Best Books of the Year
Menu

Lambda Literary Foundation · award year

Lambda Literary Awards 2013

The 2013 Lambda Literary Awards went to No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics by Justin Hall (Anthology), In One Person by John Irving and My Awesome Place: The Autobiography of Cheryl B by Cheryl Burke (Bisexual) and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz (Children’s/Young Adult), with winners in 19 more categories. 139 books were finalists across 22 categories.

Winners

Anthology

  1. No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics by Justin Hallsource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual

  1. In One Person by John Irvingsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. My Awesome Place: The Autobiography of Cheryl B by Cheryl Burkesource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenzsource (opens in a new tab)

Debut Fiction

  1. The Summer We Got Free by Mia McKenziesource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

  1. The Myopia and Other Plays by David Greenspan by Marc Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Erotica

  1. The Facialist by Mykola Dementiuksource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club by Benjamin Alire Saenzsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. Fire in the Belly by Cynthia Carrsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. Lake on the Mountain: A Dan Sharp Mystery by Jeffrey Roundsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. He Do the Gay Man in Different Voices by Stephen S. Millssource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bellsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Erotica

  1. The Harder She Comes: Butch/Femme Erotica by D.L. Kingsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. The World We Found: A Novel by Thrity Umrigarsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Wintersonsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. Ill Will by J.M. Redmannsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. Sea and Fog by Etel Adnansource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Month of Sundays by Yolanda Wallacesource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Flagrant Conduct: The Story of Lawrence v. Texas by Dale Carpentersource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Green Thumb by Tom Cardamonesource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. Performing Queer Latinidad: Dance, Sexuality, Politics by Ramón H. Rivera-Serverasource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. The Collection: Short Fiction From The Transgender Vanguard by Tom Léger and Riley MacLeodsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. Transfeminist Perspectives in and beyond Transgender and Gender Studies by Anne Enkesource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Anthology

  1. For Colored Boys by Keith Boykinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Here Come the Brides!: Reflections on Lesbian Love and Marriage by Audrey Bilger and Michele Kortsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Why Are Faggots So Afraid of Faggots? Flaming Challenges to Masculinity, Objectification, and the Desire to Conform by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamoresource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual

  1. Axel Hooley’s Death Watch List by Scotty-Miguel Sandoesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Girlfag: A Life Told In Sex and Musicals by Janet W. Hardysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. History of a Pleasure Seeker by Richard Masonsource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Adaptation by Malinda Losource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ask the Passengers by A.S. Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Millssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Every Day by David Levithansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Kiss the Morning Star by Elissa Janine Hoolesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Personal Effects by E.M. Kokiesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffinsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Adventure of Tulip, Birthday Wish Fairy by S. Bear Bergman and Suzy Maliksource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforthsource (opens in a new tab)

Debut Fiction

  1. Desire: Tales of New Orleans by William Sterling Walkersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Incidental Music by Lydia Perovicsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Love, In Theory: Ten Stories by E.J. Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Makara: a novel by Kristen Ringmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Monstress by Lysley Tenoriosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. People Who Disappear by Alex Lesliesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Dream of Doctor Bantam by Jeanne Thorntonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Evening Hour by Carter Sickelssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Three Cubic Feet by Lania Knightsource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

  1. A Strange and Separate People by Jon Maranssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Edith Can Shoot Things And Hit Them by A. Rey Pamatmatsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Falling In Time by C. E. Gatchaliansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Thunder Above, Deeps Below by A. Rey Pamatmatsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Erotica

  1. Coming To: A Collection of Erotic and Other Epiphanies by Lukas Handsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Raising Hell: Demonic Gay Erotica by Todd Gregorysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Secret Societies by William Holdensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Strawberries and Other Erotic Fruits by Jerry L. Wheelersource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. A Horse Named Sorrow by Trebor Healeysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lovers by Daniel Arsandsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sighs Too Deep For Words by William Jack Sibleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Spreadeagle by Kevin Killiansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Absolutist by John Boynesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Lava in My Bones by Barry Webstersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Paternity Test by Michael Lowenthalsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. These Things Happen by Richard Kramersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Unbuilt Projects by Paul Lisickysource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. Intolerable by Kamal Al-Solayleesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Midstream: An Unfinished Memoir by Reynolds Pricesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. My Husband and My Wives: A Gay Man’s Odyssey by Charles Rowan Beyesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Collected Writings of Joe Brainard by Ron Padgettsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Twelve Views from the Distance by Mutsuo Takahashi, translated by Jeffrey Anglessource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. Bokassa’s Last Apostle by Rod Sheltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dos Equis by Anthony Bidulkasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fires of London by Janice Lawsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Yellow Canary by Steve Neil Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. Appetite by Aaron Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Looking for the Gulf Motel by Richard Blancosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Nocturnes of the Brothel of Ruin by Patrick Donnellysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Slow Lightning by Eduardo C. Corralsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Don’t Let Me Go by J.H. Trumblesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Celestial by Barry Brennesselsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Nothingness of Ben by Brad Boneysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Toughskins by William Masswasource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Erotica

