thoughts on books

Category: LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈

  • say a little prayer by jenna voris

    YA book for any gay kid that felt like they were not “enough” or that being gay is a sin. It isn’t. God doesn’t make mistakes. Not all church people think being gay is a sin, and there are lots of devout Christians that interpret a lot of “clobber” verses differently than you may have been told. The church has been terrible to gay people, especially our youth. If your church is teaching you that, I am so so sorry. You can leave or find another church or attempt to change things from the inside.

    This is Riley’s story, she was in a fight at school and she was given the chance to make amends by attending church camp. The Pastor is a bad guy who often preaches that being gay is terrible and sinful. He also takes action to kick people out of the church, like excommunicating them, if they don’t follow his rules.

    The theme of the camp is the “seven deadly sins” (which are not in the Bible and were invented 400 years AFTER Jesus died, by the way) and so Riley tries to practice each of the deadly sins and journal about it to prove the concept wrong. She has a crush on the pastor’s daughter, who she has been friends with for years.

    Narrative is best for middle grades, I hope libraries will carry it and kids will steal it from the libraries if their parents won’t let them check it out.

    Thank you to NetGalley and Viking books for the ARC. Book to be published March 4, 2025.

  • paper doll by dylan mulvaney

    A vulnerable and funny look at the inner thoughts and feelings of a blossoming girl. I loved reading this book, which was both funny and touching. I’m not much of a TikTok person, but I became aware of Dylan, her bubbly personality and reluctant activism during “beergate.” This book definitely is true to her voice- a musical theater kid who is both drawn to and repulsed by the spotlight. Although I will never understand the emotional impact of transitioning, let alone so publicly, Dylan sure does try to help me.

    She jumps around a bit, from her childhood of dreaming about Broadway, to her early transitioning days, to the fallout of beergate and beyond. I was surprised and heartened to hear about her naïveté and conflict aversion. Dylan seems to see herself as having thin skin, but she is extremely strong. She’d have to be! After reading this fun memoir, I can truly see how she didn’t have an ambition to be as internet-famous as she is, and how she has become an icon. There are complex emotions involved in constantly having to be aware of how others “consume” your appearance. I also appreciated how she acknowledges her privilege in being able to control her transition and what choices she has made.

    One change I am going to make after reading this book is that I will actively shame trolls and back up people dealing with hateful comments. I have a tendency to stay away from comments sections, knowing that’s where the trolls feast. But Dylan helped me see how useful it is and how just the small action of being supportive can strengthen us.

    Like, if you speak negatively about, say, the weather reporter, and you make negative comments about her appearance, she won’t hear you, but your family will. And even subconsciously they will internalize the believe that if you are visible you are less worthy if you don’t look like you are “supposed to.”

    Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams books for the ARC. Book to be published March 11, 2025.

  • the bachelorette party by camilla sten

    This book has some real “horror movie” energy. Remember the geico commercial awhile back where there were kids running away from a murderer and they hid behind a wall of chainsaws instead of driving away? This book is like that. It reminds me of the Scream/I know what you did last summer time frame of cinema. The characters are beautiful, mostly female, some of them are basically interchangeable. The only reason why there are 4 women in the first set of murders and 5 in the second set is to heighten the body count and make it bloodier. It is a big riot and obviously, as they say, a “page-turner.” I read it in one sitting.

    Dual time frames- 2012 when a group of 4 friends goes on their annual girls trip to a remote island with no coverage. 2022 when a bachelorette party goes to the same island, which now has a mindfulness resort on it as the first guests. The most interesting character is our main character in 2022, Tessa. She recently was a true crime podcaster but had some sort of problem a “mistake” that ended her career, which we find out later in the story. She is single and bisexual, there is an interesting conversation with one of the bridesmaids who is demonstrating what biphobia sounds like, in her ignorance. Most of the tertiary characters are generally pretty one dimensional, as there isn’t time to develop them. 

    Although this takes place in Sweden, and all of the first names and surnames are quite Swedish, it comes across as pretty American. I enjoyed the story and didn’t guess the ending. If you read a lot and enjoy a good slasher film, you should pick this one up!

    Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. Book to be published June 10, 2025. Just in time for wedding season.

  • if i told you, i’d have to kiss you by mae marvel

    What a fun premise- just like Mr. and Ms. Smith or The Incredibles, but this is a queer romance, Ms and Ms Smith. Yardley and KC are breaking up and moving out, although they both clearly still love each other. They both work for the same company as secret spies, but don’t know it about each other. They work together and realize they don’t know each other at all, although they very much love each other. Professionally known as Tabasco and The Unicorn, they are the best in their fields.

