Week 18: June 5th - Reading

Happy Pride!!! The one month of the year where I get to be gayer than advertised. Originally I had a very well-laid plan of reading rainbow-colored queer anthologies all month, however some poorly-timed library holds has thrown that TBR out the window. Even so, I've got some fun things lined up and we're off to a good start with some May wrap-ups and some books specific for Pride!

No So Shoujo Love Story Vol 1 by Curryuku: Thank god this comic is hilarious or I was about to throw hands with a shoujo protagonist.

Should you read this? If you want something just absolutely ridiculous, then this will hit the spot for sure. This was my last official read for May (and a girlfriend recommendation!) and it was such a treat to end such a rough reading month. This did start as a WebToon, and I can see its appeal immediately. This comic is hilarious, genre-aware, and surprisingly touching in some spots. It is a little rough to hear the main character Rei call everyone a "normie" so often, but it's counterbalanced by the sheer ridiculousness of her crush Hansum Ochinchin. This isn't here to be taken seriously and so long as you're not looking for anything deep, you'll have a great time with this.

Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefer: Man if I’d had this growing up I may have actually continued on a path in the sciences.

Should you read this? Oh absolutely! This nonfiction book is geared towards a younger audience, but it doesn't compromise on any of its scientific depth or breadth of knowledge. It's broken up brilliantly to discuss same-sex sexual behaviors across the animal kingdom while engaging with different questions that humans often have about sexuality, and the comics/illustrations are really a nice touch. Personally, I enjoy non-fiction with more of a personal connection from the author themself, and while Schrefer includes insightful personal anecdotes, this still mostly exists as a reference text. A very good reference text, but that's something to know going in. Definitely check this one out - especially this month.

True Love and Other Impossible Odds by Christina Li: Wasn’t expecting this to be the book where I felt the most seen but here we go I guess.

Should you read this? If you like YA contemporary that is very character-focused, then please do. This was such a touching story about exploring grief in multiple facets, how love works, and how people grow and change over time. This is the kind of YA contemporary I enjoy the most: lower on plot threads and more of a focus on the character's journey. I'm especially a sucker for stories that focus on a coming out journey, much like what Grace goes through in here. It's just very sweet and soft and touching, and it goes snugly in the vein of other YA contemporaries I think about all the time. Definitely check this one out if you haven't.

And that's all for this week! I'll admit I'm pretty tired so I'm hoping to have a good update for next week. My schedule filled up in June out of nowhere, I swear. But have books, will travel!