15 Insanely heartwarming lgbtq books with happy endings

Looking for lgbtq books with happy endings? These 21 LGBTQ+ books will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

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

Sometimes you need an angsty book and a good cry. Some of my all time favourite LGBTQ+ books absolutely ripped my heart out. But sometimes you want lgbtq books with happy endings.

If all you want a  a book that'll give you butterflies and leave you feeling all warm + fuzzy inside - I got you.  I've compiled the absolute best lgbtq books with happy endings. I've read and loved every book recommended on this list!

For each book I've included the representation, content warnings, Good Reads rating, positives & negatives and my thoughts.

This post is all about the best lgbtq books with happy endings

Best lgbtq books with happy endings

Here are my top lgbtq+ books with happy endings 🙂 

1. Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey Mcquiston

I seriously couldn't write this post without including Red, White and Royal Blue. It's hyped up so much online. But it's for a good reason.  It's a New Adult enemies to lovers romance. And it also features the fake friendship trope. 

It follows Prince Henry and Alex Claremont Diaz. They cause a scandal in the press and have to pretend to be friends.

It made the New York Times Bestseller list and won a Good Reads Choice award. Also over 30,000 people have reviewed it on Good Reads.

 This is such a comforting book to read. It's an empowering queer romance story that takes place in a parallel universe where a woman with mixed-race children is president. And it has such feel good vibes. 

The relationships between the characters are what make this book so special. The chemistry between the main characters is excellent. And the banter is genuinely really funny. If you're looking for lgbtq+ books with royalty you need to read this!

If you're a Red, White and Royal Blue fan, hold up just a minute - I have a whole blog post dedicated to books like Red, White and Royal Blue. 

2. Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

Her Royal Highness features one of my favourite lesbian characters in Flora. Flora is intelligent, funny and sassy AF. It also features an amazing bisexual character. 

 It's a light-hearted teen romance set in a school. 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.

Not only does this book 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.

It did feel a litte rushed towards the end of the book. But it's still a sweet and  irresistibly charming book. You could easily binge-read this in one sitting. It would be a great book to read on holiday or if you're struggling to get out of a reading slump.

3. Under the whispering door by T.J. Klune

If you're new to fantasy then I highly recommend T.J Klune's work. The writing is easy-to-read and while it includes fantasy elements, this book reads as more of a YA Contemporary.

 It follows Wallace Price. A reaper comes to collect him from his own funeral. But instead of taking him directly to the afterlife, leads him to a tea shop in a small village.

Hugo runs the teashop but is also the ferryman to souls who need to cross over. But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. 

This book deals with so many heavy topics such as death, grief and loss. But despite such heavy topics this is such a light-hearted, comforting read. T.J. Klune uses laughter,  emotions and romance to it. 

If you're looking for fantasy books for beginners, you should definitely pick up some of T.J Klune's work. His writing is fantastic - easy to follow and simplistic with no purple prose.

T.J Klune writes the best mlm fantasy books. If you're looking for mlm fantasy books, you're in luck! I have a whole blog post full of recommendations - you can check out my post on mlm fantasy books here.

4. Perfect on paper by Sophie Gonzales

Perfect on Paper is a cute high school ya romance with a bisexual main character. The bisexual representation is excellent. I think the cover is pretty discreet - it could be any ya romance book.

Perfect on paper follows Darcy Phillips. She runs an anonymous service giving love advice to her classmates via a locker. They slip in their worries and she responds with a carefully worded response. But Alexander Brougham catches her in the act. And in exchange for keeping her secret, he asks her to be his dating coach.

If you like the fake dating trope, I think you’ll really enjoy this book. The ‘dating coach’ concept worked really well. And it allowed for so much character growth and development. I also really enjoyed the romance between Alexander and Darcy.

The discussions around bisexuality and biphobia in this book are excellent. You can clearly tell this is an own voices story. And the discussions around bisexual girls in relationships with guys is absolutely spot on.

Gonzales’ Writing style is excellent. There was no purple prose and it was very easy to read. The teenagers were also written really well. And they were very believable. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between all the characters.

5. She drives me crazy by Kelly Quindlen

I truly believe that you cannot go wrong with the enemies to lovers and fake dating tropes. She drives me crazy is a queer enemies to lovers romance with the fake dating trope. It also is a sports romance , forced proximity and it's set in a high school. 

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.

The light-hearted romance is perfect if you're looking for lgbt books not about coming out. This would also be a great choice if you're looking for books like  One Last Stop or I kissed Shara Wheeler.  It's a cute, light-hearted read. If you're looking for  cozy, feel-good  lgbt books not about coming out then this is a great choice

6. Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

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 lgbt books not about coming out this would be a great pick. It's a New Adult wlw book with an excellent friendship group.  And it's set in an urban city - Seattle. The imagery of the city is incorporated throughout and really makes you want to visit the city.

I'm OBSESSED with enemies to lovers book.  And if you're a fan of enemies to lovers books then I have a ton of recommendations for LGBTQ+ books with the enemies to lovers trop. You can check out my article on LGBTQ+ Enemies to Lovers Books here.

 7. Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker

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. The graphic novel format is perfect for anyone trying to get back into reading. Or if you're recovering from a reading slump.

If you're looking for LGBTQ graphic novels then I have a whole post full of recommendations. You can check out my article on LGBTQ+ Graphic Novels here. 

 7. One last stop by Casey Mcquiston

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's a new adult book featuring a bisexual main character and the found family trope. It also has a cast full of amazing queer characters.

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.  The chaotic roommates and the friendships are incredible.

