Hi Reader,

Anyone else find the summer flew by in the blink of an eye? We're kicking off September with some back-to-school vibes. We have 6 books set in or around a school or college, a feature review of a dark academia novel I guarantee you'll love and 15 incredible queer books releasing in September.

I want to say a big thank you to those of you who filled out our market research form on a queer book box. You guys have really challenged some of my assumptions and I'm hard at work figuring out the next step. Rest assured, you guys will be the first to know what that means! If you haven't shared your thoughts yet, fear not - the form is still open and we'd value your voice.

Without further ado, let's head back to school.

Enjoy,

Amy | @proseamongstthorns

Speed Review

Wilder Girls The Raxter School for Girls has been under quarantine for eighten months. The Tox turned the students strange and savage, the teachers died off one by one. But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her best friend, even if it means braving the horrors that lie past the fence. This YA sapphic dystopian makes boarding school horrific. It's pretty intense, so be sure to read the trigger warnings before diving in. Grab a copy Get the audio

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School Yami prefers to be known for killer eyeliner, not for being one of the only Mexican kids at her new, mostly white, rich Catholic school - or for being gay. So after being outed by her ex-best friend at her old school, Yami decides to lie low, make her mum proud and definitely NOT fall in love. Reyes does not shy away from tackling some meaty topics - it's an emotional read but one with a hopeful ending. Grab a copy Get the audio

Teacher of the Year Marvin Block is one of the best kindergarten teachers out there - and he's up for the Teacher of the Year Award. The New Year finds Marvin all set to welcome a new pupil to his class. But when she walks in with her cute-as-hell single dad beside her, Marvin’s focus starts to slide. It was really fun to have a book in a school setting written for adults! This was equal parts cozy sweetness and surprising spice. Don't do what I did and listen to the audiobook at work. Grab a copy Get the audio

Hani and Ishu's guide to Fake Dating Everyone likes Hani Khan - she's easy going and one of the popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they claim she can't be bi if she's only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she's in a relationship... with a girl her friends can't stand - Ishu Dey. Adiba Jaigirdar is one of my all-time favourites - and this is the book that made me fall in love! It's such a great enemies-to-lovers fake dating story. Grab a copy Get the audio

Fence, Vol. 1 After getting accepted to the prodigious Kings Row private school, Nicholas, the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion, is thrust into a cut-throat world. He's not just facing his golden-boy half-brother, but the unbeatable, mysterious Seiji Katayama. This was one of my first graphic novels and is still one of my favourite series! High-stakes rivalry with a slow burn romance to sink your teeth into. Grab a copy

Welcome to St. Hell Lewis has a few things to say to his younger teen self. He knows she’s confused about who to snog. He knows she’s really a he and will ultimately realize this… But she’s going to go through a whole lot of mess (some of it funny, some of it not funny at all) to get to that point. Perfectly balancing hilarity with a genuine reflection on navigating identity whilst growing up. ​ Grab a copy

She Haunts me Still by DE Elizabeth - Feature review

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the gothic queer dark academia book of my dreams. Cursed Shakespeare plays, bisexual yearning, witchcraft, demons and vampires? It has it all. I raved about this one last month and featured as an upcoming release, but I HAD to give it a proper review here because it's just that good.

Mallory Webb is ready to start fresh as a theater major at her mother’s alma mater, a sanitarium turned liberal arts university in Rhode Island. Landing the lead role in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a dream come true - until the spirit she suspects caused her mother’s death resurfaces. With nothing to go on but cryptic symbols in an old college notebook, Mallory hopes the reason behind her mother’s haunting lies somewhere on campus, and resolves to find answers before she meets the same fate.

The yearning, lust and romance in this novel is elite. The bisexual rep is some of the best I’ve read. Ezra and Saskia both have a different hold over Mallory - and are both hot and mysterious. The past is hazy for most of these characters, they don’t trust themselves or their perceptions, they have hidden motivations and discovering how all of these clash is so exciting.

The way De balances the inter-character relationships with the mystery and supernatural elements means there is never a dull moment in this book. The school feels like its own character, with a rich history you slowly uncover alongside Mallory.

This book is brilliant from beginning to end - it feels like there’s something insanely addictive laced in the words. De Elizabeth has written THE queer dark academia vampire novel and you don’t want to miss out on this. I loved every second and cannot wait to pick up more of her work.

If you're looking for the perfect book for spooky season, get this one on your radar. I may re-read this one in October - can you imagine curling up on an armchair in your home library surrounded by candles? It would make this book hit even harder. There’s romance, mystery and elements of a psychological thriller. I promise you, there’s something in this that you’ll love.

Upcoming Releases

3rd September A rivals-to-lovers queer YA romance. Rory studies harder than anyone and he never loses. Except to the hot hockey player who doesn't try. Get a copy Get the audio

3rd September BIG MAN turns a lens on what it means to age as a queer person, while being a double-edged love letter to the people and places that make us. Get a copy Get the audio

8th September In this heartfelt and hilarious coming-of-age romance, Sean discovers his bisexuality and his true voice while chasing his stand-up comedian dream. Get a copy Get the audio

Temporary Fix - Colleen Werner 1st September Sleeping with a coworker? Never a good idea. But when you're on a world tour and it's the cardinal sin of working in the music industry? Even worse. ​

Touch of Class - Rachel Spangler 3rd September The last thing Gillian wants is for her high school nemesis to move into the office across the hall calling herself a 'professional cuddler'. ​

8th September A witch hired to ethically haunt a small-town B&B, instead finds herself spellbound by her non-magical client in this cozy and enchanting sapphic romance. Get a copy Get the audio

10th September The remaining members of a ghost hunting show return to the haunted manor that may have killed their friend in this moody, character-driven gothic debut. Get a copy Get the audio

10th September A laugh-out-loud mystery following the indomitable hot mess Mo Ellery, whose job as a school crossing guard pulls her into an unhinged murder investigation. Get a copy Get the audio

Midnight Curfew - Penelope Douglas 3rd September Two rivals fight their forbidden attraction to each other in the brand new, dark romance ​​

Espíritu - Aiden Thomas 8th September The sequel to Cemetery Boys, a ghost story about magic, acceptance and what it means to be your self. ​​

15th September A struggling student, a resident golden boy, and the curse that will bring them together: this queer, trans retelling is Hamlet as you've never read it before Get a copy

15th September Bluebeard gets a gothic horror and sapphic romance twist in this fairy-tale retelling. Get a copy Get the audio

1st September In every generation, a special few of Nor Numinem are born shapeshifters. Unfortunately, being “special” does not get you out of gym class. Get a copy

We Turn Gruesome At Night - Eric LaRocca 8th September The second of a provocative, disruptive and brutally poetic queer horror set in a small New England town. ​​

From Beijing with Love - Bei Lin 29th September This steamy rom-com will remind you that sometimes you have to get a little lost before you can find yourself. ​

Marginal notes

Since it's Sapphic September, I'm going to try and make a real dent in my backlog of sapphic books! I picked up Rottenheart last month and have had Cleat Cute on my TBR for months. If you have a sapphic book you think I should read, let me know!

As always, if you've been inspired to pick any of these books up (either from the library, via our links or even just from your shelf), I'd love to know which books and what you thought of them. You can either respond to this email or let us know on our socials.

If there's someone in your life who you think would love this newsletter, feel free to forward them this email or share the link below with them so they can join the community.

We'll see you in two weeks with a community spotlight and more upcoming September releases.

Thank you!