Category Archives: Book Spotlight

World Cerebral Palsy Day Book Spotlight: Just By Looking at Him by Ryan O’Connell

Just By Looking at Him by Ryan O’Connell was one of my favorite reads this year, a dark and funny contemporary novel about a gay TV writer with cerebral palsy who outwardly looks to have everything but can’t seem to stop himself from messing it up (which is, naturally, largely driven by living in an impossibly ableist world that strikes him with a thousand papercuts at any given moment). If you need an excuse to purchase another book this month, today happens to be World Cerebral Palsy Day, so what better time?

Elliott appears to be living the dream as a successful TV writer with a doting boyfriend. But behind his Instagram filter of a life, he’s grappling with an intensifying alcohol addiction, he can’t seem to stop cheating on his boyfriend with various sex workers, and his cerebral palsy is making him feel like gay Shrek.

After falling down a rabbit hole of sex, drinking, and Hollywood backstabbing, Elliott decides to limp his way towards redemption. But facing your demons is easier said than done.

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon | IndieBound

Agender Pride Day Book Spotlight: The Heartbreak Bakery by AR Capetta

Happy Agender Pride Day! In its honor, may I shove your face in the general direction one of the most delightful YAs of all time, which happens to contain magic and baking a queer found family and an agender baker with a massive crush on a demisexual transmasc bike messenger? Treat yourself to The Heartbreak Bakery by AR Capetta!

Syd (no pronouns, please) has always dealt with big, hard-to-talk-about things by baking. Being dumped is no different, except now Syd is baking at the Proud Muffin, a queer bakery and community space in Austin. And everyone who eats Syd’s breakup brownies . . . breaks up. Even Vin and Alec, who own the Proud Muffin. And their breakup might take the bakery down with it. Being dumped is one thing; causing ripples of queer heartbreak through the community is another. But the cute bike delivery person, Harley (he or they, check the pronoun pin, it’s probably on the messenger bag), believes Syd about the magic baking. And Harley believes Syd’s magical baking can fix things, too—one recipe at a time.

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon | IndieBound

International Pronouns Day Book Spotlight: What Are Your Words? by Katherine Locke and Anne Passchier

Today is International Pronouns Day, and to celebrate, we’re highlighting a new picture book that’s all about them: What Are Your Words?:a Book About Pronouns written by Katherine Locke, illustrated by Anne Passchier, and published by Little, Brown!

Whenever Ari’s Uncle Lior comes to visit, they ask Ari one question: “What are your words?” Some days Ari uses she/her. Other days Ari uses he/him. But on the day of the neighborhood’s big summer bash, Ari doesn’t know what words to use. On the way to the party, Ari and Lior meet lots of neighbors and learn the words each of them use to describe themselves, including pronouns like she/her, he/him, they/them, ey/em, and ze/zir. As Ari tries on different pronouns, they discover that it’s okay to not know your words right away–sometimes you have to wait for your words to find you.

Filled with bright, graphic illustrations, this simple and poignant story about finding yourself is the perfect introduction to gender-inclusive pronouns for readers of all ages.

Buy It: Bookshop | Amazon | Indiebound

For further reading, check out this interview by We Need Diverse Books!