Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Nisi wrote: "Just making sure non-binary count for this as well? I'm trying to read what's available at my local library, and they have Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore."

Yep! Nonbinary is under the trans umbrella because it's identifying with a gender different from the one you were assigned at birth

I'm planning on either Light from Uncommon Stars or The Death of Vivek Oji for this one. I have holds in for both so we'll see who comes in!

I'm going with Felix Ever After for this one.

I read Mad Honey for this prompt & really loved it!

Thank you to those who recommended Light from Uncommon Stars!

My library hold on Light From Uncommon Stars just came in - I'm excited to read it after so many rave reviews!

Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body by Megan Milks is excellent and fits the prompt!

TW: eating disorders

Tricia wrote: "I found these and think they count, but am happy to hear otherwise from anyone who has read them.

The Death of Vivek Oji
Dreadnought
Cemetery Boys"

I read Cemetery Boys last year and loved it!

I listened to Light from Uncommon Stars. Very strange assortment of story threads, but it worked for me.

Stina wrote: "I listened to Light from Uncommon Stars. Very strange assortment of story threads, but it worked for me."

I just finished this book too. Loved it!

I ended up reading Viscera for this one. Loved it, it was a lot of fun. And one of the trans characters was very witchy which I appreciated.

Just finished 'Light from Uncommon Stars'. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Hello! I’m a trans man and indie author! A friend of mine told me about this prompt and suggested I mention my book Crush: A Full-Bodied Queer Romance a trans man/ cis woman romance set in a winery. It's available on Kindle Unlimited!

sophia wrote: "I just finished Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, I was not prepared to love a book so thoroughly. It was something unique and beautiful, one of those books that is just genre changing. balan..."

I just finished it also. Loved it!

Listened to the audiobook Nevada by Imogen Binnie. Holy cow, there’s a lot of anger, but probably well earned anger. This was not my first book about a transgender character written by a transgender author. I also read Mad Honey, where the transgender character is murdered. I have a transgender sister in law, these novels have helped me understand her better. So much trauma.

Marinda wrote: "I might go for Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson."

That's a good one and the second one, The Shadow Cabinet is coming out in June.

Regan wrote: "Oh boy, a chance to recommend Light from Uncommon Stars again! (this book would also work for the Ignyte awards prompt)
Other good picks:
Boys Run the Riot, Vol. 1 ..."

I'll be reading Light from Uncommon Stars for this prompt as well. Started it yesterday because of your recommendation, and I'm so invested!!! So glad I did this challenge just because it lead me to be recommended this book by you!

Marinda wrote: "I might go for Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson."

I've had this on my TBR for ever. Didn't know it was written by a trans person. That's pretty cool!

I have already owned The Thirty Names of Night for a good year at least and have never read. I think this is the time to finally get around to it. :)

Something I've already read that I recommend is Aquicorn Cove by Kay O'Neill, a beautifully illustrated children's fantasy graphic novel featuring a non-binary character. Kay themself is also non-binary.

Regan wrote: "Oh boy, a chance to recommend Light from Uncommon Stars again! (this book would also work for the Ignyte awards prompt)
Other good picks:
Boys Run the Riot, Vol. 1 ..."

I’m reading Light from Uncommon Stars now, and I love it so far.

The reviews of Detransition, Baby turned me off….what sony’all do with that? Do you read reviews before picking up the book?

Well, this one isn't by a trans author, and since I don't read fiction that much, I figured I would stretch it a bit. A book about a trans person.

Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family

I could also count this in the DNF challenge goal, but I will be listening to the audiobook for Felix Ever After.

Elspeth wrote: "I highly recommend Birthday by Meredith Russo. I read it last year and adored it. In fact I thin i’ll read it again this year." I just finished this for the challenge and loved it! The southern Appalachia setting was an unexpected bonus.

Thank you to everyone who recommended Light from Uncommon Stars. I just finished this yesterday and wow, what a remarkable book.

Elizabeth wrote: "I have three E.E. Ottoman books lined up and ready to go at the drop of a hat, and I'm hyped to have an excuse to binge them. That said, I'm hoping to read more LGBTQ+ lit overall this upcoming yea..."

I ended up reading The Doctor's Discretion by E.E. Ottoman. It was really good and I'm looking forward to trying more of his stuff.

I saw a lot of interesting suggestions here. I think I'm going to go with Dreadnought by April Daniels or The Death of Vivek Oji even though I absolutely HATED You Made a Fool of Death with your Beauty. I said I'd give the author another chance so maybe this is time.

Light from Uncommon Stars also is getting a lot of love on this thread which makes me want to read it as well!

Briana wrote: "I saw a lot of interesting suggestions here. I think I'm going to go with Dreadnought by April Daniels or The Death of Vivek Oji even though I absolutely HATED You M..."

Briana, I also hated certain aspects of You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty, but I loved The Death of Vivek Oji. If that helps.

Milena wrote: "Briana wrote: "I saw a lot of interesting suggestions here. I think I'm going to go with Dreadnought by April Daniels or The Death of Vivek Oji even though I absolut..."

It does actually thank you hehe

Regan wrote: "Oh boy, a chance to recommend Light from Uncommon Stars again! (this book would also work for the Ignyte awards prompt)
Other good picks:
Boys Run the Riot, Vol. 1 ..."
Followed your recommendation for Light from Uncommon Stars. Really glad I did. Thanks.

I read Detransition, Baby.

people have mentioned The Death of Vivek Oji, which I absolutely loved, and you can read the author's other novels as well, including Pet, a really wonderful YA novel (author= Akwaeke Emezi)

I just started the Challenge and I'm starting with Detransition, Baby. The blurb about it on Audible looks fantastic. I want to get my hands on it in paperback.

Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin is a post-apocalyptic horror novel. Not for the faint of heart!

I went with a book just published this year: Endpapers by Jennifer Savran Kelly. Very good, strong recommend!

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is a young adult novel. It's a fun read.

I read The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emrzi. Thanks to everyone here who recommended it!

Im big into horror so I read Tell Me I’m Worthless (and Manhunt!)

But I also created a list of books by trans authors earlier this year for the Trans Rights Readathon so I wanted to give some suggestions here:

Fiction:
Bad Girls (Magical Realism)
By Way of Sorrow (Thriller/Mystery)
Confessions of the Fox (Historical Fiction)
Dead Collections (Fantasy/Romance)
Future Feeling (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
Little Fish (Realistic Fiction)
Long Black Veil (Mystery/Thriller)
Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl (Magical Realism)
Summer Fun (Epistolary, Kind of Magical Realism?)
The Ship We Built (Middle Grade)
Zenobia July (Middle Grade)
Finna (Science Fiction)
Stone Butch Blues (Realistic Fiction)

Graphic Novels:
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy
Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure
Mimosa
Fence #1
The Pervert
Stone Fruit
Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me

Non-fiction (About Trans People by Trans people, if you didn't want to read a novel):
I'm Afraid of Men
Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us
The Natural Mother of the Child: A Memoir of Nonbinary Parenthood
As Beautiful As Any Other: A memoir of my body
Transitional: In One Way or Another, We All Transition
Pageboy
Variations
Uncomfortable Labels
Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity
Please Miss: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Penis

Also I cannot recommend any book by Akwaeke Emezi enough!! I've read both Pet and I'm in the middle of Dear Senthuran now.

I read Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars for this prompt.

I read Mad Honey for this one!