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Buckle in, we’ve got lots of links to cover today! I’ve got some fun news and some infuriating news for you, so it’s a real mix. I hope all you readers facing a blizzard right now are weathering it okay. I’m currently tucked under a heated blanket right now, and there’s not even snow on the ground here, so I’m clearly too delicate for that kind of climate.
As for a charity to highlight today, let’s go straight to the story I referenced in the subject line: Mayor Withholds Library Funds Because of Queer Materials; You Can Help Raise It. They’re already above their goal, but still short of the total being withheld.
Read Harder: LGBTQ Edition
I love the Read Harder challenge, but you know what would make it better? If it was (even) gayer. That’s why I’m trying to see if I can give queer recommendations for every task. So far, I’m 6/6! Let’s get into the next tasks!
7) Read a romance where at least one of the protagonists is over 40.
Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan
Sure, there are some great queer romances with main characters in their 40s, but why not pick up a book with an age demographic that doesn’t often get a starring role in these series? This is a historical romance with a 73 year old main character and a 69 year old love interest, and they plot their revenge against Bertrice’s Terrible Nephew.
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner (October 11, 2022)
I know this doesn’t come out for a while, but it was impossible to answer this prompt without mentioning “the MILF book,” as TikTok and Twitter have dubbed it. When college senior Cassie goes to meet her best friend’s mom, Erin, during Family Weekend, she isn’t expecting to run into her steamy one night stand from last night. What’s worse is that none of that chemistry has abated, despite how much of a bad idea this is, which leads to the two of them sneaking around.
More recommendations:
Second Wind by Ceillie Simkiss
Bingo Love by Tee Franklin (Graphic Novel)
Permanent Ink (Art & Soul #1) by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn
8) Read a classic written by a POC.
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
This likely goes without saying, but Giovanni’s Room is a must-read for any queer book aficionado. Published in 1956, it follows David, a young American living in Paris. When his girlfriend leaves for Spain, he begins an affair with Giovanni, a man he met in a gay bar. James Baldwin is an incredibly influential author, and this is a great place to start with his work.
Two Virgins in the Attic by Nobuko Yoshiya
Nobuko Yoshiya, on the other hand, may be a name you’re not familiar with, but she is a fascinating historical figure. She wrote novels that would go on to inspire the Class S and shojo genres. In 1919, she wrote Two Virgins in the Attic, which was exceptional because the two girls not only were in a relationship in school (something that could be dismissed as childish/play-acting a relationship), but also stayed together after graduating. She wrote many stories about relationships between girls, and she was one of the most successful and widely read writers of her time. She lived with her partner for 50 years, legally adopted her so they could have the same rights as a couple. While sadly Two Virgins in the Attic isn’t available in English, one of her short stories, “Yellow Rose” is available as an ebook.
More recommendations:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez (a modern classic!)
Blackbird by Larry Duplechan
9) Read the book that’s been on your TBR the longest.
This one I don’t have to give any recommendations for. Just read the queer book that’s been on your TBR the longest! For my physical TBR, that’s embarrassingly quite a few books I’ve had for over ten years, including some Rita Mae Brown and Ann-Marie Macdonald titles that I’ve packed and unpacked through many moves… I’ll get to them any day now.
I’d love to hear which LGBTQ titles have been on your TBR the longest!
Make sure to get your own Read Harder Book Journal from Book Riot to track your reading for the year!
All the Links Fit to Click
- A parent who has been fighting to ban LGBTQ books for “sexual content” is facing multiple charges for child molestation.
- ReadOut: A Festival of Lesbian Literature is taking place on Zoom February 18th-20th.
- Here are 15 Inspiring Audre Lorde Quotes.
- This is an absolutely fascinating look at the surprising life of Margaret Wise Brown, author of Goodnight Moon.
- The new movie adaptation of The Color Purple (based on the musical, based on the book) will star Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery.
- The Temperature of Me and You adaptation is in the works at Disney+.
- The Killing Eve season 4 trailer is out (based on the Villanelle book series).
- The cover for Nona the Ninth has been revealed!
- Here’s how Sailor Moon was censored in the U.S., including making the lesbian couple cousins.
- Read these eight queer punk and counterculture books set in the 90s.
- Here are five queer stories that find humor in sad places.
- These sapphic fabulist books are also on sale.
- Morgan Thomas was interviewed about their genderqueer short story collection Manywhere.
