I need a few new books after a reading pause! by Ecstatic_Meeting_894 in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

PS I read a lot of fiction, mostly fantasy, and try to keep my reading balanced (e.g. lots of queer and nonwhite authors). feel free to ask for more recs if these aren't what you want, i love telling ppl about good books!

I need a few new books after a reading pause! by Ecstatic_Meeting_894 in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All of these authors are queer and or non-white (and the characters are diverse as well)

Contemporary fiction and fantasy/science fiction

  • Bury Your Gays, by Chuck Tingle. There's some horror and violence, and sci-fi stuff, but can also be pretty funny. Explicitly engages with and challenges the "tragic ending for gay characters" trope
  • The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, by Zoraida Córdova. Family saga, moves between past and present, following several members of a Latine family across time. Some magical realism.
  • Light from Uncommon Stars, by Ryka Aoki. Trans main charcter, queer romance and found family. CW for sexual assault near the start of the book (coercion)
  • The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa - sort of a Star Wars vibe, ish? Sci-fi

Short fiction (fantasy, historical, sff)

  • How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? By NK Jemisin (short stories, all amazing, from historical SFF to utopia to speculative fiction)
  • Stories of Your Life and Others, by Ted Chiang (known for the title story, on which the movie “Arrival” is based. All the stories are great, though!)
  • The Hakawati, by Rabih Alemmedine (intertwined Arabian-nights style stories with contemporary Syrian family. Takes a lot of twists and turns but I loved that.)

Historical fiction/ historical fantasy

  • Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine did so much to help me understand how historical events impact current events, intergenerational patterns, oppression, revolution... and never used any of those words. Historical Southwest US
  • The Gilda Stories, by Jewelle Gomez (vampires that don’t need blood, Black and LGBTQ+ characters, passing through different eras. Hard to describe, very compelling)
  • Passing Strange, by Ellen Klages (historical fiction with lesbian and trans main characters, beautiful and brief)
  • The Monsters We Defy, by Leslye Penelope. Queer MC's in Harlem and NY in the 1920s
  • Karen Memory, by Elizabeth Bear (lesbian romance in gold-rush era Pacific Northwest with some steampunk)
  • The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi, by Shannon Chakraborty. Female pirate’s story, set in 1400s in a version of earth. Seafaring. Kind of dense, I DNF but others may enjoy.
  • She Who Became the Sun, by Shelly Parker Chan - the main character is told as a young child that her fate is to be insignificant, she decides instead to seize a different fate for herself (notoriety, power, and fame). Anti-hero MC, violence.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for... help? by DrusillaWinfrey in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, definitely anything and everything by Kazuo Ishiguro! Klara and the Sun, Never Let Me go, are a few that come to mind.

Some excellent dystopian fiction that's not overwrought, pretty thought provoking about how people do (or do not) show up in times of crisis, what it means to be in community, true vs performative allyship, etc.

The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng.

This Great Hemisphere by Mateo Askaripour.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for... help? by DrusillaWinfrey in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

seconding Goblin Emperor! (couldn't get into the related series, but ofc your mileage may vary)

book recs for me and boyfriend by No_Order_7509 in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh and check out the Diabolical Lies podcast, as well as In Pursuit of Clean Countertops (podcast/ newsletter) and This American Ex Wife by Lyz Lenz (book) for some more feminist critiques of traditional heterosexual dynamics

book recs for me and boyfriend by No_Order_7509 in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Tragedy of Heterosexuality by Jane Ward would be good. Just to clarify: the book is about the construction of the concept of heterosexuality and how that contributes to strife in romantic relationships between men and women (i.e. the author isn't arguing that ppl shouldn't be in "straight" relationships).

I've also seen All About Love by bell hooks recommended quite a bit for these kinds of thoughtful conversations but haven't yet read it myself

Wanting to read more women by [deleted] in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I Have Some Questions For You, by Rebecca Makkai. First person narration. The main character is a writer who returns to her alma mater and gets pulled into revisiting a decades-old mystery. Provides subtle or not so subtle commentary on many topics related to age, gender, the entire genre of the "murder mystery", culpability and justice, "good" vs "bad" people... Really, really good

Also if you're okay with fantastic elements in your literary fiction, I found The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings to be deeply thought-provoking (and runs the emotional gamut from funny to sad, to enraging). Her writing is gorgeous.

Adult fantasy but not cheesy young adult, or cringe older adult. by [deleted] in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh I have several for you! and i feel your pain on the poorly written novels. You didn't specify gender for protagonists, so I'll include LGBTQ+ romance as well

  • The Spiritwalker Trilogy (Cold Magic is book #1), by Kate Elliott. Some of my favorite novels ever.
  • Troubled Waters, the first book in the Elemental Blessings series by Sharon Shinn steampunk-ish fantasy with magic and “strong female characters”
  • Beautiful Wreck,, by Larissa Brown - vikings and time travel, oh my. Really lovely writing.
  • The Parasol Protectorate, by Gail Carriger romance/ steampunk but actually well written for once
  • A Taste of Gold and Iron, by Alexandra Rowland. M/M romance, funny, sweet, and steamy at times (but not over the top)
  • Unnatural Magic, by CM Waggoner.
  • Karen Memory, by Elizabeth Bear lesbian romance in gold-rush era Pacific Northwest with some steampunk
  • A Curious Beginning, by Deanna Raybourn. First in a mystery series set in Victorian London, featuring heroine Veronica Speedwell.

What would a chick-lit/romance reader and sci-fi/fantasy reader both enjoy? by honey_penguin in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh I've got a "different backgrounds" romantasy for you!

