3.5 stars

I was so excited to read this, but in the end it was only an average read.

I want to preface this by saying that my ratings of these stories aren’t related to the LGBTQIAP+ rep or other rep included, rather by the story and characters. I think this is an incredibly important anthology, as I haven’t heard of any others that are entirely LGBTQIAP+ stories. Most of them were just not up my alley, unfortunately.

I noticed two notable things while reading. One, some stories weren’t exactly historical fiction. There was a story that took place in 1994, and another on New Year’s Eve 1999. Both of those were less than 25 years ago, and they didn’t feel very historical. Additionally, almost all of the stories took place in either America or Europe, and I would’ve appreciated a wider range of cultures and settings in this anthology.

And two, some stories seemed to end in bad or inopportune places; just as one would get good, it would be over, or the romance would just be beginning. I think the pacing could’ve been better.

Here are my ratings for each story:
~ Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore - 4.5 stars
~ The Sweet Trade by Natalie C. Parker - 3.5 stars
~ And They Don’t Kiss at the End by Nilah Magruder - 3.5 stars
~ Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee - 5 stars
~ The Dresser and the Chambermaid by Robin Talley - 3.5 stars
~ New Year by Malinda Lo - 3 stars
~ Molly’s Lips by Dahlia Adler - 3 stars
~ The Coven by Kate Scelsa - 3 stars
~ Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake - 5 stars
~ Willows by Scott Tracey - 2 stars
~ The Girl with the Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe - 4 stars
~ The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez - 2 stars
~ Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger - 3.5 stars
~ The End of the World as We Know It by Sara Farizan - 2.5 stars
~ Three Witches by Tessa Gratton - 3 stars
~ The Inferno and the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson - 4.5 stars
~ Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia - 4.5 stars

My favorites were Burnt Umber, Every Shade of Red, and possibly The Inferno and the Butterfly; my least favorites were Willows and The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy.

Even though most of these stories weren’t my cup of tea, I’d still recommend this anthology to anyone interested. YA could use more LGBTQIAP+ historical fiction, and this is a good start.