From the author of Jack of Hearts comes a wonderful and sex-positive story of gay romance, friendship and learning from your mistakes. L.C. Rosen was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about Camp, his writing and more 🙂

Hiya Lev! Thanks so much for talking to me today! What was your initial inspiration/idea for Camp?

Thanks for having me!  The original idea for Camp was those 60s sex comedies with Doris Day and Rock Hudson.  I love those and I wanted to write a rom-com like them, but contemporary and about queer kids.  I decided that since those old movies were about the battle of the sexes, this could be more like the battle of the gender presentations, and with that in mind, I knew I needed a very queer space to make it work.  I’d been meaning to write a summer camp book forever, so this seemed like the perfect story for it.  It all just came together.

 

Camp deals with toxic masculinity within the LGBTQ+ community, could you discuss this topic a little bit?

Well, in the book, Randy, who wears nail polish and has long hair and uses fans and loves theater decides instead of pining over his impossible dream man, Hudson, he’s going to do something about it.  The thing is, Hudson is masc4masc – meaning he’s only into ‘masculine’ or ‘straight acting’ guys – something Randy is not.  So he remakes himself as Del (other part of Randall) and essentially becomes this butch fantasy, with the idea of making Hudson fall in love with him and then gradually going back to his real self.  Of course, that doesn’t go quite as planned.  But as he dates Hudson, we get to the internalized homophobia that can lead to being ‘masc4masc’ in the first place.  The kids ask what it means to have “preferences” vs prejudices and generally get into what queerness means in a world that tells you to be straight.

 

Just as with Jack of Hearts, Camp features a gay teenage boy front and centre and paints gay sex in a positive light. What does this representation mean to you?

I mean, I’m a queer guy, and I was out as a teenager, so having those representations would have meant the world to me.  Ah, here are queer characters being awesome, ah here they are being messy, ah, there are a bazillion different ways to be queer and none of them are anything to be ashamed of.  That’s all I want for queer kids today.  To see there are infinite ways to be queer, and none of them are anything to be ashamed of.  And sex is part of that, and nothing to be ashamed of either.  I mean, you never ask about the sex scenes in straight books.

 

At Camp Outland, a musical is performed every year! What is your favourite musical and why?

Oh man, this is nigh impossible.  My favorite musical changes with my mood.  I directed A Little Night Music, Anyone Can Whistle and City of Angels in college, so I’m partial to all of them, but I love me some older ones like Camelot, The Pajama Game, and yes, Bye Bye Birdie, too.  I love a lot of musicals – I was raised on them – so I can’t choose one favorite.  Impossible.

 

What is one piece of writing advice you would give to any aspiring authors reading this?

I think there’s a lot of important advice for aspiring writers, but the big one is that you have to learn how to take critique.  And that doesn’t mean being able to smile as someone tells you something they don’t like about your book and then ignoring them – it’s about actually listening, and asking questions and figuring out solutions to what readers aren’t getting.  It means working with someone who just said something that made you want to cry.  If you can’t take critique, you won’t be able to handle the rejection that comes with being a writer.  It’s like 95% rejection, this career.  And that’s coming from someone who’s publishing his 6th novel.

 

Camp comes out in a few short days! What do you hope readers take away from your wonderful novel? 

I hope they have a wonderful summer romance!  And I hope they love the queer community in it.  Especially now, teens who are stuck at home with their probably-straight parents for the summer – I hope they get this book, I hope they can use it as an escape to the summer they should have had, filled with queer friends and queer love and maybe a little discovery.  And I hope straight kids can read it and get love and friendship out of it, too (queer kids read books about straight kids all the time and don’t turn straight, I think straight kids can do likewise).  I just want them all to have a summer.

 

Hiya everyone! Just the day before yesterday, the UK paperback of Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard came out, so to celebrate its gorgeous release, I figured I’d share a few reasons to read this wonderful series 🙂

1. Enemies-to-lovers

Both central romances are enemies-to-lovers but on very different levels. One is “I’m deeply annoyed with you, wait actually I’m attracted to you” and the other is “I tried to murder you several times but now I would murder anyone who came near you.” And they’re both extremely *chef’s kiss*.