    The biggest issue is that they are spies and really should have known each other’s secret identity, it didn’t make a lot of sense that they were both excellent and well regarded and didn’t know they were living with a spy fluent in so many foreign languages. I wish there was a bit more build up of the romance, the spy parts were fun, not silly. I do like some of the “Mae Marvel” books but this was not my favorite, I found it to be a bit disjointed. But it was a good story and setting.

    Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s press for the ARC. Book to be published June 10, 2025.

  • the dogs of venice by stephen rowley

    I was given an ARC of this novella in exchange for an honest review, thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam. A sweet yet sad redemptive story, this is a character study of a man who goes on a romantic Christmas trip solo to Venice. His husband asked for a divorce and he was in denial, but decided to go on his own. Paul seems like a lost soul, and he does a lot of soul searching and seeking connection on his trip.

    Obviously this is a shorter story, I can’t help but want to know more about Paul. It is almost a creative writing challenge to tell a story in this short of a format. It has sweet dialogue and I found Paul to be relatable. Although he is heartbroken, he is not pathetic and grows over time.

    If you have the chance to read this, it is worth the hour it will take to read.

  • the next chapter

    How cute is this cover! The Next Chapter is a double-entendre. It is the name of the bookstore where Jude works, and where she meets Kat. Kat is a former teen actor looking to find the next chapter of her career, to be seen as a Serious Adult Actress by being cast in a theatre production and get over her somewhat troubled career. Kat’s manager is fine with her coming out, and thinks it might help her career and wants to put together a fake relationship. Kat convinces her to “sell” a regular person so that she can go after what her heart wants, which is to make a connection with Jude, where there is a real spark. Soon they are in a relationship, and they go public which is a big adjustment for Jude, who has always led a quiet life. Kat has to come to terms with troubled friendships and relationships in her past and reconcile with who she wants to be.

    This was a fun setting and a good plot- reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail, a celeb and a regular person, younger age couple, overcoming your past. Figuring out what is next. I loved the side characters of the coworkers in the bookstore and even the new owner of the bookstore who we love-to-hate. I didn’t feel as much of a spark as I like to in a rom com, but the characters were pretty well developed. They were both pretty insecure, which made sense based on their age and position in life. I like more of a build up to the relationship. There is some spice, and you will note a TW for eating disorders, but I didn’t think that was too bad. I really hate a 3rd act breakup, it is one of my least favorite tropes, I feel like this is a cheap way to make the grand romantic gesture the feature of your ending scenes. LOVED the epilogue.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press/Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own. Book to be published June 10, 2025.

  • I think they love you by julian winters

    Denz Carter is a part of a successful family enterprise, 24 Carter Magic, and his dad is getting ready to retire. But who will he choose as his successor? Denz is a moderately successful influencer on his own, @notthatdenzel, and the setting is high end Atlanta. Denz’s ex-boyfriend Braylon is the one that got away, in college they fell in love but Bray chose to move to London and did not invite Denz to move with him. Now, years later, he has a chance meeting with Bray that led to a mutually beneficial situation of fake dating- Bray is using Denz to get a better relationship and connection to the mayor, and Denz will use Bray to look more settled in life and more likely to be named as his father’s successor. 

    This is a good and typical romance, high spice level from an adult debut, with many typical tropes that are loved; second chance romance, fake dating, one bed. I was gifted the audiobook version in exchange for an honest review. For me this didn’t work as well on audio, the pacing didn’t lend itself well to it. When the book is published I will re-read the paperback. I didn’t find the spark between the characters like I usually do and the plot itself sort of fell flat. I did love the set up and the premise, and the side characters really stole the show, some of the side characters had some really funny lines. And what beautiful cover art! 

    Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published January 28, 2025.

  • the in-between bookstore by edward underhill

    4.5 stars rounded up
    Time travel queer romance- although Darby the main character is turning 30, this reads like more of a YA romance, which is sweet and follows along with the main theme. And all of us can relate to this concept– what would you say to your younger self if you could? Would your younger self recognize you? How would it change you now to be reunited with your younger self?

    Darby is a trans man living in NYC with a vibrant community of friends, although he worked for a start up that has gone belly up. Darby is originally from a small town in the midwest, and his mom called to let him know she is moving, so Darby is going to visit…. and maybe stay… in the same small town he grew up in. His one time friend and crush Michael still lives there and goes to all the football games, in fact, a lot of the people Darby grew up with are still there. And can you go home again? The age old question?

