As the days are getting colder and greyer and winter approaches, there’s no better time to grab a cup of tea and cosy up with a good queer book.

We have put together a list of wonderful queer titles, so all you have to do is pick.

Where the boys are – Christopher Murphy
If you’re looking for a book that will keep you on your toes, you’ll find exactly that in Christopher Murphy’s latest LGBTQ+ thriller, Where The Boys Are. Among murder, martinis, and mayhem rule, love-cursed journalist Quinn Harris has to navigate unpredictable turns and blasts from his past in this exciting read.

Long Live Queer Nightlife: How the Closing of Gay Bars Sparked a Revolution – Amin Ghaziani
Diving into the secret parties and underground club nights, acclaimed author Amin Ghaziani brings readers along on a journey to discover a powerful queer world of self-celebration, imagination and joy. In this exploration of London’s contemporary queer nightlife, you will meet queer, trans and racial minority creatives that are keeping the party alive beyond the gay bar.

Blessed Water – Margot Douaihy
In this thrilling sequel, iconic punk-nun sleuth Sister Holiday returns to follow the clues and throw herself into the deep end yet again. Described as “a queer edgy Agatha Christie-type read”, this gory New Orleans mystery will captivate you and keep you entertained.

Voices for Transgender Equality – Thomas J Billard
Through rich storytelling and insightful analysis, author Thomas J Billard offers an insider’s view into transgender activism during the first two years of the Trump administration. After Trump was elected president of the United States again, it is more important than ever to understand how these activists navigated the complex flows of information and built strategies to platform the voices of the trans community.

Prospect Cottage: Derek Jarman’s House – Gilbert McCarragher
Through architectural photography, artist Gilbert McCarragher captures Prospect Cottage, the personal sanctuary of filmmaker and gay activist Derek Jarman, who bought the house in 1986, the same year he was diagnosed with HIV.

The Old Man and the Queer – Jeff Comerchero and E.J Radford
In an unlikely friendship story, 77-year-old Republican, retired mayor Comerchero and 25-year-old queer barber Radford meet because of a haircut. Authors Jeff Comerchero and E.J Radford, who are also the main characters, pull from their lives to create a tale of finding acceptance and setting biases aside.

When We Were Silent – Fiona McPhillips
Published in early May, Fiona McPhillips’s debut novel explores themes of class and privilege, the effects of the church on education in the 80s and more. It follows the main character Lou Mason, as she exposes a deep-rooted culture of abuse and silence at her elite school in Dublin.

Butt Seriously – Dr. Evan Goldstein
This cheeky book is a wonderful ‘first-of-a-kind’ guide to anal sex and health, aiming to challenge the embarrassment and stigma that surrounds such discussions. The book offers advice on training exercises, sex positions, toys to use and things to do when things go awry, making it a great medically accurate sex-ed resource and the perfect queer book to spice up your winter nights.

Cruising Archaeology – SMUT Press
Launched by the awesome folks behind SMUT Press, Cruising Archaeology covers the concept of cruising, walking, driving or travelling around common and public areas such as parking lots, forests or public restrooms. The project sees anonymous artists reconstitute detritus and debris discarded in over half a dozen renowned cruising locations around London into cultural artefacts.

Category Is: Cocktails! – David Dodge and David Orton
If you’re looking for something to spice up the holidays this year, this book has just what you need. It features 60 cocktail and zero-proof drinks, gorgeous illustrations and profiles that celebrate sixty of the most iconic drag queens, drag kings and non-binary and gender non-conforming performers, including RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Kim Chi, Trixie Mattel, and Latrice Royale. Ready to raise your glass?

Bias Was a Genius: The Diversity Practitioners Handbook – Tim Hardy-Lenik
In this handbook, Tim Hardy-Lenik uses their experiences as not only an industry leader, but a gay, disabled, genderqueer father to discuss topics such as exploring challenges and motivations with diversity, equity and inclusion.

Homebody – Theo Parish
In this graphic novel, Theo Parish illustrates a heartwarming story for trans and non-binary individuals to see a bit of themselves and find comfort in their identities. The novel balances the experiences of gender dysphoria and gender euphoria in the author’s personal story, which speaks to the human need to find a home in oneself.

The Whitewashed Tombs – Kwei Quartey
In this riveting and timely new mystery, acclaimed Ghanaian American writer Kwei Quartey delivers a personal account of the dark reality of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation threatening to tear Ghana apart. In the book, Quartey reflects on his pain as a queer man witnessing his native country turn its back on the culture of warmth and kindness he once knew.

Somebody’s Dilemma – Joshua Valentine
This science fiction novel details the first and last weeks of a human raised by an artificial intelligence mother. Drag artist Joshua Valentine uses not only prose, but also a collection of photography to bring this queer book to life and make it the perfect winter read.

How to Be Queer: An Ancient Guide to Sexuality
This irresistible anthology showcases ancient Greek writings that explore queer desire and love. Filled with enthralling stories, the book invites readers to reflect on how the idea of sexuality being fluid is not a new one.

Reeling in the Queer – Páraic Kerrigan
Kerrigan’s book, Reeling in the Queers, is an exploration of lesser-known stories of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights since 1974. This work explores the stories of ordinary people who did extraordinary things to change queer Ireland and Irish culture.

A Great Gay Book: Stories of Growth, Belonging & Other Queer Possibilities
This is a collection of art, essays, short fiction, poetry, interviews, profiles, and photography from the archives of the beloved queer magazine Hello Mr. This groundbreaking indie magazine became the first home for some of the most prestigious queer voices of a generation.

Thom Gunn: A Cool Queer Life – Michael Nott
This book is a landmark study of one of England’s most revolutionary poets, chronicling Gunn’s largely undocumented life. After meeting his life partner, Mike Kitay, in his mid-twenties, Gunn followed him to America and became one of the great poet-documenters of San Francisco’s queer culture.

This concludes our list of queer books to discover this winter. If you think we’ve missed one, get in touch at [email protected].