Time moves differently in the summer, especially as a kid.

It’s strange…

Growing up in the muggy heat of Maryland, I spent a lot of my summers without much structure, lulled to sleep each night by the symphony of crickets and cicadas. The flying insects were louder in the ‘90s, before the steady decline of their habitats which was worsened to what it is today. When I re-watch old home movies of my sister and me, enjoying popsicles in the waning dusk, I listen carefully for the buzzing with a kind of bittersweet nostalgia. A deep longing. Sure, these insects still exist, but I’m convinced they will never sound quite the same.

For many years, my sister and I attended an all-girls sleepaway camp in the mountains of West Virginia where we played archery, competed in dance-offs, and rode horses in the ring and through the river. For two to three weeks at a time, we would be sequestered into separate units, left to our own devices to handle the occasional bumps and bruises, bouts of homesickness, and mean girls on our own. There were no parents there to guide or console us, just college-aged counselors who were more or less our peers. We weren’t allowed to bring our CD players or iPods to camp, and back in the early ‘00s, none of us had phones yet, anyway. All we could do was exist in the present moment. It was a formative time of growth for me, especially as a young queer girl.

I always considered summertime as a kid to be a kind of liminal space, or transitory period, like an empty movie theater after-hours or a long lonely highway at midnight. Summer moments feel similarly both fleeting and sacred. There is no shuffling through the daily motions of school, no hassle of teachers or usual familiar faces of classmates. A lot can happen in these in-between spaces where days are full of newfound freedom and possibility.

A lot can happen in just two to three weeks at a time.

Summer camp was where I first tried and failed to use a tampon, me and my bunkmates giggling with shared confusion as we shared amateur advice. It was where I showered in an outdoor stall with horrifyingly huge moths in the sink nearly scaring me away from brushing my teeth. It was, one summer, where a cabin full of girls bullied me so mercilessly that I sobbed by myself by the clotheslines outside, desperately missing my mom. Camp was also where I had my first kiss with a girl, my cheeks flushed that whole night, something new in me ignited.

That same summer that I was bullied, the bullies targeted two other girls who liked to play fight in the swimming pool. The word on their lips was used like a slur as they snickered it: lesbians. I remember hearing it and feeling my stomach sink, but I kept quiet, not wanting to draw more attention to myself. I knew that I wasn’t a lesbian, but I didn’t have a word for what I maybe was, either. How I felt. When the counselors of the victims got wind of the bullying, they herded our entire cabin into a meeting with the victims and berated my bunkmates and me, the bullies and bystanders alike for daring to use that word…and on their campers, no less. The bullies denied they’d said anything, of course, playing innocent as the victims sat there, silent and utterly humiliated.

I remember the rage I felt, climbing through me, along with my own humiliation and confusion. What if these girls were lesbians? I wondered. What if they were only curious? What if none of it mattered? Would they ever feel safe playing together again in a pool? Or exploring physical touch in public, platonic or otherwise? I wanted so badly to say something during that meeting, to defend both myself and these girls, to scream that “lesbian” is and never was an insult, no matter the intentions of the people using the word. At the time, however, I was wracked with anxiety and self-consciousness, weighted down by my own heavy shame.

Much of Primal Animals is based on summer camp experiences and memories such as these, though I chose not to include any overt homophobia in the book, as I wanted to envision a world without that one terrible thing. In many ways, this novel is not only an ode to summers spent away from teachers and parents out in the woods, but to the bittersweet liminality of summertime, and the freedom and exploration it leads to.

At camp, cliques form just like in school and kids get bullied, but there’s far less oversight to behavior, as adults are less often around. Girls at my camp formed incredible bonds, but they could also be mercilessly. Impossibly cruel.

Essentially, I thought, what an excellent setting for a horror novel.

By the way, if you love the setting, themes and characters in the following books, movies and TV shows, you’ll likely enjoy Primal Animals:

• Yellowjackets
• Twin Peaks
• The Wicker Man
• The Wilds
• The Fear Street Trilogy
• Pretty Little Liars
• One of Us Is Lying
• Midsommar

The post You’ll Love ‘Primal Animals’ If You’re a Fan of These Dark, Twisty Movies & Shows appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

To save a fae kingdom, a trans witch must face his traumatic past and the royal fiancé he left behind. This debut YA fantasy will leave you spellbound.

The Sea is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt
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I’ll Give You the Sun meets Normal People in Cassandra Hartt’s The Sea Is Salt and So Am I, a stunning YA contemporary debut that asks if the secrets we keep and the people we love can change who we are.

Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Shaun of the Dead meets Dumplin’ in this bitingly funny YA thriller about a kickass group of teens battling a ravenous group of zombies.

The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Five Feet Apart comes a gripping new romance, perfect for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. 

