Books I read in April: singles

I probably could have put all the books I read in April in one post, but it felt too long with just four; hence, the split. These books were chosen for Autism Awareness Month (MZGTG), Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Heritage Month (TIHYLTTW), and Lesbian Visibility Week (both).

 

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone - science fiction - hardcover, my library (TBR)

I bought this book nearly five years ago and finally read it; please clap. The premise of this book is that there's a Time War being fought between two factions, and two soldiers, one from each side, chase each other across timelines and eras, leaving behind letters for each other that are taunting and then passionate as they fall in love. Both soldiers are women, although I don't really think the people from the deeply futuristic? factions are human or possibly ever were. This is definitely science fiction, but it's also partially epistolary and very poetic, rather genre-bending. The writing is so beautiful; this is such a lovely, puzzling, fascinating, romantic book. When I finished it I felt the impulse to immediately flip to the beginning and start again, something that rarely happens. I have so far been able to resist the impulse, although I keep thinking of this book. Highly recommended. ★★★★¼  TW for violence, gore, body horror

 

Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl by Sara Waxelbaum and Briana R. Shrum - young adult contemporary romance - ebook, Libby/my public library

I realized I hadn't read anything with autistic rep this month, so I looked up books with both autistic and lesbian rep (TIHYLTTW's rep is unspecified sapphic) and found this book available on Libby. Popular straight-A student Margo realizes she's a lesbian during a fateful spin-the-bottle game at a party. She's used to using her autistic hyperfocus to study things until she's an expert, but she has no idea where to start with the gay stuff. Margo marches up to Abbie, an out bisexual girl, after their swim practice and asks her for lessons on how to be gay. Skater girl Abbie is failing US history and desperately needs to get her grade up in order to keep her admission at the college she wants to go to after she graduates. Thus, the girls strike up a partnership: Margo will tutor Abbie in US history, and Abbie will tutor Margo in Gay 101. No, not like that! Well... 👀 Margo has to deal with her newfound identity (is she too femme to be gay? etc.) and how it conflicts with the persona she's crafted for herself, and Abbie has to deal with her terrible neglectful parents, biphobic friends, and realizing she has ADHD. This book was so good and funny, although some of the Gen Z girls' jokes and pop cultural references were suspiciously Gen X/older millennial. It was also kind of sad due to Abbie's home situation, but the girls get a happy ending. Lesbian, bisexual, autistic, Jewish (both girls), and some ADHD rep. ★★★★, 🌶½ (spicier than most YA books)  TW for some homophobia, biphobia, parental neglect & emotionally immature parents 

Books I read in April: series

I read quite a few books this month! I finished the two series I've been reading on Libby thanks to my public library, and will write about the other books I read in another post. As always, DM me for trigger warnings.

 

Role Model (Game Changer #5) by Rachel Reid

Remember how there were some jerks on Ryan's hockey team who were mean to him? The main one is accused of serial sexual assault, and his second in command, Troy, wakes up to what a bad dude his best friend is and how bad he's being as well. Someone leaks a video where Troy yells in his ex-best friend's face, calling him a rapist, and Troy's team lets him go because the league cares more about protecting their star players than the fact that they have been accused of sexual assault. Ugh. Troy is now a pariah with a reputation for being a sexist, homophobic jerk, and the only team that wants him is the worst one in the league, the Centaurs. Oh, and he's secretly gay and has just been dumped by his secret boyfriend, and he can't talk to anyone about it. Luckily the Centaurs have a very nice coach, our boy Ilya, and Harris, a super friendly, out and proud social media manager. Harris is basically the opposite of Troy in every way, but he helps Troy come out of his shell, and they're drawn to each other. The main romance in this is very sweet, but the real highlight of this book for me was how much time we got to hang out with Ilya! He's the star player of the Centaurs, obvs, and they get better under his captaincy. There's also an adorable puppy that Ilya spends 90% of his time in the book playing with. ★★★★  🌶🌶🌶

The Last Devil to Die (The Thursday Murder Club #4) by Richard Osman

The nice antique dealer friend of Stephen's who helped track down some rare books to reveal who their buyer/Elizabeth's blackmailer was back in book 2 is murdered over a package of drugs he hid, and naturally the Thursday Murder Club wants to find out who did it and bring them to justice. Drug dealers and art forgers and academics, oh my! Also one of their friends (not the fab four) is getting scammed by a love-frauder, so they need to sort that as well. SPOILERS, highlight to read: Ibrahim comes out to a new friend (maybe the rest of the TMC already knew? It's not really stated) who seems like a potential new love interest! Took the series long enough; I already knew that since Ibrahim (played by the incomparable Sir Ben Kingsley) introduces himself as a "confirmed bachelor" in the TMC movie, and that's old people-speak for gay. Not sure why Osman dragged this out, but a lot is always happening in every book, to be fair. I hope Ibrahim does get a boyfriend and is happy; he deserves it! Ron also got a girlfriend a book or so ago but I care much less about that. Poor Stephen finally realizes he has Alzheimer's, and ends his own life via lethal injection (that seems to happen a lot in this series). Poor Elizabeth, she loves him so much :( Anyway, excellent and funny and fascinating as always.  ★★★★

 

The Long Game (Game Changer #6) by Rachel Reid

We return to the most famous and beloved couple in the series, Shane and Ilya! This book basically takes place throughout books 4 and 5, but from Ilya's and Shane's points of view. They struggle with being closeted and not being able to share one of the most important parts of their lives with anyone, Ilya especially. Both men deal with their own mental health struggles in this book. SPOILERS: Ilya hates that they're out to Shane's parents and best friends, but he has no one who knows about him/them :( He comes out to Svetlana and I think one of the other hockey boys (Troy?) :) Our boys are outed, Shane's worst fear :( The commissioner is a jerk, and I cannot wait for his comeuppance! >:( Shane's team is actually pissed that he's with his/their rival?!?!? literally who cares, grow up 🙄 Shane's friends are mad he didn't tell them :( Shane gets to join Ilya at the Centaurs, the allyest/gayest hockey team there ever was! :) Shane and Ilya get married!! <3 At least our boys get a happy ending! To be honest, my favorite books are the ones that are about or have a healthy dose of Ilya & Shane; they're my favorites :) The next book in this series is also going to be about them but isn't coming out until June 2027 :(  ★★★★  🌶🌶🌶

 

The Impossible Fortune (The Thursday Murder Club #5) by Richard Osman

This book is different in taking place a year after the one before, instead of right afterwards or after a month or two. Joyce's daughter gets married, and the best man pulls Elizabeth aside to ask for help: he thinks someone is trying to kill him over a huge Bitcoin fortune. He disappears, and the fab four look into his business partner (who shared the fortune with him) and Joyce's own new son-in-law. Ron has to take in his grandson after his daughter's husband disappears after years of abusing her, with a grudge against the whole family. Ibrahim's favorite client, drug queenpin Connie, is out of prison, and is trying to follow his advice about giving back by influencing a young criminal... So much happens in this book, but all is resolved mostly satisfactorily. I hope Osman writes more books in this series; I love these old people so much. ★★★★