‘A Feel-Good Book of the Year’: 10 Reads to Celebrate Disability Pride Month
From 'Percy Jackson' to a steamy romance, these picks span every genre
Key Takeaways
- Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to mark the ADA's anniversary.
- Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan wrote a hero with ADHD and dyslexia.
- These 10 books span romance, YA and dystopia, all with disabled main characters.
Every July, millions of Americans celebrate Disability Pride Month, which honors the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—the landmark legislation signed into law in 1990 that made it illegal to discriminate against individuals with disabilities. It was a pivotal moment in history, and one of the best ways to celebrate its legacy is by picking up books with authentic, nuanced characters living with physical or mental disabilities, from ADHD to deafness, mobility challenges and more. Ready to find your next great read? Keep scrolling for the books we recommend!
The best books to read for Disability Pride Month
From heroic adventures to swoon-worthy romances, here are the best books to read during Disability Pride Month.
‘Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life’ by Helen Fisher
This novel follows Joe-Nathan, a neurodivergent man who thrives on routine. His schedule rarely changes: Every day, he goes to work, comes home to the apartment he’s always shared with his mom, eats dinner and watches old episodes of Friends. To help Joe navigate the world and become more independent, his mom has created detailed guidebooks filled with advice on everything from cooking to handling social situations. But as Joe begins to step outside his comfort zone, he quickly discovers that his mom’s guidebooks can’t prepare him for every challenge—like the bully at work who calls him “Joe Nuthin’.” Through trial and error, Joe learns that life doesn’t always follow a script, and sometimes the best guidebook is learning to trust yourself.
What readers are saying: “This story of acceptance and friendship is the feel good book of the year! I cried angry tears and sad tears and all the happy tears. If you ever need a story that showcases the goodness of people, even in the midst of great sadness, read Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life. And you will absolutely see that Joe-Nathan doesn’t have a mean bone in his body!”
‘True Biz’ by Sara Nović
This bestselling novel is set at River Valley School for the Deaf, where all the students want to do is pass their exams and get the teachers, administrators and parents to stop telling them what to do. One of the students is a girl named Charlie, a rebellious teenager who’s never met another deaf student. Then there’s Austin, the school’s golden boy, who’s shocked to learn his baby sister was born hearing. As the two bond, their lives are forever changed. A sweet coming-of-age story of friendship, love and loss.
What readers are saying: “This exquisitely written story, about a Deaf teenage girl and her world, touches on her family life, her friends and teachers at school and her friends in the community at large. I love that the story has believable characters of different ages and genders. I loved everything about the story!”
‘The Kiss Quotient’ by Helen Hoang
Desperate to get a hang of the romance thing, Stella Lane, who has Asperger’s, hires an escort named Michael Phan to teach her the mysterious ways of love. He helps her learn what’s good and bad about kissing, sex, dating and more, but when their arrangement goes from fun to feelings, things change. Now Stella must decide if she’s willing to follow her heart instead of her head.
What readers are saying: “The Kiss Quotient unfurls its story delicately and deftly, inviting readers to savour each encounter and detail. You will fall for Michael and Stella as they fall for each other. This may be a debut novel, but its confidence in its story and its writing makes it feel like a romance that has been years in the making.”
‘The Chase’ by Elle Kennedy
From the bestselling author of the Off Campus series comes a swoon-worthy tale centered around a girl with ADHD trying to survive her first year at a new college. Summer claims Colin “Fitzy” Fitzgerald, the irresistible, tattoo-covered hockey player, thinks she’s superficial. He’s also best friends with her brother, which makes the entire situation even worse. But when Summer and Fitzy end up moving in together, something shifts in their relationship. Now, what used to be playful banter has turned into something much steamier, and soon Summer realizes that there must be more than meets the eye with her hot hockey player roommate.
What readers are saying: “I loved this book! My mind works similarly to Summer’s so I instantly clicked with the character. She was the perfect blend of a ‘sunshine’ character because she also faced realness and was mature about it. Plus, the chemistry between Summer and Colin was pure wow!”
‘The Rosie Project’ by Graeme Simsion
Filled with heart, humor and unexpected romance, this charming novel is impossible to put down. Meet Don Tillman, a brilliant genetics professor with Asperger’s who knows he struggles with social connections—so he does what any logical scientist would do: he creates the Wife Project, a 16-page questionnaire designed to find his perfect match. The survey is meant to filter out anyone who drinks, smokes or shows up late. Enter Rosie Jarman, a free-spirited woman who checks every single box on Don’s “incompatible” list. Yet somehow, Don finds himself completely captivated by her—and by her quest to track down her biological father. As the unlikely pair team up on Rosie’s search, the unexpected happens: they bond, sparks fly and Don begins to discover that love doesn’t follow a formula.
