I don’t read a lot these days and part of that is I find it kind of hard to choose a book or get excited about a book. I tend to like books with a dystopian, sci-fi, or fantasy element. I like characters that I find relatable in a situation or a setting that is abnormal in an interesting way. I am primarily interested in things set between 1950 and not-so-distant future, anything historical fiction-y doesn’t usually grab my attention. I really like when there are strong and varied friendships especially like a group of friends and getting to see the dynamics between different people. I like when there are queer characters, even better if they’re queer women. Sapphic romance as a double plus. Women as main characters being strong/smart/independent in general is good. I also prefer the main characters to be in their 20s or 30s just because I’m going to find their problems and interests more relatable. I don’t need the book to have all of these things, if it’s the greatest dystopian novel you ever read or the greatest lesbian romance you ever read without the other pieces I’m totally open to that as well!
Books I have really enjoyed:
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing – Hank Green (and sequel):
I find the characters to be quite lovable and relatable, I love the relationships in this book, I love seeing the way the characters react to their lives changing rapidly and then to the world changing rapidly, I like the way the book looks at big cultural themes and twists them a little bit to make the reader think, and I like a scrappy team coming together to save the world I suppose. Plus there’s sapphics!
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet – Becky Chambers:
A bunch of people from totally different worlds with different cultures and personalities and physical forms are friends and take care of each other and overcome challenges together! I loved learning about each of them and their backstories and I loved getting to see the way that they all interacted with each other. And I like all the romantic relationships in this book in the way that none of them are conventional. And it’s fun to let them loose at a port and get these brief introductions to other species and foods and drinks and drugs and see how they all interact.
One Last Stop – Casey McQuiston:
20somethings in the big city! Loveable quirky characters, queer friendships, queer romance, and queer culture. And a sci-fi stuck out of your timeline element.
not a book but,
Severance on Appletv+:
I love when we put normal people in crazy weird situations! I think it’s interesting to ask how would people react in this crazy weird situation, what would cause them to subject themselves to this, what are the unintended consequences. And then we get interesting characters and unlikely friendships. And forbidden love! This is like my favorite show of all time
Other books I loved as a teenager that are maybe a little bit YA for me now but the themes are good:
Unwind series by Neil Shusterman; The Testing Series by Joelle Charbonneau; Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness; Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
by gorlsandbois