YA LGBT Books discussion

This is for YA books with significant LGBT content released in June 2015 - anyone can post books here (author or not.) If the book is on Goodreads please link it (and maybe show us the cover.) If you read it, feel free to add a short comment or synopsis. Consider also adding the book to our group bookshelf.

Thanks for helping to keep our group up to date.

The Rules of Ever After , by Killian B. Brewer

Released 4th June 2015 by Harmony Ink Press

The Geek and His Artist by Hope Ryan

Simon Williams spends his lunch periods drawing his geek and trying not to think about the terrors waiting for him at home. He needs to get away from his abusive father before he suffers the same grisly fate as his mother. Because he's learned the hard way running away doesn’t work, he’s counting the days until his eighteenth birthday.

Jimmy Bennet should be spending his lunch studying so his senior GPA is good enough to get him into college, but he can't seem to focus thanks to his distracting artist. When he’s given the opportunity to tutor Simon in Trig and discovers Simon’s home-life nightmare, he wants nothing more than to get Simon out of danger. This need becomes more urgent when Simon comes to school the Monday after their first date with bruises, but it takes a broken leg before Jimmy can convince his boyfriend the Bennets really want him.

But the danger Simon thought was past shows up at the most unexpected time, and he must stand up to the fears he’s held so long to protect not only himself, but the man he wants to spend his life with

Released 11th June by Harmony Ink Press

The History of Us by Nyrae Dawn

Sometimes it's not about coming out, it's about settling in.

Eighteen-year-old Bradley Collins came out a year ago and hasn't looked back since. Who cares if he doesn’t know any other gay people? Bradley has friends and basketball—that’s all he needs. Even if that means always sitting on the sidelines when the guys go out looking for girls.

When cute film-boy TJ tries to flirt with Bradley while his friends are doing their thing, he freaks. Yeah, he’s gay, but he’s never had the opportunity to go out with a boy before. He’s never had to worry about how his friends will react to seeing him with a guy.

Bradley accompanies TJ on a road trip to film TJ’s senior project documentary. In each city they visit, they meet with people from different walks of life, and Bradley learns there’s a whole lot more to being honest about himself than just coming out. He still has to figure out who he really is, and learn to be okay with what he discovers

This sounds like a wonderful premise for a book. There is so much more to me than just being gay. I know what it is like searching for one's true self and learning to be okay with you find. I will have to put this one on my TBR list near the top.

Released 12th June - from Dreamspinner Press

Save Yourself by John Goode

Matt Wallace returns to Foster to be with his high school crush, Tyler. They're finally together, but Tyler's past is still a mystery to Matt. When the truth comes out, Matt is forced to decide if he can handle learning about what Tyler did, or if he'd be better off to cut ties and run.

though this is a Tales of Foster High book it's released by Dreamspinner not Harmony Ink so I am not 100% sure it will be appropriate for younger YA readers

Released 25th June by Harmony Ink Pres

Blue Jeans and Sweatshirts by Jo Ramsey (links pending)

Holly McCormack has secrets. She’s started a support group for sexual assault survivors at her high school, but she was never assaulted. She’s also dating a girl, but she’s not a lesbian—at least not to the outside world—and that’s how she hopes to keep it. To top everything off, her girlfriend, Chastaine Rollo, is the most gorgeous girl at their school, and Holly is eating as little as she can because she thinks she’s “too fat.”

When hearing the stories of survivors begins to take its toll, Holly’s eating becomes even more of a problem. And as she struggles to hide her relationship with Chastaine from her parents, the stress becomes too much. But when keeping secrets has become second nature, it leaves her with no one to confide in.

A Way Back To Then by Robert Halliwell is released on 5th June 2015.

This is a Tales from Foster High story (no 7) but is released by Dreamspinner and not Harmony Ink Press so I cannot guarantee how YA friendly it is

Snarky yet good-hearted Robbie DeCaro made his first appearance in the pages of Tales from Foster High: End of the Innocence, years after the loss of his first and only love. A New York transplant, Robbie now decides that his work is done in the town of Foster, and the time has come for him to leave Texas.

Returning to his childhood home on Long Island, Robbie reunites with his family members. Each using their own unique methods, they try in vain to help Robbie reset to a life he knew before he left it all for the fairy-tale love he found, then tragically lost.

As he remembers some of the darkest moments from his past, Robbie wonders if he’ll ever find the “after” in “happily ever after.”

