7 Unforgettable Modern LGBTQIA+ Authors And Their Books

Rachel Lacey's (she/her) adult contemporary romance, Cover Story, which was released in 2024, makes for a great read any time of year, and so does her most recent sapphic friends-to-lovers contemporary romance, Margin of Error, published in February 2026. Want to read even more from this author? Add the Ms. Right series to your TBR as well!

Lacey is an award-winning author who debuted in 2014 with her M/F romance novels that she’s in the process of republishing under R.S. Lacey! Aside from writing, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and cuddling up with her rescued furry friends.

While I didn’t get the chance to connect with Lacey during Pride Month, in the past, she described her experience with coming out and how she discovered she was bisexual. What surprises her the most is that reading and writing sapphic romance played a big role in her realizing she had never explored her identity but had only assumed she was straight, since she had no personal experience to believe otherwise. Lacey explained that it wasn’t until she was almost 40 years old that she began identifying as bisexual.

Cover Story follows an injured security guard who, instead of resting, jumps at the chance to give security to one of her favorite celebrities. To keep her safe, they must masquerade as a couple and try not to fall head-over-heels for each other before the “job” is done. Where does the line between a romantic partner and a platonic protector end? Lacey will most definitely help you find it!

James L. Sutter‘s (he/him) most recent release, The Ghosts of Us, was published in 2024. Sutter is an award-winning YA and fantasy author based in Seattle, USA who loves comics and video games. He’s also spent time performing with musical acts ranging through a variety of genres.

I had the pleasure of speaking to him about his feelings towards Pride Month and his point of view as an LGBTQIA+ author, which he described: “As a bisexual, I worried for a long time that Pride wasn’t for me—that I was only *halfway* queer and thus didn’t belong the way my gay or trans friends do. But queerness shouldn’t be a contest. If you’re queer, you’re queer, and you belong here. So for Pride Month, I try to remember that younger version of me and speak up to let the folks who worry they’re not queer enough to claim the label know that it’s okay—you're in the family. Welcome home.”

The Ghost of Us follows a high school ghosthunter who wants nothing more than documented proof of ghosts. Her mission takes an interesting turn when she connects with the spirit of a former upperclassman from her high school, who offers her the most promising deal of all: help him cross to the afterlife by ensuring his younger sister is cared for and happy. If she can’t convince his sister to be with her, she’ll lose her once-in-a-lifetime chance at proof of the supernatural.

Author Holly Dunwall (she/they) is from New Zealand but currently lives in the USA with their feline friends. Dunwall is open about their autism on Instagram, where they share their latest releases and works in progress. They cover genres beyond fantasy, including romance, and include plus-size and neurodivergent representation in their stories.

When asked for a quote about her connection to Pride Month, Dunwall had this to say: “Pride month is a month of celebrating being yourself without fear of judgment, something I’ve struggled with for a long time. Surrounding myself with queer stories and interacting with other queer people has been amazing.”

I also had the opportunity to ask Dunwall how she honors herself or others during Pride Month: “I love writing about sapphic romance! Working on my stories and reading sapphic romance books is what I do. I’m currently reading Honeybloods by I.S. Belle!”

Dunwall’s most popular release, Freaks of Honor, was independently published in 2024 and follows a father-daughter duo tasked with leading the daughter of a king to the capital as they try to rebuild their family name. The novel blends fantasy, romance, and sapphic romance all into one perfect story.

If you want to read more from this author be sure to check out Last Christmas Before the Dawn which is a paranormal romance, Smuggling Hearts if you want more fantasy and be sure to keep an eye out for their newest sapphic southern gothic novel, These Lunar Bonds, which is being published in June 2026.

Aiden Murray (he/him) is the author of Knight of Elysia, published in 2022. He’s a lover of fantasy and romance stories, which led him to write the Elysia series, which as of 2026 consists of 4 published books.

When speaking about his gratitude for Pride Month, Murray explained: “Pride is a time to live loudly and honestly for those who cannot. It’s a celebration of all the community has overcome, and for me, it’s a time to be thankful for being able to live authentically. I always live my truth, but I walk a little taller and present more confidently during Pride Month. I am very proud of who I am and share it through my writing so others may feel comfortable living their truth.”

Murray’s role as an author proves itself as he describes his love for writing LGBTQIA+ and non-binary characters to lead his stories. His book, Knight of Elysia, features a couple who are doomed to defend their home amid their wedding planning while keeping their families at bay. Tasked with defeating not only fantastical creatures but the threats rising between them, they must come together to save their home.

Author Amanda Weaver (she/her) writes LGBTQIA+ horror featuring POC main characters and mythical creatures. When she's not writing, Weaver also reads and makes YouTube videos on her channel, Amanda Thee Author, which are so refreshing to watch! Some of my favorite books from Weaver include No One’s Gonna Take Her Soul Away and In the House of Transcendence.

When I got the chance to ask Weaver about her connection to Pride Month, she expressed: “For me, Pride means celebrating all my queer elders who came before, especially those who are black and brown, who fought to ensure we could be more present and open as we are now. It means educating myself on queer history and reveling in all the wonderful art we create, and I include myself in that! I honor myself this month, which is also my birthday month, by doing whatever makes me happy at the moment as much as possible.”

No One’s Gonna Take Her Soul Away follows a woman who is killed and mistakenly sent to Pandemonia (Weaver’s version of Hell) as she fights her way back to the human world to find her killer and escape the nightmare she’s faced with.

Rin Chupeco (they/them) currently resides in the Philippines and is a descendant of the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and China. Their young adult fantasy novel, The Sacrifice, is creepy with plenty of horror elements and features fantastic LGBTQIA+ representation. Other books by this author that deserve a spotlight include The Bone Witch and The Girl from the Well series, but they have plenty more books that should land a spot on your TBR so be sure to check those out as well.

Although I didn’t get the chance to chat with Chupeco about their personal experiences during Pride Month, in the past, they’ve noted that their identity and sexuality naturally work into their novels without thought. Chupeco has also mentioned wanting to focus more on non-binary protagonists in their future projects, and they’ve done so in their middle-grade novel The Tale of the Gravemother, which was published in 2023. I can’t wait to read more from them in the future.

The Sacrifice depicts a Filipino island haunted by generations of lore and legend. While locals won’t dare to go near it, a Hollywood film crew believes nothing can stand in their way. As the island proves itself deadly within minutes of their arrival, the crew decides the only person they can trust to guide their way is a local teen who knows the history of the land they’re on.