I just finished reading (and greatly enjoyed) A Lady for All Seasons by TJ Alexander, sequel to A Gentleman's Gentleman. Both are fun regency era romance with trans characters
Graphic novels:
I love Nimona!! I'd also recommend the princess and the grilled cheese sandwich by Deya Muniz
Almost finished with my third book for the readathon! Ones I’ve read so far and loved are The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara, Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White, and The Honeys by Ryan La Sala!
I highly recommend the graphic novel Mimosa by Archie Bongiovanni! I read it so many years ago, before I had figured out a good many things, and seeing the loving, messy representation of queer people in their 30s navigating life together really stuck with me as a baby enby. In particular, the relationship between nonbinary parent Chris and their child was really touching, and made me think about queer parenthood in ways I'd never considered. This is my own reminder to revisit it!
I feel like there’s a category missing from the nonfiction side of things. Something along the lines of trans experience/education. For example, I know that The Gender Doula has a book called Gender Rituals that’s coming out later this year that wouldn’t fit into the categories you have. I hope you will add a category for these types of books and future lists.
Thanks for all the work you do. I really appreciate it 💚✨
This is such a great point! I got so caught up in nonfiction in thinking about how to teach cis people about transness—there definitely should have been a section for trans folks to talk to each other about transness. Also, what a cool book!!! Thanks for sharing!
I also publish essays and poems about being trans and aroace, queer theatre, and queer adventures on my Substack: https://beksroen.substack.com/
One of my favorite poems I’ve written is “Truly I Would Not Change It For The World,” a sonnet responding to someone who asked me “what’s it like being trans in the Midwest right now?”
Another one that’s on the way (I schedule them out so I don’t remember exactly when it’ll post) is “I Am No Man;” drawing on Eowyn from LOTR and Hamlet to celebrate being adventurously non-binary 🏳️⚧️☺️
Non-binary aroace poet here: I have my first chapbook out! It’s called These Indiana Winters. Collection of poems about nature, whimsy, and being trans in the Midwest: https://bookshop.org/a/122200/9798227417985
Thanks for this wonderful list!! I have another rec from this year - YA or technically middle reader - 'A World Worth Saving' by Kyle Lukoff! It's pretty fantastic.
And you need a Plays category! This year brought us:
Just finished an ARC read (book releases next week) for Tied to Life by Vee Debras, a paranormal MM romance with a trans main character. I love the whole series and they all have trans/nb characters! This one was the best one yet, I highly recommend!
Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa (Pride & Prejudice but Elizabeth is a trans boy, focuses on his coming out journey)
Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore (Great Gatsby but Nick is a trans man, focuses on adjusting to life after coming out and finding queer community)
Deeply Dysphoric by Quinlin Caid (a collection of trans short stories)
Love this!
Here are some more recs:
Romance:
I just finished reading (and greatly enjoyed) A Lady for All Seasons by TJ Alexander, sequel to A Gentleman's Gentleman. Both are fun regency era romance with trans characters
Graphic novels:
I love Nimona!! I'd also recommend the princess and the grilled cheese sandwich by Deya Muniz
Almost finished with my third book for the readathon! Ones I’ve read so far and loved are The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara, Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White, and The Honeys by Ryan La Sala!
I highly recommend the graphic novel Mimosa by Archie Bongiovanni! I read it so many years ago, before I had figured out a good many things, and seeing the loving, messy representation of queer people in their 30s navigating life together really stuck with me as a baby enby. In particular, the relationship between nonbinary parent Chris and their child was really touching, and made me think about queer parenthood in ways I'd never considered. This is my own reminder to revisit it!
Trans fantasy, sci-fi, and classical adaptations (stage plays) - https://beksroen.org/about#writing
I feel like there’s a category missing from the nonfiction side of things. Something along the lines of trans experience/education. For example, I know that The Gender Doula has a book called Gender Rituals that’s coming out later this year that wouldn’t fit into the categories you have. I hope you will add a category for these types of books and future lists.
Thanks for all the work you do. I really appreciate it 💚✨
This is such a great point! I got so caught up in nonfiction in thinking about how to teach cis people about transness—there definitely should have been a section for trans folks to talk to each other about transness. Also, what a cool book!!! Thanks for sharing!
I also publish essays and poems about being trans and aroace, queer theatre, and queer adventures on my Substack: https://beksroen.substack.com/
One of my favorite poems I’ve written is “Truly I Would Not Change It For The World,” a sonnet responding to someone who asked me “what’s it like being trans in the Midwest right now?”
Another one that’s on the way (I schedule them out so I don’t remember exactly when it’ll post) is “I Am No Man;” drawing on Eowyn from LOTR and Hamlet to celebrate being adventurously non-binary 🏳️⚧️☺️
Non-binary aroace poet here: I have my first chapbook out! It’s called These Indiana Winters. Collection of poems about nature, whimsy, and being trans in the Midwest: https://bookshop.org/a/122200/9798227417985
My kiddo is way into graphic novels, and they have a whole stash of them by/featuring trans/non-binary folx. Here are a few favorites:
anything by Kay O'Neill
The Prince and the Dressmaker
and Ash's Cabin, by Jen Wang
Gender Queer, by Maia Koabe
Lunar Boy, by Jes and Cin Wibowo
Upstaged, by Robin Easter
Wallflower, by Iasmin Omar Ata
The Witch Boy series, by Molly Knox Ostertag
And, also the previously mentioned Nimona and The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
Thanks for this wonderful list!! I have another rec from this year - YA or technically middle reader - 'A World Worth Saving' by Kyle Lukoff! It's pretty fantastic.
And you need a Plays category! This year brought us:
-The Methuen Drama Book of Trans Plays Vol. II
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-methuen-drama-book-of-trans-plays-volume-2-angela-farr-schiller/baf1d3d798109601?ean=9781350458093&next=t
Nimona is fantastic!!
The Transmogrify! anthology edited by G. Haron Davis has been such a fun trans fantasy collection
I LOVE Psalm for the Wild Built!!!
Just finished an ARC read (book releases next week) for Tied to Life by Vee Debras, a paranormal MM romance with a trans main character. I love the whole series and they all have trans/nb characters! This one was the best one yet, I highly recommend!
You’re in the Wrong Bathroom !!! Laura Ericson -Schroth
Thank you so much for sharing this list!! Suuuch a good comprehensive selection!!
Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa (Pride & Prejudice but Elizabeth is a trans boy, focuses on his coming out journey)
Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore (Great Gatsby but Nick is a trans man, focuses on adjusting to life after coming out and finding queer community)
Deeply Dysphoric by Quinlin Caid (a collection of trans short stories)