lgbtq stories – Page 2 – E. A. Young Writes

July Reads

Another great reading month! I powered through a lot of the books I already own, and rewarded myself with new books!

June Reading Log

As always, there will be spoilers for the books mentioned.

My First Pride After Five Years

I first went to Pride in the fall of 2019, my sophomore year of college; the town my university was in always had their Prides in October, so that the college kids who went home for the summer could participate.

I was still new in my identity, and even though I was going to meet a few friends there, I was nervous. I hid the pride flag I bought at a school event as I walked to where I was meeting them.

When I got there, however, I felt better, freer. It felt right, being there with my friends and in this community. The parade was filled with so much light and joy, and I even found myself tearing up at the beauty of it all. Next to us sat a mother and her child, and when the parade finished the mother turned to her kid and said, “Do you know why we have this party? This party is a celebration of love, and loving who we want.” It was hard not to sob at that.

I looked forward to the next Pride parade in 2020, but, unfortunately…you know.

Late last year, I visited Oregon again. Of the many things I planned to do, Pride was one of them. It had been five years since I first went. Now, I was…still new and unsure in my identity, for I had changed labels to ones that felt more “me” in the moment. I’ve still grown–with my chosen family, with my community, and within myself.

In 2019 I sat near the back of the parade. In 2023, I sat directly in the front, seeing everything first. No matter where I sat, the experience was wonderful. I got to see friends, even some that I hadn’t seen since college, and it was great to see so many communities come together to show their pride.

I’ve grown a lot in the last five years–six now, since it’s currently Pride month. It’s impossible to truly know oneself, since we are constantly changing and evolving. I am not the same person I was five years ago, one year ago, even one week ago. And I think that’s one of the main principles of Pride: loving yourself, no matter how many changes you go through.

That, and remembering the roots of Pride, and fighting to make sure we all can live a safe, peaceful life.

May Reading Recap

Thirteen books in total! Here are some of my favorites.

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden – Book Review

This is part two of four of the books I read during Pride month (or rather, for Pride—I am a rather slow reader, or even a mood reader sometimes). On my quest to find more queer literature to read, especially ones with happy endings, I came upon the lesbian classic Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden. Published in 1982, the novel follows Liza Winthrop and Annie Kenyon meeting, becoming close friends, and soon developing a romance.

Life is Strange: Steph’s Story by Rosiee Thor – Book Review

Over the summer, I came upon a new obsession—the Life is Strange Series. I had always been interested in playing it; the game mechanics, the choices you make throughout the game will impact the ending, were what really drew me in. I have plans to write a full review of the games themselves, so expect that soon!

Right now, we’re going to be reviewing one of the tie-in books for the Life is Strange universe—Life is Strange: Steph’s Story, by Rosiee Thor. As always, this review will contain spoilers, so proceed with caution!

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth – Book Review

I had been looking for a copy of The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth for quite a while, and when I finally saw a copy at my local bookstore, I was so excited! I had been on the market for more positive LGBTQ+ stories with happy endings, and this one seemed to check all those boxes. However, when I started to read it, I realized I raised my expectations a little too high. As usual for my reviews, there will be spoilers, so if you want to read this book, tread carefully, for spoilers ahead!