With so many gift-giving options this year, it can be hard to figure out where to start! Luckily the SGN Book Club has the perfect gift guide for all the voracious readers in your life, young and old!

While Christmas may be the "most wonderful time of the year," it doesn't hold a candle to the iconic campiness of Halloween. If you're seeking the ideal book for the goth, Halloween lover, or horror fan in your life, read on!

Horror
An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson is just the right heart-racing adventure for anyone with a dark academic aesthetic. Set in a mysterious East Coast college for girls, it follows the timid Laura Sheridan as she pursues an academic rivalry with Carmilla, her charismatic and beautiful classmate - who may be more than she seems. This vampire horror fantasy raises the question, "How far would you go to meet excellence?"

From Courtney Gould, renowned PNW horror writer and author of The Dead and the Dark, comes the next spooky Sapphic adventure. Fans of Yellowjackets and Girl, Interrupted will love her latest horror novel, What the Woods Took. Set in the rural backwoods of Idaho, it follows Devin Green, a troubled Queer foster kid who finds herself lost in the woods - but she's not alone. Tormented by mysterious monsters who lurk in the dark, Devin must rely on the help of a group of troubled teens stranded alongside her to survive, escape, and break through deep-set trauma.

Fantasy
If you're in search of the optimal gift for the Harry Potter fan wanting a less problematic author to support, look no further than the highly anticipated Sunbearer Trials duology. From the award-winning author of Cemetery Boys, Aiden Thomas, comes a romantic, thrilling, and magical adventure. Based on Mexican mythology, it follows Teo, a teenage demigod in a deadly competition for the honor of carrying the light to the temples of Reino del Sol. The only catch? The loser is sacrificed. The epic conclusion, Celestial Monsters, which continues Teo's story, is now available nationwide.

Readers wanting a cozy fantasy duology will be thrilled to know that TJ Klune has released a sequel to the charming The House in the Cerulean Sea. Beyond the Sea picks up where the warm found-family novel left off, continuing the adventure of Linus and Arthur. Told from Arthur's perspective, this brand-new novel features plenty of magic, mystery, and poignant commentary about judging a book by its cover.

Historical fiction
While not as often recorded, Queer people have existed throughout history. As Queer literature continues to expand, more and more historical fiction novels depict realistic (and exaggerated) examples of LGBTQ+ lives from different periods. Fans of Bridgerton will love Emma R. Albon's first book in the Mischief and Matchmaking series, Don't Want You Like a Best Friend. Set in 1857, this novel follows Beth during her debutante season. Instead of pursuing a husband, she decides to team up with her friend Gwen to set up their single wealthy parents, avoid courtship, and "come out" in more ways than one.

Set in slightly more modern times, and based on the real experiences of Chinese immigrants, Jiaming Tang's debut novel, Cinema Love, tells the multigenerational story of Chinese Gay men, the women who love them, and the risks they're willing to take to be who they are. Longlisted for the 2025 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, this exceptionally moving novel examines the weight secrets hold and the way memory and history haunt the present.

Rom-com
If you're looking for a gift for the friend who binges on The Hallmark Channel each holiday season, check out Alison Cocrun's latest novel, We Go Again. Two former friends are reunited after agreeing to a road trip with their dying mentor and former teacher. Full of cute rom-com tropes, emotional reflections on relationships, and swoon-worthy one-liners, this romantic and emotional story will thaw the ice around any romance lover's heart.

With a little more "com" than "rom," The Guncle is great choice, especially for fans of Schitt's Creek. Steven Rowley's national bestseller centers around "Gay Uncle Patrick" aka "GUP" as he cares for his young estranged nephew and niece in his pristine California home. The 2024 sequel, The Guncle Abroad, picks up four years after the original, as Patrick takes the niblings abroad on a hilarious trip around Europe, infused with Rowley's sharp wit. It's hard not to fall in love with Patrick through his quippy remarks and surprising moments of tenderness.

Nonfiction
Some readers prefer the drama and honesty of true stories. This year, debut author Zoe Bossiere released their memoir, Cactus Country, about their experiences growing up Genderqueer in a rural Arizona trailer park. Humorous personal stories of Bossiere's childhood are interwoven with deep examinations of gender identity, expression, and fluidity in one of the few firsthand memoirs about growing up genderfluid.

