Ireland Reads: Our Top 3 LGBTQ+ Books

“Ireland Reads” has been announced as the new national day to celebrate reading in Ireland. On Thursday, February 25th, the Public Libraries initiative is inviting people to make time for themselves, cosy up with a good book and make mental well-being a priority.

At Certified Proud, we think this is a great initiative – especially with the recent announcement that Level 5 lockdown is being extended, meaning more Zooms, more walks… and more books! So, here are our three top LGBTQ+ reads!

A smart young girl is adopted into a strict evangelical household in the North of England. Rebellious by nature and on a journey of self-discovery, she navigates the balance of pleasing her religious role models and staying true to herself… but is this possible?

There a lot of parallels between Ireland and the North of England, making this story of discovery one that feels very close to home.

You may have heard of this one because it was so successful that they made it into a motion picture! Even if you’ve seen the film – reading the book is definitely worth the experience. It is a beautifully written tale about two young men who are incredibly unprepared for their irrevocable attraction. Riddled with romance and fear, this book captures deep desire and the psychological strain that accompanies it.

This book is intimate, raw and real. The only way to describe it, is from the words within:

“I am a work in progress, always doubling as different selves in different spaces, still learning how to navigate the multiple truths this body inhabits.”

Included within is a compassionate letter he composes to his lesbian-identifying wife: "I wonder as I write this what you miss most.”