Book Review: Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster by Andrea Mosqueda

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster

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Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster 〰️

This was a great read, though admittedly, it took me a few chapters to get into it. It was a bit slow initially, and I wasn't fully invested in the story. But when as soon as the art project and romance finally came into play, then I was hooked until the end.

Side note, before I continue, I just want to say I thought that Maggie would end up in a poly relationship at the end since she was into three people. It didn't, but it was an exciting thought all the same.

I loved the representation of Mexican culture and that the MC was Mexican. And bi! We need more queer-coloured representation. I also loved the idea for Maggie's art project. I thought it was cool and a great idea. But when things came crashing down in the end, I was just as shook as she was in realizing maybe it wasn't a good idea after all. I'm glad things worked out for her, however, I was happy to see her with Dani. I do think it worked out a little too perfectly, almost like a movie. But it's a sappy romance, so I'm here for it and all the cheese anyway.

I would have liked to see more Meggie and Dani scenes, though, especially near the end. But I'll live.

Though I felt the pacing was off at the start, I loved Meggie's description of things. Like how she describes photography and her Instagram captions. The artist in me loves that.

All in all, though it kind of boring at the start, if you stick it through, it does get really good, and for that, I recommend it.

Book Review: All That's Left In The World by Erik J. Brown

All That's Left In The World

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All That's Left In The World 〰️

Wow, what a rollercoaster of emotions this book was. From start to finish, I was hooked and invested in this story.

All That's Left in the World Cover

I love reading post-apocalypse stories, and having there be an LGBTQ+ element to it was a huge bonus. I find it funny (unclear why) about the brief mention of COVID in this book, especially seeing how it's still going on. While the author did talk briefly about writing COVID into his book in the author's note, the main focus was the superflu and the aftermath. It's interesting to see how humanity could behave if a virus rapidly wiped us out. After all, even during a worldwide pandemic in real life, you'd think the world would have united to stop the virus, but we are anything but. So to see how the world is after the superflu in this novel feels scarily accurate, despite it being fiction.

I love a good slow-burn romance, and the buildup between Andrew and Jamie was perfect. I could feel them slowly fall in love and come to terms with their feelings.

Pretty much the only negative I have to say about this book is the passing of time, and this is a huge nitpick. After all, the boys are travelling all across America by foot, and that takes a while. But I just felt like there were a lot of "days passed" scenes, and it made it feel a bit filler-y. But I get it, and it was necessary; it just felt like filler all the same.

All in all, 10/10. There are a few scenes that may be super sensitive to some readers, but I think it's definitely worth the read.

Book Review: Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Before I begin, is it just me, or did Leah gain weight since the first book, and I didn't notice? Like, maybe I missed it in Simon's book, but I had no idea she was a plus-size character. I love the body representation; I just must not have noticed that in her character description cause when I was reading this book, I was a bit thrown off by her being a bigger girl. But she owns it, and I love that.

Anyway, that aside, I loved this book. I love a good sapphic romance. Also, I love the bi representation. We need more of that in media, I think.

Leah did come off a bit too teen antsy for me, but that's her character, so Albertalli nailed that. I would have liked to see her do a bit of the nerdy stuff she's always telling us about than just, well, telling us she's into nerdy things. My inner nerd needs it. But still, I enjoyed reading her much more than Molly in book two. She felt more fleshed out as a character.

One nitpick I will say, however, is that Leah telling Abby she can't be a little bi and that she has to label herself properly irked me. It's Abby's choice on how she wants to be labelled. If Abby is only 5% into girls and 95% into guys, she's still bi. No one should tell you how you identify.

That being said, this was a cute read and a worthy sequel to Love, Simon. It was nice to see the OG cast again, and fun to read little cameo's to characters in the second book. This book was a much better fit for the Simonverse than book two. (Which, it being a sequel and featuring the main cast again, wasn't hard to do).

Book Review: Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass

Surrender Your Sons

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Surrender Your Sons 〰️

This book is powerful in more ways than one. Many queer novels are about romance, which is excellent, (and this one has a bit of it as well), but Surrender Your Sons isn't just about being in love. It's so much more.

This dark YA is about conversion therapy, (which, in my mind, 100% never works, and the staff are always "ex-gays," aka still gay but pretending they aren't in order to "fit into society"). It's also a murder mystery thriller, and I'm here for it.

