Iron Widow Iron Widow #1 by Xiran Jay Zhao Dystopian Fantasy LGBTQ+ Romance Science Fiction Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) 18-year-old Zetian’s sister has just been killed during one of the fights against the plague of aliens that lurk outside the Great Wall. Her sister, like many others, was a concubine to a male mech pilot and her consciousness was sacrificed for the sake of the male pilot. Zetian vows to seek … Read more
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Historical Fiction LGBTQ+ Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Aristotle Mendoza is angry. At 15 years old, his older brother’s in prison, his father seems a million miles away, and he wakes up every morning hoping the world will be different. Then one day he meets Dante. In Ari’s head, Dante’s a kid who’s his exact opposite. Ari … Read more
One True Way Shannon Hitchcock Historical Fiction (1977) LGBTQ Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) When Allie Drake and her mom move from New Jersey to North Carolina, Allie makes a friend – Sam – at her new middle school almost immediately. Sam introduces her to all the other kids, facilitates her getting onto the newspaper staff (Allie Drake, Staff Reporter!), and promises to teach her how to ride her horse. They quickly … Read more
A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson LGBTQ+ Mystery Romance Science Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) Noa wakes up in space – literally in a spacesuit floating outside a spaceship. He has no idea how he got there. At least he isn’t alone. DJ reaches out to him from the ship with some rather unfortunate news – the ship may explode if they don’t do something to … Read more
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Adventure Fantasy LGBTQ+ Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The story follows a 40-year-old man named Linus Baker, who works at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth evaluating the well-being of children kept in orphanages authorized by the government. One day Linus is tasked with a new highly classified assignment: to journey to Marsyas Island orphanage and supervise 6 mysterious and … Read more
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Sunny St. James is ready to start her life as the New Sunny after receiving a heart transplant and meeting her estranged birth mother after 8 years of separation. She’s also on a mission to find a new best friend and a boy (definitely a boy) to kiss. It’s a lot for one girl over … Read more
Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure Lewis Hancox Autobiography Biography Graphic Novel * * * * Stars (Great!) Lewis Hancox looks back on (visits) his younger self, Lois, who felt awkward and wrong in her body until she realized that she was actually he/him, Lewis. This follows his story into young adulthood (through middle and high school and a bit beyond) with all of the usual teen angst PLUS a really rocky journey … Read more
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Young Adult Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) When Marin’s grandfather passed away and she learned some uncomfortable truths about secrets he had been hiding from her, she immediately cut ties and left her old life, friends, and relationships behind. She spent the week before her college classes officially started living in a motel room and thinking and simultaneously trying not to think about what … Read more
Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) When Annabelle returns for her final year at school (6th grade) there are two surprises waiting for her. The first is a new teacher who is interested in students’ input to create their social studies curriculum for the year. The second is a new student – Bailey – who uses they/them pronouns and helps Annabelle learn more about … Read more
Heartstopper #3 by Alice Oseman Graphic Novel LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Romance Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The evolution of the relationship between Charlie and Nick and how they navigate being part of the LGBTQ+ community. This book has great illustrations and an amazing plot! For older teens and adults.