1.) Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender - This is a cute novel about a black, queer, trans teenager named Felix Love. This story follows his journey of sexuality/gender exploration, familial heartbreak, being outed at school, a love triangle featuring his best friend and his best friend's ex, and more. There are discussions about identity, transphobia, racism, socioeconomic status, and more. It's a story about falling in love and recognizing the love you deserve. This book is easily a 5-star read and I can’t recommend it enough. (As affiliates of UW, we all have free access to an e-book app called Libby/Overdrive where you can read or listen to this book for free!)
2.) Odd One Out by Nic Stone - Such a sweet book that swaps character each chapter. Throughout these alternating and interlacing chapters, there is bisexual and BIPOC representation partnered with powerful friendship, flirty banter, new crushes, and high school drama. You’ll find yourself invested in the characters, but still torn about who should end up with who. With such raw and real writing, the author encourages readers to consider the difficulties of young people who are facing various levels of adversity, ranging from racism, confusion about sexuality, what to do when you fall for your best friend, and more. You might also recognize this author from her debut novel Dear Martin.
3.) Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez - The first of a trilogy, this book follows three boys attending the same high school: the school “f*g”, the superstar athlete, and a quiet boy who gets caught in the middle. The story begins with them all coincidentally attending the same LGBTQ+ youth support group and from there, the drama unfolds. This book was published in 2001 so it’s quite a bit older than the others on this list, and truthfully, the writing isn’t the best ever. However, it was ahead of it’s time in some ways and deals with important topics like sexual assault among the queer community, physical abuse from family, and bullying in public school--and it’s a pretty short and easy read.
4.) Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds - The official description of this book is the truly the best summary, “In Look Both Ways, Jason Reynolds weaves ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life.” It features a gender-bending main character, and is based on real events. I clearly have a book-type because this is another story that changes perspective with each chapter, and it teaches you that perspective truly means everything. (I would recommend looking up trigger warnings, there is some heavy content related to homophobia and disability.)
5.) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - This one is a bit more mature than the others listed here, and it’s heavier on historical fiction side. This book is the most recently published as well (from this list), and it is very popular on social media right now so we can’t seem to keep it on the shelf at Coe Library. Admittedly, I’m only part way through but I feel like it’s worthy of a recommendation because it is so, so, so good. Between ambitious women, Hollywood drama, forbidden love, sapphic romance, dark academia vibes, and everything else…it has me hooked. Considerably less focused on other social justice issues, but still worth the read.
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