What it’s about: After the success of her National Book Award-nominated debut Burn the Place (the first food-related title to be nominated in four decades!), Iliana Regan is back with this brave and dazzling new memoir. After she and her wife move from Chicago to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Regan writes about the couple’s adjustment to their new life as the proprietors of Milkweed Inn, where their goal is to forage the food they serve to guests from the environment around them. Deftly weaving memories from Regan’s childhood growing up in rural Indiana with observations of her present as she starts a new life, this memoir is thoughtful and engrossing for anyone wanting to explore their connection to the natural world. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s About: Dawn Levit is a genderqueer bookbinder living in New York City, where she works at the Met, conserving rare books. One day at work, she finds the cover of a lesbian pulp novel from the ’50s with a love letter written on it hidden behind the endpapers of an old book she’s been tasked with conserving. This discovery sends her on a journey to figure out the origins of this artifact, which in turn leads her to question her own ideas about gender presentation, her long-term relationship, and the nature of the kind of art she wants to create. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Up with the Sun is a novel about real-life entertainment industry personality Dick Kallman, whose professional successes have been eclipsed by his shocking murder in 1980. Told through the eyes of his friend and sometimes collaborator, Matt Liannetto, as he tries to unravel the mystery of Kallman’s life and death, readers witness Kallman’s ruthless pursuit of success and his romantic obsession with a fellow actor. Part crime investigation and part showbiz cautionary tale, this novel takes place over three history-packed decades of gay life. Engagingly written and based on real-life personalities, this is historical fiction at its best. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s About: Written in an attempt to process the grief of losing his father to cancer, this self-described “collage memoir” made up of both essays and poetry grabs the attention of readers by experimenting with form, making for a powerful reading experience. Unflinchingly honest, Lezza doesn’t shy away from negative emotions while exploring ideas about grieving that aren’t often discussed in public for fear they might sound too ugly. He digs right in and comes out on the other side with more than a little perspective. Thought-provoking and well-crafted, this memoir signals the debut of a bold new voice in creative nonfiction. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Marketed as a “gender-flipped reboot of the iconic 1970s film Taxi Driver,” this is the bold story of Damani, a rideshare driver who’s dealing with loss, taking care of a sick parent, and figuring out how to survive on the increasingly meager pay she brings home from work. One day, she gives a ride to Jolene, a rich white woman, and begins to fall in love with her, until Jolene does something so shocking that Damani may never be able to move past it. Engrossing with a strong narrative voice, this is a book that will grab you and never let go. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: This book is an entertaining look at the life of drag entertainer Doris Fish (born Philip Mills), who became a celebrity and pioneer of the movement that led to drag becoming popular in mainstream culture. Seligman traces Fish’s origins in Sydney, Australia to her move to San Francisco, where she firmly established her reputation and emerged as a camp icon who inadvertently shaped the fight for queer liberation. Campy, fabulous, and informative, Who Does That Bitch Think She Is? is more necessary than ever now that the rights of LGBTQ+ people are once again under attack. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Ezra and Orson are con artists who’ve been friends since their teens. When these on-again-off-again lovers start their biggest con yet by scamming the rich with a lifestyle improvement program that promises them enlightenment, things quickly get out of control in a way they never could have imagined. Laugh-out-loud funny in the way it unapologetically skewers capitalism, the “American Dream,” and the wellness industry, Confidence is a wild ride and the perfect read for anyone who loves watching true crime documentaries. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Jason Yamas’s arresting memoir follows his journey from having an Adderall addiction to using crystal meth at parties to becoming the biggest meth dealer in San Francisco. As readers follow his story, Yamas also educates them on the growing epidemic of crystal meth addiction and overdose that is currently ravaging the queer community. Going beyond the stereotypes of typical “tweakers” to show the individuals beneath the addiction, Tweakerworld is both an incredibly personal memoir about addiction and a lesson for anyone who thinks it could never happen to them. Jason Yamas is a sensational writer and a fierce advocate for the queer community. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s About: Flux is a genre-hybrid novel that focuses on three main characters: Bo, an eight-year-old grieving the loss of his mother in a car accident; Brandon, 28, who has recently lost his job in a hostile takeover of his company; and Blue, 48, a key witness in a trial against a tech startup who is also attempting to reunite with his family. As their stories progress, they begin to intersect, leading the three of them to believe they may not be as separate as they originally assumed. Part speculative fiction, part neo-noir, with some time travel thrown in for good measure, Flux is a wildly imaginative and mind-bending read. Get the book here! What it’s about: Alejandro Varela’s National Book Award-nominated The Town of Babylon was one of my favorite books of 2022, and luckily, he’s back this year with a wonderful collection of short fiction. In these interconnected stories, Varela explores the effect stress has on individual bodies and on the communities made up of those individuals. No one writes fiction that is incisive, socially conscious, and funny as well as Varela, and I’m happy to read anything he publishes. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s About: A fictional memoir of musician Tracy St. Cyr, Any Other City is presented in two parts. Side A focuses on the beginnings of Tracy’s career in 1993, as she arrives in the big city and begins to find queer community and her voice as an artist. On Side B, it’s 2019, and Tracy returns to the city as a moderately famous musician recovering from a recent trauma, where she discovers that maybe her past isn’t as far away as she had assumed. It’s a big-hearted novel about the need for queer community, the desire to create, and the importance of sexual pleasure. