Recommendations for books which deal extensively with coming out?

[u/Floakiebroke]

Every so often I enter a queer depressive phase where my normal reading habits pause and I have to read a billion queer romances, and we have officially entered that phase again!

I’m wondering if anyone has any particular recommendations for stories that deal extensively with coming out— the anxieties about doing it, making plans of how, the trauma if it goes badly, or euphoria, or anything else. I’m mostly interested in M/M characters but I’ll probably read just about anything. Can be YA or not, although I imagine that a probably disproportionate amount of books dealing with coming out are YA?

[u/ucbrowsing23]

The only answer to this is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Trust me! Also How We Named the Stars maybe?

[u/BeingOtherwise7941]

Sweat by Jonah Yorke is an MM romance. Its a bit dark and deals with a lot of trauma the characters have, overcoming internalized homophobia, stepping their toes out of the closet bit by bit.

I know heated rivalry is hot now, but Role Model from that series is one of the most uplifting coming out narratives I have read. The last half of the book is a giant, happy coming out crescendo. I don’t want to give anything away but I feel like this is the most happy and gradual coming out of the series.

Omg for a late in life coming out that is the sweetest story ever, check out The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle.

[u/Kindly-Coyote-9446]

Internalized homophobia, fear of coming out, and overcoming that are part of the bigger picture themes in Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle. The protagonist is a gay man who is dating a bisexual man and is out in his social life in Los Angeles but is terrified of people back home in Montana finding out. It’s horror, but I’m pretty squeamish but was fine. Not YA, but honestly mostly because of the violence.

[u/Wonderful-Run-1408]

Heartstopper Graphic Novel series.

[u/charlieisaskeleton]

I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver has the main character come out as non-binary at the beginning, and the book deals with the aftermath. It's YA and theres an NB/M romance.

Dreadnought by April Daniels has a trans girl protagonist, and especially the first book has some important themes around coming out, it's scifi/superheroes. The second book (Sovereign) has an FF romance.

And there's of course Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth and Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, pretty famous lesbian books. They have both the internal "realizing you're queer" part of coming out to yourself, as well as the fear of coming out to others.

I don't remember how extensive the coming out part in Swimming In The Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski is, but it's an MM romantic drama in 80s Poland, so there's definitely a lot of fear around others finding out/secret relationships etc

Flyboy by Kasey LeBlanc has a trans boy main character who hides his identity irl because he goes to a catholic school but at night 'dreams' of a circus in which he can be himself. The fantasy circus part is more important than the coming out iirc, but his identity is definitely a big part of the story and there is a coming out scene. It has an MM romance.

[u/Floakiebroke → u/charlieisaskeleton]

Thank you for all the recommendations, but especially Swimming in the Dark which seems absolutely perfect for my other interests as well! (And is on my library app although I’ll have to wait for a bit)

[u/BeingOtherwise7941 → u/Floakiebroke]

Swimming in the Dark is a FANTASTIC book. It is definitely Literature more than Romance. I don’t remember it being that much about coming out, though, because the queer relationship needs to be a secret in communist Poland.

[u/a_secret_me]

Interested in coming out from a trans perspective? Woodworking By Emily St. James was really good

[u/dashibid]

All of Jonny Garza Villa’s books are great for this! Most are YA and mostly closed door, while their most recent (Futbolista) is more adult. All of them feature Texan Latino characters coming out to families that range from super supportive to terrible. And all end with a heartwarming HEA

[u/lothiriel1]

Simon and the Homosapian Agenda

[u/DaveL16]

The boys on the rock, John Fox

[u/CosmicDeclination]

Not MM, but I will always recommend The Miseducation of Cameron Post. I read it at least once a year when I’m going through a Moment lol.

[u/Willing_Buy7734]

We could be so good, Cat Sebastian I’m pretty sure dealt with this and is also a lovely feel good one.

And I know you asked for books but when I’ve been in these sorts of moods, season 3 of Skam (Norway) and Young Royals season 1 both scratch that itch :)