Genre

Gay Fiction Books

Gay fiction covers novels and stories with gay men at their centre — from early coded classics and post-Stonewall landmarks to contemporary literary fiction, thrillers and fantasy. Unlike M/M romance it does not promise a happy ending, which is why it includes some of the most celebrated and most heartbreaking books in queer literature.

The list below is ranked by how many readers have shelved each book on Open Library. Narrow it down by decade, or see award winners such as the Lambda Literary Awards for critically recognised titles.

This list collects 2,027 books tagged Gay Fiction by 1,170 authors, published between 1575 and 2026. 7 are free to read and 3 have a free audiobook. Books are ranked by how many readers have shelved, rated or downloaded them.

Browse by decade

2020s 2382010s 6902000s 5251990s 3001980s 1241970s 501960s 331950s 241940s 101930s 91890s 6

Common tropes in Gay Fiction

From Wikipedia

Gay literature is a collective term for literature produced by or for the gay community which involves characters, plot lines, and/or themes portraying male homosexual behavior.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Top Gay Fiction authors

Related genres

Frequently asked questions

What counts as gay fiction?

Any fiction where gay male characters and their experiences are central rather than incidental — literary, genre or young adult, by authors of any identity.

Where can I find award-winning gay fiction?

The Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction (since 1989) and the Stonewall Book Award are the best-known honours; see our awards section for winners by year.

What are the most popular Gay Fiction books?

By reader shelving on Open Library and downloads, the most popular include The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), Red, White & Royal Blue (2019), A Little Life (2008), They Both Die at the End (2017) and I Fell in Love with Hope (2022).

Are there free Gay Fiction books?

Yes — 7 gay fiction titles are in the public domain and free to read, including The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), The Green Carnation (1894) and Bertram Cope's Year (1919).