Looking for lgbtq+ graphic novels? Here are 11 enthralling lgbtq+ graphic novels you will actually be obsessed with
This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself.
I am a HUGE Graphic novel fan. Working full time is stressful and time consuming. So I often don't have the time to read very much. Graphic novels are easy to read and you can often finish them in one sitting. They also deal with real world issues in a way that is easier to digest.
But graphic novels are so hit and miss. Some are really well done with creative artwork and great storytelling. But others are disappointing. So as a graphic novel lover, I've compiled the best lgbtq+ graphic novels.
Whether you're looking for wlw graphic novels, mlm graphic novels or lgbtq graphic novels for middle grade - I've got you covered. Hopefully, after reading this post you will have so many more new books on your tbr list.
This post is all about lgbtq+ graphic novels
Read these graphic novels here:
You can find many of these book on Scribd. Scribd is amazing - it's an e-book and audiobook subscription service.
The membership is £10.99. And for that amount you can read as many books and listen to as many audiobook as you want. They also offer a free trial for 30 days.
The best lgbtq+ graphic novels
1. 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. 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.
Good reads rating: 4.03
2. Fence by C.S Pacat and Johanna the Mad
I also read Fence on Scribd. The graphic comic book series follows Nicolas Cox. He's the illegitimate son to an Olympic Champion fencer. And he is determined to make it as a fencer. But the fencing world is uber competitive and he's an outsider. He signs up for a competition. But he's put head-to-head with a fencing prodigy.
I consumed this series so quickly. I could not put it down. The characters are so likeable. Especially Nicolas! And I was so invested in Nicolas making the fencing team. Nicolas and Seiji also have a great potential 'enemies to lovers' romance.
I always feel a strong emotional connection to the characters in graphic novels. But I especially loved the artwork in Fence. Johanna the Mad is insanely talented and created a real atmosphere through the artwork.
Graphic novels ate really easy to read. But this is especially binge-worthy. The found family, diverse cast and school setting make this a perfect choice if you're looking for graphic novels or books like Heartstopper.
Good reads rating: 3.98
3. 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 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
4. The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill
If you're looking for diverse LGBTQ+ YA graphic novels then you need to read some of Kay O'Neill's work. While the plot is very different to Heartstopper - they are still cosy, heartwarming reads.
The Tea Dragon Society is about dragons who grow leaves you can make tea from. But the tea is infused with memories.
We follow Greta a blacksmith apprentice. One day she finds a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners.
This book is adorable, impossibly cute and heart-warming. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and painfully adorable.
Not only is it a beautiful book with a lovely message. But it stars people of color, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ characters. ( If you enjoyed Tea Dragon Society then check out this post for even more LGBTQ+ Books for tweens)
Good reads rating: 4.37
5. Princess Princess Ever After by Kay O’Neill
Another adorable LGBTQ+ YA Graphic novel by Kay O'Neill. Kay O'Neill writes and illustrates the most beautiful, cosy and enchanting graphic novels.
Princes Princess ever after is about two princesses who fall in love. We follow Sadie who is locked in a tower. She is rescued by another princess -Amira. Also, Amira rides a pink unicorn. It’s just as queer and lovely as it sounds.
This is such a comforting book to read. It deals with some really important topics such as feminism, equality and abusive relationships. But it does it in such a lighthearted way.
This is insanely adorable and a really quick read. You can buy the absolutely beautiful hardcover from Amazon -get it here.
Good reads rating: 4.08
6. Heavy Vinyl by Carly Usdin, Nina Vakueva
Heavy Vinyl is a recent read for me. And it’s fantastic! It has a diverse cast, beautiful artwork and features ladies fighting the patriarchy.
It follows Chris. She starts working at her local record store. But her co-workers are keeping something from her. They’re all members of a secret fight club who fight crime.
It features a f/f couples, an all girl fighting club and a 90s setting. The art style is awesome. Plus the found family trope works really well. And the banter between co-workers is hilarious.
It’s definitely more of a light-hearted ‘slice of life;’ type read. So if you’re looking for an action-packed adventure book then this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for some light-hearted escapism then Heavy Vinyl is for you.
Good reads rating: 4.01
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. It also deals with serious topics like loss and difficult family relationships really well.
Good reads rating: 3.85
8. The Backstagers by James Tynion IV and Rian Sigh
Okay, this is such a wholesome LGBTQ+ graphic novel. If you're a fan of Heartstopper, The Tea Dragon Society or the LumberJanes then you'll probably enjoy this one. It's a graphic novel featuring a mlm romance and the found family trope.
