Tag: YA

Bruised by Tanya Boteju
Genre | YA Contemporary Fiction
Page #s | 336
Publishing Date | March 2021

To Daya Wijesinghe, a bruise is a mixture of comfort and control. Since her parents died in an accident she survived, bruises have become a way to keep her pain on the surface of her skin so she doesn’t need to deal with the ache deep in her heart.

So when chance and circumstances bring her to a roller derby bout, Daya is hooked. Yes, the rules are confusing and the sport seems to require the kind of teamwork and human interaction Daya generally avoids. But the opportunities to bruise are countless, and Daya realizes that if she’s going to keep her emotional pain at bay, she’ll need all the opportunities she can get.

The deeper Daya immerses herself into the world of roller derby, though, the more she realizes it’s not the simple physical pain-fest she was hoping for. Her rough-and-tumble teammates and their fans push her limits in ways she never imagined, bringing Daya to big truths about love, loss, strength, and healing.

Goodreads

A story of loss, trauma, and identity that centers on roller derby and found family (both queer and otherwise), Bruised was a sure-fire win in my books. I loved Daya’s fierce exterior, her self-awareness that she protects herself by keeping other out, and her slow acceptance that perhaps it is worth risking potential hurt for the sake of connection and joy.

The foundation of Daya’s story is made of some pretty heavy content (death, self-harm), but the book captures the seriousness of her situation without reveling in the trauma-porn aspect. I was also very impressed by Boteju’s skill at depicting self-harm (intentional bruising, in Daya’s case) with realism and understanding, but without ever glorifying the practice.

This isn’t a book about trauma, though; it’s about learning to live again after experiencing trauma. Daya’s friend introduces her to roller derby, and although she is initially attracted to its violent aspects, she quickly learns that she has to be strong not just for herself, but for her team. Add in a love interest who is a sweet soft nerd, and Daya doesn’t stand a chance. Despite her fear, she starts to open herself up to vulnerability and connection.

My favorite thing about the book is undoubtedly the found families that welcome Daya in the wake of her loss. Her roller derby family expands to include a beautifully intergenerational queer family, and her initial resistance to her aunt and uncle (who have taken her in) warms in the face of their overwhelming love, joy, and acceptance. I have never read a coming out scene that is more hilarious and lovely than this book.

Who Do I Recommend This Book To?

Bruised will especially appeal to those who already love roller derby, but if you’re like me and know very little about the sport, it’s still an excellent book about accepting the start a new phase of life after a previous phase ends abruptly.

Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!
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February 8, 2022
Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Genre | YA Contemporary Fiction
Page #s | 516
Publishing Date | October 2021

In Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, two boys in a border town fell in love. Now, they must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence.

Ari has spent all of high school burying who he really is, staying silent and invisible. He expected his senior year to be the same. But something in him cracked open when he fell in love with Dante, and he can’t go back. Suddenly he finds himself reaching out to new friends, standing up to bullies of all kinds, and making his voice heard. And, always, there is Dante, dreamy, witty Dante, who can get on Ari’s nerves and fill him with desire all at once.

The boys are determined to forge a path for themselves in a world that doesn’t understand them. But when Ari is faced with a shocking loss, he’ll have to fight like never before to create a life that is truthfully, joyfully his own.

Goodreads

The long awaited sequel to one of my favorite books of all time, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, this book had a lot to live up to! Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World has the same quiet sweetness of its predecessor that builds upon previous themes in very satisfying ways.

In the first book, Ari learns to love himself and open up to the possibility of romantic love. In the sequel, his willingness to be vulnerable and let other people into his life expands to include family and friends…and even the odd teacher or two. He has always been a squishy heart and thoughtful mind in a sullen body, and it is so lovely to see him share all the parts of himself with others. And for many of them to essentially roll their eyes and say, “Yeah, we knew you were a squishy heart! Thanks for catching up!”

I also particularly loved seeing Ari, who spends 99% of his time in his head, discover the joys of a having a body. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about a teenage boy discovering his sexuality in such an open, tasteful, and beautiful way. It helps that his love for Dante isn’t all, or even mostly, about sex. Ever the wise teenager, Ari spends a lot of time mulling over the intricacies and complications of loving someone vs. falling in love with someone. They are committed and thoughtful toward each other in a way that is somehow very believable for two 17-year-olds.