2. Centres Around Female Friendship

The romance may be great, but the key relationship in this book is between the two main characters, Iseult and Safi, who are threadsisters (a similar bond to Parabatai, I guess?) and their friendship is absolutely gorgeous – it’s full of banter, and these two would kill or die for each other, as well as loving each other so so fiercely.

3. Sapphics

Our main character Safi is a pansexual icon, but her love interest is a man – he’s tolerable, I promise – a new character’s POV is introduced in book two, and she’s a lesbian in love with her best friend, who may or may not like her back. I’m trying not to spoil, but there’s also a f/f romance between two characters that is starting to maybe bloom at the end of Bloodwitch, and it’s my ultimate Witchlands ship because we stan sapphic queens (literally…).

4. Plot Twists

All three of these books and the prequel are filled with the most exciting twists, turns and reveals, especially Bloodwitch had me gasping, like WHAT! The plot twists are so unexpected and exciting, and the plot and storyline overall is just so complex and intricately woven.

5. Magic System

I’ve said several times that the magic system of the Witchlands series is one of my favourites, and that’s because it is so interesting and unique – not only all the types of witches, which is certainly interesting, but also the Origin Wells, the Cahr Awen and all the mysteries surrounding it!

The UK paperback for Bloodwitch is available now in all it’s glory, so why not grab it from your local indie? And if you haven’t read the first two, now would also be the perfect time to pick up Truthwitch! It’s such a perfect story to get lost in and just enjoy 🙂

I reviewed Bloodwitch on Goodreads, and you can find that review here! It was a little less professional than usual, just full of me fangirling 🙂

The Gravity of Us was a cute and easily readable story of love, hope and space with an adorable gay romance at its centre and full of drama and surprises.

I loved how easy this book was to read. The writing flowed in a really casual way so that the book never felt too heavy but still swept you away. 

The plotline was exciting and fun, a good balance of romance, space stuff and drama. I was expecting it to be slightly more romance focused, and while it was very much so there were also some pretty unexpected plot twists that made the book more interesting. I really enjoyed the aspects and plot that revolved around social media and Cal’s journalism and fight with StarWatch, they were interesting and made the book a lot more dramatic!

“Seriously. No more apologies about this. I love you.”
“And I love you.”
“And that’s all,” I say. “That’s all that matters.”

The balance of romance with the Orpheus mission and the StarWatch drama makes me thing The Gravity of Us would make a pretty good movie!
The romance between Leon and Cal was very much insta-love, a trope I really don’t like. This did take away from their romance quite a bit for me, unfortunately. I did still really like it especially since I love Leon but it was hard for me to ship it much at first. Their later scenes are super cute but I would definitely have liked their romance more if it was a bit more slow burn. I can see that they make sense together but it’s not really proven to me? Then again, the book was pretty short and sweet which was something I did like about it, so I can see why the romance was rushed, but just a little more development before they got together would have made it better for me. 

“Don’t aim to fix people. Fixing seems so permanent, so absolute. Like there’s no room for error. Aim to make things better.”

I really liked Cal at first, he was immediately likeable and layered, and whilst I did like his character throughout the book, there were also aspects that I disliked about him. He wasn’t great at apologising, and the way he forgot to stay in touch with Deb really bothered me. I liked him around Leon but it made me a little annoyed when he was barely thinking of his best friend because of a boy he just met. Still, I didn’t dislike him, but think he has a lot more growth to do than was in the book.

I really liked Kat, Leon’s sister, she was so lovely and smart, and I would LOVE to see a spin-off starring her cause I think she had a lot of potential. 

Overall, The Gravity of Us was a quick and enjoyable read that kept me entertained, and was a great mix of rom-com and space missions, with some interesting and unique aspects that kept me hooked. 

