Books! They’re great!
Okay, not my most inspired intro, but books really are great, and this month’s edition has a bunch of them. Polyamory, middle-aged MCs, ace rep, nonbinary rep, vampires, shifters, rock stars, time travel, horrormance, and more.
Housekeeping:
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- Authors, you can submit your book here.
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- If you’re new here, you can see previous editions too!
If you find any errors, please let me know so I can correct them. And if you ever spot an AI cover here, please reach out so I can yank that book down with a quickness.
Out in the Cold by Stuart Wakefield (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: I’m going back a tiny bit further than usual to include this one, but November is still recent, right? I only found this a few weeks ago, but I read the whole thing and loved it. Slow burn, low heat historical M/M short story by a queer guy author. CW: wound care.
“Step back in time to 1887 Montana, a land brimming with untamed beauty and the harsh realities of a brutal winter known as the ‘Big Die-Up’. Out in the Cold is a gripping gay romance that intertwines the lives of Faron Noble, a resilient ranch hand, and Marius Tillman, his enigmatic boss.
Amidst a devastating winter that threatens their very livelihood, Faron and Marius battle not only the elements but also their burgeoning feelings for each other. […]
Faron, with his unwavering strength and quiet determination, navigates the perils of ranch life and the complexities of his heart. Marius, a man of the land, yet a stranger to the affairs of the heart, finds in Faron a warmth that the cold Montana winter cannot freeze.”
Loving Safoa by Liza Wemakor (Ebook at Neon Hemlock / Paperback at Neon Hemlock / Paperback at Amazon / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: I’d been trying to wait to list this novella until Neon Hemlock got the ebook up on Amazon (which I think they will do eventually) but I’m not strong enough to keep holding back on Black sapphic vampires! Small press.
“A vampire story that twists and turns from New York to West Africa and back.
When schoolteacher Cynthia gets a tattoo at a block party in 1991 Flatbush, she doesn’t realize she’s embarking on a life-changing romance with an immortal Ghanaian vampire. Cynthia’s affair with Safoa weaves together stories from nineteenth century Ghana, late twentieth century New York and a near future reality in Maryland that defies the utopian/dystopian binary.”
The Third Wheel by Kristin Lance (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: First book in what looks to be a polyam romance series! Bonus: it includes an indie bookstore.
“Mira is my ride or die, my soulmate, my partner in crime. We’re like two peas in a pod, and even our faults complement each other. Together, we run a quaint little bookstore in Hazy Cove, our own little paradise in the Pacific Northwest. And I’m madly in love with her.
The only thing marring perfection? Her annoying, alpha-hole of a husband, Gunnar.
Yeah, I’m the ultimate third wheel.
To make matters worse, Mira wants Gunnar and I to be friends and is always trying to set up our bromance.
Let’s be real, two men couldn’t be any different: Gunnar owns a motorcycle shop, I own a bookstore. Gunnar has tattoos, I… well, okay I also have tattoos, but mine are intellectual. And we can’t agree on anything.
But as much as I want to hate him, Mira adores him and can’t seem to see past his overbearing ways. So when she begs me to come along on their next adventure, a camping trip in the wilderness, how can I say no? I know things will be awkward, but I can never deny her anything.
But on our camping trip, Gunnar’s tough guy facade finally cracks, revealing that he’s different than I ever expected. He’s oddly sweet, bisexual, and definitely into sharing his wife with me.
Suddenly, I’m in way too deep. Of course, I’m even more in love with her, but that’s not all — he’s on his knees, asking for something I never expected to give. And I might want both of them.
But that’s not a thing…is it?”
Leaving Hollowood by Will Forrest (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: MC self-describes as neurospicy, and I like what I’ve read so far.
“Stone Roth is Hollowood’s last bear shifter, but is he more man (and beast) than even I can take?
Being the spare heir of one of Hollowood Falls’ first families is about as fun as it sounds. No wonder I’m known as the town’s favorite disaster gay werewolf, always on the hunt for a big strong man to bang my brains out. When I accidentally meet the papa bear of my dreams, can I unravel his tangled thoughts and teach him how to trust me?
Or will the chaos that tails me wherever I go ruin the best mistake I’ve ever made?”
Falls From Grace by Ruby Landers (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: I actually ended up reading this whole book instead of just the sample, and it’s a strong debut! Looking forward to the next book, which is F/Nonbinary.
