June Book Reviews

Don’t worry, most of them are queer.

The Guy She Was Into Wasn’t A Guy At All – Sumiko Arai

I don’t read a lot of manga, and that’s a style of storytelling that I would love to consume more of. This manga was super cute! I really want to read the second volume, but I’m really holding myself to my current book-buying ban. (note: after writing this review, I ended up getting the second volume…)

Play As It Lays – Joan Didion

My first fiction work from Didion. I really loved the storytelling style in this work, and the fast-paced style kept me engaged. It’s definitely a “California/LA novel,” since there are just so many chapters of the main character driving. I mean, when you don’t have much to do, driving is one of the few things you can do.

Queer Windows Volume 1: Spring – Cay Fletcher

I was honored to meet this author at Medford Comic Con! I bought both volumes in this series, and, at the time of writing, am currently reading Queer Windows Volume 2: Summer! This collection of short stories was very cute, with the first one and the fourth one being my favorites. 

The Three Lives of Cate Kay – Kate Fagan

Imagine Body Grammar by Jules Ohman, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Biography of X by Catherine Lacey were combined in a magic pot–but with a more happier/hopeful ending. I found this novel super engaging, especially listening to the audiobook version–they had a full cast reading each character’s chapter, which helped distinguish between who was speaking. 

Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon – Annie Mare

This was such a fun read! I loved the romance between Tressa Fay and Meryl, and I loved the chapters that featured the secondary characters. It really shows the audience the power of the butterfly effect, and the infinite possibilities of the universe and multiverse. 

Aunt Tigress – Emily Yu-Xuan Quin

With this book, I brought back the age-old tradition of wandering into a library, picking out a book based solely on the title, cover, and summary on the back, and bringing it home. Except I’m an adult, and I used my adult money to support a local bookstore. So, same thing, really (although, you should still support your library). I loved how the mythologies intersected with their respective cultures–it added more layers to the story and kept me engaged. I also loved Tam and Janet’s dynamic, and enjoyed the journey their relationship took.