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Gay the Pray Away
by Natalie Naudus&“Composed with equal parts sweetness, care, and stubborn queer perseverance.&”—Casey McQuiston, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Red, White & Royal BlueIn this gripping queer YA romance perfect for fans of Malinda Lo and Becky Albertalli, an Asian American teen longs to break free of the conservative cult she was raised in.Valerie Danners is in a cult. She just doesn&’t know it yet. But when she stumbles upon a queer romance novel at the library, everything about her life—centered around a fundamentalist Christian homeschooling group —is thrown into question. And to make things even more complicated, there&’s a new girl in town. Riley is rebellious, kindhearted, and impossibly cool. As the two bond over being multiracial teens in their very white and very religious community, Valerie finds herself falling in love.Soon Valerie and Riley are exchanging notes in secret and stealing kisses behind the church. But even as their romance blooms, Valerie knows that they&’re trapped. If Valerie wants a chance at writing her own story, she must choose between staying with a family she fears will never accept her and running away with the girl she loves.
The Taste of Ink
by Eve MortonTrevor Dunn has never gone to the Calgary Stampede. In spite of living in the city all his life, he would much rather stay in his basement and listen to music while drawing comics. When his sister Madeline tricks him to come to the Stampede's opening parade, Trevor believes this is a temporary event ... until he sees a man in a green cowboy hat named Charlie.Over the next few days, Charlie changes Trevor's mind about the Stampede, about country music, and what being a cowboy is really about. When an old flame from Trevor's past -- Mathieu, a punk singer turned acoustic country crooner -- appears in the middle of the festival, Trevor isn’t sure what to do. He likes Charlie and the new life he's been shown, but Mathieu is Trevor's first love, and the one person who understands what life is really like in Calgary basements.The Stampede, Madeline reminds Trevor, is only a ten day affair, then Charlie will go back to his job in Toronto and Mathieu will go on tour. Should Trevor try to make amends with Mathieu and his past, or should he stay with Charlie and embrace a new kind of future? Can there be life outside of Calgary basements? Or will Trevor always be stuck in the shadows, never riding off into the sunset?
The Hidden Heart
by Patrick Bryce WrightAt the Kissinger-Mann Detective Agency, the mystery of love is solved just as often as crimes. When Detective Ellis Isaacs joins the agency, he falls in love with his silver fox of a boss, Richard Quillen. However, Ellis faces two big problems: he tends to fall for straight men, and even when he doesn’t, Ellis’s ex-boyfriends claim he’s inaccessible or even cold. Also, he has no idea how Richard will react to the age gap between them.As Ellis works hard to spend time with Richard outside of work, problem after problem unfolds. Is Richard straight, or is he already dating a male coworker? Is the age gap a problem, or is the issue Ellis’s reputation for being cold? Will this older, wiser man see Ellis’s true heart and return his feelings, or will Ellis’s heart remain hidden?
Redouble
by Feral SephrianThorn is less than pleased to see Dylan at their first major fencing tournament of the semester. He and Dylan had had a brief but hot and passionate fling after the championships half a year ago, but then Dylan cut Thorn out of his life with no explanation and they haven’t seen each other since. A fencing tournament is a good place to vent frustrations -- it’s one of the few places where it’s okay to stab your ex with a sword -- but Thorn doesn’t just want to vent, he wants answers.However, when Dylan does apologize and give his side of the story, it doesn’t make Thorn feel better. If anything, he’s even more conflicted between accepting Dylan’s excuses so they can be together again, or holding firm to protect his wounded pride and giving Dylan the same cold shoulder Thorn received months ago. But as they meet as rivals on the fencing strip, can Thorn really retreat from this chance to rekindle what they had before? Or will he lunge for this opportunity to see where it takes them?
