Here are 100 books that Galaxy fans have personally recommended if you like Galaxy. Book DNA is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me

Joanne Starer Author Of Total Suplex of the Heart

From my list on graphic novels about messy relationships.

Why am I passionate about this?

Hi! I'm Joanne Starer, and I write comics based my own messy relationships, like in Total Suplex of the Heart. And sometimes, I write about messy and complicated friendships, like Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville. Sometimes, I make comics with my actual boyfriend, Khary Randolph, like Sirens of the City. So you could say relationships are kind of my thing.

Joanne's book list on graphic novels about messy relationships

Joanne Starer Why Joanne loves this book

This one has messy right in the title! Freddy keeps getting dumped by Laura Dean over and over. She gets so blinded by her “love” for Laura Dean that she takes her friends for granted. It’s a classic story with an LGBT+ twist. Part of what makes it stand out is the beautiful visual storytelling. I actually learned a lot from this one, as it’s quite different from the superhero comics I grew up with. There are moments in here where two hands will say a thousand words. 

By Mariko Tamaki , Rosemary Valero-O'Connell (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Laura Dean, the most popular girl in high school, was Frederica Riley's dream girl: charming, confident, and SO cute. There's just one problem: Laura Dean is maybe not the greatest girlfriend.

Reeling from her latest break up, Freddy's best friend, Doodle, introduces her to the Seek-Her, a mysterious medium who leaves Freddy some cryptic parting words: Break up with her. But Laura Dean keeps coming back, and as their relationship spirals further out of her control, Freddy has to wonder if it's really Laura Dean that's the problem. Maybe it's Freddy, who is rapidly losing her friends, including Doodle, who…


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Book cover of Those That Wake

Those That Wake by Jesse Karp,

Mal's older brother has disappeared into thin air. Laura's parents went away for the weekend and when she gives them a call, they have no idea who she is. In pursuit of answers, the teens become entangled with two others similarly targeted by a force they don't understand and now,…

Book cover of Mister Miracle: The Complete Series

Joanne Starer Author Of Total Suplex of the Heart

From my list on graphic novels about messy relationships.

Why am I passionate about this?

Hi! I'm Joanne Starer, and I write comics based my own messy relationships, like in Total Suplex of the Heart. And sometimes, I write about messy and complicated friendships, like Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville. Sometimes, I make comics with my actual boyfriend, Khary Randolph, like Sirens of the City. So you could say relationships are kind of my thing.

Joanne's book list on graphic novels about messy relationships

Joanne Starer Why Joanne loves this book

I’m a long-time DC Comics reader, so I’ve been a fan of Mister Miracle and the other characters in this story since childhood. But they’ve never been explored like this. This is a story of two people bonded by trauma. Scott Free (Mister Miracle’s secret identity) and his wife Barda are deeply broken and deeply in love.

Their lives are messy–like on an intergalactic scale. They’re being pulled into wars on other planets by actual gods. But they would fight armies to protect their love and their family. It’s a gorgeous exploration of how being a superhuman affects people and their families, and Gerads art adds otherworldliness to the whole journey. 

By Tom King , Mitch Gerads ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Mister Miracle as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

Scott Free is the greatest escape artist who ever lived. So great, he escaped Granny Goodness gruesome orphanage and the dangers of Apokolips to travel across galaxies and set up a new life on Earth with his wife, Big Barda. Using the stage alter ego of Mister Miracle, he has made quite a career for himself showing off his acrobatic escape techniques. He even caught the attention of the Justice League, who has counted him among its ranks. You might say Scott Free has everything so why isn t it enough? Mister Miracle has mastered every illusion, achieved every stunt,…


Book cover of Sex Criminals: The Complete Edition

Joanne Starer Author Of Total Suplex of the Heart

From my list on graphic novels about messy relationships.

Why am I passionate about this?

Hi! I'm Joanne Starer, and I write comics based my own messy relationships, like in Total Suplex of the Heart. And sometimes, I write about messy and complicated friendships, like Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville. Sometimes, I make comics with my actual boyfriend, Khary Randolph, like Sirens of the City. So you could say relationships are kind of my thing.

Joanne's book list on graphic novels about messy relationships

Joanne Starer Why Joanne loves this book

Not for the kids, but a great laugh for the adults–this book is about two people who stop time when they orgasm. They decide to use this power to rob a bank so they can save the local library with the funds. But like all the books on this list, this is actually a story about relationships.

