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girljeremystrong · 2 years

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*books with great love stories and plots that don’t just revolve around them.

SORROW AND BLISS by Meg Mason

Martha’s marriage is falling apart, because there’s something wrong with her but nobody has been able to tell her what. We go back in time to relive all the ups and downs of Martha and Patrick’s relationship to find out if they can make it out together. Beautiful story about mental health and love and family.

TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin

Sadie and Sam love each other but are never lovers and we follow their journey for 30 years, from Boston to California as they develop together a video game and a complicated personal relationship. Very fun book about gaming and being best friends who are often in love with each other and often very mad at each other.

UNLIKELY ANIMALS by Annie Hartnett

Emma flies home from California to New Hampshire as a Med school dropout when her dad is diagnosed with a brain disease. At home her parents are in a fight, her brother is just out of rehab and her childhood best friend is missing. She scrambles to find her feet and pull everyone together. This is such a CUTE, heart lifting book with great characters and GHOSTS.

NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro

Kathy, Tommy and Ruth are three best friend who have grown up in an English boarding school. But throughout their childhood many things felt wrong and as they grow and leave school they realize just how many secrets were kept from them. It’s a love story! It’s a mystery! It’s a critique of human arrogance!

NO LAND TO LIGHT ON by Yara Zghaeib

Hadi and Sama are a Syrian couple living in the USA. As they are waiting for the birth of their son, Hadi leaves to visit his family and then their lives are uprooted by a travel ban. Sama and Hadi are forced apart and as the physical and emotional distance between them grows, they try to find their way back to each other. This is a pretty sad one, I can’t lie, but such a beautiful story.

YOUNG MUNGO by Douglas Stuart

Mungo meets James in their housing estate in Glasgow. They are young and lonely, they become friends and they fall in love. Unfortunately Mungo is a Protestant and James is a Catholic, and where they’re from these things matter, especially to Mungo’s brother, a violent gang leader. This is not a very happy book either but it is THE best story about being young and falling in love. PLEASE READ THIS. Then come talk to me about it.

REAL LIFE by Brandon Taylor

Wallace is working toward a degree in the Midwest. But he’s Black and he’s queer and he feels distance between himself and his colleagues. We follow him through a summer weekend he spends with his college friends, finding out truths about them and about himself. I will never tire of recommending this book. It’s just so interesting and well written. And lovely words about the start of a relationship.

THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern

There is a circus that arrives without warning and is only open at night. Behind the scenes two magicians, Celia and Marco, are involved in a duel they’ve been training for since childhood. But despite all that, they fall in love. This is a fantasy novel that will for sure appeal to any fans of the genre. It’s fun and the aesthetics are sublime.

OPEN WATER by Caleb Azumah Nelson

Two young people meet at a pub in South East London. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists - he a photographer, she a dancer - trying to make their mark in a city that by turns celebrates and rejects them. Tentatively, tenderly, they fall in love. So beautiful, so well written. Reads like falling in love feels like. LOVE IT.

SWIMMING IN THE DARK by Tomasz Jedrowski

Set in early 1980s Poland against the violent decline of communism, a tender and passionate story of first love between two young men who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide. It’s beautiful and poetic and quite sad. Stunning characters, stunning descriptions.

LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB by Malinda Lo

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. This is so SWEET. Lily is such a great character and her story fills your heart with pain and glee and pride. I love this book and this wonderful story.

EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL SOMEDAY BE DEAD by Emily R. Austin

Gilda, a twenty-something lesbian, cannot stop ruminating about death. Desperate for relief from her panicky mind and alienated from her repressive family, she responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catholic church, and finds herself abruptly hired as a receptionist. Through all of this she finds a girlfriend. And it’s sweet and slow and lovely.

THE PROPHETS by Robert Jones Jr.

A novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation. Isaiah was Samuel’s and Samuel was Isaiah’s. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. Goes without saying, this is a sad story that will make you cry and will make you angry. But it is so so beautiful.

YOLK by Mary H.K.Choi

Jayne and June are two sisters living in New York after growing up in Texas. Jayne is struggling through fashion school, while her sister has a hot shot job in finance and a big apartment. They are sort-of estranged until June is diagnosed with cancer. The first love story in this book is between the sisters, but there is a budding romance for Jayne that is so sweet. This is a sweet book. I love it.

