I’ve managed to diversify my reading (I mean, like, genre diversity. Everything I finished reading was queer. I DNF’d the straight books. There was also a slight uptick in Latino authors.) So this month’s wrap-up is broken into 2 parts: contemporary and not contemporary.
The Music Of What Happens, Bill Konigsberg 10/12
Rep: Gay, m/m, Latino, PTSD
The money from his dad’s death has run out, and his mum just can’t get a steady job. So they’re going to loose their home unless Jordan and Max make enough food truck money to pay off the mortgage this summer. It’s a hot Arizona summer and (gay) love is in the air.
TW: Rape. Max deals with the aftermath throughout, understanding and coming to terms with it. I personally thought it was done thoughtfully.
Rep: w/w
READ GEEKERELLA FIRST! Jessica Stone hates being the white Uhura- I mean female lead in the reboot of Starfield. She wants to star in more “important” movies but accidentally leaks a copy of the script, possibly ruining her career until she can get the script back. Thankfully, she finds a straight girl who looks exactly like her, who will eagerly pretend to be her at Comic-Con and #SaveAmara. Cute gay romance, choppily paced straight romance, and fangirling ensues.
Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe, Benjamin Saenz 11/12
Rep: Gay, m/m, depression, Latino
Ari And Dante are constantly injured or sick because they love each other. That’s basically it; it takes place over two summers, so if you haven’t read it yet, summer’s as good as a time as any. Trust me, read it.
I Wish You All The Best, Mason Deaver 12/12
Rep: Non-binary, Anxiety
Oh, Apollo.
This book helped me understand myself better- I’m femme non-binary and use she/ they pronouns. I don’t think a character’s felt as real to me as Ben. And I’ve never thought that being enby was that big of a deal. I wear gender- neutral clothing. I’ve never actually said “Hey, I’m non-binary, use she/they.” My mum calls me her “child” and rarely, if ever calls me her “daughter”, so what’s the point?
I feel better, I understand myself better.
Anyway, it’s a fantastic book. Ben is kicked out of their parents’ house when they come out and move in with their sister. They change schools and remain closeted. They draw, paint, have a couple of panic attacks, and fall in in love with a boy.
Ugh, it was a good reading month. So what about you? What contemporaries did you read this month?
tanyxscreams 
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