Pride Picks 2025

Spaceships aren’t programmed to seek revenge—but for Dracula, Demeter will make an exception.

Demeter just wants to do her job: shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, her passengers keep dying—and not from equipment failures, as her AI medical system, Steward, would have her believe. These are paranormal murders, and they began when one nasty, ancient vampire decided to board Demeter and kill all her humans.

To keep from getting decommissioned, Demeter must join forces with her own team of monsters: A werewolf. An engineer built from the dead. A pharaoh with otherworldly powers. A vampire with a grudge. A fleet of cheerful spider drones. Together, this motley crew will face down the ultimate evil—Dracula.

The queer love child of pulp horror and ​classic ​sci-fi, Of Monsters and ​Mainframes ​is a dazzling, heartfelt odyssey that probes what it means to be one of society’s monsters—and explores the many types of friendship that make us human.

“A must-read for anyone interested in the history of drag performance.”—​Publishers Weekly
A rich and provocative history of drag's importance in modern British culture.  

Sometimes it pays to be gay and do crime.

As communities are boldly rising to challenge capitalism, white supremacy, and authoritarianism, Be Gay, Do Crime: Everyday Acts of Queer Resistance and Rebellion is your ultimate guide to LGBTQ+ resilience and rebellion. Packed with daily snapshots of radical queer history, this book celebrates the bold, the brave, and the beautifully defiant moments that have shaped the fight for justice.

Ever wonder why the Stonewall protests became an uprising or what the earliest acts of queer resistance looked like? How about the ways queer communities have organized against oppression across the globe? Be Gay, Do Crime dives into these stories and so many more—from fierce acts of resistance to joyful victories—bringing to life the rich, diverse history of LGBTQ+ liberation.

By situating readers within a larger pattern of struggle, these everyday acts counter the erasure of queer people from history and serve as a reminder that our struggles are part of a broader fight against systemic violence and dehumanization.

But, this isn’t just a history book; it’s a rallying cry. Flip to any page, soak up some inspiration, and join the legacy of resistance.

A campy dark comedy for the angry and the disenchanted.

Last November, I found a dead body inside the freezer that my roommate keeps inside the garage. My first thought was to call the police, but Jignesh hadn’t paid his share of the rent just yet. It wasn’t due until the thirtieth, and you know how difficult it is to find people who pay on time. Jignesh always does. Also, he had season tickets for the LA Opera, and well . . . Madame Butterfly. Tosca. The Flying Dutchman . . . at the Dorothy Chandler . . . you cannot say no to that, can you? Well, it’s been a few good months now—Madame Butterfly was just superb, thank you. 

However, last Friday, I found a second body inside that stupid freezer in the garage. This time I’m evicting Jignesh. My house isn’t a mortuary . . . alas, I need to come up with some money first. You’ll understand, therefore, that I desperately need to sell this novel. Just enough copies to help me survive until I find a job . . . what could I do that doesn’t demand too much effort? We have a real treasure here, anyhow. Some chapters are almost but not quite pornographic. You could safely lend this to nana afterward!

Flamboyant and witty, Oscar Wilde was famous for being famous.

The toast of late-nineteenth London society, he once boasted he could speak spontaneously on any subject, and his writings were as varied as his captivating conversation. One of the leading playwrights of his age, he also found fame as a poet, novelist and essayist. Of course, Wilde's literary success is bound up with the tragedy of his private life, and his very name evokes fascination. Including Wilde's funniest remarks and ripostes as well as deeper reflections, this collection of wit and wisdom will amuse, provoke and delight.

'There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.' Lord Henry in The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1890.

• Musicians young teens will know and love: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X, and more!
• Iconic artists from past generations: readers will learn about the extraordinary impact of artists such as Nina Simone, Neil Young, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman, and more.
• Playlists for each social justice issue: Each chapter includes a playlist with recommended songs about an area of activism, from classic tracks to contemporary hits.

A charismatic performer and frontman to Queen, Freddie Mercury is regarded as one of the greatest rock singers in music history.

Bursting with all the famed wit, wisdom and wisecracks that made the late, great showman's larger-than-life career so compelling, this tiny tome is home to all of Freddie's most famous, infamous, and funniest flights of spoken fancy. From controversial interview quotes to candid life philosophies, through his legendary performance at Live Aid in 1985 to his final days as a solo artist, everything he ever said (almost) is here.

"A lot of people slammed 'Bohemian Rhapsody', but who can you compare that to? Name one group that's done an operatic single."
Freddie, on 'Bohemian Rhapsody', interview with Circus magazine, March 1977.

"I think Queen songs are pure escapism, like going to see a good film – after that, people can go away, and go back to their problems."
Freddie, on the magic of his band's songs, interview with Melody Maker, May 1981.

This is a day-by-day account of Bowie's life from the start of 1970 to the end of 1980, his golden era that defined his work as a major artist a dozen inspired studio albums, five major tours, two feature films and critically acclaimed theatrical performances in Chicago and New York. He reinvented stage presentation in rock and revived the careers of Mott The Hoople, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop.

David Bowie: The Golden Years chronicles in fascinating detail how it all unfolded, tracking Bowie s creative life from post- Space Oddity London in 1970, through the genesis of Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke, his withdrawal to West Berlin and New York in 1980.

Informed by recollections from Bowie himself and his many collaborators, friends and associates of the time, the book illustrates how Bowie's influences and experiences shaped his extraordinary body of work, which in turn has inspired generations of musicians. David Bowie: The Golden Years features rare, unpublished and iconic photographs from a unique era in the private and professional life of one of rock s greatest and most enduring heroes.

From ancient heroes like the rebel slave Spartacus to modern-day dissenters who defied the odds, Stand Up, Stand Out! is the ultimate guide to inspiring tales of human passion and courage.

