Tag Archives: diverse books

Book Review: HER, HIM, & I: POEMS by Christian Weissmann

Posted in Book Review by

HER, HIM, & I: POEMS by Christian Weissmann

Publisher: Central Avenue Poetry (thank you so much for my gifted eCopy!)

Pub date: 6/11/24—OUT NOW!

Goodreads synopsis:

“Her, Him & I is a love letter to queerness— the joy, grief, ecstasy, and hope that accompanies it. Weissmann offers the readers an unfiltered view into his psyche during several romantic relationships. These poems magnify the reality of exploring emotional and physical intimacy with multiple genders, all while getting to know oneself in the process. 

A bold affirmation of identity and its fluid nature, this book is an unforgettable exploration of what it means to love and be loved in all forms.”

My thoughts:

Wow! HER, HIM, & I features a demographic so often left out of the publishing industry (and thus my own reading): bisexual folks (especially masculine-presenting bisexuals). Not only this but, Weissmann is unapologetic in writing about their bisexuality, which makes reading this collection a breath of fresh air.

Passion and heartbreak flow throughout the language of HER, HIM, & I. While reading it, I was right there along with Weissmann, viscerally feeling all the emotions that come with the end of romantic relationships. I love how the collection doesn’t just skip from a loving relationship starting to break-down to a clean split—Weissmann drags out the feelings of resentment and multiple heartbreaks that go into the *process* of a breakup. There comes a point in the collection where the narrator realizes he should probably break up with his boyfriend, but then switches between having hope that the situation is salvageable and feeling deep resentment for his partner. Weissmann truly has a way with words that moved and affected me deeply.

Overall, HER, HIM, & I is a phenomenal collection of poetry. I was lucky enough to read it during pride month, but the best time to read queer books is all year round. I recommend this to readers looking for something relatively short that really packs a punch emotionally. I think this would make a great choice for someone stuck in a reading slump. Thank you so much to Central Avenue Poetry for my eCopy of HER, HIM, & I!

Book Review: A Good Happy Girl by Marissa Higgins

Posted in Book Review by

A GOOD HAPPY GIRL by Marissa Higgins

Publisher: Catapult
Publication date: 4/2/24

Goodreads synopsis:

A poignant, surprising, and immersive read about a young professional woman pursuing an emotionally intense relationship with a married lesbian couple.

Helen, a jittery attorney with a self-destructive streak, is secretly reeling from a disturbing crime of neglect that her parents recently committed. Historically happy to compartmentalize— distracting herself by hooking up with lesbian couples, doting on her grandmother, and flirting with a young administrative assistant—Helen finally meets her match with Catherine and Katrina, a married couple who startle and intrigue her with their ever-increasing sexual and emotional intensity. 

Perceptive and attentive, Catherine and Katrina prod at Helen’s life, revealing a childhood tragedy she’s been repressing. When her father begs her yet again for help getting parole, she realizes that she has a bargaining chip to get answers to her past.

In her exploration of queer domesticity, effects of incarceration on family, and intergenerational poverty, Marissa Higgins offers empathy to characters who don’t often receive it, with unsettling results.

My thoughts:

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this yet, but A GOOD HAPPY GIRL was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. Seriously, I pre-ordered this book many months before its publication date. I’m so happy to say that it lived up to my expectations entirely. I laughed out loud, nearly cried, and reflected upon my own relationships while reading this perverse, queer as hell novel.

I noticed that some other reviewers of A GOOD HAPPY GIRL thought the narrator’s (Helen’s) intrusive thoughts were too weird or gross; I’m sort of under the belief that perhaps this book wasn’t the right pick for them (and that’s okay!). A GOOD HAPPY GIRL is definitely one of those chaotic, sexually and emotionally unhinged-girl main character books, which happens to be my favorite genre. It is erotic, thought-provoking, and strange all at once. I really like the incorporation of polyamory and Helen’s tumultuous relationship with her parents, too. I know so many LGBTQ folks who have familial struggles, so this aspect of the book will likely be relatable for them.

