19 Insanely subtle lgbt books with discreet covers

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Recently updated on July 14th, 2024 at 11:28 am

Worried about reading LGBTQ+  books at home? Here you’ll find subtle lgbt books with discreet covers.

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

It makes me so happy seeing books with openly LGBTQ+ characters on the cover. But if you’re not out then it’s not always safe to have such openly LGBTQ+ books at home. 

That does not need to stop you from reading LGBTQ+ books! 

 I’ve compiled a list of subtle lgbt books with discreet covers. Whether you’re looking for contemporary or fantasy, this post has got you covered! 

Let’s see some subtle lgbt books with discreet covers

Subtle lgbt books with discreet covers

Here are some incredible lgbt books with subtle covers. These are all books I have personally read and loved 🙂

1. The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan

This underrated queer middle school book features a sea/ underwater inspired cover. Nothing on the cover above suggests it has LGBTQ+ content. The subtle cover is perfect if you’re looking for lgbt books with discreet covers. 

This underrated queer book is told in verse and follows an 11 year old girl dealing with anxiety.

We follow Stevie. She loves reading and sea creatures. She lives with her mum and has been friends with Andrew since forever. Her mum jokes that one day they’ll get married. 

But Stevie knows that won’t ever happen. There’s a girl at school that she likes more. A lot more. Stevie needs to find out if girls can like girls. But it’s hard to get any information and she’s too shy to ask out loud. 

This profound and emotion read flows well. It deals with anxiety, panic attacks and self identify. And I wish I’d had a book like this when I was younger. 

If you’re looking for lgbtq middle grade, then this would be a great choice.  For even more LGBTQ  Books  for Tweens then check out my blog post full of recommendations.

2. Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

From looking at the cover above, you would just think it was a superhero novel. But this is actually a queer superhero novel with a sapphic romance and a transgender character.

It’s a great choice if you’re looking for lgbt books with discreet covers as it just features a superhero. There  is nothing on the cover that indicates it features a wlw romance. 

It follows Jessica Tran, a bisexual high school student who is resigned to a life without superpowers and decides to start an internship to improve her college applications. However, she quickly discovers it’s for a supervillain with her crush Abby.

Not Your Sidekick is a light, fluffy and fun read. It takes superhero tropes and gives a really refreshing take on a superhero story. If you enjoy urban fantasy books or ya contemporary then you should definitely read this one. The superhero storyline is woven seamlessly into modern everyday life. 

It also manages to tackle a lot of issues while still staying fun. There is a whole series of these and I’ve already added Not Your Villain to my TBR list as I really loved Bells in Not Your Sidekick. (For more incredible queer books about superheroes and supervillains try Nimona by Noelle Stevenson or  Dreadnought by April Daniels)

3. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

This cover looks like many fantasy novels, with a badass sword-wielding main character. You would never realise this has a cast full of openly queer characters. Perfect if you’re looking for lgbt books with discreet covers

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.

This is ideal for Crescent City of Sarah J Maas fans. An urban fantasy with fae, an enticing mystery and romance. Once I picked this up, I couldn’t put this down.

I listened to the audiobook version which you can find on audible. It features a full cast of narrators which made it engrossing.

The voices of Vehan and Nausicaä are so spot on! And you can listen to it on Audible with a free trial.  It’s a great audiobook to put on  if you’re looking for some escapism while you’re cleaning or relaxing before bedtime.

You can’t beat a good Sapphic Fantasy book. If you’re a fantasy lover, then you’re in luck. I have a whole blog post full of wlw fantasy book recommendations. You can check out my article on ya wlw fantasy books here.

4. Malice  by Heather Walter

Malice was a 5 star read for me. And nothing about the stunning cover above hints at an LGBTQ+ plot. You only know that it features a villain.

Malice is a Maleficent retelling. The book is set in a Kingdom called Briar. Once upon a time, a wicked fairy cursed a line of princesses to die. Only true love’s kiss can break the curse.

The book follows Alyce – the dark grace. She was left abandoned in Briar from a dark kingdom. The dark magic that runs in her veins abhors residents in Briar.

Except for Princess Aurora who accepts her. And she encourages Alyce to accept herself.

This book is almost a cross between Wicked and The Hunger Games. But with fae. The world building is darkly magical. And the residents of Briar reminded me of the residents of the Capitol.

If you’re searching for fantasy books with discreet covers then you should definitely read this. The book has SO many good plot twists. It left me on the edge of my seat. And the grumpy/sunshine romance between Alyce and Aurora is absolutely adorable. Plus the cover is really subtle making it perfect for anyone who wants lgbt books with discreet covers.

5. Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron

A Cinderella retelling with a sapphic romance. But you would never know it from the subtle cover above.

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 ya lesbian fantasy book then I highly recommend Cinderella is Dead.

