Here at LGBTQReads the sole non-donation income that keeps the site running does come from a certain website’s affiliate links, but don’t let that fool you into thinking we don’t love indies, especially the ones that carry small-press/self-pub queer books! To celebrate those very stores, here are a bunch of links to celebrate indie bookstore day the best way possible and get some amazing books in the process!
This will be an annual feature, so if a bookstore you love isn’t on this year’s list, it may be on next year’s! I obviously couldn’t feature every store or every book, but if this post sells a few books and even helps people find some signed copies of their faves, I feel good about it!
Note: I did not list a book as signed if the *listing* for the book did not say it, but many of these books were pulled from “Signed Books” lists on the sites. If you want a signed copy, double check!
Shop at…
Anderson’s Bookshop (Naperville, IL)
YA
- Kaleidoscope Song by Fox Benwell
- Proxy by Alex London
- Black Wings Beating by Alex London
- When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
- Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
Book Culture (NYC Area)
Adult
- In at the Deep End by Kate Davies (preorder)
- Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
- Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (preorder)
The Brain Lair (South Bend, IN)
PB
- When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff (preorder)
MG/YA
- Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju (preorder)
- I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver (preorder)
- Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett (preorder)
- Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
- If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann (preorder)
- The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag
- It’s Not Like It’s a Secret by Misa Sugiura
Adult
- River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey
- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Non-Fiction
- The Stonewall Riots by Gayle Pittman
Brazos Bookstore (Houston, TX)
YA
- His Hideous Heart ed. by Dahlia Adler (preorder)
- This is What it Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow
- The Afterward by E.K. Johnston
- It’s a Whole Spiel ed. by Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman (preorder)
- Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig
- Sadie by Courtney Summers
Adult
- Everything Under by Daisy Johnson
- In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (preorder)
- Lot: Stories by Bryan Washington
Gay’s the Word
Books of Wonder (NYC, NY)
PB
- Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
MG
- The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake
- Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
YA
- Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
- What if it’s Us? by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
- This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender
- Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy (signed)
- Look Both Ways by Alison Cherry
- Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova (signed)
- Rule by Ellen Goodlett (signed)
- For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig (signed)
- Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner
- Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand (signed)
- The Spy With the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke (signed)
- All Out ed. by Saundra Mitchell
- Unbroken ed. by Marieke Nijkamp
- The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston (signed)
- Jack of Hearts (and other parts) by L.C. Rosen
- More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
- History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
- They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
- Toil & Trouble ed. by Jessica Spotswood & Tess Sharpe
McNally Jackson (NYC, NY)
Adult
- Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett (preorder)
- Less by Andrew Sean Greer
- Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor
- Notes of a Crocodile by Qin Miaojin
- Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Little Shop of Stories (Decatur, GA)
YA
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
- Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
- What if it’s Us? by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
- Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
- The Meaning of Birds by Jaye Robin Brown
- All Eyes on Us by Kit Frick (preorder)
- Social Intercourse by Greg Howard
- Odd One Out by Nic Stone
- Anything Could Happen by Will Walton
- I Felt a Funeral in My Brain by Will Walton
- Running With Lions by Julian Winters
Fountain Bookstore (Richmond, VA)
PB
- Love is Love by Michael Genhart
- Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack
- Jack (Not Jackie) by Erica Silverman
- Pride Colors by Robin Stevenson
- From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom
MG
- Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
- Hazel’s Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow (preorder)
- Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
- Where the Heart Is by Jo Knowles
- Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby (preorder)
YA
- Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
- Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (preorder)
- The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle
- Boy Girl Boy by Ron Koertge
- The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
- Far From You by Tess Sharpe
Adult
- Edinburgh by Alexander Chee
- An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
- Sugar Run by Mesha Maren
Joseph-Beth Booksellers (OH/KY)
YA
- Ziggy, Stardust and Me by James Brandon (preorder)
- Noteworthy by Riley Redgate
- Final Draft by Riley Redgate
- If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
- Birthday by Meredith Russo (preorder)
- The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante
NA/Adult
- Out on Good Behavior by Dahlia Adler
- The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
- Off Campus by Amy Jo Cousins
- What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell
- Lover’s Mercy by Fiona Zedde
Malaprop’s (Asheville, NC)
YA
- Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy
- The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus (preorder)
- The Boy and Girl Who Broke the World by Amy Reed (preorder)
- Kiss Number 8 by Colleen AF Venable
Murder by the Book (Houston, TX)
Adult
- A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne
- The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall (preorder)
- The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka
Myst Galaxy Books (San Diego, CA)
YA
- Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert
- A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo
- Ruse by Cindy Pon
- The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston
- Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
- The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding
- Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas
- Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas (preorder)
- And I Darken by Kiersten White
Adult
- An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Northshire Bookstore (NY/VT)
YA
- Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
- Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan
- Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
- The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman
- The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan
- We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
- Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
- Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
- Spinning by Tillie Walden
Adult
- Leading Men by Christopher Castellani
- The Ashford Place by Jean Copeland
- Willa & Hesper by Amy Feltman
- Royal Court by Jenny Frame
- Sugar Run by Mesha Maren
- Northern Lights by Raymond Strom
Oblong Books (Rhinebeck, NY)
MG
- Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
- Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker
- Star Crossed by Barbara Dee
- George by Alex Gino
YA
- Inkmistress by Audrey Coulthurst
- The Spy With the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke (signed)
- Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp
- This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
- The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie
- Hullmetal Girls by Emily Skrutskie
- Kiss Number 8 by Colleen AF Venable
Adult
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado (signed)
- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
- Casting Lacey by Elle Spencer
