‘The Passing Playbook’ by Isaac Fitzsimons was released in 2021. It was his first novel and tells the story of a transgender teen, Spencer, who moved to an expensive private school after a threat was made to his life due to his identity at a previous school. When he joins Oakley, he declares that for his own safety, he will “go stealth” and rely on his ability to pass as cisgender to stay under the radar.
Tag Archives: comingofagestory
‘Café Con Lychee’ by Emery Lee (e/em) was released in 2022 and is Lee’s second book. It follows the story of Theo Mori and Gabi Moreno, as their rival family restaurants are forced to acknowledge a common enemy: World Fusion Café, an establishment with mediocre food, but vibrant, Instagrammable drinks.
‘Felix Ever After’ by Kacen Callender was their second young-adult novel, and was released in 2020. The story follows seventeen-year-old Felix Love’s life after he is the victim of a malicious hate-crime, where old photos from his Instagram, pre-transition, were blown up and put on display in the foyer and gallery space at the art school he and his best friend Ezra attend: Saint Catherine’s.
Book Review: All About Romance by Daniel Tawse ‘All About Romance’ by Daniel Tawse was released in 2023. It tells the story of Roman Bright and their final year at secondary school, after a tumultuous end of Year Ten. As a young, queer student, Roman Bright is being treated horribly by their classmates. After beingContinueContinue reading
Book Review: I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman ‘I Was Born For This’ by Alice Oseman was released in 2018. It is one of her novels, as opposed to her comics. This particular story explores fan culture and friendship. It follows Fereshteh, or as she’s better known, Angel Rahemi, a superfan of aContinueContinue reading
‘The Henna Wars’ by Adiba Jaigirdar was released in 2020. It was a huge milestone in the development of young adult queer literature. If readers were lucky enough to read about sapphic relationships prior to the release of The Henna Wars, it was a struggle to find ones that weren’t about white girls.
I finally got my hands on what I consider a significant relic of queer literature’s past. ‘Kiss’ by Jacqueline Wilson was published in 2007, and after sixteen years (oh my GOD!) I’m finally going to talk about it.
‘She Gets The Girl’ is a novel co-written by Alyson Derrick, Rachael Lippincott and was published in 2022. It follows two girls, Alex and Molly, in their first month of college. Despite being in the same classes, Alex and Molly are worlds apart, and when they meet at a house party on their first day, both make an impression.
‘The Gravity Of Us’ was Phil Stamper’s first novel, released back in 2019. This insightful story shouts hard-hitting truths from the rafters; a primary theme of this book is communication, whether among friends, family, or the media.
Book Review: Under The Rainbow by Celia Laskey ‘Under The Rainbow’ was released in 2020, it was the author, Celia Laskey’s debut novel. The book offers a lot of insight into the change that can come when a LGBTQ+ organisation comes to reform the most homophobic town in the United States, Big Burr, Kansas. IContinueContinue reading
‘Fresh’ by Margot Wood was released in 2021 and follows the story of Elliot McHugh as she begins the next stage of life: Freshman Year at Emerson College. Before she left Cincinnati for Boston, having lived with her seemingly perfect sister, Izzy, who is studying medicine, and her younger sister, Remy, who has an eclectic obsession with dryer sheets, Elliot was betrayed by the people she held closest to her. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her for months, and her three best friends knew and didn’t tell her. Vulnerable, alone, and seeking fun, sex, and freedom, Elliot is ready for a new adventure.
‘Friday I’m In Love’ was released in 2023, and was Camryn Garret’s fourth novel. The book tells the story of Mahalia Harris, a sixteen year old girl, who, having missed out on her chance at a Sweet Sixteen, opts to celebrate her sexuality in a similar stead, declaring she will save up for, and host a coming out party, where she will share her sexuality with her peers.
Book Review: Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson ‘Another Brooklyn’ by Jacqueline Woodson was released in 2016 and tells a moving story of girlhood, of friendship and grief. I loved how grief and loss manifested for these characters in multiple ways. August, our protagonist is an anthropologist and has studied the culture of death across theContinueContinue reading
Book Review: If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So ‘If You Still Recognise Me’ by Cynthia So (they/them) was released in 2022, and tells the story of eighteen year old Elsie, and the summer before she leaves for university at Cambridge. Having grown up in Oxford, which doesn’t have the same queer spaces thatContinueContinue reading
‘Meet Cute Diary’ was author, Emery Lee (ey/em)’s debut novel. It was released in 2021. The story follows sixteen-year-old Noah as he spends the summer with his older brother, Brian in Denver, Colorado. Noah utilises a cross-country move to California to be his true self after coming out as transgender, inspired by a trans girl who came out at his school.
