5 LGBTQ+ Books To Add to Your TBR This Season

Title: Light From Uncommon Stars
Author: Ryka Aoki
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release: September 28, 2021

Synopsis:

Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil: to escape damnation, she must entice seven other violin prodigies to trade their souls for success. She has already delivered six.

When Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, catches Shizuka’s ear with her wild talent, Shizuka can almost feel the curse lifting. She’s found her final candidate.

But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. Shizuka doesn’t have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan’s kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul’s worth. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a curse as vast as the California coastline.

As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found.

Thoughts:

I have read quite a few reviews about this lighthearted book that will be released soon. I think that this book is so needed from the genre being Science Fiction & Fantasy to the storyline. I am already falling in love with the plot and think that Light From Uncommon Stars will be great for the Fall season and remind us about a magical experience.

Title: Squad
Author: Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Illustrator: Lisa Sterle
Genre: Graphic Novel
Release: October 5, 2021

Synopsis:

When the new girl is invited to join her high school’s most popular clique, she can’t believe her luck—and she can’t believe their secret, either.

When Becca transfers to a high school in an elite San Francisco suburb, she’s worried she’s not going to fit in. To her surprise, she’s immediately adopted by the most popular girls in school. At first glance, Marley, Arianna, and Mandy are perfect. But at a party under a full moon, Becca learns that they also have a big secret.

Becca’s new friends are werewolves. Their prey? Slimy boys who take advantage of unsuspecting girls. Eager to be accepted, Becca allows her friends to turn her into a werewolf, and finally, for the first time in her life, she feels like she truly belongs.

But then things get complicated. As their pack begins to buckle under the pressure, their moral high ground gets muddier and muddier—and Becca realizes that she might have feelings for one of her new best friends.

Thoughts:

Graphic novels are my go to for the Fall season and Squad sounds like a great read to escape into the world of werewolves. I think that it is such a great plot for exploring what it means to be friends and a pack of werewolves. I cannot wait to read this book and see how theis group of werewolf friends take on their powers and how the main Becca falls in love with one of her friends.

Title: All Of Us Villains
Authors: Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release: November 9, 2021

Synopsis:

After the publication of a salacious tell-all book, the remote city of Ilvernath is thrust into worldwide spotlight. Tourists, protesters, and reporters flock to its spellshops and ruins to witness an ancient curse unfold: every generation, seven families name a champion among them to compete in a tournament to the death. The winner awards their family exclusive control over the city’s high magick supply, the most powerful resource in the world.

In the past, the villainous Lowes have won nearly every tournament, and their champion is prepared to continue his family’s reign. But this year, thanks to the influence of their newfound notoriety, each of the champions has a means to win. Or better yet–a chance to rewrite their story.

Thoughts:

From the tournament to death to the magick spellshops, All Of Us Villains sounds like a thrilling fantasy book. I think that All Of Us Villains will bring you into the Fall mood because of the dark tone and fun adventure of magick. I believe that this Fall book will make us stay up late and wonder who will win the tournament and run the city’s high magick supply!

Title: Dark Rise
Author: C.S. Pacat
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release: September 28, 2021

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. Then an old servant tells him of his destiny to fight beside the Stewards, who have sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns. Will is thrust into a world of magic, where he starts training for a vital role in the oncoming battle against the Dark.

As London is threatened and old enmities are awakened, Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the fate that destroyed their world from returning to destroy his own.

Thoughts:

Can you tell the theme of magic being a Fall tone? Dark Rise seems like a clever way of engaging a young adult audience into a world of magic and battles. I think that Dark Rise will be a fun read and remind us about the heroes vs villains adventures that we love reading.

Title: Under The Whispering Door
Author: T.J. Klune
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release: September 21, 2021

Synopsis:

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.

Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop’s owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.

But Wallace isn’t ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo’s help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.

When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Thoughts:

T.J. Klune is an author I became familiar with earlier this year with his previous novel The House in the Cerulean Sea. Under The Whispering Door sounds like a fun adventure between life and death. Wallace sounds like someone we know in reality and we are watching they decide whether they are ready to cross over or stay alive. I cannot wait to read another book by T.J. Klune and see what the main character chooses to do with their life.