Gay as an umbrella term here! LGBTQIA2S+!
"Early on it was abundantly clear to me that photography and memory were important themes to notice in this novel, but as it went on I realized those moments were speaking to a larger theme: impermanence. Brilliantly crafted, deeply relatable, and unapologetically queer, this book is yet another masterpiece in Malinda Lo's bibliography."
– Gina
"If I walk into a crowded room, I could inevitably find someone to talk with for hours on end about Interview with the Vampire, the Vampire Chronicles as a whole, and the legacy of Anne Rice. IwtV has enchanted audiences for nearly 50 years and, at this point, might be THE most important book for queer goths across generations. And with the newly adapted tv series recently out, it’s the perfect time to revisit and old classic, or experience it for the first time."
– MK
"The Genesis of Misery is a Joan of Arc-inspired queer space opera, and if that description doesn't draw you in, the book's surly, mech-battling protagonist certainly will. Yang's debut novel has elements of a classic hero's journey, but I was never bored by the more archetypal elements of the story, and the unexpected twists kept me reading. I'd recommend this book an array of sci-fi/fantasy fandoms, from Avatar: The Last Airbender, to the Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir."
– Chloe
"There's a reason the ALA ranked Genderqueer as 2021's most banned and challenged book in America. Maia Kobabe's tale of self discovery and acceptance is powerful in its honesty and vulnerability. Eir memoir gave me better language to describe myself, and to better understand asexual members of my queer community. The idea of queer people loving themselves, and commanding respect scares certain people shitless (if this is too much we can just say terrifies certain people lmao). Despite the frenzy of debate and anger surrounding this title, the book itself is poignant and warm. Nerds of all stripes will find something to relate to, and the bonus content in the new Deluxe edition is perfect for those who love a peek behind the scenes." – Mik
"A Psalm for the Wild-Built is everything I love from a Becky Chambers story while still being entirely different from her previous work. The author's knack for world-building is immediately evident, and I felt immersed in the world of Panga within the first few pages. Much like Chambers's Wayfarer's series, A Psalm for the Wild-Built balances high-minded philosophical concerns with witty dialogue and quirky characters. I read this novella over the course of a couple of nights, and I look forward to continuing on the monk and robot's adventures." – Chloe
"A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is a lovely addition to Becky Chambers's Monk and Robot series. As Sibling Dex and Mosscap continue their journey through Panga, they face new challenges and questions as they strengthen their bond. As always, Chambers's strong voice and seamless world-building allows you to fully inhabit the characters' world while still drawing connections to ours." – Chloe
"This book packs a huge punch, being both educational and hilarious, I learned more about rebellious gays in this book than all my years in public school combined. Bad Gays is meticulously researched, well written, and so much fun to read, this book greatly demonstrates that being queer doesn't exempt you from harming others. Bummer." – Amy
"The best book I've found discussing gender identity. Easy to understand, a delight to read, it makes clear that the only thing that matters is what words make you happy." – Mattie (he/they)
"Fruiting Bodies is a remarkable debut short story collection from author Kathryn Harlan. I believe this is the third collection I've read this year that makes explicit reference to Carmen Maria Machado on the cover, but it is the first that actually warrants the comparison. The stories are a mix of speculative and literary in genre, but Harlan's voice and thematic focus tie them all together seamlessly. I was especially impressed by the title story, in which two queer women have their unusual but idyllic woodland life intruded upon by an injured hiker. That story in particular captures the unease of leading a queer life and suddenly being reminded that cis-hetero horrors are lurking around every corner." – Chloe
"We are so lucky to be living in a time where Eric LaRocca is writing horror. Their latest novella, "You've Lost A Lot of Blood," is gruesome, grotesque, ghastly, and not to mention GAY. The less you know about this one, the better. This clever novella within a novella will leave you wondering what the hell just happened, you'll want to hold on tight through this bizarre and inexplicable journey." – Amy
