There have been so many lesbian graphic novels for teens coming out lately. I’m thrilled that so many of them are just sweet romances or adventures, without coming out or related bullying being a huge part of the story, if at all. My own teen is a huge fan of this kind of book, so I’ve been keeping them busy test-reading them for me – and making room in my own TBR for books they recommend.

Always Human by Ari North. Yellow Jacket, 2020. ISBN 978-1499811094 – In a future Australia where people can change their appearance and brain function with nanobot-powered mods, Sunati is drawn to Austen, a girl who doesn’t use any. But while Austen also likes Sunati, she hates being seen as brave for not using mods when she has a condition that prevents her from using them. Together, they get to know each other, themselves, and what it means to be in a relationship. This is book 1 of 2 based on a completed Webtoon, and the origin shows in very beautiful artwork and super-short chapters

Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa. First Second, 2023. ISBN 9781250784124 – I confess that I have not read this one and am including it here because my kid has had it for the past three years and rereads it constantly, despite the story involving athletes and my kid having no interest in athletics at all. From the plot description, I can say that it’s a realistic high school love triangle. I can’t even take a peek at the copy the library owns because it’s checked out.

Forgive-me-not by Mari Costa. First Second, 2026. ISBN 9781250784179 – Princess Aisling’s 18th birthday is just a week away, and she’s preparing for the ball and taking on real suitors. This plan comes crashing down when she’s kidnapped by a warrior girl named Forget-Me-Not, who claims that Aisling is just a changling and that Forget-Me-Not is the real princess. Lush colors and otherwordly creatures fill the pages as they travel into Faery, all while Aisling has to reconfigure everything she thought she knew about herself and the privilege she always took for granted.

The Lost Daughter of Sparta by Felicia Day. Art by Rowan MacColl. Gallery Books, 2026. ISBN 978-1668010723 – In ancient Greece, the four daughters of King Tynadareus of Sparta – Helen of Troy, Clytemnestra, Timandra, and Philonoe – were all cursed by Aphrodite to betray their husbands. From scraps of legends, Felicia Day tells the story of the youngest daughter, Philonoe, whose story was not passed down. Born with a port wine stains on her face and head, Philonoe was presumed to be so cursed that she was a danger to keep around and so sent off to be raised in the countryside. Once she’s of marriageable age, though, her father brings her back to marry. But how can she be a good wife if her future husband can’t even bear to look at her? Philonoe decides to do what every good hero does and asks Aphrodite for a quest to change her fate. But Artemis also takes an interest in her, following her, helping her, and arguing with her along the way. Slowly, each stage of the quest helps Philonoe think about who she might be and what she might want for herself outside of what she’s been told to want. The black, white and red art is expressive while still carrying a strong feeling of Greek art. This comes recommended by my teen and by Melissa at the Book Nut as well as myself.

Lovely Recipe by Myra Rose Nino. Random House Graphic, 2026. ISBN 978-0593180594 – High school senior Sofia is floundering. Her friends are all applying to far-away colleges, but her grades aren’t good enough. Instead, she’s obsessed with the family cookbook of Italian recipes that her Grandma used. Since her death, though, Sofia’s mother doesn’t cook and Sofia’s requests to cook together are deflected. When Sofia discovers that her put-together classmate Anna Marie cooks at her family’s Italian restaurant after school, Sofia begs her for cooking lessons. And while the kitchen heats things up between the girls, what will happen if one of them goes away to college? This book is so sweet that a coworker grabbed it off my stack of waiting-to-be-reviewed books and read it in one sitting.

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz. Little, Brown Ink, 2023. ISBN 9780316538725. – Lady Camembert runs away from home disguised as a man when her father issues a deathbed ultimatum that she must marry a man. Cam tries to stay undercover, until she attends a ball and meets the lovely and outspoken Princess Brie. But can Cam share her truth with Brie and still stay safe? Could there be a way for her to show how much she cares? Cheese puns abound in this sweet and funny story that is also on my teen’s regular reading rotation.

Steam by Shaenon K. Garrity and Emily Holden. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2026. ISBN 978-1534495869 – Deep in the Perfectly Normal Lab of Smithson University, scientists are hard at work developing “hypercognitive transhumans” that will be smarter than humans and able to solve our problems better than we can. In a surely totally unconnected incident, at Inkcap Coffee across the street from the university, a new barista named Ruby is trying to figure out how the world works outside the lab and what problems to solve now that she can choose for herself. Ruby being a “hypercognitive transhuman” who has grown up in isolation means that she reads as autistic. The chaos she’s able to bring about while trying to be useful is hugely entertaining. This is one that my teen told me to read as soon as they finished it.

Sunflowers and Lavender by Maisy Valais. Yellow Jacket, 2026. ISBN 9781499815788 – When awkward but romantic Penny crashes into Bianca in a grocery store, it’s love at first sight – at least for Penny – but she’s too embarrassed to follow up. Bianca would like to see Penny again, too, but is busy getting ready for her first solo concert. Filled with adorable art, many hilarious interactions, and a diverse and supportive cast of friends, this is a short and sweet story of teens working their way up to trying to date. I hope for further stories of Penny, Bianca, and their friends! As soon as my teen saw this, they grabbed it, said “mine!” and started reading. They agree with me that it was good.

Do you have any favorite sapphic graphic novels? Let me know in the comments!