Here Lie the Secrets was an enjoyable and intriguing story of grief and letting go of the past mixed with mystery, excitement and plot twists!

I wasn’t immediately captured by this book – I didn’t dislike it the opening but I didn’t feel particularly hooked for the first 100 or so pages. I kept going because I was intrigued by the ghost aspects and had a lot of curiosity about where the story was going. I was hoping for a really big plot twist to surprise me! I got more hooked about halfway through when they went to Halycon House. 

The house is interesting, fascinating and spooky – full of mystery and potential. Things got even better when the storyline became more thriller than mystery, and the story became scary, even more enthralling and heart-stopping, keeping me on my toes. I started to doubt the things I thought I knew and had guessed about the plot. 

Despite the slow start, things did get really interesting and I started to really love the book. The big reveals were compelling but not quite as surprising and captivating as I had hoped! They were slightly more realistic than the reveals on lots of thrillers – which made sense as the story was just as much about grief as a mystery – but still felt a little underwhelming. The reveal/mystery around the house was pretty riveting, but it was 100% explained which made it harder to be properly astounded by it. 

At first, I wasn’t a big fan of Mia, as she felt quite 2d. However, I did grow to like her and feel sorry and worried about her by the end of the book. I didn’t adore her or deeply emphasise with her but I ended up feeling relatively fond of her. The aspect of her dealing with her mother’s mental health was interesting and did make me feel sympathy towards her. 

The big reveal relating to Mia and her past wasn’t quite as big or draw-dropping as I had hoped, but again I feel this was more realistic. It made sense and was quite sad, more of an emotional twist than a thrilling one. 

I think her storyline of understanding and letting go of her grief and reconciling with her past was a really powerful and moving one, definitely a highlight of the story.

I quite liked the side characters, they were interesting and added a lot to the story, the ghost-hunting squad and Tamara also brought out a lot of Mia’s best qualities and so made her character more interesting.

Here Lie The Secrets was an emotional story about moving on after loss and was a compelling and thoughtful story of loss as well as a captivating and exciting mystery thriller about a maybe-haunted house and the ghosts that remain there.

Hi all! Today I’m bringing you a review of an INCREDIBLE book that I was lucky enough to read recently! I received a copy of this from viking books after I fell in love with the synopsis of it! This book is out TODAY (12/05/20) so be sure to go and order yourself a copy if you can!! – Amber ❤

 

Kristin Lambert’s stunning debut ‘The Boy in the Red Dress’ is a story woven with mystery, love, lies and secrets, set in 1930’s New Orleans.

This book follows Millie, who is helping her Aunt run a speakeasy called the Cloak & Dagger. Millie is left alone running it for one night when a dead body from her best friend’s past shows up. The police are quick to assume that Marion was the murderer, but Millie is certain he didn’t do it; and she’s determined to find the real killer.

 

This book was simply OUTSTANDING. The second I finished it, I went to look for other books by the author, only to discover that this was her debut novel!! This story is so rich within its setting, that I actually felt like I was running along the streets with Millie as she tried to solve the case. The writing style was beautiful and the story never dragged on, it truly was an incredible experience to read.

This story opened up so nicely; right from the start, the plot was flowy and kept me intrigued. I love the dynamic at the Cloak & Dagger, and how everyone is accepted there and it has become a safe space for people in the LGBTQ+ community during a time where it still wasn’t publicly accepted. The workers there and their relationships were super cute to read about and it’s almost like a little family the way they all work together. Had I’ve been alive during this time period; all of my time would have been spent at the Cloak & Dagger!

Millie was such a great main character; you could feel her emotions bleed through the page and her pure determination to catch the real killer left me wanting more and more. Millie knows that Marion ran from something in his past, but accepts him and knows that he will tell her if it’s super important; and I think the message this portrays and the friendship between the two of them is truly admirable.