What readers are saying: “The Rosie Project is an amazing book that you cannot miss! It’s hilarious, witty, poignant, romantic (in a very peculiar way) and has very interesting plot twists. I highly recommend it.”
‘Six of Crows’ by Leigh Bardugo –
In this novel by bestselling author Leigh Bardugo, criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker—a cunning mastermind who walks with a cane and a pronounced limp from a childhood injury—is offered a chance at a heist that could make him rich beyond measure. Kaz knows he can’t pull it off alone, so he recruits a band of six gifted misfits—from convicts to spies and even runaways—each with their own unique talents and secrets to help him out. This novel is perfect for fans of found family and fantasy.
What readers are saying: “I picked up Six of Crows yesterday when I felt completely drained- sick with a cold, tired of rewatching movies and unsure if I even had the energy to focus on a book. I hadn’t read in a long time, even though I used to be an avid reader. I was nervous I wouldn’t connect the way I used to. But, by the end of the day, I had finished the entire novel. I didn’t even stop when a freaking spider landed on my book. I simply flicked it away in a manner that would make Kaz Brekker proud and kept reading till the end.”
‘Releasing 10’ by Chloe Walsh
This sixth book in Chloe Walsh’s Boys of Tommen series follows Lizzie Young, a teenager who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a very young age. Because of that, she never felt like she fit in. Then she meets Hugh Biggs on a school bus and things change. Hugh sees her in a way no one else ever has, and before Lizzie knows what’s happening, she’s falling for him—even though she knows it might end in heartbreak. A beautiful friends-to-lovers novel that features beloved characters from the BookTok favorite series.
What readers are saying: “This book won’t be for everyone. But if you’ve followed the Boys of Tommen series and wanted to understand the girl everyone dismissed and wrote off because of our prior interactions with her, this is that story. And I think it’s one that needed to be told. Grab the tissues. Hold space for your feelings. And maybe, just maybe, come out the other side a little more openhearted.”
‘Thank You for Listening’ by Julia Whelan
This romantic read follows Sewanee “Swan” Chester, who dreamed of being an actress—until she lost her eye in an accident that forced her to switch careers. Now she’s a successful audiobook narrator, and when she arrives in Las Vegas for a book convention, Swan ends up spending a whirlwind night with a handsome stranger. Later, she receives exciting news: a famous romance novelist wants her to perform her final book—alongside Brock McNight, the industry’s sexiest and most secretive voice. But when Swan and Brock finally meet face-to-face, she realizes he’s the stranger from Vegas. What follows is a delightful romp filled with mistaken identities, smart banter and sizzling chemistry.
What readers are saying: “As an avid reader that sometimes gets a little bored with tropes and predictable HEA’s (happily ever after) this was a breath of fresh air. The humor and banter kept me in stitches and the heart of the story pulled me along and rooting for our characters! Easily one of the best books I’ve listened to and read this year.”
‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’ by Rick Riordan
The first of Rick Riordan’s beloved series follows 12-year-old Percy Jackson, a kid with ADHD and dyslexia who has always struggled to fit in but never knew why. That all changes when his pre-algebra teacher turns into a monster and tries to kill him. Suddenly, Percy discovers the truth: he’s a demigod, the son of a Greek god, and his ADHD and dyslexia aren’t disabilities at all—they’re actually signs of his heroic heritage. But his heroic journey doesn’t stop there. After his mom gets taken by the Minotaur, Percy must travel across the country with his friends Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase on a quest to prevent a deadly war from breaking out between the Greek gods. A groundbreaking, wonderful adventure.
What readers are saying: “Filled with out-of-this-world adventures, and chapter titles like, ‘I Play Pinochle with a Horse,’ ‘I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom’ and ‘I Ruin a Perfectly Good Bus,’ Percy Jackson’s search for himself is the ultimate summer camp experience.”
‘Roxie in Color’ by Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka
From Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka comes a heartfelt novel about belonging, identity and the true meaning of family. Roxie has always known she’s different—growing up with blind parents in a world that doesn’t always understand has taught her that. But when she starts at a new school, she sees it as a fresh start, a chance to finally fit in. So Roxie makes a choice that will change everything: She lies to her new classmates about her parents. At first, the decision seems harmless, but as the lies pile up, things spiral out of control. When Protective Services gets involved, Roxie faces her biggest challenge yet. Now she must decide: Will she continue hiding the truth, or will she finally embrace her family for who they are and give her parents back the unconditional love and acceptance they’ve always shown her?
Note: This novel is written in Atkinson Hyperlegible, a font created by Braille Institute specifically for low-vision readers.
What readers are saying: “I read Roxie in Color in two days because I didn’t want to put it down. It was beautifully written, heartwarming and informative.”
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