“Savannah Grace is a huge star in Nashville. At least, she was. Her hit band Twice Struck topped the country music charts for almost a decade until her high profile marriage to her bandmate and co-writer publicly exploded. Now she’s fading from the spotlight and her own life, just trying to keep her head above water.
Brynn Marshall is a little lost. Dropping out of med school made her the black sheep of the family and now she’s floating around LA trying to find a sense of purpose. When she falls down on her luck, her best friend – indie musician Noah Lyman – refuses to let her wallow. After all, he’s just got his big break: co-writing with a megastar!
When Savannah enlists Noah to help her break out of country music and make a name for herself for once and for all, what better way to do it than to spend the Winter in her secluded vacation home in the woods of Vermont? And what better way for Noah to help out a friend than to pretend he’s bringing along his wife?
After all, what could possibly go wrong?”
The Prince and His Stolen Groom by J.E. Ridge (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Judging by the sample, this is just as over-the-top as you’d expect. Author’s pronouns are she/they.
“A magic spell protects the Desolated Lands from evil mages and their nefarious schemes. As a condition of this spell, Princess Francesca of Woe and Prince Brendon of Bane must marry.
Rick knows his sister will be miserable in this marriage, so he concocts a half-baked plan to kidnap the groom and stall the wedding. He just needs time to find an alternative way to keep the spell active. Everything seems to go smoothly until someone else arrives at the castle claiming to be Prince Brendon. Now Rick has to juggle two grooms: the real one he stashed in a magic tower, and the imposter romancing his sister.
Because Rick disrupted the wedding, the spell begins to weaken, allowing an evil mage to slip past the magical defenses. Chaos ensues as Rick struggles with imposters, evil minions, and his growing feelings for Brendon.
Who knew stealing one groom would cause so much trouble?”
No More Than Reason by Rey Luca (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Sapphic ace new adult romance.
“Mercedes has been best friends with Raine since middle school and is well acquainted with Raine’s questionable taste in the men she dates. As someone uninterested in the dating game and asexual to boot, Mercedes doesn’t pretend to get the appeal of changing boyfriends more often than some people change socks, and she’s become pretty well versed in ignoring the men who come in and out of Raine’s life.
However, it’s becoming clear from how often Mercedes and Raine have been bickering lately that something is becoming in between their friendship. Mercedes comes to realize she may be having a harder time sharing her best friend than she initially realized and that her feelings about Raine just might be more complicated than she had originally thought.”
The Edge of Never by Sarah Bailey (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Non-binary MC. Non-binary, asexual, autistic author. Content warning: pregnancy loss backstory.
“How far would you go for a stranger?
Kit:
When your life falls apart and grief consumes you, what better way to forget than to take a winter mountaineering course in the Scottish Highlands?
That was my thought when I booked myself on to it. Now I’m regretting ever signing up. Getting paired up with a grumpy stranger who thinks I’m a foolish amateur is only the tip of the iceberg.
When an avalanche hits, we get separated from the group and have to find another way down the mountain. After he gets injured and has to rely on me for survival, things go from bad to worse. With no hope of rescue in sight, I have a feeling he’s going to be more of a challenge than the dire conditions we’re in.
Thane:
When you lose everything and grief drowns you, what better way to remember you’re alive than in freezing cold conditions with nature surrounding you?
I thought getting away from it all would help me forget about her. However, on the mountaineering course my friend convinced me to help him with, he paired me up with an inexperienced partner. They can’t do anything right and it’s driving me up the wall.
Now I’m trapped needing them more than I’ve ever needed anyone in a fight to survive after we get stuck in the mountains with no way of contacting the outside world. With all hope lost, I have a feeling they might be the death of me, even if we get out of this alive.”
Just Dinner by Gemma Addison Dove (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Autism rep, and this is the first in a short story duology with an FFF polyam HEA in the second one.
“College student Jenny has been invited to dinner at Senator Gloria Graham’s mansion. Jenny is on the autism spectrum and is nervous about the formal dinner, so her roommate Martina tags along. Jenny is unexpectedly outed as pansexual during the dinner, but Martina helps her cope; and tells Jenny that she’s pan, too.
The roommates had no idea they had both been pining for each other, but now they’re ready to make up for lost time.”
The Archivist by Xavi Frey (Kobo Plus / Amazon / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Time travel! Be still my heart! Author’s pronouns are they/them, and they self-describe as neuroqueer.