I adored almost all of the characters in this book, even the ones who we only got to see a few times. There’s something about Lambert’s writing and how she describes her characters which made me instantly fall in love with them. I was rooting for each and every one of them throughout the whole book!

The mystery of this book was, well quite frankly, it was a mystery. Throughout the whole book I was trying to figure out who the killer was as the events unfolded, to no avail. Every plot twist and new piece of evidence that occurred really shocked me and were so unexpected. I especially loved the kind of rocky yet banter-filled relationship between Millie and the main detective, the scenes between the two of them were always tense yet made me laugh at how they acted around each other.

I think this book is a great read for anyone who loves crime novels or mysteries, especially as it’s filled with queer characters and has an awesome cast of side characters, all of which you will fall in love with. This book kept me guessing right up until the end and I loved how it all closed up; the ending was perfect too!

 

 

Hi all! Today I’m bringing you a review for The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar! I fell in love with the synopsis and cover of this book, so when we were accepted on NetGalley, I screamed and quickly read it in one sitting! This book comes out in 2 days, 12/05/2020, so be sure to go and get yourself a copy! -Amber ❤

Adiba Jaigirdar’s The Henna Wars promised to be everything that I love in a book upon reading the synopsis; and it did not disappoint. Jaigirdar’s novel is a gorgeously-written story of coming out, rising above others and falling in love. I rated this book 5 stars!
Our main character Nishat was an amazing lead to this incredible story. I could really resonate with her and see the similarities between her coming to terms with her sexuality and how I went through a very similar process too. I think the pressure that she feels to come out is something that hit me the hardest, something that is so brutally honest, yet not spoken about enough; is how as soon as you figure out your sexuality, suddenly it feels like you’re lying to everyone you love by not telling them, and it was written so, so well.
From the start, Nishat’s infatuation with Flávia is adorable. The fact that they both remember each other and can recall such precise memories about their childhood is just *too* cute! Flávia is confident, bold and outgoing, everything that Nishat thinks she isn’t. Their dynamic is adorable, and from their first encounter you’re left wanting and hoping for more, and Jaigirdar does not disappoint.
The relationship in this book is so cute; both of the girls are super shy and awkward, which is beyond relatable and precious. I was so invested in their relationship and adored watching it blossom, even throughout the tough bits where Nishat was trying to ignore Flávia but she simply couldn’t. The chemistry between these two was phenomenal, like magnets drawn to each other, they just couldn’t stay away and I LOVED it!

While reading this book, I felt like I was learning something new every few chapters. Topics such as racism, homophobia and bullying are covered in such an informative way that it made me rethink so many things which seemed harmless before this book. Such as how cultural appropriation can really hurt someone, and make them feel like a part of their persona has been stripped away and used as a marketing device to be seen as “trendy”.
The friendships in this book are so supportive, inclusive and positive. Although one of Nishat’s friends doesn’t understand where she is coming from when she gets upset over Flávia culturally appropriating and copying her henna idea, she learns, is educated and then apologises for it. Both of Nishat’s friends cheer her on throughout everything, even when they have a fall out, and they’re there to support her at school when she needs it most, which is heart-warming to see.
Nishat’s sister Priti was SUCH a huge part of this book, and I absolutely loved it. Priti is the first person Nishat tells about her being a lesbian, and is constantly reassuring her that it’s okay and that she has people who love and support her. I think Priti is so incredible; while going through her own struggles, she is always making sure Nishat is okay, even as the younger sister. Their sibling dynamic is very similar to them being best friends; they are each other’s confidants and confide in each other when they have nobody else to turn to. Priti is the most supportive person in Nishat’s life, and their relationship is so precious.
In the beginning, Nishat’s parents decide to ignore her sexuality in hopes that it is a “phase” or a result of something she’s “seen on TV and in films, and read about in your books”. This reaction is truly heart-wrenching to read, even more heartbreaking when you have to acknowledge that for so, so many people it is their reality. Nishat goes through a whirlwind of emotions throughout the main part of the book, constantly scared that her parents no longer love her, or that they’re going to kick her out. When her parents near enough stop talking to her or even looking at her for too long, your heart really breaks for Nishat and all I wanted to do was pick her up and give her a hug 😦 Nishat’s parents slowly start to show their support through small gestures such as showing up to her school’s business event and getting angry when her stall gets trashed, researching LGBTQ+ identities in order to try and understand her better and watching the Ellen DeGeneres show after she mentions it. These gestures may seem small but the impact they have on Nishat is phenomenal; she suddenly grows in confidence when talking to them and worries less and less about them not loving her or accepting who she is. Their growth and gradual acceptance is so moving as a reader and towards the ending I started to tear up purely out of happiness for Nishat ❤