Midwinter Box Set
by K. L. NooneIn a magical Regency London at Midwinter, anything can happen -- from ice elementals to art theft, from marriage proposals to marriages of convenience turned real. This box set includes the four best-selling stories in K.L. Noone's Regency Midwinter series, a prequel to her popular Demon for Midwinter universe. When Preternatural Division Bow Street Runner Kit Thompson is sent to investigate unnatural weather, he finds more than expected in Harry, Viscount Sommersby. Contains the stories:Snowed In: Kit and Harry: Someone or something is causing magical blizzards at Fairleigh Hall. Constable Kit Thompson is to investigate. The Earl’s brother, Harry Arden, wants to help, but he’s an irritating temptation. The estate hides a family secret. When they end up snowed in together at the old hunting lodge, they’ll learn to trust each other with their secrets ... and their hearts.Midwinter Firelight: Kit Thompson, Bow Street Preternatural Division constable, is looking forward to Midwinter. His lover Harry, Viscount Sommersby, is visiting, and Kit wants to show Harry London and has plans for Harry in bed. But Kit’s Chief Magistrate needs him. And the case is important. Taking up Kit’s time. Even worse, Harry wants to help. And Kit could use Harry’s talents. But that means endangering Harry.Midwinter Music: Preternatural Division chief magistrate Sam has a problem. Someone’s magically stealing art. His scandalous ex-stepbrother is in Town. And if John knows about the thefts, Sam needs to find out. John loathed his viscount stepfather, even before his mother fled the marriage. But he cares about his family. He’s here for justice, even if that involves theft. But he might not mind being caught by Sam.Midwinter Marriage: The Honorable Edmund Rookwood needs to get married. By Midwinter. Or his father will disinherit him. Edmund has never fallen in love easily and, according to his father, he’s a disappointment. Who would say yes to him? Fortunately, his best friend Sebastian offers to help. Sebastian’s proposal is logical, but this Midwinter marriage of convenience awakens unexpected emotions.
Echoes of a Fractured Past
by Amanda MurrLeighton Voss arrives on Echo Island, drawn by reports of strange occurrences which have disrupted its once tranquil serenity. As an investigative journalist with a passion for uncovering hidden stories, Leighton hopes to uncover the truth behind the island’s mysteries, something that might offer the clarity she’s been seeking, both in her career and her personal life. What she doesn’t expect is to become entangled in a mystery that feels far more personal and unsettling than anything she’s chased before.While exploring the island’s jagged cliffs, Leighton stumbles upon a hidden passage that leads her to a world frozen in time -- a vintage village suspended in the past and a woman named Audrey, whose quiet sadness seems to hold the key to the island’s strange happenings. Audrey’s elegance and mysterious presence immediately draw Leighton in, and as the two grow closer, Leighton finds herself deeply immersed in the enigma surrounding Audrey and the island.Caught between the need to uncover the truth and her growing, undeniable feelings for Audrey, Leighton is forced to face an impossible choice. There may be a way out of the cycle that has entrapped the island, but escaping it could mean losing the woman she’s come to care for. As the tension between the promise of freedom and her emotional attachment to Audrey intensifies, Leighton must confront how much she’s willing to sacrifice -- not just for her own future, but for the woman who has captured her heart.
Falling
by Alexandra CaluenIf the helicopter had to crash, at least it was during the last shot on the last day of filming. After moving from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility, movie star Jonathan is expecting his on-and-off girlfriend to swing by on her way out of town. The person who opens the door is his former on-set nutritionist Billy. They were never more than friends before. But Jonathan wants to know if he comes out as bi, could they go on a date?Billy didn’t have much of a plan when he left his pandemic volunteer gig to drive across three states. All he knew was Jonathan could have been killed in Las Vegas, and Billy wasn’t there. Now Jonathan’s assistant has ditched the actor and he needs help, so Billy steps in. He’s positive when Jonathan’s discharged, they’ll discuss that date.But recovery takes a detour, and Jonathan’s second near-death experience means they have to put the brakes on a relationship. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, two of Jonathan’s past partners are negotiating their own new relationship, and Billy realizes the best thing for all of them might be ... all of them. The only real question is, does Jonathan still want him as part of the deal?
A Helping Hand to Love Box Set
by Pat HenshawEveryone needs a helping hand at one time or another to find their path to love. Sometimes the hand is extended from a person or other times it’s a gentle push from circumstances. Either way, if like the gay men in these stories, the man takes the hint, he will discover happily ever after isn’t just a slogan but a reality.Contains the stories:12 Blind Dates: Two years after a bad breakup with his fiancé, Luke's friends think it's time he started dating again. A dozen blind dates should get him back into circulation, right?A Kiss in Time: When Joel, an undercover cop, asks graffiti artist Eric to become his roommate, Eric jumps at the chance to live with the handsome Joel. But when trouble follows Joel to his new place, is Eric ready to help save the roommate he’s falling in love with?The Thaw: Nebraska farmer Vladimir Wazniak and cowboy rancher Tommy Sullivan ended their friendship when Vlad kissed Tommy in college. Now ten years later they have a chance to mend their fences. Will love obliterate the fence once and for all?A Short Essay on Love: When star football player Jason Woodard reluctantly heads into the English writing lab, little does he know he’ll be walking into forever with tutor Steve Smith. All Jase thinks he needs is help writing an essay on love. But do they both really need a lesson in love instead?