This one comes with a heavy dose of comedy…inappropriate, sexytime comedy. But there are also very relatable, heartbreaking moments where the characters grapple with their own sexuality and how it’s affected their lives and relationships. Just a great time and filled with visual gags from Zdarsky. And don’t skip the letters column!

By Matt Fraction , Chip Zdarsky (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sex Criminals as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

All 31 award-winning, headline-grabbing, head-spinning, genre-defying issues of SEX CRIMINALS collected in one soft unthreatening volume celebrating its tenth-ish anniversary.

Bonnie & Clyde meets The 40-Year-Old Virgin by way of When Harry Met Sally—only none of these orgasms are fake!

When Suzie and Jon have sex, time stops. Literally. So they have lots of sex, fall in love, and eventually start robbing banks. Until they find out they’re not alone…

Collects Sex Criminals issues # 1- #30 & the one-shot special issue #69.

Select praise & accolades for the Sex Criminals series:

* Eisner Award winning Best New Series *…


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Book cover of Death on a Shetland Longship: The Shetland Sailing Mysteries

Death on a Shetland Longship by Marsali Taylor,

Liveaboard sailor Cass Lynch thinks her big break has finally arrived when she blags her way into skippering a Viking longship for a Hollywood film. However, this means returning to the Shetland Islands, the place she fled as a teenager. When a corpse unexpectedly appears onboard the longship, she can…

Book cover of Breaks Vol. 1

Joanne Starer Author Of Total Suplex of the Heart

From my list on graphic novels about messy relationships.

Why am I passionate about this?

Hi! I'm Joanne Starer, and I write comics based my own messy relationships, like in Total Suplex of the Heart. And sometimes, I write about messy and complicated friendships, like Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville. Sometimes, I make comics with my actual boyfriend, Khary Randolph, like Sirens of the City. So you could say relationships are kind of my thing.

Joanne's book list on graphic novels about messy relationships

Joanne Starer Why Joanne loves this book

I love a slow-burn romance, and that is exactly what this is. Originally a webcomic, it runs at a more leisurely pace, allowing the characters to really have time to develop. A classic enemies-to-lovers, the story follows Cort and Ian, two teens at the same school who have to learn to let their guards down and be vulnerable to each other. If you loved Heartstopper but want something a bit more adult, this is the one for you. 

By Emma Vieceli , Malin Ryden ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Breaks Vol. 1 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

Cortland Hunt has made some dangerous mistakes. Now he's waiting quietly for those mistakes to catch up with him. Ian Tanner coasts through life denying the spark of anger beneath his laid back exterior.
When school politics and personal lives become a battleground, the pair find that what they share may just be their only safe haven.
Bringing the world of LGBT young adult fiction into the realm of comic books, and collecting the first arc of the acclaimed weekly web series (2014-2016), Breaks is the story of two young men discovering who they were, who they are, and who…


Book cover of The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows

Bliss Bennet Author Of Not Quite a Marriage

From my list on historical romances for feminist readers.

Why am I passionate about this?

When I talk with many non-romance readers, they’re often surprised to hear that a feminist reads and writes romance. It’s frustrating that so many people still buy into the conventional wisdom that all romance books are inherently anti-feminist, filled with alpha-hole heroes and wilting flower heroines. I challenged that conventional wisdom on my Romance Novels for Feminists review blog and continue to do so now that I’ve turned to writing romance. I’m so passionate about telling everyone I know about romances that feature clear feminist themes. If you share the conventional wisdom about romance, I hope you’ll give one of the books below a try. They’re not your grandmother’s bodice rippers anymore…


Bliss' book list on historical romances for feminist readers

Bliss Bennet Why Bliss loves this book

Sapphic historical romances are few and far between, especially ones as intelligently written and historically grounded as Olivia Waite’s. My favorite moves beyond the typical Regency ballroom setting with its slow-burn romance between two 40-something women. Penelope’s a rural beekeeper, and Agatha a London printer, one whose worrisomely politically radical son might be putting her business in danger.

I admire both the lovely writing and the intelligently grounded historical setting (the story takes place against the backdrop of the Queen Caroline affair and the post-Napoleonic repression of the English press). Above all, I appreciate Waite’s deftly crafted and utterly appealing characters, two unconventional business owners who both enjoy their work almost as much as they do one another.

By Olivia Waite ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Agatha Griffin finds a colony of bees in her warehouse, it's the not-so-perfect ending to a not-so-perfect week. Busy trying to keep her printing business afloat amidst rising taxes and the suppression of radical printers like her son, the last thing the widow wants is to be the victim of a thousand bees. But when a beautiful beekeeper arrives to take care of the pests, Agatha may be in danger of being stung by something far more dangerous...

