Young Adult Review: Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson

Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson

Published: May 4th, 2021

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

# of pages: 416

My rating: 4 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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Two girls. One night. Zero phones.

Kat and Stevie—best friends, theater kids, polar opposites—have snuck away from the suburbs to spend a night in New York City. They have it all planned out. They’ll see a play, eat at the city’s hottest restaurant, and have the best. Night. Ever. What could go wrong?

Well. Kind of a lot?

They’re barely off the train before they’re dealing with destroyed phones, family drama, and unexpected Pomeranians. Over the next few hours, they’ll have to grapple with old flames, terrible theater, and unhelpful cab drivers. But there are also cute boys to kiss, parties to crash, dry cleaning to deliver (don’t ask), and the world’s best museum to explore.

Over the course of a wild night in the city that never sleeps, both Kat and Stevie will get a wake-up call about their friendship, their choices…and finally discover what they really want for their future.

That is, assuming they can make it to Grand Central before the clock strikes midnight.

I’ve been a fan of Morgan Matson’s books since I fell in love with Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour ten years ago. When you pick up one of her books, you know you’re going to get well-developed characters, realistic portrayals of friendships, lots of laughs, likely a few tears, and a sweet and swoony romance. Take Me Home Tonight had all those things, plus a fun premise and a vivid setting.

Best friends Kat and Stevie are complete opposites, but they love each other unconditionally and would do anything for each other. So when Stevie’s dad bails on her 18th birthday dinner in New York City, Kat suggests they go into the city anyway for a night of fun. Their plan is foolproof, as far as Kat’s concerned...but they weren’t counting on one disaster and mishap after another starting before they even arrived in the city. 

This book was so much fun. It started out a little slow and took me a while to warm up to Kat and Stevie, but once I did I was completely invested in their story and was cheering them on. They were well-developed and realistic, and I could relate to each of them in different ways. I was amazed and impressed with how well Matson managed to pull off so much believable character development and growth in the span of the one-night setting. There were also a lot of great side characters in this book (Brad the dog and Cary-with-six-jobs were my favourites), and I loved how New York City really came alive and felt like a character itself.

While I know I’m not the intended target audience for this book - I’m more than twice Kat and Stevie’s age - I also know many adults will read this book and think about how the girls’ phoneless adventure was how we lived every day growing up. It was amusing while also being realistic; we’re all so attached to and dependent on our phones these days for entertainment, mindless scrolling, posting endless updates, keeping in touch with everyone we know, taking pictures, etc. If Stevie and Kat had had their phones, their night would have ended up a lot different, so I loved that aspect of the story and how it forced them to be resourceful and also live in the moment.

I’m not sure if I can call this an ‘issue’, but my only *thing* with this book was how long it was. I’ve come to expect that from Matson’s books and you always inevitably get to a part where it doesn’t actually feel all that long, but 400+ pages for a contemporary set in the span of one night is a lot. Mild spoiler alert: I had mixed feelings about the side story with Teri; it was entertaining, but it was also completely unnecessary and made a really long book even longer. And while the main storyline with Kat and Stevie was wild, it was mostly believable, whereas Teri’s storyline was just so out there.

Take Me Home Tonight was a highly entertaining read. I felt like I was right there with Kat and Stevie in NYC. I felt for both of them and was rooting for them. I laughed at their mishaps and felt the pangs at the painful lessons they learned. After ten years, Morgan Matson continues to be a favourite author, and I couldn’t be happier.

Have you read Take Me Home Tonight? Who are some of your auto-buy authors?

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Young Adult Review: Hot British Boyfriend by Kristy Boyce

Hot British Boyfriend by Kristy Boyce

Published: February 9th, 2021

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

# of pages: 336

My rating: 4 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for honest consideration

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After a horrifying public rejection by her crush, Ellie Nichols does what any girl would do: she flees the country. To be more precise, she joins her high school’s study abroad trip to England. While most of her classmates are there to take honors courses and pad their college applications, Ellie is on a quest to rebuild her reputation and self-confidence. And nothing is more of a confidence booster than getting a hot British boyfriend.

