by Patricia Highsmith

First Published: 1952

If you’ve had the blessed fortune of seeing the 2015 film Carol, then you know the gist of this sapphic masterpiece: Therese — a young, lonely set designer stuck in a department store job — finds her life transformed when she meets the older, elegant, and soon-to-be-divorced Carol. The oppressive societal norms of the 1950s and Carol’s trash ex-husband threaten the women’s secret, passionate romance. The Price of Salt was vastly ahead of its time, both in acknowledging lesbian love and (maybe!) even allowing a happy ending.

by James Baldwin

First Published: 1956

While bi guys are appearing more in media (finally!), James Baldwin was one of the first writers to include masculine bisexuality so explicitly. Set in a community of American expats in Paris, Giovanni’s Room follows David as he begins his first real relationship with another man. In this highly controversial novel, Baldwin crafts a brilliant, unforgettable tale of passion, love, loss, and the poisonous consequences of shame.

by Christopher Isherwood

First Published: 1964

If there’s anything I’m obsessed with, it's queers finding happiness despite seemingly impossible odds. This is exactly the case for George, Isherwood’s protagonist, after the sudden death of his partner. Despite his grief and the unfortunate 1960s of it all, George is determined to build a life he can love. Funny, sometimes sad, and always moving, A Single Man continues to shock readers today with its fully developed portrayal of a gay man in midlife.

by Rita Mae Brown

First Published: 1973

Another win for explicit lesbianism! This bawdy, bestselling debut from Rita Mae Brown was one of the first coming-of-age lesbian novels to be published. Molly, a stunningly beautiful daughter from an impoverished family, has always known her tastes skew more pomegranate than, say, eggplant. Across her childhood and into young adulthood, Molly travels from Florida to New York and falls in and out of love as she pursues an education in filmmaking. Readers will root for Molly as she breaks both hearts and barriers in this ‘70s classic. 

by Larry Kramer

First Published: 1978

With such an evocative title and cover, it’s no wonder Larry Kramer’s delicious debut has been in print ever since its original publication. There is no subtlety in Faggots: Kramer flaunts New York’s highly visible and chaotic gay community in the time before AIDS. This satirical portrayal of promiscuity and rampant drug use is centered around the loosely autobiographical character of Fred as he stumbles through bath houses, group sex, and Fire Island encounters in his journey to settle down with a true love.

by Andrew Holleran

First Published: 1978

Published the same year as Faggots, Andrew Holleran’s take on the New York gay scene is just as compelling. Anthony Malone, a lonely, young gay man with beauty akin to Dorian Gray, meets Sutherland, a campy, quintessential queen. As the two search for meaning, sex, and love, expect vivid imagery and a dreamlike urban setting rife with drug use, drinking, and long nights of dancing that unfold between the city and summers on Fire Island.

by Audre Lorde

First Published: 1982

We love every chance to sing the praises of Audre Lorde, and this sapphic banger of a classic is no exception. Credited with starting the genre of biomythography, Zami is a detailed portrait of Lorde’s youth in Harlem, her travels, and her eventual return to the city in adulthood. Lorde’s descriptions of challenging racism in the ‘40s and ‘50s intertwine with beautiful depictions of the women she loved along the way. Zami is an unforgettable and unique memoir you won’t be able to put down — we certainly can’t.

by Alice Walker

First Published: 1982

Set in the early twentieth century in rural Georgia, The Color Purple centers a gorgeous love story between two women during a time when both queer and Black stories were often told only in secret. In this cultural touchstone of a novel, the lives of sisters Celie and Nettie come into focus through a series of letters spanning from childhood to adulthood. In the face of horrific abuse, the resilient Celie seeks to build a life of beauty and hope — one that might include the love of another woman.