Stories about new love, coming out, and found family are great, but reading a story about what could happen if you came out to your zealot mother and it goes terribly wrong, well, I think it's just as important to read. This novel brings up many serious topics, and I believe Sass handled them very well.

I was hooked right from the first page to the last, and I secretly hope for a sequel, considering how it ended. I can't stress how much I loved this book and that I think it's an essential read with an excellent story. Sass knew how to make me (and I'm sure many more) feel all the feels.

If you are looking for an exciting read with a dash of romance, this is the book for you. 10/10. I highly recommend it.

Surrender Your Sons

by Adam Sass

Book review: Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

Only Mostly Devastated

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Only Mostly Devastated 〰️

I didn't expect to feel all the feels when finishing ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED today, but here we are.

Only Mostly Devastated Cover

This book played with my emotions the whole way through. It made me feel and think about things I never thought about before, and I appreciate that. In a way, I learned some valuable life lessons, just like Ollie, after finishing this book.

Also, is it somehow possible to get Ollie to narrate my life? He was a blast to read as a character. Gonzales really created a likeable and relatable character to read. She brought him to life. In fact, all of the characters were great, and they all went through some character growth spurts, and I love that for all of them.

I think that any queer youth, whether out and proud or not ready to be out, could benefit from reading this book. (Well, even straight people as well, but yeah). Not to mention the lesson on life and death and how it was all handled was perfection.

The pacing for everything was perfect, and all of the characters were loveable. (Though some may seem awful at first, you learn to love them once you know them). I loved this book from start to finish. 10/10. I highly recommend it.

Book Review: If This Gets Out by Sophia Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

If This Gets Out

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If This Gets Out 〰️

Actual rating: 4.5/5

Finally, a story where the characters fall in love early and get together early, and we have a lot of the rest of the book to read with them in a relationship. I love falling in love stories, but a lot of the ones I've been reading lately have it take the whole book for the characters to get together and then maybe a chapter of them being in a relationship before it ends. Yes, those books are great reads, but I want to see the relationship more. My own book is a mix of this, where it takes. While for them to get together but when they do, we still have a lot to read of them together.

I loved the chemistry, not just between Ruben and Zach, but the whole band of Saturday as a whole. You can tell they are all genuinely great friends and love each other. It's also great to read about close platonic relationships.

If This Gets Out Cover

I think Angel is my favourite character, though. I love them all, but he had such a great personality that I would have loved to see him more in the story. It was sad to see him succumb to drugs, but it's a reality for most pop stars.

Actually, this book as a whole was spot on for young celebrities. In fact, the whole industry knowledge was so well put together that you'd swear the authors were also part of a management company for pop stars. I mean I'm sure it's not too difficult to research everything, but they made it all seem very believable.

I love Zach's coming out story. It felt a bit rushed, but at the same time, not. It was established that he did find guys attractive before, but when he finally sees Ruben as something more, my queer heart squealed. Zach and Ruben are so cute together. And the fact that Angel and Jon are so accepting makes me happy.

Overall, a very great read. Many important topics are discussed, and that alone makes this a must-read, especially if you love LGBT+ stories.

Book Review: Melt With You by Jennifer Dugan

Melt With you

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Melt With you 〰️

Okay, my poor gay heart needs more of Dugan's writing now. I finished this book in like a day, and I loved every second.

Melt With You by Jennifer Dugan

Dugan (from the two books of hers that I have read so far) is a master of the enemies-to-lovers trope. I mean, Fallon and Chloe were besties but then became "enemies" before becoming friends and more again, but still!

I loved the narration of Fallon. She's got such a great personality to read. She expressed such a range of emotions that made me feel the same right along with her. She was admittedly a bit frustrating to read at points about telling Chloe how she felt, but even she admitted her faults, so I guess that's okay in my books haha. Besides, if she did follow Jami's advice (sound advice, great friend, by the way, we all need a Jami in our lives) and told Chloe her true feelings and just talked it out, we wouldn't have had a novel.

I love the whole road trip thing, and Chloe was so sweet in her side adventures to show how much she cared for Fallon. It made my gay heart melt. (Pun intended).

These two characters were compatible, even with their flaws. They were relatable and so well written, and I enjoyed reading about their journey. Also, gotta love a good "only one-bed" trope done right.

If you are looking for a great sapphic read, this book is worth it. It will melt your heart into gooey goodness.

My 2022 Year in Books (GoodReads)