We’re approaching the end of the year now, which makes this month’s book of the month the final 2021 release we’ll be highlighting. And it’s one you won’t want to miss out on, that’s for sure. If you like the same kind of vibes as Back to the Future has, then this book is for you.
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Book Releases: November 2021
If you thought that the releases were slowing down as the year comes to a close, you would be wrong because today I have for you, 138 more releases for November! Okay, so I went through a few more lists with the intention of just double-checking that all the dates were right after a series of delays, and came out with… oh, just another 50 books. But hey! That just gives you another 138 books to look forward to in 2021!
As ever, you can find all our previous releases posts here and the rainbow emoji indicates an author who id’s as LGBT.
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Book Reviews: Comics to Cap Off Your Spooky Season
October is drawing to a close now and we’re approaching Halloween itself. And, since there are three days left in the month (and only two more months in the rest of the year), perhaps you’re starting to think about how best to complete your Goodreads challenge. Fret not! Because today, we come bearing comic recs.
So if you’re looking for the perfect short read to cap off your spooky season, Boom! Studios has you covered! Check these four out and let us know what you think!
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Book Releases: Twitter’s Anticipated Releases, Or A Look at What 2022 Has in Store
In my humble opinion, today’s post is the most exciting post we have this month. A while ago on twitter (a while because I got impatient and didn’t want to wait), we asked the question: what are your most anticipated 2022 LGBT releases. And, lo and behold, here they are, all in a post, so you can get excited about what’s to come! (And obviously, get a few preorders in, since we are hitting somewhat of a crisis.)
We also did this last year, if you remember, so you can check that out, and see how much the list has grown (66 books on that post—but 2 delayed—vs. 120 on this), and also have a look to see how many you’ve read!
Finally, a little key (bearing in mind that it’s a little hard to confirm rep so far out & some we think might be gay, but only based on an author’s previous output):
🧡 = sapphic rep
💛 = achillean rep
💙 = trans or nonbinary rep
💚 = other or unknown rep -
Book Recs: LGBT Retellings
There are already 3 posts about LGBT retellings on the blog: for fairy tales, for mythology and for classic books. They’re all a few years old, though, so it was a high time for an update. So I asked on twitter what kind of retellings y’all would want to see the most and the answer was “a little bit of everything”
And that’s exactly what I’m bringing you today. I divided my recs into four categories, for ease of browsing. There is, of course, some overlap, because books aren’t always clean cut & they might fit into more than one category, but there needs to be some kind of logic to the chaos. So let’s go! Choose what you’re interested in the most (or simply browse all the recs):
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Book Recs: Get Your Spook On
It’s October, it’s autumn, it’s spooky season, so what better rec list today than a BUMPER rec list of books to read when you want to feel extra spooky! You can even pick your reads based on the emojis below, depending on what you feel like. It’s a win-win situation, I’m sure.
And if you want yet more recs, here’s the list I made last year.
Pick your spooky season emoji of choice!
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Book Recs: Adult Fantasy (II)
By happy coincidence (or not, you decide), our rec list today comes on the heels of some twitter discourse stemming from an opinion that is—how to put this politely—really fucking stupid. And because of that opinion, in addition to making sure that each of these books is gay, today I’ve challenged* myself to not include a single cis white man!
*It’s not really a challenge.
You can also find part one of this list here. And, handily, you can find a massive thread of recs here!
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Book Recs: LGBT Sports Lit
I think we can all agree that books including sports in any way, be it a romance between two teammates or the main character running marathons, just somehow hit harder. Sometimes they’re truly all you need in life! Which is why I’m here with ten sports books.
Anyway, I hope no one is surprised that more than half of this list are YA books…
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Book Releases: 2021 Middle Grade & Picture Books
Today’s post is a new addition to our myriad of releases posts! If you’re looking for books for age groups younger than young adult, perhaps even for small children, then trust me, this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. A round-up of all the middle grade and picture book releases of 2021! It’s a little delayed, it’s true, partly because we decided to do this post on a whim, but it’s here! And there’s so many exciting books on offer!
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ARC Review: Payback’s a Witch
Today’s post is part of a blog blast to celebrate the release of Lana Harper’s John Tucker Must Die inspired fantasy romcom, Payback’s a Witch. Also known as the most perfect read for spooky season. And you can read it right away, there’s no need to wait! But if you’re not quite convinced yet, let us help you with that…
And don’t forget to follow Lana on twitter too!
Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one—in part because she hasn’t been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.
But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She’s determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago.
