By Ana Matute, Zoe Doyle, Lauren Jones, Amy Wright and Samuel Chambers
If You Liked My Tender Matador, Try the Film Adaptation by Rodrigo Sepulveda
One of the most iconic queer voices of the Latin American community in the 20th century is writer and performer Pedro Lemebel. My Tender Matador is his only novel, a love story between a man and a queer person during the Pinochet dictatorship. It portrays the oppression faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and the development of the guerrilla movement’s attempt to coup the government. This novel highlights the Latin American context for the queer community, exploring masculinity, politics, gender and identity; these topics can be found in all of Pedro Lemebel’s works. If you enjoy this book, you might also be interested in its latest adaptation by Rodrigo Sepulveda.
If You Liked Red, White and Royal Blue, Try Love, Hate and Clickbait
Liz Bowery’s Love, Hate and Clickbait is the perfect read for anyone who enjoyed the political theme and enemies-to-lovers romance found in Casey McQuiston’s Red, White and Royal Blue. The book tells the story of Thom, a political consultant working on a presidential campaign, and Clay, a data analyst. Both characters despise one another, and during one of their arguments, a photo is taken of what looks like Thom and Clay kissing. When the photo ends up going viral, Thom is asked to go along with it for the sake of the campaign.
However, this fake relationship becomes increasingly risky as it starts to become less of an act and more genuine. This is an engaging and believable read that you’ll find hard to put down and will make you root for both protagonists.
If You Liked Fourth Wing, Try Dragonfall
Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing has skyrocketed in popularity since its release in April 2023. From BookTok to Bookstagram, it seems everyone is raving about it, which pleases this dragon-loving reader. However, if you want a book featuring dragons that takes place in a queer-normative world, why not give Laura Lam’s Dragonfall a go? In this queer enemies-to-lovers novel, dragons were revered as gods but were banished to a dying world by humans. Centuries later, humans still worship dragons, but the dragons have not forgotten this betrayal. We follow non-binary thief, Arcady, who steals a powerful artefact filled with magic. This bonds them to Everen, a dragon disguised as a human, who is trying to gain Arcady’s trust before killing them to regain his true form. Dragons, heists, high stakes and queer representation – if you like how this sounds, check it out!
If You Liked Queer Up, Try Coming Out Stories
Like Queer Up by Alexis Caught, Coming Out Stories by Emma Goswell and Sam Walker is an empowering and insightful young adult read. It encourages the audience to deeply consider the wide variety of individual experiences that belong to the shared collective of growing up queer. Based on the incredibly popular podcast of the same name, Coming Out Stories is a beautifully honest collection of stories about more than twenty-five different members of the LGBTQIA+ community’s experiences of coming out. What makes this book really special is that it doesn’t limit itself to exclusively featuring young people but also spotlights older people – this allows the younger target audience to immerse themselves in the perspectives of those whom they may not ordinarily meet or have the opportunity to talk to. We would strongly recommend this collection as a read for all!
If You Liked Call Me by Your Name, Try Maurice
If you were moved by André Aciman’s 2007 tale of impossible love (or the film adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet) but would prefer a happier ending, E. M. Forster’s Maurice is a wonderful choice. Written in secret in 1913, Maurice was not published until Forster’s death in 1970, three years after the Sexual Offences Act legalised homosexual acts in Britain. In his second term at Cambridge, Maurice befriends the sophisticated Clive Durham, who opens his mind to the possibility of impassioned same-sex relationships. Maurice is initially appalled, but after a typical romantic back-and-forth – including a moonlit tryst – they fall in love. Durham later rejects Maurice, maintaining that male love should only ever be a platonic and cerebral activity. But Forster was not content to write another sad story of impossible gay love. Filled with amusing social satire, Maurice is ultimately a beautiful love story about finding pride in oneself. If you’re interested, there is also a film adaptation starring Hugh Grant and Rupert Graves.