Five Must-Read Books for Pride Month: The June 2026 Whistles Reading List For June’s edition of the Whistles’ Reading List, we’re shining a spotlight on diverse authors, compelling narratives and thought-provoking reads. From moments of reflection to laughter, emotion, and discovery, these stories invite you to pause, unwind, and immerse yourself wherever you are, whether that’s at home, on your daily commute, or while packing for your next escape. Consider this curated round-up an invitation to slow down, lose yourself in new perspectives, and reconnect with the power of storytelling through authors such as Carys Davies, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Elvin James Mensah, and Portia Elan, with more inspiring voices to follow. Now is the time to fill the gaps on your bookshelf with new discoveries, or slip a special read into your everyday work bag or suitcase for those quiet moments in between. Wherever you find yourself this season, let these stories travel with you. CLEAR by Carys Davies Carys Davies’ 2025 Wales Book of the Year, Clear, is an intimate drama set against the rugged backdrop of a faraway spot beyond Shetland, telling the story of a connection that forms between two men who should be enemies; Ivar, the sole occupant of a remote Scottish island, leads a life of quiet isolation until the day he finds a man unconscious on the beach below the cliffs. The newcomer is John Ferguson, an impoverished church minister sent to evict Ivar and turn the island into grazing land for sheep. Unaware of the stranger's intentions, Ivar takes him into his home, and despite the two men having no common language, a fragile bond begins to form between them. The story unfolds with tension and tenderness: a touching and crystalline study of ordinary people buffeted by history and a powerful exploration of the distances and connections between us. Perfectly structured and surprising at every turn, Clear is a marvel of storytelling, an exquisite short novel by a master of the form. ALMOST LIFE by Kiran Millwood Hargrave Set over the course of a summer in 1978, Almost Life is a breathtaking, smart, and sexy story of love and longing, of the lives we almost live and the choices we don't make. In People’s “Best Sapphic Historical Romances”, Kiran Millwood Hargrave tells the story of Erica and Laure, who meet on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur in Paris. But their encounter turns into far more than a summer of love. It is the beginning of a relationship that will define their lives and every decision they have yet to make. Spanning cities, decades, and heartbreaks, fate brings them within touching distance again and again. HOMEBOUND by Portia Elan Six centuries. Five lives. Portia Elan’s debut novel is an interlocking coming-out and coming-of-age story for fans of speculative meditations on human nature. It’s 1983, and Becks can’t wait to get the hell out of Cincinnati. But for now, she has work to do: her programmer uncle, the only person who understood her, has left her a half-finished game to complete. The game will outlast Becks by centuries and shape the lives of a scientist, an astronaut, and a pirate captain in ways she cannot imagine. It will connect these four pioneering women across centuries, vast oceans, and distant planets and introduce them to a remarkable robot destined to gather together this disparate crew. WHITE SPACES by Elvin James Mensah Out this month, White Spaces is Elvin James Mensah’s second novel. Set in 2012, London, White Spaces tells the story of four young Black men coming of age in a city on the cusp of change. We meet Teddy, who seems to have things sorted. A senior editor at a music magazine before turning 30, he's smart, practical, and dependable: the one his friends turn to for support when things become complicated. His old school friends, Kain and Nathan, have their fair share of issues. Kain is trying to get his music career back on track, while struggling to come to terms with his sexuality, and Nathan is still living with his parents, while working three jobs to help bring up his son and finally wayward, unpredictable and impossible not to love, Birch, who veers impulsively from one calamity to the next but, whenever things get really bad, one person is always there to help him pick up the pieces. But what if things were to get so bad that even Teddy couldn't fix them? And who would be there to fix Teddy if they did? White Spaces poses challenging questions about the way we were and the world we were creating, while always holding on to a powerful belief in the strength of love and friendship to overcome the worst that life can throw at us. WHAT A GIRL WANTS by Roxy Bourdillion Roxy Bourdillon is editor-in-chief of DIVA, the world’s leading magazine for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people, and a member of the Pride Power List and the Attitude 101: LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Changing The World. What A Girl Wants is a relatable and moving coming-of-age memoir that follows her journey from being secretly gay