Category: book thoughts

Trans girl thief lures men, but only the bad ones, to her man eating mermaid girlfriend, who if you ask me doesn’t really love her. Laria deserves so much better. The Lady (the mermaid) was so emotionless, so cruel in her lack of any emotion. The story made me want to cry. Love how it talks about obsession and respecting yourself.

I know what it’s like to need to advertise to the world what you are, so that people don’t just assume you are what they think you are.

Queer, funny, emotional and supernatural. Shows guys experiencing a range of emotions, healthy communication and conflict resolution between friends. I’m already obsessed! Super cute. Super weird. Loving it <3. All boys school, has a trans guy in it!

Has transgender and M/M rep.

I love how the writing is accessible and flows easily, yet manages to deal sensitively with hard topics. I was in a house fire years ago. And while I was saved by my neighbor and physically made it out ok (barely) I have PTSD from it. This book deals a lot with fire, and ptsd. And I loved every bit of it. It’s not something that’s easy for me to get through. But I absolutely love RoAnna’s stories! Well this is the third book of theirs i’ve read so far (i’ve also read Chameleon Moon and Moon-Bright Tides-loved both of those as well!).

Just like Chameleon Moon and Moon-Bright Tides it has characters i’ve fallen in love with and deals with real life issues in a sensitive and healthy way. All without being too long (though i’d gladly spend more time with the characters). And of course it’s all with a dash or 2 of fantasy (like vampires in this case).

I don’t think i’ll ever make it through one of RoAnna’s books without at least getting teary.

My initial review.

This short story managed to rip out my heart, give me all the feels, have me relating to the MC SO HARD (MC is ungendered and I am agender, also depression feels), crying tears of sadness and happiness.

Like I WANT TO SAY MORE but it’s a short story and anything else I say WILL SPOIL IT. ASSUME NOTHING. I repeat, assume nothing. I has a new favorite. Now leave me be in my bucket of feels. ❤ And I highly recommend this short story.

I have since realized I am a demiboy, which for me is part agender so …

This is a comic series. I’ve read the first 3 volumes. There is 20 right now. I have no idea if it’s done yet or not. Queer, camping, friendship. Cute.

Part of my review for this book

So onto all the love I have for this book! For years I refused to look into “this non-binary business”. I mean sure i’d respect people, it’s not that hard and nothing good comes from being an asshat. But I refused to look into it/research it at all because I was already in my mid 20s before I heard the term and was afraid at what i’d find, for multiple reasons. I grew up not feeling like a girl, or boy, so I figured “well I must just be awful at being a girl because those are the only choices”. I didn’t know there was anything else. By the time I heard the word non-binary I figured it was too late, after all…you have to know everything about yourself by the time you’re 20 right? WRONG. But that’s what I was telling myself out of fear.

Almost 2 months ago I got slapped in the face so to speak and realized…I’m non-binary. Not only can I not “pick a side” in terms of attraction (i’m bi), I can’t “pick a side” to be. And that’s ok. This is me.

I wish this book existed when I was a teen and that somehow i’d have been able to read it. I’m so glad it exists now. And that, if you are still alive, it’s never too late.

Full review Here.

Part of my review

I needed this book 20 years ago. Words can not describe how much I love this book. It’s a memoir about growing up and figuring out that one is non-binary and asexual. While I am not asexual, I am non-binary…and while I can look back on my life now and realize I have always been this way, it took until age 30 to find the words. To realize, i’m not a freak. I’m not wrong. I’m not confused (anymore-and if I had had the words and someone else saying “me too” I never would have had to be). That i’m not alone.

So many instances of “OMG ME TOO!” “Yes, so much yes” “I feel this so hard” “Wait…there is a WORD for that? And it’s not just me?” It’s a memoir of someone else’s life but so much of it mirrored my own. Not 100% obviously, but a lot of it. And it made me feel so incredibly seen. I am still trying not to cry while writing this…and i’m failing.

I’m so glad to finally understand my struggle with gender that i’ve had as long as I can remember. To finally know i’m not a freak, alone, wrong for feeling this way. And that there are words. Words can mean the entire world.

Full review Here. And FUCK YOU to the assholes that keep trying to ban this book!

My review from 3 years go

Exactly what the title suggests. A quick and easy guide to they/them pronouns, which are increasingly being used (though have been used for literally centuries). I’m non-binary and, having just came out this year, am still getting used to they/them pronouns for myself and it even mentions misgendering yourself. Which I have done. It’s awkward. But it’s normal. I mean i’ve used she/her pronouns for 30 years, of course it takes getting used to.

I then gave it to my cis male husband who has been wonderfully supportive of me coming out as non-binary. His exact words when he was done “Everyone needs to read this”. It took both of us less than half an hour each to read. It’s quick. It’s easy. And it’s seriously helpful. 🙂

This review hurts because my husband has since died, but I believe this is important still and he was a wonderful man. My pronouns are also They/He now (and were before died, he was completely supportive).

Part of my review

The MC’s are both Chinese-American and queer. Nova is a witch who is hard of hearing and has hearing aids and Tam is an enby werewolf. Nova also has 2 grandma’s in a relationship with each other. I squeaked out loud when I saw that! SO. MUCH. CUTENESS.

