Reading the Rainbow

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White is a Young Adult novel about a generational blood feud in a fictitious West Virginian town, and the efforts of a young trans man desperate to hold the local ruling family to account for their underhanded deeds.

Hosts River and Em also discuss growing up queer in a small town, the beauty and bleakness of Appalachia, and the effect of labor unions on working class families.

This is more ...

Hijab Butch Blues describes Lamya H's coming of age as she explores what it means to be a queer devout Muslim woman.

Growing up in an culture where it seemed no one else was like her, Lamya found kinship in an unexpected place: the Quran. Through reading the traditional stories from a queer perspective, Lamya discovers a sense of belonging. Hosts Madysen and Goldie discuss the challenges faced by immigrants, growing up quee...

Trans high school student Ryo is learning the importance of having people to open up to, and that first perceptions of a person are not always as they seem in the manga Boys Run the Riot by Keito Gaku.

Ryo is a boy, but nobody knows that and the only way he gets any relief is by wearing masculine-presenting clothing. Then, one day, he runs into a classmate he didn't expect at a pop-up clothing shop and makes an unlikely friend....

Shapeshifting monster Shesheshen is on the run when she meets Homily, a human, who she is instantly drawn to, in the book Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell. Hosts Annika and Goldie explore some of the questions  this story asks, such as:  Is it wrong to tell your girlfriend that you want to eat her mom? What is a monster, and do we all have to see the same things as beautiful? And what does it mean to want to build a ...

Most Ardently reimagines Pride and Prejudice's protagonist as a closeted transboy in Regency London. Oliver, as he's known in this work, is intrigued by the family's new acquaintance, a handsome and aloof Darcy. Join non-Austenite hosts Em and Dani as they discuss molly houses, queer friendships, and more while delving intoMost Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa. Em and Dani say it's worth considering even if you're no...

The magic in the land is awakening, and the Other World threatens multiple realms. Meanwhile, Herla of the Wild Hunt has an awareness she hasn't felt in centuries, brought on by a woman in the midst of battle. Queen Aethelburg, likewise, can't seem to stop thinking about the strange woman on horseback.

Hosts Jamie and Amber discuss Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland, a historical fiction set in early Britain, full of chara...

How far would you go to save the one you love? Atlas and Moose grapple with this question as they navigate the dangers of a zombie outbreak in this dark romantasy horror, Sleeping Among Wolves by Royal Poff. This episode's host, Dani, is joined by the author themselves! Listen in as they talk about zombie outbreaks, mental illness, horror as a way to deal with grief, and whether York, PA is haunted. To learn more about Royal an...

If you've watched Bridgerton but thought 'this could be gayer,' you may enjoy this episode's selection!  Don't Want You Like A Best Friend  by Emma R Alban is a fluffy, queer historical romance set in the Victorian era, that follows new friends Gwen and Beth as they navigate the courting season and also their unexpected feelings for one another.  Join hosts Jamie and Amber as they discuss poorly carried out plot...

There are no monsters in Lucille... Or that's what Jam has been told her whole life. She was also under the impression that people didn't come out of paintings, though, so there's a lot to learn. Join hosts Samantha and Dani as they discuss this and more, delving into Pet by Akwaeke Emezi. Discussions include queer, neurodivergent, African representation, existential queries, Bible lore, and more. Our hosts have much to...

How do you balance who you are versus what you love? Join not only your hosts, Ashley and Goldie, but the author CJ Aralore himself to discuss his book that asks that and more, Gravity's Fire. With two parts fluffy rom-com, one part epic fantasy, this novel follows Nix Ashwell on his quests to find answers about himself and maybe also find a boyfriend. CJ, Ashley, and Goldie discuss the novel's inspirations, character development, ...

Have you ever listened to “At last I see the light” from Tangled and thought, ‘this could be gayer’? Then this book (and podcast episode) might be for you! Join hosts Em and Cas as they take this opportunity not just to explore the book The Princess and the Thief, but to discuss it with the author, Mary Lynne Gibbs, herself! Topics include DnD-inspired meet- cutes, the importance of nuanced bisexual (and other queer) representation...

This episode hosts Em and Annica have an exciting guest as they discuss the book Design of Darkness- the author himself, RD Pires! This epic fantasy is filled with magic and mysticism, forbidden love, family, and untold dangers as some set out to save what they hold dear and others trifle with powerful, dark forces. Listen in as we dive into questions about non-eurocentric inspired fantasy, multi-perspective storytelling, and fanta...

Drawn in by the promise of bookbinding and sapphic secrets, hosts Amber and Annika discuss Endpapers by Jennifer Savran Kelly.

Dawn is at a point in her life where her art feels blocked, she doesn’t know where her relationship is going, and she isn’t sure who she is and how she wants to be perceived. When she comes across a letter on the back of a lesbian pulp novel cover, hidden in the endpapers of a book she is restoring for wor...

Sometimes what we need for Christmas is a spicy story(“raunch-com?”) about chaotic bisexuals making a Hallmar- we mean, Hope Channel movie while pretending to be Wholesome©. Hopefully nobody realizes that one of them is an adult film star and that the two of them are hooking up on the down low. Join cohosts Jamie and Ashley as they discuss A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone.

If you're interested in readin...

Robin Gow joins cohosts Ashley and Amber in this episode as they discuss faer YA book, A Million Quiet Revolutions. A beautiful story about two trans boys, A Million Quiet revolutions discusses so many aspects of queer youth including themes of family, acceptance, change, and community. We couldn’t wait to ask Robin all manner of questions about his experience with queer history, using poetry to tell stories, and what one actually ...

When they heard the name Chuck Tingle in connection with a horror novel about a queer conversion camp, cohosts Amber and Anne were not sure what to expect! What they got though was, in their own words, an engaging, fast paced, well written, and “shockingly relatable book for one that has demons.” Listen in to hear as they talk about Camp Damascus and discuss found family, religious trauma, and the worst horror trope to exist- thro...

With a laundry list of content warnings, cohosts andlongtime horror fans Em and Dani discuss what might be the most graphic book we’ve reviewed so far. Wilder Girls by Rory Power is a vividly written tale about a girl's school that has been isolated as its students and faculty grapple with a toxin infecting everything and everyone.

Listen in as our hosts discuss the undefined yet inherently queer relationship between the three ...

This book made us so hungry! Annika and Anne interview Curtis Chin about his memoir, Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, which describes what it was like growing up in 1980s Detroit. In this interview, we discuss trauma, resilience, the importance of family, and the importance of working together despite our differences. Curtis Chin was amazing to speak with and had us laughing the entire time.

If you're in...

YA novels often help tackle themes that are difficultto address even as adults. This is central to the discussion in this episode, as cohosts Dani and Anne discuss Sonora Reyes’ The Luis Ortega Survival Club. A group of teens work to reclaim their agency and hold a school rapist accountable, and in the process find genuine friendship and acceptance. Topics include navigating social cues as a person with autism, the mindset of a sex...