Ray Stoeve is a talented young adult fiction author known for exploring identity and gender themes. Their notable work includes the thoughtful novel Between Perfect and Real, which authentically portrays transgender experiences with sensitivity and honesty.
If you enjoy reading books by Ray Stoeve then you might also like the following authors:
Becky Albertalli creates relatable young adult stories about identity, relationships, and friendship. Her warm, humorous writing style draws readers into the joys and challenges teens face.
If you liked Ray Stoeve's stories, you might also enjoy Albertalli's Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, a funny and heartfelt novel about Simon, a teen whose secret crush and identity are threatened when his online messages are discovered.
Adam Silvera writes emotional stories about identity, loss, and life-changing relationships. His novels often blend realistic themes with elements of fantasy, helping readers examine complex emotions in an accessible way.
A good example is They Both Die at the End, which follows two boys who form a deep connection after they are informed it's their final day alive.
Kacen Callender explores gender identity, sexuality, and family through thoughtful and honest storytelling. Callender writes openly about the challenges young people face in expressing who they truly are.
A great introduction to Callender's writing is Felix Ever After, following a transgender teen named Felix navigating love, identity, and the struggles of growing up.
Mason Deaver crafts sincere narratives focused on the experiences of queer, nonbinary, and transgender characters. Readers looking for stories similar to Ray Stoeve's will likely appreciate Deaver's emotional and heartfelt approach.
The novel I Wish You All the Best follows Ben, a nonbinary teen who must find acceptance and love after coming out to their parents.
Aiden Thomas writes imaginative and compassionate stories featuring Latinx queer teens dealing with identity, family, and magical adventure. His novels often combine fantasy elements and contemporary struggles.
Consider reading Cemetery Boys, which follows Yadriel, a transgender teen navigating conflicts within his traditional family while uncovering an intriguing paranormal mystery.
Leah Johnson writes warm, heartfelt stories that celebrate LGBTQ+ identities and explore the complexity of teenage life. Her style is engaging and thoughtful, diving into themes like family, friendship, and self-acceptance.
Her novel You Should See Me in a Crown is a charming story about Liz Lighty, who competes for prom queen so she can afford college, navigating tough social expectations along the way.
Nina LaCour creates emotional, lyrical stories that focus on grief, healing, friendship, and queer identity. She has a gentle writing style that brings depth to her characters and captures their vulnerabilities.
Her novel We Are Okay thoughtfully portrays a young woman dealing with loss, loneliness, and discovering love in unexpected places.
Malinda Lo's writing explores nuanced characters, intricate world-building, and diverse queer identities. Her style is thoughtful and immersive, addressing themes of identity, acceptance, love, and resilience.
Her notable novel Last Night at the Telegraph Club is both historical and heartfelt, exploring a forbidden romance set in San Francisco's Chinatown during the 1950s.
David Levithan writes sincere, hopeful stories about queer youth, love, and friendship. His voice is authentic and relatable, blending humor with emotional honesty.
One of his standout novels, Every Day, follows a unique character who inhabits a different body each day, exploring identity, connection, and the universality of human longing.
Alice Oseman captures teenage life vividly, often focusing on the experiences of queer and neurodiverse characters. Her stories are relatable and emotionally realistic, addressing anxiety, friendship struggles, love, and identity in honest ways.
In her graphic novel series, Heartstopper, Oseman tells a tender story about two boys navigating friendship, love, and their own identities.
Casey McQuiston writes contemporary, queer-focused novels full of joy, humor, and heartfelt romance. Their book, Red, White & Royal Blue, tells the funny, tender story of a romance between the son of the U.S. president and a British prince.
Readers who love how Ray Stoeve thoughtfully portrays LGBTQ+ identities will connect with McQuiston's warm, upbeat characters and optimistic storytelling style.
Benjamin Alire Sáenz creates emotional, lyrical stories about identity, love, and family, often exploring LGBTQ+ characters' experiences and Mexican-American culture.
His novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a beautiful and gentle coming-of-age story about two teenage boys forming a deep friendship—and eventually falling in love—as they navigate self-discovery and acceptance.
If Ray Stoeve's honest representation of identity speaks to you, Sáenz’s thoughtful exploration of self and family will resonate strongly.
Adiba Jaigirdar writes engaging YA novels featuring diverse characters and exploring themes of identity, friendship, and belonging.
Her novel The Henna Wars tells the heartwarming and relatable story of Nishat, an openly queer Bangladeshi teen, as she navigates cultural expectations, family relationships, and a blossoming romance.
Fans of Ray Stoeve will appreciate Jaigirdar’s fresh, authentic approach to intersectional representation and teen experiences.
Gabby Rivera offers vibrant, unapologetically queer stories rooted in joyful Latinx culture, community, and activism.
Her novel, Juliet Takes a Breath, follows Juliet Milagros Palante, a young Puerto Rican lesbian who begins a transformative internship and discovers her voice, identity, and heritage along the way.
For readers who appreciate Ray Stoeve's candid portrayal of identity exploration and finding one's truth, Rivera’s heartfelt, empowering storytelling will resonate deeply.
Julian Winters is known for writing feel-good contemporary stories that center queer characters finding love, friendship, and their place in the world.
His novel, Running With Lions, centers on Sebastian, a high school soccer player, as he navigates friendships, rivalry, and first love during a summer training camp.
If you appreciate the earnest and approachable way Ray Stoeve writes about exploring identity and connection, you’ll find similar warmth and relatability in Winters' novels.