How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L. Howe is a sweet, fat positive YA paranormal romance. I reviewed three of Howe’s previous books, all adult fat-positive contemporary romances (On the Plus Side; The Make-Up Test; and How to Get a Life in Ten Dates) and I enjoyed this one as well! AsContinue reading “How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House”
Tag Archives: queer characters
How To Fake It In Society
I will always be thrilled when K.J. Charles (among many others, Death in the Spires, All of Us Murderers) publishes a new novel, which she did in April 2026 with How to Fake It in Society. It’s 1821, and watercolor paint creator Titus Pilcrow has just been told by his landlord (a former lover) thatContinue reading “How To Fake It In Society”
The Twilight Garden
I was a big fan of Sara Nisha Adams’ The Reading List (2021) and so when I saw she had a new book, The Twilight Garden (2023), I knew that I had to read it, and I was glad that I did. Sometimes you just want a book that takes you somewhere else into someoneContinue reading “The Twilight Garden”
Fat Angie
I picked up Fat Angie (2013) by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo in the YA section of my library; I hadn’t seen it before. After reading, I have very mixed feelings, though it received a Stonewall Book Award. As the book opens, Angie is involved in a fight during gym class. There’s a mean girl, Stacy, andContinue reading “Fat Angie”
Long Island Girls
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”
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”
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”
The Library of Flowers
The Library of Flowers (publication day May 3, 2026) by L.C. Chu (aka Lily Chu) has a little bit of everything. This hard-to-categorize, enjoyable fantasy/historical/ romance/family drama/coming of age features Lucy Hua, the latest in a long line of Hua women perfumers who can create perfumes that can affect emotion or even summon true love–calledContinue reading “The Library of Flowers”
Fat Swim
Fat Swim (publication day April 28, 2026) by Emma Copley Eisenberg (of the Frump Feelings Substack, Housemates, and The Third Rainbow Girl) is a beautiful collection of semi-linked short stories that is a celebration of fat, queer love. All of the stories are set in or around Philadelphia and feature fat and queer characters inContinue reading “Fat Swim”
The Duke
The Duke (publication day April 28, 2026) by Anna Cowan is a sapphic political romance set in a Regency era where women can inherit title! Kate, the Duke of Howard, inherited when she was a young teenager after her own treachery, born of her youth, inexperience, and ambition. Now much-feared, she cultivates her icy reputation.Continue reading “The Duke”
Reading While Fat 