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    Book Recs: LGBT Lit in Translation

    I have to admit, I had another rec list planned for today (one that I keep meaning to do but I still haven’t got the perfect ten books), so instead, I’m following Anna’s suggestion of translated LGBT lit. Some time last year, I decided to challenge myself to read a book from every country in the world and, in part, this is a result of that. So, let’s make 2024 the year of opening horizons and reading in translation!

    In making this list, I’ve tried to keep from adding books that I had on the classics rec list (which was only a few anyway) from some years back. There is, however, more overlap between this and the various lists we did in 2021 for Pride Month. Those are longer lists, though, so if you read this list and you want more recs, go check them out!

    Before we start, if you’re reading this post, please take the time to visit gazafunds.com (@gazafunds on twitter), where you’ll find any number of campaigns from Gazans to share and donate to. Every time you refresh, you’ll see a new campaign spotlighted. You can also “adopt” a campaign, which means repeatedly sharing it online to keep it in people’s awareness and collect donations. So, please do!

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    Book Recs: Adult Sci Fi (II)

    It’s been a while since we did one of these, right? What with our beginning of the year focus on releases lists, plus work taking up a lot of time (and energy!), rec lists have been sort of on the backburner. But not any longer! Since there’s been so much incredible sci fi being released in the past few years, what better time to do a part two to an adult sci fi rec list I first made, oh, only 4 years ago now. Part one of this rec list be found here.

    But before we start, I’m sure everyone is aware of the genocidal campaign that’s been conducted on Gaza for the past 6 months. If you have a bit of spare income and are looking for places to donate let us direct you to a few: you can find verified gofundmes to donate to here and here, you can donate to UNRWA directly, or to the Crips for eSims for Gaza campaign, or you can purchase your own eSims (tutorials here and here), or to organisations directly in Gaza, or you can donate to Anera. On top of this, you can also keep lobbying the people in power, and protesting, and just generally disrupting everyday life.

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    Book Recs: LGBT Comfort Reads

    We all have books that we love to read over & over again. Or sometimes we just think about them all the time and that’s enough, too. Sometimes they simply occupy a space in our brain (and heart). It’s about craft, yes, but most of all it’s about the feelings those books evoke in us. The way they make us feel safe & loved, & cherished. And at times maybe a lot a little bit heartbroken.

    So that’s what I’m offering you today. Ten books that I’ve been feeling lowkey insane about for months, and sometimes even years. A lot of books about love.

    And hey, a lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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    Book Recs: Lesbian Fiction That Isn’t Romance

    I’ve been thinking about this list for a little while. Because, while I’m sure we can all agree that sometimes all you need is a good romance, there are other times when a romance just isn’t doing it for you, but something more litfic-esque, a bit more introspective and (on occasion) in depth, suits just fine. Yes, this is a different list to either of the litfic lists we’ve done haha what do you mean. But anyway, if you’re looking for a lesbian book to read in this, the birth week of all lesbians everywhere, then here are 10 to start you off!

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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    Book Recs: Butch Lesbians & Studs

    The other day, as I was reading a mainstream f/f romance, I thought to myself, wow so much of mainstream f/f centres feminine and/or femme characters. Where are all the butches? (I say “mainstream”, because, firstly, these are the books that seem most popular, and secondly, if you go into indie and self-published works, you’ll find a lot more butch & stud rep I can guarantee.) So, this list, which I’ve been meaning to write for a while anyway, was born. There are only lesbians on this post, but if you’re looking for masc bi women, I did make a small list for someone here.

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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    Book Recs: LGBT Books About Reality TV Shows

    It was really just an off-hand comment I made to Charlotte the other day, about how reality TV shows are becoming a pretty popular setting in books and possibly there are enough such books for a rec list. She thought that’s a good idea. And who am I to say no? Especially if it allows me to rec a book by one of my favourite YA authors!

    I did cheat a tiny bit and included an upcoming book on the list itself, I know! But to counter-act that, I added one more book. And listed two more upcoming ones at the end. I’m truly bringing all my gifts to y’all here today.

    And hey, a lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

    Related: LGBT Fake Dating
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    Book Recs: Epic Fantasy

    Closing in on the end of March and, finally, our first rec list of the year! Completely by accident, this follows on from our last one of cosy fantasy with something that’s almost entirely the opposite. Epic fantasy, in my mind, is characterised by lots of POVs, a story that spans multiple continents or countries, and also just a feeling. The stories feel epic, like a saga. So, with luck, these 10 books fit that remit!

