Hey! You’re here. Thank you.
Happy Pride, beauties!
In my little world, June is an opportunity to rest in what is true for us all year long: queerness is a blessing and a privilege.
Queer books save lives. This is not an expression or a turn of phrase. It’s a truth that we carry with us out into this broken, terrible world.
I put out the call on my instagram this week for queer book recommendation requests and y’all did not disappoint. Let’s get to the good stuff!
books that center queer friendship
I love this one! Of course we can all name books that center queer romance, but what about friendship? Here are a few of my favorites. As always, drop your recs in the comments.
The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel // This collection is legendary for a reason. Reading and re-reading this book cover to cover is been one of the great joys of my little gay life. I think about Mo and the gang (& Madwimmin books) all the time.
Kings of B’More by R. Eric Thomas // Am I just using this platform to yell again about one of my favorite queer books in recent memory? Yes. Yes I am. This YA novel of summer and boyhood is so dear to me and this is the exact right time to read it.
books with complicated forgiveness for families
This is such an interesting one. I had to sit with it for a minute, but here’s what I came up with. One thing I love in a book is messy, complicated, imperfect families (is there any other kind?).
We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin // I’m a sucker for the way Emily Austin writes about complicated, mentally ill lesbians. In her latest novel she turns her attention to a pair of sisters and the themes of forgiveness and homecoming are at the center of this deeply sad, strangely funny novel.
Another Word for Love by Carvell Wallace // I wrote about this memoir just after I read it in May of last year and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Wallace interrogates our ideas of love, forgiveness, and apology. The result is stunning and transformative.
books with catchy/hilarious titles
This is so fun! I just know there are so many gay romances with horrible, beautiful puns in the title that I am missing here. If you know of them please do not hoard that knowledge. Drop ‘em in the comments!
You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi // Whatever you think of this controversial romance (I love it), you have to admit this title, inspired by a Florence and The Machine song, goes so hard.
Congratulations, the Best is Over by R. Eric Thomas // I’m an R. Eric Thomas superfan (I hope that is clear!) and this is his best book and title yet. I read it on the eve of my 30th birthday and it was a flawless reading experience. If you are 20 or 30 or 90 I recommend this book.
A Queer Classic (Maybe an Unsung One)
There are so many queer classics I’ve yet to read. Sounds like a good reading project for a little gay nerd like me. Here, though, are some of my beloveds.
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers // You know I love this book! If it were up to me it would certainly not be unsung. I am singing about it! I couldn’t believe the way this story jumped from the page into my brain and heart. I will be reading it again and again. I can’t imagine how my life would be different if I had read this when I was a teenager, but I know it would be.
Passing by Nella Larsen // I read this 1929 classic for the first time in 2022 with my beloved Stacks Pod Book Club and I was absolutely floored. It’s so gay??? How did nobody tell me it was so gay?? Trust me. You should read it.
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison // I haven’t yet read this 1992 lesbian classic of the American south, but I am going to fix that soon. Allison passed away last year, and so many queer writers I admire named her as an icon and an influence. I am ready to dig into her work.
Apropos of nothing, I am going to leave you with this photo of Toni Morrison and Fran Lebowitz.
I am never not thinking about them.
I got so many beautiful queer book rec requests, I am going to do volume 2 next week. I hope you come back for more gay goodness!
In the meantime, may you have a week full of what you love, especially if that’s dogs, books, and gay people.
I love you.
Love,
Rosamond
On the topic of Toni Morrison, have you read this? https://www.harpercollins.com/products/miss-chloe-a-j-verdelle?variant=40766639046690
This was amazingly self-edited, because I started thinking about all the weird and queer books we have read together (and my mission for your tote bag!) and I could write for hours on this subject, because QUEER BOOKS ARE THE BEST BOOKS. Hello, books by straight people about straight people are a red flag. Like...that is a big hurdle to overcome! Gay gay gay gay books 4EVA.