This Week in LGBT — Week of June 8, 2026

New LGBT Releases

The Open Era by Edward Schmit

Published: June 2, 2026

This debut romance has seen a significant surge in ratings, with a growth of 182% and an increase of 632 ratings. Its performance is notable, especially considering it's a new release, and its popularity can be attributed to its unique blend of sports and romance. The book's exploration of the challenges faced by an openly gay tennis player has resonated with readers, making it a standout title in the LGBT genre.

Stats: 348 → 980 (+632)

Girl's Girl by Sonia Feldman

Published: June 2, 2026

Girl's Girl has also made a strong debut, with a growth of 107% and an increase of 503 ratings. The book's candid portrayal of adolescence and first love has struck a chord with readers, and its inclusion of queer themes has contributed to its popularity. As a new release, its performance is impressive, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to fare in the coming weeks.

Stats: 468 → 971 (+503)

Bromantasy by Máire Roche

Published: May 26, 2026

Bromantasy has seen a notable increase in ratings, with a growth of 58% and an increase of 397 ratings. The book's cozy, queer fantasy elements and its exploration of platonic relationships have appealed to readers, and its performance is a testament to the growing interest in the fantasy genre. As a new release, its debut is promising, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to perform in the coming weeks.

Stats: 679 → 1,076 (+397)

Muñeca by Cynthia Gómez

Published: June 2, 2026

Muñeca has made a strong debut, with a growth of 109% and an increase of 215 ratings. The book's vivid, surreal Gothic elements and its exploration of queer themes have resonated with readers, and its performance is notable, especially considering it's a new release. As a debut novel, its success is impressive, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to fare in the coming weeks.

Stats: 197 → 412 (+215)

LGBT Backlist Risers

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published: June 3, 2025

Atmosphere has seen a steady increase in ratings, with a growth of 1.2% and an increase of 10,716 ratings. The book's exploration of love and identity has continued to resonate with readers, and its performance is a testament to the enduring popularity of the LGBT genre. As a backlist title, its continued success is notable, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to perform in the coming weeks.

Stats: 882,964 → 893,680 (+10,716)

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

Published: June 10, 2025

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil has also seen a notable increase in ratings, with a growth of 1.2% and an increase of 2,335 ratings. The book's genre-defying elements and its exploration of immortality and hunger have continued to appeal to readers, and its performance is a testament to the author's ability to craft compelling stories. As a backlist title, its continued success is impressive, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to fare in the coming weeks.

Stats: 199,074 → 201,409 (+2,335)

The Takeaway

This week's data suggests that new LGBT releases are driving the genre's momentum, with four new releases making the top 5 in terms of rating increases. The Open Era, Girl's Girl, Bromantasy, and Muñeca have all seen significant growth, with increases ranging from 58% to 182%. In contrast, backlist titles such as Atmosphere and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil have seen more modest growth, with increases of 1.2% and 1.2%, respectively. The Pick of the Week goes to The Open Era, which has seen the most impressive growth, with an increase of 632 ratings and a growth of 182%. Its debut is a testament to the growing interest in the LGBT genre and the appeal of sports romance.