"Joshua Whitehead is an Oji-Cree 2Spirit indigenous person and one of the foremost up and coming poets of our time. I can safely say that this collection of his is one of my favorite books of poetry I've ever read. It's equal parts innovative, heart wrenching, and scathing; and includes poems about indigenous androids, generational trauma, the queer identity, pop culture, and much much more." - MK
"If you (like I) first heard of Anne Carson while watching the pilot episode of Showtime's The L Word (2004-2009), you may associate her with controversial character Jenny Schecter, and therefore be hesitant to pick up a book like Autobiography of Red. Fear not, friend. This book is actually really good. It's a queer, magical realist bildungsroman in verse, based on Greek myth. Moreover, you'll feel really smart after reading Carson's writing, which is simultaneously challenging and accessible." - Chloe
"Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me is a modern classic, at least in my mind. On the surface, it's a story about a teenage girl, Freddie, whose first love, Laura, is not quite as perfect as she seems. In fact, she's a pretty terrible girlfriend. It's a queer twist on the classic teen story of the girl-next-door pining for the bad boy who won't commit, but in this version, the girl doesn't "fix" her love interest with her undying devotion--or whatever. I'd recommend this book for fans of Heartstopper looking for a less saccharine, but still ultimately charming look at queer adolescence." - Chloe
"I love that the queer characters' stories are seamlessly interwoven with het characters' storylines, with equal care and tenderness given to both." - Mik
"Nghi Vo is a fascinating and prolific fantasy writer, and Siren Queen does not disappoint. In her sophomore novel Vo toes the line between magical realism and fantasy as she presents the story of Luli Wei, a Chinese-American film actress working within the studio system. Wei is headstrong and determined to become a star without succumbing to stereotypes or sacrificing her identity. In a Hollywood populated by actual monsters, it's not an easy task. Siren Queen is an even more overtly queer novel than The Chosen and the Beautiful, but it draws on a similarly lush and mysterious atmosphere." - Chloe
"I'm obsessed with AND THE CATEGORY IS... I devoured this book within hours. It's all the best parts of PARIS IS BURNING with actual interviews and presents itself as an archive for the Black and hispanic LGBTQ+ communities. If you're looking to learn more about the history of ballroom culture and love shows like LEGENDARY or POSE then this book is perfect for you!! I'd give Ricky Turner, grand prize! 10s across the board~" - Amy
"Spear is a gripping novella rooted in Arthurian legend with a queer twist. Griffith's protagonist is a young woman named Peretur, raised in isolation by her mercurial mother. Peretur is deeply in touch with nature, but longs to connect with other people. As a teen, she strikes out on her own after a chance encounter with a group of knights, Companions of King Arthur. Passing as a young man, she must prove herself to be accepted as one of the Companions. Along the way, she comes to understand herself in unexpected ways, finding love and unraveling the truth about her strange upbringing. Griffith's retelling of the story of Percival and the Grail incorporates queerness without reading like fanfiction, and I would love to read more of Peretur's adventures." - Chloe
"Meddling Kids is a crazy campy fun and spooky take on the teen sleuth genre. 3 friends (and the grand-dog of their beloved childhood pup) reunite 13 years after solving a high profile mystery, only to find out that they caught the wrong man. They then have to solve the case for real, right their wrongs, and come to terms with where their lives are at now. Along the way, there are supernatural horrors, thrilling bar fights, eclectic allies, and a budding sapphic romance between two of our detectives. For anyone who really thought Daphne would be better with Velma." - MK
"From a team of women and nonbinary creators, The Way Spring Arrives is an enthralling book of sci-fi and fantasy short fiction and essays by Chinese authors. While the stories themselves are not all queer, several of the authors are, and the content of the book is subversive and engaging. One story combines a tale of a formerly lavish Chinese nobleman fallen on hard times with the titular diner from Douglas Adams's Restaurant At The End of the Universe. The title story is a mythical allegory about eternal love and the changing seasons. This collection will appeal to fans of literature in translation, queer literature, and sci-fi/fiction readers alike." - Chloe
"Girls Can Kiss Now is a delightful essay collection by lesbian Twitter-er Jill Gutowitz. The author is a self-described "very online" person, and that identity informs the tone and content of these essays, perhaps even more than her lesbian identity. As a millennial lesbian myself, I saw myself in the pages of this book, even though the author and I had very different upbringings. She seamlessly blends pop-cultural analysis with personal reflection in a style that's both laugh-out-loud funny and often very moving. I look forward to reading more from this talented author." - Chloe
