Expectation: A YA wish-fulfillment fantasy featuring a BIPOC queer lead.
Reality: A funny, heartfelt and quickly paced story that reminded me of the best late-90s teen comedies.
All in Audiobook
In the Dream House – Carmen Maria Machado
While “Dream House” didn’t totally work for me, it is an important work. How Machado uses her experiences to raise awareness of the challenges same sex couples face when reporting abuse, to addressing the ways in which the queer community will turn on its own, is important and urgent.
The Guncle – Steven Rowley
Expectation: A what-would-you-do dramedy tailor-made to us queers that relish being the “cool” uncle or aunt.
Reality: A campy, somewhat stereotypical story that runs a little long but delivers a lot of humor and heart.
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics – Dolly Parton and Robert K. Oermann
At only five hours, I’d encourage anyone to listen to “Songteller,” but it’s probably best suited for fans rather than casual observers of the superstar.
My 2021 Pride Month Reading List
This year I’m going all in on Pride month reading by only choosing to read stories written by LGBTQ+ writers and/or featuring predominately queer characters. Getting through eight novels in a month is a stretch – even when I was quarantining – but I’m committed to prioritizing this list.
My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry – Fredrik Backman
Expectation: A classic underdog overcomes Backman story.
Reality: A scattered and boring effort that showed glimpses of promise but never fully delivered.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas – John Boyne
Expectation: A World War II historical fiction tearjerker.
Reality: A simple, yet layered story that leaves you with complicated feelings.
The Music of Bees – Eileen Garvin
Expectation: A quasi-cozy romance with enough sass and drama to keep you interested but a firm ground in reality.
Reality: A sometimes far-fetched but utterly engrossing story of chosen family. I was surprised by the emotional depth of the characters and how their journey unfolds.
How the Penguins Saved Veronica – Hazel Prior
Expectation: A dramedy about second chances with a strong main character and a colorful supporting cast of the non-penguin variety.
Reality: Predictable and outlandish, it is saved by a solid foray into Veronica’s past, but the contemporary chapters and almost every other character are unforgettable.
Interior Chinatown – Charles Yu
Expectation: A comedic take on racial inequities in Hollywood.
Reality: A layered, original and surreal examination of selling out, pushing forward and dreaming bigger than your circumstances allow.
Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life – Lulu Miller
“Why Fish Don’t Exist” is a podcast in book form, which makes it the perfect audiobook for listeners of that format looking to branch out.
Black Buck – Mateo Askaripour
Expectation: A crackling takedown of Big Tech, faux diversity and the work-life balance façade.
Reality: This was two books smooshed together. One, the corporate satire, was a helluva lot more interesting than the second, a basic bro wish fulfillment fantasy but with a BIPOC lead.
28 Summers – Elin Hilderbrand
Expectation: A sappy romance about forbidden love that normalizes and celebrates infidelity.
Reality: A smart, engaging story with well-written leads and ancillary characters that help bring forward the consequences of Mallory and Jake’s actions.
The Hype Was Lost On Me: Popular Books That Missed The Mark
The hype was lost on me, here’s six popular books I hated, plus five I couldn’t even finish.
Klara and the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro
Expectation: A heartfelt story about forming connection.
Reality: A solid first half is squandered by several convoluted plot twists that put Klara in the backseat.
The House in the Cerulean Sea – T.J. Klune
Expectation: An overdone young adult romance about magical children.
Reality: A charming and queer-positive character-driven story that will keep adults and teens enthralled.
Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life – Christie Tate
I was intrigued, uncomfortable and mostly bored by Tate’s memoir of life in group therapy. Read the description and a few reviews before deciding if it’s right for you.
Nothing to See Here – Kevin Wilson
Expectation: A kooky, scifi comedy with political themes and “After School Special” lessons on tolerance and second chances.
Reality: Funnier than expected with a fair amount of heart, it’s mostly feel-good plot starts to fall apart near the end.
In Defense Of…The Books That Only I Seem to Like
I defend five books that have obnoxiously low Goodreads ratings for how much I enjoyed them.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab
Expectation: A hot and heavy romantic fantasy about living without consequence that will appeal to non-genre fans.
Reality: A tad overcooked, and sometimes repetitive, but it succeeds in bringing forward uncomfortable feelings about the main characters while still delivering a satisfying ending.