We've partnered with members of The Literary Queers, a book club for "queer people reading queer books" and one of our largest public LGBTQIA+ book clubs, to find out what they’ve been reading. The Literary Queers online book club selects a new book each month, and meets online to discuss them - this means that anyone can join the club no matter where you are in the world. You can follow them on Instagram to see the titles of books they've read or join the club to read along for this month's discussion of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. Keep reading for The Literary Queer's member reviews and book recommendations below. Add these titles to your 'Books I Want to Read' shelf or share them with your book club. If you don’t have a Bookclubs account, it’s easy and free to get started here. Happy LGBTQIA+ History Month for those of you based in the UK. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Our book picks for February
Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Ceysa’s review:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has formed a hefty following and a coveted spot on the New York Times’ bestseller list. It follows the story of Evelyn, an actress navigating Hollywood in the 1950s, and how she leverages the people around her to gain and maintain success. The story raises questions about what constitutes a romantic relationship and the choice between following one’s heart and staying safe in an unsafe environment. This is a great story for folks wanting to read bisexual characters, but there are still themes of heteronormativity that permeate the narrative. It was a fast read for everyone in our group, and is hinted to be on its way to Netflix!
House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Shanti's review:
We loved this book! The House in the Cerulean Sea follows the path of Linus Barker, a case worker and rule follower in a world where magical youth are placed in care homes for the safety of themselves and the rest of society. Klune’s world-building is phenomenal and speaks to times in our histories when pockets of people have been feared and segregated. Throughout the story, Linus is pushed to question the rules he’s clung to his whole life and to open his eyes to the world around him, which in turn opens him up to a journey he never would have imagined possible. Characters in this book are queer, but in a rather refreshing turn of events, being queer isn’t a negative experience in this world. We think Klune’s ability to use political world-building to mimic our society’s insistence on othering LGBTQIA+ and other communities is excellent, and we will definitely be picking up other books of his this year.
Genviève’s review:
A novel from the author of the popular series, Heartstopper, follows a girl named Georgia during her first year of university as she tries to figure out who she is and what she wants. When she gets to university, she gets a roommate, helps start the Shakespear Club, joins the LGBTQIA+ association, and immerses herself in the culture and traditions of her new school. It's a love story, just not necessarily the romantic kind, as more focus is placed on platonic relationships and the importance of friendships. We’re not sure that Loveless is the best title because ultimately Georgia’s world is full of different kinds of love. This book is a fun and interesting introduction to conversations about aromantic and asexual identities.
Robert's review:
Set in the gritty environment of Glasgow, Scotland in the 1980s, Stuart’s second novel can be read on many levels: an examination of masculinity in a working-class community; the impact of religion and the sectarianism it engenders on the shaping of communities; the way casual violence becomes a taken-for-granted modus operandi; an investigation into different forms of abuse; and the different ways individuals seek to escape or rise above the communities they are born into. The catalyst that fuses these disparate elements is the love story between two young men on the cusp of adulthood, Mungo and James. The power of the story lies in its plausibility as we see Mungo, an unlikely hero, act in ways alien to himself in order to become himself. The ambivalence Mungo feels is sympathetically conveyed to the reader as the story reaches its gut-wrenching and exquisitely balanced conclusion. This book is gritty and comes with trigger warnings of violence and abuse, but worth picking up if you want to dive deep into the complex cultural nuances of Glasgow in a way only Stuart seems to be able to capture.
Related Content:
Browse our list of public book clubs focusing on books by diverse authors meeting in-person and/or online:
- LGBTQIA+ book clubs
- Book clubs reading books by BIPOC or other underrepresented authors
- Book clubs reading books by women
Diversify your bookshelf with our Book Club Reading Lists below:
- LGBTQ+ Books to Read During Pride Month
- The Ultimate LGBTQ+ Reading List
- Books by Black Authors to Read With Your Book Club
- Celebrating Diversity: Must-Read Books With Disabled Characters
- Books for AAPI Heritage Month
- Books About Mental Health Everyone Should Read
- Must Read Books for Women's History Month
- Indigenous Authors You Should Be Reading
- The Best Books for Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month
- Book Recommendations Based on Your Zodiac Sign
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Mar 28, 2024 - 1 year
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