When Ellie meets Will, a gorgeous and charming Brit, she vows to avoid making the same mistakes as she did with the last guy she liked. Which is why she strikes up a bargain with Dev, an overachieving classmate who she’s never clicked with, but who does seem to know a lot about the things Will is interested in—if he helps her win over her crush, then she’ll help him win over his.

But even as Ellie embarks on a whirlwind romance, one that takes her on adventures to some of England’s most beautiful places, she still needs to figure out if this is actually the answer to all her problems…and whether the perfect boyfriend is actually the perfect boy for her.

I feel like I should preface my review by saying Hot British Boyfriend had so many of the things I love most about YA, but it also reminded me how far past my own YA days I am. I’m not the intended audience for books like this, and I’m fully aware of that, so I always try to also be aware that my thoughts and feelings could likely be very different from the book’s actual target audience. I see so many adults reading YA and getting mad that the teenagers in the book…*gasp!*...had the audacity to act like teenagers. Like, what did you expect? If you wanted to read about people making mature decisions or not being driven by hormones, maybe you should have picked up a different book. So I always know going into a young adult book that I will likely want to shake the characters at some point (or many points), as well as sit them down and talk to them, and probably hug them really tight. I wanted to do all those things with this book and there was a lot of internal ‘Ugh, come on, Ellie, do better!’, but honestly, I feel like that’s the sign of a good YA book that will likely really speak to its intended audience of teens.

Okay, that was a long preface, but I thought it should be said. I feel like Teenage Marie would have loved this book with her whole heart, so it’s Teen Me I tried to channel while reading.

Hot British Boyfriend was adorable and entertaining. I enjoyed the characters, plus the setting made me go all heart-eyes on multiple occasions. Ellie didn’t have many friends before going to England, and she was stinging from the rejection of the one person she thought was her friend. Between the very public humiliation that led her to leave DC, and the fact the program she was part of was meant for honour students - which she wasn’t - she felt she had a lot to prove, both to herself and to others. She was wary of people and their motives, but quickly befriended her roommate Sage, along with two other students from back home, Dev and Huan.

When I said this book had so many of the things I love most about YA, one of those things was the friend group. These four seemed like such unlikely friends, but they worked together. Their interactions were amusing and sometimes heartwarming, and I wanted to be part of their group. I also really appreciated Ellie’s growth and how she slowly found her way, figured things out, made mistakes, sorted her priorities, and learned to be herself and unashamedly love the things she loved. Teenage Marie would definitely have been friends with her and we would have rocked our matching unicorn hoodies and made some amazing faerie gardens together.

If you’re looking for a light, sweet, feel-good YA book, look no further (unless you’re an adult who hates when teens act like teens - if that’s the case, maybe give this one a pass and leave it to the actual teens). Pack your bags and prepare for a fun cross-Atlantic vacation with a group of friends you’ll wish you were part of.

Have you read Hot British Boyfriend? Have you done much armchair travel yet this year? 

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Pride Month 2020 Reading Recap

*Please note: Each book has a link to Amazon, which is an affiliate link - all earnings go into the upkeep of this blog, and I truly appreciate your support - but if you have a local indie bookshop you can support, please be sure to do so!

At the beginning of June, I shared a post featuring 12 LGBTQ+ books that were on my TBR for Pride Month. Throughout June, I managed to read seven LGBTQ+ books, but only four of them were actually from that list. For the list, I chose 12 books at random from my general TBR, but about a week into the month, I realized my list of 12 could easily have been doubled, especially as I added to my TBR almost daily.

I've always done my best to read diversely, but this month I realized I can - and should - be doing better. I love LGBTQ+ books and have read many over the years, but most of them have been by white authors and tend to feature gay, lesbian, and bi characters. It wasn't a conscious thing - I often choose books at random - but now I'm going to make sure I seek out more LGBTQ+ books by BIPOC authors that also feature a wider range of the queer spectrum.

