Winging It with You

Winging It with You

by Chip Pons

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2025. 384 pages. Romance.

Asher Bennet thought his relationship was just fine. Until he’s unceremoniously dumped at the Boston airport ahead of the world-wide travel competition reality show, The Epic Trek. Asher is determined to find a new partner and luckily, right in front of him is a smooth-talking airline pilot ready for takeoff. Theo Fernandez has been grounded. As he struggles to bask in his new downtime, without reconnecting with his family, he stumbles upon the perfect opportunity. Theo and Asher buckle up to fake date for the cameras, but as they do the undercurrents of attraction make them wonder if their on-screen chemistry hints at something bigger.

Every so often, I need what I call "cotton candy" reads: something light and fluffy, perhaps without a lot of substance, but sweet and palatable. That's exactly what I found in this work. The main characters are both extremely lovable, and it really just hit the spot. 

Too often, MM romances are written for the female gaze, with heteronormative standards (i.e., one masc partner with one femme), or unrealistic sex mechanics, or blatant fetishization. Pons does a good job of writing a realistic, refreshing story with surprising emotional depth for the genre. 

I also appreciated how he chose to focus on the joy the characters are pursuing rather than the pain they go through: we still feel pain in both sides of the story, but it's not the central focus as happens all too often in gay literature. 

A delightful, modern rom-com with impressive character development despite an ending that might have dragged the tiniest bit.

If We Survive This

If We Survive This

by Racquel Marie

Feiwel & Friends, 2025. 336 pages. Horror.

A colorful creative who spends as much time fearing death as she does trying to hide that fear from her loved ones, Flora Braddock Paz has always considered herself weak. But half a year into the global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transforms people into violent, zombielike "rabids," she and her older brother Cain are still alive. With their mom dead, their dad missing, and their LA suburb left desolate, they form a new plan to venture out to the secluded Northern California cabin they vacationed in growing up―their best chance at a safe haven and maybe even seeing their dad again. The dangers of the world have changed, but so has Flora. Still, their journey up the state is complicated by encounters with familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year. And for Flora, one thing inevitably remains: no matter how far you run, death is never far behind.

I haven't read very many apocalyptic stories that feature queer or neurodiverse characters, and this one refreshingly has both. The sibling dynamics between Flora and Cain seemed very true to life. This spooky little read has its fair share of violence and gore, but it mainly centers on community, family, and belonging. This wasn't nearly as nightmare-inducing as the bone-chilling oeuvre of Stephen King and the like (but I did have to pause when a certain inevitable scene involving the dog Biscuit came around... don't worry, the dog doesn't die).

The Phoenix Keeper

The Phoenix Keeper

by S.A. MacLean

Orbit, 2024. 496 pages. Fantasy

As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila's childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There's just one glaring caveat: her zoo's breeding program hasn't functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins. But saving a species from extinction will require help from the hotshot (and hot) griffin keeper at the zoo's most popular exhibit, who happens to be her arch-rival from college. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila's success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job: the future of a species – and her love life – now rests on her shoulders.

This work struck just the right chord for me: funny and relatable characters, fantasy creatures amid a surprisingly pedestrian life with emails and DVDs, intrigue and suspense in trying to prevent a heist, and of course queer romance involving our female protagonist and characters of differing genders (although I still think she should have dumped that white man a bit earlier). MacLean has some very poignant messages about wildlife conservation and animal trafficking, entitlement and privilege, introversion and mental health. I also loved the bisexual and trans representation where it's just a part of life, no justification required. The LGBTQ+ elements are woven in naturally without being a slap in the face, which is the queer rep we deserve. Don't let the page count startle you; this character-focused book has a gentle (and intensifying) pace, but with a writing style engaging enough to keep the pages turning.

Wrong Answers Only

Wrong Answers Only

by Tobias Madden

Page Street YA, 2024. 384 pages. Realistic fiction

Marco should be at university, studying biomedicine. Instead, he’s been sent to live on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean with his estranged uncle, all because of a ‘blip’ everyone else is convinced was a panic attack. (Which it most definitely was not.) And even though Marco’s trip is supposed to provide answers – about himself, about his family – all he finds on board the Ocean Melody are more and more questions. But then his best friend CeCe proposes a new plan: for someone who has always done the right thing, in every possible way, it’s time for Marco to get a few things wrong.