 The writing is also really funny with great banter. Plus the food imagery is droolworthy. ( If you enjoyed One Last Stop then read this post for more books like One Last Stop)

8. Running with Lions by Julian Winters

Running with Lions is so underrated!  Running with Lions is a sports romance set at a summer camp. It features a bisexual main character and a diverse sports team. It also has an adorable enemies to lovers romance. 

This book follows Sebastian Hughes who is going to a summer training camp. And he is a member of an incredible team where he can be open about his sexuality. But Emir, an old best friend who hates his guts, is also at the camp.

I love how this book deals with sexuality in sports!  There are not enough books that deal explicity with sexuality and diversity within sports. It was so refreshing to read about an accepting football team.

The author is Julian Winters. He started writing because he couldn’t find any books with people like him. Running with Lions won accolades for its positive depictions of diverse, relatable characters. The relationships between the football team are insanely heartwarming. Sebastian’s team is a multi-ethnic group with many different sexual orientations and they almost become a family.

9. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

If you're looking for books with summer vibes then you need to read Felix Ever After. Felix Ever After is an own voices book featuring a black, queer and transgender main character. It has an excellent revenge plot and friends to lovers romance. 

It follows Felix Love who has never been in love.  And he is desperate to experience it.

An anonymous student starts sending him transphobic messages. And the student publicly posts Felix’s deadname.  Along with photos of him before his transition.

Felix decides to plot revenge. But his catfishing lands him in a love triangle.

 Kacen Callender wrote Felix Ever After. Callender also won the Stonewall Book Award and Lambda literary award for Hurricane Child. They do a particularly good job at discussing difficult topics such as class disadvantage, transphobia and body dysmorphia. Oh and it features an adorable friends to lovers m/m romance.

10. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

This is one of those books that is hyped up a lot online. But for good reason! Heartstopper is a bestselling LGBTQ+ YA book.  And it's so popular that it's even being adapted into a Netflix TV Series. It's a friends to lovers romance set in a high school. If you're looking for graphic novels, then you absolutely need to read this one.

The book series follows Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson. Charlie Spring is an openly gay student in year 10.  And he meets Nick Nelson a soft-hearted rugby player in year 11.  They quickly become friends. But could there be something more?

Alice Oseman wrote and illustrated the graphic novel series. She is insanely talented. And she secured her first publishing deal at just 17 years old!

The graphics are stunning!  Seeing the characters faces means you can really feel their emotions while reading it. And it's also an excellent choice if you're in a reading slump or just getting back into reading. Graphic novels are really easy to read. And this is a really light-hearted read.

11. Honey girl by Morgan Rogers

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. It's another great book like One Last Stop as it's set in a city centre with a cute friendship group.  And it has a cute wlw romance with grumpy/sunshine vibes.

12. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldtree

Legends & Lattes is the most perfect cosy fantasy book. And it also features an adorable wlw romance. If you're looking for a low stakes, slice of life books or lgbtq books with happy endings then this is the perfect choice. 

Legends & Lattes follows Viv - an orc barbarian.  She decides to leave her life as a warrior and open the first coffee shop in Thune. 

This book has absolutely everything I love in a book - the found family trope, cosy imagery and a  mystery to solve. Plus it has a cute wlw romance.

There has been so much hype for this book recently. And for good reason. It's the bookish equivalent of nice warm drink. The perfect book for reading curled up on the sofa in Autumn or Winter. 

13. Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron

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 dystopian twist on the classic Cinderella story makes this book so unique. The romance is a bit insta-lovey but it's so well developed that it's still engaging. 

The plot will keep you hooked throughout.  Women overthrowing a dystopian patriarchy. There is also a lot of cottagecore and woodland imagery. Kalynn Bayron writes cottagecore imagery so well. This book will 100% make you want to live in the forest. 

I also LOVE that it's a standalone. Standalone ya fantasy books are hard to find. Let alone with lesbian representation. If you're looking for a lgbtq books with happy endings then I highly recommend Cinderella is Dead.

14. Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash was so ahead of it's time. It was first published in 2009 and contains a wlw romance. While the main character struggled with mental health issues- the focus isn't coming out.  And while the character struggles in the book, it's never due to her sexuality. Plus it has a happy ending.

Ash is a book I’m always torn about. But I had to include it because I love the cottagey world-building in this Sapphic retelling.

Ash is a lesbian Cinderella retelling. It follows Ash who is dealing with the grief of losing her parents. She falls in love with the king’s huntress.

I loved the descriptions of the world such as the woods and the fae. And I instantly really loved the King’s Huntress. But, I wish that the romance had been a little better developed.

However, I love that it focuses on Ash recovering from grief. Mental health is a strong theme throughout and the romance feels secondary. This is a really cosy read and offers great escapism. It’s pretty short and you could easily read this in one sitting.

15. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

If you like the Fake Dating Trope then you absolutely have to read Hani and Ishu's guide to fake dating. It's a ya contemporary with a wlw romance with Muslim and Bengali main characters. It also executes the grumpy/sunshine trope really well.

Hani is bisexual but she is having trouble getting her friends to believe her. Ishu wants to be Head Girl.  

They decide to fake date so that Hani’s friends believe she is bisexual. And to help Ishu in her Head girl campaign.

The bisexual representation is executed so well in this book. There aren't enough books that deal with biphobia. And this explicitly deals with biphobic bullying. 

The fake dating trope is executed perfectly – it leads to so many funny moments. And both characters learn from each other. The writing is really funny and the grumpy/sunshine romance led to so many funny moments. It had me laughing out loud so many times.

 It’s an absolutely adorable book and the romance is perfect. The combination of tropes is executed really well. And this book will never fail to cheer you up.

This post was all about lgbtq books with happy endings