If you’re looking to become a well-rounded, socially conscious reader, learning how to create a diverse TBR is a surefire way to accomplish this. And while it’s easy to become overwhelmed with diversifying your reading. It’s straightforward and only requires awareness of your lack of diversity, along with improving and including more BIPOC and marginalized authors in your reading list.
What Does A Diverse TBR Look Like?🤨
A diverse TBR consists of books that include representation from BIPOC authors, LGBTQIA+ Authors, translated books, and marginalized authors in underserved communities. Think of stories that prioritize the voices of disabled, low-income, impoverished, chronically ill, childless/childfree, and mentally ill, just to name a few.
Another key characteristic of a diverse TBR is to include books from such authors across a wide range of genres. For instance, novels by LGBTQIA+ or Women authors in horror, or mystery/thriller.
Having representation in books isn’t important for readers who belong to those communities to enjoy. It’s also vital for readers outside of that community to engage with these works to increase empathy, learn of different cultural perspectives and lifestyles, and to elevate your reading beyond consuming literature that’s within the safety net of your comfort zone, and challenge your way of thinking and perceiving the world and the people that exist within it.
Learning how to become a diverse reader who engages with various books, genres, writing styles, and authors with diverse backgrounds is quite easy, and these are my favorite suggestions to share for those looking to begin their diverse reading journey.
How To Check If Your Reading List Is Diverse 🧐
Doing a TBR audit is a great first step in building a diverse TBR. Look at the books on your physical, digital and Goodreads TBR. Identify the authors you’ve picked up. What’s their nationality, origin, gender affiliation, country of origin and author background?
Look for patterns such as prioritizing one or two genres above others, if the character representation in your novels has a wide range of identities or experiences, and are your books are set predominantly in one geographic location?
Identify opportunities to build a diverse reading list by making note of missing voices from your TBR. For example, does your TBR lack representation from BIPOC or LGBTQIA authors or voices? Do you lack authors from non-Western countries or authors with disabilities?
Pinpoint areas where you have limited perspectives, where your TBR lacks stories and authors from different cultural perspectives and lived experiences. Another tip for how to diversify your bookshelf is to identify genres that you haven’t explored. Are you primarily a mystery/thriller reader, and do you have few to no books from fantasy, horror, or contemporary fiction?
Practical Ways to Build A Diverse Reading List
After analyzing and discovering how your TBR lacks in diversity, you can now transition into the next and most fun phase, which is seeking out diverse books to add to your TBR. For this, you’ll need to prioritize seeking diverse recommendations.
The best place to start building your diverse reading list is to leverage your existing interests and intentionally seek out diverse authors within your favorite genres. Additionally, you can seek out “Own Voices” books where authors share a similar identity to their characters for the most accurate portrayal.
Another idea for finding diverse authors to read is to check out publishers dedicated to promoting diverse books and authors. You could also seek out book clubs and online communities that make it their mission to include a wide range of books from diverse authors.
To make the process of becoming a diverse reader fun and less intimidating, consider giving a reading challenge a try or playing diverse book bingo. Lastly, when it comes to learning how to find diverse books to read and making it a habit, don’t forget the importance of reading across genres, as it’s a terrific way to introduce you to new perspectives, cultures, and marginalized voices.
Where to Find Diverse Book Recommendations
The magic of technology makes it easier than ever to get diverse book recommendations. As if this isn’t obvious, you can follow bookish content creators on Instagram and TikTok. If you’re unsure where to start, search hashtags such as #diversebooks, #diversifyyourshelf, and #BIPOCbookrecomendations. If you want to narrow it down to a specific genre, try #bipochorrorbooks, #bipocromancebooks, bipocfantasybooks, etc.
But, don’t stop there! Include supporting and following bookish BIPOC creators. Some of my personal favorites on Instagram are: @introtoeclectisim,@completelybooked, @treyreadthat, and @krisbookreads. For TikTok: @dannisonlyfics @fantasyreadswithv, @ciethevision, and @kiaratheemc. For YouTube: @locdbooktician @janagaton @shawnacischroeder @kayalasbookishvibe @melreads, and @thisstoryaintover.
You can also check out book awards for diverse recommendations. Two popular awards are the International Booker Prize, which recognizes translated fiction published in the U.K. and Ireland, and the Lambda Literary Award, which celebrates LGBTQIA+ books and authors. The longlist of nominees for the International Booker Prize is posted on their website. The shortlist will be announced live at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London on Tuesday, September 25, 2025. Finalists for the Lambda Literary Award were announced on July 30, 2025, and will be honored on October 4, 2025. You can see the full list of finalists spanning over 26 categories to find books that spark your interest.
How To Keep Your Diverse Reading Habit Going
Becoming and remaining a diverse reader requires a level of intentionality and prioritizing thinking about what you read and working to add variety and diversity to your TBR. This can be easily accomplished and doesn’t have to be overwhelming in the slightest.
The best place to start is to make it a habit to audit your TBR, whether you do so monthly, seasonally, or quarterly. Whatever time frame aligns with your lifestyle, make it a habit and analyze what your TBR is looking like and identify opportunities where you can improve diversity.
You can make diverse reading a part of your monthly reading goals, where you challenge yourself to read one book by a BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ author each month. Or create a yearly goal to read fifty books from diverse authors. Bonus points if you create a reading log or bullet journal spread to track your progress and keep you motivated.
