October 2026 Queer Releases

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white square which reads "268 queer books coming out in October". The 268 is in matching horizontal rainbow stripes and October is in orange text. Text between the number and month are all caps black font.

🌈 What's COMING OUT (pun intended) this October? Which books are you excited for? Which books are you adding to your TBR? Any other queer releases you know of?

We do our best to screen books for AI usage and do not include books with covers that are made by generative AI, audiobooks narrated by generative AI or books written by generative AI. If there was a mistake, please let us know.

Note: Some dates may have changed. We haven’t read all of these books, so please check reviews for more details on queer identities represented and The StoryGraph for content warnings!

1

Toren (Ink & Ember Book 3) by Kate Hawthorne

There's a Ghost Girl in my House (Saphly Books' Halloween Romance Collection) by Sophie Mutiara Nova

Cream by Jamie Juggs

Hum: Poems by Sanam Sheriff

Shattered Souls (Acre Trilogy Book 1) by Ludwig Rhodes

Haunting of a Witch by JJ Clapton

I Bleed Rainbows by Steve Veasey

Hot Ghost Summer (Exor Squad) by Sam Northman

Didn't See That Coming by Alaina Erdell

In Out by Joe Conroy

Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas by Anna Zoe Quirke

A Bad Deal in Mormon Land by T.I.M. Wirkus

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

Rituals & Rivalry (Witches of Starbrook Book 6) by Elle Lavendelle

Nothing to Lose (Wicked Games Book 3) by Jenn Plummer

Pareidolia (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by Lee McCormick

Boy Meets Monster (Creepin U Season 2) by Leslie McAdam

Leonardo & Yuichi: To Connect by various authors

The Bramblespell Branch Library (Working Magic Book 1) by Amber Morrell

Breadknives & Boomsticks (Breadknives & Broomsticks Book 1) by Marie Cardno


2

Born of Malice by Xan Van Rooyen

Stroke Rate (Safe Spaces Book 1) by Ailis Lake

Beyond the Hedge Maze (The Transatlantic Quartet Book 1) by Morgan Wolff

Tough Guy & the Show Off (Relationship Goals Book 1) by Mia Monroe & K.M. Neuhold

Pucked by Surprise (Toronto Rosebuds Book 2) by Emily Silver

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

Give Me What You Will by Arielle Bitetti

The Count of Amaranth Moor Vol. 4 (Memoirs of a Modern Vampire) by Faun V. Hartley


3

Looking for Her by J. Victoria Tobias

House of the Iron Reaper by Storm Lomax


4

The Land of Flames & Other Stories (The Kingdoms Set Ablaze Book 2) by Riley Taylor

Moonlight Marked by M.L. Eaden


5

Our Caged Fates by Robin A. Constantin

His Lonely Monster (Shearwater Landing Shorts) by Colette Rivera

First Kiss with a Mothman (Creepin U Season 2) by C.D. Rachels

Mortis (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by Lily James


6

The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite & Spellwork (The Hemlock Saga Book 2) by Kiri Callaghan

Skin by Tyler Pennock

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

The Girl Who Became King by Melissa King

Fox's Master Allyx Wood

Fangs & All Tas Mukanik

Kill Your Darlings by Yuvashri Harish

Good Intentions by Frederick Groya

A Fool at the Crossroads by Alice Anne Blackwood

Fitcher's Bird by A.G. Slatter

My Journey to Her by Yuna Hirasawa

The Splintered Sun (Flan's Crows Book 1) by Tad Williams

The Housekeeper by Rose Tremain

Legends & Lattes: The Graphic Novel by Travis Baldree

A Mansion of Her Own: The Mysterious Life of Heiress Alice DeLamar by Nona Footz and Audrey Clare Farley

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Prairie Oyster by Sophie Robinson

A Wall is Also a Road by Annalee Newitz

Carrying by Samantha Josephs

Your Beloved Remains by Quinn Connor

Strange Lights by Mira González

Quaint Folk by Bitter Karella

The Witch of the Wood by Alex Larkspur

Shattered City (City of Silver Book 2) by Talli L. Morgan

The Heresy of Thieves (The Spellfall Series Book 1) by Mia V. Moss

The Southern Sorority of Superstitious Witches by Katie Ortiz

The Scarlet Ball by Nghi Vo

Your Body is a Fever Dream edited by Alex Woodroe

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

The Finalist by Faith Gladwin

Vengefully Matched (Hallowcross Book 2) by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff

My Violent Muse by Rosie Sycamore

Find Me Where It Ends by Cassandra Khaw

Showbiz!: My Life as a Middle-Aged Man by Murray Hill

Grace Through Fire: A Memoir of Murder, Tragedy, and Resilience by Deborah Samuel