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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    Book Recs: Cosy Fantasy

    Suffering through the shortest days of the year as we northern hemisphere folk are, what better rec list for these long winter nights than cosy fantasy. Snuggle up with a blanket and watch the snow fall outside as these books warm your soul. It’s a tried and trusted method, believe me!

    Before we start, though, let me just mention that our awards start tomorrow at 10am GMT! Nominations run until 4th January, so if you’re looking to support the great LGBT lit published this year, check it out.

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

  • All Recommended,  Film & TV Recs,  Film & TV Shows

    Film & TV Recs: Achillean Love Stories

    This post could have a lot of different titles, to be frank: gay romances, gay melodramas… But really, it’s just a compilation of movies with gay love at their centre. Hence the title I actually settled on. (And of course, achillean as the more inclusive term, since there’s a few bi characters or ones who don’t really use labels.)

    The first movie I thought of for this rec list was Moonlight, so that should tell you all you need to know about it.

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    Book Recs: LGBT Sports Lit (II)

    A while back, Anna did a post of LGBT sports lit that they’d recommend, so now it’s my turn! There’s a variety of books here and, combined with the previous post, hopefully something that appeals for everyone. Although, I would say, if you’re looking for more sports romances, Anna’s post might be the better place to be, since the bulk of them are on there. But if you’re looking for more literary fiction or otherwise contemporary novels, then scroll on!

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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    Book Recs: Historical (II)

    Not the post we necessarily planned coming to you today, but a quick one we threw together at almost the last minute (haha blogging amirite?). If you’re a fan of historical fiction, then this is a list for you! Of course, it’s actually part two of the list (part one can be found here), but honestly, I’m a little happier with this one than the last, because I didn’t have to resort to histroms to fill in the gaps (which, let’s be clear, is not a bad thing, but I had a whole separate list for historical romances, as opposed to historical fiction which might or might not include romance). But anyways. I’ll not keep you waiting any longer for it!

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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    Book Recs: Vampires

    The other day, Anna posted books to read with the same vibes as Interview with the Vampire, on which you might have noticed, there were precious few actual vampires. That’s because this list was coming! Ten books featuring vampires—not all of them horror books—for your reading pleasure this spooky season. You can also find some more vampire recs (along with other spooky season stalwarts) in last year’s post!

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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    Book Recs: LGBT Books With the Vibe of Interview With the Vampire

    I am, of course, talking about the 2022 AMC TV series. The masterpiece of modern television. The adaptation that (hopefully) has Anne Rice turning in her grave. If you’re wasting your Sundays on a different show, I don’t know how to help you…

    For those of you who simply want more vampire stories, Charlotte will have a rec list soon has a rec list, don’t worry! But I’m here for vibes, and vibes alone. I’m here for the toxic, unhealthy relationships! (Though I did include a few vampire titles, as well, and because of that this list is actually longer than usually.)

    And if you want more trans stories about vampires (like we all do!), I’ve been told you should keep an eye out for Danny Bryn & Rem Wigmore next year!

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    Book Recs: What to Read If You Like Wheel of Time

    On a whim, I decided to start a whole new style of rec post on this blog. I’ve done a few of these on my own blog before, so I figured why not transfer the idea over to this one! Here’s how it goes: I pick (or you suggest—feel free to leave any requests in comments!) a popular book or series, think of a bunch of tropes, themes or character archtypes in that book/series, and rec books which also fit those tropes, themes and archetypes. And in this case, they’re all gay!

    The first of these posts is going to be about the big fantasy monster that is Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time. Fourteen books long, it’s one you would be excused of being intimidated by. If you have read it, however, and are looking for similar(ish) books, then this post is for you! So let’s get going.

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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    Book Recs: Achillean YA Fantasy

    Today, quite by accident, marks exactly 2 years and 1 month since we posted a sapphic YA fantasy list. Obviously, this means it’s time to post an achillean equivalent. So, after much head scratching (and a few faves sadly left out (for now)), here it is! And, of course, Anna’s sapphic YA fantasy list can be found here should you want to check that out at the same time.

    A lot of these titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)