This book feels like a teen holiday romcom movie in book form—if those movies ever starred queer Black main characters. We switch between two points of view: Dominique, who took off to New York City to chase his influencer dreams; and Andy, his cousin, who stayed in their hometown and is pursuing her career goalRead More
A Queer Coming-of-Age Story Told From the Margins (Literally): The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker Review
I tend to take a traditional approach to fiction. I learned the three elements of a story—plot, setting, character—pretty early, and it stuck because is made sense. The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker is an exception. Before genre or protagonist, above theme or prose, this book’s most remarkable feature is its format. It’s a tale told inRead More
A Rabble-Rousing Girl Reporter: Renegade Girls by Nora Neus Review
Renegade Girls tells the story of Nell, a girl from Chicago who spends summers with her aunt and uncle in New York. This year, at 17, Nell is eligible to marry… and more importantly, she’s working as a reporter! The story explores life as a late-nineteenth-century “stunt girl”, an undercover reporter, alongside a sweet story ofRead More
A YA Soulmark Fantasy: Markless by C.G. Malburi Review
C.G. Malburi has spent years writing for the sapphic community, although you may know her better by her fandom alias, CoalitionGirl. For those who do know her, it’ll be no surprise that Malburi’s debut fantasy novel gives readers exactly what they’re looking for. Markless (2023) blends some of the most well-loved romance tropes: soulmates, enemiesRead More
The Redemption of Daya Keane by Gia Gordon Review
This book is so delightfully, perfectly messy. Titular character Daya lives in a small, conservative town in Arizona, surrounded by small-minded, conservative classmates and a small-minded, conservative mom. It’s a tough place to be queer. When Daya begins a friendship that turns to something more with megachurch poster-girl Beckett Wild, she might be making moreRead More
A Gentle Queer Awakening: Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
Racquel Marie’s Ophelia After All follows high school senior Ophelia Rojas, a boy-crazy rose gardener. With prom and the end of high school swiftly approaching, Ophelia is reluctant to let anything else change, least of all her understanding of who she has always thought she is, but when she finds herself crushing on her classmate Talia Sanchez,Read More
Zombies, OCD, and Finding Good Where You Can: If We Survive This by Racquel Marie Review
Racquel Marie’s If We Survive This is in some ways a familiar story. Set in an alternate present where rabies has mutated into what is ultimately a zombie-fying disease, society has collapsed into an apocalyptic wasteland. Following the disappearance of their father, Flora and her brother, Cain, decide to follow him up to the cabin they vacationedRead More
Thou Shall Read This Book: The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes Review
This month, I was scrolling through my Kindle trying to figure out which book I should review when I came across The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes (they/them). In the past, I had overlooked it because I had the preconceived notion that it might be too “on the nose” or stereotypical. Let me beRead More
Falling in Love in a Historic Theater: If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal Review
When I read YA, particularly contemporary YA and most especially sapphic contemporary YA, I always approach it from the perspective of my sixteen-year-old self. If this book had existed when I was a teenager, what would I have thought of it? Zakiya N. Jamal’s If We Were a Movie would have caught my attention right from the Hannah MontanaRead More
A Beguiling and Mysterious Fantasy: Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell Review
Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell describes itself thus: A mesmerizing daydream with a subtle edge of darkness that will leave you utterly unable to put it down, Where Shadows Bloom pits terrifying monsters, chilling secrets, capricious gods, immortal kings, and death itself against the unstoppable love between two girls. Sadly, I found this set my expectations tooRead More
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