“Malcolm Barclay Bain is an Archivist with the Department of Possible Futures. He spends his day conducting research, managing the Department’s physical collections… and retrieving dangerous objects carelessly misplaced along the waves of time. When he is instructed to retrieve an item that his handlers refer to simply as the tech, he travels back in time to Kansas City, 1927. He hunts through the vibrant city to find his treasure–but he’s not the only one, and soon Mal finds himself clashing with–and drawn toward–a handsome adversary.
The Archivist is the first novella in the Department of Possible Futures series, a collection of queer cyberpunk stories following Malcolm and Archie with an eventual HEA.”
In Walked Trouble by Dana Hawkins (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: It took me almost no time while reading the sample of this sapphic rovals-to-lovers to feel for Remi SO MUCH. And yet I also root for Maya! Oh no! Independent press.
“Today is the day. After checking her salty attitude and grinding for years, bartender Remi James is getting the promotion she deserves. Finally, finally, she’ll be approved for a home loan — her only dream since her unstable upbringing. Remi is floating on air.
Until she walks into work to discover that the promotion has become a one-time cash bonus, and she’s got competition. Willowy, blonde, ridiculously gorgeous competition…
Maya Marek is supposed to be in Minnesota completing her Nursing Masters. Not back in Seattle, living with her family and getting a job at a local bar. But tuition costs money that Maya doesn’t have. Yet. So, if Remi thinks heated glares will intimidate Maya into giving up, she’s dead wrong. The money is Maya’s, and no amount of snarky comments, pouty lips, and to-die-for curves will get in her way.
Remi and Maya are rivals. That’s why they’re so aware of each other in the tight space behind the bar, and in the walk-in refrigerator… right? But, somewhere between fighting over recipe developments and sharing embarrassing karaoke songs, something shifts. Can Remi and Maya dare to sacrifice their dreams to reach for something new?
A spicy, queer, enemies-to-lovers romance.”
Under Her Roof by Allison Temple (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Sapphic romantic suspense!
“My name is Gillian and I have three problems:
A fallen tree through the roof of my family’s remote island cottage.
A sister trying to sell said cottage out from under me.
A dead body in the living room. Sadly, it’s not my sister’s.
Actually, make that four problems: my ex, Amanda, just showed up uninvited. Apparently, she’s a spy, undercover to investigate the luxury wine auction hosted by my conniving sister.
We’ve got no connection to the mainland and a murderer on the island, so tonight Amanda and I have three missions:
Find the killer
Stay alive
Escape by sunrise
Actually, make that four missions: Do not fall in love, because apparently Amanda and I are far from over.
Under Her Roof is part of the Accidentally Undercover shared LGBTQ+ romantic suspense series.”
Julie Winfield is NOT Getting Married Today by Catie B. Pemberly (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: I’m very here for sapphic historical romances set in decades I clearly remember!
“What do you get when you cross a nervous bride, a chain-smoking, former pageant-queen aunt, and two cans of Aqua Net? A ‘perfect’ New England wedding day in 1984.
At least, that’s what everyone keeps telling Julie Winfield. She’s marrying Doug, her sweetheart since sixth grade, and he couldn’t be a more dreamy hunk. They have a romantic past and a bright future. He’s going to be a doctor and Julie is going to have 2.5 kids and enough money to get her hair set every week at the Cut ‘n Curl. Everything has been planned down to the last rose petal. So why is Julie thinking about trading her high heels for Converse and running like hell?
Well, Julie’s picture-perfect life isn’t as flawless as it appears. She’s got a domineering mother, a serious issue with standing up for herself, and a deep, dark S-E-C-R-E-T from her past that is threatening to eat her alive. And all it’s going to take is one snarky, highly-unimpressed — but strangely alluring — wedding singer to send Julie catapulting over the edge.
Through flashbacks to her high school and college days and glimpses into the ‘happiest day of her life,’ Julie will learn to put her foot down and take what she wants. Because one thing’s for certain — JULIE WINFIELD IS NOT GETTING MARRIED TODAY.
This book is a sapphic historical romance that features strangers-to-lovers, a runaway bride, and an ending that is hopeful, if not quite HEA.”
Young, Wild, and Three by Amity Malcom (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Polyam. Adrian, the “I” of the blurb, appears to be a chaos bi and we love it.
“I wasn’t looking for love when I stumbled through the back door of a sex club at the age of eighteen.
In fact, I was only there to settle a bet.
