16 Queer YA Books by Black Authors Out in 2026 to Preorder Now

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A couple of weeks ago, I put together a list of 26 queer books by Black authors out in 2026. Those were just the adult titles, though, so I’m back today with the other half: here are 16 queer YA and middle grade books by Black authors out this year. Some are available to read now, and others are ready to preorder.

First, I’m highlighting five of the books on the top of my personal TBR, including a queer thriller, an even-more-gay Great Gatsby retelling, an ace/aro speculative middle grade novel, and a sapphic fantasy mystery. Plus, I have to take any chance I can to show off possibly the most gorgeous cover out in 2026: the bisexual F/F fantasy Death Card by Jasmine Smith.

All Access members can also find a bonus list of new queer books out this week.

I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill (Queer Guy YA Thriller)

From the author of The Black Queen comes I Don’t Wish You Well, a horror/thriller perfect for fans of true crime podcasts. Five years ago, four teenage boys were murdered by a killer wearing a Trojan mask. All four of them were star players on Moss Pointe High’s football team. Eventually, someone was arrested for the crime, but all these years later, 18-year-old Pryce Cummings is unsure they got it right. Now Pryce, who came out in college, returns to his hometown to record an investigative podcast, reopening the case. —Emily Martin

The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass (Queer YA Historical Fiction)

As you could probably guess, this is a Great Gatsby retelling. It takes place in Harlem at the West Egg Academy. When 17-year-old Nick arrives at West Egg, he discovers it is not as integrated as it claims to be, and he faces a lot of racism. Making things more complicated, he begins to fall for the founder’s son, Jay Gatsby Jr. When Nick writes a cutting article that exposes the truth about West Egg, he and Jay will have to decide how much they’re willing to risk to expose the rot at this school. —Danika Ellis

Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch (Asexual/Aromantic Speculative Middle Grade) (March 17)

Olivia Gray has just started 7th grade, and it feels like everything is changing. Her classmates, including her best friend, are obsessed with dating. She can’t relate, and it’s making her feel left out—in fact, soon she realizes she’s literally disappearing. She flickers in and out of sight as the topic of romance comes up, and only the school librarian and her new friend Jules can see her. With these new connections, she slowly comes to terms with her asexual identity. —Danika Ellis

Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page (F/F YA Fantasy) (March 24)

The author of Brewed With Love is back with another sapphic YA fantasy romance. Monroe is a junior recruit for the Bureau of Mystical Affairs, tracking down the source of a love spell gone wrong. She’s totally focused on her first assignment and has no time for distractions—except that Iris, the daughter of the Bureau’s director, just asked her to fake date to make her ex jealous. As you can imagine, sparks fly between them, but can she solve the case and get the girl? —Danika Ellis

Death Card by Jasmine Smith (Bisexual F/F YA Fantasy) (August 11)

This queer YA fantasy debut is about witchcraft and tarot. While giving a reading in her family’s occult shop, eighteen-year-old Mikaela Broussard has a vision of the young woman across from her stabbing her to death. So in order to find out why this lovely stranger, Joelle, might want to kill her, Mikaela decides to befriend her… only to start falling for the one person she knows might murder her! —Liberty Hardy

… And 11 More Queer YA and Middle Grade Books by Black Authors Out in 2026

When I Was Death by Alexis Henderson (Bisexual YA Fantasy) (March 3)

Time-Tripping Over You by Brennon Lane (Queer and Trans YA Time Travel Romance) (March 10)

Summer Official by Rebekah Weatherspoon (F/F YA Contemporary) (April 14)

Alex Wise vs. the Gods of the Apocalypse (Alex Wise #3) by Terry J. Benton-Walker (Queer Guy Middle Grade Fantasy) (April 28)

In Between Days by Camryn Garrett (Sapphic YA Contemporary) (May 12)

Queerleaders by Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk (F/F YA Contemporary) (May 26)

Hallie’s Rules for a Recovering Romantic cover

When We Almost Came Undone by Erika Turner (Sapphic YA Contemporary) (June 9)

The Lovers, the Liars, and Me by DeAndra Davis (Bisexual YA Contemporary) (June 23)

Doe by Rebecca Barrow (Sapphic YA Horror) (June 23)

Hallie’s Rules for a Recovering Romantic by Jessica Lewis (F/F YA Contemporary) (July 7)

Coming Home (Adapted for Young Adults) by Brittney Griner and Michelle Burford (Lesbian YA Nonfiction) (February 17)

22 New Queer Books Out February 24, 2026

As a bonus for All Access members, here are 22 more queer books out this week, including Just Between Us: A Graphic Novel by Adeline Kon and A Body Made Home: They Black Trans Love by K. Marshall Green.

Floodlines by Saleem Haddad (Queer Fiction)

Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi (Sapphic Historical Fiction)