It's no secret that I love to go on cruises, so the premise that this book is largely set aboard a cruise ship seemed like a perfect match. However, there was a considerable amount of suspension of disbelief required, and perhaps Madden went a bridge too far for my taste: Hunter's decision to engage in a sexual relationship with someone who is essentially a passenger would definitely have gotten him fired, full stop. It's worth noting that this work definitely doesn't classify as a romance; it's more closely a bildungsroman, and it focuses on Marco's sense of self (including a realistic depiction of grappling with anxiety), as well as his family and friend relationships. Madden also sheds light on generational differences regarding views on homosexuality, which definitely rings true.

To Shape a Dragon's Breath

To Shape a Dragon's Breath

by Moniquill Blackgoose
Del Rey, 2023. 511 pages. Fantasy

Book #1 in the "Nampeshiweisit" series

The remote island of Masquapaug has not seen a dragon in many generations—until fifteen-year-old Anequs finds a dragon’s egg and bonds with its hatchling. To her people, Anequs is revered as Nampeshiweisit—a person in a unique relationship with a dragon. Unfortunately for Anequs, the Anglish conquerors of her land have different opinions. Only with great reluctance do they allow Anequs to enroll in a proper Anglish dragon school on the mainland. Anequs and her dragon may be coming of age, but they’re also coming to power, and that brings an important realization: the world needs changing—and they might just be the ones to do it.

I'm always a fan of a protagonist that goes to lengths to disrupt the social hierarchy, especially one that is racist and sexist. While it has roots in reality, the world that Blackgoose has created is complex and rich in its history and scope. I particularly enjoyed learning  the details about their fantasy version of chemistry, which others in the genre gloss over or ignore altogether. However, I see how this could be a bit laborious and cumbersome to those with a different academic background. Also, dragons are always fun, but I feel they could have been developed a little further as characters. And the romance was a very slow burn: IIRC first kiss somewhere around 70%. This one definitely needs a sequel.

The Daughters of Izdihar

The Daughters of Izdihar

by Hadeer Elsbai
Harper Voyager, 2023. 384 pages. Fantasy

As a waterweaver, Nehal can move any water to her will, and she desires nothing more than to attend the Weaving Academy, take control of her powers, and pursue a future with the first all-female military regiment. But her family cannot afford to let her go, and Nehal is forcibly married into a wealthy merchant family. Her new spouse is indifferent and in love with another woman, a bookseller named Giorgina. Giorgina has her own secret, however: she is an earthweaver with dangerously uncontrollable powers. Her only solace comes from the Daughters of Izdihar, a radical women's rights group with a simple goal: to attain recognition for women to have a say in their own lives. Tensions are rising with a neighboring nation that desires an end to weaving. As Nehal and Giorgina fight for their rights, the threat of war looms in the background, and the two women find themselves struggling to earn--and keep--a lasting freedom.

I absolutely loved the magic system: elemental magics are my jam! It was also lovely to have the cultural influences of Egypt and Western Asia reflected in this work. I'm usually not a fan of multiple POVs, but Elsbai made the work flow effectively and smoothly between the two tightly intertwined storylines. There were times when the gentle pacing seemed to drag, and the allusions to (and outright portrayal of) civil rights seemed a bit heavy-handed. I wish we had seen more of the protagonist's relationship with Malak, the leader of the Daughters of Izdihar. I also was disappointed that this book was quite long, and yet the ending was extremely unsatisfying. I understand that it's part of a duology, but it felt like the plot was arbitrarily interrupted by the end of the book.

How to Be Remy Cameron

How to Be Remy Cameron

by Julian Winters
Duet, 2019. 340 pages. Realistic fiction

Everyone on campus knows Remy Cameron. He's the out-and-gay, super-likable guy that people admire for his confidence. The only person who may not know Remy that well is Remy himself. So when he is assigned to write an essay describing himself, he goes on a journey to reconcile the labels that people have attached to him, and get to know the real Remy Cameron. 