I read some truly fantastic books in June. I broadened my usual reading horizons and aimed to include as much intersectional diversity as possible on my reading list. These are the seven LGBTQ+ books I read in June, in the order I read them:

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
Genre: Contemporary Romance
My rating: 2 stars
Representation: Lesbian Chinese-American heroine, Jewish bisexual heroine 
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Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
My rating: 5 stars
Representation: Black queer trans demiboy hero, biracial bisexual love interest
Read my review
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Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Dystopian/Retelling
My rating: 4.5 stars
Representation: Black lesbian heroine, lesbian love interest
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The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth
Genre: Young Adult Romantic Comedy
My rating: 4.5 stars
Representation: Lesbian heroine, lesbian love interest
Read my review
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Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
My rating: DNF at 50%
Representation: Black biromantic asexual heroine, Japanese love interest
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Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Genre: Romantic Comedy
My rating: 5 stars
Representation: Black bisexual curvy heroine, Pakistani Muslim hero with anxiety
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Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Genre: Romantic Comedy
My rating: 5 stars
Representation: Gay hero, gay love interest
Read my review
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Did you read any LGBTQ+ books in June? Have you read any of these seven books?

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The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth: The Sapphic Teen RomCom of My Dreams

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth
Published: June 9th, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Contemporary YA Romantic Comedy/LGBTQ+
# of pages: 368
My rating: 4.5 stars
Acquired this book: From the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for honest consideration
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Saoirse doesn’t believe in love at first sight or happy endings. If they were real, her mother would still be able to remember her name and not in a care home with early onset dementia. A condition that Saoirse may one day turn out to have inherited. So she’s not looking for a relationship. She doesn’t see the point in igniting any romantic sparks if she’s bound to burn out.

But after a chance encounter at an end-of-term house party, Saoirse is about to break her own rules. For a girl with one blue freckle, an irresistible sense of mischief, and a passion for rom-coms.

Unbothered by Saoirse’s no-relationships rulebook, Ruby proposes a loophole: They don’t need true love to have one summer of fun, complete with every cliché, rom-com montage-worthy date they can dream up—and a binding agreement to end their romance come fall. It would be the perfect plan, if they weren’t forgetting one thing about the Falling in Love Montage: when it’s over, the characters actually fall in love…for real.

As a lifelong romcom lover, the premise of The Falling in Love Montage appealed to me immediately. The fact it’s a sapphic teen romcom set in Ireland...well, even just typing that makes me squee because I’ve been waiting for a book like this for so long and it was everything I hoped it would be and then some. I don’t seem to have the best luck with YA f/f books, but this one is without a doubt an instant new favourite.

I loved Saoirse from the first page - she was smart, sassy, stubborn, irreverent, and hilarious. I related to her on many levels, and she made me laugh out loud and frustrated me in equal measure. She had one of the most distinct voices I’ve read in a long time, which made it easy to really sink into this book and into her world. She was realistically flawed (she even referred to herself as a 'stroppy teenager' at one point, which made me laugh so hard because she was indeed that), and even when she frustrated me, I understood and sympathized with her.

This book did such a great job of balancing humour and deep emotion. Saoirse tried so hard to keep things light, but she had a lot to deal with, and it affected all the relationships in her life. While I laughed myself silly throughout most of the book, there were several scenes that made my heart hurt and had me tearing up.

The romance between Saoirse and Ruby was so sweet and fun. I loved their banter and their (mis)adventures. There were so many things I appreciated about their romance: 1) They were both out and proud - it was simply a fact of life and not something that was explained or dwelled on or hidden. 2) The fact Ruby was curvy and described in ways that, as a fat girl, made me smile (her ‘soft belly’ really stood out to me for some reason, maybe because I’m used to reading about ‘taut, flat bellies’). 3) The fact we got more than longing looks, innocent touches, and maybe a kiss or two, which is what we usually get from sapphic fiction, especially YA. In YA books with straight characters, we see teens making out and maybe even having sex, so why shouldn’t that be the case for f/f YA too?