Vampires Have Lives, Too Box Set
by Edward KendrickFive stories about vampires who, just like their human counterparts, live life to its fullest. They can be happy lives, sad or lonely ones, or ones full of anger. Vampires can have families, and most importantly, they can and do fall in love. Contains the stories:Lonely Vampire: Vampire Armand knows what it means to be lonely. Then he catches Tino, a new vampire in town, playing Robin Hood and points out that he's not giving to the poor. So the pair band together to create shelters for the homeless. Has Armand finally found the one man who will make his life complete? Or will a rogue vampire who preys on the homeless destroy any hope of happiness for the lonely vampire?I Hunt by Night: My name is Lucas. I was human, once. Now, I'm a vampire and I detest humans. I will do all I can to eliminate them. I'll be declared rogue if I'm not careful. I thought I was until Axel appeared. He's a vampire, sexy as hell, and he's been watching me. Luckily he detests humans too. The attraction is there, and our shared desire to destroy humans. Can we, without being caught? Only time will tell.The Family Martell: Vampires Dorian and Cecily adopt three human children, who agree to be turned when they come of age. They join the family business and Griff falls in lust with Nolan, his parents' human partner. Margie, their daughter, loves Wayne, a human doctor. Brad is bi, so when he meets vampire Ewan, and his Sire, Alexia, it causes problems that will take the entire Martell family to solve if they can.The Midnight Detective: When Wyn's young daughter and her mother, Marianne, disappear, he hires Christoph, a private detective, to find them even though he knows Christoph is a vampire. They are drawn to each other once Christoph leans that Wyn is unrepentantly bi. Can Christoph find Wyn's daughter? And how will the two men handle the fact they've become lovers when one is human and the other definitely is not?Burke and the Vampire: What would you do if you discovered you could sense vampires? Burke didn't believe they existed until it happened to him. Horrified, he vows to eliminate them. Vampire Reynaud must find the slayer dubbed The Hunter. It turns out to be easier than anticipated when events transpire to reveal it's his new friend, Burke. Can opposites attract, or will their differences destroy the possibility of love?
Sweetest Taboo
by TinneanThe Sebring family has been involved with espionage for centuries, and as the firstborn son, Anthony Sebring II has every intention of fulfilling his parents’ expectations. To that end, when the United States is thrust into the Second World War, Tony enlists in the Navy, eager to enter the war and do his part to defeat the Axis powers that threaten the freedom and safety of his beloved Country. Instead, however, he finds himself assigned to a position in DC, working surreptitiously with his father.Tony is gay and is comfortable with his homosexuality, although he isn’t able to act on it -- his devotion to his country overshadows that. Meanwhile, his father is unaware and arranges a marriage with a local girl. Before Tony can refuse, Allegra reveals she’s already married to a young soldier of whom her parents disapprove, and she begs Tony for help. As a gentleman, he can’t say no, but this causes problems with his siblings, Jefferson, Bryan, and Portia, who are upset he never told them he was involved with a young lady.While Tony is fiercely devoted to his siblings, most especially his youngest brother, he can’t divulge Allegra’s secret to them, since it isn’t his to reveal. Things have a way of coming out, however, especially when they learn Allegra is pregnant. When Tony refuses to marry her, even after their meddling fathers threaten to have her marriage annulled, he’s banished to London to work with an obscure branch of British security.Some months later, the war in Europe ends and he learns he’s to be sent to the Pacific Theater. En route, he stops in New York, where he takes the opportunity to see his siblings, only to be told by the woman he’d thought was his mother that he isn’t a Sebring, and he’s never to contact the only people he loves -- the secret about his birth could ruin everything he holds dear. Tony leaves without revealing this to them.But Sebrings, no matter what their age, have the ability to ferret out secrets. How will they react when they learn the truth of his birth, and how will Tony deal with the loss of the one person who means the world to him?