See You in the Mail by Jamez Terry

No Line Change by A.L. Heard

From A to Us (Vermont Trailblazers Book 3) by Amy Aislin

Like Glass by Jen Ferguson

The White Cat's Divine Scratching Post Vol. 3 by Lv Ye Qian He, Raccoon (Translator), Bakuten (Illustrator)

There's Something Wrong with the Chief Vol. 4 by Yang Su, Faelicy (Translator), Zolaida (Illustrator)

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

The Modern Mythos Continuum (The Modern Mythos Book 2) by Juniper Lake Fitzgerald

The Angels Came to Sodom in the Evening by Paul Russell

Set the Tone by Daniel White

Little Curse of Death (Creature Cafe Book 20) by Clio Evans


7

Quartz Storm by Le Draig

Bloodstains We Leave Behind by Atlas Hendricks

Late Night Pho with the Vampire by Kienn Nguyen

Hollow (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by MN Bennet

On Dry Land (A Siren's Point Story Book 2) by JJ Mulder

The Golden Receiver by Essie Sloane


8

My Faire Lady by Haley J. Munroe

Comfort Read by Dylan Morrison

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

Soulstealer (The Soulflake Conspiracies Book 1) by Miles Cameron

How I Met Your Murderer (ExorSquad) by Sarah Glenn Marsh


9

Palingenesis (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by Rae Stone

Janavi (Ember Town Series Book 6) by MJ James

Take What Hurts by Blaire Larken

These Wicked Hearts (Wicked Sins Book 3) by Sophie Quinn

Anchored to You (Creepin U Season 2) by Ashley Rayne

Date With Skates by Penny Fox

The Witch of Eden Hollow by G.T. Anthony

Fragmented (The Chronicles of Nerezia Book 9) by Claudie Arseneault


10

That One Time by SK Pryntz & Sybil Knight


11

Broken Open: A Memoir of Conversion Therapy and Other Acts of Defiance by Adam Massman

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12

Closely Guarded by Jamie Deacon

Tenebrous (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by Bree Wiley

My Soul to Keep (Creepin U Season 2) by Rae Simmons


13

My Roommate is Trying to Kill Me by Maya-Gawonii Shabazz-Saleh

Say My Name by Moxie St. Henry

Vuelvo a Empezar by Santiago Ledesma

Twisted Iron Marks (Bitter Legacies Book 2) by Hailey Turner

She Is Still Cute Today, Vol. 1 by Guo Si Te

Rottenheart Kat Dunn

Two Women, Two Weddings by Alaina Erdell

This Spells Forever by Melissa Sky

Specifically, You by Jeanine Henning

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

Pretty Girl by Taylor J. Brown

Art of the Deal by Morgan Adams

Strange Bedfellows (Regency Bedfellows Book 1) by Emma Vail

Beau Scamp by C.M. Harris

Fire Exit by Glen P. Vecchione

The Day God Got Amnesia: A Divine Comedy by Steven Winkelstein, Illustrated by Peter Thaddeus

Honey Bee & Lemon Balm by Jil Hashikura

Strange Cases by Riotbones

A Christmas Inn, Maine by Aaron Kyte

Good Guys by Mindy Misener

The Tulip Poplars by Silas House

As You Wake, Break the Shell (As You Wake, Break the Shell Book 1) by Becky Chambers

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What a Nightmare by Rebekah Faubion

Mothsblood by Lynn D. Jung

A Very Merry Detour by Court Behr

Revenge of the Final Girl by Andrea Mosqueda

Dish by Nancy Jo Cullen

Exodus's Chorus (Divine Songs Book 2) by A.J Peterson

Devouring Fortune by Oleader Craw

The Soul Thief by Molly Haniszewski

Bird King Rising (Letters from Maynara Book 2) by Samantha Basil

Good Boys Don't Bite by L.A. Barron

The House of the Three-Headed Dog by Morgan Dante

Monstera by Delilah S. Dawson

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

Grotesque by Elliott Dunstan

The Forest Bleeds by Rachel Kitch

As We Fall Through Time by Claire North

The Fixer by Jordan Demaine

Plundering the Trinity (Demon of the Deep Book 1.5) by Briar Bemont

She's on to Something by Sandy Bailey

Wormwood's Fall (The Infernal Apocrypha Book 1) by Sancta Seraphina

Wrestling with Wrath (Passing Through Cafe Book 6) by Nik Knight

Realmsweep by H.E. Edgmon

Setting the Stage for Christmas by Tanya Boteju

Worst Man by Brandt & Stein

Let's Slay Together by Genevieve Belmont

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What If I Say Yes by Harlow Scott