On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov—an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts—who is fresh off a bad breakup . . . with Gareth Blackmoore. Talia had let herself be charmed, only to discover that Gareth was also seeing Linden—unbeknownst to either of them. And now she and Linden want revenge. Only one question stands: Is Emmy in?
But most concerning of all: Why can’t she stop thinking about the terrifyingly competent, devastatingly gorgeous, wickedly charming Talia Avramov?
Payback’s a Witch
Lana Harper
Rep: bi mc, Russian American bi li
Release: 5th October 2021 -
Book of the Month: Tidesong
Another month, another book of the month. October’s selection is a book both me and Anna are looking forward to, the kind of book that seems as though it’ll feel like a big warm hug. And, really, aren’t we all searching for a book like that deep down?
Related: Don’t forget all releases can be found in our monthly lists here.
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Book Releases: October 2021
We’re nearing the end of the year, which means it’s probably the last post this long. Over 100 LGBT books, my guys! Remember to preorder whatever you want to read, given the current publishing situation, too.
Anyway, my apologies in advance if any books are wrongly categorised – let me know & I can fix it. And as per usual, you can find all our previous releases posts here & the rainbow emoji indicates an author who id’s as LGBT.
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Book Recs: Books for fans of Mary Oliver’s poetry
It’s a companion post of sorts to one of my previous rec lists, where I recommended people books based on their favourite Richard Siken quotes. This time the quotes are lesbian, though.
The idea is very simple: I asked our followers on twitter to choose their most beloved quote by Mary Oliver (which isn’t easy, I know!) & then tried to figure out what book does it remind me of. Sometimes based on vibes alone, sometimes based more on the plot. So let’s go.
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ARC Review: The City Beautiful
If you’re on a lookout for a spooky read with the autumn fast approaching, look no further! Just let us tell you why you should absolutely be reading The City Beautiful, for all your gothic needs.
And remember, we actually talked with Aden Polydoros a few days ago!
So have fun, and get scared!
Death lurks around every corner in this unforgettable Jewish historical fantasy about a city, a boy, and the shadows of the past that bind them both together.
Chicago, 1893. For Alter Rosen, this is the land of opportunity, and he dreams of the day he’ll have enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America, freeing them from the oppression they face in his native Romania.
But when Alter’s best friend, Yakov, becomes the latest victim in a long line of murdered Jewish boys, his dream begins to slip away. While the rest of the city is busy celebrating the World’s Fair, Alter is now living a nightmare: possessed by Yakov’s dybbuk, he is plunged into a world of corruption and deceit, and thrown back into the arms of a dangerous boy from his past. A boy who means more to Alter than anyone knows.
Now, with only days to spare until the dybbuk takes over Alter’s body completely, the two boys must race to track down the killer—before the killer claims them next.
The City Beautiful
Aden Polydoros
Rep: Romanian Jewish gay mc, Lithuanian Jewish gay li, Ukrainian Jewish gay li
TW: antisemitism, mentions of past rape, mentions of past pedophilia, body horror (chapter 42), blood, gore, violence, murder, drowning, vomiting, fire, immolation
Release: 5th October 2021 -
ARC Review: To Break a Covenant
I’m sure this next book is one you’ve all been highly anticipating (and if not, why not?). It’s also coming out at the perfect time for Halloween and all things spooky! If you want a book that’ll scare you out of your wits (and I’m not just saying this as a certified wimp), then this is the book for you.
So, sit back, give Alison a follow on twitter, and get yourself ready for the perfect spooky season read!
Debut voice Alison Ames delivers with a chilling, feminist thriller, perfect for fans of Wilder Girls and Sawkill Girls.
Moon Basin has been haunted for as long as anyone can remember. It started when an explosion in the mine killed sixteen people. The disaster made it impossible to live in town, with underground fires spewing ash into the sky. But life in New Basin is just as fraught. The ex-mining town relies on its haunted reputation to bring in tourists, but there’s more truth to the rumors than most are willing to admit, and the mine still has a hold on everyone who lives there.
Clem and Nina form a perfect loop—best friends forever, and perhaps something more. Their circle opens up for a strange girl named Lisey with a knack for training crows, and Piper, whose father is fascinated with the mine in a way that’s anything but ordinary. The people of New Basin start experiencing strange phenomena—sleepwalking, night terrors, voices that only they can hear. And no matter how many vans of ghost hunters roll through, nobody can get to the bottom of what’s really going on. Which is why the girls decide to enter the mine themselves.
To Break a Covenant
Alison Ames
Rep: lesbian mc, bi li
CWs: animal death, death of a parent, gore
Release: 21st September 2021