But when the stranger who won my virginity comes to claim their prize, I find that it isn’t just one person who has paid to have one wild night with me.
It’s two.
And they’re married.
So I did the only thing I knew how to do.
I ran.
Only fate had other plans because I just started a new job and one of my auction winners works next door.
They start to break down my walls.
They come to my rescue like no one ever has before.
And with each passing day, they make it harder and harder to say no.”
The Lost Caspian by Taryn J. Dallas (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Meow!
“Devin Edwards is the first geneticist after years of research to fully sequence the genome of the classified-extinct Caspian tiger. Her job at the Tiger’s Eye Sanctuary, the most dedicated tiger rescue and conservation effort in the world, is to pull Caspians back from the literal brink of extinction; the sanctuary hosts one very special tiger that isn’t found anywhere else.
Rexleigh Murdoch is the head keeper in charge of the last living Caspian tiger, Balkhash. No one knew Balkhash had been trapped since she was a cub in the backyard of a private collector who didn’t realise what he had until his compound was raided by an animal welfare charity. Balkhash was brought to the sanctuary, and millions of pounds has been spent trying to find a way to continue her rare lineage.
Though when Balkhash and Rex are never seen at the same time, the genetic data doesn’t make sense, and both creatures that have captivated Devin have eyes that are reminiscent of the gorgeous tiger’s eye gemstone that the sanctuary is named after, she begins to suspect something that defies the laws of biology.”
The Highwayman’s Surprise Bride by Renée Dahlia (Kobo Plus / Amazon / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Historical queer M/F (he’s trans). Part of a queer romance series with a mix of gender pairings.
“She can rescue herself but perhaps life is more fun together…
When Linda Dexington is kidnapped by Sir Bartleby de Muis, a man who has refused to take no for an answer, only one solution is possible: she must rescue herself. Escaping the carriage is not a problem, especially when they are held up by a highwayman. Escaping the unwanted attentions of Sir Bartleby may be a bit more problematic.
Marti Babbitt got more than he bargained for with his attempted highway robbery. Instead of finding an easy mark, he discovered his long-lost childhood friend, Linda. Linda claims she can rescue herself, thank you very much, but when the kidnapper continues to pursue her, maybe Marti can rescue her after all…”
Breaker of Fate by R.M. Derrick (Kobo Plus / Amazon / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Fantasy romance, queer M/F (she’s bi).
“The Weaver-blessed and the Warrior.
A love so intense, it spans lifetimes.
A demon, a dagger, and a deadly betrayal.
Derica drifts through a satisfactory, if stagnant, existence in the small farming town of Arlan after her mother’s passing — until a night of fire and revelation prompts her to venture into the larger world. Danger, intrigue, and temptation wait for her.
Beings suffering a mysterious soul affliction haunt Derica’s journey. Justus, a gruff, enigmatic mercenary commander, draws her like a flame but he struggles against their attraction. Secrets swirl around the pair as their past and present tangle. He struggles to forgive and forget what lays behind him. Strange illness and shadowy figures keep thrusting them together. They dance on the edge of a dagger — one misstep from falling.
As their pasts are exposed, and danger circles, their hearts are revealed. Fate has far more in store for Derica and the commander than she realizes, and the truth of their relationship could change their world forever.”
The Househusband’s Guide to Domestic Bliss by Lance Lansdale (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: M/M sci-fi romance with a robot, written by a gay author. I am desperately trying to get my library books finished so I can dig into this one.
“At Ms. Broussard’s Home for Bountiful Beaus, even the unlovable can find a love story for the ages. She offers custome-made automatons, fully trained in the art of keeping a home.
Arthur Price is not looking for love. The lonely librarian clings to his work and routine to keep himself functioning. When his brother, Jared, arrives in the middle of the night with an i-Series automaton meant to lift his spirits, he realizes his routine life is about to be upended. Cheerful to a fault, Periwinkle is not someone Arthur would normally choose to befriend, much less enter into a romantic entanglement with, but he somehow programs himself perfectly into his life.
Miraculously, Arthur finds himself growing almost fond of the robot. Periwinkle may not possess much experience outside cleaning, but he can’t help noticing the loneliness in his librarian’s eyes. If it means giving Arthur Price a fresh start, Periwinkle is more than happy to stitch together all of Arthur’s broken pieces. Whether Arthur likes it or not, Periwinkle’s mechanical heart beats only for Arthur.”
