The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow: An Earth invaded by aliens, where emotion is illegal. Ellie keeps a secret illicit library, and it’s discovered by the alien M0Rr1S–but he’s intrigued by human art. Illegal library + road trip!
Music From Another World by Robin Talley: I loved Talley’s Pulp, a historical YA about lesbian pulp fiction, the 1950s, and queer girls today. This is another historical YA, this time set in the 70s, and I hope it lives up to her previous one!
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson: Two girls both running for prom queen (and the associated scholarship) fall in love! (I didn’t know rivals to lovers was a trope I was looking for, but apparently it is.)
Blood Countess by Lana Popović: I like reading f/f horror in October, and this is an Elizabeth Báthory story, which I always find fascinating. I’ve been looking for a sapphic take!
When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey: I loved Gailey’s River of Teeth, and I’m excited for Magic for Liars, so of course her first YA is on my list. This is also sapphic witches!
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust: I loved Bashardoust’s Girls Made of Snow and Glass, a fairy tale-inspired YA, so I know this one–based on Persian mythology–will be right up my alley.
Out Now: Queer We Go Again! edited by Saundra Mitchell: All Out is an incredible YA anthology, encompassing so many queer identities, and reclaiming a happy queer past. So of course I’m going to be picking up the contemporary anthology in the same vein.
The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey: I love the sound of this book–a haunted house narrative with a museum’s whole mammal collection as backdrop? Plus an f/f romance? I didn’t know I wanted this!
Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner: A photo of celebrity Jo and her assistant Emma laughing together gets them labelled a couple, and the paparazzi goes out of control. The rumour wasn’t true when it started… but as they spend more time together, they realize it may be coming true after all.
All My Mother’s Lovers by Ilana Masad: After Maggie’s mother dies, she leaves 5 envelopes, all addressed to men Maggie has never heard of. Now she is on a road trip to hand-deliver this letters and learn about her mother’s hidden life. This sounds like a darker version of 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and I am on board for it.
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat: Honestly, that title alone would do it for me, but I’m also intrigued by this Palestinian-American main character who ends up at a treatment centre for her “love addiction” (being queer).
