Aesop’s Queer Library bookmarks brilliant literature, no purchase required
Returning to London’s Soho, 3-6 July 2025, the Queer Library pop-up offers complimentary books by LGBTQIA+ authors and allies

Located on Lexington Street, Aesop’s Soho store has cleared its shelves of most of its beauty products and swapped them for books instead. The annual Queer Library pop-up (until 6 July 2025) offers visitors to the store an array of titles by LGBTQIA+ authors and allies, no purchase required.
The diverse array of books on offer spotlights authors from around the globe and provides a platform for underrepresented voices. This year, the library celebrates the liberating possibilities of LGBTQIA+ self-expression, with a particular focus on elevating trans and non-binary voices.
Aesop worked with independent bookstore and queer institution Gay’s The Word, to curate a diverse reading list (also detailed online). Books were sourced from the bookshop, while others were purchased at a generous discount from Penguin and a variety of other publishers.
Featured authors include: Chukwuebuka Ibeh, Audre Lorde, Dean Atta, Juno Roche, Kate Davies, Shon Faye, and Charlie Porter, to name a few. This year, the Queer Library shines a particular spotlight on the title Marsha, by activist, artist and writer Tourmaline. The book focuses on Marsha P Johnson (1945-92), a central figure in the fight for trans rights. Writes Tourmaline: ‘Marsha’s life reminds us that the work of liberation isn’t just about protest; it’s also about sparkle, about softness, about staying alive and helping others stay alive, too.’ In addition to hardcover copies of Marsha available in the store, Aesop has teamed with HarperCollins and audiobook app Xigxag, to offer a complimentary audiobook (see instructions at aesop.com).
While browsing the pop-up’s colour-coordinated shelves, visitors also have the opportunity to take part in a playful literary card game. You draw a selection of cards, each imprinted with a word from the Aesop fable ‘The North Wind and the Sun’ – a tale about ‘the value of gentle persuasion over force’. The words are intended as a creative prompt to help you craft your own story.
Aesop Queer Library is located at 41 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AJ, 3-6 July 2025
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Tianna Williams is Wallpaper’s staff writer. When she isn’t writing extensively across varying content pillars, ranging from design and architecture to travel and art, she also helps put together the daily newsletter. She enjoys speaking to emerging artists, designers and architects, writing about gorgeously designed houses and restaurants, and day-dreaming about her next travel destination.
-
Michael Rider’s joyful Celine debut: ‘I’ve always loved the idea of clothing that lives on’
Presented today in Celine’s Paris HQ, the designer’s astute debut balanced the house’s recent legacy with a fresh, contemporary vision which nodded to his American roots
-
The Richard Mille x Brough Superior RMB01 is a motorcycle with an exceptional aesthetic pedigree
The RMB01 is what happens when horological obsession meets two-wheeled excellence: a Franco-Swiss racing motorcycle that brings out the best in both brands
-
Six modern bathroom ideas for spaces big and small
Here are our best bathroom designs for 2026: colours, curves and a calming ambience are making a splash this season, with tactile and textured surfaces to elevate your shower room