Book Review: The Nicest Girl by Sophie Jo ‘The Nicest Girl’ was author, Sophie Jo’s debut novel. The book was released in 2022 and told an important story of why setting boundaries and putting yourself first is imperative. The story follows seventeen-year-old Anna Campbell, who seems to have a big arrow pointing to her, callingContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston ‘Red, White, And Royal Blue’ was Casey McQuiston’s debut novel. It was released in 2019, and was recently adapted into a movie on Amazon Prime. The story follows an alternate version of international history, where instead of Donald Trump, a fictional Democrat, Ellen Claremont, wonContinueContinue reading
Book Review: An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi ‘An Emotion of Great Delight’ by Tahereh Mafi was published in 2021. It is her sixteenth novel, and one of few stand alone stories amidst her popular series, Shatter Me (2011-2021). Due to the nature of the events in this story it is worth acknowledgingContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts by William Hussey ‘Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts’ by William Hussey was released in 2023. It was his eleventh novel. It follows seventeen-year-old Jesse, who collapsed at his Year Twelve Prom, after encountering his best friend, Cas, cheating on his girlfriend, with her best friend. After collapsing, heContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas ‘The Hate U Give’ by Angie Thomas was released in 2017. It was later adapted into a film, which came out in 2018. It was her debut novel, and thrust her into acclaim, her work becoming a staple among popular authors in the mid-to-late 2010s. ThisContinueContinue reading
‘Love Is A Revolution’ is a novel by Renee Watson that was published in 2021. It follows Nala in the summer before her senior year of high school as she navigates surges of change in her community now her cousin, Imani, and friend, Sadie are involved in a youth group called Inspire Harlem.
‘Clap When You Land’ by Elizabeth Acevedo is a novel-in-verse, told from the perspective of half-sisters, Camino and Yahaira. It was released in 2020 and is Acevedo’s fifth project.
Book Review: The Dos And Donuts Of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar ‘The Dos and Donuts of Love’ by Adiba Jaigirdar was released in May 2023, and is her fourth novel. This book follows a similar rivals-to-lovers arc that is present in some of her previous books, such as her debut, ‘The Henna Wars’, and thatContinueContinue reading
‘Straight Expectations’ by Calum McSwiggan is a romantic comedy that was released in May 2023. It offers an insightful glimpse into privilege, and how, even though things may be objectively easier for straight kids at school, Max, is still privileged. When he, an out-and-proud gay, wishes for an easy life like the straight kids, he wakes up straight!
‘Loveless’ by Alice Oseman was released in 2020. It is her sixth novel, and follows eighteen-year-old Georgia Warr during her first year at the University of Durham to study English Literature.
‘Imogen, Obviously’ is Becky Albertalli’s sixth solo release, and ninth, including collaborations. It came out in May 2023, and follows a one-week window where Imogen Scott realises she’s bisexual.
‘If I Was Your Girl’ by Meredith Russo is one of the older LGBTQ+ stories you may find in your local chain bookstore. It was released in 2016 and tells the story of a young trans woman, Amanda, who is attending a new school after a tumultuous social transition.
‘I Kissed Shara Wheeler’ was Casey McQuiston’s most recent release, which follows the fallout of the jewel of the school, Shara Wheeler disappearing from Senior Prom just moments before being crowned the Class of 2021’s Prom Queen. Nobody knows where and why she’s vanished but Chloe Green believed she knew why she’d run away. Because, Shara Wheeler kissed her before prom, and as the daughter of the Principal of Willowgrave Christian Academy, Shara shouldn’t have been kissing girls.
‘One Last Stop’ was Casey McQuiston’s second novel and was published in 2021. The book follows August, who has moved to New York City to finish college, after a tumultuous relationship with her mother left her needing space.
‘Heartstopper’ by Alice Oseman is a series of graphic novels. The first volume was published in 2019 and the series remains ongoing. It is now the subject of a live-action adaptation by Netflix.
‘Opposite of Always’ was Justin A Reynolds’ 2019 debut novel. It follows the story of Jack King, a high school senior, who falls in love with a first year college student called Kate when they meet at a party during his college campus tour. But when Kate dies due to complications with her sickle cell anemia, a condition Jack didn’t know she even had, he finds himself trapped in a time loop, reliving the past four months in a bid to keep her from meeting the same fate. Again and again and again.
‘Melt My Heart’ is a young adult coming of age story by Bethany Rutter. It was published in 2020 and follows the story of Lily Rose, an eighteen year old girl striving to try something new every day in anticipation of leaving for university in September, miles away from her twin sister, Daisy.
Imogen L. Smiley 