One of the new releases today is a book I read for the All the Book podcast, and never have I picked up a book where my teen self felt more seen. A fat, queer, nerdy main character obsessed with roleplaying her favorite book series with a tight-knit group of online friends? It was a little too relatable.
Looking for a present for Valentines/Galentines/Queerentines? (Okay, I made that last one up, but it should be a thing.) Gift Tailored Book Recommendations. Your giftee will tell our professional book nerds about what they love and what they don’t, what they’re reading goals are, and what they need more of in their bookish life. Then, they sit back while our Bibliologists go to work selecting books just for them. TBR has plans for every budget. Surprise your bookish boo with Tailored Book Recommendations this Valentine’s and visit mytbr.co/gift.
Today I wanted to highlight Black Trans Advocacy, which advocates for health, housing, and employment equality for Black trans people. You can find out more about them on their website, and you can support them at their donation page.
Bookish Goods
June Jordan Art Print by PanAfricanGifts
June Jordan was a Black bisexual poet who was a contemporary of Audre Lorde. You can read her work in The Essential June Jordan, if you’re not familiar. I also have to point out this gorgeous Marsha P Johnson print from the same artist! $25+
New Releases
Out of Character by Jenna Miller (Sapphic YA Contemporary)
I talked about this on the All the Books podcast, if you want to hear my full thoughts, but suffice to say this was a painfully relatable read! Cass escapes her parents’ fighting by roleplaying her favorite book with friends online. When her mom leaves for a different state, Cass has trouble surfacing into the real world at all — even as she navigates having a new girlfriend.
Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk (Sapphic YA Contemporary) (Paperback Rerelease)
In case you missed it, this came out in April 2022 to a ton of praise, including five starred reviews, and it’s now available in paperback! It’s a story starring two Black teenage girls, and it examines “queer love, grief, and the complexity of female friendship.” These two characters love each other passionately and obsessively, leading to the fire that begins the novel. We then backtrack to see how they got there.
The Long Run by James Acker (M/M YA Contemporary)
Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson (Queer YA Dystopia) (Paperback Rerelease)
The Severed Thread (The Bone Spindle #2) by Leslie Vedder (Sapphic YA Fantasy)
No One Owns the Colors by Gianna Davy, illustrated by Brenda Rodriguez (Gender Creative Picture Book)
For more new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Since I picked two sapphic books to spotlight in new releases, I thought I’d spotlight a couple of M/M romances for Riot Recs. These are both by Black authors and have Black main characters. I feel like I’ve recommended Kosoko Jackson’s books a lot recently, but I’m So (Not) Over You would be another great pick here!
Busy Ain’t the Half of It by Frederick Smith and Chaz Lamar Cruz
This follows uncle and nephew Elijah and Justin. They’re both queer Black men who are having difficulty juggling their hectic lives and romance — Elijah is going through a rough patch with his boyfriend, Zaire, and Justin is tiptoeing into the dating scene as a single father with teenage twins. In alternating chapters, we follow them as they both invite more love into their lives. This promises to be a story that centers Black joy.
Learned Reactions by Jayce Ellis
This book is pulling at my heartstrings from the description alone. Carlton raised his nephew, and he’s just starting to get his life back after sending him off to college. But then his niece shows up in need of a home. One more catch: social services thinks a home with a couple is a better placement than a single person. So Carlton starts a fake relationship with his best friend, Deion, until the adoption is finalized. Meanwhile, Deion has been secretly in love with Carlton for years. This is about to get very complicated. (Also, that cover!! So sweet!)
All the Links Fit to Click
Maggie Millner’s Debut Novel-in-Verse Couplets Is Sweet, Sad, Sexy—And Undeniably Queer
Lamya H’s Debut Memoir Hijab Butch Blues Is a Testament to the Powers of Faith and Hope
That’s it for me this week! Until next time, you can find me at my sapphic book blog, the Lesbrary. You can also hear me on All the Books or you can read my Book Riot posts.
Happy reading!
Danika