Fresh, fun, funny, and full of feels (and great side characters - I’d totally read a book about Oliver, just saying!), The Falling in Love Montage is a new favourite. I can’t wait to see what Ciara Smyth writes next.

Have you read The Falling in Love Montage? Are you a romcom fan? What are some of your favourites - either books or movies?

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*Please note I'm an Amazon affiliate, and some of the links in this review are affiliate links. All income made through affiliate sales goes directly back into maintaining Ramblings of a Daydreamer. Thank you for your support!

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender: A Beautiful Journey of Self-Exploration, Love, and Identity

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: May 5th, 2020
Genre: Contemporary YA LGBTQ+
Tropes: Enemies/rivals to lovers, friends to lovers, love triangle
# of pages: 368
Acquired this book: From the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for honest consideration
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Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after. 

When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle....

But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.

I finished Felix Ever After a few days ago, and I’ve been sitting with my thoughts and feelings, trying to cobble together something coherent to describe how much I loved this book, how beautiful it was, how important it was, and how much I wish there had been books like this when I was a teen.

This book features so many of the things I love about YA, and it felt like a true, realistic portrayal of the teenage experience. The friendships, the family issues, questioning the future, experiencing jealousy and uncertainty over a wide range of issues. Then there were the things that made this book stand out: the fact Felix was Black, trans, and queer. The fact that even though he was mostly certain he was a boy, he still questioned his identity and struggled with looking for a label that felt accurate.

I loved Felix. My heart alternately broke for him and soared for him. I wanted to be his friend and hold him tight and tell him I loved him and that he was worthy of all the love in the world. His struggles with self-worth will likely ring true for many people - that desire to be loved and accepted, to be seen for who you really are. While Felix was the star of this book and he shone so brightly, there was also a fantastic cast of supporting characters. Ezra was an incredible friend to Felix, the kind who loved and accepted him unconditionally. He was Felix’s champion, quick to stand up for and defend him. I also ended up really loving Declan, and Leah was a great character too.

This book didn’t shy away from discussions about gender, identity, and sexuality, which I loved. Not only does Felix talk about being trans and uncertain about whether he truly feels like a boy, his whole friend group is queer too. We get to see the spectrum and fluidity of sexuality and gender, and how they can change, how it can be difficult to find the right fit, and how sometimes you just wish there were no labels so you could just BE. I also appreciated the exploration of prejudice - particularly transphobia - within the LGBTQ+ community. I think a lot of people likely think we’re this big, happy, inclusive rainbow family, but that’s not always the case, and there’s still work to do to make sure everyone feels welcome, valid, and included.

Early on in the book, Felix mentions reading a book called I am J by Cris Beam when he was twelve and how it helped him realize all the confusing things he'd been feeling were legitimate and he wasn't alone. It was what helped him realize the reasons he'd never felt quite right as a girl and that he didn't have to be a girl. I loved seeing this because everyone deserves to see themselves within the pages of books (and reflected in media, TV, movies, etc). I know so many people who discovered parts of themselves they didn't previously have words for because of books, so it was wonderful to see that in Felix Ever After, and I hope people will pick up this book and feel relief, joy, validation, and so many other emotions to see themselves reflected in Felix.

I mostly read contemporary romance these days, but once or twice a year, almost always in the summer, I go on a YA kick. Felix Ever After started 2020’s Summer of YA, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect book to start with. Books like this remind me why I love YA so much, even though I’m far from its intended audience these days. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of all those who need it most, for whatever reason.

Have you read Felix Ever After? What did you think? Do you have any recommendations for books featuring trans characters?

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*Please note I'm an Amazon affiliate, and some of the links in this review are affiliate links. All income made through affiliate sales goes directly back into maintaining Ramblings of a Daydreamer. Thank you for your support!

12 LGBTQ+ Books on my TBR for Pride Month 2020

*Please note: Each book has a link to Amazon, which is an affiliate link - all earnings go into the upkeep of this blog, and I truly appreciate your support - but if you have a local indie bookshop you can support, please be sure to do so!