Fragile
by Eve MortonAt twenty-four, college graduate Carly Rogers finds herself still living with her cold and distant mother and her half-sister Cynthia. As Carly moves from one minimum wage job to another, she reads books alone in her room, reconnects with her best friend Landon, and takes care of her great-aunt Dorothy on the weekends. Her life is quiet and nonthreatening until she meets Ashley at her new job.Ashley is a fun, energetic, and intelligent woman who has been forced to leave her old life behind due to a medical condition. Through work, and the start of a book club, Ashley and Carly share their pasts and hopes for the future.When change comes, Carly is forced to make a decision. Does she stay where she thought she always belonged, or strive for something better? Is it possible for her and Ashley to build a new life without feeling like the fragile creatures everyone thinks they are?
Tulips for Two
by K. L. NooneAndrew Frost-Hall is technically the Duke of Glendon, even though he thinks of himself as a botanist first. He also hates flying. Unfortunately, he’s on a plane right now, headed to a horticultural conference.But handsome fellow passenger David provides a good distraction, especially when it turns out they’re headed to the same destination. Even better -- or worse -- David has read Andrew’s book ... and knows exactly who he is.As Andrew and David discover a shared love of science and flowers, their coincidence of travel just might blossom into something more.
On Dragon Row Box Set
by Holly DayGemstones. Beautiful sparklies. Treasured jewels. Nothing’s more important than that, except finding your mate.In this box set, you’ll meet three dragon shifters who all live on the same street, Dragon Row. They’re obsessed with pretty gemstones and precious metals, but being in the human realm also gives them an opportunity they never had in the dragon realm. They can find mates among the human population.Contains the stories:The Book Dragon’s Lair: Egil is running a bookstore on Dragon Row while Draken, his dragon mate, is away fighting a war on the other side of the veil. He is finally free, so when word reaches him that Draken is on his way home after having been injured, he considers running away. It isn't Draken stepping over the threshold, though. Can Egil pretend the new dragon is his mate? And what will happen if Draken comes back?Mated to the Fire Dragon: Zale wanted to see a dragon. He never expected a miracle. Zale is dying, but he wants to see a dragon before he goes. Albus is a white dragon with no status, but when Zale steps into his smithy, everything inside him catches fire. Albus can tell Zale is dying, and he could breathe fire into him, but then they'd be mated. He can't force Zale to live his entire life with a white dragon, can he?The Dragon’s Prisoner: Stealing from a dragon is bad, getting caught is worse. Kasper is a thief who wants to quit but is forced to do one last job. Saxon the Sinful owns a jewelry store, and one day a human has the audacity to try to steal from him. Being a dragon’s prisoner wasn’t part of Kasper’s plan, but now that he is, he’s not sure he wants to escape. But there is no future for a thief and a dragon, is there?
Comedic Timing: A Modern Romance (831 Stories)
by Upasna BarathMoving to NYC means a fresh start for Naina, until an unexpected connection has her questioning everything she thought she knew about love, ambition, and her place in the world.&“People who've been &‘that woman crying on the subway just after moving to New York&’ will feel so seen. (It's me. I'm people.) Comedic Timing is a raw depiction of romance and friendship, featuring all the complexity of navigating sex and love as a bi woman.&” —Kate Goldbeck, author of You, Again Naina Rao is ready for this to be her year: She&’s entered her mid-twenties, landed a steady job, broken up with her intensely passionate older girlfriend Sofia, and committed to hustling her way into a creative career. But the city doesn&’t exactly embrace her with open arms – at least not until she meets David, an aspiring filmmaker and collaborator who makes New York start to feel like home. But is this a professional connection or a romantic one? And does opening herself up to a relationship with David mean compromising her sexual identity and her aspirations? The third book from 831 Stories, a modern romantic fiction company that prioritizes pleasure reading and the genre&’s enthusiastic fans. For more pleasure reading, follow @831storieshq.
