Some high end LGBTQ+ books are receiving on-screen adaptations, and we can’t wait to watch these seven. Media representation hasn’t always been great for the LGBTQ+ community, and frankly, it’s still not where it should be. However, we have made great strides in telling our stories.
Instead of just seeing tragedies about LGBTQ+ people dying or traumatic coming out stories, we’re starting to see queer characters in all different genres. We continue to move forward in new and exciting ways, whether it’s bisexual kings on a fantasy series or gay hockey players on the hottest show on TV.
Luckily, some fantastic LGBTQ+ books are becoming TV shows, and we really can’t wait to see these seven on our screens.
beauty
The 2026 TV show beautyproduced by Ryan Murphy, is based on the graphic novel by Jeremy Haun and Jason Hurley. The story takes place in a world where a sexually transmitted disease makes people beautiful but kills them. The story follows FBI agents who investigate the causes of the deaths and uncover a conspiracy linked to a tech billionaire called The Corporation.
I’m going to be completely frank and say that I’m generally critical of Ryan Murphy. I don’t like most of his shows. However, beauty is still one of the most exciting upcoming LGBTQ+ TV shows for me because of the cast and storyline. The series is full of queer actors, including Jeremy Pope, Lux Pascal, Billy Eichner and Ben Platt.
Plus, it’s refreshing to see an LGBTQ+ TV show that isn’t about being LGBTQ+. There are several gay characters and an implied trans character, but the story doesn’t focus on that. They are treated like every other heterosexual and cisgender character in the story, which rarely happens. Hopefully they keep this in the TV show.
Happier than not
Adam Silvera’s first novel, Happier than notcelebrated its tenth anniversary this year and is currently in development into a television show with Yellow vests“Drew Comins and the author serve as executive producers. The beloved LGBTQ+ novel tackles themes like depression, heartbreak, suicide, and internalized homophobia.
The story follows Aaron Soto, a teenager who suffers from depression after his father’s suicide. While struggling to find some happiness, he begins to fall in love with a new boy in town named Thomas, although he has a girlfriend. To “fix” his sexuality, he plans to undergo a drastic memory modification procedure at a conversion therapy institute, but this would make him forget who he really is.
The prospect of a Happier than not The adaptation is exciting and seems more relevant than ever, given the discussions around banning conversion therapy. Unfortunately, the project is currently stuck in development hell, so it might be a while before we see it on screen, if they don’t shelve it.
Riddle variations
The LGBTQ+ adult book Riddle variations by André Aciman is getting a screen adaptation, and it’s one of the most exciting spicy TV shows based on books. Jeremy Allen White will play Paul, the main character, and will serve as executive producer. The story is written by The blacklist And The wheel of timeThis is Amanda Kate Shuman. In their hands, this should be a great TV miniseries.
If they follow the book closely, this will be one of the steamiest series out there, even though most of the sex takes place in the bisexual narrator’s head. The story, divided into five sections, follows Paul, a bisexual man, as he navigates his romances and erotic fixations. Each section follows a different relationship.
Paul is very internalized, his fantasy world having as much influence on his life as his reality, which is interesting. What’s refreshing is that the main character’s bisexuality is treated casually and normally in Riddle variations. Additionally, Paul’s relationships with men and women are treated with equal significance.
We all die in the end
The genre-bending YA novel We all die in the end by Adam Silvera is one of the most exciting romance books to ever become television shows. Netflix won the rights to the book after a massive bidding war between five networks, and it’s easy to see why. The premise makes an absolutely fantastic basis for a television show.
In a world where everyone receives a phone call 24 hours before they die, two strangers named Mateo and Rufus decide to spend their last day together. However, they never expected to fall in love with each other. The story is sweet, romantic, moving, tragic and many other descriptors.
Ultimately, this dystopian sci-fi romance absolutely needs to be told on the TV screen. We all die in the end is an absolute masterpiece, and it now even has a prequel and sequel that could help build the series.
Valdemar Universe
THE Valdemar The series is absolutely loved by LGBTQ+ fantasy fans because the books have been released since 1987, consisting of 42 books, not including collections or omnibuses. They feature several gay characters, the most prominent of which is Vanyel. He directs the Last Herald-Mage trilogy, in which the Valdemar Universe The TV show is about to start.
Despite being a noble, Vanyel was persecuted and mistreated by his Valdemarian parents. With the help of his aunt and her companion, he trains to become the most powerful herald-mage in history. In the end, he ends up being the only hope against a villain who wants to destroy the magic in Valdemar.
This fantasy epic has the potential to rival Game of Thronesif it’s done well. The scope and principle are absolutely high stakes. There’s a lot of magic and political conflict. Plus, there are so many sources that they could never run out. It’s bound to be an incredible LGBTQ+ show.
The guy she was interested in wasn’t a guy at all
Based on the Japanese manga of the same name, The guy she was interested in wasn’t a guy at all is an upcoming anime that we can’t wait to watch.
The story follows Aya Oosawa, a teenager who has a crush on a CD store employee, bonding over their shared love of rock and roll. However, what she doesn’t realize is that the employee is a girl from her school named Mitsuki Koga. Sitting next to Aya in class, Mitsuki learns the truth about Aya’s feelings, but she is too nervous to reveal her identity.
The manga is absolutely swooning, evoking all the feelings of first love and gay panic. Luckily, we’ll finally get to see Aya and Mitsuki’s story on screen, giving Sapphics more representation in the anime genre. Hopefully it will become as popular as Yuri!!! On ice.
Cute Cleat
All those who love Passionate rivalry needs Cute Cleat on their radar because it’s a great LGBTQ+ sports romance book with plenty of spice that’s the subject of a TV show at the hands of gay icons Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird.
The story follows Grace, a 26-year-old autistic professional footballer who is injured while the team is on their way to the World Cup. While she heals, she is replaced by Phoebe, an overenthusiastic recruit with ADHD who idolizes Grace. The two rivals begin a friendship-with-benefits relationship, but could it lead to love when they compete for the same position on the team?
If they take the same approach as Heated Rivalry, keeping all the spice and chemistry between Grace and Phoebe, then Cute Cleat It’s going to be a fantastic television show. Hopefully the success of Heated Rivalry will speed up the development process because we can’t wait to see it. LGBTQ+ love affair with football.
