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26 ratings | 1 review | avg rating:4.69

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Shawn’s Friends (159)

Sequoia

322 books | 1,888 friends

Ryan Hyatt

324 books | 1,471 friends

ColumbusReads

21,858 books | 261 friends

Kate

1,843 books | 3,553 friends

Kenning JP Garcia

4,672 books | 1,752 friends

Theresa Kennedy

459 books | 4,123 friends

Alvin

923 books | 605 friends

Lucy Bledsoe

550 books | 602 friends

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Shawn Stewart Ruff

Goodreads Author

Born

in Cincinnati, Ohio, The United States

Website

http://www.shawnstewartruff.com

Twitter

https://twitter.com/ShawnStewartRuf

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Gay and Lesbian, African America Literature

Influences

Henry James, John Cheever, Flannery O'Connor, Gayle Jones, William Sty ...more

Member Since

September 2015

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Lambda Literary Award winner Shawn Stewart Ruff is the author of the novels Days Running (2025), GJS II (2016), Toss and Whirl and Pass (2010), Finlater, and the novella One/10th (2013). He is also the editor of the landmark anthology Go the Way Your Blood Beats (1996).

FYI: Cliffy Douglas, the young star of Finlater, gets a long-anticipated encore in Days Running, Ruff's most recent novel, published by DOPAMINE BOOKS in partnership with Semiotext(e) and MIT Press.

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Combine Editions
Shawn Stewart Ruff’s books

Average rating: 3.90 · 221 ratings · 47 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	Finlater 3.85 avg rating — 123 ratings — published 2008 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Go the Way Your Blood Beats: An Anthology of Lesbian and Gay Fiction by African-American Writers 4.11 avg rating — 63 ratings — published 1996 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Days Running: A Novel really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 9 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Toss and Whirl and Pass 3.63 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	GJS II 3.57 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2016 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tenths 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Flash Supremes 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Driving Uncle Tom 2.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Late Came the Riot it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	gjs ii by Shawn Stewart Ruff (2016-02-01) by Shawn Stewart Ruff (Goodreads Author), Unknown Author 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Shawn Stewart Ruff…

Shawn is Currently Reading

Shawn Ruff is currently reading

The Swarm

by Frank Schätzing

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Oct 12, 2026 10:45AM

Shawn Ruff is currently reading

Anything Is Possible (Amgash #2)

by Elizabeth Strout (Goodreads Author)

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Nov 20, 2025 10:38AM

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Wonders of the Invisible World

by Christopher Barzak (Goodreads Author)

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Aug 04, 2025 05:25AM

Shawn’s Recent Updates

Shawn Ruff is currently reading The Swarm by Frank Schätzing	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 12, 2026 10:45AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Swarm by Frank Schätzing. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Swarm by Frank Schätzing <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shawn Ruff and 1 other person liked April Gibson's review of Practicing for Love: A Memoir: "Excellent book! Honest, detailed, eye-opening. The revelations of racism and sexism in the classical music world are shocking. I love the details about Nina's romantic life, and her efforts at dodging the pressure put on her by male conductors and ar" Read more of this review »
Feb 13, 2026 01:51PM · see review
Shawn Ruff has read Practicing for Love: A Memoir by Nina Kennedy	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 13, 2026 01:45PM · like
Shawn Ruff is currently reading Anything Is Possible (Amgash #2) by Elizabeth Strout (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 20, 2025 10:38AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shawn Ruff is currently reading Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 04, 2025 05:25AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shawn Ruff rated a book it was amazing I Hope This Helps by Samiya Bashir (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
An intense, deeply beautiful work!?
Jun 12, 2025 04:50PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I Hope This Helps by Samiya Bashir. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I Hope This Helps by Samiya Bashir <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shawn Ruff is currently reading The Ultimate Guide to Energy Healing: The Beginner's Guide to Healing Your Chakras, Aura, and Energy Body (The Ultimate Guide to...) by Kat Fowler (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 15, 2025 01:35PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Ultimate Guide to Energy Healing by Kat Fowler. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Ultimate Guide to Energy Healing by Kat Fowler <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shawn Ruff rated a book it was amazing What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 10, 2025 08:05AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Shawn's books…

Quotes by Shawn Stewart Ruff (?)

“She said "sweet boy" again, as if making a diagnosis like tooth decay or flat feet. I was embarrassed. I didn't know if I was being insulted or complimented.”
― Shawn Stewart Ruff, Finlater

tags: african-american-lgbtq-ya, lgbtq, lgbtq-ya, sweet-boy

2 likes

“Kids without dads are desperate and jealous. Those with dads can be uppity and sharp.”
― Shawn Stewart Ruff, Finlater

tags: african-american-lgbtq-ya, lgbtq, ya, ya-fiction, young-adult-fiction, young-adult-novels

2 likes

“See, you don't wanna be a Jew. Too much work--there's a lot of holidays but it's even more work. It's sanctioned oppression, it's God's tyranny.”
― Shawn Stewart Ruff, Finlater

tags: african-american-lgbtq-ya, judaism, lgbtq-jewish-ya, lgbtq-lgbtq-ya, ya-fic, ya-fiction, young-adult, young-adult-fiction

1 likes

See all Shawn Stewart Ruff's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Wild Things: YA G...: Reading Challenge #9: Report Points Here	287	95	Oct 06, 2011 08:51PM
GLBT Bookshelf: Hello	2	22	Jun 23, 2013 09:38AM
YA LGBT Books: * YA LGBTQ Sales/Discounts	742	1542	Aug 15, 2026 02:34AM
Literary Fiction ...: LFPC e-book deals and releases	1618	1521	Oct 09, 2026 11:41PM

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Shawn’s Quotes

“Kids without dads are desperate and jealous. Those with dads can be uppity and sharp.”
― Shawn Stewart Ruff, Finlater

tags: african-american-lgbtq-ya, lgbtq, ya, ya-fiction, young-adult-fiction, young-adult-novels

2 likes

“See, you don't wanna be a Jew. Too much work--there's a lot of holidays but it's even more work. It's sanctioned oppression, it's God's tyranny.”
― Shawn Stewart Ruff, Finlater

tags: african-american-lgbtq-ya, judaism, lgbtq-jewish-ya, lgbtq-lgbtq-ya, ya-fic, ya-fiction, young-adult, young-adult-fiction

1 likes

“She said "sweet boy" again, as if making a diagnosis like tooth decay or flat feet. I was embarrassed. I didn't know if I was being insulted or complimented.”
― Shawn Stewart Ruff, Finlater

tags: african-american-lgbtq-ya, lgbtq, lgbtq-ya, sweet-boy

2 likes

Shawn’s Friend Comments

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message 1: by ColumbusReads (last edited Oct 27, 2015 03:41PM)

Oct 27, 2015 03:40PM

Greetings, Shawn! How are you? I'm so looking forward to reading your upcoming book! I'll be sure to let the fella's know about it when we get together this weekend. We've supported your work in the past. Congrats to you man and all the best... Keep in touch,

--columbus

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Shawn Stewart Ruff

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Combine EditionsShawn Stewart Ruff’s books

Shawn is Currently Reading

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Preview — The Swarm by Frank Schätzing

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Preview — Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout

See a Problem?

Preview — Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak

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Preview — I Hope This Helps by Samiya Bashir

See a Problem?

Preview — The Ultimate Guide to Energy Healing by Kat Fowler

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Preview — What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell

Topics Mentioning This Author

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Shawn Stewart Ruff’s books