Meet 25 of the most inspiring humans of all time! These rebels stood up for what they believed in, spoke out against injustice, and overcame impossible obstacles. From world leaders such as Gandhi and Nelson Mandela to unsung heroes like Irena Sendler (who smuggled 2,500 children out of the Warsaw Ghetto in World War II) and Juliane Koepcke (who survived an airplane crash at aged 17, followed by nine days in the Amazon rainforest), this book is filled with incredible stories of passion and endurance. It also offers encouraging suggestions on how to make your own stand when you see unfairness.

Meet these heroes!

• Boudicca, the Celtic Queen who battled the invading Romans
• Galileo Galilei, the star scientist whose theories upset the Catholic Church
• Mary Seacole, the Jamaican nurse who fought against racism to treat soldiers during the Crimean War
• Martin Luther King, Jr., winner of the Nobel Peace Prize who protested segregation and inequality
• Muhammad Ali, the boxer who followed his conscience and refused to join the military
• Cory Aquino, who stood against corruption in the Philippines . . . even after her husband’s assassination
• Malcolm Michaels Jr. / Marsha P. Johnson, the transgender icon and LGBTQ activist
• And more!

Sir Elton Hercules John has enjoyed a phenomenal career filled with success, excess and achievement. His farewell tour was announced as more than 300 dates across all corners of the glode for years. Illness, Covid-19 and other extenuating circumstances conspired to prolong it, but the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour concerts have sold out everywhere as fans take their opportunity to see this unique artist for possibly the last time live on stage.

The Little Guide to Elton John celebrates the career, music and character of one of the most interesting, colourful, engaging and interesting popular musicians ever. The book reviews his career and countless highs, and recognizes his many record breaking achievements, in music, in his charity work and farther afield.

There is simply no one like Cher.

A mix of street smart, intelligence, talent and beauty, she’s the celebrities’ favourite celebrity and if you’re not a Dolly Parton person, there’s no doubt you align with Cher. With six decades of No.1 hits, from Sonny & Cher days to her latest album (number 26) the Gold Dancing Queen in 2018, she’s reinvented herself again and again. Turning her hand to serious acting in Silkwood, Mask, Moonstruck, The Witches of Eastwick and more, the multitalented star had new career, but yet again emerged as the “Goddess of Pop” with dance-oriented pop-rock – and gaining a dedicated tribe of gay followers as a result. From LGBTQ rights to politics, from saving elephants to kitchen discos on TikTok, she’s as engaged and relevant as she ever was – and she has a LOT to say for herself. Here is a collection of the funniest, sharpest, most deadpan quotes you’d expect from this authentic one-of-a-kind star who Time magazine named as “Twitter’s most outspoken (and beloved) commentator”.

Drag may have been around for hundreds of years, but it's only in recent years that it's really hit the mainstream. Thanks in part to the phenomenon that is RuPaul's Drag Race, drag is now a regular feature of TV, streaming, podcasts and more, and it is beloved by many – stars such as Bianca Del Rio and Trixie Mattel are now household names. But that growing fame hasn't been entirely positive, with backlash from conservatives and religious groups.

The Little Book of Drag is a sickening celebration of all things drag, serving realness with facts, history and quotes from the queens. Providing all the T on everything you've ever wanted to know, this is the book for any queen who wants to get reading . . . the library is open.

A NEW YORK TIMES MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF FALL 2022

FROM THE BEST-SELLING AUTHOR & WINNER OF THE TAIWAN LITERATURE AWARD

Keith Chen, the second son of a traditional Taiwanese family of seven, runs away from the oppression of his village to Berlin in the hope of finding acceptance as a young gay man.

The novel begins a decade later, when Chen has just been released from prison for killing his boyfriend. He is about to return to his family’s village, a poor and desolate place. With his parents gone, his sisters married, mad, or dead, there is nothing left for him there. As the story unfurls, we learn what tore this family apart and, more importantly, the truth behind the murder of Chen’s boyfriend.

Told in a myriad of voices, both living and dead, and moving through time with deceptive ease, Ghost Town weaves a mesmerizing web of family secrets and countryside superstitions, the search for identity and clash of cultures.

★ “Multidimensional characters, a beautifully realized setting, and an apposite surprise ending... This book is excellent.”—Booklist (Starred Review)

50 years of Pride in the words of those who changed the world.

Half a century has passed since 2,000 people marched in the very first Pride march, in New York City. It was a moment when the LGBT+ community rose up against centuries of hatred and persecution, spawning a global movement and the Pride parades that now take place around the world.

The Little Book of Pride is a collection of quotes that captures the voices of those who have played a key part in the long journey to a place of Pride – from the very first pioneers, to those who took the fight into the streets of the Stonewall riots, and right up to today's movers and shakers.

'Your lives matter. Your voices matter. Your stories matter.' Actress and trans activist Laverne Cox at the Goldern Globes Awards, 2016.

'If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.' Tape recording left by Harvey Milk, the first openly gay US politician, murdered in 1978.

From the critically acclaimed author of HoodWitch, Faylita Hicks’s second collection explores the question, Where do our desires take us?
An offspring of Audre Lorde’s seminal essay “Uses of the Erotic,” Hicks’s A Map of My Want follows a nonbinary femme as they explore the sensual intersection of the personal and the political, a crossroads to which their sexual liberation brought them after their escape from a religious cult. Lyrically, Hicks interprets the US Declaration of Independence's infamous “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for themselves. Combining storytelling with Western astrology, this poetry collection is an intimate erotic spell through which Hicks conjures joy as they develop an alternate theory on how to attain happiness—through ecstatic healing.