Honor's Staff Picks
I needed this book as a young, closeted queer kid. Although there are many more queer stories to tell than the journey of self-discovery, those types of stories are ones I find myself coming back to again and again. Even though I will have been publically out for almost three years this year, I am still on my own self-discovery journey, and each new aspect is just a pure and touching as the last. I love this book!
I recently discovered Jonathan Parks-Ramage after watching his boyfriend, Ryan's, Netflix show, Special. Though this book isn't necessarily one I would've chosen for myself right off the shelf, I'm so glad I picked it up! That's how you find the best books anyway, right? His dark, thrilling debut novel is not to be missed!
My coworkers (and anyone else who has set foot near me since this book was announced) know I am OBSESSED with Casey Mcquiston. She hit it out of the park with Red, White, and Royal Blue, and when it was announced that their second book would feature a world of queer characters, a pancake house, and TIME TRAVEL, I was hooked. Somehow, New York now feels like home even though I've never lived there!
Rob Sanders was another author involved in the Pride Month panel a few weeks ago. He is an older, kind, and thoughtful gentleman, and he confided in us that even though he's been out for many, many years, he still has so much to learn, as we all do! I have learned so much from him--from his books about Pride and Stonewall, to Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights--and I am so glad I got to hear him speak! This book, which is definitely my favorite of all of his, tells the true story of the first gay couple to be married in the United States.
I was so excited to hear that this book was coming out. I read No Exit in a matter of days, and it gave me nightmares! I'm thrilled to report, in the best possible way, Hairpin Bridge was even better. Our main character Lena is both someone you root for, and someone you remain suspicious of for most of the novel as she hunts to avenge the reported suicide of her sister.
If you've ever met me, you know that I have been obsessed with Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton since their first book, My Lady Jane, a retelling of the story of Lady Jane Grey, came out in 2016. They went on to retell two more stories of Janes from history who needed to be redeemed, but My Lady Jane, set in a world where people can turn to animals, and those that can't think these animals should be put to death, has remained my favorite thus far. Well, I was THRILLED to find out that My Contrary Mary takes place in the same universe and retells the story of Mary Queen of Scots. Each author selects their own character to write from the point of view of, and it is masterfully done!
I've had a journey this year of discovering what it means to me to be a queer, Christian woman, and a lot of the times, when those two communities can be vastly different, I have felt alone in that journey. A book that has helped me immensely to no longer feel that way is this one, recommended by Glennon Doyle, another author whose words have touched me deeply. I feel blessed to have found this book!