This book is so important for readers, it’s so inclusive and I urge every single person to pick it up if they have the chance 🙂

Hi 🙂 For those of you who don’t know, I (Sasha) started a Sapphic Book Club on Twitter back in February. Every month we read a sapphic book and chat about it, which is a lot of fun! Our May book is We Set The Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia, and if you want to join, we’d LOVE to have you, just DM @midnightb00ks or @bookishsappho on Twitter! 

Our April read was The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake, and I convinced a few members of our lovely book club to contribute to a blog post. Five of us share our thoughts on this amazing book 🙂 Do go follow all our wonderful fellow book club members on their various platforms 🙂

Sasha | @midnightbookgirl_

The Last True Poets of the Sea left me sobbing. This is a gorgeous story of friendship, grief, family and mental health. It is at once heart-warming and heart-wrenching, deeply emotional and profound. The sapphic romance is raw and beautiful, real and stunning. This book is lyrically and gorgeously written, a powerful and moving story that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

Amber| @bookishsappho

This book is truly breath-taking. I was not expecting to love it as much as I did and I definitely didn’t expect to see so much of myself within the main character, Violet. I think this book is SO important, and preaches lots of important points such as seeking help when you need it, talking to people about how you feel, therapy and self-discovery. Violet’s growth throughout the book was heart-warming and I adored her relationship with both her brother and Liv.

Izzie| Izzie’s Busy Reading

This book was absolutely beautiful in every way possible. The author loved these characters, and that was so clear from the start. They were all so well fleshed out with clear and unique personalities. What was most special to me was the conversation around trauma and being a survivor. It’s something I struggle with every day and when I read some of the sentences I literally just had to hold the book for like 5 minutes because I felt so seen. I also think the relationship between Violet and her brother Sam was beautiful because they were both ‘broken’ but loved each other enough to try and help each other to put themselves back together. This was a book with so much love and heart and stunning writing. It showed trauma in so many different ways, and how people cope with it so differently, and it did it with such care.

Léa| We Have No Apologies

The Last True Poets of the Sea is definitely a book that owns my heart. The prose is everything you could expect from such a novel: sharp yet completely lyrical. The part that played generational trauma in the plot really resonated with me. My favorite aspect of this novel was how perfectly fleshed out the characters were, and how beautiful friendships and romance were depicted. I really loved how anxiety and mental illnesses were represented, and how each character had their own authentic way to cope. This book gives us a beautiful sapphic romance, and it’s really refreshing to see a sapphic main character having space to be messy without it being used as a mean of moralization. This book gave me space to breathe in, to dream and to hope.

