Posted in Uncategorized

YA Book Recommendations for Pride Month (2023 Edition) 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Happy Monday, bibliophiles!

Here we are again in pride month! It certainly is a joyous time of year, but in the past few years, it’s been a difficult one, too. All across the country, we have seen waves of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and the rhetoric that queer people are unnatural and wish to convert your children has spread like wildfire. We’ve also seen a dangerous increase in book bans—particularly by queer authors and authors of color. Books with diverse perspectives aren’t harming children—depriving children of these books is the dangerous part. Now more than ever is it important to read diversely: there’s never any harm in seeing a different perspective through literature. And if you’re really that concerned about “protecting the children,” maybe you should advocate for stricter gun laws instead of worrying about drag queen story hour.

In past years, I’ve split this post up into multiple (organized by genre), but I decided to make it all one post this year to keep it all more organized.

For my previous pride month lists, see below:

KEY:

  • MC: main character
  • LI: love interest
  • SC: side character

Enjoy this month’s Pride Month book recommendations!

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️THE BOOKISH MUTANT’S YA PRIDE MONTH RECOMMENDATIONS (2023 EDITION)🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

CONTEMPORARY, REALISTIC FICTION, AND NOVELS IN VERSE:

SCIENCE FICTION:

HISTORICAL FICTION:

FANTASY, MAGICAL REALISM, AND PARANORMAL:

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! What are your favorite queer reads that you’ve read recently? Have you read any books on this list, and what did you think of them? Tell me in the comments!

Today’s song:

That it for this year’s pride month recommendations! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Posted in Monthly Wrap-Ups

June 2022 Wrap-Up 🏳️‍🌈

Happy Thursday, bibliophiles!

It’s finally summer and 2022 is already a little over halfway gone…HOW?

GENERAL THOUGHTS:

June was a great start to my break; I took a trip to California (Yosemite and then San Francisco) early in the month, and I had so much fun! Once I got back, there was still a ton of stuff to do in preparation for college this August (AAAAAAAAA), so I’ve been slowly chugging away at that. Had my first jury duty summons yesterday, too…nerve-wracking, to say the least. And I’ve been sad and furious at the U.S. government (well…more than usual) for the past week. But even amidst that, I’ve really enjoyed the past few weeks. Summer is one of my favorite times of the year, and the weather is finally warm enough here that I can go outside and read in my hammock. Bliss.

After school let out, I’ve had so much more time to read as well! I focused on LGBTQ+ books this month, and I found some great reads. My brother also lent me his Fantastic Four comics (after we saw Multiverse of Madness and he realized that I hadn’t read them), so I had a lot of fun with those too. As far as writing goes, I’ve been polishing my outline for my Camp NaNoWriMo project, and I’m so excited to get writing again!! Soon…

Other than that, I’ve just been watching the new season of Stranger Things (my least favorite season so far, but I am F R I G H T E N E D for vol. 2), Jurassic World: Dominion (came anticipating no plot, only dinosaurs, but there were…very few dinosaurs 🫥), and the new season of The Umbrella Academy (I’m only halfway through, no spoilers!!!), listening to too much Spoon, T. Rex, and Soccer Mommy, and making an excessive amount of playlists.

READING AND BLOGGING:

I read 20 books this month! Summer has given me a lot more time to read, and I am all the better for it.

1 – 1.75 stars:

A Lesson in Vengeance

2 – 2.75 stars:

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

3 – 3.75 stars:

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster

4 – 4.75 stars:

“Wait, it’s all Fantastic Four?”

“Always has been…”

The Raven and the Reindeer

FAVORITE BOOK OF THE MONTH: Flex Mentallo: Man of Muscle Mystery4.5 stars

Flex Mentallo: Man of Muscle Mystery

POSTS I’M PROUD OF:

SOME POSTS FROM OTHER WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT I ENJOYED:

SONGS/ALBUMS THAT I ENJOYED:

NEW YEAH YEAH YEAHS IN SEPTEMBER OMG
ugh what a fantastic album
love this album so much
you ever just listen to one song on repeat for an entire plane ride? couldn’t be me, no way…never…
NEW GORILLAZ WOOHOO
man I need to listen to more Peter Gabriel
LOVE THE NEW SOCCER MOMMY AAAAAAAAH

DID I FOLLOW THROUGH ON MY JUNE GOALS?

  • Read at least 20 books: 20!
  • Enjoy the first month of summer/pride month!: As busy as it’s been, I’ve had a lot of fun!

GOALS FOR JULY:

  • Read at least 20 books:
  • Get through Camp NaNoWriMo!

Today’s song:

forgot about this song 🥲

That’s it for this month in blogging! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Posted in Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: June 20-26, 2022

Happy Sunday, bibliophiles! Hope this week has treated you well.

First off, I have to acknowledge how infuriated I am with the Supreme Court of the United States. Abortion is healthcare and a human right, and the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a disgustingly insensitive decision that will have disastrous consequences. I’m grateful to live in a state where abortions are protected (THANKS GOVERNOR POLIS!!), but my heart breaks for all the women and trans folks who don’t have access to safe abortions—my heart goes out to you all. If you’re as sad, scared, and angry as I am, consider donating to one of the following organizations:

And if you’re old enough, register to vote! Friday was astronomically sucky for me, but I’m glad I chose to register to vote that day. In the meantime, support the women and trans folks in your life, and don’t stop fighting.

Most of my week leading up to the past few days has been alright, though. I’ve had a lot more time to read now that it’s summertime, and most of what I’ve read this week has been good. It’s been warming up, so I’ve been able to go out in my hammock and read too—one of my favorite parts of summer and the warm weather. I’ve steadily been preparing for Camp NaNoWriMo; my outline for my current WIP is pretty much finished, and I’m excited to get into it!

Other than that, I’ve just been drawing, playing guitar, volunteering at the library, watching the new season of The Umbrella Academy (loving this season so much!! they’re handling Viktor/Elliot Page’s transition so gracefully and respectfully 😭💗), and being angrier than usual at the supreme court.

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:

Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens – Tanya Boteju (⭐️⭐️⭐️)

All That’s Left in the World – Erik J. Brown (⭐️⭐️⭐️.5)

Kaleidoscope Song – Fox Benwell (⭐️⭐️⭐️)

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali – Sabina Khan (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Lakelore – Anna-Marie McLemore (⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Here’s to Us (What If It’s Us, #2) – Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera (⭐️⭐️⭐️.25)

POSTS AND SUCH:

SONGS:

CURRENTLY READING/TO READ NEXT WEEK:

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea – Axie Oh

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin – Kip Wilson

Today’s song:

Friday may have astronomically sucked, but if there’s one good thing that came out of it (besides being able to register to vote), it’s that we finally have new soccer mommy in our hands

That’s it for this week in blogging! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!