Bad Queer

A luminous and romantic debut novel in verse about navigating first love as a non-binary teenager.

"Not to be missed."--Publishers Weekly starred review ⭐

"A thoughtful and nuanced take on relationships."--Kirkus starred review ⭐

I feel invincible.
Like I could run and run
and never stop for breath.

I feel a power in me
I didn't know I had.

The power to speak,
to say what I need.

Surya knows exactly who they are. Coming out as non-binary to their queer parents and best friend? A total non-event. Catching feelings for Blessing - the boy in drama club whose smile makes their heart race? That's trickier.

As their final year of school unfolds and the two of them grow closer, Surya starts to question: Does Blessing really see them? Or just a version of them that doesn't exist? They'd ask their best friend for advice, but she's busy falling in love too. . .

With gorgeous illustrations throughout, Bad Queer draws us deeply into queer friendship, family secrets, and the necessary act of loving yourself. Perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Dean Atta, and Sarah Crossan.

This is a love letter to queer futures - tender, curious, and fiercely alive.

Author: Gayathiri Kamalakanthan
Publisher: Faber & Faber Children's
Published: 06/02/2026
Pages: 432
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 7.70h x 5.10w x 1.30d
ISBN13: 9780571390663
ISBN10: 0571390668
BISAC Categories:
- Young Adult Fiction | Romance | LGBTQ+
- Young Adult Fiction | Coming of Age
- Young Adult Fiction | Novels in Verse

About the Author
Gayathiri Kamalakanthan is a Tamil poet and producer. They're interested in how language shapes adolescence and how we might use it to build freer futures. Gayathiri is a recipient of the Disabled Poets Prize, the FAB Prize and the RSL Literature Matters Award. An alumna of the Southbank Centre New Poets Collective, Gayathiri runs Word-Benders, a poetry workshop centering the work of trans and queer poets of colour. Their work in Relationships and Sex Education shapes the questions they ask as a writer. gayathiri.co.uk, @unembarrassable.

Chi Nwosu is a Black, non-binary, queer, Nigerian artist based in Chicago. Their work is an alchemy of cultural narratives that centres marginalised experiences and utilises potent cultural, political, and spiritual symbols.