EARLY MORNING RISER by Katherine Heiny

Jane falls in love with Duncan easily. He is charming, good-natured, and handsome but unfortunately, he has also slept with nearly every woman in Boyne City, Michigan. A wise, bighearted, boundlessly joyful novel of love, disaster, and unconventional family. This feels like Gilmore Girls but better.

A TIP FOR THE HANGMAN by Allison Epstein

Christopher Marlowe, a brilliant aspiring playwright, is pulled into the duplicitous world of international espionage on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I. I also will never tire of recommending this novel about stupid Kit Marlowe becoming a spy while crushing hard on his best friend. It’s just so fun and so good.

THE BAD MUSLIM DISCOUNT by Syed M. Masood

It is 1995, and Anvar Faris is a restless, rebellious Pakistani boy whose family moves to start life over in California. At the same time, Safwa, a young girl suffocating in war-torn Baghdad with her grief-stricken, conservative father will find a very different and far more dangerous path to America. The fates of two remarkably different people intertwine and set off a series of events. It’s very good, the characters are great and the relationship is very realistic.

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY by Gabrielle Zevin

A. J. Fikry is cynical but lovable. His wife has died and his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island. But there’s Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island. Such a lovely book. Lovely and heatwarming with amazing characters and unpredictable plot.

WRITERS & LOVERS by Lily King

Blindsided by her mother's sudden death, and wrecked by a recent love affair, Casey Peabody has arrived in Massachusetts in the summer of 1997 without a plan. She waits tables in Harvard Square and rents a tiny, moldy room at the side of a garage where she works on the novel she's been writing for six years. When she falls for two very different men at the same time, her world fractures even more. Again this is just a lovely book. About love and grief and being lost.

AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE by Tayari Jones

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. BEAUTIFUL. Just masterful work. Will make you cry like a baby.

THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller

Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong and beautiful. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath. I mean I like this. It’s poetic and romantic and it’s a classic story. Had to make the list...

TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett

Set during the pandemic when the main character and her three daughters are quarantining in their farm. The daughters get their mum to tell them the story of how she fell for and dated a famous actor while putting on a play in her 20s. VERY SWEET AND SPECIAL and also ann patchett can do no wrong!!!!

SIRENS & MUSES by Antonia Angress

The story of two very different girls who meet in art school. Lots going on in this book but it's all very poetic and interesting and the two main characters go through a lot but also like each other a lot.

IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn

About two boys who meet in boarding school and then join war world I. It is insanely sad and it's a book about the war and about young people meeting terrible fates, but very romantic and they keep sending letters that are heartbreaking and they really love each other.

THE LATE AMERICANS by Brandon Taylor

About a group of friends and acquaintances who are all young and fucked up and all in different weird relationships but it's very interesting and Brandon Taylor also can do no wrong!!!!

TIN MAN by Sarah Winman

About two boys who meet in their youth and fall in love but then suddenly there's a time jump and it's been years and one of them is married to somebody else and the other one is nowhere to be found. Sad but also very special and definitely a book that is all about love.

LESS by Andrew Sean Greer

Pulitzer prize winning book about a novelist who receives an invitation to his ex boyfriend's wedding and is heartbroken so, suddenly, he finds himself coping by going on a world tour. It's funny and sweet and has a happy ending.

#OPEN WATER should have been n.1 in this list cause it doesn't get much more romantic than that #books #book recommendations #book recs #what if i tag #dark academia #just for the notes #bookblr #booksblr #young mungo #tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow #the song of achilles #last night at the telegraph club #swimming in the dark

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thereadingchallengechallenge · 4 months

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JOMP BPC - December 28th - This Month's Favourite

can't go past Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, despite the number of wonderful books I read this month

#last night at the telegraph club #malinda lo #justonemorepage #jompbpc #booklr #bookblr #trcc original #portraits #lgbt books #wlw reads #authors of colour

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shrublub · 1 year

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the world feels smaller, yet the trees look taller

there’s enchantment in the air

i know i sound stupid, i do

that’s what love will do to you

#last night at the telegraph club #lnattc #malinda lo #lily hu #kathleen miller #kath miller #i need to read a scatter of light #lilykath #my art #fanart #artists on tumblr

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crumbly-apple-pie · 1 year

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If your romance novel doesn’t feature two absolute disaster human beings having safe, sexy, consentual gay sex full of banter, I don’t want it

#this is my criteria and i stand by it #red white & royal blue #red white and royal blue #one last stop #Casey McQuiston #last night at the telegraph club #malinda lo #books #romance novels #lgbtq #gay #lesbian #queer