Sisters of the Snake by Sasha Nanua and Sarena Nanua
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Deadly magic, hidden temples, and dark prophecies: Sisters of the Snake is an action-packed, immersive fantasy that will thrill fans of The Crown’s Game and The Tiger at Midnight. 

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
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Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they’re fighting for a common purpose–and falling for each other–in Zoe Hana Mikuta’s high-octane debut Gearbreakers, perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu’s Legend series.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
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Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon & Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully. 

The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver
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Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, this book will rip your heart out before showing you how to heal from tragedy and celebrate life in the process.

Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Late bloomers unite! This fresh and funny #ownvoices novel from rising star Debbie Rigaud is perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Booksmart.

Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From debut novelist Jason June comes a moving and hilarious sex-positive story about the complexities of first loves, first hookups, and first heartbreaks—and how to stay true to yourself while embracing what you never saw coming.

Trouble Girls by Julia Lynn Rubin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A queer YA #MeToo reimagining of Thelma & Louise with the aesthetic of Riverdale, for fans of Mindy McGinnis, Courtney Summers, and Rory Power.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
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Darkness blooms in bestselling author Kalynn Bayron’s new contemporary fantasy about a girl with a unique and deadly power.

What June young adult book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post June 2021 YA Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

• Queer love story between two teenage fugitives
• In the veins of Rory Powers and Hannah Capin
• Reimagining of Thelma and Louise
• Trigger warnings for sexual assault, allusions to child assault, threats of violence and blood

Review:

“You can threaten us all you want. You can threaten every woman you’ve ever met with your sneering voice and cold, dead, sociopathic eyes. You can even threaten my girlfriend. But know there are girls like us, waiting in the wings. Girls with knives on their fingers and razor blades for teeth. Girls, like me, who will gut you like a fish the minute you try and lay a hand on one of us ever again. You won’t know who it is until it happens. By then, it’ll be too late, the knife too deep in your intestines, the smile too bright on the girl’s face.”

What starts as a weekend getaway turns into a life on the run after a night of violence derails best friends Lux and Trixie’s summer plans. That’s the gist of Trouble Girls and as a concept, that was downright enticing to me. Who hasn’t dreamed of leaving their life behind in favour of running for their lives with their best friend after stabbing a sleazeball of a person who came on and physically hurt your best friend in a dark and dingy bar bathroom?

Too graphic? Moving on.

The vibes of the book are described as Riverdale in the Goodreads synopsis and boy, do I agree with that. Beyond the creepy, unreal feeling of this road trip that starts out as fun and escapist and turns quickly into running away from cops after Trixie stabs a guy right in the junk (can you hear me screaming with righteousness) for trying to rape her best friend, this story definitely delivered on the spooky, antsy feeling of eyes on you at all times. However, this also reminded me of Riverdale in the way it sometimes discarded or dropped storylines for the time being as if the reader (ahem, or viewer) wasn’t going to be completely confounded by the sudden change in pacing, location and subject matter. Nevertheless, quite like Riverdale, once you suspend your disbelief, you’re in for a riveting, fast-paced read.

Trixie and Lux both are deeply flawed characters which makes them incredibly relatable. Though you’re probably going to read the book and shake your head, trying to get the girls to stop running, there’s an ineffable desire to see them succeed—to outrun the cops and their old life and just find their happily ever after on the coast of Neverwhere. The seemingly unrequited crush Trixie has on Lux also added this layer of sympathy for me because I really wanted them to be the happy gay couple they deserved to be—despite the less-than-ideal circumstances.

The one thing that kept me from really loving this story was its reluctance to take a stance on what it wanted to be. We have this Riverdale vibe paired with story elements from Thelma and Louise, but we also get this mix of the #metoo movement discussion and white privilege with a touch of internalised homophobia—really, at times it felt like the story wanted to hit all the bases but that also meant that most of the coverage was pretty superficial because there simply wasn’t enough time to dig deeper.

There were some very interesting quotes that made me hope this was going to be a bit more about the #metoo movement, but it didn’t feature as much as it was used to drive home the message that this night of violence following by running for your life in a world with a cruel justice system could happen to anyone. Perhaps my expectations were a bit too high for this story, but I would have wished for a bit more in terms of resolution when it came to the “all men are hogs” narrative.

All that being said, I loved how immersive this story was—the writing draws you right into the edgy, escapist vibes and at times I felt like I was right there on the run with Trixie and Lux. There’s a cinematic feel to the narrative that might be because of the whole reimagination of Thelma and Louise, but beyond the occasional nods to the classic, this is a story that stands powerfully on its own. Anyone who’s a fan of thrilling, dark YA novels will surely devour this in one sitting!

An unapologetic and ruthless revenge fantasy mixed with a life on the run, Trouble Girls is an edgy debut novel perfect for fans of Hannah Capin and Courtney Summers.

