Sunburn is my favourite book of 2025 so far and it has been an absolute delight to read. Set against the stifling backdrop of 1990s rural Ireland, this heartfelt coming-of-age story will resonate deeply with many queer readers. From the intense highs of first love to the tension between societal expectations and the longing for authenticity, it captures the suffocating weight of secrecy, familial duty, and guilt with aching clarity. It took me right back to being a teenager myself and it certainly delivers on the angst! The writing however, is anything but immature-it draws you in completely, weaving together some of the many complexities of the LGBTQ+ experience with tenderness and emotional depth.

Recommended by Amanda M. Gaddes, Department Manager, LSE Department of Health Policy

After two people on separate occasions recommended ot to me with the words ‘this one is right up your alley’, I finally picked up this absolute joyride of a book! The book follows a secret government department of witches which is facing all sorts of supernatural and human threats. What sold the book to me is the quick and witty writing, the pop-culture references and the incredible diverse set of characters. Our protagonists are not only fighting demon forces, shady prophecies, and the end of the world as we know it but also have to navigate contemporary issues around feminism, queerness, and what it means to be a modern witch.

Recommended by Isabel Lacurie Marketing and Communications Manager, LSE Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method & Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (CPNSS)

Most people know Shon Faye for The Transgender Issue, her brilliant and groundbreaking book from 2021 examining both the biggotted politicisation of trans people as an “issue” in contemporary Britain and the real-life experiences and struggles of trans people in everyday life. This new work, also nonfiction, takes love as its central subject, and is much more personal and self-reflective in nature. Faye examines the various ways in which we understand and look for love in our lives, ranging from romantic and sexual partnerships to family, community and self-love. The honesty and empathy of Faye’s writing, particularly in the chapters on her search for validation through sex, her alcohol addiction and the deification of motherhood in society make this book a rewarding and very moving read.

Recommended by Anna D’Alton, Managing Editor, LSE Review of Books

I came to this book via ‘women don’t owe you pretty’ which is written by the same author (a good introduction to feminism for those who may be interested). It certainly isn’t going to blow your mind, but it is a super fun read that pairs well with a nice rosé.

The novel follows Eartha, a bisexual artist who becomes an overnight sensation after a viral coming-out video, catapulting her into a surreal, dystopian version of influencer culture. As Eartha navigates queer dating and the pressures of curating a flawless digital persona, Given explores themes of biphobia, internalized misogyny, and the fragmentation of self in the social media age. This book is chaotic, bold and messy but completely addicting. It gave me a bit of a glimpse into what life might be like for Gen Z and the TikTokers. That is to say, I didn’t quite get everything, but that is what I liked about it.

Recommended by Amanda M. Gaddes, Department Manager, LSE Department of Health Policy

A Room Above a Shop is a short novel about two men, B and M, living in late-1980s South Wales. Despite the hostile environment of the time (AIDS, Section 28, disapproving families and neighbours), we see their relationship grow as they strive for peace and contentment, hidden behind the counter in a small room above a hardware store. A beautiful, poetic, and very emotional read that has stayed with me since I read it a couple of months ago and no doubt will continue to resonate for some time.

Recommended by Jonathan Stephen Senior SITS & Salesforce Developer (Integrations), ARD Systems, Academic Registrar’s Division

This book is a darkly comic, deeply empathetic exploration of queer identity, mental health, and the absurdity of existence. I literally laughed out loud a couple of times reading it; our minds and internal monologues are so weird and this book doesn’t shy away from putting that on the page. The novel follows Gilda, a morbidly anxious, atheist lesbian who accidentally lands a job as a receptionist at a Catholic church. Austin’s deadpan prose and offbeat perspective make this a refreshingly honest portrayal of living at odds with the world and with yourself. The novel delves into the intersections of queerness, faith, and mental illness, presenting a protagonist whose experiences resonate with the complexities of navigating identity in an often-unaccommodating society.

Recommended by Amanda M. Gaddes, Department Manager, LSE Department of Health Policy

Who doesn’t love vampires? I certainly do. And if you also devour everything that contains fangs, eerie castles, and gothic romance, this one is for you. Carmilla was written before the male counterpart Dracula and is deemed the original vampire story. The story follows a young girl who makes the acquaintance with the mysterious guest, Carmilla. Entranced by their friendship, the protagonist will soon experience feverish dreams and strange encounters with her new companion…

Recommended by Isabel Lacurie Marketing and Communications Manager, LSE Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method & Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (CPNSS)

I discovered this book in July 2022 when I joined an online stream of its launch at the British Library. Hoping only to fill a spare hour, I was blown away by the eloquence of the author. Their memoir relates both the joys and trauma of living as a trans person in the 21st century. This was especially underlined as the session was interrupted by the casual cruelty of a protestor, which unfolded as I watched at a distance online. Yet in the end, the beautiful clarity of the book’s message that difference can be a creative gift, not a problem or a threat, shone through.

Recommended by Heather Dawson, Academic Support Librarian at LSE Library

The story of Don’t Let the Forest In follows Andrew, a shy boarding school student who spends his time writing wicked fairy-tales for his best friend Thomas. When on the first day of the new school year Thomas’ parents disappear, the boy’s friendship changes. This book is a beautiful and eerie coming of age story with real and invented monsters! I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys dark and unusual stories.

Recommended by Isabel Lacurie Marketing and Communications Manager, LSE Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method & Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (CPNSS)

Sorry, but someone had to…….Gillian Anderson curated this book and that’s enough to have it on the list. The sapphics will understand.

Recommended by Amanda M. Gaddes, Department Manager, LSE Department of Health Policy