There’s something meaningful about choosing a book that opens the door to new stories, voices, and experiences. Through Big Reuse’s Bookshop.org page, each purchase gives back, with 30% supporting Big Reuse’s environmental and community-based work across NYC. That support helps fund programs like community composting, curbside composting outreach, street tree care, tree planting, reuse, and youth engagement projects. We also operate two Reuse Center thrift stores in Bushwick Reuse Center thrift store (378 Troutman Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237) and Gowanus Reuse Center thrift store (1 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215), two mid-scale composting sites, and many volunteer and educational programs throughout the city. Our Bookshop.org page brings together seasonal reads, staff favorites, and thoughtful recommendations that reflect the values behind our work.
This Pride Month, we’re highlighting a collection of LGBTQ+ books from our Love in All It's Forms list on our Bookshop.org page that celebrate identity, belonging, resilience, and romance. These stories span fantasy, romance, coming-of-age journeys, and personal experiences. Whether you’re looking for a magical adventure, a heartfelt romance, or a story about self-discovery, we hope these books inspire connection, understanding, and celebration throughout Pride Month and beyond.
Below, you’ll find a preview of our featured Pride Month reads with brief summaries of each title.
This sequel to Heated Rivalry follows Shane and Ilya as they navigate life after finally choosing to be together. While their relationship is no longer a secret, they must learn how to balance careers, distance, mental health, and the realities of a long-term partnership.
Yadriel is a trans boy from a Latinx family of brujx who wants to prove he can help spirits move on. When he accidentally calls up Julian, a ghost with unfinished business, they team up to solve an unexpected mystery. This paranormal YA novel mixes magic, family, identity, and a heartfelt romance about being truly seen.
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
Benji, a trans teen, escapes the cult that raised him after they infect him with a dangerous bioweapon. He finds safety with a group of queer teens trying to survive in a harsh post-apocalyptic world. This dark and emotional novel explores survival, anger, faith, and taking back control of your body and future.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
This novel follows women whose lives connect across time through hunger, longing, and immortality. With V.E. Schwab’s gothic style, the story moves through history and explores desire, loneliness, and what it costs to live forever. It’s a haunting choice for fans of dark fantasy and complex love stories.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Evelyn Hugo, an aging Hollywood star, finally shares the truth about her glamorous life and the private love story she kept secret. The novel shows the choices she made to survive in a world focused on image. It’s a moving story about identity, sacrifice, and the love that shaped her.
A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon
This imaginative novella follows a young woman who becomes a magical girl after a stranger tells her she has a destiny to fulfill. Instead of a simple hero story, it looks at burnout, responsibility, debt, and what it means to keep going when the world feels overwhelming. It is short, clever, and full of unexpected emotional depth.
For Our Next Song by Jessica James
This contemporary LGBTQ+ story focuses on music, connection, and the courage to go after what you want. Through relationships and dreams, the characters learn how creativity can lead to healing and change. It’s a thoughtful read for anyone who loves stories about art, growth, and finding your voice.
The Polyphony of Green by L.S. Briar
This thoughtful story explores identity, relationships, and the deep bonds people form with nature. The title hints at many voices, growth, and change, making it a good fit for a Pride Month list focused on queerness and the environment. It offers a quieter story about transformation, place, and connection.
There are many other ways to support Big Reuse’s work across New York City. You can volunteer with our community composting program, helping turn local food scraps and yard waste into compost, or join a Street Tree Care event to care for the trees that make our neighborhoods greener, cooler, and more resilient. You can also donate materials to one of our Reuse Center thrift stores, including clothing, shoes, books, appliances, furniture, and more. Please note that donation guidelines are different at our Gowanus and Bushwick locations, so review each location’s accepted items before donating.