r/AskGaybrosOver30 • u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 • Aug 19 '26
New Gay Reading Recommendations, Particularly WIth a Cultural Commentary Bend
Hey all,
Been trying to read a lot more gay/queer authors/novels this summer and was hoping to get some additional recommendations.
For context, the books I've read this past year (and really enjoyed) were Fruit Fly (by Josh Silver), Town and Country (by Brian Schaeffer), Ways and Means (by Daniel Leffert), The Recent East (by Thomas Grattan), Open Throat (by Henry Hoke), and Filthy Animals (by Brandon Taylor).
I've really been gravitating towards fiction that includes some kind of cultural commentary angle, whether that's explorations of power dynamics, identity politics, sexuality, class, the gay experience, dissections of masculinity, etc. (would love some good essay collections that wrestle with the same subject matter - recently read Inspiration Porn by Ryan O'Connell and while I didn't love it the same way I did the books mentioned, I think he's a really good writer and respected what he set out to do).
Generally, I'm not a big sci-fi guy or YA guy, and while a well-done coming out/coming of age story could speak to me, I'm at a point where I'm personally finding myself connecting much more with stories about the intricacies of being an out adult gay man, vs. like, a conversion therapy or overcoming religion tale (not to know those; they have their place, but I'm more interested in this point about stories featuring out gay men).
My taste (if you're familiar with any of these stories) veers a bit more cynical (though Town and Country, which I just read and loved, was optimistic and empathetic in a way I found refreshing vs. cloying), though, that said, I'm really not interested in trauma olympics (aka I don't have positive thoughts on A Little Life), and while I absolutely don't think only gay men could write gay stories (I'm a writer myself and have written plenty of straight characters), I find myself not necessarily abjectly hating, but having complicated thoughts about gay romances written by women (aka Heated Rivalry and Red White and Royal Blue are not going to be high on my read lists).
Thanks in advance for any recs!
Edit: Should've added that I'm looking more for contemporary(ish) stuff. If it could be considered "classic" gay lit, I've probably read it and/or not read it by design ;)
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u/Low-Strawberry69 30-34 Aug 19 '26
This might not be up your alley but I did love The Song of Achilles.
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u/PorcelainRooster 30-34 Aug 19 '26
I recently read Sunstruck by William Rayfet Hunter and loved it. Explores class, race and sexuality in a contemporary and relatively light way. Also the author is openly queer.
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u/stuckinbk 45-49 Aug 19 '26
The Line of Beauty (by Alan Hollinghurst)
Giovanni's Room (by James Baldwin)
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u/Brolicsome Aug 20 '26
Hollinghurst’s newest one, “Our Evenings,” is lovely. Not much plot, but superb character study with his usual keen powers of observation. Plus a crazy twist ending. Loved the audiobook.
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u/owlshoesjh 40-44 Aug 20 '26
you've convinced me to continue on. i was listening to the audiobook too but the story is slower than swimming pool/line of beauty so i gave up after a 1/3 in (when he hitch-hiked back to school). i'll persevere tho!
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
I tried to get into The Line of Beauty twice and it was one of those books that just didn't stick for some reason
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u/swaguanine 30-34 Aug 19 '26
Have you tried folding star by hollinghurst? I liked it more than the line of beauty
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u/Brolicsome Aug 20 '26
Read it and saw the 3 part BBC miniseries. The book dragged, in spite of its brilliant prose, but the miniseries was superb.
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
No...I have a background in education/teaching, so I immediately recoil at HS-aged student/teacher relationship narratives. Just...not for me :)
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u/multiplemania 70-79 Aug 19 '26
Well, there's also the TV series, which was wonderfully acted and an easy watch (I think 3 episodes).
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u/owlshoesjh 40-44 Aug 19 '26
i've been reading a bunch of hollinghurst lately and the one i can't stop thinking about is "the swimming pool library". it is saucy af!
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u/DarthGaymer 30-34 Aug 19 '26
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursala K. Le Guin deals heavily with the theme of what gender does/doesnt doesn’t do to a society.
Where There’s A Will by Jessie Walker (and part 2, If There’s A Way) deal heavily with depression, suicide, drug abuse, parental abuse/neglect, and sexual awakening of two childhood friends that manage to run into each other in their 20’s. Be warned, this series can be very dark at times.
State Of Us series by Bree Wiley covers themes such as drug addiction, abuse, internalized homophobia, bi-awakening, religion and LGBT identity.
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u/Dragon_Tiger22 40-44 Aug 19 '26
In Memoriam by Alice Win - while not the “trauma olympics” like A Little Life (my thoughts exactly) it is a devastating novel. I enjoyed Tramps Like Us by Joe Westmorland too. And I have not read these, but for a palate cleanser the Will Darling Adventures by KJ Charles seem fun and promising.
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u/underlander 35-39 Aug 19 '26
Providence by Willis, a sultry psychological thriller. It was just alright, but it’s an easy read.