Ivet| @penpxls

Okay, I absolutely loved this book so much!! From the very beginning it was a page-turner, and I immediately loved the main character (which I usually find very hard in YA contemporary) The author’s writing was SO captivating, it kept me engaged and kept me thinking about the book when I wasn’t reading it, it made me /want to/ read it Personally, I couldn’t bring myself to be too interested in the “hunting for the wreck” subplot (?) but the characters and the prose kept me going even when I wasn’t too preoccupied with the plot Let’s talk characters, First of all, you can DEFINITELY tell she loved them and loved writing them I feel like I can see that it meant a lot to her to write about them? if that makes sense They were handled with so much love, and care, and respect; and were so beautifully characterised, so WELL shaped out, their relationships so raw and imperfect and real Reading about Liv’s coming out made me feel so seen! To quote, “I’m going to have to have this conversation with them a million times, you know. I might wait a while for the next one.”…. “Part of me thinks it’ll take years.” This scene hit so close to home, it hurt I adored the mental health representation, which was, like the characters, handled with SO MUCH respect and so realistically depicted! The relationship between Violet and Sam broke my heart, several times. To see these two broken people, part of a broken whole, love each other so much and work so hard to understand each other, even when it seems impossible; to learn to forgive each other, to heal each other.. it made me feel so much Overall: that was honestly a once-in-a-lifetime book experience and I am EXTREMELY thankful to the author for providing us with something this beautiful.

 

Hi all! Since it’s Ramadan, we thought now was a perfect time to put together a recommendation list full of books by Muslim authors! Of course, we should be reading Muslim authors all year round, and we’re certainly trying to read more Muslim authors, as we have read a pitiful few of these books. Hope you enjoy this list 🙂 – Sasha and Amber x

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali

Rukhsana gets flown out to Bangladesh after her parents find her kissing her girlfriend. There she meets people who change her life and help her realise what she wants for herself. Rukhsana realizes she must find the courage to fight for her love, but can she do so without losing everyone and everything in her life?

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This is one of my (Sasha’s) favourite YA fantasy series; it has a twisty and exciting plotline, amazing characters and gorgeous worldbuilding! I plan to read A Reaper At the Gates this month too!

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed

Told in alternating narratives that bridge centuries, the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed traces the lives of two young women fighting to write their own stories and escape the pressure of familial burdens and cultural expectations in worlds too long defined by men.

The Henna Wars By Adiba Jaigidar

This gorgeous book follows the story of Nishat after she comes out as a lesbian and is told she can be anyone but herself. She then meets a childhood friend again after years and they end up having rival henna businesses and falling in love.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

A contemporary from the bestselling author of Shatter Me: It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.

I Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi

Seven days. Seven days. The Earth might end in seven days. With only seven days to face their truths and right their wrongs, Jesse, Cate, and Adeem’s paths collide even as their worlds are pulled apart. An apocalyptic YA starring a diverse cast of characters.

City of Brass By S. A. Chakraborty

This was a gorgeous and unique adult fantasy that I, Sasha, thoroughly enjoyed. It felt well rounded and had a great storyline, keeping me hooked the whole time. The City of Brass mixed intriguing magic, myths and adventure with the discussion of prejudice and discrimination in a wonderful way.

Thorn by Intisar Khanani

Princess Alyrra has never enjoyed the security or power of her rank. Between her family’s cruelty and the court’s contempt, she has spent her life in the shadows. Forced to marry a powerful foreign prince, Alyrra embarks on a journey to meet her betrothed with little hope for a better future.

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

We Hunt the Flame is an absolutely amazing and gorgeous fantasy story of magic, mystery and squad goals. Set in a rich Arabian inspired world with a fierce heroine and an enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance that you’ll swoon for, this really is the perfect book.

The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah

At the end of the twenty-first century, the world has changed dramatically, but life continues one thousand feet below the ocean’s surface. In Great Britain, sea creatures swim among the ruins of Big Ben and the Tower of London, and citizens waver between fear and hope; fear of what lurks in the abyss, and hope that humanity will soon discover a way to reclaim the Earth.

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

A modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice for a new generation of love.When a surprise engagement is announced between Khalid and Hafsa, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and the unsettling new gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumors, she finds she has to deal with not only what she discovers about Khalid, but also the truth she realizes about herself.

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

Yes No Maybe So is at once heartwarming and heart wrenching, a beautiful story of how activism can connect us, of hope and healing. It approaches important subjects with wit and care, in a humorous, adorable and deeply enjoyable story that will remind teenagers and adults alike to fight for change and love.