Penitents by Madeline Blondeau

Golden Terrace Vol. 2 by Cang Wu Bin Bai, Suika (Translator), kou (Translator), Me.Mimo (Illustrator)

Unspeakable Things by Elizabeth Hand

Spoke by Kat Leyh

You Can Have My Back Vol. 5 by Minami Kotsuna (Artist), Hitomi Hitoyo (Artist), Jasmine Bernhardt (Translator)

Of Amity & Blood by Ashleigh Martin

Witching by S.J. Hutchins


14

First Shift (Maine Marauders Book 3) by Rebecca Norinne

A Lady for the Grump (Maple Lane Falls) by Joelle Lynne

Thin Ice (Triple Shot Book 1) by Kayla Grosse

All Orc Nothing (Creepin U Season 2) by Toby Wise

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Whisper (Crestvale Killers Book 4) by Mia Monroe


15

Coffee Eyes and Little White Lies by Claire Summers

Hexed for You by Shannon O'Connor

Daughter of Sin (Empire of Ruin Book 1) by Ruby Roe

And Then He Pressed Play (Track Two) by Robert J. Halliwell

Fairy by Kirby

A Queer Guide to Saving American Democracy by R.K. Maril

The Death of a Universe (Otar's Universe Book 3) by JD Rivers

Feral Rising (The Deficient Series Book 2) by Michael Solis

The Dad Years by R.J. Bowe

Love Spells & Other Non-Refundable Magic by Maria Rigou

Shake Your Boo Thang (ExorSquad) by Chloe Archer

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Boundless by E.M. Howis

Agape by Patrick Kindig

Hers to Break by Lily X

High Stakes (A Monster Smash Novella) by Sarah Zane


16

Dirty Zone (Enforcers Hockey Book 5) by Heather Leighson

Hush (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by Avery Collins

Get Lucky Charm by Paisley Rose

Operation: Ogre (Creepin U Season 2) by Mars Quinn

Fall Into Me by Becca Neil

Needed You by KJ Crawford


20

Devil's Advocate: The Anti-Divine Comedy by Amanda DeWitt

False Face by Josh Galarza

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

The Unpoetic Life of August Grey by Max Fischer

Scorpio Season by Maisie Bell

The City that Shattered the World (The Cursed Mage Book 2) by Fiona Fenn

Lethal Kiss by Taylor Grothe

Be My Renfield by Carolina Cruz

Family Night: Stories by Ani King

Juana Fanta Needs a Hero by Kyle Casey Chu

Goblin Market by A.J. Hackwith

The Tarot Trials (The Tarot Trials Book 1) by Katee Robert

Thrice Married to a Salted Fish Vol. 4 by Bi Ka Bi, Mimi (Translator), HuaYu (Translator), Eli (Translator)

Chef's Kiss Again by Jarrett Melendez & Irene Flores (Illustrator)

The Two Wills by Blair Fell

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Soot & Sacrifice by Qurratulayn

Reunion Vol. 1 by DeulSum (Artist), 2coin (Original Author)

Our Arab: On Longing, Belonging, and Hope by Zaina Arafat

Of Her Blood by Rozina Hyland

Three Hundred Years of Longing Vol. 4 by Mu Su Li, foxghost (Translator), Me.Mimo (Illustrator)

Real Sugar is Hard to Find: Stories by Sim Kern


21

Teaching and Counselling Neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ Adolescents Julia Rutkovsky

3 Old Gay Men by Ron Zutz

Still Here! Still Queer! Now What? A Guide to LGBTQ+ Wellness and WHoleness in Midlife by Paul Taylor-Pitt

Joyride (Redemption Road Book 3) by D.J. Jamison

Feral (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by Emmy LaRoux


22

Bonfire by Iona Hepburn

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

The White North Has Thy Bones by Dorian Ravenscroft

Fox (Wolf House Book 1) by Chiara Morgan

Until Fire Turns to Gold by Fiore Mae Belle

Squad Ghouls (ExorSquad) by A.M. Rose

Beautiful Prey by Lola Malone

The Lockdown Man (Necessary Roughness Book 2) by Riley Hart

Taped Up by Anya Birch

Wrapped Up in Her (A Monster Smash Novella) by Nikki McComas-Jimenez

Charlie (Hockey Bros Book 2) by Beth Bolden

Knocked Sideways (Colorado Blizzards Book 1) by C.A. Gardner

The Lost Champion (The Ambassador Chronicles Book 3) by James Voorhees


23

Noctis (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by H.L. Day

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Mindeater (Telexverse Book 1) by ML Sorn

