5 LGBTQIA+ Romance Books to Read During Pride Month Queer love stories for every rainbow heart: between firsts, sexual identity discovery, and a dash of magic
June is known as the month dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community, and just like every year, cities across Italy (and many parts of the world) will be filled with rainbow flags and Pride celebrations. It’s the perfect time to celebrate queer identity, advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, and - why not? - explore the topic more deeply through some heartfelt reads. If you're craving a love story where he kisses him, she kisses her, or they kiss each other (and more), we’ve got you covered with some must-read titles to accompany your Pride Month with a few extra butterflies in your stomach. These books defy the heteronormativity of typical romance stories, offering everything from steamy plots to stolen kisses and strong storylines. What matters most? Finding the right book.
What books to read this Pride Month 2025
Loveless, Alice Oseman (2021, Mondadori)
What if love just isn’t for everyone? Georgia is fundamentally in love with the idea of love, but at 18, she’s never had a crush or her first kiss. Starting university could open her up to new experiences, especially when she meets her roommate, Rooney. Something might spark between them, but as time passes, Georgia realizes that romantic love, as most people define it, might not be for her. Her journey of self-discovery leads her to embrace her asexuality and aromanticism, making this a powerful coming-of-age story. A genuine young adult novel that makes you feel close to the characters, especially Georgia and her friends Pip and Jason, and leaves you asking, “Why is society so obsessed with love?” From the author of Heartstopper and Solitaire.
Make Room for Love, Darcy Liao (2024)
When Mira is saved from her abusive ex by a tall, mesmerizing woman, and that same woman offers her a place to stay while she rebuilds her life, she should be grateful, not falling in love. Isabel is still mourning her breakup and just needs a roommate to help cover rent until the lease ends. As the two navigate shared dinners and wall-mounted shelves, Mira finds herself drawn to Isabel… but she’s always been into men. How can she be attracted to her roommate? This is a slow-burn romance with meaningful themes, including sexuality discovery - Mira is a transgender woman who realizes she’s bisexual - and learning to accept the end of one relationship and the beginning of another. This book reminds us that communication is the most powerful tool we have, and it’s never too late to know ourselves. Available only in English, with explicit sex scenes.
L’Agenzia - Milano, Daniela Barisone & Juls SK Vernet (2019, 2025 Extended Edition, LuxLab)
Loved Stranger Things or Men in Black? Now imagine them gayer—and set in Milan. The Agency doesn’t exist. Not on this plane of existence, at least. But Alessandro Russo has been an agent for what feels like forever. After a mission involving a killer mailbox (which cost three agents their lives and Alessandro an eye), he’s been stuck at a desk in the Communications Division under a boss who only speaks in Lombard dialect. When President Marte assigns him to mentor Daniele Baroni, a new recruit, Alessandro jumps at the chance to return to the field. Between unstable portals, Luisa’s tiramisù, and an Archive with a mind of its own, Russo and Baroni fall for each other, but Daniele is hiding a major secret. Expect explicit sex scenes and connections to future books and the YA spin-off La soglia dell’estate in this urban fantasy romance. The series currently includes five books and is ongoing.
Spell Bound, F.T. Lukens (2023, Gribaudo)
A heartwarming YA fantasy set in a world where magic flows underground and the Consortium controls all things mystical. Rook, born without magic but raised by his witch grandmother, is forbidden from practicing. But he’s not giving up, using a brilliant (and banned) invention, he asks Antonia, one of the strongest witches in town, to take him on as her secretary… and later, her apprentice. Then there’s Sun (they/them), the grumpy apprentice of Fable (they/them), another of the city’s magical elites. Sun and Rook are constantly at odds, or are they drawn to each other? A tender rivals-to-lovers romance with standout non-binary representation, magical intrigue, and plenty of heart.
A Dark and Drowning Tide, Allison Saft (2024, Giunti Editore)
A sapphic dark academia tale with Germanic folklore and gothic vibes. Lorelei, the daughter of cobblers and a member of a marginalized community, is tasked with joining a royal expedition to find the Ursprung, the origin of all magic, thanks to her expertise in folklore. Her mentor, Professor Ziegler, leads the group, along with six noble scholars. When the professor is murdered, the king assigns Lorelei both the investigation and the continuation of the mission. But Sylvia von Wolff, a dazzling princess and magical creature tamer, proves to be a major distraction.