    I don’t want to give away any spoilers here, but Darby does experience a split in the space time continuum to be able to visit the bookstore where he worked as a teen, and is able to access the bookstore and his younger self in 2009, when he still thought he was a girl, albeit a broken one. Darby didn’t change his name when he transitioned, which eliminates any literary issues of how to address his younger self without deadnaming him.

    Has anyone given this book to Hollywood producers yet, and obviously Elliot Page can please play Darby?

    Darby is insecure and a realistic and likable lead. Michael is a compelling love interest. But Olivia and all of Darby’s friends (as his mom says, “your gay friends” and Darby says “all my friends are gay, mom.) (lol) are fantastic minor characters.

    I like time travel and time slip romances quite a bit, it was nice to have a trans character, nice to see a “back in my hometown” romance and I don’t want to give away the ending, but it ends differently than it usually does at Hallmark. The ending was not what I expected and I had to sit with it for a few days to realize that I loved it.

    Highly recommend for fans of Casey McQuiston and Ashley Poston. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Harper Vorager for the ARC. Book to be released January 14, 2025.

  • my best friend’s honeymoon by meryl wilsner

    What a fun and romantic story! Elsie’s fiancé Derrick has a surprise for her. After nearly 2 years of an engagement in which Elsie hated doing any wedding planning, he has a wedding and honeymoon completely planned- he already sent out the invitations. Elsie’s best friend Ginny has carried a torch for Elsie since sophomore year. They asked her to the dance, and Elsie declined, because she just couldn’t lose them as a friend. And since the honeymoon was completely paid for and all inclusive, Derrick suggests that Elsie ask Ginny to come on the honeymoon with her. And sparks fly! But what will happen when the honeymoon is over?

    Ginny hates their job but they love woodworking and remodeling. Elsie loves working at her family’s hardware store, but she wants her family to listen to her ideas about rebranding. 

    This book is pretty delightful and really nails the experience, the pressure and uncertainty about being 23. Your parents have expectations of you and you want a different life. I love that Derrick isn’t a one-dimensional villain- the jilted fiancé actually seems like a pretty good guy. Not the smartest guy, but he just wants something different than Elsie does. I appreciate how much the author invests time in minor characters, this really pays off in understanding Elsie and Ginny. The way that the best-friend-shared-language continues after coupling makes the reader really root for Elsie and Ginny to admit their feelings and become official. 

    If you have been following my reviews for awhile, you know that I am not a fan of the super spicy/steamy scenes- that just isn’t for me. And this book – while it includes all of the romance- it also includes a lot of the SPICE- so there were a few scenes that I skipped past … but you may really enjoy them!

    ~best friends-to-lovers
    ~one bed
    ~forced proximity
    ~third act breakup
    ~multi-dimensional minor characters

    Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published April 29, 2025.

  • leaving the station by jake maia arlow

    A wonderful queer romcom that tackles some deep content while also being descriptive, sweet and relatable. Sure to be one of the top sapphic romances of 2025.

    Zoe is escaping from their first semester in New York, they are figuring out if pre-med is right for them. In fact, they’re figuring out a lot of stuff. Zoe has a great group of friends from freshman orientation, but soon becomes interested in Alden, another college student that they love hanging out with.

    The narrative is dual-linear, meaning we are following both Zoe’s experiences on a cross country train ride from New York to Seattle, as well as Zoe’s experiences in their first college semester up until fall break. The experiences on the train are well crafted, character-driven, and nuanced. There is a strong theme of train travel and how the characters of Zoe and Oakley evolve and grow as they are on the journey. There is something so romantic about train travel- and everyone on the train has a story as to why they have chosen that transportation method and how they are experiencing the trip.

    The narratives following Zoe in college, while starting only 3 months apart, show us that Zoe has learned more about themselves in the experience. The train gives us a side character of Aya, a 9 year old traveling with her mom, she is precocious, sweet, and very realistic.

    Jake Maia Arlow writes young people very well, they are bright, clever, and insecure while being confident. It is the ultimate contradiction of teenagers, they simultaneously view themselves as both inferior to and superior to others. Some YA romantic fiction really misses the mark on an 18 year old, their inner dialogue sounds like a much younger child. That is certainly not the case here, and it is a breath of fresh air. I absolutely loved this book. It’s so smart.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published August 19, 2025.