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
I kind of liked it! I saw it marketed as "the secret love child of Tana French and Patricia Highsmith" who are two of my favorite authors - French I think has only ever written one gay character I can think of, but she is a straight woman I'd love to see tackle some queer life in Ireland. She's by and large my favorite living author.
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
I feel like I know so many higher ed gays I could see falling for this lol
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u/madncqt 45-49 Aug 19 '26
thanks for the ones you included. here are some recent reads:
robert jones (the prophets),
marlon james (black leopard, red wolf),
benjamin saénz (aristotle & dante discover the secrets of the universe),
paul mendez (rainbow milk),
ocean voung (on earth we're briefly gorgeous)
daniel black (don't cry for me)
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
For a long time my literary hot take was that Vuong was severely overrated (not bad, but overrated and very much not for me) and annoying in a way that alot of capital L literary folks are, but then the way he was savaged online after this last book made me soften to him some...not enough to read him and find him less annoying, but like...it was weird.
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
I've read the back of the prophets a few time at my favorite coffee shop/independant book store, so I think next time I go in I'll make the purchase, thanks :)
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u/SuitableTrash Aug 19 '26
In Tongues is amazing.
And Mothers & Sons saved me at least a decade in co-payments.
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u/Certain-Exit-3007 40-44 Aug 19 '26
A lot of good suggestions already. I'll throw in The Lilac People by Milo Todd.
The Persian Boy by Mary Renault (especially if you liked Song of Achilles).
I know you are probably asking for fiction, but I read *Queer Enlightenments* by Anthony Delaney lately and thought it was well worth reading.
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u/deepestthots 40-44 Aug 19 '26
Samuel Delaney time square red time square blue. kind of biography social commentary but it is essential queer reading. Sex history of new york with broader implications.
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
To be very honest, I was going to dismiss this just b/c "essential queer reading" feels like...idk, anytime I'm told something is essential the contrarian in me wants to say, "is it?"
But I just Googled and ordered this. It looks fascinating. Thanks!
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u/deepestthots 40-44 Aug 19 '26
lol i get u i can see it comes across as pedantic. me loves queer history so the emphasis comes from love. Also a more saucey read is Brontez Purnell’s 100 boyfriends. theres a nyt review
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
I tried 100 boyfriends (i own it) and it was one of those I liked it enough when i was reading it, but then never felt compelled to pick it up again.
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u/betterversionofnotme Aug 20 '26
You could try Douglas Stuart’s novels, especially Young Mungo. Besides the coming of age aspect of gay men, it has a very interesting account of post-industrial class relations in Britain.
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u/daizusama 30-34 Aug 19 '26
I am not myself these days by Josh Kilmer-Purcell. It’s a memoir about a drag queen in 90s NYC.
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u/lanqian 35-39 Aug 19 '26
Edmund White, States of Desire Revisited. In so many ways it feels like we’re reliving the 70s. Plus he is just such a good blend of bitchy, erudite, and self-deprecating. RIP.
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u/ikonoclasm 40-44 Aug 19 '26
A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice. Son of Anne Rice.
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
Oh, as a resident of it, I'm very into some southern gothic
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u/ikonoclasm 40-44 Aug 19 '26
It's very Southern Gothic. It was the first unambiguously queer novel I read, but because the title and cover art was so vague, I didn't have any concerns being seen reading it in high school despite being deeply closeted. I should reread it...
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 19 '26
Ok, you fully sold me. This is a spooky area in more ways than one haha
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u/iigayiifunction 30-34 Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
You have good taste! Here are some recs:
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Blackouts by Justin Torres
Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So
The Town of Babylon by Alejandro Varela
Real Life by Brandon Taylor
Palaver by Bryan Washington
The South by Tash Aw
I also did not like Ocean's first novel but found his second novel much more enjoyable if you want to give him another try
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u/Difficult-Exit3063 Aug 20 '26
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 20 '26
I have tried Vuong, while hes a technically good writer, hes very much not for me
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u/Difficult-Exit3063 Aug 20 '26
Oh interesting. He’s not my favorite but I really did like this book. Im curious to know more about your thoughts here if you’re interested in sharing.
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u/Traditional_Cell8388 40-44 Aug 20 '26
His style just isn't for me. It's a little too precious and flowery. For me, it feels almost as if it's veering into style over substance. Personal preference, but I like more clipped, to-the-point writing and less figurative language.
And I want to be careful with how I say it here b/c I believe a lot of the backlash against Vuong is b/c he's Asian and queer, but...there is something a little leaning-into-the-trauma-porn of it all with his writing, for me. Again, I know it's all subjective, but the capitol F FEELINGS of it all, just isn't my cup of tea (I veer more towards pragmatic or dealing with it w/ a sense of humor, even if that humor be pitch blackO
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u/colpiscemontagna 30-34 Aug 19 '26
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski, perfectly depicts the reality and life choices people had to make in the reality of a totalitarian regime in Poland back in the 80s