6. Ruinsong by Julia Ember

An underrated book, not recommended enough online. This phantom of the opera inspired fantasy has lush worldbuilding and sapphic romance. The cover is stunning and nothing about it suggests a queer book.

In this world, singers have magic powers when they sing certain songs. And they are able to heal, cause pain and heat people.

Cadence is an incredibly strong mage. She was born in poverty in an orphanage and rises to success. But she works for the evil Queen Elene. And Elene forces Cadence to use her power to torture others.

  But when she is reunited with her childhood friend she must make a choice. Does she take a stand or follow the queen.

This book is like a dystopian and queer phantom of the opera. The world building is so unique. It’s full of strong willed women wearing beautiful ball gowns taking down evil. It’s a dark fantasy where girls take down their enemies while wearing beautiful pink ballgowns.

It also has one of the most unique magic systems with singing as a vehicle for magic.  It was really well developed. And the magic system and well developed characters really hook you into this story.

7. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

Another Kalynn Bayron book with a beautifully subtle cover. This indicates the plant and cottagecore themes in the book. But you wouldn’t know it has a queer storyline. I will say, the second book in this series does not have a subtle cover.

We follow Briseis. She has a magic gift where she can magic tiny seeds grow into rich blooms with a single touch.

Her aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York. And it’s there she must uncover her family’s heritage and secrets.

 This is a quick, fast-paced and easy read. You could easily pick this up and binge read it in one setting. Kalynn Bayron writes plant imagery beautifully. And I absolutely adored the plant and forest imagery.

My only complaint with this book is that the romance was very insta-lovey. And I found it difficult to be invested in the romance.

If you enjoyed Legendborn then you HAVE to read this book. The way mythology is woven into the plot reminds me of how Deonn incorporates Arthurian legends into Legendborn.  It also feature a Black heroine, supportive same-sex parents and elemental magic.

The only caveat is that while This Poison Heart has a discreet cover, the sequel This Wicked Fate doesn’t.

8. Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Girls of Paper and Fire has a beautiful cover. The colours and design are enchanting. And it’s perfect if you’re after lgbt books with discreet covers.

We follow Lei, 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. But the guards return and try to take Lei. She has to learn skills fitting of a King’s Consort. But she falls in love.

The worldbuilding in this book is seriously beautiful. Natasha Ngan was inspired by her own experiences growing up in Malaysia – a country with a mix of cultures. And Ikhara was heavily inspired by this.

The character development is  excellent. I loved the wlw romance in the book. The grumpy/sunshine trope was executed perfectly. The plot of the book is quite dark but it was handled really sensitively

The pacing did lapse a bit in the middle for me. But the character development was so good that I still enjoyed reading it. If you’re looking for lgbt books with discreet covers then you need to add this to your tbr list.

9. Spellhacker by M.K. England

Honestly, this isn’t my favourite book cover. The plot of the book is enchanting, and this doesn’t do it justice. However, this is a discreet cover perfect if you’re after subtle queer books.

Set in a world where magic ( known as maz) was once freely available. But an earthquake unleashed a deadly plague. And now maz is a tightly controlled and expensive commodity.

We follow Diz who runs an illegal maz siphoning business with her three best friends. They get offered one last massive heist that could change everything.

A high-stakes heist, banter and a criminal mastermind. This book opened with a bang and hooked me instantly. Plus the fast pace make this book a quick, binge-read.

If you’re looking for a standalone then you should read Spellhacker. This was a well written standalone.  It felt like a cross between Ready, Player One and Six of Crows. And the subtle cover design is perfect for anyone who wants lgbt books with discreet covers

10. Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

The shade of blue on this cover is beautiful. Pretty and looks lovely on any booklover’s shelves. Plus, nothing about it indicates an LGBTQ+ romance.

 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.

I am OBSESSED with the enemies to lovers romance in this book. In fact, enemies to lovers it’s one of my all time favourite tropes. If you’re searching for wlw enemies to lovers books, then you should 100% check out my blog post full of recommendations.  

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

T.J Klune writes adorable romance books with cozy fantasy worldbuilding. This cover is a beautiful depiction of the cute teashop. But doesn’t give away that it’s a queer romance.

 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.

12. The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl

This is such a pretty cover. The line design, silhouette and colour combination work beautifully together. Again, nothing about the cover suggests LGBTQ+ content.

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 keeps mentioning tantalizing details that keep you engaged.

The story also uses the darker versions of the fairy tales. And this added to the dark academia, mysterious tone of the book. Some reviews do mention the lack of world-building, but I personally preferred this because it kept the plot fast-paced.

13. The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska

The simplicity of this cover works perfectly. The crown and the fire is eye-catching. And suggests nothing about a queer romantasy.

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.

The premise of this book hooked me in straight away. A girl goes to save a guy but instead falls for the ‘villain’.  If you’re looking for a book with an enemies to lovers romance with a morally grey love interest – then this is the book for you. 

