This week, I came across a fantastic cause — Lambda Literary, which promotes queer literature. Typically, the month of June, bring Pride Month, is HUGE for this organization, as contests and live-events are held. However due to Covid-19, this year will look extremely different, and Lambda is relying on online interest and aid. I posted a link to my Instagram story about how to help support this year (as well as a list of LGBTQIA+-owned bookstores) — and got lots of interest on a list of books to read this month that are Pride themed.
So here is my list — my favorites, my “currently reading”s, and my TBRs (to be read)… along with some new releases for this summer. My book taste leans towards “light reads”, because I like to use reading as an escape, so believe me… I know this list is NOT exhaustive, and there are many extremely important books to LGBTQIA+ culture, history, and identity that are missing from this list. This is much more for fun rather than education. I’m also an ally, and don’t identify as queer, so I could never ever pretend to be an expert.
But for my friends looking for a place to start, let’s read and have some great conversations. Give me your feedback — let’s all add to the list together!
If you’re going to purchase any of the below, I’d encourage you to look into independent bookstores (especially those with LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC owners), rather than Amazon. I’ve been buying lots from Bookshop.org (which raises funds for local bookstores — and has specific bookshelves featuring more LGBTQIA+ recos) and AbeBooks (which specializes in Used books).
What I’ll Be Reading This Pride Month:
Well this is a lot so… wish me luck…
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- The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennet: “A powerful story that confronts race and sexual identity in the 1960s as two sisters lead very different life paths.” I ordered this from Book of the Month Club (highly recommend if you don’t use it, message me for more info!), and am excited to jump in!
- Love Lives Here by Amanda Jette Knox: “An inspirational story of accepting and embracing two trans people in a family–a family who shows what’s possible when you “lead with love.” I hadn’t heard of this one (it’s a new pub), but one of my book clubs chose it for June… plus this will pull double duty for me this month as my monthly non-fiction read
- Less by Andrew Sean Greer: My friend Merrill Kaye said it’s “A perfect version of Eat Pray Love […] that follows Arthur Less around the world as he tries to forget an old boyfriend.” It won the Pulitzer in 2018, and has been sitting on my shelf. Time to get to it!
- Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonn: The (fake) POTUS’ son falls into a relationship with the Prince of England. This one’s a re-read for me, but was chosen by another book club, so I’m really excited to revisit — it was one of my favorite books of last year!
Read & Loved Them:
These all have varying degrees of LGBTQIA+ storylines (from main plot, to secondary characters), but are books the I legitimately recommend!!
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- The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reade: “The novel tells the story of the fictional Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, who at the age of 79 decides to give a final interview to an unknown journalist”. This one taught me a lot about different types of relationships, which can bring us different types of love throughout our lives.
- The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan: This one’s basically the story of William and Kate… if Kate were an American, and with a few added storylines to make it exciting. I love a good chick-lit novel, and this was my entry into the “Royal Chick-Lit” subgenre. I read it once a year at a minimum… highly recommend.
- I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson: Another story of twins that grow apart — this one told in alternating timelines and alternating POVs. I read this one a few years ago, and want to get back to it again this year at some point, and listen to the Bad on Paper Podcast episode on it.
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle: Nonfiction — “How one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live.” Glennon Doyle writes about how accepting love with a woman helped her become a better parent and person. This is one that I bookmarked as I went, and will go back to for years and years!
Books I Haven’t Read, but Heard Good Things About
I follow a million bookstagrammers, and these are books that come up often, but I haven’t gotten to yet!
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- When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri: Katie begins the story engaged to a man, and throughout the novel finds sexuality, pleasure, and love where she least expects it. This one does have mixed reviews on Goodreads (so caveat emptor), but the people I know who have read it really enjoyed!
- All Adults Here by Emma Straub: I’ve heard this one isn’t much about plot, but is about the small things from childhood that affect our adult lives. Emma, the author, owns Books Are Magic, in Brooklyn, so if you can order from there — added bonus!!
Coming Out This Summer
Love a new release!!
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- Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner (available May 26th): “A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor.”
- Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert (available June 2nd): Two rivals are thrown together when they travel across the country for a fan convention. PRIDE + CON VIBES? We love.
- Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (available July 7th): Former playboy hires a date for a big event — I’m guessing this will be the classic “fake dating that turns into true love” troupe, but I’m here for it. Especially since it takes place in London.
kADthryn 