Next Up: Upcoming LGBTQIA+ Releases

As June winds down, the vibrant energy of Pride Month leaves us eagerly anticipating what's next. While we bid farewell to the parades, celebrations, and rainbow-filled festivities, the excitement continues in the world of literature. The coming months are brimming with a dazzling array of LGBTQIA+ book releases, promising stories that uplift, challenge, and inspire. From heartfelt romances to powerful memoirs and groundbreaking fiction, these upcoming titles are set to keep the spirit of Pride alive all year round. Let's look at the stories soon to grace our shelves and keep the celebration going.

On The Horizon

One Last Summer

by Kristin Keppler

Release Date: July 9, 2024

Emerson Fields is eagerly anticipating her dream internship at Bardot Design Studio in Paris, but she hasn't been accepted yet. With no backup plan, she heads to North Carolina to stay with her aunt and uncle, taking up her seasonal waitressing job and rekindling her no-strings fling with local Peyton Reilly. Seeking a distraction, Emerson learns to surf from her coworker Alice Scott, unexpectedly developing deep feelings for the Aussie surfer. Now, with her casual relationship with Peyton and her growing attraction to Alice, Emerson faces a crossroads, uncertain which path to choose as her future with Bardot remains uncertain.

One Last Summer by Kristin Keppler book cover

Time and Time Again

by Chatham Greenfield

Release Date: July 23, 2024

Phoebe Mendel has been reliving August 6th for a month, trapped in a time loop. Each day is a repeat of the last, filled with pancakes with her mom, Scrabble with her dad, and a desperate search for a way to escape the loop and address her IBS. Her monotonous days take a turn when her childhood crush, Jess, accidentally crashes into the time loop by hitting Phoebe with their car. Stuck together, Jess encourages Phoebe to break free from her routine and embrace the freedom of consequence-free days. As Phoebe steps out of her comfort zone and falls deeper in love with Jess, she must confront the reality that her dreams for the future may remain out of reach.

You Can't Go Home Again

by Jeanette Bears

Release Date: August 13, 2024

Julia Martin, a successful physical therapist and gym owner with a steady relationship and a dog, enjoys her simple and fun life in her Midwest hometown. However, she sometimes feels like she missed out by never leaving. This changes when Raegan Holcolm, a past heartbreak, returns. Rae, once dedicated to a military career, is back home due to a sudden injury, grappling with pain, insecurities, and the end of their career. Years ago, Rae left Jules behind. For their love to rekindle, they must discover that home may be as much about a person as it is about a place.

You Can't Go Home Again by Jeanette Bears book cover

A Banh Mi for Two

by Trinity Nguyen

Release Date: August 20, 2024

In Sài Gòn, Lan strives to be the perfect daughter, supporting her widowed mother and managing their bánh mì stall. Her secret passion is a food blog, A Bánh Mì for Two, started with her late father but neglected since his death. Meanwhile, Vietnamese American Vivi Huynh has never visited Vietnam, her parents' homeland. Secretly, Vivi travels to Vietnam for a study abroad program, hoping to uncover her parents' past and experience the dishes from her favorite blog. When Lan and Vivi meet, they make a pact: Lan will guide Vivi through the city, helping her uncover her mother's history, while Vivi will encourage Lan to restart her blog for a food blogging contest.

Karaoke Queen

by Dominic Lim

Release Date: September 17, 2024

For Rex Araneta, his college sweetheart Aaron Berry was always the one who got away. When Rex discovers Aaron is now living nearby and needs help saving his karaoke bar, he steps in as his internet-famous drag queen alter ego, Regina Moon Dee, keeping his true identity a secret. As Regina's popularity soars, maintaining the ruse becomes increasingly challenging, with Rex's mom and sister joining in to help. Rex realizes he's hidden this part of himself for too long and that his real chance at love may lie in revealing his true self and being loved for who he truly is.

About Bliss

by Cristina Olivetti

Release Date: October 21, 2024

When Cristina's son was about to start gender-affirming care that could cause infertility, she recognized the importance of supporting both his present and future self, ensuring he had the option to have children. This led her to discover a future where living authentically doesn't have to mean sacrificing fertility, a possibility that could soon be available to many more trans people. Cristina's book combines interviews with trans thought leaders, letters to her son, reflections on the reproductive rights of trans people, and practical advice for parents. This collection of voices from the trans community tells a unique story of transformation, hormones, and hope.

Coming Up

In the spirit of "Next Up," we’re excited to remind you that our Official Review of the Busy Bee Book Club Book of the Month, If You Change Your Ming by Robby Weber, will be released this Friday, June 28, 2024. Following that, join us on Monday, July 1, 2024, as we unveil our new genre and Book of the Month for May! Be sure to check back and stay tuned for more literary adventures.