Penelope Flood exists between two worlds in her small seaside town, the society of rich landowners and the tradesfolk. Soon, tensions…


Book cover of Harsh Reality

Genevieve McCluer Author Of Cold Blood

From my list on sapphic speculative fiction.

Why am I passionate about this?

It’s hard not to be passionate about sapphic spec fic when that’s entirely what I write. These books may all differ from my book in their own ways, but these authors and I all wrote fantastical stories of women who love women. These are the kind of stories I want to put out there, and it’s a space that could always use more occupying it.

Genevieve's book list on sapphic speculative fiction

Genevieve McCluer Why Genevieve loves this book

Another Goldie finalist the same year as my book that just so happened to also be a contemporary fantasy story starring a revolver-toting woman in a cowboy hat.

This time-hopping sheriff has a fun zombie-killing adventure and an endearing romance that I hope to see more of. I couldn’t put it down, and read the whole thing while waiting to find out if either of us would win.

By Elle E. Ire ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Harsh Reality as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

After demon elementals kill the good folks Sheriff Cali McCade has sworn to protect, the last place she expects to find herself is the future.

Cali McCade is happy being the only female sheriff in the West until evil destroys her town of Oblivion and everyone in it. But when a magical creature sends her forward in time, Cali gets a chance for justice-and to stop history from repeating itself.

Now, on the set of Harsh Reality, a television show that challenges average people to survive in historical settings, Cali isn't just the sheriff of Oblivion-she also plays herself on…


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Book cover of Beyond the Cemetery Gate: The Secret Keeper's Daughter

Beyond the Cemetery Gate by Valerie Biel,

"A haunting YA mystery. Touching on everything from police ineptitude and community solidarity to the endless frustration of being patronized as a young person, this paranormal thriller confidently combines timely and relatable themes within a page-turning storyline." - Self-Publishing Review

"Biel's writing is fast-paced and sharp!" - author Christy Wopat…

Book cover of Spirited

SC Skillman Author Of A Passionate Spirit

From my list on supernatural with a creepy sense of unease.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been fascinated by the paranormal since I was young: always a lover of ghost stories, I have long felt the spiritual resonance in certain places; the energy and spirits of the past remain trapped within the fabric of certain buildings and the land, waiting for the sensitive to come along. I developed this passion by reading classic and modern-day ghost stories, going on ghost tours, and visiting haunted places. I listen to and record people recounting their experiences of real-life encounters. I write nonfiction books about the paranormal, specifically about Shakespeare’s ghosts and spirits in his county of Warwickshire, and novels that develop this theme. 

SC's book list on supernatural with a creepy sense of unease

SC Skillman Why SC loves this book

I found this story enchanting. It utterly gripped me throughout with its compelling atmosphere of mystery, sheer horror and creepiness, and fascination with the idea of spirit photography. I felt captivated by the two main female characters and their developing intimate, emotional, and tense relationship.

My heart and soul were with these two women and the author’s beautiful craftsmanship weaving through the characters and story an intelligent and powerful debate about life after death. 

By Julie Cohen ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Spirited as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A moving, compelling story about three women fighting to break free, from the Richard & Judy recommended bestselling author Julie Cohen.

'Haunting, tender and true - this story cast a spell on me' Kirsty Logan
'Wonderfully written and evocative' Woman & Home, BOOK OF THE MONTH
'This haunting story about the power of love will give you the shivers' Best

------------------------------------------

Viola has an impossible talent. Searching for meaning in her grief, she uses her photography to feel closer to her late father, taking solace from the skills he taught her - and to keep her distance from her husband.…


Book cover of Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Rachel Dawson Author Of Neon Roses

From my list on queer historical fiction.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always loved history, ever since my childhood obsessions with Boudica, Anne Boleyn, and the witch trials. I love exploring different historical periods through literature, as books can help us develop real feelings of connection and empathy with people who lived in times and places very different from our own. I like to think that, in turn, this encourages us to be more empathetic with others in our own time. Since coming out as lesbian when I was 14, I have read a great deal of queer fiction, seeking to immerse myself in my own queer heritage and culture. 

Rachel's book list on queer historical fiction

Rachel Dawson Why Rachel loves this book

This is a coming-of-age novel set in 1950s San Francisco. As teenagers my best friend and I shared a mutual hyperfixation with the Cold War. It beautifully explores that era, from the Space Race to the McCarthyism that targeted both queer Americans and Chinese Americans. My best friend now lives in San Francisco, and when I last went to visit her I treated myself to going on a little walking tour of some of the places mentioned in the novel, all around Chinatown and Russian Hill.