The whole book has a kind of dreamy, fantastical feel that is most obvious in the fact that there is very little plot happening here. In fact, the piece of plot that the book jacket forewarns you of doesn’t happen until at least 2/3 of the way through the book! It’s mostly just Ari having beautifully honest and poetic conversations with people. I have to admit that I sometimes thought this veered into the unrealistic, as almost no one says anything rude or incorrect (with one notable exception…but even then, Ari and his parents handle it perfectly). I advise readers to go in with the expectation that this is a book about healthy relationships, and enjoy the feast of examples before you.

On the topic of plot, I will whole-heartedly defend Saenz’s choice to make this YA book’s central conflict NOT “will they stay together” or “will our parents/friends approve of us” but instead, the focus is on, “How do I exist in the world as a gay person (in the 80s)?” This is perhaps a very personal opinion, but I am tired of dramatic coming out stories; however, I also don’t want all of my books to gloss over all of the struggles involved in coming out. I felt that this book balanced these two extremes very well.

Who Do I Recommend This Book To?

If you love a book about good people doing good things whilst saying beautiful things, then you have hit the jackpot with Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World!

Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!
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January 4, 2022
7 Queer YA Reads

When children and young people see themselves or those in their lives properly represented in fiction, it can be a transformative moment. Interesting children of any age in reading, and providing materials for them to represent their lived experiences, or to introduce them to new ones, is vital to helping them see the world through another’s eyes. With the recent attacks by U.S. legislators on books dealing with puberty, sex, anatomy, race, U.S. history, and more (attacking anything that isn’t Christian, white, and heterosexual, or in the words of one legislator, books that “might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex.”), we need to lift up diverse books for kids even more.

Continuum by Chella Man (part of the Pocket Change Collective series)

I LOVE this series. Every single entry is a brilliant, passionately written primer on a topic meaningful to modern teens. But Chella Man’s entry is particularly poignant. He’s a transgender, genderqueer, deaf, Jewish person of color and an artist, activist, and actor and his story of overcoming and persevering is inspiring and truly remarkable. I highly recommend the audio, because Chella narrates and it’s one of the only audiobooks ever recorded by a person with deafness.

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon

My initial reaction to this book was, “THIS IS EVERYTHING I NEED!” (Yes, in all caps, I couldn’t help myself). Wyatt, a trans witch with quite a bit of power – power he lost control of one awful night – has a good life now. A best friend, a lovely adopted family, everything he could ever want. Except for resolving the little issue of his past, and the kingdom and fiancé he left behind. Now back in his former home and former life, Wyatt has to face down a ton of changes after he’s made the biggest one for himself. The book features a diverse cast of people of color, queer, trans, and nonbinary folks, and some great worldbuilding.

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett

Camryn Garrett’s debut came out of the book publishing gates on FIRE, and rightfully so. Simone is 17 years old, a person of color, bisexual, and HIV-positive. But her outlook is bright, as she knows the way to stay safe and hidden is be celibate and tell no one. But it’s not that easy when she meets Miles and falls head over heels. But no one knows her truth, and this fear of having her status known -and likely used against her – drives the main plot of the story. It’s honest, occasionally raw, and a book everyone should read.

Camp by L.C. Rosen

The joy in this book cannot be understated. I am a big fan of promoting queer books that showcase happiness and love and joy and hot damn, this book has it all and more. An adorable, glittering summer romance that also tackles masc/fem stereotypes, it starts with Randy, who loves Camp Outland and all the people there. It’s a queer/gay summer camp for teens like him, and there no one bats an eye at his love for nail polish and unicorns and anything sparkly. But this year is going to be different, because as much as he fell hard for Hudson, Hudson just didn’t feel the same. So Randy reinvents himself as Del – buff, sports-loving man’s man. Surely Hudson will fall now, right? And then Randy can return, little by little, in all his unicorn and nail polish glory.

