loved her - she's ambitious, flawed and utterly compelling. The book is a story about being a Cuban, bisexual woman in a man's world.

Good reads rating: 4.47

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

She drives me crazy is a high school queer enemies to lovers romance with the fake dating trope.

It follows 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.

Irene Abraham is incredibly beautiful but also incredible mean. And things only get worse when their nosey, do-gooder moms get involved and the girls are forced to carpool together until Irene’s car gets out of the shop.

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.

Good reads rating: 4.09

A Cinderella retelling with a sapphic romance.  This is another twist on the classic story that features BIPOC characters and a wlw romance.

The premise is that teen girls are now required to 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.

She decides to flee and decided to take down the king once and for all.

The premise in this book is so unique. And I loved the dystopian twist on the classic Cinderella story. The romance is also adorable. It is a bit insta-lovey but it’s developed so well that I was really engaged.

The plot really kept me hooked. And I really 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

I’ve seen Girls of Paper and Fire everywhere online! Firstly, the cover is absolutely stunning and I’m a little bit in love. 

It follows Lei. She is a member of the Paper Caste. And the people of Ikhara persecute her.  She sees the royal guards take her mother. Afterwards, Lei suffers with trauma. They return and try 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 if quite dark but it's written incredibly well. The romance was excellent a slow-burn enemies to lovers  wlw romance.

The world building in this book is insanely beautiful. It's inspired by Malaysia. I also absolutely adored the characters - Lei and Wren were written so well.

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

If you’re a fan of Crescent City you definitely need to read a Dark and Hollow Star.  This is one of my top books in 2021! A Dark and Hollow Star is an urban fantasy, with fae, queer main characters and a wlw romance.

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.

There are not one but two romances in this book. And the characters are what make them so perfect. I personally love Arlo and Nausicaä. Nausicaä is a grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. Arlo and Nausicaä have a perfect grumpy/sunshine slow-burn vibe.

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

The Dark Tide is a really underrated book. It features a wlw romance, witches and a curse on a town.

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

I was sold on this book as soon as I heard Sapphic witches! It’s a YA Fantasy book about witches featuring a f/f romance and set 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

The good girls is a fairly recent read. I received this in a rainbow crate book box. And I instantly loved it. It’s a murder mystery story following 4 girls. It features a bi protagonist and a wlw couple.

Everyone in high school has a label. Emma Baines was known as a good girl. She is murdered and three of her classmates become suspects. But appearances are never what they seem.

The characters and opening hooked me in really quickly. And I really loved the premise. The pace and plot were very suspenseful. But the mood of the book is the reason I enjoyed it so much. It has fall vibes for me. A  great, cosy read for a rainy day.

Good reads rating: 3.70

The Henna Wars is incredible!  It’s an own voices, YA Contemporary book featuring a Muslim, Bangladeshi, lesbian main character

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

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 adorable romance.

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

Good reads rating: 3.93

The Grimrose Girls is a modern take on classic fairytales such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

The heroines of the stories 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 really happened.

Grimrose Girls is a unique concept and fantasy retelling. The mystery was really gripping 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, mysterious tone of the book.

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 should definitely pick this one up.

Good reads rating: 3.68

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 adorable romance.

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

Good reads rating: 3.93

Jacqueline Wilson wrote a lesbian romance novel!

Jacqueline Wilson was my childhood! I read recently that she has written over 100 books and is the most borrowed author from libraries.

If you were a British teen in the 90s and bookworm you will definitely have read some of her work.

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

It follows Frankie who is struggling to cope with her mum’s MS diagnosis when she meets Sally. 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

I read the LumberJanes series on Scribd. The graphic comic book series follows five pals at a summer camp.

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

The incredible drawings instantly gave me an emotional connection to the characters in the books.

The first novel opens with a bang and the plot really engaged me. 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.

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Good reads rating: 4.03

Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me is a graphic novel about a toxic relationship. It follows Freddy Riley. And all Freddy wants is for Laura Dean to stop breaking up with her. 

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. Those elements make it a good choice for Heartstopper fans. And It's an excellent book for education a YA audience on toxic relationships.

Good reads rating: 3.93

If you're looking for LGBTQ+ YA Graphic novels with cute. light-hearted romance then you need to read Mooncakes. It's a YA Romance about a witch and a non-binary werewolf.

It follows 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