The desire Lily feels towards her butch friend is beautiful and stirring, and the excitement she feels at exploring the underground gay scene is absolutely infectious. 

By Malinda Lo ,

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked Last Night at the Telegraph Club as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

"That book. It was about two women, and they fell in love with each other." And then Lily asked the question that had taken root in her, that was even now unfurling its leaves and demanding to be shown the sun: "Have you ever heard of such a thing?"

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.

America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall…


Book cover of Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?

Polly Hall Author Of Myrrh

From my list on capturing the experience of adoption.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was adopted as a baby, so I have first-hand experience of the emotions and challenges this presents. I am passionate about shining light on this often misunderstood and complex family trauma through my writing. My memoir Blood and Blood, an emotive exploration of the search for my birth relatives, was shortlisted for the Mslexia Prize. My research extends to fiction and non-fiction, where the psychological effects of adoption are referenced or highlighted. I am always keen to chat with fellow care-experienced people. I hope you find the books on this list helpful.

Polly's book list on capturing the experience of adoption

Polly Hall Why Polly loves this book

One thing about being adopted is you have an in-built radar to seek out others who are too. I read Jeanette Winterson’s first novel, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit when I was a teenager, and since then, I have been in awe of her as a writer and her ability to eloquently describe her personal experience as an adoptee. 

This book is her autobiography, and there were occasions while reading it that I had to stop and cry. Finally, someone else had written about what I had kept holed up inside me. Her final chapter, "The Wound," speaks so profoundly to me as an adopted adult. It is honest, sharp, and fierce.

By Jeanette Winterson ,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The shocking, heart-breaking - and often very funny - true story behind Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.

In 1985 Jeanette Winterson's first novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, was published. It was Jeanette's version of the story of a terraced house in Accrington, an adopted child, and the thwarted giantess Mrs Winterson. It was a cover story, a painful past written over and repainted. It was a story of survival.

This book is that story's the silent twin. It is full of hurt and humour and a fierce love of life. It is about the pursuit of happiness,…


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Book cover of Believing In Horses

Believing In Horses by Valerie Ormond,

First the move to Maryland. Then Dad's deployment to Afghanistan. Sadie is in trouble.

Then she gets Lucky, a new, young horse who proves to be a handful. But that's just the beginning.

Together they encounter horse thieves, Maryland storms, and unwanted horses destined for auction and uncertain futures. Sadie…

Book cover of Female Masculinity

Scott F. Kiesling Author Of Language, Gender, and Sexuality: An Introduction

From my list on challenge myths about gender and sex.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been studying language and gender since I started graduate school in 1990. I’m an odd gender scholar in some ways in that I am a white cisgendered heterosexual masculine person. I think I’m interested in the topic because conversation and ‘being a man’ has always seemed hard and like a lot of work to me. So, I started studying these things in the 1990s with a project on language use in a college fraternity in the US. Since then I've published many articles on language and masculinities, including a 2004 article on the word dude, which is still popular in introductory linguistics courses today.

Scott's book list on challenge myths about gender and sex

Scott F. Kiesling Why Scott loves this book

When talking about how gender can be disconnected from bodies, I like to tell the story of when my very young son called a Hummer truck ‘masculine’ and then wondered aloud how a car can be masculine. In that vein, this book shows how the idea of masculinity is something much wider and more complicated than a ‘trait of men’ connected to the bodies of men.

With grounded and deeply researched examples, Halberstam shows how these masculine traits not only can be ‘de-linked’ from the ‘male body,’ but how they have been so throughout history. He also shows how female masculinity has often been hidden or forgotten. This book is a classic in gender studies, and once you have read it, it’s impossible to think of gender in the same way as before.

By Jack Halberstam ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Female Masculinity as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this quintessential work of queer theory, Jack Halberstam takes aim at the protected status of male masculinity and shows that female masculinity has offered a distinct alternative to it for well over two centuries. Demonstrating how female masculinity is not some bad imitation of virility, but a lively and dramatic staging of hybrid and minority genders, Halberstam catalogs the diversity of gender expressions among masculine women from nineteenth-century pre-lesbian practices to contemporary drag king performances.

Through detailed textual readings as well as empirical research, Halberstam uncovers a hidden history of female masculinities while arguing for a more nuanced understanding…


Book cover of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me
Book cover of Mister Miracle: The Complete Series
Book cover of Sex Criminals: The Complete Edition

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Interested in pop music, gender identity, and lesbian topics and characters?

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