The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin

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

Posted on June 5, 2023 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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:

2022: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Contemporary/Realistic Fiction
2021
2020: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Contemporary/Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

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:

Nothing Burns as Bright as You – Ashley Woodfolk: bisexual MC, sapphic LI | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School – Sonora Reyes: lesbian MC, lesbian LI, bisexual and gay SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Man o’ War – Cory McCarthy: pansexual & nonbinary MC, bisexual & agender LI, asexual, lesbian, and queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Heartbreak Bakery – A.R. Capetta: agender & bisexual MC, nonbinary & demisexual LI, queer, trans, polyamorous, aroace, and sapphic SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster – Andrew Mosqueda: bisexual MC, lesbian LI | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not My Problem – Ciara Smyth: lesbian MC, lesbian LI | ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Follow Your Arrow – Jessica Verdi: bisexual MC, lesbian, pansexual, and trans SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali – Sabina Khan: lesbian MC, gay SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Million Quiet Revolutions – Robin Gow: gay trans masc MCs, nonbinary and queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SCIENCE FICTION:

All That’s Left in the World – Erik J. Brown: gay MC, bisexual MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Hell Followed With Us – Andrew Joseph White: queer & trans masc MC, gay LI, queer SCs |⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come – Jen St. Jude: lesbian MC, lesbian love interest, gay SC, asexual SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Across a Field of Starlight – Blue Delliquanti: nonbinary MCs, trans & queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On the Edge of Gone – Corinne Duyvis: bisexual and lesbian SCs (queer author) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Adaptation – Malinda Lo: bisexual MC, lesbian LI, gay SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️

HISTORICAL FICTION:

The Reckless Kind – Carly Heath: asexual MC, achillean MCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Last Night at the Telegraph Club – Malinda Lo: lesbian MC, lesbian LI | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin – Kip Wilson: lesbian MC, queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

FANTASY, MAGICAL REALISM, AND PARANORMAL:

Bone Weaver – Aden Polydoros: bisexual MC, gay MC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Many Half-Lived lives of Sam Sylvester: asexual & nonbinary MC, bisexual LI, aroace and queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Little Thieves – Margaret Owen: asexual/demisexual SCs, lesbian/sapphic SCs, nonbinary/gnc SCs (no labels used —fantasy setting) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Lost Girls – Sonia Hartl: bisexual MC, sapphic LI, aromantic SC, questioning/ace SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I Am the Ghost in Your House – Mar Romasco-Moore: bisexual MC, lesbian LI, nonbinary and trans SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
That Dark Infinity – Kate Pentecost: bisexual MC, sapphic LI | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Lakelore – Anna-Marie McLemore: nonbinary MCs, queer SCs | ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
House of Hollow – Krystal Sutherland: bisexual MC, lesbian SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not Good for Maidens – Tori Bovalino: asexual MC, bisexual SC | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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!

Books

Feminist YA Books for Women’s History Month (2023 Edition)

Posted on March 8, 2023March 8, 2023 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Wednesday, bibliophiles, and more importantly, Happy International Women’s Day!

Aside from that, the month of March in the U.S. is Women’s History Month! These past few years have been tumultuous for women here in the U.S. and elsewhere, with the attacks on bodily autonomy being some of the most violent in recent years. But despite it all, we cannot lose hope—by lifting each other up, we can foster an environment that respects women as equals. And as I’ve always said, literature is resistance: it isn’t just real-life heroes that can inspire us to incite change—fictional heroines can have just the same effect. So for the occasion, I’ve gathered even more feminist YA book recommendations.

For my previous lists, click below:

2022
2021

Enjoy these book recommendations!

FEMINIST YA BOOKS FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH (2023 EDITION)

Most Likely, Sarah Watson

GENRES: Contemporary, realistic fiction, romance, LGBTQ+

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

An intersectional story that weaves together the lives of four girls in their senior year of high school—one of which will become the president of the United States.

Extasia, Claire Legrand

GENRES: Dystopia, paranormal, horror, romance, LGBTQ+

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Claire Legrand has made another gem of a feminist novel—this time, a chilling tale of unseen beasts and hidden power.

One for All, Lillie Lainoff

GENRES: Historical fiction, retellings

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A genderbent retelling of The Three Musketeers with a disabled, swordfighting protagonist—actually by a disabled author too!

