Pride Month is more than just parades and celebrations—it’s about visibility, community, and honoring the voices and stories that shape the LGBTQ+ experience. One of the most powerful ways to celebrate is by reading stories that reflect diverse identities, share untold histories, and champion authenticity.

Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, these five powerful reads are here to inspire, challenge, and celebrate love in all its forms. From emotional memoirs to creative fiction, each of these titles offers a unique perspective, perfect for your Pride Month reading list.

1. Grimmaeur’s Good by E.H. Allen

Step into a fairy tale where tradition is stood on its head, and love knows no bounds. Winter tests her royal destiny as future queen in a patriarchal kingdom, and Prince Charmant discovers that true love does not always happen the way it should. This bold reimagining of children's characters injects the problems of the real world—identity, equality, and acceptance—into a world of fantasy. With its empowering LGBTQ+ content, it honors the courage to be oneself. A fresh twist on old favorites, this book teaches us that everybody gets their own fairy tale ending. Perfect for reading during Pride Month.

2. Peeling the Onion: From Matthew Shepard's Murder to Don't Say Gay by Charley Shults

This close-up memoir weaves together the author's own experience with the stories of friends, family, and community as it explores the long-lasting impact of oppression and trauma. From his boyhood in Wyoming's "don't ask, don't tell" culture to the outrage at his friend Matthew Shepard's murder, the author spells out how these experiences shaped his fight for social justice. Unfollowing decades of glacial advancement in the midst of mounting negative pushback, from "don't say gay" laws, this is a heart-stopping reflection on resilience, hope, and the never-ending struggle for equality.

3. Freedom Village by Gay Kamber Seltzer

Age waits for no man, but at Freedom Village, seniors get to live on their own terms. Anything but a typical care community, residents Monica, Toni, Ari, Harrison, and Frank open up about their rich, active lives to a vibrant, active community of adventure, humor, and mystery. In the process, they navigate friendship, unravel backroom burglaries, and locate missing relatives, racing a quick-paced, heart-warming story that will brighten your day. Join their escapades and get on the ride!

4. Typewriters in Love by Ralph Douglas Ketcham

Against the cultural context of 1968–69 Halifax, this richly textured novel immerses readers in the music, politics, and counterculture of the day. At its center is the passionate, chaotic romance between Francesca DeFiori and Zoe Verret—two women in the publishing industry living love, identity, and what is tolerated by society as romance. With vivid historical detail, literary style, and indelible characters, this novel coasts to a shocking and explosive climax you won't be able to anticipate

5. My Words by Casey L. Gresham

Blunt, honest, and deeply personal, this memoir is a fearless journey through depression, trauma, and recovery. Through a difficult childhood, battling the demons of depression and the life-changing diagnosis of HIV, the author offers an uplifting narrative of survival and self-discovery. In isolation, they found not only their voice but also a renewed faith and purpose. With writing and reflection, they found inner strength and the truth that one is never truly alone. This book is a beacon of hope for anyone fighting silent wars—reminding us all that healing begins with self-acceptance, and that we are all worthy of love.

Bonus Pick: What Will the Neighbors Think? by S. R. Slack

What will the neighbors think? It's a question that still echoes for so many—those who feel they are different, not accepted, not noticed. This powerful book speaks to all of us who have ever held back their true selves out of fear—because of race, religion, sex, or simply because they didn't quite fit. Written with sensitivity and candor, it touches upon the pain of being "other" and the courage it takes to be who they truly are. An invitation to acceptance and inner strength, this book invites readers to respond yes when the world responds no.

Celebrate Pride Through the Power of Storytelling

Each of these books offers something unique—whether it’s the courage to be yourself, the heartbreak of societal prejudice, or the joy of love in unexpected places. This Pride Month, let these voices lead you through stories that affirm, uplift, and challenge in the best possible ways.

So, curl up in your favorite reading spot, grab one (or all!) of these titles, and let Pride shine through the pages.

Connect with Austin Macauley Publishers for more such blogs, and submit your manuscript if you want to publish your work. You can also make a quick and easy submission through the online submission form. You can stay updated with our new releases and activities by joining our family of authors and readers on Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram.  