The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune

Yes, THAT TJ Klune, of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door! TJ is known for his adult books full of whimsy and cozy feelings and he brings that trademark style, and his tender writing, to this book. The Extraordinaires is the first in a trilogy and it is a complete delight. Nick’s claim to fame isn’t as Nick, but as the most popular fanfic writer for the Extraordinaires fandom. The fandom focuses on a group of real-life superheroes and when Nick bumps into Star Shadow, his favorite Extraordinare and focus of his biggest crush, everything changes. But left on the sidelines is Seth, Nick’s best friend. And maybe the one he’s really meant for.

Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer

Where was this book when I was a questioning fifteen year old who loved sci-fi and living in small town Ohio? (I still love sci-fi, don’t get me wrong. But fifteen year old me would have lived for this book!). Alyssa is our pansexual main character and in line for the crown, but she’s been able to squeak out of royal duties. For the time being. But when she learns that her uncle has died and a crownchase has been decreed, Alyssa and her engineer, Hell Monkey, are caught up in the dangerous game that apparently everyone wants to participate in. It’s funny, fast-paced, and thrilling, and it hits all the marks with snarky wordplay, breathless spaceship chases, and fascinating sci-fi worldbuilding.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

It’s one of the most chilling, complex YA books I’ve ever read. And it freaked me out. Power’s debut novel rips into your psyche and leaves you questioning the nature of humanity, the value of a life, and the ties that bind us all. It’s a thriller, a post-apocalyptic/survival story, and a story of friendship to which you’d go to the ends of the Earth for. And the Earth is ending, as climate change affects us all and devastates the landscape in which Hetty and Byatt live. Best friends, they’re inseparable, but when the Tox hits and the teachers at their all-girls school fall ill and then die, the girls are largely left on their own. And then Byatt goes missing and Hetty knows she’ll go to the ends of the earth to find her.

Halli Starling (she/they) writes fantasy worlds, vampires, and romance, focusing on stories with deep emotional investment. And the occasional bloody bit of violence.

Website | Twitter

November 22, 2021
Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Abida Jaigirdar

Genre | YA Contemporary Fiction
Page #s | 352
Publishing Date | May 2021

Everyone likes Humaira “Hani” Khan—she’s easy going and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity, saying she can’t be bi if she’s only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she’s in a relationship…with a girl her friends absolutely hate—Ishita “Ishu” Dey. Ishu is the complete opposite of Hani. She’s an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. But Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl.

Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. But relationships are complicated, and some people will do anything to stop two Bengali girls from achieving happily ever after.

Goodreads

I have been reading a surprising amount of fake dating books lately (yay!) and this is one of the best. Hani and Ishu get to know each other through pretending to date – before that, they were schoolmates with only one shared class, a cultural similarity that actually drove them away from each other, and a lack of awareness as to each other’s compatible sexuality. As they spend time together, they start to like each other, but they’re teenagers and it’s awkward! I loved every page of this quick read, and I highly recommend it to any other fans of the fake dating trope.

As I mentioned earlier, both Hani and Ishu live in Ireland, but their families moved there from India. When the book starts, they stayed away from each other to avoid the stereotype of “you go together.” But as they start to date, it is a joy to watch them realize how nice it is to be around someone who understands their culture, family, and values. Although Hani’s family are Muslims and Ishu’s family are non-religious, they get each other in a way their fellow classmates can’t (or don’t, since their classmates are racist little ****heads). And before I move on from this, it was so lovely to read about a queer affirming Muslim family; Hani is already out to her parents before the book begins, and they support her relationship with Ishu from start to finish.

The only thing that felt like a bit of stretch was just how horrible Hani’s friends are. They belittle her culture and her sexuality. In fact, their refusal to believe she is bisexual (“how do you know if you haven’t kissed a girl?” UGH) is what prompts her to claim she is dating Ishu. They are the worst! Although I am prepared to believe that teenagers can truly be that awful, I found it hard to stomach the thought that Hani could not see how terrible their treatment of her was. Regardless, it was a delight to watch her stand up for herself and finally put them in their place.