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian

It’s 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing. Reza knows he’s gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media’s images of men dying of AIDS. Judy has never imagined finding romance…until she falls for Reza and they start dating. Art is Judy’s best friend, their school’s only out and proud teen. As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won’t break Judy’s heart–and destroy the most meaningful friendship he’s ever known.

Once Upon an Eid by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed

Once Upon an Eid is a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid!

Love from A to Z by S. K. Ali

A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together. An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are.

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

Fatima lives in the city of Noor, a thriving stop along the Silk Road. There the music of myriad languages fills the air, and people of all faiths weave their lives together. However, the city bears scars of its recent past, when the chaotic tribe of Shayateen djinn slaughtered its entire population — except for Fatima and two other humans.

More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed E. Masood

Danyal Jilani doesn’t lack confidence. He may not be the smartest guy in the room, but he’s funny, gorgeous, and going to make a great chef one day. His father doesn’t approve of his career choice, but that hardly matters. What does matter is the opinion of Danyal’s longtime crush, the perfect-in-all-ways Kaval, and her family, who consider him a less than ideal arranged marriage prospect.

Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan

Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she’s in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the “cool” girls in the class, and even talking about changing her name to something more “American.” Does Amina need to start changing too? Or hiding who she is to fit in? While Amina grapples with these questions, she is devastated when her local mosque is vandalized.

Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson

Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she’s suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well.

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat 

On a hot day in Bethlehem, a 12-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother’s response only intensifies a sense of shame: “You exist too much,” she tells her daughter.

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

A music-loving teen with OCD does everything she can to find her way back to her mother during the historic race riots in 1969 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in this heart-pounding literary debut.

Internment by Samira Ahmed

Internment is set in the near-future of the United States where Layla, and her family are forced into an internment camp for Muslim Americans. With the help of new friends in the camp, along with her boyfriend on the outside, Layla is determined to fight for her freedom and begins to lead a revolution.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl.

Not the Girls You’re Looking For by Aminah Mae Safi

A gorgeous story about multicultural identity, friendship, the power of acerbic wit, a fake drowning, a massive scene during Ramadan, and a beignet shop.

 

 

 

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo is one of the best books I have ever read, and I don’t think I will ever forget it or the way it made me feel. It is gorgeous, rich and lyrical, so full of emotion that it overflowed from the page straight into my heart. It is a powerful, stunning story of love, loss and family that I cannot recommend enough. 

“This must be a plane of Dominicans returning home; when you touch down on this soil, you must clap when you land. Para dar gracias a dios. Regrezamos.”

This is the first book I’ve read in poem, and it has set the bar high. There are not enough words of praise in the dictionary to describe how absolutely hacking gorgeous Acevedo’s writing is. It is mesmerising, stunning and emotive. It is breathtaking, heart wrenching and tear-jerking. Every single line in this book was a work of art. 

“A queen
offers her hand to be kissed,
& can form it into a fist
while smiling the whole damn time.”

I loved both Camina and Yahaira so so much. Their voices are so distinctive and unique and I quickly became endeared to both of them. They were very different from each other, and yet you could see things they had in common, like their fierce lovingness and bravery. I loved their relationship and how it developed, as they went from wary knowledge of each other to fierce and unbreaking sisterhood, it was so beautiful. All the relationships in Clap When You Land were raw and gorgeous – Camina and Yahaira’s sisterhood was complicated and real, fierce and beautiful. Yahaira and her relationship with her girlfriend Dre was gorgeous and emotional, full of love and tenderness – it was so clear how much the two of them meant to each and the soft sapphicness made me so soft inside. 

“I love them. I love you. You are the only thing that does not hurt.”

The relationship between Yahaira and her mother and Camina and her Tia were also heartfelt and complicated, and I loved them both dearly. 

Most centrally after their sisterhood was Yahaira and Camina’s different and complex relationships with their Papi. With both of them, it was fiercely loving and close, but also convoluted and marred. 