I enjoyed how this book presented true-to-life depictions of queer adolescence (which, if you're a regular of this blog, you know that YA sometimes misses the mark for me in that regard). I also love how Remy refuses to let either his race or his sexuality be his sole defining characteristic, and Winters grapples with this important issue head on. This book is beautifully written, and there are passages and lines that really captivated me. This work is not so plot-driven and focuses more on introspection while maintaining a lighthearted and positive tone.

The God Box

The God Box

by Alex Sanchez
Simon & Schuster, 2007. 272 pages. Realistic fiction

Paul, a religious teen living in a small conservative town, finds his world turned upside down when he meets Manuel—a young man who says he’s both Christian and gay, two things that Paul didn’t think could coexist in one person. Doesn’t the Bible forbid homosexuality? As Paul struggles with Manuel’s interpretation of the Bible, thoughts that Paul has long tried to bury begin to surface, and he finds himself re-examining his whole life.

Honestly, this book was difficult to read because of how relatable it was. I also grew up religious in a Latinx family in a conservative town, and I struggled (and to a certain extent, still struggle) to reconcile my beliefs with my homosexuality. Sanchez raises some good points in regards to Christian beliefs and Biblical passages regarding homosexuality, like the needed "reformation" of "same-sex attracted" individuals into something less "sinful". While I'm unconvinced as to its efficacy as a tool for "converting" Christian readers into tolerance and acceptance, I don't think that was his goal to begin with. Understandably, some of the events (particularly towards the end of the work) are a bit dramatized and overexaggerated, and some plot elements are a bit predictable, but perhaps that's par for the course for a YA novel written in the mid-2000s. But notwithstanding, it reads as an authentic, believable story in terms of the experience as a homosexual Latino Christian.

Deaf Utopia

Deaf Utopia: A Memoir - And a Love Letter to a Way of Life

by Nyle DiMarco with Robert Siebert
William Morrow, 2022. 317 pages. Biography

A heartfelt and inspiring memoir by Nyle DiMarco, actor, producer, model, advocate, and cultural icon of the international Deaf community. DiMarco is half of a pair of Deaf twins born to a multi-generational Deaf family in Queens, New York. At the hospital one day after he was born, Nyle “failed” his first test—a hearing test—to the joy and excitement of his parents. In this moving and engrossing memoir, Nyle shares stories, both heartbreaking and humorous, of what it means to navigate a world built for hearing people. From growing up in a rough-and-tumble childhood in Queens with his big and loving Italian-American family to where he is now, Nyle has always been driven to explore beyond the boundaries given him. Deaf Utopia is more than a memoir, it is a cultural anthem—a proud and defiant song of Deaf culture and a love letter to American Sign Language, Nyle’s primary language. Through his stories and those of his Deaf brothers, parents, and grandparents, Nyle opens many windows into the Deaf experience.

I haven't seen the reality shows where DiMarco earned his fame, and I didn't really know who he was when I started this book, but I did have an interest in his story, and it only grew the more I read. Intersectionality is the concept that any given individual belongs to several different identities at the same time, such as LGBT and Deaf, in DiMarco's case. It's refreshing to hear stories about how multiple identities interact and overlap in the life of a single person, and I was grateful for the safe spaces DiMarco has been working to create for many marginalized communities. I'm also always interested to self-discovery and coming out stories; it really is so different for each of us.

Jack of Hearts and Other Parts

Jack of Hearts and Other Parts

by Lev A. C. Rosen
Little, Brown and Company; 2018. 352 pages. Mystery

Jack Rothman is seventeen and loves partying, makeup and boys. His sex life makes him the hot topic for the high school gossip machine, but when he starts writing an online sex advice column, the mysterious love letters he's been receiving take a turn for the creepy. Jack's secret admirer loves him, but not his unashamedly queer lifestyle. And if Jack won't curb his sexuality voluntarily, they'll force him. As the pressure mounts, Jack must unmask his stalker before their obsession becomes genuinely dangerous.

