It’s hard to define exactly what under-the-radar means. It depends on who you ask, and what kind of bookish circles you run in. There are plenty of queer books that are popular on the queer bookish internet but don’t get mainstream attention. There are also quite a few queer books out there that tons of people I know have read — but the people I know are queer book nerds. I surrounded myself with queer books and queer book people, so it’s sometimes hard to tell when a book is truly under-the-radar, or if it’s just under-the-radar for mostly-straight audiences. For this quiz, I’ve chosen what I think are truly under-the-radar queer books. With one exception, they all have under 1,000 reviews on Goodreads, though the majority of them have under 200. They’re all pre-2021, and the one book with over 1,000 Goodreads ratings is a book from the early 2000s that seems to have vanished from the public consciousness (for no good reason). These are all books that I love with my whole heart, that deserve thousands and thousands of readers. They’re smart and funny and heartbreaking, beautifully written, thought-provoking, and unique. It’s a mix of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate fall dinner party or a raucous outdoor gathering, whether you’re in the mood for serious conversation or lighthearted banter, whether you prefer an elaborate feast or comforting take-out — there’s an under-the-radar queer book out there that will embody your perfect dinner party vibe.
All Results
I hope you all all these under-the-radar queer books to your TBR! For even more queer book recs, try these LGBTQ enemies-to-lovers romances, LGBTQ memoirs, and or brush up on TikTok’s favorite LGBTQ books.
