Happy Monday my lovely bookworms, hope you had a wonderful weekend. I finally got my reading mojo back and thoroughly enjoying Aurora Rising. I have another top 5 book list for you, I know everyone seems to enjoy them and I love creating new topics. As its Pride month I wanted to show you the top 5 books I’m going to be reading (hopefully) all this month. These are mostly recent releases and a lot of these have had amazing reviews especially from my friend Steph (bookslovereaders).
Top 5 Pride books I can’t wait to read
Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye Published by Penguin Random House Children's UK on May 21, 2020
Genres: LGBTQ+, Contemporary
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Goodreads
What If It's Us meets To All the Boys I've Loved Before in this upbeat and heartfelt boy-meets-boy romance that feels like a modern twist on a '90s rom-com!
Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new--the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he's never really dated before.
Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes.
Kai Sheridan didn't expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there's more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing. Kai knows how the story of a gay boy liking someone straight ends. With his heart on the line, he's awkwardly trying to navigate senior year at school, at home, and in the closet, all while grappling with the fact that this "relationship" will last only five days. After all, Bryson Keller is popular, good-looking, and straight . . . right?
Kevin van Whye delivers an uplifting and poignant coming-out love story that will have readers rooting for these two teens to share their hearts with the world--and with each other.
Hideous Beauty by William Hussey Published by Usborne Publishing on May 28, 2020
Genres: LGBTQ+, Thriller, UKYA
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Goodreads
When Dylan and Ellis’s secret relationship is exposed on social media, Dylan is forced to come out. To Dylan’s surprise they are met with support and congratulations, and an amazing reception at their highschool dance. Perhaps people aren’t as narrow-minded as he thought?
But Dylan’s happiness is short-lived. Ellis suddenly becomes angry, withdrawn, and as they drive home from the dance, he loses control of the car, sending it plunging into Hunter’s Lake. Barely conscious, Dylan is pulled free of the wreck, while Ellis is left to drown.
Grief-stricken, Dylan vows to discover what happened to Ellis that night and piece together the last months of his boyfriend’s life – and realises just how little he knew about the boy he loved.
The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper Published by Bloomsbury YA on February 4, 2020
Genres: LGBTQ+, Contemporary
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Goodreads
As a successful social media journalist with half a million followers, seventeen-year-old Cal is used to sharing his life online. But when his pilot father is selected for a highly publicized NASA mission to Mars, Cal and his family relocate from Brooklyn to Houston and are thrust into a media circus.
Amidst the chaos, Cal meets sensitive and mysterious Leon, another “Astrokid,” and finds himself falling head over heels—fast. As the frenzy around the mission grows, so does their connection. But when secrets about the program are uncovered, Cal must find a way to reveal the truth without hurting the people who have become most important to him.
Expertly capturing the thrill of first love and the self-doubt all teens feel, debut author Phil Stamper is a new talent to watch.
Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron Published by Bloomsbury YA on August 6, 2020
Genres: LGBTQ+, Fantasy
Amazon | Book Depository | Waterstones
Goodreads
It's 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but the fairytale is over.
Sophia knows the story though, off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily, from when she's tiny until the night she's sent to the royal ball for choosing. And every girl knows that she has only one chance. For the lives of those not chosen by a man at the ball . are forfeit.
But Sophia doesn't want to be chosen - she's in love with her best friend, Erin, and hates the idea of being traded like cattle. And when Sophia's night at the ball goes horribly wrong, she must run for her life. Alone and terrified, she finds herself hiding in Cinderella's tomb. And there she meets someone who will show her that she has the power to remake her world.
Boy Queen by George Lester Published by Macmillan Children's Books on August 6, 2020
Genres: LGBTQ+, Contemporary
Amazon | Book Depository | Waterstones
Goodreads
Life's a drag until you try . . .
Robin Cooper’s life is falling apart.
While his friends prepare to head off to university, Robin is looking at a pile of rejection letters from drama schools up and down the country, and facing a future without the people he loves the most. Everything seems like it’s ending, and Robin is scrabbling to find his feet.
Unsure about what to do next and whether he has the talent to follow his dreams, he and his best friends go and drown their sorrows at a local drag show, where Robin realises there might be a different, more sequinned path for him . . .
With a mother who won't stop talking, a boyfriend who won't acknowledge him and a best friend who is dying to cover him in glitter make up, there's only one thing for Robin to do: bring it to the runway.
Boy Queen by George Lester is a sparkling debut full of big hair, big heels and even bigger hearts
I have others that I have mentioned before but these are at the top of the list. On the subject of Pride books, this time last year I had a very small selection – so I made myself read more diversely. I’m so happy that my collection of books is growing. I can’t wait to read these books, this week I’m hoping to start Cinderella is Dead which isn’t coming out till July.
What Pride books are you looking forward to? Have you read any of these?
