Sometimes you want the thrill of a mystery with the clues, the tension, the shady side characters, but you also want a cup of coffee, maybe a little flirting, and a lead character with just the right amount of personal chaos. This week’s book recs edition celebrates queer detectives, amateur sleuths, and cozy mysteries that get the job done while also giving us characters we actually want to follow, even when they’re getting in their own way.

Pride Month is about joy, resistance, and community, and books are one of the best ways to connect with all of that. Whether you’re out and proud, figuring things out, or just here to support the stories that matter, these reads are a whole spectrum of experiences. This week, I’ve picked six books that hit different corners of the LGBTQ+ experience. Some are soft and romantic, others messy and emotional, and a couple will straight-up wreck you in the best way.

This week’s picks feature plus-sized heroines who get to be sexy, complicated, hilarious, vulnerable, and completely loved — not in spite of their bodies, but with them fully in the picture. Each story brings its own energy. Some are flirty and light, others dig deeper into identity, confidence, and self-worth. But they all have one thing in common: a main character who gets the romance she deserves.

If your brain's been screaming “I need out” lately, I got you. This week’s lineup is pure escape. From surreal libraries and magical time travel to tea shops for the dead, these six books are portals. And yeah, they’re all pretty enough to flex in your stories too.