Recommendations: Pride Reads

Hey all, Dani here.

My last LGBTQIAP+ recommendations post was a while ago, and with it being GLBT Book Month and celebrating Pride, I figured it was time for a more recent list of recommendations. Actually, I think pretty much all of the books on this list fall in the LGBT portion, so if you have recommendations for any of the other Pride letters, then let me know in the comments because I would love to check more out.

The Brightsiders by Jen Wilde. Within this book Emmy is bisexual, and Alfie is genderqueer, and there is also a character discovering that they are bisexual, as well as a character who uses they/them pronouns. Of course there’s lots of rock band drama, particularly when it comes to paparazzi situations. I devoured this book so quickly; it was another great and geeky contemporary story.

Furyborn by Claire Legrand. Main character Rielle could possibly be bi, and one of her best friends also expresses interest in both men and women, so I think this is a fantasy book I would recommend in here, though the romances definitely take a back seat to the magical trials and the connection between Rielle and Eliana.

Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines. I’ve always thought that Jim Hines does a great job with having great and relatable diverse characters. Also, honestly, I think with Science Fiction books, it is a bit easier to have normalcy for characters across the gender and sexuality spectrum. Which honestly is ridiculous, because it should just be normal in everything, but we aren’t quit there yet. Anyway, go read about the weirdo space janitors out to save the universe, because it is a rather entertaining story.

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan. I will still say that there is a trigger warning in this book for sexual assault, so be warned if that is something that might be damaging to you. Otherwise this was such a fascinating story, and I devoured it so quickly. Also I loved that the romance ended up being by two young women. In similarly styled stories there would be a romance between our main character and the cruel Demon King. The writing is lush and wonderfully descriptive, and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel’s release.

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett. This is another story where the romance isn’t the main focus of the story, but it definitely enhanced it. I liked watching as the characters came together and their connections and relationships got deeper, and it made the situation more intense and dire. Also, the magic system is so interesting. I love this story.

The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston. Another cute and geeky contemporary novel. I am such a sucker for geeky stories, and as this one takes place at a convention, I find that it fits the geek life that I know of, which is one more accepting of diverse lifestyles.

Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy. Wow, another sci-fi book in the list. And like the other sci-fi and fantasy books, it seems easier and more natural to have characters from across the Pride spectrum populating these stories. Oh, and this is a sci-fi with an Arthurian legend element to it, which is also interesting. If you wanted to see a female version of Arthur get together with Gwyn, then this is definitely the book you want to check out.

Seven Blades in Black by Sam Sykes. I’ve talked about this book a lot lately, so you all know that I love it. Sal’s relationship with Liette is awesome and complex, and I want more people to read it. So, go do that, lol.

Going Off Script by Jen Wilde (Review Coming Very Soon). I’m not going to say a whole lot on this one, because I still need to write my review, but this is another fun and geeky contemporary, and I am now basically trash for Jen Wilde’s books. I love that her previous characters make cameos in her newest releases, and I love how wonderful and passionate and supportive the Pride community (and fandom communities) in her books are.

—

All right, let me know what other Pride Reads should make it into a recommendations post, and I’ll add them to my TBR. That’s all for today, and I will be back soon with more bookish content.