For the well-informed and politically minded reader comes GLAAD Award-winning journalist Nico Lang's latest book, American Teenager. Following the real lives of Trans and Nonbinary teens, Lang examines the impact recent anti-Trans legislation has had on the kids whose lives are being debated in state congressional halls across the country. American Teenager is the result of a yearlong project in which Lang traveled the country to interview teens and their families and bring their stories to the forefront of the national conversation.

Young adult
It's never too early to start reading Queer books! If you have kids or teens you're shopping for, consider giving them one of the many books banned in the state of Florida. Naomi Kanakia's latest YA novel, Just Happy to be Here, is a story for anyone who has ever felt the pressure of being the "first." Tara is the first Trans girl in her all-female private high school. When she attempts to join a historic sorority, she must confront what "girlhood" means, and whether female-exclusive organizations should exist at all. Written with age-appropriate language for teenagers, this book is a great read for anyone who has ever felt the need to justify their existence to the world.


Celebrated YA author Jonny Garza Villa has the perfect book for teens looking for a little romance and a lot of music. Canto Contigo is a teenage rivals-to-lovers tale set in the competitive world of high school mariachi. When Rafael Alvarez transfers schools in his senior year, he must compete with the handsome and talented Rey Chavez to earn back his spot as lead vocalist. The catch? Rafael and Rey have history - and chemistry - and I'm not talking about their class schedules.

Middle school
The voracious middle school reader will enjoy award-winning author Kacen Callender's latest novel, King and the Dragonflies. After 12-year-old Kingston's brother unexpectedly passes away, he becomes convinced he's turned into a dragonfly. Following the tragedy, King must confront his relationship with his former best friend, a Queer boy his brother had warned him to avoid. Emotional and filled with difficult topics, this book is a beautiful read, and a great conversation starter with middle schoolers about mental health, homophobia, and the value of friendship. Be warned: this book contains depictions of abuse.

For a lighter read, consider gifting Middle School's a Drag, You Better Werk. Mikey Pruitt is an entrepreneur -or he will be someday, after he's done with middle school. Mikey starts his talent agency to book future stars after meeting a 13-year-old drag queen, Coco Caliente, Mistress of Madness and Mayhem. Full of fun, friendship, and lessons about being yourself, this story will be a great gift for any young business-oriented mind.

Children's books
It's never too early to start learning about pronouns either, and Lindz Amer's children's book, Hooray for She, He, Ze, and They, is a delightful exploration of gender euphoria. Illustrated by Kip Alizadeh, this beautiful and colorful book is a great introduction to pronouns.

Who You Will Be is a primo read for the gayby in your life. The poetic children's book explores the gender-neutral potential for a young baby as their parents dream about all the possibilities they have ahead. With cute drawings by Stacy Chomiak, this fun story will surely introduce a lifelong love of books to any future reader.

Nen and the Lonely Fisherman is a wonderful bedtime tale for new readers. This gorgeous Polari Prize winner relates the romance of a merman and a fisher who fall in love in the deep blue sea. Written by Ian Eagleton and illustrated by James Mayhew, this adorable story is a fun take on The Little Mermaid, and great for any child who has ever dreamed of being a merperson at bathtime.

- An Education in Malice; The Dead and the Dark, The Sunbearer Trials; Celestial Monsters; The House in the Cerulean Sea; Beyond the Sea; Don't Want You Like a Best Friend; The Guncle Abroad; King and the Dragonflies; and Hooray for She, He, Ze, and They are available at Charlie's Queer Books in Fremont.

- Here We Go Again; Cactus Country, and American Teenager on order and restocking soon at Charlie's Queer Books in Fremont.

- Cinema Love, Canto Contigo, and Who You Will Be are available at Elliott Bay Book Company on Capitol Hill.

- Just Happy to Be Here is available at Queen Anne Book Company in Queen Anne.

- Middle School's a Drag, You Better Werk, and Nen and the Lonely Fisherman are available to order from Charlie's Queer Books, Elliott Bay Book Company, and Queen Anne Book Company.

- What the Woods Took comes out on December 10, 2024.