Continuing in the tradition that’s been happening on this blog since…last year, I’m documenting some of the many literary accolades that’ve been heaped on incredible LGBTQIAP+ works this year, partly to help you find great books but mostly just so we can bask in the joyous glory. Without further ado, check out what’s been deemed this year’s best of the best!
Middle Grade
The Pants Project by Cat Clarke: Kirkus’s Best Middle-Grade School and Friendship Stories of 2017
Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker: NPR’s Best Books of 2017
Young Adult
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater: a New York Public Library Best Book of 2017, a B&N Best Book of 2017, School Library Journal‘s Best Nonfiction of 2017, a Kirkus Best Teen Nonfiction of 2017,
The Art of Starving by Sam J. Miller: NPR’s Best Books of 2017
At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson: Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library
Dreadnought by April Daniels: a New York Public Library Best Book of 2017, a Kirkus Best Teen Fantasy of 2017
Sovereign by April Daniels, a Kirkus Best Teen Fantasy of 2017
Dress Codes for Small Towns by Courtney Stevens: a Kirkus Best Contemporary Teen Reads of 2017
Far From the Tree by Robin Benway: National Book Award winner, New York Times bestseller, Publishers Weekly Best YA of 2017, one of Bustle‘s 17 Best YA Novels of 2017, a Kirkus Best Contemporary Teen Reads of 2017, Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library, a B&N Best Book of 2017, B&N Teen Blog’s Best YA of 2017, NPR’s Best Books of 2017
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee: New York Times bestseller, Publishers Weekly Best YA of 2017, Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth 2017, a Kirkus Best Teen Books of 2017 with a Touch of Humor, Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library, one of Bustle‘s 17 Best YA Novels of 2017, a New York Public Library Best Book of 2017, a B&N Best Book of 2017, NPR’s Best Books of 2017, New York Magazine‘s 10 best YAs of 2017
Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard: Lambda Literary Award for YA Fiction
History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera: one of Time‘s best YAs of 2017
Ida by Alison Evans: shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2018
I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin: Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo: Stonewall Award (YA)
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan: B&N Teen Blog’s Best YA of 2017
It’s Not Like it’s a Secret by Misa Sugiura: a Kirkus Best Teen Romances of 2017
Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore: Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library, School Library Journal Best YA of 2017, B&N Teen Blog’s Best YA of 2017
Like Water by Rebecca Podos: B&N Teen Blog’s Best YA of 2017
A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo: Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library, a Kirkus Best Teen Mysteries and Thrillers of 2017, New York Magazine‘s 10 best YAs of 2017
Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert: a Kirkus Best Teen Romance of 2017, one of Bustle‘s 17 Best YA Novels of 2017, New York Magazine‘s 10 best YAs of 2017, Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth 2017
Noteworthy by Riley Redgate: a New York Public Library Best Book of 2017
Now I Rise by Kiersten White: B&N Teen Blog’s Best YA of 2017
Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community by Robin Stevenson: Stonewall Honor (YA)
Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager: a New York Public Library Best Book of 2017
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman: Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library
Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy: Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library, a Kirkus Best Teen Romance of 2017
Release by Patrick Ness: Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library, a Kirkus Best Teen Romance of 2017
Spinning by Tillie Walden: Publishers Weekly Best YA of 2017, a New York Public Library Best Book of 2017, Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth 2017, a B&N Best Book of 2017, Top 10 Queer and Feminist Books of 2017 via Autostraddle,
Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee: Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera: New York Times bestseller, School Library Journal Best YA of 2017, Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth 2017, one of Bustle‘s 17 Best YA Novels of 2017, a Kirkus Best Teen Sci-Fi of 2017