I wish I'd had this book when I was in high school, but Teenage!Daniel never would have read it. This irreverent and raunchy novel frames sex-positive advice for audiences of diverse sexualities in the context of humor with well-developed characters and remarkable queer representation. Rosen does get a bit graphic with the sex, yet he tackles heavy issues like consent, gender fluidity, BDSM, and the fetishization of the queer community by straight people. If you're shy about teenagers having casual (gay) sex, you may want to skip this one.

Spin Me Right Round

Spin Me Right Round

by David Valdes
Bloomsbury YA, 2022. 352 pages. Sci-Fi

All Luis Gonzalez wants is to go to prom with his boyfriend, something his “progressive” high school still doesn’t allow. Not after what happened with Chaz Wilson. But that was ages ago, when Luis’s parents were in high school; it would never happen today, right? He’s determined to find a way to give his LGBTQ friends the respect they deserve (while also not risking his chance to be prom king). When a hit on the head knocks him back in time to 1985 and he meets the doomed young Chaz himself, Luis learns firsthand that a conservative school in the ’80s isn’t the safest place to be a gay kid.

I love how this story featured voices from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as a variety of LGBTQ identities. It certainly went far beyond tokenism to provide a richly developed cast of characters that each felt true-to-life. I do wish Valdes had unpacked Luis's selfishness a little more, as there was an opportunity for some real growth that wasn't fully realized. He was also relatively unlikable, and it never really got resolved. That said, the writing was top notch, and it was fun to see the compelling, Back-to-the-Future-esque plotline adapted for a modern audience.

The Charm Offensive

The Charm Offensive

by Alison Cochrun
Atria, 2021. 354 pages. Romance

As the most successful producer in the history of the long-running reality dating show Ever After, Dev Deshpande always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess, and behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off. As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.

My friend recently introduced me to Bachelor Nation (thanks, Mickala!), and I've been hooked on watching Bachelor in Paradise, mostly because other people's drama is easier to deal with. I love the idea of the behind-the-scenes realness of reality TV (since you know the show is very scripted). I was pleasantly surprised to see how Cochrun addressed the issue of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in show biz, and it made me hopeful for the future. And now I'm off to watch season 8 of MTV's Are You the One?

The Guncle

The Guncle
by Steven Rowley
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2021. 326 pages. Realistic fiction

When tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and their father has a health crisis of his own, their gay uncle Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian, despite the fact that he's been hiding out for years, dealing with his own personal grief. Quickly realizing that parenting—even if temporary—isn’t solved with treats and jokes, Patrick’s eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means you’re unfailingly human.

It can be difficult to address grief in fiction, particularly without being morose and heavy. Yet Rowley manages to do just that, tackling this serious subject with humor and warmth. The main focus of the book is on moving forward and making new relationships and friendships. Patrick and the children slowly realize that they need one another (I don't even think that's a spoiler), and that it's only through their shared bond that they can overcome the hardships in their lives.

I Have Something to Tell You

I Have Something to Tell You
by Chasten Glezman Buttigieg
Atria, 2020. 256 pages. Biography

A moving, hopeful, and refreshingly candid memoir by the husband of former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg about growing up gay in his small Midwestern town, his relationship with Pete, and his hope for America’s future.

In 2020, I was very excited to see an openly gay candidate run for presidential office with his husband by his side; I honestly didn't think I'd live to see that happen in the United States. Politics aside, it was lovely to read this engaging and emotional memoir of a sensitive, genuine gay man coming to terms with his identity, making his way in the world, and finding love with someone who would eventually run for president. (I'm still rooting for Buttigieg to become our country's first First Gentleman, but only time will tell.)

Happy Pride Month!

The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea
by T. J. Klune
Tor, 2020. 396 pages. Fantasy

Quiet homebody Linus Baker spends his days overseeing the well-being of magical children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When he is unexpectedly given a curious and highly classified assignment regarding the Antichrist, Linus meet the charming and enigmatic caretaker Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

This heartwarming story has such a witty and engaging writing style that I didn't want to set it down. But the real gem is the intricately crafted characters, and they felt so realistic. Arthur is the embodiment of kindness, purely steadfast and dependable. His magical charges are colorful and eclectic, which contrast sharply with Linus's restrained and monochromatic personality. These disparate pieces come together to prove that family has nothing to do with blood and everything to do with love. 