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kazbrekkerskane · 1 year

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for the record: feel free to vote even if you are not a lesbian

obligatory I know it's 'wlw' or whatever but I'm calling it lesbian. shut up

if you haven't read any of these I strongly encourage you to do so!!!

rb and share for a larger sample size pls :)

#gideon the ninth #the locked tomb #the 7 husbands of evelyn hugo #criers war #wilder girls #honey girl #one last stop #cinderella is dead #the henna wars #the lumberjanes #last night at the telegraph club #lesbians #sapphic #wlw #gay women #radblr #radical feminists do interact #radical feminist safe #lesbian radfem

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lesbicosmos · 6 months

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it's international lesbian day and since im ill and just sitting here reading, have some of my fav lesbian book recommendations!!

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A Short History of Queer Women by Kirsty Loehr

Starting with a non-fiction one, this tells the stories of many lesbians and other sapphics from history and is really interesting and, at points, hilarious

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

This is my current favourite book, I read it recently for a book club and just fell in love. It tells the story of Leah, a marine scientist who went on a deep sea mission that went horribly wrong and is now acting very strangely, and her wife Miri. It is a dual pov, with Miri's chapters following her trying to figure out what is happening to Leah post-mission return, and Leah's chapters following the events that happened on the mission itself. The strange supernatural body horror is part terrifying part intriguing and the love story is so tender and devoted, and the writing style is absolutely GORGEOUS.

Afterlove by Tanya Byrne

In the similar realm of lesbian supernatural fiction, this is probably one of my all time favourite books. The first half is a sweet first-love romance between teenagers Ash and Poppy in Brighton, but when Ash dies on New Year's Eve and becomes a grim reaper, she can't forget what she and Poppy had, even if it means giving them only a few more days together.

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

A lesbian retelling of Cinderella, this book follows Sophia, who grew up hearing the fairytale and is now about to be sent to the royal ball for choosing, where her life may be forfeit if she isn't chosen by a man. Sophia doesn't want to be chosen at all, and she fears the girl she loves will be chosen and they will have to part.

She Gets The Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

I read this book while I was on holiday and loved it. It's a YA romcom which follows two perspectives:, Alex, a headstrong flirty lesbian who knows how to get girls but struggles to keep them, and Molly, who is very awkward and doesn't know how to go about talking to Cora, the girl she's completely in love with. When their paths cross at college, Alex begins helping Molly talk to Cora in an attempt to prove to her ex that she can be serious about romance, but as their plans progress, their feelings may have changed and they could be instead falling for each other.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

This is the book I'm currently reading but I'm putting it on here anyway because I love it already. Set in Chinatown in 1954, with Red-Scare paranoia and deportation looming over her father, seventeen year old Lily Hu risks everything once she meets Kathleen Miller and the two fall in love at a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club

#i love all these books SO MUCH #international lesbian day #book recs #queer books #lesbian books #a short history of queer women #our wives under the sea #cinderella is dead #she gets the girl #last night at the telegraph club #lesbian

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spiritintheinkwell · 10 months

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Happy Pride! Featuring my nine favorite wlw books.

Mahit/Three Seagrass from the Teixcalaan series by Arkady Martine

Catherine/Lucy from The Lady's Guide To Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

Kath/Lily from Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Zanja/Karis from the Elemental Logic series by Laurie J. Marks

Jude/Síle from Landing by Emma Donoghue

Ead/Sabran from The Priory Of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Emi/Ava from Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour

Thenike/Marghe from Ammonite by Nicola Griffith

Red/Blue from This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Ordered by theme, not by preference.

#wlw art #wlw book fanart #teixcalaan #the lady's guide to celestial mechanics #last night at the telegraph club #elemental logic #landing emma donoghue #the priory of the orange tree #everything leads to you #ammonite nicola griffith #this is how you lose the time war #pride art #gilbert baker diversity pride flag #lesbian #bisexual #queer

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slaughter-books · 2 months

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Day 14: JOMPBPC: Feel The Spark

I love the main relationship in this absolutely beautiful book! 💛

#justonemorepage #jompbpc #feel the spark #last night at the telegraph club #malinda lo #beautiful book #beautiful cover #amazing author #lgbt+#pretty flowers #frangipani #i love books

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traeumenvonbuechern · 8 months

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⚾ Books To Read If You Love "A League of Their Own" ⚾

I can’t believe Amazon canceled "A League of Their Own" 😭 Here are some books you should read if you miss this show as much as I do.

