Top 5 Wednesday: LGBTQ+ Reads

 

Top Five Wednesday is a book meme that Lainey started, and is now hosted by Sam at Thoughts on Tomes. 
If you want to join in checkout the Goodreads page!

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April 19th: Favorite LGBTQ+ Reads
–Talk about your favorite books that feature LGBTQ+ characters or are by LGBTQ+ authors.

(Changing this a bit – spotlighting LGBTQ+ reads I NEED/WANT to read.
– Not comprehensive of course)

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Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda – 1

Summary:
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

This book is crazy popular – everyone LOVES it. A movie is being made! I have to read it! And I’m a sucker for cute romances so… I need this in my life.

Anyone want to buddy read this over the summer?
I have the e-book but haven’t gotten to it yet.

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The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice and Virtue – 2

Summary:
An unforgettable tale of two friends on their Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe who stumble upon a magical artifact that leads them from Paris to Venice in a dangerous manhunt, fighting pirates, highwaymen, and their feelings for each other along the way.

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Witty, romantic, and intriguing at every turn, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is a sumptuous romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.

This is one of my most hyped releases for the year. European travels, 18th century (bisexual!) romance. Family dynamics. Pirates! I need this in my life.

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They Both Die At The End – 3

Summary:
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: they’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news is: there’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—an unforgettable day that will change both their lives forever.

I haven’t read ANYTHING by Adam Silvera but I want to read LITERALLY ALL OF THEM. Of all three of his books, this is the one that most intrigues me – I want it.

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Peter Darling – 4

Summary:
Ten years ago, Peter Pan left Neverland to grow up, leaving behind his adolescent dreams of boyhood and resigning himself to life as Wendy Darling. Growing up, however, has only made him realize how inescapable his identity as a man is.

But when he returns to Neverland, everything has changed: the Lost Boys have become men, and the war games they once played are now real and deadly. Even more shocking is the attraction Peter never knew he could feel for his old rival, Captain Hook—and the realization that he no longer knows which of them is the real villain.

This is the least hyped book on this list. I haven’t seen much on it, but I recently added it to goodreads and I really want to read it. Its a Peter Pan retelling featuring  a growing up, trans Peter, and not-so-villainous Hook (a favorite of mine in retellings) and a romance. It has really great reviews too – though not very many.

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The Wishing Heart – 5

Summary:
With a book in her bag and a switchblade in her pocket, Rebel’s been thieving her way through life while hoping for a cure to fix her ailing heart.

But when the bejeweled vase she just tried to hawk turns out to be a jinni’s vessel, Rebel gets lost to her world and dragged within another. Now every magical being in the city wants the vase for himself.

Thrust into a game of cat and mouse in a world she never knew existed, Rebel must use her uncanny skills to find a way to free Anjeline the Wishmaker.

But wishes have consequences. And contracts. Anjeline’s freedom could unravel a love like Rebel has never known, or it could come at the cost of Rebel’s heart…

I received an e-arc of this for a book blog tour from Entangled Teen – its really good so far and features a lesbian romance in a fantasy setting – something far too rare. My tour stop/review is May 13th!

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What do you think of my list?

Are any of these on your TBR?

Have you read any? 

What did you think?

Let me know!