Trouble Girls is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers like your local bookstore, as of June 1st 2021.

Will you be picking up Trouble Girls? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A queer YA #MeToo reimagining of Thelma & Louise with the aesthetic of Riverdale, for fans of Mindy McGinnis, Courtney Summers, and Rory Power.

When Trixie picks up her best friend Lux for their weekend getaway, she’s looking to escape for a little while, to forget the despair of being trapped in their dead-end Rust Belt town and the daunting responsibility of caring for her ailing mother. The girls are packing light: a supply of Diet Coke for Lux and her ‘89 Canon to help her frame the world in a sunnier light; half a pack of cigarettes for Trixie that she doesn’t really smoke, and a knife—one she’s just hanging on to for a friend—that she’s never used before.

But a single night of violence derails their trip and will forever change the course of the girls’ lives, as they go from ordinary high schoolers to wanted fugitives. Trying to stay ahead of the cops and a hellscape of media attention, the girls grapple with an unforgiving landscape, rapidly diminishing supplies, and disastrous decisions at every turn. As they are transformed by the media into the face of a #MeToo movement they didn’t ask to lead and the road before them begins to run out, Trixie and Lux realize that they can only rely on each other, and that the love they find together is the one thing that truly makes them free.

In rushing, powerful prose Julia Lynn Rubin takes readers on “a blistering, unapologetic thrill ride” (Emma Berquis) that will leave them haunted and reeling. Trouble Girls is “a powerful, beautifully-written gut punch” (Sophie Gonzales).

The post #ReadWithPride: Trouble Girls by Julia Lynn Rubin appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you thought 2020 was a year of breathtaking and riveting queer releases, you ain’t seen nothing yet. With highly anticipated new stories from authors such as Casey McQuiston, Ciara Smyth, and Kelly Quindlen as well as promising debut authors like Morgan Rogers and Robbie Couch, 2021 is shaping up to be the most inclusive and LGBTQIAP+ friendly year yet (and we couldn’t be happier to see it)!

Now, our focus was mainly YA and middle-grade releases, but we’ve also thrown in a couple of queer fantasy, mystery, and romance releases too!  Want even more 2021 releases? Check out our list of Most Anticipated releases, Fantasy and Sci-Fi releases, Young Adult releases, Romance releases, and Queer SFF releases.

Read on to get a glimpse at some of the January to June 2021 #LGBTQIAP+ novels we cannot wait to get our hands on! And as always, tell us what other queer releases you’re looking forward to in the comments below!

JANUARY

Lava Red Feather Blue by Molly Ringle
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

On a magically hidden North Pacific island, when a man awakens a sleeping beauty of a prince, it’s only the beginning of the fairy tale, as breaking the spell unleashes a dangerous force among the fae too.

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic, queer love story about creativity, creation, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.

Wench by Maxine Kaplan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A funny, fiercely feminist YA epic fantasy—following the adventures of a tavern wench.

When Tara Met Farah by Tara Pammi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

“Sunshine Girl needs math lessons” in this sapphic grumpy meets sunshine new adult romance.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Acclaimed author of Ash, Malinda Lo returns with her most personal and ambitious novel yet, a gripping story of love and duty set in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the 1950s.

Not Quite Out by Louise Willingham
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

William Anson is done with relationships, thanks. He’s starting the second year of his medicine degree single, focused, and ready to mingle with purely platonic intentions. Until he meets Daniel, a barely recovered drug addict that turns his world upside down.

The Heiress by Molly Greeley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this gorgeously written and spellbinding historical novel based on Pride and Prejudice, the author of The Clergyman’s Wife combines the knowing eye of Jane Austen with the eroticism and Gothic intrigue of Sarah Waters to reimagine the life of the mysterious Anne de Bourgh.

FEBRUARY

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A refreshingly timely and relatable debut novel about a young woman whose life plans fall apart when she meets her wife.

100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An irreverent, sensitive, and inimitable look at gay dysfunction through the eyes of a cult hero

A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones in this thrilling urban fantasy set in the magical underworld of Toronto that follows a queer cast of characters racing to stop a serial killer whose crimes could expose the hidden world of faeries to humans.

Love is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this wry and hilarious queer romantic comedy, fifteen-year-old Phoebe realizes that falling in love is maybe not just for losers.

As Far as You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The author of The Gravity of Us crafts another heartfelt coming-of-age story about finding the people who become your home – perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli.

Let’s Get Back to the Party by Zak Salih
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Rich with sharply drawn characters and contemporary detail, provocative, and emotionally profound, Let’s Get Back to the Party is sure to appeal to readers of Garth Greenwell, Alan Hollinghurst, Claire Messud, and Rebecca Makkai.

The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A funny and heart-warming queer Indigenous YA novel, set in a rural Australian community, about seventeen-year-old Jackson finding the courage to explore who he is, even if it scares him.