Good Mourning, Darling by Azalea Crowley (Kobo Plus / Amazon / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Queer M/F, Biracial Filipino MC. Ace, autistic, Filipino author.
“‘Oh, darling, if this is how our time together is going to go, I’ve already won.’
Sweet, easy-going Ella Bardot is estranged from her family. Between her autism and fear of dead things, it’s hard to reconnect when her family runs a funeral home.
Charming removal technician, Eugene Graves, is a bit odd. With an unsettling smile, he passes the time with only his shadow as his companion. Every day Eugene must balance the desires of his employer with his own personal vendetta.
When Eugene uncovers a monstrous plot against Ella, he’s tasked with protecting the daughter of his enemy. Ella is desperate to know the secrets surrounding her father, and while Eugene can’t tell her, he’s happy to motivate her inquiry. Eugene doesn’t care for sweets, but Ella may be the exception if his unique appetite has its way.
Good Mourning, Darling is the first book in the Darling Disposition series. It is a limited third-person dual POV cozy horror romance featuring darker themes.”
Even If We’re Broken by A.M. Weald (Kobo Plus / Amazon / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Queer M/F (she’s bi), middle-aged MCs, archaeology.
“Two over-40 millennials each fighting their own mental health battles reunite for a summer archaeology job after 12 years and an ocean apart in this emotional own-voice debut novel for readers who enjoy slow-burn friends-to-lovers romances.
Still reeling from being ghosted by her girlfriend, bioarchaeologist Kate Roth agrees to join an estranged colleague to teach at his field school at a Viking-age archaeology site in the wilds of Newfoundland. While welcoming the escape from Colorado where she’s been medicating resurfaced anxieties with wine and angry rock music, she’s wary of three important facts: 1) she’s had a crush on Viking Cowboy Ben for half her life, 2) Ben is a family man who lives in Norway, and 3) all her romantic relationships, and most friendships, seem to have an expiration date.
For archaeologist Esben ‘Ben’ Veholt, inviting the woman he’s been in love with since digging alongside her 23 years ago was, of course, the worst possible thing he could have done for himself. This summer was supposed to be his escape from reality: a love life in ruins, worsening body image issues, and a teenage daughter who suddenly wants nothing to do with him. When Kate accepts his offer, he intends to retain a professional relationship with her. A woman like Kate could never love him anyway—not with how much he’s changed inside and out.
All seems fine on the surface as Kate and Esben’s friendship rebuilds, but as they dig deeper, they realize just how broken they both are. To heal from their painful pasts and reclaim their crumbling presents, they each need a friend who accepts them, mess and all. But summer won’t last forever, and a third chance at romance threatens to drift across the ocean yet again.
Even If We’re Broken is for anyone who’s ever struggled with depression, anxiety, body image, chronic pain, suicide, and loss. It’s for archaeologists, and anyone who wanted to be an archaeologist. It’s for anyone who’s ever been in a long-distance relationship, and anyone who’s ever loved someone from afar.”
Thrill by Kristian Parker (Amazon/KU / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: I’m actually surprised there aren’t more queer romance series set at sex toy companies! M/M by a queer guy.
“Tyler Jones is celebrating hitting his mid-thirties with a new job and it’s unlike anywhere he’s ever worked before. Pleasure Seekers is an sex toy retail company based in the seaside resort of Brighton.
On his first day, Tyler finds himself in a very sticky situation with the drop-dead gorgeous Danny Healy. This man is next-level handsome. When Danny offers to help Tyler become personally acquainted with some of the items the company sells online, the heat truly blasts off.
But Tyler has never been one for meaningless sex. When he gets to know Danny, he finds so much more than he ever expected. What could happen if the lines of their arrangement were blurred a little?”
Revisiting Summer Nights by Ashley Bartlett (Bold Strokes Books / Amazon / Goodreads)
Why I’m excited to list it: Ashley Bartlett wrote the amazing lesbian fiction series Cash Braddock, which I own all of, so I’m delighted to see this standalone romance from her. Small press.
“In their twenties, PJ Addison and Wylie Parsons were hot young actors. Their iconic performances as the final girls in Dangerous Summer Nights launched a slasher franchise, and their real-life relationship only made their characters’ romance — and the film — more popular. But young love rarely lasts, and the Hollywood machine is brutal.
A decade later they are called back to the most recent Dangerous Summer Nights installment. Their days of shifting cultural paradigms are long past. It’s hard enough just to maintain Hollywood careers and pseudo happy lives. PJ’s a director, finally making a name for herself that isn’t attached to having been a sexy starlet. Wylie is on marriage number three and most days doesn’t even mind that she’s a cliché.