"The main characters in Across a Field of Starlight navigate a universe besieged by war and imperialism, but the book doesn't stick to the binary we often see of aggressor vs resistance. Instead, Blue Delliquanti offers a third option: a world where people have their needs met, where they don't have to fight to be recognized as important. The book also succeeds in showing a world where a variety of genders and bodies are accepted. I would recommend this book to fans of Becky Chambers, or to anyone looking for sci-fi that presents a hopeful view of the future." - Chloe
"Stone Fruit is a touching debut graphic novel about the end of a queer relationship. The art is absolutely beautiful and sets the tone for a bittersweet story about family, religion, and gender. I especially loved the scenes in which the main characters, Ray and Bron, spend time with Ray's niece, Nessie, and are transported into a fantasy world that allows them to escape from the problems of their everyday lives. The book deals with heavy topics like transphobia and trauma, but the author handles these topics with compassion." - Chloe
"Bestiary reads more like poetry than prose, more like magic than reality. Chang's debut novel is a haunting story that explores immigration, abuse, and sexuality through the lens of a young girl coming of age. In the book, the main character's coming-of-age manifests with her growing a tail. In turns disturbing and touching, Bestiary is a moving story told in an entirely unique and lyrical style, full of metaphor and symbolism, but never lacking heart." - Chloe
"We don't see enough stories of boys overcoming toxic masculinity and forging their own paths into adulthood. Lund presents a joyful, magical, and delightfully queer version of this narrative." - Chloe
"I haven't read a book of speculative short stories in the last five years that didn't feel like it was trying to be Her Body and Other Parties. Carmen Maria Machado's debut collection is dark, genre-bending, and queer. My favorite story from this collection is "Inventory," which presents a list of each person the narrator has slept with as a deadly pandemic unfolds in the background. I look forward to each new book from Machado, and this is the book that started it all." - Chloe
"Mostly Dead Things is a modern queer classic that leaves you wondering, how can a book about death be so much fun? The book follows Jessa, who, after her father's death, is tasked with keeping a failing taxidermy business open, keeping her family together, and keeping herself from falling apart. Arnett's book proves that an anti-hero doesn't have to be a Breaking-Bad-style tough guy; it can be a lesbian with a drinking problem who just wants her mom to stop making erotic art out of taxidermy animals." - Chloe
"My favorite genre, generally speaking, is books about lesbians in space, and ON A SUNBEAM fits that description perfectly. It is a beautiful graphic novel by Tillie Walden, originally published as a web comic. Our protagonist is Mia, a young woman who, after finishing school, joins the crew of a spaceship in hopes of finding her lost first love. Walden's signature saturated colors and sweeping landscapes combine with romance and space opera tropes to create a moving portrait of a chosen family." - Chloe
"This is the book that so many lesbian novels strive to be. Both hilarious and heartbreaking, the book follows protagonist Molly Bolt from childhood as a whip-smart outsider to adulthood as an aspiring lesbian filmmaker. It's hard to believe this book was written in the 1970s, as it feels incredibly contemporary. We've come so far, but Molly's coming out and coming of age feel timeless." - Chloe
“San Antonio cartoonist Shelby Criswell invites readers to join them as they explore the lives of 10 lesser-known queer people from history. This well-researched graphic novel blends personal insight with fascinating historical context, focusing on people of color and trans people who have inspired the author to be their authentic self. Prior to reading Queer As All Get Out, I had only heard of one of the people profiled, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Criswell does the important work of making sure these important figures in LGBTQ history aren't lost, bringing their stories to life with skillful art and compelling storytelling.” - Chloe
"I love advice columns. They have provided a particular comfort to me during the pandemic, with the knowledge that other people also have problems, and those problems very often have simple solutions. The issue with most mainstream advice columns reflects what I consider to be a grave societal issue: too many straight people. Therefore, The Ex-Girlfriend of my Ex-Girlfriend is My Girlfriend filled a void in my life created by all the straight people asking for straight advice. Court provides solid advice-column insight through a queer lens, and Wroten's illustrations amplify the book's content, making it one I'll come back to any time I need reminding that I'm not the only Sad Lesbian in the world.” - Chloe
