An estimated 35,000 official marchers are expected to take part in the annual Pride in London parade on 4th July, with events spanning from Trafalgar Square's main stage to the Trans and Non-Binary Stage in Soho Square. Amid the celebrations, queer literature is being celebrated in pop-ups and iconic bookshops, including Aesop's Queer Library in Soho and Bloomsbury's historic Gay's the Word.
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Winner of the Women's Prize, this novel is set in the 1960s rural Netherlands. It explores the tense relationship between a rigidly controlled woman and her brother's new girlfriend, building into a powerful post-war historical reckoning.
Bellies by Nicola Dinan
This tender contemporary novel follows two London university graduates, Tom and Ming. When Ming comes out as a trans woman, the story examines how love and friendship evolve through transition, offering a beautiful testament to relationship resilience.
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Widely regarded as the ultimate Sapphic historical thriller, set in Victorian London. It follows orphan Sue Trinder, recruited to swindle a wealthy heiress, leading to a twisted plot of betrayals and unexpected romance.
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
This dark comedy follows three people in New York—a trans woman, her detransitioned ex-partner, and a cis woman—as they navigate an unconventional pregnancy and co-parenting. It's a boundary-pushing look at queer domesticity and motherhood.
Revolutionary Acts: Love & Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain by Jason Okundaye
This vital social history maps the lives, joy, and activism of Black gay men in Britain from the 1970s through the 1990s. Drawing on oral histories and interviews, it celebrates the UK's queer pioneers.
