Tag: Call Forth a Fox

Posted in Books

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈The Bookish Mutant’s Books for Pride Month (2026 Edition)🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Posted on by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Thursday, bibliophiles!

Here in the U.S., June is Pride Month! You know the drill. I hate how bittersweet these posts are, and the bitter keeps growing. I see the beauty of this month and our queer community, but I can’t help but shrivel from the reminders that there have been repeated attempts to take queer books off the shelves across the country, and that the trans community here in the states has been under attack more than ever. My heart truly, truly hurts for all of us. I hurt. Of course, here I am, being cisgender in my cushy blue state with an openly gay governor, but nonetheless, I hurt whenever any other member of the queer community is hurt.

I’ve been an out and proud bisexual for almost eight years. Not long, in the grand scheme of things, but these years have taught me so much about queer people and the LGBTQ+ community. If there’s anything that I see in us, it’s our tenacity. No matter the slew of hateful legislation and rhetoric, we always come back stronger than ever. If there’s anything that the queer community doesn’t do, it’s back down in the face of a threat. In spite of the never-ending threats from outside and inside (the infighting never stops, y’all need to be normal about each other, please), we are like dandelions pushing through the cracks in the pavement: we never surrender, and we continue to bloom in the face of adversity.

But here’s the thing. I don’t like having to be this resilient. I don’t think any of us do. But if there’s anything to take solace in, it’s that our community is so strong and diverse that there will always be someone fighting. Yes, we all have to do what we must, but it’s important to remember that simply surviving, just being, is resistance in the face of the government wanting the public to believe that we aren’t worthy of the same rights as everybody else and that our stories are not fit for public consumption. You don’t have to be out and proud. All you have to do is be.

So here’s my annual pride month recommendations list of queer books from a variety of genres and backgrounds. I’ve compiled all kinds of books from various sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as backgrounds (queer people of color, disabled queer people, queer immigrants, etc.). Hopefully there’s something for everyone. (As always, if I’ve mistakenly identified anything on this list, please let me know! I’m only human.)

Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to support the LGBTQ+ community (especially the trans community, who are under attack more than ever) in whatever way you can. If you want to show your support them monetarily, here are some great organizations to donate to:

This is a non-exhaustive list, and I encourage you to seek out organizations in your area! There are so many wonderful people across the country (and the world) doing great work for the LGBTQ+ community.

A refresher on my key:

MC: Main character

LI: Love interest

SC: Side character(s)

For my posts from previous years, click below: 

Let’s begin, shall we? 

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈THE BOOKISH MUTANT’S BOOKS FOR PRIDE MONTH (2025 EDITION)🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

FANTASY:

SCIENCE FICTION:

REALISTIC/HISTORICAL FICTION:

*it’s worth noting that the main character of this novella is a mountain lion, but I feel like it still counts.

**the cover for The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar has not yet been updated to reflect Sonido Reyes’s name change.

ANTHOLOGIES (VARIOUS GENRES):

NONFICTION:

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! Have you read any of these books, and if so, what did you think of them? What are some of your favorite queer books that you’ve read recently? Let me know in the comments!

Today’s song:

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

Posted in Monthly Wrap-Ups

September/October 2025 Wrap-Up 🧙🏻‍♀️🐈‍⬛

Posted on by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Friday, bibliophiles, and more importantly, Happy Halloween! 🎃👻🍬🐈‍⬛

Whew, it’s been an eventful two months, but most of it’s been good. I’m not in a position to complain. I mean…the leaves!!

Let’s begin, shall we?

GENERAL THOUGHTS:

This is usually the time of the year that I start posting more sporadically, but somehow, I’ve actually managed to squeeze in some time to blog and manage my time a little better. I have been trying to curb my social media time for the past year or so…maybe that’s contributed to it? I hope it has. Either way, even when things have gotten busy, it’s been so nice to have this space to come back to, in good times and bad. I’m grateful that the majority of those times have been good. I don’t want to dwell for too long on the really awful part of this two-month stretch, but all I can say is that I love my Evergreen community so dearly. Seeing everything happen in the aftermath of the tragic school shooting on September 10th has really made me realize what it means to be a community, even from afar. I realized just how many people reached out to me, and that I have so many people in my corner, willing to offer support. And even when I’m out of town, I have nothing but love for everyone who has stepped up to offer support to the EHS and Evergreen communities at large. This community and aid is the kind of thing that the government wants to convince you doesn’t exist—even in the face of tragedy, people will always look out for each other. I’m so grateful that both surviving victims are now out of the hospital, and I’m so grateful for our little mountain town.

