10 New Trans Books Out in 2026 to Preorder Now

3 days ago 15

a collage of trans book covers

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Last week, I recommended eight new books to read for the Trans Rights Readathon, which runs from March 17th to 31st. The organizers encourage you to go beyond just reading books by and about trans people, though, including by funding trans mutual aid and by promoting trans books.

One way to do that is to bid in the Trans Rights Readathon Auction for Point of Pride. Not only are there plenty of books on offer, like a signed copy of Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle, but there are also handmade goodies, like custom book-themed macarons. Book subscription services have some great listings, too, offering a 3-Month Aardvark Gift Subscription, 6 Libro.fm Audiobook Credits, and the Rainbow Crate June 2025 Full Box.

Another way to support trans books and authors is to place some preorders! Here are ten books by and/or about trans people that come out later this year. You may not be able to read them during the readathon, but you can support the authors and show the publishers that there’s an audience for trans books by preordering them. Plus, it means you’ll get fun book mail throughout the year!

This isn’t a complete list of upcoming trans and nonbinary books, but here are ten to get you started.

All Access members can find a bonus list of new queer books out this week at the end of this post.

Afternoon Hours of a Hermit by Patrick Cottrell (April 21, 2026)

Dan Moran has made it: his autofictional trans novel was published, and he’s teaching writing while he works on his new psychological thriller. But when he receives a mislabelled envelope with a photo of his dead brother inside, he decides to play detective, returning to his estranged family’s home to investigate. Instead of the information he sought about his brother, though, he finds uncomfortable truths about the gap between how we view ourselves and how others view us. This promises to be “an existential noir, an absurd comedy, a complex character study, and a heartbreaking inquiry into the paradox of identity, memory, and the very enterprise of writing fiction.”

Plastic, Prism, Void: Part One by Violet Allen (May 19, 2026)

This trans romantasy is a mash-up of Sailor Moon, Sex and the City, and House of Leaves—what more could you want? It’s the classic story: “She was a trans girl who was also an intergalactic moth-goddess. He was a trans guy who piloted a giant robotic tiger.” They had a tumultuous enemies-to-lovers romance before their universes diverged. Now, he’s back, and Acrasia will stop at nothing to keep him in her life—even if it means endangering both their worlds.

Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition by Maia Kobabe (May 19, 2026)

In 2019, Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir Gender Queer was published, which follows eir experience growing up asexual and nonbinary. As book bans rose across the U.S. in 2020 onwards, it became a target: Gender Queer was the #1 most challenged book in the country in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and it was the second most challenged book in 2024.

In May, we’re getting an updated version of this story: Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition. This edition includes 40 more pages of content, a new cover, exclusive art, a foreword by ND Stevenson, and more.

The original pages are accompanied by annotations from 16 different contributors, including comics scholars, queer and trans cartoonists, and people who appear in the book, like Maia Kobabe’s sibling.

Kobabe has another book out this year, too: Opting Out, a middle grade graphic novel illustrated by Swati “Lucky” Srikumar.

Canon by Paige Lewis (May 19, 2026)

Do you love riotously original novels that make you feel like nothing will ever be the same after you read it? Then get ready to have your brains melted by this incredible debut. It’s about Yara, who receives a message from God, telling them they need to slay one of the Earth’s Bad Guys. Not one to question a missive from above for too long, Yara strikes a deal and sets off on their assignment. Meanwhile a downcast prophet with a hidden power is hoping to get in good with the man upstairs and carries out her own plan. So prepare yourself: Canon is a mind-bending adventure about life, death, and fate that will ruin your life, in the best way. —Liberty Hardy

(I love that the UK cover of this one features the repeating text “a non-binary epic”.)

The Dinner Party by Cat Fitzpatrick (May 19, 2026)

This is the follow-up to The Call-Out, a novel in verse “tragicomedy of manners” about a queer and trans femme friend group in Brooklyn. The Dinner Party picks up “post-pandemic,” where they organize dinner parties and an arcadian pageant, navigate the obstacle course of baby-making as queer and trans couples, and upkeep friendships in letters. This is a “book about love,” as the subtitle says, and there are eight love poems included.

Meet Me at the Picket Line by Jasper Sanchez (May 26, 2026)

Jasper Sanchez is the author of The (Un)popular Vote, and now he’s back with another queer YA book! Eli’s summer job at a roadside tourist trap of a museum is objectively terrible, but he’s just glad he has a way to save up for a down payment on top surgery. That possibility is threatened by his coworker and school rival Efraín, who is trying to unionize the staff. Inititally, Eli reluctantly goes along, but he soon sees the value in what they’re doing. When management gets suspicious, he has to decide whether to stand by his convictions and the boy he’s falling for—even if it means putting his chance at top surgery at risk.

Bad Queer by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, illustrated by Chi Nwosu (June 2, 2026)

Gayathiri Kamalakanthan is a poet and playwright (Period Parrrty), and this is their debut novel. This YA verse-novel is about Surya, a nonbinary teen whose coming out was a non-even with their queer parents and best friend. But when they fall for a boy, they begin to question whether he really sees them authentically. This promises to be a “love letter to queer futures,” and it’s beautifully illustrated throughout.

The Feywild Job (Dungeons & Dragons) by C. L. Polk (June 30, 2026)

I was delighted to learn that C. L. Polk, author of Even Though I Knew the End and Witchmark, has a queer romantasy book out this year that’s an official D&D novel! Saeldian is a con artist whose magic comes from a pact to never fall in love. Their latest job is to steal “The Kiss of Enduring Love” gem and return it to the feywild. But things get more complicated when Saeldian learns their ex, Kell, is part of the team. Working together reignites sparks between them, but they also learn that this heist has higher stakes than they were led to believe. I can’t wait to read this cozy romantasy heist story set in the feywild!

Ship Happens by Mason Deaver (August 18, 2026)

This trans romance novel is the newest book from the author of I Wish You All the Best, The Feeling of Falling in Love, and many more! Owen and Jacob are exes who end up stuck together on a seven-day cruise to Alaska with their friends. Owen agrees to try to be friends with the guy who broke his heart, if only to dial down the awkwardness of being trapped in a small space. Between the beautiful Alaskan landscape and cruise-mandated activities, though, Owen feels himself falling all over again.

Cemetery Boys: Espíritu by Aiden Thomas (September 8, 2026)

The graveyard gays are back! It’s been almost six years since Aiden Thomas first introduced us to Yadriel and Julian (and my fave, Maritza, a real one). This fall, we’re headed back to the graveyard in Espíritu, which follows Julian as he navigates life post sacrificial ritual. Things are mostly pretty sweet—except for the part where he sees shadows in his eyes, glowing eyes in the dark, and these ominous dark spots on people that no one can explain. There’s also a mysterious new nonbinary bruje in the mix, one who Julian is drawn to but Yadriel is looking at with some side eye for their cutthroat approach to brujeria. Let’s gooooo. —Vanessa Diaz

Don’t forget to also check out these new books to read for the Trans Rights Readathon!

20 More New Queer Books Out March 24, 2026

As a bonus for All Access members, here are 20 queer books out this week, including Common Bonds 2: A Speculative Aromantic Anthology edited by Claudie Arseneault, Em Ishii, and Roanna Sylver; the F/F YA fantasy Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page; and the M/M gothic vampire romance Awaken, My Love by Marat Earendel.

Tizzy by Elena Azzoni (Sapphic Fiction)

Mariam, It’s Arwa by Areej Gamal, translated by Addie Leak (Sapphic Fiction)