Sooo, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed and missed the part about *also posting the reviews to a social media network* on top of cross-posting between StoryGraph and GoodReads, soooo here I am at the Eleventh Hour (LITERALLY) and hoping this counts. Okay, edited to explain a little about each other (and why I love them so much. Not only are a lot of these #ownvoices in the LGBTQIA+ sense, BUT four of these books are by authors of color! Including one book by TWO authors of color). <3 The reviews are for The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta. In some ways, the Black Flamingo is a reflection of parts of Dean's life, as like his protagonist, Dean is gay and of Jamaican and Greek-Cypriot descent, but grew up in the UK. He's a prolific poet, and while I was double checking on his pronouns, I found out he's been listed as one of the 100 Most Influential LGBTQIA+ folks in The UK! My Dear Henry by Kalynn Bayron. Kalynn is both Black & queer, and not only writes *incredible* Black & queer characters (not only in My Dear Henry but in her This Poison Heart series, as well!), but is a very outspoken advocate for the greater queer community to acknowledge and uplift queer authors of color. Which, frankly? The LGBTQIA+ community needs to do more of. So, big big fan. Miss Meteor by Anna-Marie McLemore & Tehlor Kay Mejia. Anna-Marie is non-binary, Mexican-American, and their husband is transgender, as well (which I didn't know when I read Miss Meteor, but DOES help explain why the trans character in the book is one of my favorite characters in anything, ever, and resonated so strongly with me). Tehlor is Mexican-American as well, and identifies as queer. She and Anna both wanted a story that was, unabashedly, for queer Latinx readers to not only give them a great story but show them they are in no way alone in their intersecting identities. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria Schwab. Victoria came out as a lesbian not too long before Addie LaRue's release, and I'll be honest - part of me is still offended that she felt she had to. Because unfortunately, part of her coming out was because of people criticizing her for writing queer characters while not being queer herself....*except...* Well. Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon. I didn't know anything about Alok when I picked this book up, and I am now thoroughly obsessed with them. They identify as non-binary and queer, and of Indian descent (and I mean Indian, not Native American). They grew up in TEXAS, of all places, as a gender non-conforming Indian kid, which is uh....*oof.* And they are, in two words: f**ing fabulous. I finished their book and immediately went to follow them on Instagram, lol. They are a performance poet and spend a great deal of their time trying to make the world a better place for those who live outside the binary. #OCTheNestPride #WordsAndWhimsy

Posted by Matdredalia at 2023-06-26 03:44:53 UTC