One More Page Books (Alexandria, VA)
YA
- The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake (preorder)
- The Resolutions by Mia Garcia (signed)
- Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett (preorder)
- Reverie by Ryan La Sala (preorder)
- Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh (signed)
- Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig
- White Rabbit by Caleb Roehrig
- Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig
- A Darkly Beating Heart by Lindsay Smith
- Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley
- Pulp by Robin Talley
- Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
- The Brightsiders by Jen Wilde
- Going Off Script by Jen Wilde (preorder)
- How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters (preorder)
Park Road Books (Charlotte, NC)
YA
- I Wish You All The Best  by Mason Deaver (signed preorder)
- Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith (signed preorder)
- We Are Okay by Nina Lacour
- The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta
- The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali  by Sabina Khan
- Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria
- Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake
Adult
- Clio Rising by Paula Martinac (signed preorder)
- Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
- Sugar Run by Mesha Maren (signed)
- The Black Tides of Heaven by JY Yang
- The Psychology of Time Travel by Karen Mascarenhas
- On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (preorder)
- Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
Poetry
- shame is an ocean i swim across by Mary Lambert
- Aftermath by Thomas March
- Take Me With You by Andrea Gibson
Parnassus (Nashville, TN)
MG/YA
- Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake
- The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake
- How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake
- Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake
- Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert
- The Art of Starving by Sam J. Miller
- Dress Codes for Small Towns by Courtney Stevens
Adult
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
- Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller
- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (preorder)
Powell’s (Portland, OR)
MG/YA
- Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember
- The Tiger’s Watch by Julia Ember
- The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember
- The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman
- At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson
- We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia (signed)
- The Art of Starving by Sam J. Miller
- Hero by Perry Moore
- Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz
- Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz
- A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz
- If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
- Birthday by Meredith Russo
- Keep This to Yourself by Tom Ryan (preorder)
- Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz
- Timekeeper by Tara Sim
- Forgive Me if I’ve Told You This Before by Karelia Stetz-Waters
- My Myself & Him by Chris Tebbetts (preorder)
NA/Adult
- Cottonmouths by Kelly J. Ford
- Under a Falling Star by Jae
- Vow of Celibacy by Erin Judge
- Perfect Pairing by Rachel Spangler
- Edge of Glory by Rachel Spangler
- Longing and the Lack by C.M. Spivey
Quail Ridge Books (Raleigh, NC)
YA
- Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Books by Jaye Robin Brown
- The Meaning of Birds by Jaye Robin Brown
- I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver (preorder)
- We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
- Over You by Amy Reed
- The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed
- The Last to Let Go by Amber Smith
- Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith
The Ripped Bodice (LA, CA)
PB
- Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian/Mike Curato
- Maiden & Princess by Daniel Haack and Isabel Maduro/Becca Human (signed)
YA
- Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler
- Something Like Summer by Jay Bell
- Style by Chelsea M. Cameron
- Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
- Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
- Seven Tears at High Tide by CB Lee
- Not Your Sidekick by CB Lee
- Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
- Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (signed)
- I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
- Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi (signed)
NA/Adult
- Sweet and Sexy by Jeff Adams
- Out on Good Behavior by Dahlia Adler
- Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault
- Marriage of Unconvenience by Chelsea M. Cameron
- Chef’s Table by Lynn Charles
- Olympia Knife by Alycia Constantine
- A Royal Romance by Jenny Frame
- Stuck Landing by Lauren Gallagher
- Tales from Perach by Shira Glassman
- The Mystic Marriage by Heather Rose Jones
- Vow of Celibacy by Erin Judge
- Blueberry Boys by Vanessa North
- In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish
- A Gentleman in the Street by Alisha Rai (signed)
- Definitely, Maybe, Yours by Lissa Reed
- A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice (signed)
- Hush by Jude Sierra
- Better Off Red by Rebekah Weatherspoon (signed)
- The Fling by Rebekah Weatherspoon
- At Her Feet by Rebekah Weatherspoon (signed)
The Strand (NYC, NY)
YA
- Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake
- This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender
- Dreadnought by April Daniels
- We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
- Runebreaker by Alex Kahler
- We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
- Not Your Sidekick by CB Lee
- Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
- Ash by Malinda Lo
- Black Wings Beating by Alex London
- Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
- All Out ed. by Saundra Mitchell
- Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy
- Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
- They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
- Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
Adult
- The First Bad Man by Miranda July
- When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri
- Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
- A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Third Place Books (Seattle, WA)
PB
- Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, ill. by Stevie Lewis
- Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
MG
- Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker
- Zenobia July by Lisa Bunker (preorder)
- George by Alex Gino
- The Whispers by Greg Howard
YA
- Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
- Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
- We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
- By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery (preorder)
- Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Adult
- My Brother’s Husband, Vol. 1 by Gengoroh Tagame/Anne Ishii
- Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala
- Everything Under by Daisy Johnson
- My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Nagata Kabi
- She of the Mountains by Vivek Shraya
- Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
Nonfiction
- Boy Erased by Garrard Conley
- On Christopher Street: Transgender Stories by Mark Seliger
Poetry
- masquerade by Cyrus Parker (preorder)
- Don’t Call Us Dead by Danez Smith
Trident Booksellers and Cafe (Boston, MA)
YA
- Run by Kody Keplinger
- The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
- The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
- All Out ed. by Saundra Mitchell
- The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus (preorder)
Adult
- Less by Andrew Sean Greer
- Who is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht
- The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka
Writer’s Block Bookstore (Winter Park, FL)
YA
- Island of Exiles by Erica Cameron
- Assassins: Discord by Erica Cameron
- The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman
- Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller
- Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy
- Out of Salem by Hal Schrieve
- Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
Adult
- Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett (preorder)
- My Education by Susan Choi
- Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn (preorder)
- Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
- Stray City by Chelsey Johnson
- Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
- Tin Man by Sarah Winman