Their job is simple: pretend to be wildly in love on film again. Like professionals. But the more they fake it, the more they realize their feelings are anything but an act.”
At the end of each newsletter, I recommend a few of my recent favorite queer reads, from romance to SFF to graphic novels, comics, and kids’ books. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite book here! These may not always be self-published or small press; it just depends on what’s gotten to the top of my TBR lately.
I Never Liked You Anyway by Jordan Kurella (Paperback from Lethe Press / Amazon / Goodreads)
Eurydice and Orpheus were a couple, talented students in a modern music conservatory… and now she’s dead and trying to pick up the pieces. This is so well-written and heartwrenching. I was captivated.
“Eurydice is dead, and there’s no rest in the Afterlife. The place is a college filled with classes like Hauntings, Controlled Baking Disasters, and Threads of Fate. When Eurydice was alive, she tried to find her voice in her music, in romance, and in her friends. While creating a suite of destruction that eventually led her to, well, being dead. Now, here among the shades (and newer, more ghostly, friends), Eurydice has to come to terms with the life she left behind: mostly in the enfant terrible boyfriend who put her here. The infamous Orpheus.”
Love at 350° by Lisa Peers (Amazon / Goodreads)
I had a wonderful time reading this sapphic slow-burn, low-heat baking show romance between two middle-aged characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for Peers’s next book.
“Food is their love language, but can they follow a recipe for romance?
Tori Moore, high school chemistry teacher, avid home baker, and soon-to-be empty nester, auditions for the American Bake-o-Rama TV competition at the urging of her twin teenagers. The prize money could allow her to finally open her own bakery, but plagued by self-doubt after a messy divorce, it’s not only money standing between Tori and her dreams.
Once on set in Sonoma wine country, Tori catches the eye of Kendra Campbell, the notoriously ruthless celebrity chef and Bake-o-Rama judge. This show is Kendra’s ticket to financial security, but she’s been told to soften her approach for viewers seeking feel-good entertainment—quite the task after years of fighting for space in a male-dominated industry.
Tori and Kendra find it increasingly hard to keep their distance through six slow-burn weeks of cooking challenges and kitchen disasters. For both, the best prize of all might just be love.”
Magical Boy by The Kao (Amazon / Goodreads)
Fantastic trans YA graphic novel series starter! Perfect balance of magic, hijinks, and family struggles. One thing I particularly appreciated about the latter: though Max’s parents don’t accept his gender and deadname him multiple times, The Kao takes advantage of the visual format and redacts / statics out the deadname. I also love the progression of Max’s costume throughout the book. The second volume comes out in September and I’m so there.
“Although he was assigned female at birth, Max is your average trans man trying to get through high school as himself. But on top of classes, crushes, and coming out, Max’s life is turned upside down when his mom reveals an eons old family secret: he’s descended from a long line of Magical Girls tasked with defending humanity from a dark, ancient evil!
With a sassy feline sidekick and loyal gang of friends by his side, can Max take on his destiny, save the world, and become the next Magical Boy?”
Gender Studies: True Confessions of an Accidental Outlaw by Ajuan Mance (Amazon / Goodreads)
So down to earth and insightful, with warm humor, this was an absolute delight to sit down with one afternoon.
“When you’re the only Black kid in the honors program or (any program) at your mostly white high school, or one of a handful of Black graduate students in your PhD program, or one of two African American women on the faculty at your Pac-10 employer, it’s not your gender non-conformity that sets you apart from your peers. In those environments, your Blackness is the first thing people notice about you. Still, there are other ways of being different–and feeling different–that can’t be attributed to race, especially if you’re one of the people whose awareness of the unwritten rules of what it means to be a boy or a girl (or a man or a woman) is tempered by the fact that most of those rules don’t feel quite right.
In Gender Studies: True Confessions of an Accidental Outlaw, Ajuan Mance gives comic treatment to the challenges, complexities, and occasional absurdity of life at the crossroads of race, gender, and geekiness. This graphic memoir answers important questions like: How many preschoolers have to mistake you for your dad before you actually start to forget your own name; if a Black girl is awful at double-dutch jump rope is it a reflection on her gender identity, racial identity, or both; and is viola player a gender or just a sexual orientation?”
And that’s this month’s list! Thanks so much for being here.