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Lambda Literary Foundation · award year

Lambda Literary Awards 2023

The 2023 Lambda Literary Awards went to Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste (Bisexual Fiction), Appropriate Behavior by Maria San Filippo (Bisexual Nonfiction) and Real Phonies and Genuine Fakes by Nicky Beer (Bisexual Poetry), with winners in 22 more categories. 125 books were finalists across 25 categories.

Winners

Bisexual Fiction

  1. Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kistesource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. Appropriate Behavior by Maria San Filipposource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Poetry

  1. Real Phonies and Genuine Fakes by Nicky Beersource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. The Foghorn Echoes by Danny Ramadansource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. High-Risk Homosexual by Edgar Gomezsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. Some Integrity by Padraig Regansource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. I'm So Not Over You by Kosoko Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Anthology

  1. OutWrite: The Speeches That Shaped LGBTQ Literary Culture by Julie R. Enszer and Elena Grosssource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Children's Books

  1. Mighty Red Riding Hood by Wallace Westsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Comics

  1. Mamo by Sas Milledgesource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Drama

  1. Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land) & Antigone: 方 by Ho Ka Kei (Jeff Ho)source (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Middle Grade

  1. Nikhil Out Loud by Maulik Pancholysource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Mystery

  1. Dirt Creek: A Novel by Hayley Scrivenorsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Nonfiction

  1. The Black Period: On Personhood, Race, and Origin by Hafizah Augustus Getersource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Romance and Erotica

  1. Kiss Her Once For Me: A Novel by Alison Cochrunsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction

  1. The Wicked and the Willing: An F/F Gothic Horror Vampire Novel by Lianyu Tansource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Studies

  1. Keeping It Unreal: Black Queer Fantasy and Superhero Comics by Darieck Scottsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Young Adult

  1. The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyessource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Gods of Want by K-Ming Changsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. Lost & Found: A Memoir by Kathryn Schulzsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. As She Appears by Shelley Wongsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. The Rules of Forever by Nan Campbellsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. The Call-Out by Cat Fitzpatricksource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. The Third Person by Emma Grovesource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Poetry

  1. MissSettl by Kamden Ishmael Hilliardsource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Bisexual Fiction

  1. Meet Us by the Roaring Sea by Akil Kumarasamysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Mother Ocean Father Nation by Nishant Batshasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Roses, In the Mouth of a Lion: A Novel by Bushra Rehmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Stories No One Hopes Are about Them by A.J. Bermudezsource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Nonfiction

  1. Carrying It Forward: Essays from Kistahpinanihk by John Brady McDonaldsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Never Simple: A Memoir by Liz Scheiersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy by Rachel Krantzsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Crane Wife by CJ Hausersource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual Poetry

  1. 50 Things Kate Bush Taught Me About the Multiverse by Karyna McGlynnsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dereliction by Gabrielle Octavia Ruckersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Meat Lovers by Rebecca Hawkessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. indecent hours by James Fujinami Mooresource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Call Me Cassandra by Marcial Gala, translated by Anna Kushnersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. God's Children Are Little Broken Things by Arinze Ifeakandusource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Hugs and Cuddles by João Gilberto Noll, translated by Edgar Garbelottosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. My Government Means to Kill Me: A Novel by Rasheed Newsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. All Down Darkness Wide: A Memoir by Seán Hewittsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. An Angel in Sodom by Jim Elledgesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Boy with the Bullhorn: A Memoir and History of ACT UP New York by Ron Goldbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I'm Not Broken by Jesse Leonsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. Alive at the End of the World by Saeed Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Brother Sleep by Aldo Amparánsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Pleasure by Angelo Nikolopoulossource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Super Model Minority by Chris Tsesource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Forever After by Marie Sinclairsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Forever, Con Amor by A.M. Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Just One Night by Felice Stevenssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Two Tribes by Fearne Hillsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Anthology

  1. Queer Nature: A Poetry Anthology by Michael Walshsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. This Arab is Queer: An Anthology by LGBTQ+ Arab Writers by Elias Jahshansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource by and for Transgender Communities Second Edition by Laura Erickson-Schrothsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Xenocultivars: Stories of Queer Growth by Isabela Oliveira and Jed Sabinsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Children's Books

  1. A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the 1963 March on Washington by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanderssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCoursource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Sublime Ms. Stacks by Robb Pearlmansource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Comics

  1. A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings: A Graphic Memoir by Will Betke-Brunswicksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Gay Giant by Gabriel Ebensperger, translated by Kelley D. Salassource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Other Ever Afters by Melanie Gillmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searlesource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Drama

  1. Duecentomila by kai fig taddeisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Rock 'n' Roll Heretic by Sikivu Hutchinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Show on the Roof by Tom Ford and Alex Syieksource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Wolf Play by Hansol Jungsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Middle Grade

  1. Answers In the Pages by David Levithansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Hazel Hill Is Gonna Win This One by Maggie Hornesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Civil War of Amos Abernathy by Michael Lealisource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Mystery

  1. A Death in Berlin by David C Dawsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehlingsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dead Letters from Paradise by Ann McMansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lavender House by Lev AC Rosensource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Nonfiction

  1. And the Category Is...: Inside New York’s Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community by Ricky Tuckersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imblersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison by Hugh Ryansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Virology: Essays for the Living, the Dead, and the Small Things in Between by Joseph Osmundsonsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Romance and Erotica

  1. A Lady's Finder by Edie Caysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Loose Lips: A Gay Sea Odyssey by Joseph Brennansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsnersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Romance Recipe by Ruby Barrettsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction

  1. Book Eaters by Sunyi Deansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Circus Infinite by Khan Wongsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hartsource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Studies

  1. Lesbian Death: Desire and Danger between Feminist and Queer by Mairead Sullivansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Sissy Insurgencies: A Racial Anatomy of Unfit Manliness by Marlon B. Rosssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Surface Relations: Queer Forms of Asian American Inscrutability by Vivian L. Huangsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. There’s a Disco Ball Between Us: A Theory of Black Gay Life by Jafari S. Allensource (opens in a new tab)

LGBTQ+ Young Adult

  1. Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tiradosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Funny Gyal: My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica by Angeline Jackson with Susan McClellandsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemoresource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Fergusonsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Big Girl: A Novel by Mecca Jamilah Sullivansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda, translated by Sarah Bookersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Nightcrawling by Leila Mottleysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Our Wives Under the Sea: A Novel by Julia Armfieldsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place by Neema Avashiasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Brown Neon by Raquel Gutiérrezsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Ma and Me by Putsata Reangsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Pretty Baby: A Memoir by Chris Belchersource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. Beast at Every Threshold by Natalie Weesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Concentrate by Courtney Faye Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Prelude by Brynne Rebele-Henrysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Yearn by Rage Hezekiahsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Hard Pressed by Aurora Reysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. If I Don't Ask by E. J. Noyessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumondsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Southbound and Down by K.B. Drapersource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Fiction

  1. All the Hometowns You Can't Stay Away From by Izzy Wassersteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta by James Hannahamsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Manywhere by Morgan Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deanesource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Nonfiction

  1. Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender by Kit Heyamsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn't My Rapist by Cecilia Gentilisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Feral City: On Finding Liberation in Lockdown New York by Jeremiah Mosssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Terrible We: Thinking with Trans Maladjustment by Cameron Awkward-Richsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender Poetry

  1. A Dead Name That Learned How to Live by Goldensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Queen in Bucks County by Kay Gabrielsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. All the Flowers Kneeling by Paul Transource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Emanations by Prathna Lorsource (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)

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