This book surprised me and I’m not even sure why. I partially credit Napolitano for getting me back into reading at the beginning of the COVID pandemic because Dear Edward was my first read, so I shouldn’t be shocked by how much I loved this book. But, from the first page, I loved her writing and loved her characters even more. I’m a Little Women lover (who isn’t) and this book is comparable, but not in a cliché or try-hard way. Rather, it makes you laugh out loud and cry between pages as the story of 8 women, 4 of whom are sisters, and 2 of their husbands. Napolitano’s wisdom, conveyed through the vulnerable narration of 4 people (not the sisters btw- a breath of fresh air tbh), imparts on every reader who has the pleasure to pick up her books. I can’t stop thinking about the beauty, grace, pride, strength, and love these characters have for each other, and by the end, themselves. 
Bonus points because I love a sister story and one of them, unbeknownst to me, turns out gay half way through. 

Took me a little while to get into, by Ward's poetic prose are stunning. A vulnerable story about a Black family growing together, this novel left me speechless. The characters were thoughtful and came to life, leaving me feeling like I knew each one of them personally while also learning more about being Black in America, specifically in the south. I am also surprised by how much I enjoyed the magical realism/ghost element of it. Well deserving of all of the awards it has won and then some. 

I typically dislike fantasy and has an even stronger aversion to war books, but once again, Kuang wrote a perfect book in my eyes. From the very first page, I was obsessed with Rin and even more in love with Kuang's incredible, unprecedented ability to tell stories. Her writing is absolutely incredible- she could write about paint drying and I would find it to be the most fascinating thing in the world. Kuang's talent, coupled with this compelling story about an orphan girl turned warrior, created, as Time magazine states, one of the greatest fantasy books of all time. There are not enough words to describe how much I loved this book. On to book 2.  

I LOVED this! I am so impressed and excited by how thoughtful and observant and detailed and genuine and fun Burton was. As a 24 year old who has lived in DC, home of 2 Lesbian Bars, for about a decade I feel so lucky to have such strong, safe communities. Burton’s adventure almost brought me to tears thinking about the beauty of these communities, both the ones I am a part of and the ones I hope to soon explore myself. I love the coupling of her personal experiences and adventures with the journalistic style of talking to queers across the country in their second homes. The diversity of this book was inspiring and makes me think a lot about the dyke and person I want to be. 
I especially loved the reflection and knowledge that the conversations I am having in my own home are happening nationally. How do we preserve the beauty and importance of “lesbian” and “women” spaces while also expanding to include trans people and all sapphic aligning people? What is the beauty and burden of being one of the few spaces trying to be inclusive to all and when we fall short, what are the consequences and how are they different than non-queer spaces? And of course, what is the future of queer spaces as we become in some ways more excepted in other spaces, while the nation simultaneously enters an unprecedented period of trans and homophobia legislation? Burton considers all of these things thoughtfully and I am genuinely surprised by how much I learned from her.
For anyone who loves a queer bar or hopes to be a part of one one day, this one is for you. 

Another one that took me a moment to get into, but ultimately I enjoyed it. I think Maupin is, undeniably, an incredible writer and the credit of it being a queer classic is well deserved. The characters were definitively interesting and I love the found family theme. However, the book obviously has not aged well. Racism and fatphobia, to name a few of the problems with these book, are all over the pages and I unfortunately can not see past that enough to read more. 

Definitely took me a minute to get into, but I loved the prose and social commentary so much that I was able to push through and by a quarter of the way through I was hooked! Varela is beyond talented. Every single character in this book was full of depth and I related to many of them uniquely. His writing style is exquisite and I love the intentional way he describes American politics and race- I learned so much. Beautiful, devastating and thought-provoking. 

What an incredible, thought-provoking, stunningly written novel. Adjei-Brenyah brings to life an adult, modern, and racial charged version of one of my teenage-years favorites, The Hunger Games. A dystopian novel about the privatized and televised prison system in America, does not feel too far off. The beautiful, human leads, from Staxxx and Thurwar to Mari, illustrate the strength of Black women fighters, as they consider the corrupt system the rest of America seems to not simply ignore, but idealize. This is absolute must read. Adjei-Brenyah has raised the bar for all writers. 

southern accent was annoying. i dont care for white cis guys and the way he would talk abt his gayness without acknowledging privileges bothered me. also we get it, ur famous and you know famous people 

One of my most anticipated novels of 2022, Page delivers a vulnerable, individual, and very queer telling of his life. Coming out as queer and then trans as an adult, Page grapples with dysphoria, dysmorphia, and depression. It is through the relationships he lets go of and the others that he harbors and builds, that the important themes of his life shine. I am so grateful for this book. I see a lot of myself in his story. 

I was nervous when I started this, not knowing what to expect and fearful that it would lead me to reflect on my own Asian identity in ways I am not ready to confront. However, I absolutely loved this book. I learned so much about myself, my understanding of America, and how I want to, or rather do not want to, participate in a world that is rampant with racism. Lee beautiful connects her own life and experiences with what she knows and has learned at an African American and Asian American scholar and professor.