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!

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles

I am apparently a one trick pony when I find an author I really like. I am also weak for roguish characters. And grumpy characters who melt under better/the right treatment. It’s classic KJ Charles but, like with many of her books, takes a fun spin on tropes and makes for a delightful read that is perfect for curling up with. Her characters also always feel so real, and I do find that to be rather rare in most fiction in general, but especially in genres like romance and fantasy. So take one part “I know you are fortune hunting my niece”, add in a brewery, a socially awkward noble, a brother and sister pair of “nobodies” named (get this) Robin and Marianne Loxleigh (readers, I CHORTLED), and add in some lovely, swoony m/m romance and you have totally delightful read.

Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood

Also intensely delightful is the first book in the Pentecost and Parker series by Stephen Spotswood! We’ve got a queer character, a character suffering from MS, a mystery, and a fun, clever romp through post World War II New York. There aren’t really romantic aspects, so as much as I am a sucker for a queer love story, the focus here is really on the mystery of a young woman who was bludgeoned to death. But even the set up is kind of cozy – Will’s knife throwing skills she learned in the circus saved Lillian’s life, and with Lillian’s progressive MS diagnosis, she needs more help in the day-to-day of her private investigator business. Three years later, Will is solidly Lillian’s right-hand woman and they make a good mystery solving pair. But Will’s attraction to the deceased’s daughter might make her the next target for the killer.

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

Remember I said one trick pony when I have an author I really like? I’m also a huge Cat Sebastian fan and her newest book is so damn delightful. (Also, the cover has a more modern rom-com style to it and I LOVE that for this book.) You’re poised, at the beginning, to think one of our leads, Percy, might be a bit of a jerk. He’s definitely not, but he has a manner of seduction about him that certainly isn’t quite what Kit is expecting. Especially not when it walks into his coffee shop like a far too well-dressed noble who only has eyes for Kit as he slings caffeine to his regulars. But Percy needs Kit, because Kit used to be known as Gladhand Jack, an infamous highwayman, and Percy needs to steal a book from his (real piece of shit) father. The book was his mother’s and holds some secrets Percy needs access to. Kit refuses the job, but he does try to teach Percy how to conduct the theft on his own. Readers, it is so fun and kind of campy and sweet and sexy and it’s the perfect cozy read.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

This was a little bit of a sleeper book from Rowley (The Editor), which is a shame because it’s a ton of fun. Patrick has his niblings, Maisie and Grant, for the summer and they’re ensconced in bright, sunny Palm Springs. Patrick is a well known TV star who lost his partner a few years back, so he’s been in self-isolation ever since. But he can relate to his niblings as they’re going through some tough stuff too; their mother has passed away and their father (Patrick’s brother) is in rehab. So while they’re together and healing and learning how to navigate their summer together, Patrick meets Emory, another actor, and sparks fly.

Read Roar Cat Reads’ review of The Guncle here.

The Whyborne & Griffin series from Jordan L. Hawk

This had me at “magical library and books”. Done. Game over. I’m right there. Now, all kinds of novels have been written with this convention, but never quite like this. Hawk, a trans author, puts a ton of heart, heat, and thrills into his books. The first novel in this series, Widdershins, is far too fun and when you combine magic, books, a grumpy ex-dectective, a nerdy scholar, a murder, AND monsters? Sign me right up. I adore this series.

Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby

Honestly, anything by Sam Irby is an auto-read for me. It’s her hilarious, deadpan voice and how she tackles all kinds of topics: marriage, aging, chronic illness (I related so hard to her here in particular, as someone whose body often betrays her), and so much more. Everything that falls off her fingertips and is translated into writing makes me that much more of a fan. And honestly, this IS cozy…in a sarcastic, life-affirming, smart, companionable kind of way. Reading Irby is like having drinks in your living room with a good friend who makes you laugh until you cry, and then makes you cry, then laugh again.

Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery

I have been a fan of Lavery’s since his work on The Toast (RIP). I followed him to Slate, to his books, and now I simply eagerly await any of his offerings. There is something ephemeral about Lavery’s voice; managing to be funny, imaginative, and at times cryptic and thoughtful. He can rant about William Shatner as well as engage you in a dialogue about Lord Byron or Jane Austen and all of it feels like you get it. Because Lavery does, and so he passes on those strange, hilarious, and oddly specific rants to your brain, too. Like a precious little gift. I recommend reading this with a nice hot toddy or a cup of strong black tea.

Here For It by R. Eric Thomas

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is any of this struggle or fighting worth it?”, R. Eric Thomas is here to tell you YES. Bolded, all caps, absolutely, 100% YES. It’s hard not to feel down about the last few years, and turning to books for comfort is something I think a lot (and I mean A LOT) of us have done. Add Thomas to your feel good list. He’s struggled with self-acceptance and image, racism, sexuality, religion, and yeah, that question of, “What the hell am I even fighting for?” It’s an affirmation of what we see as joyful in life, as worth it, and he fills the book with hilarious and honesty, a honey-sweet combination that we all need a little bit in tougher days.