Another good idea to invite more fun and introduce a social aspect is to join a diverse reading challenge, themed months, or buddy read with a friend who’s also seeking to diversify their TBR. This creates a level of accountability, helping you to remain invested and driven to prioritize this habit.
As I mentioned earlier, book clubs that prioritize diversity are another great option. Diverse book club picks are a great way to introduce you to books you may not normally pick out for yourself. They also help you engage with the book critically while learning from others about how to dive deeper into the content to understand the cultural context and nuances.
Breaking Through Your Diverse TBR Roadblocks
When stepping out of your comfort zone and confronting your bias, it’s natural to feel uncomfortable and have a little cognitive dissonance. But dismantling those objections and roadblocks will help you reap the benefits of a richly diverse TBR. Here are common challenges you may face.
“I don’t know where to start.”
Learning to become a diverse reader can be intimidating and feel like a lot of extra work when you’re used to mindlessly consuming books with no thought regarding their diversity. So, I get that it feels difficult and cumbersome. Here’s a quick list of diverse books to kick off your diverse reading journey.
Fiction / Contemporary
- The House of the Spirits – Isabel Allende (Latinx, magical realism, multi-generational epic)
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid (Cuban-American protagonist, sapphic romance, Hollywood glamour)
- Last Night at the Telegraph Club – Malinda Lo (Chinese-American, sapphic historical romance, National Book Award winner)
Fantasy / Sci-Fi
- Black Sun – Rebecca Roanhorse (Indigenous American author, epic fantasy inspired by pre-Columbian Americas)
- The Fifth Season – N.K. Jemisin (Black author, queer characters, Hugo Award–winning speculative epic)
- She Who Became the Sun – Shelley Parker-Chan (Queer, gender-bending historical fantasy set in 14th-century China)
Romance
- Boyfriend Material – Alexis Hall (Queer rom-com, witty banter, accessible and light)
- Honey Girl – Morgan Rogers (Black queer author, contemporary romance meets coming-of-age)
Nonfiction / Memoir
- All Boys Aren’t Blue – George M. Johnson (Black queer memoir, intersection of race, gender, and sexuality)
- We Have Always Been Here – Samra Habib (Queer Muslim memoir, identity and belonging)
“I’m worried I won’t relate.”
Being able to connect with characters and essentially escape into their world is a key enjoyment factor in creating an enjoyable reading experience. So, this concern is valid. However, I challenge you to open yourself to the idea of not always reading and engaging with books and stories you find relatable. To instead purposely and intentionally read books with characters, stories, and authors that are nothing like you.
Doing so will open you to a world beyond your understanding. Not only will you learn and become knowledgeable about different cultures, lifestyles, mindsets, beliefs, and lived experiences. But you will also develop empathy, understanding, and tolerance towards people who are different from you. You may even find that your perspective and perception towards others shift as you’re able to embrace that your beliefs, ideas, and opinions aren’t the only ones that exist.
This is so helpful with learning how to let go of your ego, decenter yourself, and better engage with people in your community and society.
“This is going to be super expensive.”
Diversifying your TBR doesn’t have to be an expensive undertaking. There are a multitude of options for building a more diverse TBR and reading diverse books. The most cost-effective way is to check out books from your local library. If you enjoy the book, you can always purchase it later to add to your collection.
Another option is to utilize apps like Kindle Unlimited, Audible, LibroFM, and Libby to access digital books. Utilizing paid subscriptions such as Kindle Unlimited, Audible, and LibroFM gives you access to a multitude of titles. Allowing you to select and read books by diverse others without the commitment of having to add it to your physical collection until you’re ready.
Another fun option to diversify your TBR is to join a book swap where diverse readers share inclusive books. Book swaps are fun community events, and you can find them by participating in your local book club or checking out Facebook Groups to see if they’re having one in your area that you can join.
Lastly, you can purchase books second-hand from used book stores such as Half-Price Books or local indie used book stores. Online options for used and discounted books are Book Outlet and PangoBooks. For more tips on how to make diverse reading affordable, check out How To Read On A Budget And Save Money
“I’m afraid I’ll only pick heavy books or read boring Nonfiction.”
Ok, friend, I’m going to stop you right there because who in the world said that reading diversely meant you couldn’t experience a full spectrum of emotions, including joy, humor, and love. While yes, I do believe it’s important for you to challenge yourself and read books with historical and societal importance regarding the human condition. Books that challenge your perspective and make you think critically. But that doesn’t mean you have to make this the bulk of your reading experience.
And for the sake of your mental and emotional health, I would encourage you not to do that. There are tons of diverse books that explore the joy, freedom, and love that exist in life holistically. From silly, goofy romances, drama-filled mystery/thrillers, epic fantasies, and delightful cozy mysteries.
And, in reality, this is the point to get you to recognize that diverse reading isn’t necessarily about diving into the deep, heavy complexities of race, sexuality, and complex social issues. But to see the beauty and joy that exists for these marginalized groups and communities. How, despite the systems and hatred that seek to oppress and steal joy, they’re able to cultivate a life of happiness, joy, and love. Giving you a more realistic and well-rounded perspective regarding these groups and communities.
Now that you know the basics for how to create a diverse TBR, I hope you remain curious, open-minded, and eager to expand your perspective and knowledge of others and the world around you through the beautiful and rewarding art of books, literature, and reading. Till next time, happy reading, friends!