It follows Jory. He transfers to an all-boys private high school. But at first he's not happy at the school. Until he's taken in by the only ones who don't treat him like a new kid - the lowly stage crew known as the Backstagers.
The backstagers are a group of students who help backstage at plays. He makes great, lifetime friends. But he is also introduced to an entire magical world that lives beyond the curtain.
This is such a light-hearted, easy read. It's fairly short and the graphic style makes it easy to read pretty quickly. The romance was a bit insta-lovey. But it's such a wholesome read that it doesn't really matter. If you have a train journey this would be the perfect length read.
Good Reads Rating: 3.95
9. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
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.
Good reads rating: 4.52
10. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
One of the top lgbtq+ graphic novels you should read is Nimona. It's an adorable lgbtq+ fantasy graphic novels with dragons, shape-shifters and brilliant characters.
It follows Nimona and Lord Ballister Blackheart. Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter who becomes a sidekick to Lord Blackheart. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. Their mission is to prove that Sir Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.
There is so much to love about this! The storyline kept me hooked and I binge read this in one sitting. The plot is action-packed and full of twists. The humour was excellent. And the banter between the characters is genuinely very funny.
If you enjoy reading books about villains or morally grey characters then you need to pick this up. Nimona is so delightfully evil in such a charming way. The artwork is beautiful and makes this easy to read in one sitting.
Good Reads Rating: 4.15
11. On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
If you like the found family trope then you need to read this graphic novel. It executes the found family trope so perfectly! It also features beautiful artwork and an emotional storyline.
It follows Mia. She joins a team in the deepest reaches of space who rebuild broken-down structures. As a new member, she gets to know her team. It also flashes back to her pivotal year in boarding school, where she fell in love with a mysterious new student.
This has such a creative concept and world. The graphic novel format worked so perfectly and really helped to bring it to life. The storyline is non-linear. Flashbacks of Mia's experience at boarding school are woven into the plot. Non-linear storylines are quite hit and miss for me. But it worked perfectly . And it merged together really well at the end.
If you're looking for a more emotional storyline then this graphic novel is 100% worth picking up. The story is deeply emotional. And will have you in tears by the end.
Good Reads Rating: 4.30
This post was all about lgbtq+ graphic novels
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Insanely thrilling LGBTQ+ YA Fantasy books
The 16 best books like Heartstopper you need to read
Comparison table
Name & Author | Good Reads Rating | Tropes | Representation | Trigger warnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn A. Allen and Noelle Stevenson | 4.03 | Action girl,m absent parents, love triangle, found family | Representation: wlw romance, sapphic main charcters | Drowning, minor blood depiction, phsycial injury |
Fence by C.S.Pacat and Johanna the Mad | 3.98 | Found family, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, hate at first sign | Asain main character, Black main character, mlm relationship, gay main character, queer characters | Abandonment, bullying |
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking up with me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero | 3.98 | Toxic relationship, on again off again, | East Asian lesbian MC; Black, queer & lesbian side characters. | |
The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O'Neill | 3.93 | insta-love, found family | Queer main characters, disabled MC, POC characters | Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, ableism, chronic illness |
Princess Princess Ever After by Kay O'Neill | 4.08 | Friends to lovers, insta love, | wlw relationship, POC characters, queer main characters | Fatphobia, Confinement, Body shaming |
Heavy Vinyl by Carly Usdin, Nina Vakueva | 4.01 | goth girl, found family, lovable misfit, girl next door | wlw romance, queer main characters, same sex parents | Brainwashing, Kidnapping, Fighting, breaking in to places |
Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker | 3.85 | Childhood friend, friends to lovers, | Chinese-American main characters, queer, non-binary, disability (hearing impairment) | Kidnapping, Confinement, Violence, grief, death of a parent |
The Backstagers by James Tynion IV and Rian Sigh | 3.95 | found family, loveable misfits | bullying | |
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman | 4.52 | Friends to lovers, happy ending, grumpy/sunshine | Black, asexual and biromantic characters, bisexual, sapphic characters | Emotionally abusive relationship, homophobia, bullying, self harm, eating disorders, OCD, Psychiatric ward, |
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson | 4.15 | villains, loveable misfits, enemies to lovers, | mlm romance, disabled main character | blood, fantasy violence, limb amputation, murder and “onscreen” death |
On a Subneam by Tillie Walden | 4.30 | misfits, found family, friends to lovers, boarding school | Lesbian protagonist | Bullying (not homophobia-motivated), Graphic injury, Misgendering |
