Which New Young Adult Books Feature Diverse LGBTQ+ Protagonists?

Elliot Carter never loses. Not to his father. Not to anyone. And definitely not to the infuriating 'golden' boy who suddenly moves into his house. When Elliot’s father marries Asher Brooks’ mother, his already broken world cracks even more. Asher is everything he despises—calm, disciplined, admired by everyone at university. The kind of guy who smiles like he has nothing to prove. From the moment they meet, it’s war. Elliot thrives on pushing buttons. Asher refuses to be provoked. Their fights are sharp, personal, and relentless, until one night, anger turns physical… and something far more dangerous ignites between them. A line is crossed that neither of them can uncross. Asher refuses to feel guilty. Elliot refuses to admit he wanted it. Now they’re trapped under the same roof, and the more they try to hate each other, the more dangerous the attraction becomes. Because this isn’t just rivalry. It’s obsession. And when control becomes the weapon of choice, someone is bound to break. The only question is... Who will break first?

Fate doesn’t ask. It demands. On the night of his 18th birthday, Kieran Blackwood's future was supposed to begin. Instead, it shattered. Bound by an impossible mate bond, drawn to someone he was never meant to love, Kieran's world spirals into darkness, secrets, and betrayal. As the past resurfaces and power shifts, he learns that some mistakes don’t stay buried—and some bonds never break. When the outcast becomes the king, what’s left for the prince who turned him away? There are three choices; Bite Bleed, Bow

Kaia has always lived in the shadows of her pack. The daughter of the Beta, overlooked by her father and ignored by her brother, she works tirelessly to prove herself—top of her class, fiercest warrior, yet never recognized because she is a plus sized girl and was born an omega. She has learned to fight silently, to protect those weaker than her, and to hide the fire that burns inside. But when the Alpha’s son arrives—dangerous, magnetic, and utterly forbidden, Kaia’s carefully controlled world starts to crumble. Every glance from him is a challenge. Every touch ignites a hunger she shouldn’t feel. Rules are clear: Omegas and Alphas relationships are off-limits. Yet Kaia can’t deny the pull, can’t resist the intensity that leaves her breathless and trembling. As secrets unravel and pack loyalties are tested, Kaia must decide: will she stay in the shadows where she’s safe, or step into the fire, risking everything for desire, power, and a love that’s strictly forbidden?

Talia faked her death to escape a cruel fate of being married off to a powerful, ruthless alpha old enough to be her grandfather. But freedom came at a cost, she has to let go of her name, her body, and everything that made her who she was. Now, hidden beneath a new identity, she enters the most dangerous place for someone like her, an elite academy meant only for the strongest alphas. She's an omega, the lowest rank, disguised as a boy… and pretending to be something she can never become. Living among predators, training beside warriors, and sharing a dorm with a dangerously attractive alpha prince, she knows one mistake could expose her and get her killed. She never planned to fall in love. Especially not with someone who can never know the truth. But secrets have a scent. And wolves always chase what’s forbidden. As sparks ignite and enemies close in, how long can she hide what she is? And what happens when the mate bond doesn’t care about lies?

The jock only falls for the nerd in movies right???? Asher Prince is the star quarterback of Waterford High and as his last name suggests, he's treated like literal royalty. The golden boy at school and the only child to wealthy parents, Asher never had to fight or struggle to get anywhere in life. But every golden boy has a secret to hide... It's senior year and he's put under more pressure to succeed and win, but his grades are slipping with each passing class. His teachers suggest he get a tutor, and with his father literally holding his future in his hands, Asher has no choice but to relent. Enter Liam Marsh. Valedictorian, top of every class and already accepted into three Ivy League schools. He seems like the perfect tutor, but there's one problem… Liam is gay and very much out of the closet. He's also constantly bullied and pushed around by Asher's peers. But Liam never lets anything get him down. With time ticking out and his future in the balance, will Asher make a choice that would benefit his future or give in to peer pressure and reject Liam's help out of fear of being ostracized? ***PLEASE NOTE: Although this is a work of fiction it is based on how teenagers would react to certain situations. There are a lot of homophobic slurs and cussing in this novel, so please do not read this if you are easily triggered.***

Nicole has loved Odell for as long as she can remember. From childhood to adulthood, he has always been the center of her world, until he vanishes without explanation, leaving her with nothing but unanswered questions and a heart that never quite lets go. Years later, fate brings them back together in a world of privilege, secrets, and carefully crafted appearances. As Nicole chases her dreams and rekindles her connection with Odell, old feelings resurface, but not everything is as it seems. Beneath the charm and familiarity lies a truth that challenges everything Nicole believes about love, loyalty, and desire. My Crush Is Gay is a gripping story of longing, obsession, and self-discovery, where love blurs into denial, and the hardest truths are the ones we never expect.