I'd Kiss You in the Rain (From Sea & Skye Book 2) by Jordan Victoria

Exequial: Exhumed by Hannah Graves

Forgiveness is Taken (A Vallaverse Novella) by Arsyn Quinn

The Buried Club (The Suits of Vengeance Book 1) by M. O'hara


24

Vanessa Unchained (Love, Communicated Book 4) by K. Kenley


26

Ideal Lost Part One: The Shrikes by J.T. Wong

Goalie Interference (On Thin Ice Book 3) by K.C. Carmichael

Crown of Ash (The Emperor's Assassin Book 5) by Kai Butler

Red (Tales of Ferry Vale) by Katey Hawthorne

Trapped for Christmas (New York Knights Book 2) by Oliver Takely

Solivagant (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by Ronan Marlow

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

27

Where We Go at Night by Ikwo Ntekim

Scorpion Deep C.G. Drews

From Square One A.M. Woody

Thousands of Eyes by Maximiliano Barrientos, Translated by Thomas Bunstead

Upstate by Kim Van Alkemade

The Fall Fix Up (Peach Blossom Book 4) by Karmen Lee

You're No Better by Andrew Joseph White

Public Access Afterworld by Jane Schoenbrun

The Killing of a Chestnut Tree (Havelock Harper Mysteries Book 1) by Oliver K. Langmead

Code & Codex by Yoon Ha Lee

She Isn't Herself Tonight by Hailey Piper

Sun Chasers by Kacen Callender

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

Venus, Vanishing by Rebecca Birrell

The Turbulent Appearance of Brise Collier (Folk With a Disregard For Convention) by Natalie Kelda

Familiar New Things by Logan Sage Adams

Rage of the Wiled by Revey Galaer

Phantasms & Phenomena: An Aspec Paranormal Anthology by Phenomena Press

Chateau Reverie by Natasha Siegel

Backwoods Banshee (Adam Binder Book 5) by David R. Slayton

Our Infinite & Inevitable Ends by A.D. Sui

Change (Book 1) by Shawn Hoover

Serial Killer Wanted by Nika Grace

The Stolen Women by Alysandra Dutton

Winter Break (Winter Secrets Book 2) by Madalyn George

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

The Second Life of Jameson Duggins by Simon Doyle

An Uncertain Magic (Green Witch Cycle Book 2) by AM Kvita

Boundless: 17 Stories Starring Disabled Kids edited by Marieke Nijkamp


28

Solais (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by C.S. Autumn


29

Hard Candy Christmas (Happy Holigays) by CJ Pines

Come Down by Dalles Wilie

Drop Dead Gourdgeous (A Monster Smash Novella) by Chelsey J León

Love Potion No. 13 (A Monster Smash Novella) by Amelia Lascaux


30

Stillwater (Desire and Decay Book 1) by Bernie Brackford

Forged Flight by C.L. Blossom

Midnight & Mistletoe (Christmas at Hall Farm Book 2) by Ana Ashley

Marked (Mayhem Manuscripts Season 2: Cryptids) by N. Boeyer

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. Each spot has a book cover.

Stalked (A Monster Smash Novella) by Stephanie Jean


31

Prometheus: A Queer Futuristic Horror Anthology (Snakeskin Tales Book 1) curated by Jake Vanguard & Ezra Wren

The Christmas Elf by Emily Banting

Death Devours All by Kieran Dimitri

A graphic with a background of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow. In the middle is a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each. 4 book covers are displayed. Row 1 is full with 4 book covers. Row 2 and 3 have 0 book covers and 4 pale orange rectangles. The column on the left has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle.

We post an open call for new releases around the 18th of the month preceding on Instagram, Twitter/X, Blue Sky and Threads. Authors can add their books to these posts or our linked new release form to be included in future new release lists. Alternatively, you can email andy@rainbowcratebookbox.com with the title/series name, author, book cover, cover artist/designer and a link to more information/purchase options (Goodreads/Author website/Itch.io). Books must have be outlined, written and edited without the use of gen AI; must have a cover made by a human artist or designer and must have a human narrator if an audiobook exists.

ID: A post of twenty-four slides. The background is made up of a diagonal oriented 6-stripe rainbow for each slide. Slide 1 has a white square which reads "268 queer books coming out in October". The 268 is in matching horizontal rainbow stripes and October is in orange text. Text between the number and month are all caps black font. 

Slides 2-17 features a white grid outline with a column on the left that has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle and book covers in three rows of 4 book covers each.

Slide 18 features a similar set up but with 4 books displayed. Row 1 is full with 4 book covers. Row 2 and 3 have 0 book covers and 4 pale orange rectangles. The column on the left has the release date in black font over an orange rectangle. End ID.

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