As any fan knows, it can be hard to move on when you’ve just finished binge-watching your favorite show. So if you’re looking for something new, or just want to read a book that feels like a familiar show, here are four book recommendations based on your favorite queer TV series!
- Our Flag Means Death / The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
Both Our Flag Means Death and The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue take place during the Golden Age of Piracy and follow men born into nobility who leave their lives of comfort for adventure at sea. Our Flag Means Death, HBO’s newly released romantic comedy, loosely follows the real life of The Gentleman Pirate, Stede Bonnet, and his adventures with the infamous Blackbeard. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue tells the story of Monty, a roguish young man as he begins his Grand Tour of Europe. While traveling across the continent, Monty, his sister Felicity, and his best friend/long-time crush Percy, find themselves thrown into a grand adventure that changes their lives forever.
Whether your favorite thing about Our Flag Means Death was the thrilling adventure, the witty humor, or the queer romance, you can find all these elements in The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. - Elite / Ace of Spades
Elite and Ace of Spades both follow the story of minority characters as they attempt to fit in at an elite private school. Elite centers around three working-class teens who face conflict with the wealthy students after their enrollment at a private school. The main characters of Ace of Spades, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, face similar conflicts when they are selected as class Prefects and begin to receive anonymous messages threatening to expose their secrets. Elite and Ace of Spades have many similar themes in the main conflict and are both full of suspense and mystery. - Young Royals / Red, White & Royal Blue
If you loved Young Royals, the next book for you is Red, White & Royal Blue. Both feature a young royal coming to terms with his sexuality while falling for a boy they can’t be with. Red, White & Royal Blue follows the perspective of Alex, the First Son of the United States, as he falls for Prince Henry of England. This book is the perfect rom-com to fill a Young Royals shaped void. - Pose / We Are Lost and Found
Pose and We Are Lost and Found both show a glimpse into the vibrant queer community and culture of New York City in the ’80s, amongst the rising crisis of AIDS. We Are Lost and Found follows Michael, a closeted teen who finds escape from his father, school, and the increasing threat of AIDS, at The Echo. Here he meets Gabriel and begins to find himself. While both Pose and We Are Lost and Found are highly entertaining, they also highlight the realities of being queer in the ’80s and celebrate the people who lived it.