Deposing Nathan--"Up until he jammed a shard of ceramic in my gut, he was the best friend I ever had"

Title: Deposing Nathan

Author: Zack Smedley


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main characters are bisexual.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Cam and Nate are best friends--that is, until Cam is arrested for stabbing Nate. Cam claims he didn't do it but will not give details. Nate is asked to give a statement, under oath, that will either put his friend in prison and/or expose secrets that he does not want anyone to know.


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Holy freakin' cow, y'all. This book would have trapped me in the bathtub if I had started reading it there because I could NOT put it down.

The Songbird's Refrain--"The future is not linear, my little songbird" OR "I'm a bluebird that's been dreaming"

Title: The Songbird's Refrain (pre-order the book for its release September 3!)

Author: Jillian Maria


LGBTQ+ Representation: Lesbians. More than one.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Elizabeth finds a flyer advertising a one-of-a-kind show appearing nearby. When she attends the show, she is fascinated by one of the acts: a woman, covered in feathers, with the same mysterious blue eyes that were on the flyer--trapped in a cage. When the woman dies, Elizabeth finds herself trapped in the cage, growing feathers, forced to sing nightly. Can she escape the power of the sadistic witch, the Mistress, who has trapped her?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I spent the first half of this book singing "I'm a Bluebird" from Follow that Bird. Remember? Big Bird is trapped in a cage and forced to sing by these two evil guys who kidnap him for the freakshow part of their fair, and why are there so many twins in that audience? I couldn't stop picturing poor Elizabeth as Big Bird.

It's safe to say that all resemblances to Sesame Street end there.

Like a Love Story--"Life was once sepia toned, one color, bland. Now it is a rainbow world of excitement and anticipation."

Title: Like a Love Story

Author: Abdi Nazemian


LGBTQ+ Representation: Several characters are gay.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): In 1989 New York City, Art is young, out, and proud, and protests with ACT UP to get the government to takes the AIDS crisis seriously. Reza just moved to New York, and he is shy and terrified of being outed. Judy, whose Uncle Stephen is dying of AIDS, dreams of being a fashion designer. Judy begins dating Reza, and her and Art's friendship suffers when Reza and Art fall for each other.


What I think: When I read The Porcupine of Truth, it opened up my eyes about how clueless of a child I was during the late 80s/early 90s AIDS crisis (obviously, the crisis wasn't limited to those years, but those were the years I learned about AIDS). Like a Love Story is now tied with Porcupine for my favorite AIDS-related YA book, and it also takes place during those childhood years of mine.

Death Prefers Blondes--"Drag wasn't a disguise or an illusion; it was armor"

Title: Death Prefers Blondes

Author: Caleb Roehrig


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character is bisexual and supporting characters are gay.


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Teenage socialite Margo Manning and her four friends have nighttime secret identities: jewel-heisting drag queens.  Margo donates her proceeds to various charities, while her friends pay off their own tuition help their families. But then Margo catches the attention of a more powerful villain, putting her own family and friends at risk. Do they have the skills to survive their most dangerous job yet?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I'm not a fan of the "spy action" genre: James Bond, Mission Impossible, etc. (except the original Ocean's 11).

I am a fan of drag queens, camp, and Julie Newmar's catsuit, and was excited about this book, but when it started with a heist, I didn't get hooked as fast as I did with Roehrig's other books, and Death Prefers Blondes landed in the TBR pile.


However, I should have read it sooner--it was FABULOUS!