Shuggie Bain

Set in 1980s Glasgow, Shuggie Bain follows a young boy growing up amid poverty, addiction, and relentless societal judgment. Shuggie’s mother, Agnes, is glamorous and fiercely loving, but she battles alcoholism that slowly unravels their world. As those around him turn away, Shuggie clings to hope and to his unwavering love for a mother who cannot always care for him. With prose both tender and unflinching, this Booker Prize–winning novel is a deeply affecting portrait of queer childhood, resilience, and the aching complexity of love.

~ Included for its haunting portrayal of queer identity, childhood, and survival amid addiction and hardship. A devastatingly beautiful debut that speaks to anyone who has felt out of place or overlooked. ~