Released 18th June 2015 by Harmony Ink Press

Noble Persuasion by Sara Gaines

Sequel to Noble Falling

Aleana Melora, now a duchess in name only, sought refuge after fleeing the kingdom she once called home. Unwilling to admit defeat, Aleana jumps at the opportunity to learn what is happening in her lands when a mysterious letter arrives summoning her to a nearby fortress.

After discovering she is not the only one who has suffered, Aleana is given the chance to aid her people more than she imagined. But doing so means she must meet the demands of those she would align herself with. This decision has far-reaching consequences for both her people and her relationship with Kahira, the marked criminal who holds Aleana’s affections, as she’s faced with a line she hoped never to cross.

Released 15th June 2015 by QueerTeen Press (JMS Books)

Breaking into Cars by Emery C Walters

Gay teen Jack is hiding out in a bully’s car in the hopes of retrieving his backpack when he’s joined by another stowaway. Brittany, who wants to be called Brandon, is a transgendered classmate also on the run. When the bully crashes his car, it’s the start of a journey that will bring Jack and Brandon together in the hopes of finding a new future.

Along the way, they meet Buster, a dog that saves their lives; Alvin, who is heading to Denver to sell his car and offers them a ride; and Ducky, a loud-mouthed but loveable woman who is apparently more than just Alvin’s friend.

When a tornado hits, Jack and Brandon have a chance to prove their mettle and show what they are made of. But is there happiness at the end of their journey?

#‎Stop by Alison G. Bailey‬ is now LIVE!

Goodreads link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

A new standalone Contemporary Fiction novel from the author of the bestseller, Present Perfect.

Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/oq4sfsy
B&N
http://tinyurl.com/oqsfada
iTunes
http://tinyurl.com/njfeynv
Kobo
http://tinyurl.com/qc2rrhf

Alison wrote: "
#‎Stop by Alison G. Bailey‬ is now LIVE!

Goodreads link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2......"


Does "Stop" have LGBTQ content? - I don't see it tagged in any of the reviews.

Published June 2nd 2015 by Philomel Books

Skyscraping by Cordelia Jensen

A heartrending, bold novel in verse about family, identity, and forgiveness

Mira is just beginning her senior year of high school when she discovers her father with his male lover. Her world–and everything she thought she knew about her family–is shattered instantly. Unable to comprehend the lies, betrayal, and secrets that–unbeknownst to Mira–have come to define and keep intact her family’s existence, Mira distances herself from her sister and closest friends as a means of coping. But her father’s sexual orientation isn’t all he's kept hidden. A shocking health scare brings to light his battle with HIV. As Mira struggles to make sense of the many fractures in her family's fabric and redefine her wavering sense of self, she must find a way to reconnect with her dad–while there is still time.
Told in raw, exposed free verse, Skyscraping reminds us that there is no one way to be a family.

Published June 16th 2015 by Disney-Hyperion

Glittering Shadows by Jaclyn Dolamore

The revolution is here.

Bodies line the streets of Urobrun; a great pyre burns in Republic Square. The rebels grow anxious behind closed doors while Marlis watches as the politicians search for answers—and excuses—inside the Chancellery.

Thea, Freddy, Nan, and Sigi are caught in the crossfire, taking refuge with a vibrant, young revolutionary and a mysterious healer from Irminau. As the battle lines are drawn, a greater threat casts a dark shadow over the land. Magic might be lost—forever.

This action-packed sequel to Dark Metropolis weaves political intrigue, haunting magic, and heartbreaking romance into an unforgettable narrative. Dolamore's lyrical writing and masterfully crafted plot deliver a powerful conclusion.

Published June 23rd 2015

The Rise and Fall of a Theater Geek by Seth Rudetsky

Broadway, New York.

The shows, the neon lights . . . the cute chorus boys! It's where Justin has always wanted to be--and now, with a winter internship for a famous actor, he finally has his chance to shine. If only he could ditch his kind, virtuous, upright, and--dare he say it?—uptight boyfriend, Spencer. But once the internship begins, Justin has more to worry about than a cramped single-guy-in-the-city style. Instead of having his moment in the spotlight, he's a not-so-glorified errand boy. Plus, Spencer is hanging out with a celebra-hottie, Justin's best friend Becky isn't speaking to him, and his famous actor boss seems headed for flopdom. Justin's tap-dancing as fast as he can, but all his wit and sass might not be enough to switch his time in New York from nightmare-terrible to dream-come-true terrific.

