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Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the 8th Read Harder task.

I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue

Hannah wrote: "I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue"

Super fun read, but the author is straight and cis as far as I know.

Bonnie G. wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue"

Super fun read, but the author is straight and cis as far as I know."

Casey McQuiston is queer and nonbinary per their twitter bio!

Bonnie G. wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue"

Super fun read, but the author is straight and cis as far as I know."
According to Wikipedia so grain of salt, but I believe I've read this in an interview: McQuiston is openly bisexual and often also refers to herself as queer.[2][6] She is non-binary and goes by she/they pronouns.[7][8][9] They live in New York City, New York[3] with her poodle mix Pepper.[10]

One Last Stop is at the top of my list for most-anticipated 2021 releases, but I'll probably try to add another one, too.

Both YA but I enjoyed them both

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver and Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith. And despite the controversy and I say this as somebody who has loved the Outsiders hard since 6th grade and reread it for a prompt last year... it is not a rip off of the outsiders. The outsiders is mentioned once. The stories are not at all a like.

I recommend Anyone but You and Bring Her On by Chelsea M. Cameron ! They identify as nonbinary and they write the cutest F/F romances. The inclusion in Anyone but you is also great.

Kelsey wrote: "Bonnie G. wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue"

Super fun read, but the author is straight and cis as far as I know."

Ca..."

Oh wow! Sorry about that. I was misinformed. Super fun read

this is a book already on my TBR for next year.

I am so excited about this category!

May Peterson has two romances out, Lord of the Last Heartbeat is the first.

Anna Zabo is a nonbinary author with a ton of great romances out, I recommend the Twisted Wishes series. Reverb can be read as a stand-alone and features a trans hero who is a bodyguard.

EE Ottoman has a short, sweet historical romance that is just so soft. The Craft of Love

I love Daniel Mallory Ortberg, but I don't know that he would ever write a romance (not his genre). I might just read The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror since fairy tales count as romances, right? Perhaps THE original romance!

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

I am looking forward to The Mirror Season which would fit this task. I have loved all their books so far.

Cemetery Boys

Jordan L Hawk is a great option for this

I am eager to dig into EE Ottoman's novels with absolute gusto. I'm either going to start with The Craft of Love or The Doctor's Discretion since I have copies of both.

I think I'm going to read Endless, Forever by E.M. Lindsey for this one. The author identifies as agender and one of the main love interests is trans as well!

While it contains a romantic subplot (and is definitely worth reading) Cemetery Boys after reading it I am not convinced that this is a romance.

Lashyashy84 wrote: "Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender"

Oh, this looks good. Thanks. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

I wanted to try Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor - but I don't think it is Romance at all.

It is short, but I recommend Six Months, Three Days. SFF romance by a trans author.

stay gold by tobly mcsmith or felix everafter by kacen callender

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo might be a good option for this. The author mentioned she wanted to write a trans romance "where good things happen," which makes me happy.

Here's a WaPo article with the author.

I am wondering if Detransition, Baby will work for this prompt?

Candace wrote: "I am wondering if Detransition, Baby will work for this prompt?"

I thank you for bringing this book to my attention. It went immediately on my TBR. I don't see that it is a romance though.

Ooh, I read this wrong and was thinking I'd go for some SFF I've been meaning to read by Sarah Gailey, J.Y. Yang, or Charlie Jane Anders. But romance, eh? I will likely read something in this thread as I don't have many I can find on my lists!

Eight Kinky Nights sounded perfect when I was searching for books for this prompt. Super excited for it!

Hannah wrote: "I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue"

OMG, I loved this book.

Jessica wrote: "Ooh, I read this wrong and was thinking I'd go for some SFF I've been meaning to read by Sarah Gailey, J.Y. Yang, or Charlie Jane Anders. But rom..."

Those are all three awesome authors anyways so I hope you get to read them next year.

Felix Ever After, Stay Gold, Birthday, and I Wish You All the Best are some YA that will work for this prompt. And can't forget Red, White & Royal Blue (one of my favorite books!)