in the suburbs of Leeds to the queer clubs of London. From overcoming shame and finding your tribe, to surviving the dating scene and learning to express yourself, Roxy Bourdillon blends personal storytelling with cultural commentary in a voice that is frank and assured. Whistles’ curated reading list, designed to spotlight and celebrate LGBTQ+ stories and authors, is part of the Whistles support of Pride 2026, alongside our continued partnership with akt. A national charity dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ young people who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, or living in hostile environments, akt is committed to giving young people the start in life they deserve by providing essential services, including housing options, mentoring, training, advocacy, and support. In celebration of Pride, Whistles will donate £1 from each global sale made online at Whistles.com and in all UK standalone stores between 12am BST on Saturday 4th July and 11.59pm BST on Sunday 5th July 2026.* Find out how akt uses donated funds and more about their work by visiting akt.org.uk. T&Cs apply. This offer excludes Whistles concessions, TFG Stores, and outlet stores. akt is a registered charity in England, Wales (1093815) & Scotland (SC050032). Full terms and conditions of sale can be found online at whistles.com/legal/terms-and-conditions.html MORE LIKE THIS Travel Athens Travel Guide We sent a model-stylist-photographer trio — Janelle, Helena, and Icy — to Athens with free rein to shoot our High Summer project. Discover what Janelle, Helena, and Icy explored, experienced, and enjoyed in one of Europe’s most lively destinations. read more Fashion JO-ANN ALARI’S HIGH SUMMER ‘26 LOOKS We invited Jo-Ann Alari, one of our favourite content creators and go-to style inspirations, to our flagship store in Edinburgh, to curate some key High Summer looks from our latest arrivals. read more Fashion HIGH SUMMER ‘26: MAYBE ANYWHERE Our new High Summer 2026 collection captures a carefree and adventurous spirit, leaning into playful silhouettes, and a relaxed approach to dressing that taps into the optimism and escapism of warmer and lighter days. read more
For June’s edition of the Whistles’ Reading List, we’re shining a spotlight on diverse authors, compelling narratives and thought-provoking reads. From moments of reflection to laughter, emotion, and discovery, these stories invite you to pause, unwind, and immerse yourself wherever you are, whether that’s at home, on your daily commute, or while packing for your next escape. Consider this curated round-up an invitation to slow down, lose yourself in new perspectives, and reconnect with the power of storytelling through authors such as Carys Davies, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Elvin James Mensah, and Portia Elan, with more inspiring voices to follow. Now is the time to fill the gaps on your bookshelf with new discoveries, or slip a special read into your everyday work bag or suitcase for those quiet moments in between. Wherever you find yourself this season, let these stories travel with you. CLEAR by Carys Davies Carys Davies’ 2025 Wales Book of the Year, Clear, is an intimate drama set against the rugged backdrop of a faraway spot beyond Shetland, telling the story of a connection that forms between two men who should be enemies; Ivar, the sole occupant of a remote Scottish island, leads a life of quiet isolation until the day he finds a man unconscious on the beach below the cliffs. The newcomer is John Ferguson, an impoverished church minister sent to evict Ivar and turn the island into grazing land for sheep. Unaware of the stranger's intentions, Ivar takes him into his home, and despite the two men having no common language, a fragile bond begins to form between them. The story unfolds with tension and tenderness: a touching and crystalline study of ordinary people buffeted by history and a powerful exploration of the distances and connections between us. Perfectly structured and surprising at every turn, Clear is a marvel of storytelling, an exquisite short novel by a master of the form. ALMOST LIFE by Kiran Millwood Hargrave Set over the course of a summer in 1978, Almost Life is a breathtaking, smart, and sexy story of love and longing, of the lives we almost live and the choices we don't make. In People’s “Best Sapphic Historical Romances”, Kiran Millwood Hargrave tells the story of Erica and Laure, who meet on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur in Paris. But their encounter turns into far more than a summer of love. It is the beginning of a relationship that will define their lives and every decision they have yet to make. Spanning cities, decades, and heartbreaks, fate brings them within touching distance again and again. HOMEBOUND by Portia Elan Six centuries. Five lives. Portia Elan’s debut novel is an interlocking coming-out and coming-of-age story for fans of speculative meditations on human nature. It’s 1983, and Becks can’t wait to get the hell out of Cincinnati. But for now, she has work to do: her programmer