Happy Monday. I hope my readers had a good weekend. and that everyone else is getting to relax as well. June here and we are coming up on one of my favorite reading months. June is LGBTQ Pride month as most people know. But even though some would count reading LGBTQ books as diverse enough. I like to add a variety of representation
Orientation Representation
I’m trying to read something from each of the different orientations in the LGBTQ acronym. While I know this is not an exhaustive list of all orientations I want to hit at least the most common ones
Lesbian
I’m focusing on two books primarily for my lesbian representation the first is Hijabi Butch Blues. I’m picking this out for several reasons. One is the fact that it is considered a classic of queer literature. Two is that it is written by a person of color. And three is that its a memoir and I don’t read many of those.
The book follows a queer Muslim girl who is coming of age and dealing with issues. She finds strength and guidance through the Quran.
The book has won countless awards and praise including the Stonewall Book Award. As well being a Lambda Literary Award Finalist.
About the Author
Lamya H is a former Lambda Literary Fellow whose writing has appeared in Vice, Salon, Vox, Black Girl Dangerous, Autostraddle, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. She currently lives in New York with her partner.
Another book with central lesbian characters that I’m reading is, Something Spectacular by Alexis Hall. I love Hall’s work in other pieces especially A Lady for the Duke so I’m looking forward to reading this book as well
Something Spectacular is part of the Something Fabulous series that deal with a gay duke and his family. This book specifically I believe deals with his sister. It also deals with being gender nonconforming so its generally just a good pick for pride.
These are also set in what looks like to be the regency period.
About the Author
Alexis Hall is determined to marry into money, as his grandfather drank half the family fortune and gambled the rest. He lives in a tumbledown mansion in a fictional county, and his valet doesn’t even have a humorous name.
Gay
Another book I want to check out this month is I Can’t Even Think Straight. One reason I want to try it is I absolutely love the saying. I have been saying it about myself since I first came out. It is also written by another wonderful BIPOC author most famous for writing The Black Flamingo Dean Atta.
About the Author
Dean was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize for his debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger. His poems have been anthologised by Bad Betty Press, Emma Press, Stripes Publishing, Team Angelica and have appeared on BBC One, BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and Channel 4. Dean was named as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK by the Independent.
Trans
Another book I want to check out this month is They Were Roommates. The book is by DC Emerson and is available on Kindle Unlimted.
This book focuses on Frankie and Diego as they move from enemies to lovers. The two work with the challenges of becoming business partners and maybe finding love. This book also has excellent trans and demi representation and I’m looking forward to reading it.
About the Author
D. C. Emerson is an avid board gamer and rock climber who lives on the East Coast of the United States but loves to travel to places near and far as often as she can. D. C. has always identified as queer, but during the pandemic they finally discovered they were nonbinary and came out to family and friends. This book series was part of that process, and they’ve loved exploring different genderqueer identities like their own through their writing, reading, research, and countless hours watching reels and videos on social
I’m going with another Stonewall Award Book for this next pick. This book is about teenager Felix Love. He’s never been in love and desperately wants to be, this pick tackles relationships and identity.
Felix feels that he might be one marginalization too many. Being that he is Black, Queer and Transgender. He worries that no one would want to be involved with him. But the book takes him on some surprising twists and turns that end in a love triangle. Leaving Felix in a situation he never expected.
I’m also reading this book because I’ve wanted to pick up Kacen Calander’s work for awhile. They are another BIPOC author who is most famous for this book and another called Hurricane Child.
About the Author
Kacen Callender is a Saint Thomian author of children’s fiction and fantasy, best known for their Stonewall Book Award and Lambda Literary Award—winning middle grade debut Hurricane Child.
Polyamory
As I am polyamorous I like to include books with those dynamics. For this month I have two. The first is Triple Sec, this book has been really popular recently. It features three female leads.
One of whom is a bartender who starts to spend time with a couple in an open marriage. What starts as a fun romp turns into a serious relationship. Protagonists much explore some of their issues.
About the Author
TJ Alexander is an amateur baker and author who writes about queer love. Originally from Florida, they received their MA in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston. They live in New York City with their wife and various houseplants.
The second poly book that I’m reading is from Sloan Spencer. It is called Every Move You Make. It has gained a lot of popularity in the bookstagram romance community.
This book is part of the Rugby Romance series. It features a professional rugby player who Isaiah has had a crush on a professional female rugby player Robyn since college.Their stars never seem to align.
Turns out they are in for a treat when her charming personal trainer Dell offers to be her flirt coach to land her crush. And the three of them learn that perhaps Dell was the missing piece to make their relationship work all along.
About the Author
Sloan Spencer lives in metro Detroit with her husband, kids, and dogs. She loves nature, scandalous stories, and thick thighs.
In Conclusion
I hope I gave you some ideas on different books for Pride Month. This list is a little ambitious for me when it comes to number of books. But I’m hoping I at least get through three or four of them. I’m going to really put my head down next month and try to do more reading.
Do you celebrate Pride Month? If so what are you reading and do you have any suggestions for me?
Happy Reading
Solara
Photo by James Wheeler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-field-under-rainbow-and-cloudy-skies-at-dayime-1542495/
Rose's Book Garden 