Roar Cat Reads

Category: Book Review

  • 7 LGBTQ+ Novellas to Read Right Now

    7 LGBTQ+ Novellas to Read Right Now

    All Systems Red by Martha Wells

    I am just one of many who have fallen in love with Wells’ Murderbot series, and for good reason! She has created a unique sci-fi experience centered around a delightfully compelling security robot who would rather watch soap operas than kill people. This is the first book in a series of novellas (and one novel), so you can several bite-sized stories that both satisfy and leave you wanting more!

    Read my review here.

    FINNA by Nino Cipri

    I love IKEA, but I couldn’t resist a tongue-in-cheek novella set in a comically brutal capitalistic sci-fi setting with wormholes, alternate Swedish-furniture box store realities, and two exes sent to find a missing grandma. It’s hilarious, haunting, and a lovely look at queer relationships post-breakup.

    Read my review here.

    Alice Payne Arrives & Alice Payne Rides by Kate Heartfield

    This duology of novellas centers on two women of colour, one of whom is a queer masked highway(wo)man. There is time travel shenanigans that are philosophical in the first book and adventurous in the second, and I hope a third Alice Payne novella will be published in the future!

    Read my review here and here.

    Burning Roses by S.L. Huang

    Combining Eastern and Western fairy tales, this novella stars two middle-aged lesbians who are not in love with each other! Rosa (Red Riding Hood) and Hou Yi pursue dangerous creatures and deal with the regrets of their past…which are not quite so far in the past as they may have hoped! If lesbians are poorly represented in media, middle-aged lesbians are even less so. I am desperate for more!

    Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard

    An Asian-based fantasy with a queer love triangle between a woman, a princess, and a fire elemental that is about finding your purpose and choosing to be more than the small role that life and love can sometimes assign you.

    Read my review here.

    Trans-Galactic Bike Ride edited by Lydia Rogue

    An anthology of short stories about space bikes with trans narratives. Each story is unique, from werewolves and mailmen to launching a bike into space like a rocket, but the anthology is edited perfectly into a cohesive whole.

    Read my review here.

    Miranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett

    A queer feminist sequel to Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this novella focuses on Prospero’s daughter when she leaves the magical island and returns to normal life, where she solves the mystery of her mother and falls in love with a woman named Dorothea.

    Read my review here.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • The Guncle by Steven Rowley

    The Guncle by Steven Rowley

    Genre | Contemporary Fiction
    Page #s | 336
    Publishing Date | May 2021

    From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Editor comes a warm and deeply funny novel about a once-famous gay sitcom star whose unexpected family tragedy leaves him with his niece and nephew for the summer.

    Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays. But in terms of caretaking and relating to two children, no matter how adorable, Patrick is honestly a bit out of his league.

    So when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and Patrick’s brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian. Despite having a set of “Guncle Rules” ready to go, Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. Quickly realizing that parenting—even if temporary—isn’t solved with treats and jokes, Patrick’s eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you’re unfailingly human.

    With the humor and heart we’ve come to expect from bestselling author Steven Rowley, The Guncle is a moving tribute to the power of love, patience, and family in even the most trying of times.

    Goodreads

    I haven’t read many adult queer contemporary fiction novels that are easy, breezy, summer reads, but I sure want to read more after The Guncle! This book was an absolute delight as author Stephen Rowley captures both children and gay culture perfectly.

    Patrick is a single gay man who has become increasingly isolated after losing his partner in a tragic car accident many years before. When his best friend and sister-in-law dies of cancer, he finds himself skeptically in charge of his niece and nephew. All three learn how to process grief and lean on the love of family in the wake of tragedy. Cue cute kids, Christmas in summer, and heartwarming feelings!

    Rowley captures kid voices very accurately, to the point that I was laughing out loud at some of the things they said. But this is not a defanged sappy book about kids – it’s still very much a queer book, with Patrick falling in love again and many meaningful chats with his neighbours (a polyamorous gay throuple collectively named JED).

    I enjoyed this book so much. It’s the perfect read poolside, or honestly, curled up in a cozy blanket if you somehow stumble across this review in the winter. A lovely read for any time of year!

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    This is a book for anyone who wants a light-hearted summer read with a queer protagonist!

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • 2021 LGBTQ+ Summer Book Bingo

    2021 LGBTQ+ Summer Book Bingo

    Welcome to Roar Cat Reads’ first annual Summer Book Bingo competition!

    There’s no better time to expand our reading horizons than summertime, so I have created an LGBTQ+ Summer Book Bingo card to inspire readers to try a new genre or new format. And while reading is it’s own reward, why not get a prize as well?

    Share what you’re reading with the hashtag #RCRBookBingo2021 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

    book-bingo-game-printable-worksheetDownload

    How to Play

    Books can only be used once per card, and all books read must be by or about an LGBTQIA2S+ person.

    How do I win?

