Week 17: May 29th - Reading

Okay! An update of more substance for you all this week, I have managed to make progress in the fight against the slump I can see peeking over the horizon, and this momentum will serve us well going into June!

If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So: Don’t mind me kicking my feet and holding my cheeks in delight over here.

Should you read this? If you like YA contemporary with heart and sweetness, then I would definitely say to pick this up. YA contemporary tends to be a hit-or-miss genre since I am no longer a contemporary young adult (don't REMIND me), but I think this is a stronger hit than not. There's a lot of heart as we follow Elsie's journey into adulthood, trying to navigate family and friendships as she starts to realize a lot of things. I will say that I think for a contemporary YA, this is a very crowded plot and the parts that I was most invested in didn't have a lot of room to breathe. As fun as the plot involving Elsie's Tumblr friend is, this book didn't need it and honestly I think I would've enjoyed it way more if it wasn't there. But for what this is, I would definitely say pick this up if you're looking for something sweet and simple.

(Side bar - Hoopla had a typo on one of the chapters so I thought one of the characters was going to come out as trans but that did not happen, so just know that going in)

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo: Quick question - can I give a book a standing ovation?

Should you read this? Oh fuck yes - this was magnificent. I'm no stranger to Nghi Vo at this point but this has to be her best work and it's not even close. This is one of those books that feels specifically tailored to my taste. I am obsessed with books that mix metaphor and reality to weave a dream-like tapestry, and this is one I want to hang up on my wall. It's also told in pseudo-memoir style which I am an even bigger sucker for. I have to admit I'm a period piece girly: put magical realism in a historic setting and I am sold. This is going to be one of my favorite fictions of the year, I'm calling it now. Please do yourself a favor and read this richly dark and opulent book. You won't be disappointed.

Flamer by Mike Curato: Growing up in a family of Boy Scouts really makes this one hit different.

Should you read this? If you like graphic novels that feel like non-fiction, then yes. I swear for the longest time I thought that this was a memoir of sorts, and even knowing that it wasn't it reads like nonfiction. This is a very lived-in story that captures a young boy's last week at Boy Scout summer camp as he tries to come to grips with his sexuality amidst an unfriendly 1990s. Mike Curato writes in the afterward that this was inspired by real life experiences and I do believe that. This is a story that feels very personal, so I think it will have a lot of resonance with a lot of people. It's these kinds of stories that are important to tell, and I would happily recommend this in tandem with "The Magic Fish" by Trung Le Nguyen because it touches on many of the same lived experiences. Definitely check this one out if you haven't, it is well worth the time.

And that's all for this week! Next week it'll be more of a May wrap-up before diving into my full Pride TBR, but those should be coming soon too - so stay tuned!