Must-Read Books by Intersex Authors

Intersex. The “I” in LGBTQIA+. How I was born. Intersex is an umbrella term that describes a number of biological variations that place people not neatly in the male or female binary. These variations might be phenotypic, meaning outwardly presenting on the body. They can also be genotypic, meaning that they affect the chromosomes of the individual. According to Brown University, roughly 1.7% of the population is intersex, or roughly the same number of people in the world as those with red hair. To put it in more relatable terms, for every 59 people you know, one of them is statistically intersex. As for books? Those numbers are even lower, though there are some really great ones out there. Whether nonfiction about being intersex, fiction starring intersex characters, or books that have nothing to do with intersex, intersex authors are making some great books. And if you’re participating in the 2026 Read Harder Challenge, the books you’ll find below all satisfy task #19: Read a book by an intersex author. Get 15% off annual All Access memberships for a limited time in celebration of Book Riot’s 15th anniversary! Savings amount to more than 3 months of free unlimited access to our e...