    Bingo: Complete a line by reading a book that matches each square’s theme. A line can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. Turn in your card to be featured in Roar Cat Reads’ Summer Wrap Up blog post and be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card to the book store of your choice!

    Blackout: Complete all 25 squares! Turn in your card to be entered into a grand prize drawing which will include a $25 gift card to a book store of your choice as well as a special Roar Cat Reads prize!

    How do I turn in my card?

    When you’ve completed a Bingo or Blackout, email roarcatreads@gmail.com to submit your entry! Your email must include the following information to be considered valid:

    • The author and title of the book you read.
    • Which square this book applies to.

    Bonus! If you also post a picture of your completed card on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the hashtag #RCRBookBingo2021, your name will be entered into the drawing twice!

    Entries must be received by August 31, 2021 to be considered for the drawing.

    Find a Book in our Queer Lil Library

    If you have any questions, email roarcatreads@gmail.com.

    Happy reading!

  • Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

    Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

    Genre | YA Fantasy
    Page #s | 574
    Publishing Date | July 2021

    In Carry On, Simon Snow and his friends realized that everything they thought they understood about the world might be wrong. And in Wayward Son, they wondered whether everything they understood about themselves might be wrong.

    In Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon and Baz and Penelope and Agatha have to decide how to move forward.

    For Simon, that means deciding whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages — and if he doesn’t, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? Meanwhile Baz is bouncing between two family crises and not finding any time to talk to anyone about his newfound vampire knowledge. Penelope would love to help, but she’s smuggled an American Normal into London, and now she isn’t sure what to do with him. And Agatha? Well, Agatha Wellbelove has had enough.

    Any Way the Wind Blows takes the gang back to England, back to Watford, and back to their families for their longest and most emotionally wrenching adventure yet.

    This book is a finale. It tells secrets and answers questions and lays ghosts to rest.

    Carry On was conceived as a book about Chosen One stories; Any Way the Wind Blows is an ending about endings. About catharsis and closure, and how we choose to move on from the traumas and triumphs that try to define us.

    Goodreads

    Any Way the Wind Blows is the third book in the Simon Snow series (check out my reviews of Carry On and Wayward Son). Although I didn’t think the plot of this novel was as tight as the previous two books, it doesn’t actually matter. The characters are the center of this story, and Rowell gives us more of her excellent dialogue and relationships between some of my all-time favorite book characters.

    The group is split up for most of the book. Simon and Baz are figuring out their relationship whilst investigating a new supposed “Chosen One.” Penelope and Shepherd untangle and resolve his mysterious demon tattoos. And Agatha hangs out with new character Naimh and the goats of Watford. Each storyline is really fun, though I do wish there had been more frequent interactions between each group.

    Penelope remains my MVP; her confidence-bordering-on-arrogance fills my heart (and Shepherd’s) with adoration, but once again, Agatha keeps stealthily stealing my heart! Her story went in a truly unexpected direction, and I am so happy for the place she found in the wizarding world. Of course, Simon and Baz are also amazing. There was a fake out early in the book that felt like drama for the sake of drama, but once they settle into their relationship, it was so rewarding to watch them try to make things work. Their dialogue is so real and lovely, and in this book we get some non-sexy sex scenes, which honestly is my favorite. The intimacy that happens in imperfect situations is way hotter to me than anything else.

    Although I’m pretty sure this is the last book in a trilogy, it sure reads as though there could be more. I hope there is! I loved the resolution to Simon’s past that we get in this book, but I desperately want to see him enjoy it. And I NEED to see Agatha in her new role just as much as I want a spinoff of Shepherd and Penelope traveling the world meeting new magical creatures! There is so much still to explore, and I hope Rowell is inspired to stay in this world.

    What Makes This Book Queer?

    If you’re reading the third book in this series, you already know it centers on gay relationship between two boys. What is new is a gay relationship between two girls! Even better, there are some really vulnerable discussions of sexuality, of not quite knowing how to label yourself, and the embarrassment of not realizing something so huge about yourself earlier.

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    As always, Harry/Draco shippers are going to love this book. But more than that, if you love fantasy novels but wish there was more of a focus on characters and relationships, then you will love the Simon Snow series!

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

    The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

    Genre | Fantasy
    Page #s | 533
    Publishing Date | June 2021

    Author of Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne, beginning a new trilogy set in a world inspired by the history and epics of India, in which a captive princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic become unlikely allies on a dark journey to save their empire from the princess’s traitor brother.

    Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters — but is now little more than a decaying ruin.

    Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides.

    But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire.

    Goodreads

    The Jasmine Throne brings Indian culture and female protagonists to classic epic fantasy tropes of subjugated countries and mysterious magic. It is a fast read despite it’s size, due largely to the fact that chapters switch POVs to the person whose story is most interesting at any given moment. The shape of the story is both familiar and excitingly new, and I cannot wait to see how the series progresses.

