• All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    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!

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: Shakespeare Retellings

    Waaay back (also known as 19th May, according to the artist formerly known as Twitter), I touted the idea of a Shakespeare retellings rec list which (drum roll please) is now here! In general, it’s a somewhat limited selection of Shakespeare plays that get considered for retellings, so I’ve tried to give as wide a range as I can (within reason, based on what I’ve read and you know, trying to get a wide range of rep in too). So, here are ten retellings you should get your hands 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.)

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    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.)

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

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

    Film & TV Recs: LGBT Christmas Movies (II)

    Christmas celebrations start tomorrow (if you’re Slavic, like me), and so I am finally here with a bunch of movies (and shows) you can watch to get in the mood! And if you don’t celebrate, you might still enjoy some winter-y silliness & gay kisses.

    Funnily enough, though, some of my favourite gay Christmas movies are actually in Part I of this rec list, which I made last year. I strongly encourage you to check that out, too!

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    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,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: Books With Less Than 400 Goodreads Ratings (V)

    I last did one of these posts way back in January, which means I’ve surely read enough books since then to make another one! That’s how this works, right? Anyway, on this post, as the title suggests, you’ll find 25 books with less than 400 ratings on Goodreads (that being a semi-randomly selected metric by which I’ll judge “underrated”). Maybe you’ve heard of some, maybe you haven’t. Whatever the case, have at it!

    And don’t forget, you can also check out the previous posts: find the first post here, the second one here, the third one here, and the fourth one here.

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    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.)

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: LGBT Literary Fiction (II)

    The me from a year ago would never even dream of making this rec list. And here we are! But also, before we go into the heavy detail, let me just say that I use a very rough definition of ‘literary fiction’. And by that I mean that in my mind it’s mostly just… character-driven, hard to define stories. That’s it. I’m literally just here for the vibes and to have a good time.

    Anyway, Charlotte also recced some lit fic this year (and she included one of my favourite books of all time – On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous), so check out her post, too!

    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.)

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    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.)

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    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.)

  • Book of the Month,  Literature

    Book of the Month: The Loophole

    For May’s book of the month, we picked one we’re both excited for. I mean, who wouldn’t be highly anticipating a book about a boy, the genie who grants him three wishes, and a romp around the world in search of his boyfriend? You know I’m right.

    So have a look at the book below and don’t forget to follow Naz on twitter (and, obviously, preorder)!

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: High Fantasy (III)

    With no clue what new rec list to possibly do, I turned back to an old(er) one to refresh. I last did a high fantasy rec list back in March 2021, and before that, April 2019, both of them before a number of books I now consider favourites were even released. So, what better time to do an update than now? And here we are, with 10 high fantasy recs for your delectation and delight!

    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.)

  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: LGBT Witches and Other Magic-Doers (II)

    It’s been three years since Charlotte has done the original post, and we decided that’s long enough for me to update her recs a little bit. Actually, it is always interesting to see which books for any given topic she recommends vs. me. There’s a lot of overlap, but our tastes aren’t identical.

    Anyway, if you’re craving some gay magic? Enjoy!

    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 Witches and Other Magic-Doers (part I) & Get Your Spook On
  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: LGBT Contemporary or Literary Fiction

    Contemporary and/or literary fiction is, I’ll admit, a genre I struggle with. On the whole, I find it bores me so finding books within it that I enjoy is… occasionally a futile-seeming exercise. However. I thought I’d challenge myself for you today and put together a rec list of the genre so, here we are! If you’re as little enamoured by this genre as I am, let me suggest these few exceptions to maybe change your mind.