LGBTQ Book Riot Posts
- LGBTQ+ Books Quietly Pulled From Washington State Middle School
- Mayor Withholds Library Funding Until All LGBTQ Books are Removed
- And the follow up: Mayor Withholds Library Funds Because of Queer Materials; You Can Help Raise It
- Students Called Radicals by Superintendent Fundraise for Freedom to Read
- A Plethora of Pride: 25+ LGBTQ Books for Teens
- Quiz: Which Sailor Moon Character Are You? (Okay, this isn’t entirely LGBTQ, but Sailor Uranus and Neptune have to count for something.)
- 8 of the Best Queer Space Opera Books
- 8 Don’t-Miss 2022 Queer Graphic Novels & Memoirs
- The Great Unrequited (Queer) Literary Crushes of the 1800s
- Who Was George Villiers, and Why is He in So Many Books? (“Here’s the short answer: George Villiers was an extremely messy likely bisexual in 17th century England who at minimum had love affairs with one English king (for real) and one French queen (probably only in fiction).”)
New Releases This Week
Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur (F/F Romance)
One of the most anticipated LGBTQ romances of the year, this is the newest book from the author of Written In the Stars. Olivia and Margot were childhood friends that fell in love, but Margot was the one who got away. That is, until divorced wedding planner Olivia runs into her during the planning of a wedding (she’s the Best Woman). And when Olivia is left without somewhere to stay, Margot offers up her place. There’s just one problem: Margot is anti-romance, a hookups-only girl. But that stance is becoming difficult to maintain…
Real Hero Shit by Kendra Wells (Bisexual Fantasy Graphic Novel)
I’ve recently become obsessed with Critical Role, a Dungeons & Dragons actual play YouTube show. So when I saw this graphic novel, I had to pick it up. This is exactly the kind of silly adventure story that I love in D&D-inspired narratives, and this one has a queer cast as a bonus (as all D&D campaigns should, really). The main character is a spoiled rake of a prince (who’s bisexual) that decides to randomly join an adventuring party. There are also nonbinary and gay side characters.
Don’t Cry for Me by Daniel Black (Gay Fiction)
Getting Clean with Stevie Green by Swan Huntley (Questioning/Lesbian Fiction)
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The Lighthouse by Fran Dorricott (Lesbian Thriller)
Her Royal Happiness by Lola Keeley (F/F Romance)
The Raven and the Banshee by Carolyn Elizabeth (F/F Historical Adventure Romance)
Luck Lines by Quinn Tollens (F/F Fantasy Romance)
Tracking Trouble by Aldrea Alien (Pansexual Dark Fantasy)
The Wall by Sarah Jane Singer (Bisexual Fantasy)
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Malice by Heather Walter (Sapphic Fantasy) (Paperback Rerelease)
Azura Ghost (The Graven #2) by Essa Hansen (Asexual and Bi, Queernorm World Sci Fi)
Crema by Johnnie Christmas and Dante Luiz (F/F Fantasy Graphic Novel)
I’m in Love with the Villainess, Vol. 2 by Inori and Aonoshimo (Yuri Manga)
Hello, Melancholic! Vol. 1 by Yayoi Ohsawa (Yuri Manga)
5 Seconds Before a Witch Falls in Love by Zeniko Sumiya (F/F Fantasy Light Novel)
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Murder of Crows by K. Ancrum (Queer YA Mystery)
Forget This Ever Happened by Cassandra Rose Clarke (Sapphic YA Horror) (Paperback Rerelease)
Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor (Demiromantic Bisexual YA Fantasy)
Magical Boy, Vol. 1 by The Kao (Trans Guy YA Fantasy Graphic Novel)
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms by Jamar J. Perry (Gay Middle Grade Fantasy)
The Visitors by Greg Howard (Gay Middle Grade Ghost Story)
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Stepmotherland by Darrel Alejandro Holnes (Queer Poetry)
The Great Good Time by Roz Kaveney (Trans Poetry)
Broken Halves of a Milky Sun by Aaiún Nin (Queer Poetry)
Black Love Matters: Real Talk on Romance, Being Seen, and Happily Ever Afters by Book Rioter Jessica P. Pryde (Anthology Including Queer Essays)
Release the Beast: A Drag Queen’s Guide to Life by Bimini Bon Boulash and Jules Scheele (Nonfiction)
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
That’s it for me this week! Until next time, you can find me at my bi and lesbian book blog, the Lesbrary, as well as on Twitter @danikaellis. You can also hear me on All the Books or you can read my Book Riot posts.
Happy reading!
Danika