    This is a political and magical novel about a once-powerful subjugated nation that chafes under empirical rule. The story centers on two women in particular: Priya, a handmaiden with a secret, and Malini, disgraced sister of a tyrant emperor. They are each powerless in their own unique way due to being women in a traditional fantasy world that is ruled by men. Suri quickly signals that she aims to subvert this trope rather than validate it by creating a world in which women’s value comes from their literal sacrifice on a pyre. Malini refuses to die, the first feminist assertion of many that play out subtly and surely.

    With men in power, violence is the default. Although there is an argument to be made that the female characters seek alternative means of rebellion and resolution, it is never so simple as “women = good pacifists and men = bad warmongers.” This complexity is also shown in the multiple Parijati (the empire) and Ahiranyi (the subjugated vassal land) characters who fall at all points of a morality spectrum. Everyone struggles to identify the line between necessary violence and overkill. I loved that there was no simplistic delineation between good guys and bad guys. Everyone is trying to navigate a middle way (except for two very bad baddies).

    The politicking takes center stage, but there is ever-increasing attention given to a seriously cool magic system. The land is infested with a beautiful and creepy rot that kills people as it turns them into plants. The plague began when old magic returned to the world, but once again Suri takes the complicated path in exploring this power. The power is deadly, but it may also heal. Accepting the power empties you out, but it may make you more yourself than ever before. Different characters hold different opinions, and there are no sure answers by the end of the first book, at least.

    The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was the pacing of the book. It felt like the climax of the story occurred 100 pages before the end. Although several (extremely) important events happen after this point, I kept feeling like it ought to be wrapping up. However, it was still a page turner!

    I loved this book, and I’m eager for more from this world and from other queer feminist epic fantasies.

    What Makes This Book Queer?

    One of the cultural legacies lost when conquered by the empire, Ahiranyi believe that love can exist between men and men or women and women. This is now outlawed, which means people talk around the point and speak carefully to make their feelings known.

    I love a fantasy story with romance, and this one is great! The slow burn romance between two women feels utterly earned and exciting because they know each other’s desperation, manipulativeness, loyalty, and care. They know the best and the worst of each other, and I am here for it!

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    Give The Jasmine Throne to your fantasy nerd friend who is tired of all their books focusing on straight white men.

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • Like Crazy: Life With My Mother and Her Invisible Friends by Dan Mathews

    Like Crazy: Life With My Mother and Her Invisible Friends by Dan Mathews

    Genre | Memoir
    Page #s | 244
    Publishing Date | May 2020

    A hilarious and heartbreaking memoir about an outlandish mother and son on an odyssey of self-discovery, and the rag-tag community that rallied to help them as the mother entered the final phase of her life.

    Dan Mathews knew that his witty, bawdy, unhinged mother, Perry, was unable to maintain her fierce independence at seventy-eight—so he flew her across the country to Virginia to live with him in an 1870 townhouse badly in need of repairs. But to Dan, a screwdriver is a cocktail not a tool, and he was soon overwhelmed with two fixer-uppers: the house and his mother.

    Unbowed, Dan and Perry built a rollicking life together fueled by costume parties, road trips, after-hours gatherings, and an unshakeable sense of humor as they faced down hurricanes, blizzards, and Perry’s steady decline. They got by with the help of an ever-expanding circle of sidekicks—Dan’s boyfriends (past and present), ex-cons, sailors, strippers, deaf hillbillies, evangelicals, and grumpy cats—while flipping the parent-child relationship on its head.

    But it wasn’t until a kicking-and-screaming trip to the emergency room that Dan discovered the cause of his mother’s unpredictable, often caustic behavior: Perry had lived her entire adult life as an undiagnosed schizophrenic.

    Irreverent and emotionally powerful, Like Crazy is a darkly comic tale about the perils and rewards of taking in a fragile parent without derailing your life in the process. A rare story about mental illness with an uplifting conclusion, it shows the remarkable growth that takes place when a wild child settles down to care for the wild woman who raised him.

    Goodreads

    Like Crazy, the story of Dan welcoming his aging mother into his home for the last few years of her life, strikes an incredible balance between earnest affection and morbid black humor. I have found this book hard to describe, which is usually a sign that something has touched me deeper than words can describe. But I will try!

    For starters, this book hinges on the relationship between Dan and Perry; they share a dark sense of humor, a love for people and spontaneous adventures, and a passion for activism. Perry’s total acceptance of her son’s homosexuality is a beacon of pure goodness, and I was especially touched that so many of Dan’s ex-boyfriends remained close to Perry after their breakup. But no matter how great they are individually and together, it’s always hard to live to parent, never mind one who is physically and mentally unwell.