Happy Pride Month!

The world is a messed-up, scary place right now. It feels like we’re living in some sort of dystopian nightmare, and we’re not even halfway through 2020 yet. I know it feels strange celebrating just about anything right now when there are so many people suffering, dying, and fighting for their rights/the rights of others. But at the same time, the LGBTQ+ movement that led to us having rights was built on protests and marches and riots similar to what’s happening now with Black Lives Matter. We can’t forget that. We can’t forget about the people who fought - and continue to fight - for our rights.

So while we support and amplify the voices of Black people and other people of colour, let’s also support and amplify the voices of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. I’m dedicating June to books written by and about LGBTQ+ characters and BIPOC. Reading diversely is something I’ve been working on, and I’m going to do better going forward.

Since I’m a slow reader, there’s no way I’ll be able to read all 12 LGBTQ+ books on this list, but choosing more than I can read gives me room to mood read a bit. I made sure to choose a mix of contemporary romance, YA, historical romance, and even a non-fiction book so there'd be something for any mood. I’m participating in the Pride Month Readathon Spectrum Reads on Instagram, hosted by @obscure.pages and @dexterous_totalus, so if you’re looking for some group reading fun (plus a photo challenge) be sure to follow these two bookstagrammers and join the readathon!

★☆★☆★☆★

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Coming: June 2nd, 2020 by Scholastic Press

Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay--Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.

But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down...until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.

The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams...or make them come true?

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Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
Published: May 26th, 2020 by Berkley

Hollywood powerhouse Jo is photographed making her assistant Emma laugh on the red carpet, and just like that, the tabloids declare them a couple. The so-called scandal couldn't come at a worse time—threatening Emma's promotion and Jo's new movie.

As the gossip spreads, it starts to affect all areas of their lives. Paparazzi are following them outside the office, coworkers are treating them differently, and a “source” is feeding information to the media. But their only comment is “no comment”.

With the launch of Jo’s film project fast approaching, the two women begin to spend even more time together, getting along famously. Emma seems to have a sixth sense for knowing what Jo needs. And Jo, known for being aloof and outwardly cold, opens up to Emma in a way neither of them expects. They begin to realize the rumor might not be so off base after all…but is acting on the spark between them worth fanning the gossip flames?

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The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth
Coming: June 9th, 2020 from HarperTeen

Saoirse doesn’t believe in love at first sight or happy endings. If they were real, her mother would still be able to remember her name and not in a care home with early-onset dementia. A condition that Saoirse may one day turn out to have inherited. So she’s not looking for a relationship. She doesn’t see the point in igniting any romantic sparks if she’s bound to burn out.

But after a chance encounter at an end-of-term house party, Saoirse is about to break her own rules. For a girl with one blue freckle, an irresistible sense of mischief, and a passion for rom-coms.

Unbothered by Saoirse’s no-relationships rulebook, Ruby proposes a loophole: They don’t need true love to have one summer of fun, complete with every cliché, rom-com montage-worthy date they can dream up—and a binding agreement to end their romance come fall. It would be the perfect plan, if they weren’t forgetting one thing about the Falling in Love Montage: when it’s over, the characters actually fall in love…for real.

Add to Goodreads || Buy on Amazon

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Published: May 5th, 2020 by Balzer + Bray

Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after.

When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle....

But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you deserve.  

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Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert
Coming: June 2nd, 2020 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Charming, charismatic, and effortlessly popular, Conrad Stewart seems to have it all...but in reality, he's scrambling to keep his life from tumbling out of control.

Brilliant, guarded, and endlessly driven, Alden Roth may as well be the poster boy for perfection...but even he can't help but feel a little broken inside.

When these mortal enemies are stuck together on a cross-country road trip to the biggest fan convention of their lives, their infamous rivalry takes a backseat as an unexpected connection is forged. Yet each has a reason why they have to win the upcoming Odyssey gaming tournament and neither is willing to let emotion get in the way―even if it means giving up their one chance at something truly magical. 