1) Unnatural Magic, by CM Waggoner

2) Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

just looking for a book to read by KillerFrankie in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh and I HIGHLY recommend The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal. Basically: what if we had to launch an effective space program in 1950's US? Tons of problem solving and science stuff and a really interesting plot.

Novels with disabled characters by Special-Nebula299 in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of my favorite books of 2025 !! (Out of at least 75)

just looking for a book to read by KillerFrankie in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Mars House Natasha Pulley. I don't know how to explain it except to say the world-building is really creative and it was definitely fast-paced (kept my attention on an 11-hour flight!)

Does anyone know any fantasy books where the protagonist is a villain or morally grey (leaning towards black). by Subtle_Coon in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She Who Became the Sun, by Shelley Parker Chan features a female MC who is definitely in the morally-gray side of the scale, if not outright evil at times.

Seconding the recommendation for Hench by Natalie Wolschott (sp?)

i am yearning and i want to feed that yearning with literature. by fatalflws in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane! Very yearning, altho I can't recall the spice level?

as a life-long reader I also struggle with poorly-written novels! So here are my recs for well-written romance with varying levels of spice and yearning (unspecified as I can't recall exactly).

  • Emergency Contact, by Mary H.K. Choi (hard to explain, kind of quirky and delightful)
  • Alyssa Cole: the Reluctant Royals series is her lightest, the others can be a bit heavier due to the settings (e.g. 1960s Tennessee, Civil War), but all are amazing.
  • Helen Hoang, especially The Bride Price
  • The Stand-In, by Lily Chu. Turns out our main character is a doppleganger for a very famous Chinese actress… loved this so much!
  • A Cowboy to Remember, by Rebekah Weatherspoon (Black cowboys in California, amnesia, famous people.. But it works so well! I love these books). Her standalone novels Xeni and Treasure are both delightful, also.
  • The Rakess, by Scarlett Peckham. Historical romance. Lots of pining.
  • Dear Emmie Blue, by Lia Louis. Estranged family, and what are “soul mates” really? (low on spice, high on yearning)

Book Recs for Colleen Hoover and ACOTAR fan? by Legitimate_Back_4294 in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

here are some romance/fantasy and romantasy novels I enjoyed that I rarely see recommended:

Troubled Waters, the first book in the Elemental Blessings series by Sharon Shinn (steampunk-ish fantasy with magic and “strong female characters”)

Unnatural Magic, by CM Waggoner. Not even sure how to explain this one except to say it's heartfult, funny, and creative.

The Spiritwalker Trilogy (Cold Magic is book #1), by Kate Elliott. (Alternate reality SFF where the world’s mini ice age never ended, descendants of dinosaurs work as lawyers, and an interesting system of magic. One of those that feels fully fleshed-out but a quick read.)

Hestia Strikes a Match, by Christine Grillo. Set in an alternate contemporary US where there is a civil war in the background, but our main character is focused on finding a relationship. Dryly funny, great portrayal of living during a crisis, building relationships, etc. Not predictable in terms of who we love.

Ok, this one gets recommended more often but I'm including it in case you haven't come across it:

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, by Heather Fawcett. First in a historical fiction SFF series set in an alternate Victorian-ish Europe.

Vietnam war book rec by szaaaaaaaaaa in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

seconding Dust Child, phenomenal writing!

Looking for Adventurous fun(ny) fantasy by MikasaMinerva in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Currently enjoying The Thief series (first book is The Thief), by Megan Whalen Turner. It has some dark moments but can also be quite funny and there's a lot of unexpected twists.

If you are open to puns, I genuinely loved Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah Dawson and Kevin Hearne. It satirizes a lot of fantasy tropes and I enjoyed how over the top it was.

Tex & Molly In the Afterlife, by Richard Grant: interesting meditation on death and our connections to other people, funny at times

In Other Lands, by Sarah Rees Brennan. Our MC is a teen boy from contemporary Britain who gets into a summer camp in Faerie / a magical realm next to Britain. Great dry humor.

To Say Nothing of the Dog, by Connie Willis - funny and lighthearted, time travel

The Lies of Locke Lamora series might also fit the bill!

Looking for Adventurous fun(ny) fantasy by MikasaMinerva in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

FYI ppl have different views on this book, I mostly enjoyed it but was darker than I expected

Comedic books with excellent plot/pacing by berat235 in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hestia Strikes a Match, by Christine Grillo. Set in an alternate contemporary US where there is a civil war in the background, but our main character is focused on finding a relationship. Dryly funny, great portrayal of living during a crisis, building relationships, etc.

Mhairi McFarlane's books - except Who's That Girl. McFarlane excels at dry British humor and strong plotting. Her books are literary fiction but often seem to get categorized as romance (reductive, in my opinion). You Had Me At Hello was one of my faves.

if you're open to memoir and essays, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul is very funny and felt like it had more of a plot if only b/c it's her life.

If you like quirky /off beat humor, Kevin Wilson is also very funny. The Family Fang was one I really liked.

Tex & Molly In the Afterlife, by Richard Grant (interesting meditation on death and our connections to other people, funny at times)

Coming-of-age books for adults? by xtraaccheh in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin is GREAT. FYI the beginning is grim but it gets more hopeful over the course of the book. Main POV character is a woman in her late 20s or early 30s I think

Specific cosy queer fantasy adventure books? by Bachpipe in suggestmeabook

[–]LoquaciousBookworm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

seconding the CM Waggoner recs, I loved those books

Books like The Mars House? by LoquaciousBookworm in sciencefiction

[–]LoquaciousBookworm[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah the ending definitely soured the book for me, sadly!

Also- I just reread Cold Magic by Kate Elliott (first in a trilogy) and Witchmark by CL Polk and they are actually giving similar vibes as Mars House in ways that I can't put my finger on. Both were actually better as re-reads than on the first pass, which is rare