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Edmund White’s latest novel explores obsession, jealousy, and betrayal through the story of Aldwych West, a wealthy 80-year-old gay man who lives alone in his Manhattan townhouse. West finds himself falling in love with August Dumonde, a soloist at the New York City Ballet, and soon, the lines between personal and artistic relationships start to blur. When a woman with personal connections to Aldwych asserts herself as a rival for August’s affections, things quickly get complicated, leading to a conclusion that has to be read to be believed. White continues his legacy as a pioneer of queer literature with this mesmerizingly erotic tragicomedy. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Zachary Zane, author of “Sexplain It,” a sex and relationship advice column at Men’s Health, has written this refreshing collection of personal essays as an effort to get to the root of the sexual shame that runs rampant in American culture and help others lead more shame-free lives. Accessible, engaging, and genuinely hilarious, these essays are as titillating as they are educational. I frequently found myself barely able to stifle laughter as I read this book in public. As an added bonus, Zane includes a glossary of terms used frequently in the book in an effort to be as transparent as possible. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: A 10-day getaway with three queer couples of different generations that highlights their financial disparities and wildly differing world views — what could possibly go wrong? Over the course of the trip, secrets are revealed, alliances shift, and the guests’ true motivations come into question. Davis shrewdly explores issues of gender and sexuality while her characters confront the idea of what it means to seek the life you truly want. Perfect for fans of Melissa Broder’s Milk Fed and Raven Leilani’s Luster. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: The Late Americans follows a group of friends and colleagues working and studying in Iowa City. In a series of interconnected chapters told from varying perspectives, Taylor evokes a strong sense of what it’s like to try to survive in America at the current moment while pursuing creative ambitions. As the characters live and love, they don’t shy away from discussions of class, race, or reproductive rights, sometimes to disastrous results. It’s a stunning work of fiction, with characters that are unforgettable and writing that is frequently breathtaking. I can’t shout its praises enough. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: After moving to Brooklyn, Amelia Possanza quickly realized that she was surrounded by queer history. She decided to go on a quest to find stories of real-life lesbian romances in hopes of finding a potential role model and filling out her knowledge of queer history. The fruit of that process is this delightful book that’s part memoir/part historical investigation, centered around seven “love stories for the ages.” By investigating the very real history of lesbian relationships, Possanza gains a greater understanding of herself and her place in the queer community. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Four college friends on the cusp of turning 40 meet up in Big Sur as a continuation of their tradition of celebrating living “funerals” for each other as a reminder that life is worth living. But this time, one of them has a secret to reveal that just may upend the delicate balance that keeps these friends together. With The Celebrants, Steven Rowley once again displays his talent at balancing humor and heart in surprising ways. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Made up of five speculative stories, this enthralling collection focuses on queer people learning to be their authentic selves in different time periods and settings. Investigating the boundless creativity of the queer spirit, and the necessity of queer resilience, no matter what time it exists in, these stories are compassionate, finely wrought, and unique. What it’s about: A mixture of personal narrative and cultural criticism, this collection of essays investigates the influence images of “traditional” masculinity have on the lives of queer men. By using his own life as the jumping off point, and using everything from Disney princes to soap opera stars to drag queens to illustrate his points, Betancourt’s essays are thought-provoking, finely crafted, and hilarious. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Theatre historian and novelist Ethan Mordden brings readers this engaging chronicle about the people and productions who brought gay culture to Broadway. From female impersonators at the turn of the 20th century, to groundbreaking successes like The Boys in the Band, and modern gay hits like La Cage Aux Folles and Fun Home, Mordden covers it all comprehensively and with consummate flair. Perfect for anyone who loves theater, or who loves an engagingly written cultural history. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: This book about a queer mountain lion who lives underneath the Hollywood sign is one of the most unique novels I’ve read in years (and I’ll admit I was skeptical when I first read this description). In an era where humankind’s relationship with the natural world seems more and more tenuous, it’s fascinating to observe human behavior through the eyes of an outsider. I didn’t know I would feel such attachment to a mountain lion when I started reading, but in Henry Hoke’s talented hands, they become an instantly memorable and endearing protagonist. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: Following the love story between Farrell, the son of one of America’s wealthiest families, and Nate, an aspiring writer from New Jersey, Paul Rudnick’s newest novel is part epic romance and part social chronicle. As the two main characters pursue an on-again-off-again romance over five decades, their roles in each other’s lives shift and change due to cultural influences, although they never manage to completely let go of each other. Funny, tender, and life-affirming, this is a hilarious and feel-good read for anyone who loved the Less books by Andrew Sean Greer. What it’s about: This hilarious and wholly unique memoir by Greg Marshall tackles many subjects: disability, family relationships, and coming out (twice). With signature wit and humor, Marshall takes material that could be morbid in the hands of a lesser writer, and dares his readers not to laugh. He knows he’s had an unconventional life, but there’s no self-pity here. Instead, he embraces the absurdity of it all and leans into it, making one hell of an entertaining book. Get it from Bookshop here! What it’s about: This is a tender and laugh-out-loud funny debut novel about one woman’s journey to find what she really wants in life after her sister mysteriously disappears. As the narrator struggles with addiction and recovery, relationships that burn hot and suddenly extinguish, and the pain of living through uncertainty, she eventually finds her way to a place of greater self-understanding. Exploring themes of family dynamics, generational trauma, coming out, and addiction, this book is hilarious, insightful, and unapologetically queer. Get it from Bookshop here!