That aside, I’ve really felt like I’ve been getting used to this apartment thing. I’m so lucky to be in such a lovely town, and such a lovely part of town—I’ve got so many fun restaurants and general locations right near by. It’s encouraged me to really come out of my shell and get out of the house much more. I’ve learned my lesson about self-isolation—this time last year, I was getting into that business big time, unfortunately—so I’ve really been making an effort to get out of my head and be out in the world, even if I’m taking my daily bread quest down to the bakery. Nothing kicks negative thought patterns in the butt like walking back home while nibbling on a free bread sample like a mouse. All this is to say that I’m proud of myself. I’m getting out there, I’m making my own, cozy space, I’m deepening my relationships with my friends, and heck, I’m really having fun.

Fall is always my favorite month, and Halloween is my favorite holiday. I dressed up as an alien, and even though I had the urge to rub all my makeup off the second I got home, I had a blast walking around campus looking all green and spacey. Nothing beats cinnamon tea, crunchy leaves underfoot, blue jays in the red trees by the bus stop, spooky (not scary, mind you) movies, loud makeup (as if I don’t already do that 24/7), and caramel, pumpkin, and cinnamon flavors. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed fall. I visited Vail and got healed from my midterms just from seeing all of the leaves. I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk while walking home with a friend of mine just to admire a massive leaf right in our path. There are always moments of ordinary joy right in front of our faces, if we just take long enough to look.

I’ve learned by now that there’s only so much news I can pay attention to before I go insane, but I’d like to take this opportunity, especially as we reach the holidays, to offer some resources for some of what’s going on in the States and the Caribbean. In the wake of both Hurricane Melissa and the impending SNAP cuts (oh! and they’re using the money to fund ICE and Trump’s ballroom instead! oh, okay! okay…😀), I figured I would share some resources to donate to those in need. Especially as the holidays grow closer, it’s always a good time to give back to the communities who need it most, especially when the government is blatantly neglecting its duty to do just that. If you’re financially able, I’d encourage you to pitch in where you can:

Hurricane Melissa Relief:

https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-where-to-donate-cuba-haiti-red-cross-67f2e4b033d5339fcbe0ec98a719c192

For those affected by SNAP cuts:

https://www.feedingamerica.org

Oh, and because I couldn’t deny you all the pleasure of the leaf…

Like…? Look at this beaut!!

SEPTEMBER READING WRAP-UP

I read 14 books in September! My reading is starting to slow down because school is getting busy, but I managed to squeeze in some solid books, including for Latine Heritage Month and Bisexual Visibility Week.

1 – 1.75 stars:

Mistress of Bones

2 – 2.75 stars:

Love Points to You

3 – 3.75 stars:

Gods of Jade and Shadow

4 – 4.75 stars:

EPOCH

5 stars:

Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed

FAVORITE BOOK OF THE MONTH: Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed – 5 stars

REVIEWS:

SUNDAY SONGS:

BONUS:

OCTOBER READING WRAP-UP:

I read 17 books in October! It’s been one of my best reading months in terms of quantity, but it’d probably be on the shorter side if not for all of the books I’ve had to read for my classes (especially for a very cool class I’m taking on Russian sci-fi!). For the most part, though, it’s been a solid bunch! (This bit will end up in the future November wrap-up, but I’m also finally getting around to reading Dracula…on Halloween, of course!)

2 – 2.75 stars:

Get Real, Chloe Torres

3 – 3.75 stars:

Scout’s Honor

4 – 4.75 stars:

Red City

FAVORITE BOOK OF THE MONTH: Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses – 4.5 stars

Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses

REVIEWS:

SUNDAY SONGS:

Today’s song:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

That’s it for this wrap-up! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!