It was such an angsty slow bur romance. And Lina and Eva had an amazing grumpy/sunshine dynamic. The cursed romance setup was so well executed and made the book so tragically romantic.

 The worldbuilding is also  really dark, moody and atmospheric. A sea wild tale.  it was beautifully written and I fell in love with the world. Full of bitter witches, sea, salt, blood and sacrifice.

14. 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.

15. The Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

Sawkill girls is perfect if you’re looking for an atmospheric, spooky read. It’s also full of badass, morally grey chaarcters. This is a great choice if you’re looking for subtle lgbt books with discreet covers. There is nothing on the cover that suggests it has LGbTQ+  representation.

Sawkill island has never been safe for young girls. There is a local legend about a paranormal beast who hunts young girls.

We are introduced to three girls: Zoey, Val and Marion. They have the power to save the island. If they are willing to come together and try.

Sawkill Girls is a really dark fantasy audiobook. And it’s definitely not for everyone. The world-building is dark, moody and atmospheric. I love the idea of sapphic girls coming together and using magical powers to conquer evil.

16. Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn

Bitterthorn is a romantasy featuring an eerie mystery, an old castle and a witch. This cover is super discreet and you would never realise this has an LGBTQ+ romance.

An old castle, an eerie mystery and a witch. Bitterthorn is a beautiful dark fantasy with a sapphic romance. The intriguing mystery hooks you in and the fast pace make this easy to binge read.

Bitterthorn is set in Blumwald, a town overshadowed by an ancient curse. In a sinister castle in the depths of the wild wood lives a witch. Once a generation, she claims a companion. Never to be seen again.

We follow Mina, daughter of the Duke. Grieving and lonely, she has lost all hope for any future. So when the Witch demands her next companion, Mina volunteers.

Stranded with her darkly alluring captor, the mystery of what happened to the previous companions draws Mina into the heart of a terrifying secret that could save her life, or end it

This compelling fantasy book has the most stunning, gothic worldbuilding. An old, crumbling castle, wild woods and a small town. The result is a haunting tale of two lost souls finding each other.

17. Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a Sapphic retelling based on the Classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty.  The writing is enchanting and it draws on Persian Mythology for inspiration.  The flower design on the cover gives nothing away about the queer storyline.

We follow Soraya.  A cursed princess is poisonous to the touch. Soraya is only safe in her garden. Hidden away and apart from her family.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon holding the knowledge she craves.  The answer to her freedom.

And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison. Soraya thought she knew her place in the world. But when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming.

Fan of Cinderella is Dead or This Poison Heart? Then you’ll love this! If you’re after Sapphic retellings or a unique ya fantasy, then you need to read this book. 

18. A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

A dark academia inspired cover. Although, don’t hate me but I’m not especially keen on this cover. Something about the colours and illustrations doesn’t work together for me. However, it is discreet.

I was uncertain about the appropriate section to categorize “A Lesson In Vengeance”. Although it contains fantasy elements, it is predominantly a thriller. “A Lesson in Vengeance” is a gothic, dark thriller with multiple twists and turns that take you on a thrilling ride

We follow Felicity Morrrow and is set at Dalloway School. Dalloway School is in the Catskill mountains and is a centuries-old campus. 

And it was her home until the tragic death of her girlfriend. 

But after a year away, she’s returned to graduate. And she even has her old room back in Godwin House. An exclusive dormitory rumoured to be haunted by the spirits of five Dalloway students rumoured to be witches.  The Dalloway Five all died mysteriously on Godwin Grounds.

Witchcraft is woven into Dalloway’s history. Before the death of her girlfriend, Felicity was drawn to the dark. But now she’s determined to leave that behind and graduate. 

But a new girl won’t let her forget. 

And when Ellis asks Felicity for help researching the Dalloway Five, Felicity can’t say no.

19. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Historical fiction is hit or miss for me. However, I loved Last Night at the Telegraph Club. It focuses on lesbian culture and coming of age as a Chinese American in 1950s San Francisco.   This subtle cover shows a beautiful cityscape.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club follows 17 year old Lily Hu. She’s questioning her identity. And she decides to visit a lesbian night club called the Telegraph Club. The Telegraph club offers sanctuary to anyone needing it in an era of  disruption.

America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love. Especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone – including Chinese Americans like Lily.

This book is so well researched and it portrays the challenges of the era beautifully. The story is heart-wrenching and takes you on such an emotional journey. Yet despite this, the book is full of such warmth.

 Lily Hu is a lovable main character and the romance is adorable. It felt realistic for teenagers coming to terms with their identity.

It took me a while to get into the story, but once I did I couldn’t put it down. If you love the found family trope then you need to read this book. The found lesbian trope is executed perfectly in this book.  

This post was all about lgbt books not about coming out

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