Books
Pride Books You Need To Read This Month, Based On Your Hogwarts House
How many times have you made life decisions based on your Hogwarts House? If you're anything like me...a lot. I super identify as a Gryffindor and any list that tells me what I should watch, listen to or read based on my house preferences is going to have me from the very first word. Especially when it comes to picking my next read, there are teetering stacks of books I want to dive into and sometimes I need a little guidance.
With Pride Month reads this seems even more crucial: I want to get in as much Pride reading as I possibly can within the month, even though I do read books by queer writers, and about queer characters all year long. If you feel the same way, but are trapped under a pile of Pride TBR picks, why not turn to your Hogwarts House for inspiration? Of course, I don't need to say that you can read anything you want, from any of the lists below, even if you don't identify with the House within (or with any House at all!) But if you're looking for a little HP-tinged fun this Pride Month, I've got five picks for each of the four houses below.
First up, let's take a look at some perfect picks for all your Hufflepuffs out there.
1Hufflepuff: 'Tash Hearts Tolstoy' by Kathryn Ormsbee
Tash is the super creative and a little zany, but she's got a huge secret that could change everything for her: she's romantic asexual. There is something sweet and quiet about Tash, but also fierce and powerful: she is not going to let anything stand in between her and her dreams of being a filmmaker, though she cares fiercely about the people around her. She is hardworking and smart, but also introverted and happy to stay behind the scenes... and if that's not extremely Hufflepuffian, I don't know what is.
2Hufflepuff: 'The Upside Of Unrequited' by Becky Albertalli
I'm not sure where Becky Albertalli would sort Molly, but I would definitely put her in Hufflepuff. She's quiet and a bit unsure, careful with her heart and nowhere near as bold as her twin sister, Cassie. But throughout this novel she learns to love herself for exactly who she is...and let others love her in return. A sweet rom-com for those Hufflepuffs who have lived life on the sidelines and are ready for their own big story.
3Hufflepuff: 'Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me' by Janet Mock
Sometimes Hufflepuffs can seem as the least confident House, but that's not necessarily true. Maybe they just need a little more guidance, and they'll have it with Janet Mock's newest memoir. In it, she shares stories searching for her purpose and place in the world — without a road map to guide her. Any Hufflepuff will find something here to help them in their own journey.
4Hufflepuff: 'The Wedding Heard 'Round the World: America's First Gay Marriage' by Michael McConnell with Jack Baker as told by Gail Langer Karwoski
If you got four members of each House together and asked who always cries at weddings, it would probably be a Hufflepuff. So this read about the first gay marriage in the U.S. would be perfect for any 'Puff who wants some Pride history with a side of sweet, and world-changing love story.
5Hufflepuff: '10 Things I Can See From Here' by Carrie Mac
Maeve struggles with severe anxiety and has a summer full of the new and terrifying ahead of her: she's going to live with her dad and his new family and she's met a new girl that turns her world upside down. But Maeve's story isn't about fear: it's about finding your courage and knowing your strength, and about letting yourself take on each day as it comes for a life well lived. Hufflepuffs are not known as the House of bravery, so they'll definitely relate to Maeve's journey finding hers.
Now, let's turn to the best reads for Ravenclaws.
6Ravenclaw: 'Juliet Takes A Breath' by Gabby Rivera
Juliet is a major book worm (OK, so she's majorly in love with one particular book) who decides to spend an entire summer living with the author of her favorite book and studying with her, so she can learn more about the queer community and history as a newly out lesbian. If there is any Ravenclaw in the world who would not want to spend a summer learning from the foremost expert on any subject, I'll transfer Houses.
7Ravenclaw: 'A Queer History Of The United States' by Michael Bronski
Leave it to a Ravenclaw to want the most in-depth history of anything that they can get their hands on. For Pride, this book is definitely it. A Queer History of The United States is a comprehensive tome that is the first book to cover the entirety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history, from pre-1492 to the present in just 312 pages. That's a night-in well spent, huh Ravenclaws?
8Ravenclaw: 'Fun Home' by Alison Bechdel
Alison Bechdel has become an intellectual pop culture mainstay with her thoughts on women in film (The Bechdel Test is the oft-talked about test to see whether a film can be considered adequately representative of women) so what memoir would be better for Ravenclaws to dig into than hers? Fun Home is the weird and witty story of Bechdel's fraught relationship with her late father, who came out as gay later in life... just as Bechdel came out as a lesbian.
9Ravenclaw: 'Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe' by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Both Aristotle and Dante are introspective characters that any Ravenclaw can relate to, but the story itself is also quiet and thought-provoking, just the sort of fiction that you can sink into, lose yourself in, and which will make you think about family, life and love in a whole new way.