This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp: New York Times bestseller
Unbecoming by Jenny Downham: Stonewall Honor (YA)
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour: Publishers Weekly Best YA of 2017, B&N Teen Blog’s Best YA of 2017, Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth 2017, one of Bustle‘s 17 Best YA Novels of 2017, a New York Public Library Best Book of 2017, a B&N Best Book of 2017: Teens
When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore: Stonewall Honor (YA)
Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore: School Library Journal Best YA of 2017, a Kirkus Best Teen Romance of 2017, Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth 2017, Best Teen Fiction of 2017 by Chicago Public Library
Manga/Graphic Novel
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Nagata Kabi: a B&N Best Book of 2017, NPR’s Best Books of 2017
Adult Fiction
Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly: B&N Sci-Fi’s Best SFF Books of 2017
The Angel of History by Rabih Alameddine: Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney: Elle‘s Best Books of 2017, Slate‘s Best Books of 2017, one of Buzzfeed’s 24 Best Fiction Books of 2017
Cottonmouths by Kelly J. Ford: a Los Angeles Review‘s Best Book of the Year
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado: National Book Award finalist, a Los Angeles Review‘s Best Book of the Year, winner of the Bard Fiction Prize, Kirkus Prize finalist, #1 Indie Next Pick for October 2017, Top 10 Queer and Feminist Books of 2017 via Autostraddle, one of New York Times’ Critics’ Top Books of 2017, one of Washington Post‘s 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2017, Los Angeles Times’ Best Books (Fiction) of 2017, Publishers Weekly Best Fiction of 2017, Chicago Tribune‘s Best Books of 2017, Kirkus’s Best Fiction of 2017, Boston Globe‘s Best Books of 2017, Elle‘s Best Books of 2017, NPR‘s Best Books of 2017, Slate‘s Best Books of 2017, Library Journal‘s Best Books (Short Stories) of 2017, Bustle‘s Best Fiction Books of 2017, Entropy Magazine‘s Best of 2017: Fiction Books, Huffington Post‘s The Best Fiction Books of 2017, one of Buzzfeed’s 24 Best Fiction Books of 2017, Commonweal‘s Top Books of 2017
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn: Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction
Into the Blue by Pene Hanson: Lambda Literary Award for Gay Romance
Marrow Island by Alexis M. Smith: Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Fiction
Not One Day by Anne Garréta (trans. by Emma Ramadan): Entropy Magazine‘s Best of 2017: Fiction Books, Albertine Prize 2018 nominee
Pages for You by Sylvia Brownrigg: Kirkus’s Best Fiction to Get Your Book Club Talking of 2017
Small Beauty by jia qing wilson-yang: Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction
Soul to Keep by Rebekah Weatherspoon: Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Erotica
The Stars are Legion by Kameron Hurley: B&N Sci-Fi’s Best SFF Books of 2017, Kirkus’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2017
Wanted, a Gentleman by KJ Charles: a B&N Best Book of 2017
Poetry
Thief in the Interior by Philip B. Williams: Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry
play dead by francine j. harris: Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Poetry (tie)
The Complete Works of Pat Parker edited by Julie R. Enszer: Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Poetry (tie)
Reacquainted with Life, KOKUMO: Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Poetry
When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities by Chen Chen: Library Journal‘s Best Books of 2017 (Poetry)
Non-Fiction
How to Survive a Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS, David France: Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Nonfiction
Black Dove: Mama, Mi’jo, and Me by Ana Castillo: Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Nonfiction
Life Beyond My Body: A Transgender Journey to Manhood in China by Lei Ming and Lura Frazey: Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Nonfiction
Mean by Myriam Gurba: Top 10 Queer and Feminist Books of 2017 via Autostraddle, Library Journal‘s Best Books of 2017 (Memoir)
To My Trans Sisters, ed. by Charlie Cregg: Top 10 Queer and Feminist Books of 2017 via Autostraddle
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life: Essays by Samantha Irby: Autostraddle’s Top 10 Queer and Feminist Books of 2017, one of New York Times’ Critics’ Top Books of 2017, Chicago Tribune’s Best Books of 2017, Elle‘s Best Books of 2017, NPR’s Best Books of 2017,