uncle, the only person who understood her, has left her a half-finished game to complete. The game will outlast Becks by centuries and shape the lives of a scientist, an astronaut, and a pirate captain in ways she cannot imagine. It will connect these four pioneering women across centuries, vast oceans, and distant planets and introduce them to a remarkable robot destined to gather together this disparate crew. WHITE SPACES by Elvin James Mensah Out this month, White Spaces is Elvin James Mensah’s second novel. Set in 2012, London, White Spaces tells the story of four young Black men coming of age in a city on the cusp of change. We meet Teddy, who seems to have things sorted. A senior editor at a music magazine before turning 30, he's smart, practical, and dependable: the one his friends turn to for support when things become complicated. His old school friends, Kain and Nathan, have their fair share of issues. Kain is trying to get his music career back on track, while struggling to come to terms with his sexuality, and Nathan is still living with his parents, while working three jobs to help bring up his son and finally wayward, unpredictable and impossible not to love, Birch, who veers impulsively from one calamity to the next but, whenever things get really bad, one person is always there to help him pick up the pieces. But what if things were to get so bad that even Teddy couldn't fix them? And who would be there to fix Teddy if they did? White Spaces poses challenging questions about the way we were and the world we were creating, while always holding on to a powerful belief in the strength of love and friendship to overcome the worst that life can throw at us. WHAT A GIRL WANTS by Roxy Bourdillion Roxy Bourdillon is editor-in-chief of DIVA, the world’s leading magazine for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people, and a member of the Pride Power List and the Attitude 101: LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Changing The World. What A Girl Wants is a relatable and moving coming-of-age memoir that follows her journey from being secretly gay in the suburbs of Leeds to the queer clubs of London. From overcoming shame and finding your tribe, to surviving the dating scene and learning to express yourself, Roxy Bourdillon blends personal storytelling with cultural commentary in a voice that is frank and assured. Whistles’ curated reading list, designed to spotlight and celebrate LGBTQ+ stories and authors, is part of the Whistles support of Pride 2026, alongside our continued partnership with akt. A national charity dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ young people who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, or living in hostile environments, akt is committed to giving young people the start in life they deserve by providing essential services, including housing options, mentoring, training, advocacy, and support. In celebration of Pride, Whistles will donate £1 from each global sale made online at Whistles.com and in all UK standalone stores between 12am BST on Saturday 4th July and 11.59pm BST on Sunday 5th July 2026.* Find out how akt uses donated funds and more about their work by visiting akt.org.uk. T&Cs apply. This offer excludes Whistles concessions, TFG Stores, and outlet stores. akt is a registered charity in England, Wales (1093815) & Scotland (SC050032). Full terms and conditions of sale can be found online at whistles.com/legal/terms-and-conditions.html MORE LIKE THIS Travel Athens Travel Guide We sent a model-stylist-photographer trio — Janelle, Helena, and Icy — to Athens with free rein to shoot our High Summer project. Discover what Janelle, Helena, and Icy explored, experienced, and enjoyed in one of Europe’s most lively destinations. read more Fashion JO-ANN ALARI’S HIGH SUMMER ‘26 LOOKS We invited Jo-Ann Alari, one of our favourite content creators and go-to style inspirations, to our flagship store in Edinburgh, to curate some key High Summer looks from our latest arrivals. read more Fashion HIGH SUMMER ‘26: MAYBE ANYWHERE Our new High Summer 2026 collection captures a carefree and adventurous spirit, leaning into playful silhouettes, and a relaxed approach to dressing that taps into the optimism and escapism of warmer and lighter days. read more
Travel Athens Travel Guide We sent a model-stylist-photographer trio — Janelle, Helena, and Icy — to Athens with free rein to shoot our High Summer project. Discover what Janelle, Helena, and Icy explored, experienced, and enjoyed in one of Europe’s most lively destinations. read more
Fashion JO-ANN ALARI’S HIGH SUMMER ‘26 LOOKS We invited Jo-Ann Alari, one of our favourite content creators and go-to style inspirations, to our flagship store in Edinburgh, to curate some key High Summer looks from our latest arrivals. read more
Fashion HIGH SUMMER ‘26: MAYBE ANYWHERE Our new High Summer 2026 collection captures a carefree and adventurous spirit, leaning into playful silhouettes, and a relaxed approach to dressing that taps into the optimism and escapism of warmer and lighter days. read more