LGBTQ

Quiz: Which LGBTQ YA Thriller Should You Read Next?

Susie Dumond

Senior Contributor

Susie (she/her) is a queer writer originally from Little Rock, now living in Washington, DC. She is the author of QUEERLY BELOVED and the forthcoming LOOKING FOR A SIGN from Dial Press/Random House. You can find her on Instagram @susiedoom.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé with Fierce Reads

How can you play the game when the cards are stacked against you? The debut Entertainment Weekly calls “this summer's hottest YA debut” is a blistering exploration of racism, identity, and privilege. When Devon and Chiamaka are selected to be part of their elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. Shortly after the announcement, someone begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down. What seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game.

Thrills! Chills! Squeals! And even better, gay stuff! What could be more exciting than a thrilling LGBTQ book? Well, a young adult LGBTQ thriller, of course! Take this LGBTQ YA thriller quiz to find a book sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The possible results have it all: jealous best friends, intriguing artists, bank heists, forbidden romance, fantastical quests, and of course, plenty of danger.

So what exactly makes a book a thriller? It’s tricky to define, as it’s more of a mood than a genre. Thrillers are all about a sustained level of suspense, creating an atmosphere of anticipation, surprise, and sometimes fear. You’ll often see thrillers also categorized as mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, or romance. That’s because suspense can come in many packages.

Common hallmarks of thrillers include secrets, cover-ups, plot twists, and unreliable narrators. But in truth, thrillers lie in the eyes of their beholders. A book that keeps you guessing, is full of action and danger, and is completely unputdownable for you may be boring and slow for the next reader. But it’s your experience while reading that really matters.

Young adult thrillers are aimed at a younger audience, but they can often be just as dark and twisty as adult thrillers. Anyone who has watched Stranger Things can tell you that putting young people in nail-bitingly dangerous situations can make for thrilling storytelling.

LGBTQ thrillers can be difficult to find. And historically, LGBTQ characters have too often been cast as the villains in thrillers. Luckily, we’ve got better representation of queerness in some modern thrillers, often as protagonists instead of villains. But we still have lots of room to grow when it comes to LGBTQ representation in thrillers, especially for young adults.

So which LGBTQ YA thriller should you read next? Take the quiz below to find out!

Looking for more quizzes to help you find new books? Check these out:

Follow Your Fears to Your Next Thriller Recommendation

Create a Fantasy World and Get a Romantic Fantasy Series Recommendation

Which YA Book for ’90s Kids Should You Read Next?