“So he created a theater of his life
& got lost in all the different roles he had to play.”

Clap When You Land was a story of grief, and it was handled so deep and meaningfully – it was messy and emotional and raw. Both girls handle the death of their father differently, as do the other people that were close to him, such as Yahaira’s mother and it was so powerful to see. 

“The patron saint of the ocean is known for containing many parts of herself: she is a nurturer, but she is also a ferocious defender. & so I remember that to walk this world you must be kind but also fierce.”

As well as the powerful and amazingly written theme of grief, Clap When You Land also discussed important topics of feminism and sexual assault. Both Yahaira and Camina experience sexual assault and harassment, in totally different situations, and they deal with it very differently but are both brave survivors. Yahaira’s experience is before the start of the book, and she struggles with keeping it to herself and how it has impacted her life and her relationship with her dad. Camina’s experience happens within the book and she deals with the pressure of how many girls in her community are coerced into sex work. This theme was handled in a raw and powerful way. 

It’s so hard to describe all the ways in which Clap When You Land is important, wonderful and gorgeous. I don’t have enough words to do so – my dear friend Emily @ashortbooklover wrote a review that deeply reflects how I feel too and really manages to sum up the book in such a beautiful way, so definitely check that out. 

Clap When You Land is one of the best books I have ever read, and I cannot urge you to read it enough. 

The Mermaid the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda Hall was a lyrical, swashbuckling and adventurous story of pirates, first love, magic and empathy. With an absolutely beautiful romance between a high-ranking Imperial lady and a genderfluid pirate at its core, The Mermaid the Witch and the Sea was woven with gorgeous lore and stories, exciting adventure and action and a prevailing theme of making your own destiny in a world that never puts the odds in your favour.
My favourite thing about this book was the lore and the stories that were woven in. The short sections from the perspective of the Sea were so vivid and lyrically written that they quickly became a highlight for me. The idea of the Sea as a being and the lore of the mermaids and witches was so unique, interesting and capturing, and I would love to read a book in this same world with even more focus on these aspects.

Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s writing is mesmerising, lyrical and gorgeous, bringing her unique and wonderful world to life, so full of personality and spirit. It became more emotive as the book went on, and I loved it more and more as I read.

I really loved both Evelyn and Flora. Evelyn was a little annoying at first, but I soon came to love her. Being of Imperialist birth, it was interesting to see her grapple with the destruction her people had caused and see her break away from that and swear to do better herself. She was a little ignorant but tried to educate herself and understand her privilege. There was also a small plot twist nearer the end that left her reeling, and she was so incredibly brave in overcoming it. As with Evelyn, I didn’t adore Flora at first but as I got to know them better I loved them more. Their story with coming to terms with their gender so was so powerful and gorgeous. They were brave and fierce, willing to do whatever it took to protect their loved ones.

The romance felt a little insta-love at first, and I think it could have done with a couple of extra scenes from the beginning of the book more fleshed out so we could see more of the characters, but despite this, as soon as the romance was further established I shipped it enough that I really didn’t mind. I liked the low-key pining at the beginning of their romance and would have loved to see more of a mutual pining trope rather than an insta-love one but by the end of the book, it was so clear how much these two loved each other and it was so gorgeous and emotional that I mostly forget about my earlier grievances. They supported each other completely, trusted and loved each other and were willing to sacrifice everything for each other.

The first 100 or so pages of this bookwere quite slow, and I wasn’t really feeling invested in the plot or characters. But then all of a sudden I was swept away (literally lol) and I was so invested that I could barely remember why I wasn’t in the first place.

I fell in love with The Mermaid the Witch and the Sea book more and more as I read so that by the end I was absolutely besotted with this stunning story and its characters and world. It is a gorgeous, diverse story with queer people of colour fiercely standing at its centre. Full of gorgeous, quiet magic and swashbuckling, exciting action, The Mermaid the Witch and the Sea is enchanting and unputdownable.