Hollow Fires, Samira Ahmed

GENRES: Contemporary, realistic fiction, mystery

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Samira Ahmed always ends up showing up on these lists, and for good reason—she’s never missed with any of her raw and fiercely feminist novels, and Hollow Fires is no exception.

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin, Kip Wilson

GENRES: Historical fiction, romance, LGBTQ+

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

A beautiful novel in verse about two queer girls who perform in a cabaret in 1930’s Berlin.

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, Sonora Reyes

GENRES: Contemporary, realistic fiction, romance, LGBTQ+

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A fantastic novel about a lesbian Mexican-American girl navigating a Catholic high school—and her budding feelings for a classmate.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club – Malinda Lo

GENRES: Historical fiction, LGBTQ+, romance

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

A raw but tender love story of two queer, Chinese-American girls in 1950’s Chinatown.

Cool. Awkward. Black. – Edited by Karen Strong (anthology)

GENRES: Fiction, fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, LGBTQ+, romance

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

An anthology of Black stories of all genres, but with a particular focus on geek culture!

The Reckless Kind, Carly Heath

GENRES: Historical fiction, LGBTQ+, romance

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve described this one enough times, but I promise that I will NEVER shut up about how meaningful this book is. Just go read it. TRUST ME.

Follow Your Arrow, Jessica Verdi

GENRES: Contemporary, realistic fiction, LGBTQ+, romance

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Though this book was far from perfect, I think it’s still worth it to put on this list; the writing and romance weren’t great, but Follow Your Arrow has plenty of timely discussions around bisexuality and how we treat queer women.

HONORABLE MENTION:

The Trouble With White Women: A Counterhistory of Feminism, Kyla Schuller

GENRES: nonfiction

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Although this list was intended to be just for YA and fiction, I’d be remiss if I made a post about feminism and didn’t include this book. The Trouble With White Women presents a view on feminism that is necessary for moving past simply white feminism, and presents the feminist movement through those on the margins, such as Frances Harper, Pauli Murray, and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. It’s seriously one of the best nonfiction books I’ve read in ages—on any subject matter.

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! What did you think of the books on this list? What are your favorite feminist YA books? Let me know in the comments!

Today’s song:

Most of the Warpaint I’ve heard hasn’t done much for me (aside from their great cover of “Ashes to Ashes”), but I love the quietness of this one!

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

Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: June 27 – July 3, 2022

Posted on July 3, 2022July 3, 2022 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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

Whew, it’s definitely been an eventful week—good and bad. On the bright side, I went shopping for a bunch of stuff for my dorm room, and I had a lot of fun!! I also went to jury duty for the first time (nerve-wracking, to say the least), and I went on a hike on Friday…and we got charged at by a moose calf. Welcome to Colorado. (Don’t worry—it swerved into the woods as soon as it saw us lol)

As far as reading went, I’ve had tons of fun reading in the hammock, and most of what I’ve read has been decent, at least, save for one unfortunate DNF (as much as I enjoyed Gideon the Ninth, Harrow the Ninth was way more convoluted than necessary and just ended up being a chore to read). I got some more great books at the library, and they all look promising. And Camp NaNoWriMo started later this week, so I’ve been chugging along through my newest WIP!

Other than that, I’ve just been drawing, getting caught in the rain, listening to a bit too much Peter Gabriel, and watching the last two episodes of Stranger Things (NO SPOILERS PLEASE I’M WATCHING THE LAST EPISODE TONIGHT)

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea – Axie Oh (⭐️⭐️.5)

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin – Kip Wilson (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25)

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster – Andrea Mosqueda (⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

The Atlas Six (The Atlas, #1) – Olivie Blake (⭐️⭐️⭐️.25)

Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #2) – Tamsyn Muir (DNF – ⭐️⭐️)

POSTS AND SUCH:

SONGS:

CURRENTLY READING/TO READ NEXT WEEK:

Bluebird – Ciel Pierlot

The Ghosts We Keep – Mason Deaver

Alone in Space: A Collection – Tillie Walden

Among Thieves – M.J. Kuhn

Today’s song:

good GOD I’m obsessed with this song

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

Monthly Wrap-Ups

June 2022 Wrap-Up 🏳️‍🌈

Posted on June 30, 2022 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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: