Long Island Girls (publication day June 23, 2026) is Gabrielle Korn’s first foray into historical / literary fiction from her previous two novels, The Shutouts and Yours for the Taking, which were speculative, near-future, fiction. The novel primarily follows 17-year old Susan, beginning in 2005, where she and her best friend Katie live on LongContinue reading “Long Island Girls”
Author Archives: bbwesquire
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years (2024) is Shubnum Khan’s first novel published in the U.S., but she also has published an earlier novel and a memoir. Set along the coast of South Africa among the Muslim Indian community there, The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years is delicious, heartbreaking, gothic historical literary fiction that hasContinue reading “The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years”
The Keeper of Magical Things
The Keeper of Magical Things (2025) by Julie Leong is a super-sweet cozy fantasy with a sapphic romance/friendship a big part of the story. I loved it! Certainty Bulrush is a 6th-year novice mage in the Guildtower in the city of Margrave, having an ordinary sort of magic–when she touches a magical object, she canContinue reading “The Keeper of Magical Things”
Our Sister’s Keeper
Our Sister’s Keeper (publication day June 9, 2026) by historian Jasmine Holmes is a superb historical fantasy/ horror novel set in a fictional 1920s Mississippi town called East Cobb. East Cobb is the black sister to the white town of West Cobb, and it’s different than most–it’s thriving and everyone seems happy. Thea and herContinue reading “Our Sister’s Keeper”
The Disaster Gay Detective Agency
The Disaster Gay Detective Agency (publication day June 2, 2026) by Lev AC Rosen is a funny mystery/ thriller featuring four friends in New York City who get involved over their heads in a situation and have to pull together to get out alive. This is my first Rosen book, and I will probably tryContinue reading “The Disaster Gay Detective Agency”
Fledgling
Fledgling (2005) is Octavia E. Butler’s last published book before her untimely death in 2006. It is, unfortunately, the last book-length writing of hers that I had left to read–I was saving it for a while, but after reading the amazing biography Positive Obsession I decided that it was time. In Positive Obsession, Morris warnsContinue reading “Fledgling”
Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler
Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler (2025) by Susana M. Morris is one of the best biographies that I’ve read, about one of the most amazing authors of speculative fiction that ever lived. Although I’ve not reviewed any of Butler’s work in this space (that’s changing next week with a reviewContinue reading “Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler”
No Fats, No Fems
No Fats, No Fems: A Guide to Queer Empathy and Unpacking Prejudice (publication day May 19 2026) by Max Hovey is a decent introduction to anti-racist, feminist, trans-positive, and body positive concepts for gay white men who may never have been exposed to those ideas before. The title comes from a common phrase found inContinue reading “No Fats, No Fems”
A Perfect Hand
A Perfect Hand (publication day May 19, 2026) by Ayelet Waldman is my favorite kind of historical fiction–where actual historical figures make an appearance as characters! Set in the late 1800s in England, the story centers on Alice Lockey, a lady’s maid who grew up in a village, daughter of a farmer, and entered serviceContinue reading “A Perfect Hand”
Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget
Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget (publication day May 12, 2026) by Reyna Grande is a beautifully-written collection of memoir pieces about a variety of things. Grande writes about her relationship with her parents, who separated when she was little, and who she spent several years away from when they came to theContinue reading “Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget”
Reading While Fat 