10Ravenclaw: 'Highly Illogical Behavior' by John Corey Whaley
Ravenclaws will love the protagonists of this story: Simon, witty and smart, but dealing with agoraphobia so severe that he hasn't left the house in three years; and Lisa, super ambitious and brilliant, determined to "fix" Sol to help her get into a prestigious psychology program. This book is about flawed individuals with great strengths, about using those strengths for good, and fighting back against the hardships life throws our way. Totally Ravenclaw-esque.
Now, let's move on to reads for Gryffindors.
11Gryffindor: 'Carry On' by Rainbow Rowell
If Harry Potter had included canon queer characters (one of the series biggest issues that fans continue to talk about today) they probably would have been something like Harry-esque Simon and Draco-ish Baz. For Gryffindors who love their stories with a lot of adventure, their main characters super brave, but want some romance and drama to boot, Carry On is definitely a must-read.
12Gryffindor: 'If I Was Your Girl' by Meredith Russo
Gryffindors will definitely relate to the main character in If I Was Your Girl, who has to find the courage to be true to herself and tell her new love interest (and her entire new school) that she is transgender. It's a moving, realistic read that will appeal to any Gryff that loves stories about personal triumph in the face of adversity.
13Gryffindor: 'Eminent Outlaws: The Gay Writers Who Changed America' by Christopher Bram
Gryffindors love a rule breaker, but someone who does it for the right reasons. The writers profiled in this book certainly fall into that category. From James Baldwin to Truman Capote, these brilliant and subversive gay men helped change the literary landscape in America forever and made legends out of all of them.
14Gryffindor: 'Coal to Diamonds: A Memoir' by Beth Ditto
Beth Ditto is as bold and brave as any Gryffindor has ever hoped to be, and this body-positive, incredibly creative, fierce woman and fashion icon tells her story from being a "a fat, pro-choice, sexually confused choir nerd" all the way up to her celebrated indie music career.
15Gryffindor: 'Labyrinth Lost' by Zoraida Cordova
The magic, mystery, and fierce bravery of the characters in Labyrinth Lost are every Gryffindor's dream. It follows modern day bruja Alex, her best friend Rishi, and a mystery brujo named named Nova as they travel through a dangerous world to save Alex's family from an evil sorceress bent on taking over the world. It's filled with girl power, and the sorts of chills and thrills every Gryffindor will eat right up.
And finally, here are the ideal Pride picks for Slytherins.
16Slytherin: 'History Is All You Left Me' by Adam Silvera
Adam Silvera's sophomore release is the perfect Slytherin YA: filled with tons of introspection and emotion, while also dealing with the way our internal thoughts and feelings can disconnect us from the people around us. It's no secret that Slytherin is known as the House filled with dark witches and wizards, but how much of that is a self-fulfilling prophecy? Slytherins will love to explore the ways our own minds can trick us, hurt us and, ultimately, save us.
17Slytherin: 'The Gentleman's Guide to Vice And Virtue' by Mackenzi Lee
Slytherins have been called self-serving, but they are also fiercely loyal to their family and allies. Much the same can be said about Monty, who for the most part is concerned mainly with living in the lap of luxury and indulging all of his own wishes... but who nevertheless would do anything for his best friend (and secret crush) Percy. Slytherins will love the high society secrets, the drama, and the adventure.
18Slytherin: 'Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?' by Jeanette Winterson
Family pride and legacy is hugely important to most Slytherins. But, as we learned from Draco Malfoy, sometimes doing what feels right to you can make all the difference. Slytherins with that in mind will relate to Jeanette Winterson's heartfelt and emotional memoir of coming out to a mother who did not accept her. It's a beautiful story of being true to yourself, despite family relations.
19Slytherin: 'Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights' by Ann Bausum
Sometimes Slytherins need to come at a subject right from the beginning because they were a little too self-focused to be caught up on its entirety. And that's totally cool because this book about the Stonewall Riots (which many say was the catalyst that triggered the demand for gay rights in the U.S. and around the world is the ideal introduction for any Slytherin who needs a crash course on Pride Month history.
20Slytherin: 'Dreadnought' by April Daniels
Slytherins love the idea of glory, of doing something so great that no one would ever dare forget them...whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is, of course, up to the Slytherin. But randomly becoming a superhero when the other guy dies and gives you his powers? Yeah, that sounds a Slytherin dream come true and that's what happens to Danny. There's just one issue: Danny has been hiding the fact that she is transgender before her superpowers transformed her body...and now there's no hiding that she's a girl.
