YA LGBT Books discussion

J.S. wrote: "Oh, and the All for the Game series by Nora Sakavic. The Foxhole Court is the first one x"

Thank you for all 3 of those!

You're welcome :)
And Reason Number One is another (in which the MC escapes, recovers and moves on from an abusive relationship).

Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble has a male MC who is victimized in a sexual assault. It's largely about the impact it has on him and his relationship.

Check out Cody Kennedy's The Elpída (Hope) Series. It is three books long and inspiring for those who need to know that there is always hope.

There's Intervention by Mia Kendrick, though even though the characters are YA age, I believe is more geared towards adults.

Looking for a YA book where the main character falls in love with their best friends brother or sister. Don't mind if it's f/f or m/m or any other, thank you .

Fern wrote: "Looking for a YA book where the main character falls in love with their best friends brother or sister. Don't mind if it's f/f or m/m or any other, thank you ."

Anything Could Happen by W. Walton
Fan Art by S. Tregay
Running with Lions by J. Winters
Been Here All Along by S. Hall

James wrote: "Anything Could Happen by W. Walton
Fan Art by S. Tregay
Running with Lions by J. Winters
Been Here All Along by S. Hall"

I just finished Been Here All Along today, and that's a romance between best friends, not a best friend and best friend's sibling.

Iamshadow wrote: "James wrote: "Anything Could Happen by W. Walton
Fan Art by S. Tregay
Running with Lions by J. Winters
Been Here All Along by S. Hall"

I just finished Been Here All Along today, and that's a roman..."

I misread the initial post thinking friend was an option as opposed to the the possessive qualifier. Apologies. None of my titles meet your criteria - they're all friends.

Fern wrote: "Looking for a YA book where the main character falls in love with their best friends brother or sister. Don't mind if it's f/f or m/m or any other, thank you ."

Radio Silence probably technically qualifies for this if you squint, but it's not a romance story, and the crush on one sibling comes before the friendship with the other. Try it out and see if you like it, though. It's a great book.

Fern wrote: "Looking for a YA book where the main character falls in love with their best friends brother or sister. Don't mind if it's f/f or m/m or any other, thank you ."

I've been in a similar situation IRL, although I would be the friend's brother in this scenario. ::shrug::

I'm kinda keen on seeing what books are out there that fit this.

Looking for books with forbidden romances, live them ones.

Fern wrote: "Looking for books with forbidden romances, live them ones."

Where You Are is a teacher/student romance - I have been told it's OK for YA, but haven't read it.

I’m looking for a book featuring magical realism and queer characters in a spooky environment. Basically, I’m looking for more books like When the Moon was Ours. Anyone have any ideas?

Sarina wrote: "I’m looking for a book featuring magical realism and queer characters in a spooky environment."

Maybe About a Girl , from Sarah McCarry's Metamorphoses series; Kristopher Reisz' Tripping to Somewhere ; Francesca Lia Block's Weetzie Bat series (and many of her other books); or this Wish Our Hearts Away posted elsewhere in the group's discussions? Those are the closest to what you're seeking that are coming to my mind at the moment.

Sarina wrote: "I’m looking for a book featuring magical realism and queer characters in a spooky environment. Basically, I’m looking for more books like When the Moon was Ours. Anyone have any id..."

Pantomime is fantasy not magic realism but has some of those elements
Every Heart a Doorway maybe
Dreadnought has superhero magic in a realistic setting

How about The Living One by Lewis Gannet? (Although I'm not sure if it's in print) There's also Lost Souls and Drawing Blood by Poppy Z. Brite.

Sarina wrote: "I’m looking for a book featuring magical realism and queer characters in a spooky environment. Basically, I’m looking for more books like When the Moon was Ours. Anyone have any ideas?"

Labyrinth Lost, for sure.
The Raven Cycle, beginning with The Raven Boys, definitely.

Kaje wrote: "Sarina wrote: "I’m looking for a book featuring magical realism and queer characters in a spooky environment. Basically, I’m looking for more books like When the Moon was Ours. Any..."

I read Every Heart a Doorway and will read the other two! Those have been on my to-read list, but now I will prioritize them.

Thank you to everyone who gave suggestions!

I'm hanging out at GayRomLit conference and someone just asked me if I could recommend a YA book with a female ace main character. I feel like I've read one but no titles are coming to mind. Any suggestions?

Kaje wrote: "I'm hanging out at GayRomLit conference and someone just asked me if I could recommend a YA book with a female ace main character."

Tash Hearts Tolstoy and Let's Talk About Love are probably the most well known.

Thanks! (Tash was the one on the tip of my tongue, so I particularly appreciate that.)

You're welcome! You might also enjoy the Asexuality in YA Fiction list.

Rainbowheart wrote: "You're welcome! You might also enjoy the Asexuality in YA Fiction list."

Thanks - looks like Summer Bird Blue might be another good one.

Kaje wrote: "I'm hanging out at GayRomLit conference and someone just asked me if I could recommend a YA book with a female ace main character. I feel like I've read one but no titles are coming to mind. Any su..."

