Teachers and librarians can broaden their library collections to include the rich variety of relationships that young people experience today with this set of 20 short, readable teen novels.

These romances feature characters who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and gender fluid. Teen readers will recognize the stories, settings and characters as realistic and contemporary. LGBTQ2+ teens will see themselves and the experiences they and their friends are having reflected in these novels. The portrayals are positive, and the stories end well – though sometimes the resolution is bitter-sweet.

These novels are written by authors who know the world and the relationships they portray first hand. Many are young first-time authors uniquely qualified to portray characters and situations authentically. The stories all take place in contemporary Canada, with relatable, appealing characters who will ring true.

Featuring short, readable prose suitable for everyone and not just serious readers, this set offer a new category of romance fiction for any classroom, school or public library teen section.

Kristopher Mielke (he/they) is the co-author of Victory Lap with Riley Alexis Wood. They love drinking too much coffee, watching long video essays about philosophy and cartoons, and writing about queer heroes and hungry monsters. They live outside of Erin, Ontario.

Kristopher Mielke's profile page

Katerina Bakolias (she/her) is a queer, Greek-Canadian, playwright, and screenwriter. With a passion for entertaining, she aspires to write stories that resonate with a queer female audience who enjoy comedy and drama. Her debut short film Roomies premiered at the 2020 FIN Film Festival and is now featured on CBC Gem. Additionally, her play Til Death Do Us Part delighted Nova Scotian audiences at its premiere in May 2022. Recognized for her talents Katerina received the RBC Chrysalis Emerging Artist Award in 2020. Committed to amplifying female voices, she actively creates new and compelling works across the realms of theatre, film and now literature. She lives in Nova Scotia.*

Katerina Bakolias' profile page

Alison Lister is an enby (non-binary) author who has been writing realistic and romantic adult LGBTQ+ fiction as Elizabeth Lister, and currently as AE Lister, for over ten years. They are a partner, parent, and sibling, with lots of life experience to draw upon. They live in Ottawa, Ontario with their partner and two children.

 

Alison Lister's profile page

 

ANGEL JENDRICK is the author of gritty contemporary romances. She also dabbles in poetry, from time to time. When not writing or editing (or thinking about writing or editing), she watches movies, jams to her favourite tunes, runs after her kids, or works on her latest home reno or DIY project.

With her wife, their three children, Ellie their energetic Lab, and a blind cat named Taz, Angel lives on Prince Edward Island.

 

Angel Jendrick's profile page

'Nathan Burgoine grew up a reader and studied literature in university while making a living as a bookseller. His first published short story was “Heart” in the collection Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction. This began his long love affair with short fiction, which has seen dozens more short stories published. Even though short fiction is his favorite, 'Nathan stepped into novel writing, and his first novel, Light, was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award. Triad Blood and Triad Soul are available now from Bold Strokes Books, and more novels as well as works of short fiction are always under way.

A cat lover, 'Nathan managed to fall in love and marry Daniel, who is a confirmed dog person. Their ongoing cat-or-dog détente ended with the rescue of a husky named Coach. They live in Ottawa, Canada, where socialized health care and gay marriage have yet to cause the sky to cave in. You can find him online at apostrophen.wordpress.com.

'Nathan Burgoine's profile page

MARKUS HARWOOD-JONES is a writer, visual artist and documentary filmmaker. He has self-published the short story collections Confessions of a Teenage Transsexual Whore and Everything & All at Once; his feature film, Mosaic, tells the story of his journey across Canada and the United States to learn more about the trans community. He is author of the Lorimer Real Love teen romances, Just Julian and Romeo for Real. Markus lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Markus Harwood-Jones' profile page

TONY CORREIA lives in Vancouver, B.C. He has worked as a waiter, bartender, bouncer, barista, receptionist, and recently, a technical writer for a software company. His newspaper column, Queen's Logic, ran in Xtra! West for five years. He is the author of the Lorimer Real Love novel Same Love. His memoir Foodsluts at Doll & Penny's Cafe was published in 2012. Follow Tony on Twitter and Instagram @garpinbc or on his blog, www.everythingtonycorreia.com.

Tony Correia's profile page

TRACY GOLDFARB is a writer and artist who is involved in the LBGTQ+ community. Tracy attended OCAD for sculpture and currently teaches fabrication skills at Humber College. Love, IRL is their first YA novel. Tracy lives in Toronto with their husband and two cats.

Tracy Goldfarb's profile page

MYRIAD AUGUSTINE is a queer, non?binary, intersectional feminist. They founded and co?run the Wheelhouse, a nonprofit designed to be a supporting resource for people facing barriers of accessibility. This is their first teen novel. Myriad lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Myriad Augustine's profile page

Born in Denmark, Mette Bach grew up in North Delta. Her essays have appeared in Vancouver Review, First Person Queer (Arsenal Pulp Press), Second Person Queer (Arsenal Pulp Press) and Visible: A Femmethology (Homofactus Press). Her journalism has appeared in The Advocate, The Globe & Mail, and Xtra. She has an MFA in creative writing from UBC, writes a column called Not That Kind of Girl for Outlooks Magazine (Canada's LGBTQ Magazine) and Out Look Weekly (in Columbus, Ohio). She teaches four creative writing courses for the Continuing Studies Department at Langara College. Karen X. Tulchinsky directed Mette Bach's first screenplay, Ms. Thing, which played at film festivals around the world. Daniella Sorrentino directed her second screenplay, Viral, which will debut at festivals this summer. Off the Highway is her first book.

Mette Bach's profile page