    Perry isn’t diagnosed with schizophrenia until she is in her 80s and has a breakdown. It is heartbreaking to read about, but Dan is right for being in awe of her inner strength to survive so long with an untreated mental disorder. It felt very true to watch him understand in hindsight memories of Perry’s “quirks.” So often we normalize abnormal behavior because we don’t know to think differently.

    It sounds a little cliché, but this book about Perry’s last few years is a true celebration of life. The way she is cared for and celebrated is beautiful, and though her ultimate passing is definitely sad, we are left with the knowledge that she had a full and meaningful life because of her resilience and the love of her family.

    I loved everything about this book, from its content to its tone, which is irreverent and loving and overwhelmed and intelligent. I’m so grateful that Mathews shared his story with all of us.

    What Makes This Book Queer?

    Dan is a gay man whose ex-boyfriends make frequent appearance throughout, since his mom is a wonderfully supportive women who welcomes all people into her life. Eventually Dan meets Jack, a recently out man who offers all of the stability and support that Dan didn’t know he needed. So cute!

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    I think anyone who has both a dark side and a sweet side will appreciate the dark subject matter of this book that is handled with love and black humor.

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

    The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

    Genre | Science Fiction
    Page #s | 518
    Publishing Date | July 2014

    Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space-and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe-in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

    Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

    Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

    Goodreads

    I don’t know how I slept on this Hugo award-winning queer science fiction novel that focuses on characterization and cultural worldbuilding over plot (my favorites), but I’m so glad I found it now! Every page of this book was a delight, and I can’t wait to continue with the rest of the Wayfarer series!

    The people on board the Wayfarer spaceship are the heart and soul of this book. There’s Rosemary, a human woman from Mars who serves as the ship’s clerk, and Captain Ashby, a human man having an illicit affair with a sapient race that forbids interspecies relationships. Kizzy and Jenks are the ship mechanics – Kizzy is a dizzying force of nature and Jenks has fallen in love with Lovey, the ship’s AI. Corbin is the cantakerous algae specialist (because spaceships run on algae, it’s incredible) and Dr. Chef is the doctor/chef (I love this book so much) whose six handfeet make short work of cooking. Then there’s the mysterious Ohan, who are a Pair merged with the Whisperer that allows them to see into subspace, and pilot Sissix, MY FAVORITE, an alien lizard species that thrives off of cuddling because of social bonding and also being cold-blooded.

    The crew is hired to build a tunnel from one end of the galaxy to the other, and the majority of the book takes place in the long space between destinations. We get to see the world through each character’s eyes as they stop at port cities, survive attacks, and meet each other’s families. Each alien culture is well thought out and interacts with each other in very realistic ways – although there is a feeling of progress to the story (things are definitely better in this future), there are still war criminals, prejudice and conflicting arguments about free will and sapient consciousness.

    This might be my favorite book of the year. Although I’m embarrassed to have not known about it for so long, I’m glad I’ve discovered the series after it’s finished so that I don’t have to wait to continue in Chambers’ world!

    What Makes This Book Queer?

    Not only does this book take advantage of space cultures to explore queer themes of identity, interpersonal relationships, and family, it also explicitly pairs a human woman and a female Aandrisk (lizard-type alien) in the beginnings of a polyamorous relationship. I honestly didn’t expect it, and when they started hooking up, I literally read every paragraph out loud to my girlfriend because I was so delighted.

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the perfect book for anyone who is a fan of the TV show Firefly – aka anyone who loves sci-fi stories that focus on a small band of diverse people who become a found family to each other.

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • This Town Sleeps by Dennis E. Staples

    This Town Sleeps by Dennis E. Staples

    Genre | Contemporary Fiction
    Page #s | 208
    Publishing Date | March 2020

    On an Ojibwe reservation called Languille Lake, within the small town of Geshig at the hub of the rez, two men enter into a secret romance. Marion Lafournier, a midtwenties gay Ojibwe man, begins a relationship with his former classmate Shannon, a heavily closeted white man. While Marion is far more open about his sexuality, neither is immune to the realities of the lives of gay men in small towns and closed societies.

    Then one night, while roaming the dark streets of Geshig, Marion unknowingly brings to life the spirit of a dog from beneath the elementary school playground. The mysterious revenant leads him to the grave of Kayden Kelliher, an Ojibwe basketball star who was murdered at the age of seventeen and whose presence still lingers in the memories of the townsfolk. While investigating the fallen hero’s death, Marion discovers family connections and an old Ojibwe legend that may be the secret to unraveling the mystery he has found himself in.

    Set on a reservation in far northern Minnesota, This Town Sleeps explores the many ways history, culture, landscape, and lineage shape our lives, our understanding of the world we inhabit, and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of it all.

    Goodreads

    A dreamy mystery set in a small Ojibwe reservation town in Michigan, This Town Sleeps dives into intergenerational violence, trauma, and stunted potential through the eyes of a young gay Indigenous man. I was totally engrossed by Marion’s story, and though I might have wished for a happier ending, the one that was given was hopeful enough, and true.

