Your Favorite Queer Books of May
Every month, I round up the links that you all clicked on the most from last month’s Our Queerest Shelves newsletters. I love seeing which titles caught your eye — was it because you wanted to buy it right that second, or you just wanted to learn more about it? I can’t know that for sure, but it’s useful information to see what you’re most interested in. And while we’re at it, why not take a look at the most clicked-on Etsy items from last month?
This is one of the weekly bonus sends for paid subscribers to Our Queerest Shelves — but in case you missed the update, that subscription just got a lot more valuable for the same price! We’ve moved from Substack to the Book Riot site, and that means your subscription is now an All Access pass to all the paid content on Book Riot! That includes my twice-weekly newsletter Read Harder. Every week, I give recommendations for books that check off tasks on the 2024 Read Harder Challenge, plus recommendations for other reading challenges and themes. I also update you every Thursday on what I’ve been reading lately — most of which is queer — and which tasks I’ve completed. So, if you want even more of me in your inbox (I don’t know your life!), consider subscribing to Read Harder — if you’re a paid OQS subscriber, you get all that bonus content for free!
With that housekeeping out of the way, let’s talk about the most clicked-on Etsy items and books of May!
#3 Most Clicked On Etsy Item:
The third most clicked-on Etsy item in May was these moon earrings in the trans flag colors from the May 14th new releases round-up. The shop has other pride flag designs, too. $13
#2 Most Clicked On Etsy Item:
I’m glad you all clicked on these because they’re some of my favorite finds of May. These two agender pride shirts from the same store (Error 404: Gender Not Found and I Don’t Have a Gender, I Have Anxiety) were included in the Happy Agender Pride! newsletter. $33 each, sizes up to 5XL.
#1 Most Clicked On Etsy Item:
And this shouldn’t have been a surprise, but the most clicked-on Etsy item of last month was this Read Queer All Year tee shirt with an adorable raccoon that was included in the May 21st new releases round-up. $32
Now, let’s jump into the most clicked-on books from the May newsletters!
#5 Most Clicked On:
Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places by Claire Kann (Asexual M/F Paranormal Romance)
May 21st New Releases: From the author of Let’s Talk About Love and The Romantic Agenda comes another asexual romance, this time with a paranormal twist! Lucky is a parapsychologist whose interest in hauntings has distanced her from most people in her life. When a production company keeps having actors quit when they stay at the Hennessee House, Lucky offers her expertise. That’s where she meets Maverick, and the chemistry is intense. But Hennessee House wants her all to itself…
#4 Most Clicked On:
Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery (M/M Romance)
May 28th New Releases: This was just a cover linked at the end of the new releases round-up without a description, so that’s a testament to the success of this cover. Unfortunately, it looks like I might have messed up the release date. At the time of writing, it’s still showing the ebook as releasing the week of the 28th, but the physical book isn’t scheduled to come out until January 2025…Sorry to keep you all in suspense!
#3 Most Clicked On:
The Night of Baba Yaga by Akira Otani, translated by Sam Bett (Sapphic Thriller)
You Pick My Next Read!: Thrillers aren’t usually my jam, but even I can’t resist the promise of a description that says it’s a queer thriller that’s Kill Bill meets The Handmaiden meets Thelma and Louise. It’s set in 1970s Tokyo as the daughter of a mob boss and her female bodyguard/driver try to survive this cut-throat environment. It will also be one I can discuss on All the Books! (Out July 2nd)
#2 Most Clicked On:
A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland (Sapphic Historical Fantasy)
You Pick My Next Read!: I’ve talked about this in the newsletter several times because it’s one of my most-anticipated releases of the year. Mostly because I cannot resist a sapphic selkie story, and they’re so rare! Somehow, though, I haven’t actually read this one yet. It looks like it will be a little darker and moodier than some of the other picks, but the water element keeps it in the spring reading sphere for me.
#1 Most Clicked On:
The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza (Sapphic YA Fantasy Romance)
May 14th New Releases: I don’t know how to feel that the topmost clicked-on book of May was not a result of my recommendation — it was actually a book from a sponsor of the newsletter! Here’s the description:
Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this inventive queer romance asks what it means to be truly happy.
Sixteen-year-old Tegan is dead and staring at the Marybelle Motor Lodge, the most depressing motel in NJ, and where she spent the worst weekend of her life. According to cute teen angel Zelda, Tegan is in heaven, where everyone inhabits an exact replica of their happiest memory. For Tegan, Zelda insists, that place is the Marybelle.
When Tegan makes a complaint, the girls are sent on a tour through Tegan’s memories. If Zelda fails to convince Tegan that the Marybelle was the site of her perfect moment, both will face dire eternal consequences. But if she succeeds, they just might get their happily-ever-afterlife.
That’s it for me! Until next time, you can find me at my sapphic book blog the Lesbrary. You can hear me on All the Books, and you can also read my Book Riot posts and subscribe to my other Book Riot newsletter, Read Harder.
What’s your favorite queer book you read in May? Let’s chat in the comments!
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