In addition to terrible friends, we get unhealthy families. Ishu’s parents live vicariously through their daughters’ success, and Ishu and her older sister have always been at each other’s throats for their approval. Until the book begins, anyway, when her older sister drops out of college and becomes the black sheep of the family. I really liked watching Ishu navigate this new relationship – first with suspicion, and then with gratitude.

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating is a cute, fast read that is perfect for anyone wanting a light-hearted, PG-rated sapphic romance.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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

September 14, 2021
One More Stop by Casey McQuiston

Genre | YA Contemporary Fiction
Page #s | 422
Publishing Date | June 2021

From the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes a new romantic comedy that will stop readers in their tracks…

For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures.

But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train.

Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save August’s day when she needed it most. August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane doesn’t just look like an old school punk rocker. She’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. Maybe it’s time to start believing in some things, after all.

Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes possible as August does everything in her power to save the girl lost in time.

Goodreads

I loved McQuiston’s Red White, and Royal Blue, but unfortunately, I just could not get emotionally invested in One More Stop. If the romance and fantasy had been taken out and it was just a story about a girl moving to New York City and becoming friends with witty, sparkling roommates on a quest to save a local pancake restaurant, it would have been perfect. How did a book make me want LESS romance and fantasy? A tragedy.

When August meets Jane on the Q line of the Subway, I rolled my eyes for 80 pages of gay manic pixie dream girl. Jane was quirky and funny and everybody wanted her! When it turned out that there was an explanation for her clothes and retro music, I was very intrigued. But then we got hundreds of pages of just… this very weird conceit. Jane got unstuck in time and now lives on a Subway line? And they just kind of…date on a subway? And sleep together on a subway *shudder*?? How unsanitary. I’m so not into it.

It’s a shame, because the characters and writing are all truly excellent. The plot was just a big miss for me.

What Make This Book Queer?

In addition to a bisexual protagonist falling in love with a time-displaced lesbian, August moves in to an apartment with a trans man and his girlfriend as well as their disowned gay roommate who is in love with the drag queen next door. This book is bursting with queerness, and that part is super fun and lovely.

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

I think a lot of people will love this book, despite my unenthusiastic reaction to it. If you want a light-hearted, kooky love story, give it a try!

Rating: 3 out of 5.

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

August 31, 2021
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!

August 6, 2021
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!

July 13, 2021
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!

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July 6, 2021
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!

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July 5, 2021
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On – The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story – but far, far more monsters.

Goodreads

I’ve JUST finished the book, like two seconds ago, and I LOVED IT. I expected to like it, an a sort of ironic “Isn’t this odd, reading a pseudo Harry Potter fanfiction that was excerpted in Rowell’s Fangirl?” And for a while, I was mostly interested in assigning every character to their HP equivalent, but that quickly turned into genuine investment.

I LOVE Simon! I love Baz! I love Penelope! I even love Agatha, although for a while she was a useless wet blanket (but then she acknowledges her role as a useless wet blanket, only meant to further someone else’s story, and when she said “peace out!” I adored her for it). I love the magical world in Carry On, how they have phones and computers and are simply just like Normals, but with magic. That makes more sense to me than Harry Potter’s culturally-backwards wizarding world. But! I’m not comparing! (Okay, it’s impossible not to compare.)

I loved the crackling dialogue, and I laughed out loud SO OFTEN at Simon and Baz’s repartee, like when arguing about the benefits and challenges of being a vampire:

Simon lowers his eyebrows. “When you look at it that way, why doesn’t everyone cross over?”
“Because it’s death,” I say.
“It clearly isn’t.”
“They say your soul dies.”
“That’s tosh,” he says.
“How would you know, Snow?”
“Observation.”
“Observation,” I say. “You can’t observe a soul.”
“You can over time,” he says. “I think I’d know–”
“It’s death,” I say, “because you need to eat life to stay alive.”
“That’s everyone,” he says. “That’s eating.”