    The mystery at the center of the book is not so much why a young man was murdered ten years ago so much as why this tragedy is haunting (literally and figuratively) Marion. An Indigenous nonbeliever, he allows Native spirituality into his life to reveal the reason a revenant dog keeps connecting him to deceased Kayden Kelliher, culminating in a really lovely cathartic basketball game (words I never thought I’d say).

    This book is deliciously ambiguous like the best books with magical realism, full of coincidences that can’t be explained and spectral figures that disappear when someone else enters the room. “Spectral figures” might sound creepy, but it’s not. Instead, the whispers of the past and of death serve to highlight the tragedy that seeps through the stories of every person in Geshig.

    Throughout the book, we increasingly get sections or whole chapters from perspectives of people who are connected to Marion and Kayden; they all struggle with family, loss, and disappointment. The whole town is traumatized. Marion himself keeps trying to leave and start a new life for himself, living on the outskirts of his old home but always returning to childhood haunts. But the pull of place is impossible to resist, as is his relationship with Shannon. Despite the fact that Shannon is closeted and struggling with some intense internalized homophobia, Marion can’t keep away. It’s a theme, and one that is crystalized in the final pages when we hope he will break free of his roots but despair that he will lose something if he does. There are no easy answers here, but the story surrounding the questions is beautiful.

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    This is a book for people who want to read fictional stories about modern Indigenous experiences.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    Genre | Historical Fiction
    Page #s | 391
    Publishing Date | June 2017

    Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

    Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

    Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

    Goodreads

    The world’s straightest title masks a deeply romantic bisexual love story. If you love Old Hollywood, (fictional) tell alls, and confident women who are unapologetic about the course their life has taken, then this is the book for you!

    Smartly written, protagonist Monique has been plucked from reporter obscurity to write a biography of superstar Evelyn Hugo for seemingly no reason. While Monique’s story is interesting, Reid knows that once we are introduced to Evelyn, hers is the narrative we want to spend the most time with.

    Framed in a timeline that takes us through each of her husbands, Evelyn is young Cuban woman who wants to escape her life of poverty and the dangerous look in her father’s eyes. At age 14 she marries an older man to escape to California and unapologetically uses her sex appeal to start her acting career. Throughout the novel, Evelyn insists that she does not regret any of her actions; what other options did a woman in her position have?

    This is what makes Evelyn such an appealing protagonist. She has lost much – her Cuban heritage when Hollywood executives change her name and dye her hair blonde, her innocence when she realizes the only currency she has is sex – but she is so ambitious and determined that she never lets these tragedies define her. They happened, but they served a purpose, and she wouldn’t unwrite them.

    In fact, the only thing that she regrets is the spouse that no one knows about – as a Hollywood starlet determined to be the kind of rich that doesn’t rely on anyone ever, her relationship with co-star Celia St. James had to be hidden. And in hiding their love, Evelyn made choices that nearly ruined their relationship. Now, at the end of her life, she wants to tell the world that she is a bisexual woman and that her seven husbands didn’t hold a candle to her wife.

    This book is compelling, fun, and a total page-turner. Just when we are fully engrossed in Evelyn’s life, her story merges with Monique’s authentically and ties hints from the beginning of the book to its conclusion. It’s a smart, entertaining read that should satisfy anyone looking for a fun summer read.

    What Makes This Book Queer?

    As I mentioned in the review, Evelyn Hugo reveals that the relationship she considers most important was with a woman. More than that, she is unapologetically bisexual, despite the confusion and pain this causes both her heterosexual and homosexual partners. One of her best friends is also gay, and it is heartbreaking to read how even the world’s most powerful people were forced (and often are still forced) to hide who they are to maintain that cultural power.

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    Literally everyone! But if historical fiction about strong women appeals to you, this should satisfy.

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders

    Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders

    Genre | YA Science Fiction
    Page #s | 283
    Publishing Date | April 2021

    Tina never worries about being ‘ordinary’—she doesn’t have to, since she’s known practically forever that she’s not just Tina Mains, average teenager and beloved daughter. She’s also the keeper of an interplanetary rescue beacon, and one day soon, it’s going to activate, and then her dreams of saving all the worlds and adventuring among the stars will finally be possible. Tina’s legacy, after all, is intergalactic—she is the hidden clone of a famed alien hero, left on Earth disguised as a human to give the universe another chance to defeat a terrible evil.

    But when the beacon activates, it turns out that Tina’s destiny isn’t quite what she expected. Things are far more dangerous than she ever assumed. Luckily, Tina is surrounded by a crew she can trust, and her best friend Rachel, and she is still determined to save all the worlds. But first she’ll have to save herself.

    Buckle up your seatbelt for this thrilling sci-fi adventure set against an intergalactic war from international bestselling author Charlie Jane Anders.