"I loved McGrane's self-published mini-comics about Dragoslava and their gang of vampire kids, so I was excited to dig into the author's full-length graphic novel debut. I wasn't disappointed! The Accursed Vampire is perfect for fans of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Steven Universe, mixing classic vampire and magical lore with a sweet story of found family. I can't wait to see what our small vampire pals get up to next." - Chloe
"Plain Bad Heroines is a book about a movie that's being made about a book that centers on another book, and I can't help but think that it would make an excellent movie. Danforth deftly handles a story that is multilayered, weaving two timelines seamlessly. It's a spooky tale, sometimes outright scary, about Sapphic love and the mutability of history. This story leaves you wondering if objects and houses can be haunted, or if hauntings are really passed between people." - Chloe
"Full disclosure: my girlfriend wrote this book. I'm biased, but I also know she's super talented, and That Full Moon Feeling is a ton of fun. It's a sweet and sexy comic about a witch and a werewolf who meet on a dating app. Chaos ensues. Highlights include trips to Taco Bell, reanimated skeletons, and giant praying mantises (manti?)." - Chloe
“Follows four women, each with a unique set of circumstances: a transgender runaway, a violin teacher under contract with Hell, a luthier who inherited the family business, and finally, an alien spaceship captain who has assumed the identity of a human donut shop owner. These women's lives intersect in unexpected ways, and they ultimately come together to outsmart a demon. I came away from this book wanting to enjoy a donut in the park while listening to a Bartók violin concerto.” - Chloe
“After a fatal heart attack, Wallace meets a Reaper with a taste for bad rock music, a ghost dog, a tough-but-kind grandfather, and a kind tea shop owner tasked with ferrying him to what lies beyond. In death, he discovers that relationships with other people are more powerful than expensive suits or high-rise apartments. This book is full of heart, perfectly balancing an ultimately inspirational message with a healthy dose of gallows humor. I grew to love Wallace's found family as he did, and I cried as often as I laughed.” - Chloe
“I first encountered this book in a review that called it a "lesbian feminist When Harry Met Sally," and upon reading that description, I immediately bought the book. A World Between explores the relationship between two young Asian-American women who first meet and fall in love while studying in Boston, then cross paths several times over the following decade. It's a bittersweet rom-com in which Hashimoto deftly explores family, identity and love. I found myself thinking about Eleanor and Leena for weeks after reading.” - Chloe
“The author's ability to place readers in an unfamiliar world and make them feel welcome there is unmatched, as is her ability to make the vastness of the universe feel intimate. I was particularly interested in the queer romance, of course, but I came to love every crew member on the Wayfarer as I read this book. I laughed and I cried, and I would recommend this book even to sci-fi skeptics, especially if they haven't seen themselves represented in genre fiction.” - Chloe
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"Skye Falling was a delight. Our narrator, Skye Lucas, is in Philadelphia for two weeks between trips abroad when she meets a daughter she didn't know existed -- she donated her eggs 12 years ago, and since then hasn't stayed in one place for long. Her two-week visit becomes a whole summer, in which she confronts her past and reconsiders her future. While Skye's narration is often laugh-out-loud funny, this novel also tackles tough issues like childhood trauma and police violence. It was refreshing to read a queer romance with a middle-aged, Black protagonist.” - Chloe
"After a fight with her nemesis, Mara finds herself cut from the basketball team. She then joins her brother and closest friend on the football team, not as a feminist statement, but as a way to get back into her basketball coach's good graces. To Mara's dismay, four other girls, including the aforementioned nemesis, follow suit. During the ensuing football season, Mara grapples with her identity, her friendships, and her aversion to being like other girls. This novel was both funny and incredibly touching. While I am not even slightly athletic, the story of a closeted lesbian teen in a rural high school setting hit close to home.” - Chloe