Both Keladry from the Tortall series and Sandry from the Emelan series by Tamora Pierce are ace, but it's word of god, not textual. That said, I reread the Keladry books recently, knowing she's ace, and it was neon-sign obvious to someone, like me, who worked out she was on the ace spectrum since the last read about a decade ago. So even though the word 'asexual' isn't in the text, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it as representation. Tammy has been very firm about it when questioned by fans on social media - that Keladry is/always was ace, and is increasingly aro as she gets older.

Kaje wrote: "I'm hanging out at GayRomLit conference and someone just asked me if I could recommend a YA book with a female ace main character. I feel like I've read one but no titles are coming to mind. Any su..."

The brand new Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy fits the bill. =D

Great - thank you!

I really need to read Lady's Guide - as soon as I'm done with this conference. I'm even more interested given an ace character.

Kaje wrote: "I'm hanging out at GayRomLit conference and someone just asked me if I could recommend a YA book with a female ace main character. I feel like I've read one but no titles are coming to mind. Any su..."

Every Heart a Doorway has an ace female protagonist.

Iamshadow wrote: "Kaje wrote: "I'm hanging out at GayRomLit conference and someone just asked me if I could recommend a YA book with a female ace main character. I feel like I've read one but no titles are coming to..."

Could you put in links for the first books in both of those series? I’m interested in reading them but having a difficult time tracking them down on goodreads.

Sarina wrote: "Iamshadow wrote: "Kaje wrote: "I'm hanging out at GayRomLit conference and someone just asked me if I could recommend a YA book with a female ace main character. I feel like I've read one but no ti..."

Okay, well, Tortall and Emelan are both universes that have arcs. With Tortall, I think you'd be fine to start with the first Keladry book, First Test, and the three other books that follow, and if you wanted to go back and read the earlier arcs focussed on other characters later you could. Emelan, I think it's best to start at the beginning, The Magic in the Weaving/Sandry's Book. Rather than arcs linked to individual characters, Emelan revolves around four primary characters who all feature in the first four books, then split off in the second arc and have individual adventures, and reunite in the third arc.

So, I just finished This Song Is (Not) for You (great book btw), and I was wondering if anyone knew of any other books with polyamorous characters? (Bonus points if they're bi) Even non-YA books would be fine, just PM me anything that might not be YA friendly.

Also, completely unrelated, but if anyone knows any lgbt YA holiday (Christmas mostly) books that would be great too.

I'm a cat-astrophe wrote: "So, I just finished This Song Is (Not) for You (great book btw), and I was wondering if anyone knew of any other books with polyamorous characters? (Bonus points if they're bi) Even..."

Us Three is the only poly YA I have read. (I have MMM and MMF short stories in my own YA collections, but nothing long.)
There are a lot of adult polyamorous romances around. I don't link them on this YA group, but if you are interested in adult M/M/M you can PM me and I can link you with them.

For LGBT YA Christmas, consider Sock it to Me, Santa!, The Invasion of Tork, Know Not Why

I have that one on my list, but sadly, my library doesn't have it :( Maybe I'll just buy it the next time I go book shopping...
Yeah, figured there'd probably be more adult poly books, that's why I said the thing about PMing me. But I'll just PM you in a sec XD

And thanks, I'll check those out! ^^

It's hard to find much in libraries - so many good LGBTQ YA books are indie publications or small press, and they often don't get into libraries (although now that libraries lend ebooks it's a bit more likely, and sometimes you can request them, since ebooks require no shelf space to add.)

I'm a cat-astrophe wrote: "So, I just finished This Song Is (Not) for You (great book btw), and I was wondering if anyone knew of any other books with polyamorous characters? (Bonus points if they're bi) Even..."

I just finished Chameleon Moon and its sequel The Lifeline Signal, and they have a lot of diversity, including a bunch of polyamorous characters (particularly in the first one). Both are suitable for teens but also enjoyable for adults.

Kaje wrote: "It's hard to find much in libraries - so many good LGBTQ YA books are indie publications or small press, and they often don't get into libraries (although now that libraries lend ebooks it's a bit ..."

I only check out ebooks from my library (for many reasons), and I did suggest that they get it, but idk what makes them buy some books and not others. I'm assuming they get books based off how many people are requesting it, but I can't really be sure.

Iamshadow wrote: "I'm a cat-astrophe wrote: "So, I just finished This Song Is (Not) for You (great book btw), and I was wondering if anyone knew of any other books with polyamorous characters? (Bonus..."

Ohh, I'll check those out then ^^ Thank you~!

I damaged my lower back and hip over a week ago shifting boxes and I could really do with a rec or two that are fun, fluffy and don't require much brain, because I'm zonked on opiates and valium. I just spent two whole days in bed mostly sleeping and needing assistance to get to the loo, and now I'm a bit more alert I am SUPER BORED. Will take any flavour of spectrum, but if there's a non queer story you think is great, hit me with it, I am an omnivorous reader.

Oh no! I hope you feel better soon. (My skater kid just put his back out too. So painful.)