MARCH

Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In Sophie Gonzales’ Perfect on Paper, Leah on the Offbeat meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: a bisexual girl who gives anonymous love advice to her classmates is hired by the hot guy to help him get his ex back.

Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this charming debut fantasy perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Girls of Paper and Fire, a witch cursed to never love meets a girl hiding her own dangerous magic, and the two strike a dangerous bargain to save their queendom.

Bruised by Tanya Boteju
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Whip It meets We Are Okay in this vibrant coming-of-age story, about a teen girl navigates first love, identity, and grief when she immerses herself in the colorful, brutal, beautiful world of roller derby. From the acclaimed author of Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens.

The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When two teens discover that they were both sexually assaulted at the same party, they develop a cautious friendship through her family’s possibly magical pastelería, his secret forest of otherworldly trees, and the swallows returning to their hometown.

She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray comes an electric romance set against a rebel art scene that sparks lethal danger for two girls in this expertly plotted YA thriller. For fans of E. Lockhart, Lauren Oliver and Kara Thomas.

I Think I Love You by Auriane Desombre
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A YA contemporary rom com about two girls who start as rivals but after a twist of events, end up falling for one another–at least they think so.

Follow Your Arrow by Jessica Verdi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, this is a riveting and irresistible take on love, life, and identity – both online and off.

APRIL

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sky’s small town turns absolutely claustrophobic when his secret promposal plans get leaked to the entire school in this witty, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful debut novel for fans of What if it’s Us? and I Wish You All the Best.

Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A moving #ownvoices YA debut about a trans boy finding his voice—and himself.

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Three Dark Crowns meets Wicked Saints in this queer #ownvoices retelling of The Firebird, a Russian folktale, by debut author Alexandra Overy.

Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of the “heart-wrenching yet hopeful” (Samira Ahmed) novel The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali, comes a timely, intimate look at what it means to be an immigrant in America today, and the endurance of hope and faith in the face of hate.

Malice by Heather Walter
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A princess isn’t supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this darkly magical retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” true love is more than a simple fairy tale.

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

High school nemeses fall in love in this queer YA rom com perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuisten

The Key to You and Me by Jaye Robin Brown
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sweet and funny #ownvoices LGBTQ+ romance perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Julie Murphy, from the critically acclaimed author of Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit!

MAY

Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Felix Ever After meets Becky Albertalli in this swoon-worthy, heartfelt rom-com about how a transgender teen’s first love challenges his ideas about perfect relationships.

It Goes Like This by Miel Moreland
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In Miel Moreland’s heartfelt young adult debut, four queer teens realize that sometimes you have to risk hitting repeat on heartbreak.

How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

11-year-old Pluto struggles with her depression and anxiety diagnosis, which feels like a big black hole sitting on her chest making it too hard to do anything. She makes efforts to find balance with an assist from the friendly voice on the Hayden Planetarium’s Astronomy Question and Answer Hotline.

Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of The Falling in Love Montage, this queer coming-of-age story about a slacker who inadvertently becomes her school’s underground problem-solver is wry, multilayered, and unflinchingly honest—perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Nina LaCour.

Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Cool for the Summer is a story of self-discovery and new love. It’s about the things we want and the things we need. And it’s about the people who will let us be who we are. 

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

To All the Boys I Loved Before meets LGBT romance in this funny, heart-warming rom-com about first love and identity.

May the Best Man Win by ZR Ellor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A trans boy enters a throw-down battle for the title of Homecoming King with the boy he dumped last summer in ZR Ellor’s contemporary YA debut.

JUNE

The (Un)Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Red, White and Royal Blue meets The West Wing in Sanchez’s electric and insightful #ownvoices YA debut, chronicling a transmasculine student’s foray into a no-holds-barred student body president election against the wishes of his politician father.

Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From debut novelist Jason June comes a moving and hilarious sex-positive teen rom-com about the complexities of first loves, first hookups, and first heartbreaks—and how to stay true to yourself while embracing what you never saw coming.

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

They Both Die at the End meets The Loneliest Girl in the Universe in this mind-bending sci-fi mystery and tender love story about two boys aboard a spaceship sent on a rescue mission.

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

To save a fae kingdom, a trans witch must face his traumatic past and the royal fiancé he left behind. This debut YA fantasy will leave you spellbound.

Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A propulsive, scorching modern gothic, Yes, Daddy follows an ambitious young man who is lured by an older, successful playwright into a dizzying world of wealth and an idyllic Hamptons home where things take a nightmarish turn.

Trouble Girls by Julia Lynn Rubin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A queer YA reimagining of Thelma & Louise with the aesthetic of Riverdale.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes a new romantic comedy that puts a queer spin on Kate & Leopold.

What queer 2021 book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Anticipated Queer Book Releases You Can’t Miss In 2021 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.