In terms of adult romance, I have Restless Spirits by Jordan L. Hawk on my list.

If unrequited love is a romance subgenre then absolutely read Birthday, if not go with If I Was Your Girl both by Meredith Russo. Ive read both and both are beautiful. Birthday is sad but with a happy ending

Would George Sand be considered a non-binary author?

Bobby wrote: "Would George Sand be considered a non-binary author?"

I am no expert, but I have never read anything indicating that George Sand was non-binary. She dressed in men's clothing as a form of protest, and because it made it easier to travel through Paris unmolested (and perhaps for comfort.)

Brandy wrote: "Bonnie G. wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue"

Super fun read, but the author is straight and cis as far as I know."
Acc..."

Casey is a local author and even though I've met them only once, we run in the same circles and I can confirm that they are queer and nonbinary.

Stina wrote: "Brandy wrote: "Bonnie G. wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue"

Super fun read, but the author is straight and cis as far ..."

Thanks! That is helpful. I hope their next book comes out next year. I think its been delayed a bit.

I think I'll probably go with The Love Study by Kris Ripper.

Devin Harnois is a trans author I know from my local writing community. He's written a number of M/M romances.

Hannah wrote: "I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue"

Me, too!

As someone who tends to find romance novels pretty tedious, I would super appreciate recommendations for this category where interesting things are happening in the plot of the novel!

Hannah wrote: "I think the time has finally come for me to read Red, White & Royal Blue"

I loved this book so much.

Regan wrote: "As someone who tends to find romance novels pretty tedious, I would super appreciate recommendations for this category where interesting things are happening in the plot of the novel!"

I am not a fan of the romance genre either but Anna-Marie MacLemore's books are all tagged as romance because there are love interests, but are plot-driven and I have loved all of them. Their books are also tagged YA, but definitely do NOT have the cringey YA love stories that might come to mind. They do some retellings of fairy tales. I liked

The writing is beautiful.

Here's a list to help y'all out with this task!

Book Riot wrote: "Here's a list to help y'all out with this task! "

I wasn't sure if Cemetery Boys would be considered romance, but looks like BookRiot feels it is! It's high on my TBR already, so I think that will be my pick.

Hannah wrote: "Would BOYFRIEND MATERIAL by Alexis Hall count? Trying to see what would fit that’s already on my TBR."

I have that on hold at the library too, but Alexis Hall doesn't self-identify as trans or nonbinary anywhere I can find - just that he uses he/him pronouns and is "genrequeer" in his writing (lol).

For the non-romance readers: I was anti-romance-novels for a looong time. My first year doing Read Harder, 2019, I was sort of forced to read a historical romance novel by an AOC (ended up reading An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole) and was surprised to find that there is real substance in many romances. It’s still not my favorite genre but I don’t mind reading a good romance novel once in awhile. Highly recommend Casey McQuiston’s books for this prompt - Red, White and Royal Blue flabbergasted me by becoming one of my favorite books of 2020 and I can’t wait to read their next novel!!

Kacen Callender also has a book called This is Kind of an Epic Love Story which I have on my shelf, and I already preordered Casey McQuiston's 2021 book One Last Stop. As several folks have already said, RWRB was soooo good!

Leslie Ann wrote: " Cemetery Boys"

Katrisa wrote: "I am looking forward to The Mirror Season which would fit this task. I have loved all their books so far."
Ooh! This sounds great! I didn't know that the author was trans or non-binary!

Reading Sugar Town for this prompt! I love that there’s a poly relationship and that it’s a comic/graphic novel.

I'm glad there are some good recs here because I honestly hate these challenges where I have to go research information about an author that may not be readily apparent.

I really enjoyed Red, White & Royal Blue and If I Was Your Girl.

I have Next Year, for Sure & One Last Stop on my TBR list so I'll likely read both of those this year.

Does anyone know if Alyssa Cole qualifies for this? She has a lot of books available on overdrive