Seth Rudetsky's second YA novel is endearingly human, laugh-out-loud funny, and for any kid who's ever aspired to Broadway but can only sneak in through the stage door.

Summer Love Summer Love: An LGBTQ Collection (edited by Annie Harper, Novelstream dba Interlude Press, June 23, ISBN 9781941530368):

Summer Love is the first collection of short stories published by Duet, the young adult imprint from Interlude Press. These short stories are about the emergence of young love of bonfires and beaches, of the magical in-between time when young lives step from one world to another, and about finding the courage to be who you really are, to follow your heart and live an authentic life. The contributing authors have written stories about both romantic and platonic love featuring characters who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, pansexual and queer/questioning. The authors also represent a spectrum of experience, identity and backgrounds.

(review online)
"Gr 10 Up—This anthology of love stories is the perfect summer read—it’s fast, fun, and will leave readers smiling. The nine entries present characters that identify in a variety of ways. Stand-out stories include “Surface Tension” by Ella J. Ash. Logan is part of the swim staff at a summer arts camp and never imagines he could find love there—or while a teenager at all. Meeting outgoing Dave changes his mind. In “What the Heart Wants,” by Naomi Tajedler, Noam discovers her attraction to an art class model, Amber, and isn’t sure if that makes her a lesbian, bisexual, or just Amber-sexual. Meanwhile, her best friend begins dating an asexual boy. Other stories feature a revelation at a gay pride parade, a romance set at the beginning of World War II, a traveling fire-eater, a letter to a best friend, a transgender boy finding love on the Cape, an unexpected crush, and a broken-hearted girl seeking solace but instead finding just the company she needs. All of the stories have happy endings and most feature extremely supportive and loving families. In many cases, the main characters come out to someone at some point, but that’s not the focus of the stories. These are the first published stories for most of the authors in this collection, and it often shows. VERDICT The writing is somewhat unpolished, but the focus on LGBTQ teens finding love, hope, and happiness makes this a solid addition to all collections."

Published June 30th 2015 by Spencer Hill Contemporary

Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler

Josh Chester loves being a Hollywood bad boy, coasting on his good looks, his parties, his parents' wealth, and the occasional modeling gig. But his laid-back lifestyle is about to change. To help out his best friend, Liam, he joins his hit teen TV show, Daylight Falls ... opposite Vanessa Park, the one actor immune to his charms. (Not that he's trying to charm her, of course.) Meanwhile, his drama-queen mother blackmails him into a new family reality TV show, with Josh in the starring role. Now that he's in the spotlight—on everyone's terms but his own—Josh has to decide whether a life as a superstar is the one he really wants.

Vanessa Park has always been certain about her path as an actor, despite her parents' disapproval. But with all her relationships currently in upheaval, she's painfully uncertain about everything else. When she meets her new career handler, Brianna, Van is relieved to have found someone she can rely on, now that her BFF, Ally, is at college across the country. But as feelings unexpectedly evolve beyond friendship, Van's life reaches a whole new level of confusing. And she'll have to choose between the one thing she's always loved ... and the person she never imagined she could.

Blue Jeans and Sweatshirts link for the book listed above.

Published June 2nd 2015 by Soho Teen

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

In his twisty, gritty, profoundly moving debut—called “mandatory reading” by the New York Times—Adam Silvera brings to life a charged, dangerous near-future summer in the Bronx.

In the months after his father's suicide, it's been tough for 16-year-old Aaron Soto to find happiness again--but he's still gunning for it. With the support of his girlfriend Genevieve and his overworked mom, he's slowly remembering what that might feel like. But grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist prevent him from forgetting completely.

When Genevieve leaves for a couple of weeks, Aaron spends all his time hanging out with this new guy, Thomas. Aaron's crew notices, and they're not exactly thrilled. But Aaron can't deny the happiness Thomas brings or how Thomas makes him feel safe from himself, despite the tensions their friendship is stirring with his girlfriend and friends. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound feelings for him, he considers turning to the Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-alteration procedure to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is.

Why does happiness have to be so hard?

Here's the Summer Love link. =)

Kim wrote: "Here's the Summer Love link. =)"

Thanks - I'll edit it in - I was looking with the subtitle and it didn't show up.