Here's to Us

Here's to Us
by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Quill Tree, 2021. 466 pages. Romance

Book #2 in the "What If It's Us" series

Two years after the events of What If It's Us, Ben has totally moved on -- until he hears that Arthur is back in town. And while Arthur is living his dream in a Broadway internship, he is more bothered than he expects when he comes upon Ben with a mystery boy. Did his feelings for Ben ever really go away? What if they're actually meant to be?   

Never have I been this joyful over a sequel. Sometimes, a sequel can feel like a cash grab rather than the continuation of a story. But that wasn't the case here. When I read the first book, I was hooked up until the ending, which was very unsatisfying; I understand the importance of portraying two characters who realize their relationship isn't right for them and walk away staying friends, but it was hard to process that in a work of YA literature. I also appreciated how the people they were dating (Mikey and Mario) don't become characters we should hate, which rings true. It seems Albertalli and Silvera have redeemed themselves (and their characters) in this much-needed second installment.

Boy Erased

Boy Erased: A Memoir

by Garrard Conley
Riverhead, 2016. 340 pages. Biography

The son of a small-town Arkansas Baptist pastor, Conley was terrified and conflicted about his sexuality. While at college, he was outed to his parents and forced to make a life-changing decision: either agree to attend a church-supported conversion therapy program; or risk losing his family, his friends, and his God. Through an institutionalized Twelve-Step Program, he was supposed to emerge heterosexual, ex-gay, cleansed of impure urges. Instead, even when faced with a harrowing and brutal journey, Conley found the strength to break out in search of his true self and forgiveness.

This book was difficult to read because of how close it hits to home. I came out in a geographic location and at a time that made me a prime candidate for conversion therapy. Somehow, I fortunately was never put in a program designed to change my sexuality. The more research I do and the more stories I hear about the heartbreak and irreparable damage caused by this practice, the more humbled I am to have dodged this bullet. The historic struggles of the LGBTQ+ community have shaped our culture and how we react to the world around us. I seek to honor the pain and sorrow experienced by those who paved the way before me.

Flamer

Flamer

by Mike Curato
Henry Holt and Co., 2020. 368 pages. Graphic novel

It's the summer between middle school and high school, and Aiden Navarro is away at camp. Everyone's going through changes, but for Aiden, the stakes feel higher. As he navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can't stop thinking about), he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.

As a queer reader, it was a unique experience reading this poignant, emotional graphic novel; I rarely read works to which I can relate so fully. There were parts that were uncomfortable and almost painful to read because of how personal and powerful the narrative is. I can easily see how this work lives up to the claim on its cover that "this book will save lives." 

Content warning: this work addresses difficult topics such as suicidal ideation, homophobia (including use of the f-slur), racism, fat-shaming, and teen sexuality.

The Song of Achilles

The Song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller
Bloomsbury, 2011. 378 pages. Fantasy

Brought together by chance, Achilles -- a strong and irresistible warrior -- and Patroclus -- an awkward, exiled prince -- forge an inseparable bond, risking the wrath of the gods. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of glory, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

A fresh take on a Greek classic, this work showcases the character development of Achilles, the helplessness of Patroclus, and their innocent, strong love, all while preserving the characterization of the capricious, vengeful gods found in Homer's works. The descriptions were vivid and vibrant, if at times at the expense of the plot progression. It's worth noting that the women in this work are reduced to tropes, as seen in the misogynistic original myths; Miller's Circe is recommended as a companion read to highlight the true power of women.

Bloom

Bloom
by Kevin Panetta, ill. by Savanna Ganucheau
First Second, 2019. 368 pages. Graphic novel

Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his band — if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom... that is, if Ari doesn’t ruin everything.

This heartwarming queer love story between two teenage boys is paired with a satisfying monochromatic color palette and a gorgeous art style. Both of the main characters (and several of the side characters) are very well developed. Bonus points for authentic looks at multiple cultures, including Ari's Greek family and Hector's Samoan heritage. That said, the plot is nothing extraordinary: slow-burn small-town summer romance, sprinkled with family drama throughout. Still a delightful, light-hearted read.