The Toronto Lesbian Book Club founders share 5 compelling novels to add to your summer reading list

Rawley Loftus and Kalyani Sivakumar love to read and, Loftus says, they “desperately wanted to talk about queer literature” — so the friends started a group where they could do both. The Toronto Lesbian Book Club (TLBC) launched last September and now meets monthly, often at west end queer bar Three Dollar Bill.

“There’s a serious lack of lesbian spaces in our city,” says Loftus. “Over the last 10 months, we’ve had so many amazing conversations about life, love, literature and queerness. We’ve learned so much from these books, and we have learned even more from each other.”

The group prides itself on welcoming readers of all kinds: allies and people who simply want to read and discuss lesbian literature are welcome at their gatherings, too. Loftus and Sivakumar also prioritize books that uplift marginalized voices and challenge ideas of what “lesbian literature” can look like, highlighting trans, non-binary, BIPOC, Indigenous, disabled and otherwise under-represented writers.

“Reading queer literature is vital in this day and age because it teaches queer folks the history and significance of our past, helps us understand where we are now and allows us to imagine where we can go next,” says Sivakumar. “In a world that so often tells queer people to stop sharing their stories, stop taking up space and stop existing, reading queer literature becomes an act of resistance.”

Here, the TLBC co-founders share five summer must-reads.

Want to … be transported to another time and place?

Read “Last Night at the Telegraph Clu” by Malinda Lo

“This YA historical fiction novel tells the story of Lily Hu, a 17-year-old girl finding love and queerness in 1950s San Francisco. While the narrative is sweet and readable, Lo also manages to explore several fascinating historical phenomena; I really enjoyed learning about the city’s historic Chinatown and lesbian communities through Lily’s journey.” — Rawley

Want to … explore the queer classics?

Read “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin

“This stunningly heartbreaking mid-century novel is always on my summer reread list. David, a young American man, falls for Giovanni while the two are living in Paris. Though David is engaged to an American woman, he moves into Giovanni’s apartment and they begin a tumultuous love affair. Baldwin delivers an absolute gut punch — but in the best and most beautiful way possible.” — Rawley

Want to … go on a rollicking adventure?

Read “Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl” by Andrea Lawlor

“This iconic queer magical realism novel — on TLBC’s shortlist for July — is a fantastic summer read. In the summer of 1993, bartender Paul Polydoris discovers the ability to shapeshift and embarks on a thrilling journey through America’s queer communities. What follows is a fascinating tale of sex, love and gender fluidity spanning from San Francisco to Provincetown.” — Rawley

Want to … swoon for a sweet love story?

Read “Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating” by Adiba Jaigirdar

“This is the perfect queer YA romance for fans of fake dating, enemies-to-lovers tension and Bengali-Irish representation. Light, funny and full of charm, this teen romance follows two girls as their fake relationship becomes much more complicated than planned. With its beach-read energy, lovable characters and meaningful LGBTQ+ storytelling, this novel is ideal for reading by the water, in the park, or anytime you want an uplifting tale of queer love.” — Kalyani

Want to … shiver a bit with something spooky?

Read “Our Wives Under the Sea” by Julia Armfield

“This tragic Sapphic horror novel spans marriage, grief and the unbearable fear of losing the woman you love emotionally while she is still physically in front of you. Set between the tumultuous domestic sphere of a lesbian relationship and the eerie, unknowable world beneath the ocean, this book is atmospheric, strange and deeply emotional. It’s heavier and more conceptual than a typical summer read, but its watery, otherworldly horror makes it perfect for readers who want to be completely submerged in a story. I could not put it down.” — Kalyani