A Book I Have ReadBecause You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas
Diversity Note: one of the protagonists is gay
The Because You'll Never Meet Me duology is one that I found so beautiful and unique. It's a kind of sci-fi/contemporary blend, which I think might not work for everyone, but it really worked for me. The story is about Ollie and Moritz, who can't meet because Ollie is allergic to electricity and Moritz's heart beats with a pacemaker. If they meet, one of them would probably die. The story is told in letters where the pair bond over their unusual existences, and over time they learn that they have more in common than they realise. I loved these characters more than I ever thought I could.
A Book On My TBR
Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee
Diversity Note: protagonist is bisexual and biracial
I've heard such excellent things about Not Your Sidekick, but I think even if I hadn't heard a thing I'd still want to read it. It's about a girl from a family of heroes who has no powers of her own, who gets an internship for the town's supervillain. It sounds super fun and apparrently there is a really cute romance. The cover makes the book look so lively, but I also get the feeling it will have a lot of deep moments too. I don't actually have a copy of this yet and I'm not even sure it's been published in the UK because the paperback edition online is kind of expensive (and also has the dimensions of a US paperback - because for some reason I pay attention to that stuff). I really hope to get a hold of a copy because I'm almost certain I'll love it!
A Book Not Yet Published
27 Hours by Tristina Wright
Diversity Note: bisexual and asexual characters
My diversity note for this book is incomplete right now - I've heard this book is incredibly diverse in even more ways but since I'm only certain for now that there are bi and ace characters that is all I'll say so I don't promote anything that is incorrect! But seriously, I've heard this book is diverse on a lot of fronts. I've read barely any books set in space, but this one seems pretty epic. Plus I believe the author's tag for it is #QueerTeensInSpace, and that in itself feels like a pretty convincing summary as to why I need to read it. I just hope it does justice to all the experiences it intends to cover, because like with many books that promise a wealth of diversity, I fear not everything will get the written attention it deserves.
What about you? What books would you put for these 3 categories? Have you read any of the ones I've listed? What did you think? Is there anything you would recommend to me?
What a great feature! I adored Because You'll Never Meet Me, and I found the unique format in which it was written was really gripping! I loved the characters and it just... it was so close to perfection. <3
ReplyDeleteHm. I'm currently reading "The Things We Promise" by J.C. Burke, which is set in the 1990s and the main character's brother has AIDS. Naturally there's lots of bigotry and prejudice, as was quite common back then during the AIDS epidemic.
Cass @ Words on Paper
I love this feature too - I'd really recommend checking out Bookshelves and Paperbacks who started it up :)
DeleteOllie and Moritz are my precious children and the book felt one of a kind. I know it wasn't perfect but it was the perfect book for me! I'm glad you loved it too.
I actually forgot that I'd heard about The Things We Promise, but mainly from the negative reviews regarding the intense homophobia and racism and offensive language used towards mentally ill people. However, I know many people also really connected with the book, and I hope you will get something out of it too :)
I LOVED Not Your Sidekick and have the other two books featured on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteMy latest read was Shattered by Lee Winters, a W/W superhero romance that was really good. I also just added Spinning to by TBR from another blogger's post. It's a comic memoir of an ice skater coming out.
Not Your Sidekick sounds really awesome and sweet, and I would really recommend Because You'll Never Meet Me because it is pure adorable-ness.
DeleteI haven't heard of either of those books but they sound really interesting and I will definitely check them out!
I love this list! I am so happy you chose BYNMM. Such a beautiful and precious book that deserves so much more love than it receives <3
ReplyDeleteNot Your Sidekick was really cute! I liked it but not quite as much as everyone else. I still recommend it for a cute superhero f/f romance book, though!
I am super keen for 27 Hours, but I am also a little worried in the same regard as you: that there is so much diversity that the nuance that identities deserve in fiction might be missing. I have heard good things about it, though, so I do hold out hope.
As for my picks...
Read: Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin. This book is so good and I want more people to read it! The MC is bi (or pan, there aren't any labels), and it is so amazing and lyrical. I adored it.
Want to Read: Chameleon Moon by Roanna Sylver. I have only heard incredible things, and it has polyamorous characters in it, which makes me super keen :D
Not Yet Published: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. Which is kind of cheating since I own it already but I adored it so ^.^
I completely agree with you on BYNMM. It needs all the love from all the people and I try to recommend it to everyone.
DeleteI'm glad you liked Not Your Sidekick, although I'm sorry it didn't entirely live up to the hype. I don't think it's been published in the UK which is always really annoying but I really need more superhero books in my life, especially if they're queer!
For now I'm trying to keep my expectations for 27 Hours low, but I really hope it lives up to what it promises.
I haven't heard of the first two books you mentioned but they sound really interesting and I'm going to check them out becuase I can never have enough diverse books.
The one I have heard of is The Both Die at the End, and I'm kind of excited to read it. I normally tend to avoid sad books, and I wasn't a fan of History is All You Left Me (which I always feel so bad to say because I wanted to support it so much). But there has been so much love for They Both Die at the End already and I kind of caved in and requested in on Edelweiss in hopes that I will love it too!