Disco Witches of Fire Island: A Novel
by Blair Fell&“Heartfelt.&”—The New York TimesHit the dance floor with a coven of queer witches on 1980s Fire Island in this gay fantasy romance about finding magic, love, and family in the face of tragedy. A heartwarming LGBTQ+ novel for fans of steamy romance, loathe-at-first-sight, and Red, White, and Royal Blue. The paperback edition will have sprayed teal edges and foil on the cover!It&’s 1989, and Joe Agabian and his best friend Ronnie set out to spend their first summer working in the hedonistic gay paradise of Fire Island Pines. Joe is desperate to let loose and finally move beyond the heartbreak of having lost his boyfriend to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.The two friends are quickly taken in by a pair of quirky, older house cleaners. But something seems off, and Joe starts to suspect the two older men of being up to something otherworldly. In truth, Howie and Lenny are members of a secret disco witch coven tasked with protecting the island—and young men like Joe—from the relentless tragedies ravaging their community. The only problem is, having lost too many of their fellow witches to the epidemic, the coven&’s protective powers have been seriously damaged.Unaware of all the mystical shenanigans going on, Joe starts to fall for the super-cute bisexual ferryman who just happens to have webbed feet and an unusual ability to hold his breath underwater. But Joe&’s longing to find love is tripped up by his own troublesome past as well as the lure of a mysterious hunk he keeps seeing around the island—a man Howie and Lenny warn may be a harbinger of impending doom. The Disco Witches need to find help—fast—if they&’re to save Joe and the island from the Great Darkness. But how? Fans of spicy queer romances with a dash of fantasy will fall in love with this stunning novel of community, love, sex, magic, and hope in desperate times.
At the End of the River Styx
by Michelle KulwickiBefore he can be reborn, Zan has spent 499 years bound in a 500-year curse to process souls for the monstrous Ferryman—and if he fails he dies. In Portland, Bastian is grieving. He survived a car accident that took his mother and impulse-purchased a crumbling bookstore with the life insurance money. But in sleep, death’s mark keeps dragging Bastian into Zan’s office. It shouldn’t be a problem to log his soul and forget he ever existed. But when Zan follows Bastian through his memories of grief and hope, Zan realizes that he is not ready for Bastian to die.The boys borrow time hiding in the memories of the dead while the Ferryman hunts them, and Zan must decide if he’s willing to give up his chance at life to save Bastian—and Bastian must decide if he’s willing to keep living if it means losing Zan.
Camila Núñez's Year of Disasters
by Miriam Zoila PérezCuban-American Camila Nuñez has always been afraid of the future. Maybe it's because her mami seems to make worrying about her a full-time job or because she’s uncomfortable in her own skin. But whatever the cause, she can’t seem to shake her anxiety and panic attacks. So when Camila's best friend gives her a tarot card reading for her birthday, she believes it when the cards portend terrible things to come. As the year unfolds, the cards seem to be spot on—is her papi having an affair? Will her best friend’s love life tank their friendship? Is her new, nonbinary love interest going to break her heart like the girl in Miami did?Whether she likes it or not, Camila is forced to reckon with all the ways her fear about the future is ruining her life, and what it will really take to get back on track.
The Devourer
by Alison AmesAdrasteia Dantes always knew she’d be a pirate captain. She just didn’t know she’d be seventeen years old when it happened.Adra takes the helm of the Worldeater after her half-brother Cameron attacks their father and steals a priceless treasure map. Now, the young captain has only one desire: revenge. She will restore her father’s honor by killing her brother, reclaiming the map he stole, and finding the legendary treasure at the grave of the first pirate king. But when Adra discovers her brother’s ship destroyed and his crew dead, spare a sole survivor, she learns there’s something lurking in the sea that’s killing pirates, taking entire ships down with ease. Adra takes the girl prisoner in hopes of tracking down Cameron, but no one will survive to see the treasure if they don’t find and stop the Devourer first.If Adra wants to save her ship, she’ll have to strike a deal to help the Devourer reclaim something that was taken from her long ago. But it seems that their individual quests for vengeance might be leading them to the same end . . . .
A Vile Season
by David FerraroBridgerton meets The Bachelor in this queer regency romance of a vampire competing for the heart of a duke.After being run out of his castle by vampire hunters, Count Lucian encounters the god of vampires, Vrykolakas, while in hiding. Unhappy with how many vampires have been bested by hunters, Vrykolakas gives Lucian a test: Infiltrate the future duke’s marriage games as a suitor and uncover the clandestine vampire hunters Vrykolakas suspects lurk in their midst. The god strips Lucian of his immortality so he can walk amongst mortals—making him human for the first time in centuries. If Lucian succeeds, Vrykolakas will make him the most powerful vampire in existence, but if he fails, the god of vampires will torture him for the rest of his life.Unfortunately, Lucian isn’t prepared for the emotions that come with humanity, nor the treacheries of courting season with fellow nobles posing as friends, enemies, and wholly unsuitable romantic distractions. To win the life he wants, Lucian will have to decide if being a vampire is worth giving up the friendship and love he’s found.
