Written by Halli Starling
Hey all! I’m back with more book recommendations, perfect to queer up the summer months. I’m also desperately trying to catch up on my TBR (a never-ending task for sure), so I’m adding in the books that are currently sitting on my tablet and bedside table!
And if you want to follow what I’m reading, I’m over on Goodreads! Come be my book friend!
New releases for the summer!
Man O’War by Cory McCarthy
May 31 (trans author, trans protagonist)
Incredible. Incredible. McCarthy’s voice is like listening to a friend tell their story about struggling with gender identity, feeling out of place, the trauma queer people go through just to be themselves. It’s a must-read.
Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour
May 31st (queer/lesbian MCs)
LaCour is a huge name in YA fiction, so the announcement of her first book for adults had me scrambling to add it to my TBR list. As with all of her books, I expect to be in tears by the end.
Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
June 7th (trans MC, queer and trans author)
Possibly the blockbuster YA of the summer, I don’t want this book to get lost. It is incredible. It’s hard to read but beautiful, almost stunning in its ferocity and raw empathy. And it’s a debut. I think White’s name is one we’re going to be following for a long, long time.
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
June 14 (trans author, queer cast)
This is an incredibly fun book with a lot of witches and magic and alternate history, but make it ALL queer. But it doesn’t shy away from heavy political issues, and given this takes place in England, it’s hard not to see parallels to today’s English and American societies and cultural “wars” that keeping fucking happening.
Locklands by Robert Jackson Bennett
June 28th (lesbian MCs)
I am a huge fan of Bennett and he’s one of the few cishet white male authors I trust to write women and queer characters, and he did not disappoint. Plus the trilogy is just SO very good.
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
July 12th (genderless/nonbinary protagonist)
Um, the cover. Is. Incredible. But also I’m a fan of Kingfisher’s books and this sounds so good, I can’t wait to get my hands on it. It’s got Jeff Vandermeer vibes but with a lot of nightmare mushrooms, weird dreams, and…it’s a strange, dreamlike retelling of “The Fall of the House of Usher”.
Youngblood Sasha Laurens
July 19th (queer cast)
Vampires are BACK! And they’re GAY! I’m so here for this, my Buffy-loving roots immediately needed to put this one on my TBR shelf, even though I don’t read much YA anymore.
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
August 2 (lesbian MC)
It’s a completely fascinating take on magic and books (finally something different!) and focused on the mother-child bond. Very excited to read this one.
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
August 30 (NB author, queer cast, m/m romance)
As soon as it was billed as part The Goblin Emperor, I was all over this. I’m always willing to try fantasy romance, so fingers crossed for this one!
Halli’s TBR pile for the summer
- The Forever Sea by Joshua Phillip Johnson
- The Forgotten Dead by Jordan L. Hawk
- Longsummer Nights edited by Dayna K. Smith
- The Space Between Worlds by Michaiah Johnson
- Tell Me An Ending by Jo Harkin
- Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
- The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach
- Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
- Last Exit by Max Gladstone
- Tentacle by Rita Indiana
Roar Cat Reads 
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