    Goodreads

    Boasting some of the most creative sci-fi elements I’ve ever seen in a novel, I really wanted to like Victories Greater than Death. Unfortunately, the characters felt unrealistic and the plot felt like a series of events that the author wanted to happen rather than a cohesive series of consequences.

    Tina’s mother always told her that she was an alien with human DNA who was implanted with a rescue beacon in her chest. I kept waiting for this to be questioned by someone, but no, it is a fact that is accepted despite Earth having no previous contact with extraterrestrial beings. When the rescue beacon does, in fact, go off, Tina and her best friend Rachael are whisked into an interstellar adventure.

    There were many details that enthralled me and kept me reading. Some were pure creativity, like the Cydoghian egg burst, an alien meal that expands and contracts as you attempt to eat it. Others were politically creative, like the culture they come across that only allows people to participate in governmental leadership while pregnant (male or female) because they are then more likely to consider the future. I also love the queer expansion of a sci-fi trope, making the universal translator automatically include people’s pronouns when they introduce themselves.

    And then there was the legitimately creepy death goo coating the Big Bad’s hands. When he touches someone, they melt into a puddle. Even worse, everyone’s memory of that person is permanently tainted, leaving them with the belief that the deceased was a worthless, gross being. This is so cool and disturbing! Unfortunately, it also loses its bite, since Tina quickly realizes what has happened and constantly reminds herself that this feeling isn’t true.

    This is a YA book, but this lack of a bite is felt in a lot of ways, and I think the novel suffers for it. Tina and Rachael bring four other earthlings aboard the space ship before they book it into outer space. These four are explicitly meant to be the smartest students on the planet, but they’ve definitely never left the planet before. Nevertheless, it is our humans who save the day and stay alive while much more experienced creatures die in the emotional moments. Eventually it made me lose any fear of confrontations since I knew who would survive.

    I did enjoy reading this book, and as I said, the creativity is really fun. But I feel like it could have used another round of editing while asking, “Does it make sense for this person to say and/or do this right now?”

    What Makes This Book Queer?

    Undoubtedly, the queerness of this book is the strongest point in its favor. In addition to my earlier mention about sharing pronouns being standardized, there are multiple nonbinary and trans characters in addition to multiple gay, pan, and queer characters, plus a description of a culture where polyamory is the norm.

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    This is a good book for someone who wants a light read and is more interested in world building than in plot.

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard

    Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard

    Genre | Fantasy Novella
    Page #s | 99
    Publishing Date | February 2021

    Award-winning author Aliette de Bodard returns with a powerful romantic fantasy that reads like The Goblin Emperor meets Howl’s Moving Castle in a pre-colonial Vietnamese-esque world.

    Fire burns bright and has a long memory….

    Quiet, thoughtful princess Thanh was sent away as a hostage to the powerful faraway country of Ephteria as a child. Now she’s returned to her mother’s imperial court, haunted not only by memories of her first romance, but by worrying magical echoes of a fire that devastated Ephteria’s royal palace.

    Thanh’s new role as a diplomat places her once again in the path of her first love, the powerful and magnetic Eldris of Ephteria, who knows exactly what she wants: romance from Thanh and much more from Thanh’s home. Eldris won’t take no for an answer, on either front. But the fire that burned down one palace is tempting Thanh with the possibility of making her own dangerous decisions.

    Can Thanh find the freedom to shape her country’s fate—and her own?

    Goodreads

    Although the themes of power differentials and self-empowerment were great, the fact that they were portrayed through the lens of two romances that I found fairly equally unappealing led to an ambivalent reading experience for me.

    Thanh is in her home country of Bihn Hai, still reeling from a traumatic fire six years ago and feeling useless in her position as princess and diplomat. When their powerful neighbor to the north comes to negotiate, Thanh must make some huge decisions that will impact both herself and her country. Her ex-lover, Princess Eldris of Ephteria, has come to propose, but Thanh isn’t sure that this is what she wants.

    I think the biggest problem for me was that we get hints of Eldris’s anger and control because Thanh says so, but we what we see is someone who professes their love and defends their relationship against those who would try to exploit it (until the end, anyway). I do appreciate the fact that in this relationship, Thanh would never truly be Eldris’s equal because of politics, but I’m not convinced that the romantic alternative is much better.

    Now, I love a fire elemental. But the fact that this book opens with Thanh having a traumatic flashback to the fire that almost killed her (and did kill others) but finds the elemental responsible a viable love interest didn’t track for me. Thanh! You don’t have to choose between two powerful and dangerous women! Find yourself a better girlfriend.

    The romances are central to the story, but what I liked best was Thanh’s growing confidence as a diplomat and a stateswoman. She is eventually able to stand up to her mother the Queen and create a path to a more independent future for her country. That stuff was all awesome, and if the romances had been left out I might have liked the book a lot more (chalk that up to something I never thought I’d say!).