Overall, I think this is an incredible debut novel. I can’t wait to see what subversive, queer work Marissa Higgins puts out next. I’ll definitely be thinking about A GOOD HAPPY GIRL for a while and I’m quite confident it will make my list of top 2024 reads!

Review: WOMEN! IN! PERIL! by Jessie Ren Marshall

Posted in Book Review by
WOMEN! IN! PERIL! standing upright on a black bookshelf. A variety of book spines are in the background. A faux plant is next to the featured book.

Women! In! Peril! By Jessie Ren Marshall

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Publication Date: 4/2/24

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Goodreads synopsis:

“In this brash and unputdownable collection, award-winning playwright Jessie Ren Marshall invites us into the lives of twelve women who push against social norms and family expectations to reclaim their power, understand their mistakes, and find a better future. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and defiantly optimistic, the stories in Women! In! Peril! balance wry humor and gravitas to explore the complexities of queerness, toxic relationships, parenting and divorce, Asian and Asian American identity, and more.”

My thoughts:

Before the start of 2024, I thought short story collections weren’t for me, as I was under the (incorrect) assumption that there was no way fully-fledged plots and characters could develop over such few pages. It turns out I had just been reading the wrong collections, many of which were assigned in school and not very contemporary. Jessie Ren Marshall absolutely proved my assumption to be erroneous, as each story in WOMEN! IN! PERIL! is multi-dimensional, compelling, and fully-formed.

It is such a joy to find literature that is equally fun and reflective about serious topics. WOMEN! IN! PERIL! made me laugh out loud multiple times, but it also led to inquisitive conversations with my friends and family (and the short story format allowed for me to easily explain the premises). Each story is multi-faceted and complex while subverting themes of mortality, space, sex, trauma….and the list goes on.

I also must comment on the diversity of characters featured in WOMEN! IN! PERIL! The gaggle of queer characters living within the book are an absolute treat to meet and observe. All of them have their own flaws and biases, just like real people do. Overall, I am extremely impressed with Jessie Ren Marshall’s ability to fit so many wholly developed stories in less than 300 pages. I cannot wait to see what she does next!

Review- She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

Posted in Book Review by

Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Romance

Publication Date: 4/20/2021

Rating: 4.25/5

Summary blurb from Goodreads:

“After losing spectacularly to her ex-girlfriend in their first game since their break up, Scottie Zajac gets into a fender bender with the worst possible person: her nemesis, the incredibly beautiful and incredibly mean Irene Abraham. Things only get worse when their nosey, do-gooder moms get involved and the girls are forced to carpool together until Irene’s car gets out of the shop.

Their bumpy start only gets bumpier the more time they spend together. But when an opportunity presents itself for Scottie to get back at her toxic ex (and climb her school’s social ladder at the same time), she bribes Irene into playing along. Hijinks, heartbreak, and gay fake-dating scheme for the ages…a new laugh-out-loud romp through the ups and downs of teen romance.”

My thoughts:

Getting to know Scottie Zajac was a wonderful way to spend the second week of 2024. One thing I really enjoy about She Drives Me Crazy is how different it is from many other young adult LGBTQ titles. It’s about a teenage lesbian who is already completely out of the closet and past the Questioning and Fighting Her Feelings part of the coming out journey. Although there is a time and place for books about teenagers coming to terms with their identities, Scottie’s story as a sapphic who is past that stage is a welcome change. 

I also love Scottie’s character evolution in She Drives Me Crazy. Accompanying her through the healing process of heartbreak and grieving the end of a romantic relationship makes this a feel-good read, as Scottie’s growth is inspiring to witness. Lastly, I really appreciate the general campiness of the book. So much Young Adult LGBTQ fiction is filled with angst and difficult emotions, but She Drives Me Crazy is truly a fun, mood-boosting treat to read. I honestly had a lot of fun with this book!

Thank you to Kelly Quindlen for this lighthearted sapphic young adult romance; the lack of malaise and anxiety is very appreciated and refreshing!