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Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Published: May 14th, 2019 by St Martin’s Griffin

When his mother became President of the United States, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with an actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex/Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.

Heads of the family and state and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: Stage a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instagrammable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the presidential campaign and upend two nations. It raises the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? How will history remember you? 

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A Little Light Mischief by Cat Sebastian
Published: August 6th, 2019 by Avon Impulse

A seductive thief

Lady’s maid Molly Wilkins is done with thieving—and cheating and stabbing and all the rest of it. She’s determined to keep her hands to herself, so she really shouldn’t be tempted to seduce her employer’s prim and proper companion, Alice. But how can she resist when Alice can’t seem to keep her eyes off Molly?

Finds her own heart

For the first time in her life, Alice Stapleton has absolutely nothing to do. The only thing that seems to occupy her thoughts is a lady’s maid with a sharp tongue and a beautiful mouth. Her determination to know Molly’s secrets has her behaving in ways she never imagined as she begins to fall for the impertinent woman.

Has been stolen

When an unwelcome specter from Alice’s past shows up unexpectedly at a house party, Molly volunteers to help the only way she knows how: with a little bit of mischief.

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Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Coming July 7th, 2020 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Wanted:
One (fake) boyfriend
Practically perfect in every way

Luc O'Donnell is tangentially--and reluctantly--famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.

To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.

But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go.

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Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
Published: May 7th, 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sort-of-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. And because Millie cannot stand the thought of confronting her ex every day, she decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools...the farther from Houston the better.

Millie can't believe her luck when she's accepted into one of the world's most exclusive schools, located in the rolling highlands of Scotland. Everything about Scotland is different: the country is misty and green; the school is gorgeous, and the students think Americans are cute.

The only problem: Mille's roommate Flora is a total princess.

She's also an actual princess. Of Scotland. At first, the girls can barely stand each other--Flora is both high-class and high-key--but before Millie knows it, she has another sort-of-best-friend/sort-of-girlfriend. Even though Princess Flora could be a new chapter in her love life, Millie knows the chances of happily ever afters are slim...after all, real life isn't a fairy tale...or is it?

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Solve for i by AE Dooland
Published: February 10th, 2017, self-published

Gemma Rowe is a shy maths nerd from Sydney who, despite having an affinity for probability and logic, only just worked out at 28 that she's not actually straight. Not only is she not straight, but she’s developed feelings for her best friend Sarah.

Sarah and Gemma go way back—since they met at university, they've been completely inseparable. They've travelled together, got jobs at the same company, and shared each other's triumphs and sorrows. There was even that one memorable time when Sarah, completely drunk, told Gemma she couldn't live without her. A relationship seems like the perfect solution.

There's just one teensy little problem with this whole equation: Sarah is straight.

Gemma knows the logical thing to do is to get over Sarah. She wants to be in her own happy relationship and not caught up on her straight best friend. But how is she supposed to get over Sarah when, despite all those advanced problem-solving skills, she can’t even work out who she’s attracted to anymore?

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I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Published: September 16th, 2014 by Dial Books

At first, Jude and her twin brother Noah, are inseparable. Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude wears red-red lipstick, cliff-dives, and does all the talking for both of them. Years later, they are barely speaking. Something has happened to change the twins in different yet equally devastating ways . . . but then Jude meets an intriguing, irresistible boy and a mysterious new mentor. The early years are Noah's to tell; the later years are Jude's. But they each have only half the story, and if they can only find their way back to one another, they'll have a chance to remake their world.

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Me by Elton John
Published: October 15th, 2019 by Macmillan

Christened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was on his first tour of America, facing an astonished audience in his tight silver hotpants, bare legs and a T-shirt with ROCK AND ROLL emblazoned across it in sequins. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again.

His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.

In Me, Elton also writes powerfully about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father. In a voice that is warm, humble and open, this is Elton on his music and his relationships, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story that will stay with you, by a living legend.

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Will you be reading any LGBTQ+ books this month? Have you read any of these 12 books? Are there any you think I should bump up on my TBR? 

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