June marks Pride Month, which is meant to celebrate and advocate for LGBTQIA people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual).

Since manga is what I primarily read–I don’t seem to dip into fiction as much anymore–I thought I’d recommend some great books for queer readers with queer characters and queer storylines.

The queerest, most beautiful series I have ever read: Our Dreams at Dusk

Here’s the official series description:

Not only is high schooler Tasuku Kaname the new kid in town, he is also terrified that he has been outed as gay. Just as he’s contemplating doing the unthinkable, Tasuku meets a mysterious woman who leads him to a group of people dealing with problems not so different from his own. In this realistic, heartfelt depiction of LGBT+ characters from different backgrounds finding their place in the world, a search for inner peace proves to be the most universal experience of all.

It’s been a few years since I’ve read this series, but I remember I nearly cried as I went through it. This features a tender story of a boy who has a crush on a handsome, popular kid, and his terror of being outed. The boy, Tasaku, meets an asexual woman referred to in the manga as Someone-san, who sort of herds LGBTQIA people together in a natural and inclusive way through a casual neighborhood/after-school club. We have lesbian and gay and trans characters. We have people who are questioning and people who are cemented in their identity. The story is emotional and profound, and I’m so glad I read it. I think everyone needs to read this, regardless of their sexuality or gender.

An ongoing Boys Love series filled with humor and deep emotion: Secret XXX, Therapy Game, and Therapy Game: Restart

I reckon I’ve read hundreds of BL manga, from one-shots to ongoing series. The one I will always recommend is Secret XXX, its spinoff Therapy Game, and the follow-up Therapy Game: Restart, which is still adding volumes.

These books make up an entire universe of tales. To meet all the characters for the very first time, you need to read Secret XXX first. Here’s the official blurb:

Shohei loves bunnies! He loves them so much he’s even taken to volunteering at a local pet shop. Store owner Mito is as sweet and kind as the fuzzy critters he cares for, and it’s not long before Shohei finds himself wanting to cuddle with him as much as the bunnies! But Shohei is hiding a dangerous secret, one that makes this dream an unlikely reality.

We meet Shohei and Mito’s brothers for the first time in Secret XXX, although they are side characters in this one. But you can see the foundations being laid for what will become Therapy Game and Therapy Game: Restart. The Therapy Game manga focuses on Shohei’s brother Shizuma, and Mito’s brother Minato.

Here’s the description for Therapy Game:

Sparks fly in this spinoff of Secret XXX featuring Shouhei’s older brother Shizuma and Mito’s younger brother Minato after a drunken fling!

Shizuma only drank that night to forget his heartbreak. He didn’t intend to also forget Minato, the one-night stand who soothed his broken heart. And since Minato’s not one to be forgotten, he hatches a plan of seduction…and revenge!

Recently dumped, and very straight, Shizuma tries to drink his sorrow away, only to wake up being spooned by a man!

When he explains to Minato, his drunken fling, that he doesn’t remember a thing about their night together, Minato secretly vows to seduce him again—and then dump him as revenge! But even the best-laid plans can go awry when Cupid has his way.

Over the course of these two books Shizuma and Minato become an incredible couple, and it’s a pleasure watching their love story bloom. Then, Therapy Game Restart takes us further into their lives:

Shizuma and Minato are officially a couple. But Shizuma, now a resident veterinarian, is so busy he barely has time to catch his breath, let alone go on a date. When he finally manages to find time for Minato, the universe intervenes once again, and he learns quickly that his feisty new beau is not to be ignored!

In addition to the wonderful story that is filled with humor, emotion, devotion, and some tragedy from the past, the artwork is also gorgeous. I love Meguru Hinohara’s style and characterizations. And all of these books are uncensored, too, so you can see how beautiful everyone’s bodies are (and take this as a warning if you don’t like nudity).

A hilarious Girls Love series about misunderstandings and different personalities: Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko!

Here’s a description of the series, which is ongoing:

This girls love workplace rom-com by popular Twitter artist Sal Jiang features two lovestruck coworkers — who each think the other is straight!

Ayaka is passionately, head over heels in love with her work senior, Hiroko. But no matter how hard she tries to catch her eye, the polished, professional Hiroko never seems to get the hint. What’s a girl supposed to do to prove her love to her boss?

Hiroko isn’t out at work — though she’s got a reputation for being a real womanizer in the local lesbian community. But her self-control is tested when her beautiful and busty work subordinate starts getting awfully close to her…

How’s a professional supposed to stay cool when she’s sure that Ayaka is totally straight?

I actually reviewed Book One here and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The fact that both women take each other as straight is really silly–especially with Ayaka very obviously and totally throwing herself at Hiroko, who is completely oblivious. I think it’s an interesting touch that Hiroko is secretly a womanizer, too…which adds more conflict to this will-they-or-won’t-they get-together love story.

I haven’t gotten into Books Two or Three yet (Three doesn’t come out until June 16) but I plan on catching up soon.

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Honestly, I could go on and on with recommendations but I’m going to stop here. I can see myself doing this yearly, honestly, so maybe I’ll save my other goodies for next June. In the meantime, I hope you check these out. They are my tops among the genre.