If you can handle "...but I'm not Gay!" from a gay character, then Know Not Why is fluffy fun;
maybe also The Suicidal Peanut, Maps, Love Spell (at least in the first edit that I read), One Man Guy, The Student Prince

I have the sudden urge to go back through all my reads and add "fluffy" as a tag.

Check, Please!: #Hockey, Vol. 1 was an adorable graphic novel.

The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic was hilarious, but if you have a tendency to laugh really hard, might want to pass.

And I'm a sucker for fairy-tale re-tellings, so My Fairy Godmother Is a Drag Queen, Cinderella Boy, and Sometime After Midnight all get my nod for fluffy, low-brain requirement reading since they are all rehashes of Cinder(f)ella.

Get some rest (yeah, I know, redundant and probably getting tiresome to hear, but I know how hard spine and back injuries can be and rest is definitely the best option, because risking a re-injury is not worth it).

Kaje wrote: "Oh no! I hope you feel better soon. (My skater kid just put his back out too. So painful.)

If you can handle "...but I'm not Gay!" from a gay character, then Know Not Why is fluf..."

Oh, cool, all but the Student Prince are unread for me.

I am just So Done. Between the agonising muscle spasms that make peeing nigh impossible and the nightmares from the drugs and the inability to sit upright and play the five new PS4 games I literally just bought a day before I broke myself, I have tipped from grumpy to pissed.

Rez wrote: "I have the sudden urge to go back through all my reads and add "fluffy" as a tag.

Check, Please!: #Hockey, Vol. 1 was an adorable graphic novel.

[book:The Rules and Regulations f..."

Thank you, all are new/unread to me. Fortunately it's not actual bone stuff as far as I know, but the muscle spasms and nerve pain are more than enough, thank you. I just feel so rotten and can do absolutely nothing but lie still and take occasional short walks around the house so I don't completely turn to stone. If I could sit up, I could do things like watch tv properly, knit, and play video games, but every time I think I'm ready, my body says NO.

That sounds really rough, and there's no real way to speed up healing. I hope you get better soon. Georgette Heyer romances are a fluffy M/F resource for when I can't brain.

Iamshadow, I’m sending you a gentle hug and hopes that you are feeling much better soon!

If you've not read it I highly recommend Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. You can read it for free on Tapas or her Tumblr, and it's the most heartwarming, lovely, sweet thing you will ever read!

Iamshadow wrote: "Fortunately it's not actual bone stuff as far as I know, but the muscle spasms and nerve pain are more than enough, thank you. I just feel so rotten and can do absolutely nothing but lie still and take occasional short walks around the house so I don't completely turn to stone. If I could sit up, I could do things like watch tv properly, knit, and play video games, but every time I think I'm ready, my body says NO."

Soft tissue damage in the back is the worst. At least with bone damage, they can x-ray it and say, "Yep, that's broken, let's cut you open and fix it." With soft tissue, they look at the MRI and go, "Eh, if we try surgery to fix this, the chance it'll get worse is about the same as the chance of us actually fixing it. Better just rest and take this steroid dose pack."

Kaje wrote: "That sounds really rough, and there's no real way to speed up healing. I hope you get better soon. Georgette Heyer romances are a fluffy M/F resource for when I can't brain."

My mum (who I live with) is the most massive Heyer fan - I recently bought the last couple of books so that her collection is complete now - but it's something I've just never got to. I like Austen and Bronte, but have just never gotten around to Heyer. Maybe it's time.

Sammy Goode wrote: "Iamshadow, I’m sending you a gentle hug and hopes that you are feeling much better soon!"

Thank you. Right now, I'm just sore, miserable, and a bit effed up from the drugs, which I hate. My ADHD makes it hard enough to follow a line of thought on the best of days. On the plus side, I was able to position myself on the sofa in such a way that my partner and I finished story mode on Lego Harry Potter 1-4 earlier today. Now for free play mode and finding all the things. I just have to reposition a lot and play it in short bursts, or I seize up and pay for it.

Carrie-Anne wrote: "If you've not read it I highly recommend Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. You can read it for free on Tapas or her Tumblr, and it's the most heartwarming, lovely, sweet thing you will ever read!"

I actually follow the Heartstopper tumblr, and didn't realise for a while it was Alice (I loved Radio Silence!), but I haven't actually gone back to the beginning and started reading yet. That's a valid, free thing that I could do without going to the library or finding illegal downloads of things.

Rez wrote: "Iamshadow wrote: "Fortunately it's not actual bone stuff as far as I know, but the muscle spasms and nerve pain are more than enough, thank you. I just feel so rotten and can do absolutely nothing ..."

Yeah. My partner has a connective tissue disorder, which adds up to a lot of minor dislocations and no fewer than three herniated discs, so I know the drill with taking care of it... it just sucks, as it's come on the heels of a foot injury that took several months to heal earlier this year. 2018 is kicking my arse, healthwise. I'm used to being the able bodied one. I think that's the hardest thing - she's fetching and carrying for me, rather than the other way around, and I'm feeling major impostor syndrome.