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    Despite my ambivalence, this is a great little book to give to a friend who wants to dip their toes into Asian-based fantasy worlds with queer lady protagonists.

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

    Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

    Genre | YA Fantasy
    Page #s | 356
    Publishing Date | September 2019

    The story is supposed to be over.

    Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after…

    So why can’t Simon Snow get off the couch?

    What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light…

    That’s how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West.

    They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place…

    With Wayward Son, Rainbow Rowell has written a book for everyone who ever wondered what happened to the Chosen One after he saved the day. And a book for everyone who was ever more curious about the second kiss than the first. It’s another helping of sour cherry scones with an absolutely decadent amount of butter.

    Come on, Simon Snow. Your hero’s journey might be over – but your life has just begun.

    Goodreads

    When I first read Carry On, I expected to love it as a self-referential ode to Harry/Draco fanfic. Instead, I found a thoughtful book in its own right. Wayward Son moves even further into its own unique space, taking Simon, Baz, and Penelope on an American road trip to save Agatha and avoid the existential angst of outliving one’s role as the Chosen One.

    I adore every single character in this book. Simon is depressed, having lost his magic and his purpose (though he also gained a tail and wings) after the events of the previous book. It is painful and all too real to watch him doubt himself and his relationship with Baz. Speaking of, Baz is going through his own struggles trying to support someone with depression; he also gets a wrench thrown into his vampiric worldview when he meets American vampires who aren’t absolutely monstrous.

    Penelope shines in this book, confronted with consequences as a result of her controlling tendencies; I loved that her arc included realizing she is bossy but responding, “Yeah, well, I should be the boss; I’m the smartest.” And then there’s Agatha! My darling Agatha, who just wants to get away from the fantasy world of magic and danger. I’m so glad she has continued to be a part of the story after fleeing England, and I hope she is an even bigger part of the next book.

    The third book in this series, Any Way the Wind Blows, comes out today! I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

    What Makes This Book Queer?

    Simon and Baz are in a gay relationship, though since this is the middle book in a trilogy (?), they are not in the best of places. They are constantly misunderstanding each other and missing opportunities for romance (though that means when they DO connect, it is all the more precious).

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    Anyone who enjoys loving deconstructions of traditional YA books and storylines.

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

    d.

  • 10 Underrated LGBTQ+ Books

    10 Underrated LGBTQ+ Books

    In general, queer literature tends to get less press than other genres, although increasingly, LGBTQ+ stories are getting the attention they deserve. Still, many excellent books are underrated on Goodreads (aka have less than 5,000 ratings). I wanted to give them a little extra love, and I hope you will too!

    Idea taken from Kat Impossible.

    10 Underrated LGBTQ+ Books

    Alice Payne Arrives by Kate Heartfield

    The Alice Payne novellas are time traveling adventures centered around women of color (one is queer) from different time periods. They are fun, feminist, and philosophical.

    Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi

    A literary novel about a Nigerian mother and her twin daughters breaking apart and coming back together. It’s a book about love, travel, trauma, and the liminal space between mental health and spiritualism.

    Camp by L.C. Rosen

    An adorable YA novel about a diverse cast of queer kids attending a supportive summer camp. The premise is ridiculous (an effeminate gay teen goes masc to win over his crush) but handled with surprising care.

    The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith

    A beautiful fantasy graphic novel about two young twins who escape a royal slaughter into a magical convent for girls. One wants to get back to his life as a prince and reclaim his throne, while the other realizes she feels more herself as a girl and hesitates to leave this refuge.

    FINNA by Nino Cipri

    What if IKEA was a(n actual) dangerous labyrinth that passes through wormholes into different worlds? This delightful novella places two underpaid employees going through a breakup in life-or-death situations and, in the most queer story imaginable, centers on successfully rebuilding a relationship after romance.

    Flamer by Mike Curato

    A black and white YA graphic novel that uses color for emotional effect about a young Boy Scout coming to terms with his attraction to his bunkmate in honest, heartbreaking, and joyful scenes. His dreams of the two of them acting out fantasy romances are priceless!

    Miranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett

    Queer Shakespeare geeks rejoice! This short novel follows a post-The Tempest Miranda back to Milan where she must confront the ghosts of her past while navigating falling in love with a woman.

    Naamah by Sarah Blake

    If you’ve ever wished the Bible were gayer and more feminist, this is the book for you! Noah’s wife Naamah is given a voice as she struggles with living through a disaster that killed her female lover and wrestles with what it means to relate to the god who caused such tragedy.

    Trans-Galactic Bike Ride edited by Lydia Rogue

    A novella anthology of short stories centered on trans narratives and biking through space…weirdly specific and utterly delightful! I guarantee that some of the stories will be your flavour, though who knows which ones that will be.

    The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood

    An excellent fantasy novel about a lesbian orc who works as a wizard’s assassin and struggles with her life’s meaning after fleeing a cult who wanted to sacrifice her to appease an ancient god. That should be all you need to know to be assured that this is so much fun!