Good witches protecting and interacting with nature. When I saw the nature creatures my first thought was I WANT TO PAINT THEM. I don’t even paint (yet-but I do want to get more into art). THEY ARE SO CUTE.

Tam’s ears are pointy. Loved that quiet detail.

Tam also uses they/them pronouns and does correct other characters, who end up being so wonderfully respectful of them.

Full review Here.

My review from 3 years ago

Words do not describe how I have fallen in love with this book! It took me on a journey of reflecting on gender and sexuality, in myself and society. It is accessible and very kind. There are pages that remind you to stop and breathe. To take a break if you need it. Of course you can ignore them if you want but I found that I needed them and was so glad they were there.

I truly believe anyone can get a lot out of this book. Cis, Trans, Non-binary.

There is stuff in here that I wish everyone would hear.

It also talks a lot about intersections and how they interact with each other. Class, Race, Ethnicity, Disability, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion. For example I’m White, Middle-Class, Physically Disabled, Neurodivergent, an afab Non-binary person, bisexual, and Wiccan. All of these things interact with each other and matter.

It talks about how gender is complex in that it’s a mix of biological, psychological and social. Even though it’s a complex topic, it was never confusing. Always accessible.

I highly recommend this!

Second chance romance between 2 black women later in life. Made my bisexual heart so happy!

Poetry about being a queer disabled femme of color. Raw, emotional, heart-breaking, thought-provoking, beautiful. I related to some of it, being queer and disabled myself. I am not femme (though I am AFAB) or a poc. What I couldn’t relate to still moved me to tears. I don’t have words for how amazing this book of poetry is. Poetry for me seems to be either hit or miss and this was one hell of a hit!

I freaking loved this! I adored the characters, especially Lucy. A very strong woman who knows what she wants and doesn’t take crap. Don’t get me wrong, she has her insecurities for sure, but she still has a strength within her than shines. Catherine has been hurt in the past and is very insecure in the beginning despite having the countess act down in public. She hides it well but she’s hurting. I loved her character arc and seeing her grow stronger. Both women have their own interests and personalities that I really enjoyed getting to see. Both are interesting characters that I loved in their own rights. I also felt for Catherine with what she had been through and some stuff rang quite true for me too.

A beautiful sapphic historical romance.

Full review Here.

I can not express my love for this book! Nor do I have a clue what to say other than wanting to recommend it to absolutely everyone! There is so much love and truth within these pages. Gentle and caring words even as it made me cry, in a good way. Things I needed to hear. That I think everyone could use. Self-care, true deep self-care, is so hard for most people. And yet it’s so important.

I took my time with this book because I wanted to sit with what I read, to truly absorb it. The best books are like that for me, I take them slow.

I will take this book to heart going forward and hopefully, every so often, re-read it to remind myself. I highly recommend this book!

That’s my review from over 2 years ago. I really should reread this book.

Part of my review from over 2 years ago.

This book is divided into 3 sections. Section 1: Beginnings, Pronouns, Therapy, Hormones, Surgery. Section 2: Fears, Anger, Loss, Dysphoria, Discrimination. Section 3: Changes, Living Authentically, Peace/Joy/Acceptance. Each sections starts out with a few pages talking about the sections within that section as each of those mini-sections gets some poetry. In the introduction to the entire book it does explain that they choose to keep 18+ content out because then they’d have to rate the book 18+ which would keep a lot of transmasculine teens who could really use this book from accessing it. So it is PG-13. That said though it goes into a lot of deep and emotional stuff.

I am transmasculine. I am a demiguy and I happen to be afab (assigned female at birth). This book contains poetry by binary trans men as well as non-binary transmasculine individuals. A wonderful spectrum of transmasc people. I had to take this book slow because it hit so hard with me. I just came out as trans this year. I had to take it slow because I related so much to the words in this book and it spoke to fears as well as joys…to so much. I could not handle reading this book in one sitting even though time-wise i’m sure I could have, if I had been able. It was that powerful for me.

Full review Here.

My initial “review” before reading it:

I only read the dedication and i’m already crying. It says

“To every disabled reader, dreamer, storyteller-
We can be heroes.
This one’s for us.”

I have been disabled my entire life, born with vacterl association (and then some) I’m a medical nightmare. vacterl is rare so i’m not expecting to see it in a book but even with that difference, many disabled people end up facing the same stigmas, ableism and feelings from it all.

I am so glad something like this finally exists ❤

After Reading it:

13 stories, and many tears. I found quite a bit to relate to in these pages as a disabled person. My updates mention all the stories, my ratings and some feelings. There were a couple of “???” stories, a few stories that while they didn’t really resonate with me personally I did like them enough and could see them being perfect for someone else, and just over half of them I really loved! The ones I loved I found stuff I related to in the pages even when I didn’t share the exact disability, I cared about the characters, cried or at least got teary, they spoke to me in some way.

There is a diverse range of disabilities, both physical and mental, in the pages as well as poc and queer characters. If you are disabled, in any way, I imagine you’ll find some stories to love in these pages, even if not every single one hits home. I am really glad this book exists and that I read it. My average ended up being 3.7 over-all.

Review Here. I don’t remember how many of the stories have lgbtq+ rep but some of them do. All have disabled rep.

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