Welcome to Litsy!

Darius feels like he doesn‘t belong anywhere. Maybe a trip to Iran to meet his mother‘s family for the first time will allow him the space to find himself.

Oof. I related to Darius a lot. Depression from a young age combined with complicated relationships with his parents & younger siblings that feel like they‘re replacing you? I felt that deep in my chest. It‘s a slow book, & not a lot happens, but once we were in Iran, I was hooked. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Beautiful, insightful memoir. Lamya's story is heartwrenching but mostly inspiring. Growing up in a country & practicing a religion that typically invalidates & persecutes queer people like her, she interprets the Quran in ways that bring her solace & help her make sense of her queerness & belonging. Each section of her life is compared to a famous person or story and expounds on her journey of finding her place as a queer, devout Muslim immigrant

A collection of short stories interpreting generational trauma, self discovery, & queerness.

This was such a fascinating read! Change‘s use of fabulism & body horror felt almost ephemeral. I felt like I was trying to catch smoke in my fingers. “Dykes” and “Resident Aliens” were probably my favorite stories.

Definitely going to seek out more of Chang‘s work! 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

It's time to play review catch-up from when I was sick in March!
Childhood friends Yuuta and Ritsu have defined their relationship through team mate bonds for a long time. When their tenure as team mates ends, they have to work to redefine it. I thought this was a sweet, slow-paced manga with a lovely drawing style. #LGBTQIA

Used for #GottaCatchEmAll Farfetch'd: set in spring @PuddleJumper and #OwlHouseReadathon Willow: involves sports.

I had only read Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' before (a fav), and I was worried going in that this would be a more serious & therefore drier read. I should have had more faith in his writing. While definitely more serious, this was just as engrossing & fascinating. His character descriptions are so detailed & you can't help but be drawn into the devastating story
#LGBTQ2024 published before 2000 @Kenyazero
#bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

A queer, polyamorous retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice set in modern day Miami.

Good god, but I loved this. This is a novella told in verse, written beautifully, and examining who our parents try to make us be. A sweet romance, which could have been developed a bit more, and I definitely want to read this again as an audiobook.

I was a little thrown by the lack of dialogue related punctuation, but I did eventually get used to that. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Another enjoyable entry in this series. I was delighted to meet Ross and Violet and get to know Maud and Hawthorn more in this volume. I enjoyed the first book a bit more, because the pacing was better, but I felt the character connections just as strongly and laughed out loud just as often with this. Super excited for the next book! #LGBTQIA #Fantasy

I don't read a lot of poetry, and I won't pretend that I understood everything in this collection. But I really appreciated the way these poems were written and the glimpses you get of the author's struggles with being indigenous & trans, internally & interpersonally, and growing up in foster care. It also made me want to listen to Florence + the Machine, which I'm not mad about
#LGBTQ2024 poetry @Kenyazero #Nonfiction2024 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

This one started off strong - singing a karaoke break up song to your now ex. But it went downhill after that. After hooking up, Toni & Audrey realize they're now working together & must be professional. Audrey isn't ready for a new relationship right after her last toxic one ended anyway. In the end I didn't feel like either character had any real growth. This could have been better if expanded to a full novel
#LGBTQ2024 disappointing @Kenyazero

The waters of the bayou are rising. People from town are disappearing. & Eugene finds himself entranced by the Bonnie & Clyde pair that‘s swept into town.

Wow can Powell set a scene! I could feel the heaviness of a Louisiana summer against my skin. & the insidious creeping horror as we don‘t know really know anything that‘s going on. Really reminds me of Alma Katsu‘s historical horror. & I‘m definitely going to look up more by Powell. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