Those crazy kids. But seriously, there’s nothing I love more than a romance built on hatred! Or, in this case, mutual obsession that turns into need that turns into trust that turns into a love based on their mutual brokenness. And Penelope! She and Simon are such great friends, and I loved how Rowell had her and Baz become friends too. They all felt like real characters with interlocking lives and independent motivations. Very impressive for, as I mentioned earlier, a pseudo-Harry Potter fanfiction that was excerpted in Rowell’s Fangirl.

Originally posted on my other blog, www.itistrish.com.

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

June 15, 2021
I Think I Love You by Auriane Desombre

A sweet and funny debut novel about falling for someone when you least expect it . . . and finding out that real life romance is better than anything on screen.

Emma is a die-hard romantic. She loves a meet-cute Netflix movie, her pet, Lady Catulet, and dreaming up the Gay Rom Com of her heart for the film festival competition she and her friends are entering. If only they’d listen to her ideas. . .

Sophia is pragmatic. She’s big into boycotts, namely 1) relationships, 2) teen boys and their BO (reason #2347683 she’s a lesbian), and 3) Emma’s nauseating ideas. Forget starry-eyed romance, Sophia knows what will win: an artistic film with a message.

Cue the drama. The movie is doomed before they even start shooting . . . until a real-life plot twist unfolds behind the camera when Emma and Sophia start seeing each other through a different lens. Suddenly their rivalry is starting to feel like an actual rom-com.

Goodreads

I love a good queer love story, and I love fanfic tropes, but I Think I Love You fell flat for me. But before I get into that, let’s talk about the positives.

Desombre captured Emma’s fear of coming out to her parents really well. No matter how progressive someone seems, it still feels desperately confusing to anticipate how they will react to you. And I appreciated a story that shows the hurt that comes from parents reacting with a calm and cool demeanor…saying it isn’t a big deal is hard to hear when you’ve worked up more courage than you thought you could muster.

I also appreciated Sophia’s character throughout the first half of the book. Her fear of being excluded from her friends but reacting by overcompensating with stories about her time in France felt so realistic. She couldn’t stop shooting herself in the foot, and wow, I have been there.

Unfortunately, almost nothing else felt realistic about this book. Emma and Sophia hate each other, which splits the group apart. So their friends tell each of them that the other has a crush on them, and suddenly their eyes are opened! For a moment I thought it was a funny acknowledgment about how powerful it is to be liked. “She likes me? She has good taste, maybe she’s better than I realized.” But they fall in love so fast (oh, and all of these 14-year-olds are throwing around the word “love”), ignoring all of the things that they disliked about each other for years before. That would be enough to drive me crazy, but then there are plot twists and misunderstandings, and nobody acts like a real human being. Maybe I should have let the drama of it all wash over me, but I just couldn’t. It was too much drama for the sake of drama.

I love a story with a bisexual girl and a lesbian falling in love. But unfortunately, not this one.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

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

June 12, 2021
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Acclaimed author of Ash Malinda Lo returns with her most personal and ambitious novel yet, a gripping story of love and duty set in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the Red Scare.

“That book. It was about two women, and they fell in love with each other.” And then Lily asked the question that had taken root in her, that was even now unfurling its leaves and demanding to be shown the sun: “Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.

America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father—despite his hard-won citizenship—Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.

Goodreads

This was a lovely YA historical novel about a Chinese American young woman coming to terms with her attraction to women, exploring queer community in 1950s San Francisco, and growing strong enough to stand up for herself and the life that she wants to create for herself.

Stories about the 1950s often leave me feeling one of two ways: they either lure me into a believing that it was a simpler, nicer time, or else the racism, homophobia, and sexism makes me incredibly grateful to have born in the 80s. Although there were definitely moments when Lily’s world was sweet and appealing, I was mostly stuck on the horrifying elements: Lily endures consistent racist comments and actions whenever she leaves the safety of Chinatown, and the homophobia of the day is of the “will get arrested if found publicly gay” variety. It’s not good!

(As I write this, I am aware that racist comments and consequences for being publicly queer are not relegated to the past. They are a current reality for many people.)

I cannot imagine having the bravery Lily shows throughout this book. She knows something is different about herself, but it isn’t until she finds a paperback novel with two women on the cover that she realizes she isn’t alone. Watching her slowly fall in love with her new friend Kathryn was swoonworthy, all the more so because they know they are sharing something forbidden.

The true star of this book is, fittingly, the Telegraph Club. Oh, how I wish there were a lesbian bar like this in Vancouver! With performances by male impersonators, new friends and lovers sharing drinks, and the good times continuing at house parties after closing, Lo paints a vivid picture of a community that easily ensnares both Lily and myself.

A bit of warning: While the ending is hopeful, it is also a story true to its time. There are very real familial consequences for Lily, and this might be triggering to some readers.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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

June 1, 2021
Flamer by Mike Curato

Genre | YA Graphic Novel
Page #s | 368
Publishing Date | September 2020

Award-winning author and artist Mike Curato draws on his own experiences in Flamer, his debut graphic novel, telling a difficult story with humor, compassion, and love.

I know I’m not gay. Gay boys like other boys. I hate boys. They’re mean, and scary, and they’re always destroying something or saying something dumb or both.

I hate that word. Gay. It makes me feel . . . unsafe.

It’s the summer between middle school and high school, and Aiden Navarro is away at camp. Everyone’s going through changes—but for Aiden, the stakes feel higher. As he navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can’t stop thinking about), he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.

Goodreads

Using spare colors with an inviting cartoon aesthetic, Curato has created a beautiful graphic novel about a young boy on the cusp of adolescence who struggles to accept his attraction to boys during a Boy Scouts summer camp. Occasionally haunting but ultimately uplifting, I adored this book and want everyone to read it.

This is Aiden’s last summer before high school, and he wants his camp experience to be a fun, safe space for him to be fully himself. Unfortunately, he is at camp with a bunch of boys, and they throw insults and gay slurs at each other with abandon. Curato captures these microaggressions with nuance, showing how they hit differently for someone who worries he actually IS gay while also showing how good it can feel to turn the tables and call a bully a f*****.

Although this is a quick read, the length of the novel allows us to get a full sense of Aiden’s life. The main action takes place during summer camp, but we get flashbacks to his family, his school, and his church that better inform what he is experiencing in the present day as he participates in orienteering, archery, and basket weaving.

Aiden is such a cute boy who can’t, and doesn’t want to, hide his feminine side despite being very in the closet when it comes to accepting his attraction to bunkmate Elias. Every night he dreams of the two of them together. These were my favorite sections of the book, as he imagines the pair of them as Frodo and Sam or Wolverine and Jean Grey, in an adorable fantasy that increasingly turns dark as he tries to push the feelings aside.

The story culminates in a dark moment that might be triggering for some readers, though the scene is handled with care. The fires that Aiden worries will engulf himself ultimately manifest as his own life energy, a fire full of strength and vitality that cannot be put out. It’s a lovely book, drawn with skill and passion, that should be on the shelf of every school library.

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

It’s great for readers of all ages, but this is a book to prioritize giving to young queer kids who will see themselves in Aiden.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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

Find more books nominated for Lambda Literary Awards reviewed here.

May 18, 2021
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

Genre | YA Fantasy
Page #s | 588
Publishing Date | March 2021

The Grishaverse will be coming to Netflix soon with Shadow and Bone, an original series!

The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Times-bestselling King of Scars Duology.

The Demon King. As Fjerda’s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king’s gift for the impossible.

The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.

The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.

King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.

Goodreads

Exciting from start to finish, Rule of Wolves takes our monstrous heroes into the depths of subterfuge and war where they will make hard decisions and costly mistakes…in addition to some rip-roaring plot twists due to behind the scenes machinations.

Ravka, as always, is the tiny country desperately trying to fend off their more powerful neighbors. Fjerda to the north is openly moving toward war, while Shu Han to the south and Kerch from the sea are more circumspect but no less dangerous. Told from King Nikolai, General Zoya, and Spy Nina’s perspectives (as well as a couple others that are delicious but aren’t to be spoiled), we get to see the little country that could defend itself and fight for Grisha lives against all odds.

I read this during the same period of time as I watched the new Netflix show, Shadow and Bone, based on Bardugo’s first Grishaverse novel. Seeing where some of these characters, especially Zoya, began made me appreciate where they ended up all the more. These books truly create an entire world, full of diverse countries, cities, religions, and people who grow and change based on what has happened in previous books.

This definitely feels like the end of the series, with surprise guest appearances by fan favorites from other books. But the very end teases a potential continuation…whether it’s because Bardugo isn’t quite ready to give up the Grishaverse or just to show us that adventures will continue in this world whether or not we’re privy to them, I don’t know. I desperately hope that we will get more from this world, but I honestly don’t know how the stakes could be greater than they are here.

I’m not giving many details, but I don’t think they’re necessary. If you’ve gotten to this point in the series, nothing I say will convince you one way or the other. But I will say this: I love cranky female characters who are hardened and protective and powerful. Bardugo deserves a medal for making me fall absolutely in love with Zoya Nazyalensky.

What Makes This Book Queer?

There is not one, not two, but THREE queer relationships in this book! There is a lesbian couple in the Grisha who don’t get a lot of page time, and gay couple who will delight readers at their appearance. But it’s Nina and Hanne who have the most meaningful and plot-centric queer love story. Nina is comfortable in her bisexuality, never questioning her attraction to former love Matthias or current housemate Hanne. I don’t want to say too much about Hanne, but her relationship to gender is also explored delicately and perfectly for this fantasy setting.

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

Uh, the masses. The Grishaverse is incredibly popular, and rightly so. Literally anyone would enjoy this.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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May 15, 2021
Camp by L.C. Rosen

From the author of the acclaimed Jack of Hearts (and other parts) comes a sweet and sharp screwball comedy that critiques the culture of toxic masculinity within the queer community.

Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It’s where he met his best friends. It’s where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it’s where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim – who’s only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists.

This year, though, it’s going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as ‘Del’ – buff, masculine, and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish, and his unicorn bedsheets, he’s determined to get Hudson to fall for him.

But as he and Hudson grow closer, Randy has to ask himself how much is he willing to change for love. And is it really love anyway, if Hudson doesn’t know who he truly is?

Goodreads

Camp is a delightful and ridiculous book about a queer summer camp where kids can live their best and horniest lives. We should all be so lucky as to attend Camp Outland, where participants and counselors can thrive in a safe and supportive environment.

The plot of this book hinges on an objectively terrible idea: Randy remakes himself into butch gay guy Del in order to woo “masc4masc” hunk Hudson. I thought it would be a simple “don’t change yourself for someone, you’ll realize they aren’t worth it!” story, so I was pleasantly surprised when Rosen took a more nuanced approach. Randy discovers he likes some of the more athletic events that he joins for Hudson, and it turns out he had really good taste in crushing on the camp hottie all these years. However, he has to lose some essential pieces of himself (theater class, Unicorn Trampocalypse nail polish) along the way, which is increasingly difficult to manage.

While Randy learns what it means to expand one’s interests while remaining true to yourself (and others), Hudson confronts his internalized homophobia. I really liked his character; an encouraging and kind dude whose parents really did a number on him. Even within a utopia like their summer camp, it felt realistic that people would still have issues to work through.

Of course, a plot about a boy pretending to be someone else depends upon a fundamental suspension of disbelief – Hudson doesn’t recognize a fellow camp attender even though literally everyone else does, and the entire camp (even adults!!) go along with Randy’s plot to pretend that he is new. Ridiculous! But so much fun.

Perhaps even more than the romance, Randy’s relationships with his besties deserve a shout out. George (emotive Middle Eastern bear-to-be) and Ashleigh (goth-lite demisexual lesbian) are simultaneously annoyed and impressed with Randy’s plan. As much as they exist to support and conflict with Randy’s narrative, they each get subplots and romances of their own. I would 100% read another book from one of their perspectives.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t point out how refreshingly sex-positive this book is. The teens are panting after each other, and rather than panicking about it, the counselors make sure the resources for safe sex are readily available.

I had such a fun time reading this book, and L.C. Rosen has become one of my must-read authors!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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

Find more books nominated for Lambda Literary Awards reviewed here!

May 3, 2021