You Lied to Me About God: A Memoir
by Jamie Marich"An intimate and important memoir of deconstructing and reconstructing faith after abuse ... a spiritual memoir that does not shy away from abuse, queerness, or the multifaceted character of God." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)A courageous, vulnerable, and spellbinding memoir that explores with visceral impact what happens when harm starts at home—and is exalted as God&’s will For readers of Unfollow and Jesus Land: Jamie Marich explores spiritual abuse, intergenerational trauma, and weaponized faithAt nine years old, Jamie Marich asked God to end it all.Doing it herself would be an irrevocable sin: an affront to the church and her father&’s God. She prayed instead for the rapture, an accident, a passive death—anything to stop the turmoil of feeling wrong: wrong in her body; wrong in her desires; wrong in her faith in a merciful God that could love her wholly as she was.You Lied to Me About God explores the schisms that erupt when faith is weaponized, when abuse collides with the push-and-pull of a mixed religious upbringing tyhat tells you: no matter which path you choose—no matter what you know in your heart to be true—you&’re probably damned.With resilience, strength, and gut-punching clarity, Marich takes readers through a tumultuous coming-of-age marked by addiction, escapism, spiritual manipulation, misogyny, and abuse. She shares with unflinching detail the complicity of her mother&’s silence and the lengths her father went to assert dominance and control over her body, her desires, her identity—and even her eternal soul—&”for her own good&” and with a side of televangelistic hellfire.Hitting a breaking point, Marich embarks on pilgrimage: from shrines in Croatia to ashrams in Florida, she reckons with what it means to come home to a faith that heals and accepts her wholly as she is: in her queerness, in her body, and in her deep relationship to an expansive and loving God.
Curveball
by Eric GoodmanA star rookie pitcher is making a statement in his first major league season—but will the secret he&’s been keeping derail everything he&’s been working toward?&“Eric Goodman&’s Curveball dwells in its details in the most fascinating way—and it reaches far beyond its baseball setting to become a first-rate intergenerational drama as well as a delightful read.&” —T.C. Boyle &“Goodman does a fine job depicting the conflicts of a young player… In this knowing, compelling novel…&” —George Vecsey, georgevecsey.com Jess Singer, pitching prodigy and son of the infamous Jewish Joe Singer—who starred on the mound for the same MLB team twenty-five years earlier—is blessed with a plus-plus curveball, possesses immense athletic abilities, and is on the fast-track to stardom. But he&’s harboring perhaps the most potent secret a professional athlete can possess: his sexual preference. In this briskly paced, highly entertaining novel following three generations of Singers during Jess&’s first year in The Show, Eric Goodman imagines what life might be like for a gay baseball player. Will Jess live in a confined closet or do what no baseball player has done yet? Goodman charts Jess&’s path with tremendous sensitivity and grace, while detailing a season as riveting as watching your favorite underdog take their shot at the golden ring. Written with Goodman&’s usual flair, humor, and zing—not to mention his deep knowledge and love of baseball—Curveball is a feel-good love story in which virtue and a wicked curve triumph over considerable adversity. &“Fast and fun, Curveball, like its predecessor, In Days of Awe, is the best kind of sports story—gripping, poetic, and down-to-the wire. Even the non-fan will get swept away. This isn&’t just a story about baseball...it&’s about family and secrets and love, and about what&’s passed on from one generation to the next. I don&’t know anyone who writes about baseball like Eric Goodman. He&’s got the savvy of an old pro, and the velocity of a young prospect.&” —Rajiv Joseph
Outside Voices: A Memoir of the Berkeley Revolution
by Joan GelfandBerkeley, 1972: a hotbed of creativity where painters, filmmakers, musicians, and writers inspire a young poet.Second-wave feminism, inspired by Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug, and Betty Friedan is swelling into a tsunami. Women are joining together to change power dynamics in politics, the home, and the workplace. On election day, Joan Gelfand casts her vote for George McGovern and boards a plane from New York to California. With one introduction to a woman musician, Joan&’s journey to become a writer is born. Embraced by a thriving women&’s community of artists, filmmakers, musicians, poets, and writers, Joan is encouraged to find her voice. Mentored by paradigm-changing writers, Joan finds the courage to face her darkest fears through poetry and art, mining the trauma she experienced after losing her father and questioning her Jewish identity. Reminiscent of Paris in the twenties, Greenwich Village in the sixties, and Berlin in the eighties, Berkeley in the seventies was the &“it&” city of America. Outside Voices reports the ups and downs of finding one&’s way as an artist, living with a women&’s band, forging an independent Jewish identity, founding a women&’s restaurant, and becoming a published writer and songwriter while exploring the limits of sexuality and spirituality. The story includes road trips to music festivals in the woods, beaches in Mexico, concerts in Southern California, and a retreat in the Pacific Northwest. A triumphant story of determination and will, Outside Voices is a backstage look at the women&’s movement that sets the stage for decades of change. This book is a firsthand look at how the power of community emboldened innovation, social change, and self-discovery.
