Happy Jewish American Heritage Month! There seem to be more Jewish queer books, especially YA, coming out this year than I’ve seen before, which is great to see. I have a few recommendations for you today, with a link to even more to add to your TBR.
Today, I wanted to highlight the Trans Lifeline, a crisis hotline for trans people that also gives microgrants to help trans people change legal documentation to reflect their gender. You can find out more at their website, and you can help out at their donation page.
Check out Book Riot’s newest podcast! BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O’Neal explores the wide bookish world. Interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. Subscribe to First Edition on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcatcher of choice.
Bookish Goods
Leslie Feinberg Art Portrait Print by BlakeChamberlain
For Jewish American Heritage Month, let’s celebrate a groundbreaking queer Jewish American author: Leslie Feinberg. If you haven’t read hir books, get on that! You can get Stone Butch Blues for free on hir website. But if you already know and love hir work, here is a gorgeous print. $25 for a 8″ x 10″ print, $30 for a 12″ x 16″ print.
New Releases
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (Bisexual Fantasy)
First of all, a moment for the cover. Then, imagine How to Train Your Dragon, but Indigenous and bisexual. When 15-year-old Anequs finds a dragon egg and bonds with the baby dragon, her people celebrate: it’s been generations since one has been seen on the island. Now she has to go to an Anglish dragon school on the mainland to learn how to raise him, but she won’t assimilate: “Anequs and her dragon may be coming of age, but they’re also coming to power, and that brings an important realization: the world needs changing — and they might just be the ones to do it.”
Our Hideous Progeny by C. E. McGill (Queer Frankenstein Retelling)
When Mary discovers the papers of her great-uncle Victor Frankenstein, they reveal a way to secure her and her husband’s future. As they chase this lead across the Scottish wilds, Mary will meet (and possibly fall for) her husband’s sister — and a rival will threaten not only their goal, but their lives.
The Batter’s Box by Casey Morales and Carlie Slattery (M/M Sports Romance)
The Problem with Perfect by Philip William Stover (M/M Romance)
A Shadow Crown (The Halfling Saga #2) by Melissa Blair (Bisexual Fantasy)
A Second Story by J.A. Collignon (M/M Cozy Fantasy)
Twilight Out of Focus, Vol. 1 by Jyanome (Gay Manga)
Chasing After Aoi Koshiba, Vol. 4 by Hazuki Takeoka and Fly (F/F Manga)
I am the Most Dangerous Thing by Candace Williams (Queer Poetry)
Wild Dances: My Queer and Curious Journey to Eurovision by William Lee Adams (Queer Memoir)
Journal of a Black Queer Nurse by Britney Daniels (Lesbian Memoir)
The Boy Who Sat by the Window: The Story of the Queen of Soho by David Hodge (Gay Memoir)
Boyslut by Zachary Zane (Bisexual Memoir)
We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film by Tre’vell Anderson (Trans Nonfiction)
The LGBTQ + History Book (DK Big Ideas) by DK and Willow Heath (LGBTQ Nonfiction)
For more new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
May is Jewish American Heritage Month! So today I have a few queer Jewish American books for you to pick up.
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
The first thing you need to know is that this is a weird and uncomfortable read. It’s also a personal favorite. Rachel is 24, a “lapsed Jew who has made calorie restriction her religion.” When she meets Miriam, a fat Orthodox Jewish woman, she’s forced to confront everything she’s repressed about her desires. It’s a book that asks, What is your worst fear of your body? Isn’t that person worthy of love? I have a full review at the Lesbrary if you want all my thoughts on this one!
What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
This is a joint effort by two of the biggest names in queer YA. Arthur is a gay Jewish American teenager spending the summer in NYC. He has a post office meet cute with Ben, a gay Puerto Rican teenager fresh off a break up. But if they’re meant to be, why is it so hard for the two of them to actually get together?
Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler
This is a perfect summer read inspired by Grease. Lara has had a crush on Chase for years, and she finally has a shot with him. The only complication is when Jasmine walks through the school’s doors — the girl Lara had a perfect, confusing summer romance with: “But if she’s finally got the guy, why can’t she stop thinking about the girl?” Both Lara and Jasmine are Jewish.
For more, check out the LGBTQ Reads list for Jewish American Heritage Month!
All the Links Fit to Click
2023 Publishing Triangle Award Winners Announced
Quiz: Which Queer Short Story Collection Should You Read?
We’re Here, We Read: 15 Forthcoming Books on the LGBTQ Experience
She Drives Me Crazy Should Get a Shot at a Rom-Com Adaptation
5 LGBTQ+ BookTok hits that would make for perfect TV adaptations
Alice Oseman on Asexuality, Authentic Storytelling and Book Banning (Podcast)
Liv Little on her debut queer novel Rosewater and LGBTQ history
That’s it for me this week! Until next time, you can find me at my sapphic book blog the Lesbrary and (sigh) Twitter. You can also hear me on All the Books or you can read my Book Riot posts.
Happy reading!
Danika