(Also, please remember that ALOTO wasn't canceled "due to the strikes". Amazon is the one to blame here, not WGA & SAG-AFTRA!)

Book titles:

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

You Don't Have a Shot by Racquel Marie

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner (comes out September 19, 2023)

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Val Wise and Oscar O. Jupiter

Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler

Joy, to the World by Kai Shappley and Lisa Bunker

The Avant-Guards by Carly Usdin and Noah Hayes

Like Other Girls by Britta Lundin

The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons

Running With Lions by Julian Winters

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tearsonthepage · 7 months

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js got home from barnes and noble

i bought Loveless by Alice Oseman!!!! and Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, The Wishing Spell (illustrated) by Chris Colfer, and A Tale of Sorcery by Chris Colfer!!!

#osemanverse #alice oseman #loveless #georgia warr #chris colfer #a tale of sorcery #last night at the telegraph club #the land of stories

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taysvenus · 7 days

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convulsionofhonesty · 1 year

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top 10 books of 2022

i read 50 books this year and i’m going to share my top 10 and what i loved most about them (in no particular order)

1. writers & lovers by lily king - this book legitimately changed my life by reminding me of how desperate i am to lead a creative life. there are certain books that make you want to be a writer. this is one. featuring clean-cut, economical prose that gets straight to the point, and the point is diving into one of the most compelling characters i’ve had the honor to spend a story with. i read it twice this year because i will never be ready to part with this main character.

2. last night at the telegraph club by malinda lo - this was a reread for me and i appreciated it infinitely more the second time. the vividness of the writing strikes me as a particular triumph of this work. you can feel every emotion, see and hear every setting. that and a deeply engaging narrative make it one of those books that i continue to think about constantly.

3. crush by richard siken - my favorite poetry collection i have read, and reread, both within this year. he is one of those writers that reminds you how amazing it is to be a human that can feel and say so much. sharp images, glorious repitition, and stunning formatting that has inspired much of my own adventure into the world of unique poetic structure on the page.

4. homegoing by yaa gyasi - probably one of the most ingenious books i have ever read. to this day i fail to understand how it is possible to cover so much in so few pages and not leave the reader feeling like something is missing, but she certainly does it. sweeping multi-generational story where each chapter reads like both an exquisite short story that could stand on its own and a part of the richly woven whole. phenomenal novel that i wholeheartedly believe will be a classic in the future.

5. the idiot by elif batuman - another character that weaseled her way into my brain and has never left. a plotless, indulgent, meandering character study that struck such a cord with me. i read this at the exact right time in my life and for the week that i was making my way through it, there was no distinction between the narrator and myself in my mind. i don’t know how to explain this, but i was narrating my own life through this character’s eyes. captivating.

6. piranesi by susanna clarke - an exemplary work of fantasy that explores the nuances of knowledge and gratitude, balancing expertly between critiquing the pursuit of knowledge and power and exalting wonder, curiosity, and science. a book written in journal entries which flows perfectly and never feels choppy. leaves you thinking differently about the world.

7. open water by caleb azumah nelson - a short novella you can read in a day, and you will have to, as it is so enchanting and haunting that you cannot stop. it fully took over my mind until i finished it. it features second person narration which creates an unmatched level of closeness between reader and narrator. triumphantly evocative, intimate, and precise prose. the most poetic novel(la) i've had the pleasure of reading since on earth we're briefly gorgeous.

8. the great believers by rebecca makkai - the highlight of this book is the dense prose; every sentence feels perfectly chosen and hits you just as hard as the last. there is never a break, never a breather from the stunning writing. for that reason it is a slow book to move through, but in the best way. also accomplishes using dual pov/timelines in a way that does not detract from the fluidity of the work. very heavy subject matter but imbued with hope, gratitude, and affection.

9. the starless sea by erin morgenstern - prior to reading piranesi, this was my favorite fantasy read of the year. the world is so engrossing and the formatting of the novel is unique and inventive. vivid world builidng and a meandering, cris-crossing plot that enthralls from the beginning. an ode to humanity and the interconnectedness of the stories we tell.

10. babel by r.f. kuang - a lengthy novel that is well worth the time it takes, featuring a slate of morally ambiguous young people bumping up against the limits of their social power. similarly to piranesi, it embraces curiosity, drive, passion, and learning while chastising the intrenchment of power in academia. kuang cements herself as figurehead of the historical fantasy subgenre, tapping into its full potential.

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