Beautiful Monster: A Becoming
by Miles BorreroA breathtaking, exquisitely crafted memoir about a trans person&’s singular journey through breaching the boundaries of gender—across generations, cultures and borders—to become his truest, most authentic self.Nearing the age of forty, with an entire life already lived as a woman—half in Colombia, half in the US—Miles Borrero comes face to face with his father&’s impending death. Suddenly realizing that he has been stalling his transition for fear of losing his family&’s love, this moment catalyzes Miles&’s determination to be fully known as his father&’s son before it is too late. In Beautiful Monster, Miles chronicles his unusual childhood, by turns riveting and hilarious, in &’80s and &’90s Colombia during the Pablo Escobar years, as well as his move to Salt Lake City to pursue acting and the winding trajectory that eventually lands him in the New York City yoga scene. Within these very different cultures, the realities of being queer and trans echo poignantly through the triumphs, heartbreaks, family dynamics, spiritual pursuits, and relationships that propel Miles along his path. Sublimely nuanced and written in ravishing prose that is as unique and irresistible as its subject, Beautiful Monster is one person&’s story of navigating the pressures to perform femininity while becoming a gender outlaw. Brimming with wonder, humor, and mythos, entertaining and enlightening in equal measure, this book offers a compelling case for embracing one&’s true nature.
Idlewild
by James Frankie ThomasJames Frankie Thomas’s Idlewild is a darkly funny story of two adults looking back on their intense teenage friendship, in a queer, trans, and early-Internet twist on the Manhattan prep school novel. <P><P> Idlewild is a tiny, artsy Quaker high school in lower Manhattan. Students call their teachers by their first names, there are no grades, and every day begins with 20 minutes of contemplative silence in the Meetinghouse. It is during one of those meetings that an airplane hits the Twin Towers. <P><P> For two Idlewild outcasts, 9/11 serves as the first day of an intense, 18-month friendship. Fay is prickly, aloof, and obsessed with gay men; Nell is shy, sensitive, and obsessed with Fay. The two of them bond fiercely and spend all their waking hours giddily parsing their environment for homoerotic subtext. <P><P> Then, during rehearsals for the fall play, they notice two sexually ambiguous boys who are potential candidates for their exclusive Invert Society. The pairs become mirrors of one another and drive each other to make choices that they’ll regret for the rest of their lives. <P><P> Looking back on these events as adults, the estranged Fay and Nell trace that fateful school year, recalling backstage theater department intrigue, antiwar demonstrations, smutty fanfic written over AIM and a shared dial-up connection—and the spectacular cascade of mistakes, miscommunications, and betrayals that would ultimately tear the two of them apart.
LGBTQ+ Heroes: 51 Inspiring Icons Who Changed the World (History's Greatest Heroes)
by L. V. HestonMeet extraordinary LGBTQ+ heroes from throughout history—51 biographies for kids ages 8 to 12You're invited to meet artists, athletes, scientists, activists, and more—all in the same book. LGBTQ+ Heroes introduces you to 51 LGBTQ+ role models from today and as far back as the 1800s who have used their voices to uplift and advance their community, their fields of work or study, and the world!This collection of biographies for kids celebrates the lives and accomplishments of LGBTQ+ trailblazers whose dedication, impressive skills, and bravery have helped pave the way for a better future.Fascinating biographies—Discover LGBTQ+ icons like writer Oscar Wilde, singer Billie Eilish, actor Elliot Page, scientist Alan L. Hart, astronaut Sally Ride, basketball player Jason Collins, activist Marsha P. Johnson, and so many more!Ways to learn more—Each brief biography includes an inspiring quote, and another way to learn about the person and their work, like a book to read, a website to visit, or a video to watch!Colorful portraits—Bring these heroes to life with beautiful, full-color, illustrated portraits of each person.LGBTQ+ Heroes goes beyond other biographies for kids to highlight people from around the world and across time.Who will your new hero be?