  1. Girls Who Score: Hot Lesbian Erotica by Ily Goyanessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. One Saved to the Sea by Catt Kingsgravesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Carry the One by Carol Anshawsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Last Nude by Ellis Averysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Raven’s Heart by Jesse Blackaddersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Theft: A Novel by BK Lorensource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Wonder Girls by Catherine Jonessource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet by Judy Grahnsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All We Know: Three Lives by Lisa Cohensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama by Alison Bechdelsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Before the Rain by Luisita Lopez Torregrosasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Gentrification of the Mind: Witness to a Lost Imagination by Sarah Schulmansource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. Jacob’s War by C.P. Rowlandssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lemon Reef by Robin Silvermansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Molly: House on Fire by R. E. Bradshawsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rest for the Wicked by Ellen Hartsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. Letters to Kelly Clarkson by Julia Blochsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Snowflake/different streets by Eileen Mylessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. fault tree by kathryn l. pringlesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. wine for a shotgun by Marty McConnellsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Appointment with a Smile by Kieran Yorksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dark Wings Descending by Lesley Davissource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Love Match by Ali Valisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Runaway by Anne Laughlinsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. She Left Me Breathless by Trin Denisesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sometime Yesterday by Yvonne Heidtsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Survived by Her Longtime Companion by Chris Payntersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Tactical Pursuit by Lynette Maesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Third by Q. Kellysource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Communists and Perverts under the Palms: The Johns Committee in Florida, 1956-1965 by Stacy Braukmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Eminent Outlaws: The Gay Writers Who Changed America by Christopher Bramsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Far From The Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin’s Life in Letters by Michael Longsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Israel/Palestine and the Queer International by Sarah Schulmansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Out Spoken: A Vito Russo Reader Reel One and Reel Two by Jeffrey Schwarz, Mark Thompson and Bo Youngsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Real Man Stories by T Coopersource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction by Brit Mandelosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Chocolatiers of the High Winds: A Gay Steampunk Romance by H.B. Kurtzwildesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Heiresses of Russ 2012: the Year’s Best Lesbian Speculative Fiction by Connie Wilkins and Steve Bermansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. In the Now by Kelly Sinclairsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Night Shadows: Queer Horror by Greg Herren and J.M. Redmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Survivors by Sean Eadssource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. Acts of Gaiety: LGBT Performance and the Politics of Pleasure by Sara Warnersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Depression: A Public Feeling by Ann Cvetkovichsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Gay Press, Gay Power: The Growth of LGBT Community Newspapers in America by Tracy Baimsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. How To Be Gay by David M. Halperinsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. On Making Sense: Queer Race Narratives of Intelligibility by Ernesto Javier Martínezsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Out of Africa: LGBT Organizing in Namibia and South Africa by Ashley Curriersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Pray the Gay Away The Extraordinary Lives of Bible Belt Gays by Bernadette C. Bartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. South Africa and the Dream of Love to Come: Queer Sexuality and the Struggle for Freedom by Brenna M. Munrosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Invention of Heterosexual Culture by Louis-Georges Tinsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. Being Emily by Rachel Goldsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dialectic of the Flesh by Roz Kaveneysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. First Spring Grass Fire by Rae Spoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Offspring by Michael Quadlandsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. Seasonal Velocities by Ryka Aokisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Teeny Weenies and Other Short Subjects by Matt Kaileysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Transposes by Dylan Edwardssource (opens in a new tab)

About the Lambda Literary Awards

Winners and finalists in every book category, from Lambda Literary's own Lammys Directory (an Airtable embed on the cited page). Year is the ceremony year: the 18th annual awards (2006) through the 37th (2025). The directory lists each book under its publication year, one year earlier, so year = directory year + 1. Ties are recorded as Winner. For 2025 the directory labels non-winners "Shortlist"; Lambda's announcement calls them finalists, so they are Finalist here. Editor and illustrator role tags are dropped from author names; translators go in the translator field. Special Prizes (career and emerging-writer awards to people) are out of scope.

Organization: Lambda Literary Foundation. Years are award years, which can differ from publication years. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2013

Shares the most books with