Pride Month is more than just parades and celebrations—it’s about visibility, community, and honoring the voices and stories that shape the LGBTQ+ experience. One of the most powerful ways to celebrate is by reading stories that reflect diverse identities, share untold histories, and champion authenticity.

Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, these five powerful reads are here to inspire, challenge, and celebrate love in all its forms. From emotional memoirs to creative fiction, each of these titles offers a unique perspective, perfect for your Pride Month reading list.

1. Grimmaeur’s Good by E.H. Allen

Step into a fairy tale where tradition is stood on its head, and love knows no bounds. Winter tests her royal destiny as future queen in a patriarchal kingdom, and Prince Charmant discovers that true love does not always happen the way it should. This bold reimagining of children's characters injects the problems of the real world—identity, equality, and acceptance—into a world of fantasy. With its empowering LGBTQ+ content, it honors the courage to be oneself. A fresh twist on old favorites, this book teaches us that everybody gets their own fairy tale ending. Perfect for reading during Pride Month.

2. Peeling the Onion: From Matthew Shepard's Murder to Don't Say Gay by Charley Shults

This close-up memoir weaves together the author's own experience with the stories of friends, family, and community as it explores the long-lasting impact of oppression and trauma. From his boyhood in Wyoming's "don't ask, don't tell" culture to the outrage at his friend Matthew Shepard's murder, the author spells out how these experiences shaped his fight for social justice. Unfollowing decades of glacial advancement in the midst of mounting negative pushback, from "don't say gay" laws, this is a heart-stopping reflection on resilience, hope, and the never-ending struggle for equality.

3. Freedom Village by Gay Kamber Seltzer

Age waits for no man, but at Freedom Village, seniors get to live on their own terms. Anything but a typical care community, residents Monica, Toni, Ari, Harrison, and Frank open up about their rich, active lives to a vibrant, active community of adventure, humor, and mystery. In the process, they navigate friendship, unravel backroom burglaries, and locate missing relatives, racing a quick-paced, heart-warming story that will brighten your day. Join their escapades and get on the ride!

4. Typewriters in Love by Ralph Douglas Ketcham

Against the cultural context of 1968–69 Halifax, this richly textured novel immerses readers in the music, politics, and counterculture of the day. At its center is the passionate, chaotic romance between Francesca DeFiori and Zoe Verret—two women in the publishing industry living love, identity, and what is tolerated by society as romance. With vivid historical detail, literary style, and indelible characters, this novel coasts to a shocking and explosive climax you won't be able to anticipate

5. My Words by Casey L. Gresham

Blunt, honest, and deeply personal, this memoir is a fearless journey through depression, trauma, and recovery. Through a difficult childhood, battling the demons of depression and the life-changing diagnosis of HIV, the author offers an uplifting narrative of survival and self-discovery. In isolation, they found not only their voice but also a renewed faith and purpose. With writing and reflection, they found inner strength and the truth that one is never truly alone. This book is a beacon of hope for anyone fighting silent wars—reminding us all that healing begins with self-acceptance, and that we are all worthy of love.

Bonus Pick: What Will the Neighbors Think? by S. R. Slack

What will the neighbors think? It's a question that still echoes for so many—those who feel they are different, not accepted, not noticed. This powerful book speaks to all of us who have ever held back their true selves out of fear—because of race, religion, sex, or simply because they didn't quite fit. Written with sensitivity and candor, it touches upon the pain of being "other" and the courage it takes to be who they truly are. An invitation to acceptance and inner strength, this book invites readers to respond yes when the world responds no.

Celebrate Pride Through the Power of Storytelling

Each of these books offers something unique—whether it’s the courage to be yourself, the heartbreak of societal prejudice, or the joy of love in unexpected places. This Pride Month, let these voices lead you through stories that affirm, uplift, and challenge in the best possible ways.

So, curl up in your favorite reading spot, grab one (or all!) of these titles, and let Pride shine through the pages.

Connect with Austin Macauley Publishers for more such blogs, and submit your manuscript if you want to publish your work. You can also make a quick and easy submission through the online submission form. You can stay updated with our new releases and activities by joining our family of authors and readers on Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram.