LGBTQ+

The London Séance Society

by Sarah Penner

★★★★

TLSS is out now, and it is definitely worth checking out. I got lucky and snagged a copy via @netgalley, and I found myself hooked. Penner has a way of incorporating the illogical without taking away from the believability of a story. I really enjoyed The Lost Apothecary, so I knew I had to read this one when she initially posted about its release dates. I loved how strong Lenna is, and Vaudeline was interesting. I kept trying to figure out the ending, but the twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. I love that Penner also includes notes about the actual history of the time period at the end of the novel; I found the information both fascinating and educating.

Heartstopper

by Alice Oseman

Volume 1 ★★★★

Volume 2 ★★★

Volume 3 ★★★

Volume 4 ★★★★

I decided to check out Heartstopper since I kept hearing my teenage sister talk about it. I try to keep up with the trending books so I can continue adding to my class library, and I do think I will be adding Heartstopper to mine. I would like to note that I thought the stories were cute in a shy teenage romance sort of way, although it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I found that Volume 1 and Volume 4 stuck out to me, primarily due to their focus- discovering one’s sexuality and mental health. Volume 2 and Volume 3 essentially felt like fluffy filler to me. It was cute to see how Nick and Charlie’s relationship evolves, but that’s about it. If you’re looking for a quick and simple read, Heartstopper is the series for you. 

Red, White, & Royal Blue

by Casey McQuiston

★★★★★

So I have had this one on my shelf for a while now, and I was determined to include this in my Pride reads for June. Although I try to read LGBTQIA+ themed stories and authors year-round, I really emphasize them in June since they are still definitely the minority of published works. I am so glad I finally read this one! McQuiston creates characters that are lovable and realistic, and her alternate reality is believable. I know many of us had been disappointed with how the 2016 election turned out, especially those who are queer or those with LGBTQIA+ family, and I really enjoyed being able to imagine what could have been. I know that Prince Harry (who I'm pretty sure is Prince Henry) is married, but it was fun to consider a FSOTUS-Royal romance. Prince Henry and Alex are both funny, charming, and totally what you'd picture the children of global leaders would be like behind closed doors. I found myself alternating between laughing, wanting to cry, and cheering them on. If you haven't read Red, White & Royal Blue yet, you're missing out!

Hurricane Season

by Fernanda Melchor

★

Okay, so I absolutely HATED this one. I gave it an honest try as I saw it had really good reviews on Goodreads. I found the book disturbingly disgusting. There are books that are weird yet good... This was not it. This included everything considered taboo; it covered prostitution, drugs, bestiality, pedophilia, abortion, and much more. I can handle the vulgar language (do you know how many times they said c*ck?), but this book gets downright foul. I wasn't impressed by the writing style, and the story just seemed pointless to me. I did not find myself satisfied by the whodunnit answers either, as it didn't really come off as much of a mystery. If you have been waiting to read this one, I recommend just skipping it unless you are going to try it in the original language.

Afterparties

by Anthony Veasna So

★★★

This one has been on my shelf forever it seems, so it was time to give it a read. I started this hyped to learn since I don’t normally hear much about Cambodian Americans, and I found myself researching often and learning quite a bit. Overall, I thought the stories were interesting. Each of the short stories depicts one person living their daily (and often connected) lives; this includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. This book did make me uncomfortable in a bad way though, and that ultimately made it a three-star read for me. I do not have an issue with smut or dirty scenes in themselves, however, I typically like my books to be upfront about there being sexual content. I was not prepared for the amount of detailed sexual content included, so it caught me very off guard. If there had been some indicator that there was sexual content in this one, I think I would have been cool with it. On the bright side, there was a lot of talk of yummy-sounding food; I’m now looking to see if I have Cambodian near me.

Payback's A Witch

by Lana Harper

★★★★

I added this to my June TBR since I've been working on the Blue Bookmark Book Club's Pride reading challenge. I snagged this cute title from Libby and I was not disappointed. It's got everything I could ask for from a witchy romance; Harper delivers scorned women turned lovers, undeniable chemistry, strong female characters, and a touch of witchcraft to leave the whole story feeling magical. I will acknowledge that the very beginning of the story gave The Ex Hex vibes, but that's not a bad thing considering I loved that novel too. If you ever wanted a Goblet of Fire-esque political election, this is the story for you.

Felix Ever After

by Kacen Callender

★★★★

In honor of National Coming Out Day this week, I bring you a YA LGBTQ+ read that many readers can find themselves relating to. Felix's journey to be accepted as a guy is tough, especially with a father that is unable to let go of his pre-transition past and bullies that want to publicly out him. In search of revenge, Felix is able to truly find himself. Callender will break your heart, but at least he takes the time to put it back together again.

I was really excited about this one, but I felt like it didn't really sit right with me. I loved the idea of The Guncle, but I was underwhelmed in a few regards. I know, I'm in the minority here according to the Goodread's rating. While I loved Patrick's relationship with the kids, I felt like we mainly got to know the Patrick he thought he should be rather than who was hinted at really being. I also found the story to really emphasize stereotypes (of gay men, poly relationships, and more). While there is nothing wrong with gay men that are stereotypically flamboyant, I didn't care for the emphasis being placed on the more negatively viewed traits (selfishness, vanity, body image issues, etc.). At least half of the men I know consider themselves queer, and less than 10% of those men would be considered "flamboyant." I could have gotten past this if we could see some of the deeper parts of Patrick or JED, but we only basically get to have those depths touched on as minimally as possible. Grant and Maisie's characters are funny, and were quite reflective of many kids' grieving experiences; I just wish the whole story had the same authenticity.

Juliet Takes a Breath

by Gabby Rivera

★★★★

Juliet finds herself quickly feeling like an outsider; her Puerto Rican family has reservations about her being a lesbian, but she also quickly becomes fascinated with her favorite author (a gay, feminist white woman). As Juliet tries to learn about the world beyond the Bronx, she is faced with the reality that queer Latinas are often overlooked by the mainstream media. Juliet spends her internship summer learning about herself, and the importance of claiming her identity as she dives into the world of west coast feminism. Books, laughter, heartbreak, and a summer fling leave Juliet with the personal insights that she hoped to gain before returning to the Bronx, and readers just might learn something about themselves along the way.

The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany

by Lori Nelson Spielman

★★★★

If you've always wanted to journey to the Italian countryside, take a trip along with quirky Emila, sassy Lucy, and lovable Aunt Poppy. Although Emila and Lucy set out with Poppy with the intent on breaking the curse that prevents second-born Fontana daughters from finding love, they find more answers than they knew they were looking for. The trip becomes about more than just breaking a multigenerational curse- it is an opportunity for self-discovery and learning their true family history. With secrets that have been hidden for multiple generations, it becomes apparent that there is more to the Fontana women than meets the eye. The story is full of love, heartbreak, and adventure. 

The Black Flamingo

by Dean Atta

★★★★

"He is me, who I have been, who I am, who I hope to become. Someone fabulous, wild, and strong. With or without a costume on."

I've had this one on my shelf for a while, so I really wanted to incorporate it in my pride-themed reads this month. I normally hate prose/poetry, but I actually loved this. The main character, Michael, is so relatable as he focuses on trying to find himself without apology. Although I can never fully understand the experiences of discrimination and (often accidental) bigotry towards queer POC, I am all too familiar with the gender expectations that Atta sets out to challenge. I was one of the girls growing up that was always being told that the things I liked were "too boyish" or "not for little girls." Thankfully, my father didn't care even at times when my mother did. Multiple of my siblings have come out as queer over the last few years, and it breaks my heart when they face many of the struggles that Mikey does. While it can be heartbreaking at times, I love how authentic the story and his struggles are. Atta doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of homophobia. Atta realistically addresses the struggles with racism and identity faced by POC with multiple ethnicities as Michael navigated being Greek, Jamaican, and British. It is hard enough to find a good queer representation in the mainstream media, but it is even harder to find queer POC main characters. I honestly think this book could be a game changer for many teens that are working on accepting themselves in the same way Mikey does. I love that readers get to follow along as Michael grows, and his confidence by the end of the novel is inspiring. The prose was well crafted, so the book still read beautifully. Although I wish I could have read a bit more about The Black Flamingo, I do recognize that his first performance is a symbolic ending.

Consensual Hex

by Amanda Harlowe

★★

This book left me unfulfilled, and not in the way that leaves us craving a sequel. The writing itself felt a bit sloppy, and the ending just felt like it came out of nowhere and didn't fit. The worst part? Goodreads reviewers claim that Harlowe was a former friend and that the characters are each corresponding to a member of their college friend group. They claim she stole their assault stories. There are countless reasons I do NOT recommend this read!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn

by Melissa Bashardoust

★★★★★

I loved this one. If you're looking for an LGBTQ+ read with a healthy dose of fantasy and feminism, this is the book for you. I love how Soraya is able to learn to own who she is rather than bending to the expectations of society. Her story is full of sorrow, and yet, she doesn't overlook the happiness available in her life. Soraya gives the idea of a toxic woman to a whole new meaning, and her emotional journey will keep readers wanting more. Full of Persian folklore, this is a great story for anyone who grew up watching Aladdin or Cinderella.

Carmilla

by Sheridan Le Fanu

★★★★

This throwback Thursday comes with one of the inspirations for Dracula. Carmilla is arguably the first *published* vampire novella. Laura, an isolated teen girl, finds herself one of the witnesses of a carriage accident. Carmilla, the young female passenger, reveals that she will now be essentially stuck staying nearby and agrees to stay with Laura and her father. Carmilla and Laura quickly become close friends, and it quickly begins to become a much more steamy relationship. However, Laura seems to be fizzling out as Carmilla heals from the accident...

Cemetery Boys

by Aiden Thomas

★★★★

Queer fiction meets spooky season in this charming read. This tale follows a Puerto Rican teen's journey to gain his family's acceptance- as a man and as a brujo- due to cultural barriers and transphobia. As the lead character is preparing to release a (cute) teen boy's spirit, he also has to navigate the risk of becoming to attached to the dead.

Educators: Cemetery Boys is a great read to discuss the role of cultural beliefs and transphobia. This is also perfect to help your students embrace fall by discussing the practices of Dia de los Muertos. 

The Heart's Invisible Furies

by John Boyne

★★★★★

Follow Cyril Avery, an adopted Irishman who is constantly reminded that he isn't really a part of their family. As he befriends the son of his father's powerful friends and clients, Julien becomes a fixture in your Cyril's mind. Cyril finds himself struggling to understand who he is, including trying to "make" himself straight in homophobic Catholic Ireland. The novel takes place in the 1940s and ends in the modern day. Follow Cyril as he ages, as he evolves, as he moves from Ireland to mainland Europe, and finally, as he moves to the U.S. Cyril spends a lifetime essentially hating himself, and the novel covers his journey to eventually achieving self-acceptance. Cyril appears as both lovable and despicable, and yet, he is so relatable. I found I could not put this one down, as Boyne sucked me in to know if Cyril will ever find true happiness.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

★★★★★

I absolutely LOVED this one. Evelyn brings the film industry to life across multiple decades, and ultimately highlights the cut-throat reality of trying to survive in it. The book covers the struggles of privacy, and the difficulties of balancing the life of a star with being a good wife and mother. Evelyn is a protagonist that you can't help but love no matter how terrible she behaves. There are some serious Marilyn Monroe vibes coming from Evelyn; she is bad, she is smart, and she is most agreeably one of the most sexy women in classic Hollywood. LGBTQ+ representation is highly prominent throughout the novel, so this is a perfect read for those looking to diversify their library rather than experiencing another story of cis Hollywood.