    What underrated LGBTQIA+ books do you want to boost?
    Leave a comment and let everyone know about them!

  • Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Louise Fitzhugh, Renegade Author of Harriet the Spy by Leslie Brody

    Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Louise Fitzhugh, Renegade Author of Harriet the Spy by Leslie Brody

    Genre | Biography
    Page #s | 335
    Publishing Date | December 2020

    In this inspiring biography, discover the true story of Harriet the Spy author Louise Fitzhugh — and learn about the woman behind one of literature’s most beloved heroines.

    Harriet the Spy, first published in 1964, has mesmerized generations of readers and launched a million diarists. Its beloved antiheroine, Harriet, is erratic, unsentimental, and endearing-very much like the woman who created her, Louise Fitzhugh.

    Born in 1928, Fitzhugh was raised in segregated Memphis, but she soon escaped her cloistered world and headed for New York, where her expanded milieu stretched from the lesbian bars of Greenwich Village to the art world of postwar Europe, and her circle of friends included members of the avant-garde like Maurice Sendak and Lorraine Hansberry. Fitzhugh’s novels, written in an era of political defiance, are full of resistance: to authority, to conformity, and even — radically, for a children’s author — to make-believe.

    As a children’s author and a lesbian, Fitzhugh was often pressured to disguise her true nature. Sometimes You Have to Lie tells the story of her hidden life and of the creation of her masterpiece, which remains long after her death as a testament to the complicated relationship between truth, secrecy, and individualism.

    Goodreads

    I was excited to read a biography of a lesbian children’s author, but I found it very difficult to connect with Louise Fitzhugh and therefore the book itself. In a stunning example of intersectionality at work, Fitzhugh’s race and class gave her so much privilege that her queerness very rarely resulted in consequences. If I’m totally honest, she came across quite spoiled, and though there were some interesting anecdotes, on the whole I wasn’t interested.

    The best parts of the book were the beginning and the end. Her parents tumultuous marriage and public divorce was novel for the time, and the fact that they tried to hide it from little Louise was definitely traumatizing. But her storyteller brain spun herself into a victim and potentially kept her from enjoying healthy relationships with her stepmother at the very least.

    I did also enjoy her early forays into romantic and sexual relationships. I was surprised that she was sure of her attraction to women early on, and no one seemed to care beyond the heartbroken young men she passed over for a woman. I appreciated the stories of her romantic attraction to various men and how she tried to see if it could work before ultimately realizing the sexual attraction wasn’t there.

    Unfortunately, it then devolved into a rotating series of relationships with women who gave and gave, but I wasn’t sure what exactly Louise was giving back. Apparently she was quite the charmer, but she seemed very unhealthy to me.

    Readers who are more strongly attached to Harriet the Spy will likely be more interested in its author’s story, but I couldn’t get past her unexamined privilege. Has anyone else read this? Am I missing something?

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    Fans of Harriet the Spy who want to know how Louise Fitzhugh’s personal life influenced characters and themes.

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • Alice Payne Rides by Kate Heartfield

    Alice Payne Rides by Kate Heartfield

    Alice Payne returns in the thrilling sequel to Kate Heartfield’s Alice Payne Arrives.

    After abducting Arthur of Brittany from his own time in 1203, thereby creating the mystery that partly prompted the visit in the first place, Alice and her team discover that they have inadvertently brought the smallpox virus back to 1780 with them.

    Searching for a future vaccine, Prudence finds that the various factions in the future time war intend to use the crisis to their own advantage.

    Can the team prevent an international pandemic across time, and put history back on its tracks? At least until the next battle in the time war…

    Goodreads

    Whereas the first novella in this series focused primarily on two alternating threads featuring Alice Payne and Prudence Zuniga respectively, the sequel has much more of an adventure team feel. I loved getting more time with Jane Hogdson and Constable Wray Auden. They’re all in the know where time travel is concerned, and I found it uniquely delightful to read about time travelers who are (mostly) from the 1780s. It’s such a fun juxtaposition to have futuristic tech in a historical setting.

    I also thought it was unique and clever of Heartfield to dwell on the ramifications of time travel and disease transmission. The group hops through time and accidentally brings smallpox home, then has to jump forward to get a vaccine, and of course – hijinks! For anyone with COVID fatigue, please be assured that this is neither an overwhelming part of the book nor is it portrayed with much fear. I had just never seen a book about time travel address the fact that it would be super easy to screw history up with a sneeze.

    Like Alice Payne Arrives, the science fiction aspects of the story are just outside of my understanding, but not so much that it affects the joy of the story. The characters are what really matter here, and watching them accidentally gather a motley crew of abandoned historical footnotes (there would have been an actual King Arthur if not for their meddling!) at Alice’s English estate. I hope we get to see more of them in the future!

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!