Does 'Wilder Girls' Have LGBTQ+ Representation?

I've read 'Wilder Girls' and can confirm it has strong LGBTQ+ representation. The main character, Hetty, is openly queer, and her romantic feelings for another girl play a significant role in the story. The book doesn't just tokenize this aspect—it's woven naturally into the plot and character development. The relationship feels authentic, with all the messy emotions you'd expect from teenagers trapped in a terrifying situation. Rory Power writes queer characters without making their sexuality the sole focus, which is refreshing. The representation extends beyond just the protagonist too, creating a world where diverse identities exist without needing justification. If you want queer horror with depth, this delivers.

From a literary analysis perspective, 'wilder girls' uses LGBTQ+ representation as both character development and thematic reinforcement. Hetty's queerness isn't performative—it influences her decisions, fears, and how she perceives the quarantine's horrors. The writing avoids stereotypes, instead showing how sexuality intersects with survival instincts in this pressure cooker environment.

The representation extends to the book's structure too. Notice how the physical transformations parallel queer identity formation—the girls literally can't recognize their changing bodies, much like teens grappling with gender dysphoria. The isolation of Raxter Island mirrors the alienation some LGBTQ+ youth feel in hostile environments.

Power deserves credit for not sanitizing the representation either. These are flawed, complex characters whose queerness isn't always pretty or noble—just human. Their relationships have jealousy, desperation, and raw need, making them feel real rather than idealized symbols. For similar authentic queer voices in speculative fiction, 'Gideon the Ninth' by Tamsyn Muir offers another brilliant example of representation that defies tropes.

'Wilder Girls' stands out for how it handles representation. Hetty's attraction to Byatt isn't some side note—it's central to her character arc and drives key plot points. The way Power writes these relationships feels genuine, capturing that intensity of first love amidst all the body horror and isolation.

The book also explores different forms of queer relationships beyond just romance. The bond between the girls at the Raxter School goes deeper than friendship, creating this found family dynamic that survives even as their bodies betray them. Their loyalty to each other transcends traditional labels, which makes the representation feel more organic.

What impressed me most was how the horror elements amplify the queer themes. The Tox mutation becomes this metaphor for the physical changes during adolescence, but also for the societal fear of 'otherness.' The girls' transformations force them to confront who they really are, mirroring the self-discovery many LGBTQ+ teens experience. Power never spells this out—it's all in the subtext, which makes it more powerful.

For readers wanting more queer horror, I'd suggest checking out 'The Luminous Dead' by Caitlin Starling. It's got that same blend of psychological tension and authentic representation, though in a very different setting.