Read about Southern queer people and their lives in red states
Real Queer America — Samantha Allen
You know those weeks where you think you know what day it is, and then you realize at 2 p.m. it’s a totally different day than you thought? That’s been my week! So we’re a day late, but you still get a book recommendation today, and don’t forget to read to the end for a chance to win a big box of books!
Under-the-Radar Book of the Week
Real Queer America by Samantha Allen
Content warnings are listed in the footnote of this newsletter.1
What It’s About
Samantha Allen was born in the Mormon community, serving as a young missionary all while questioning her own identity while growing up surrounded by conservative-minded people. She spent years transitioning in secret, finding queer spaces, and making a home for herself away from her hometown.
To better learn about queer people who, like her, are from traditionally “red” states, she set out on a road trip across the flyover states, the states typically not sought out as destinations for vacations, the states people assume no queer people live in. But queer people are everywhere, and Allen talks to them, their families (both traditional relatives and found families), and those who know them to learn why they stay in their states and how they navigate life as a queer person in a place known for not being kind to them.
Why You Should Read It
This is an incredible memoir and road trip account, both in Allen covering her own life and past and deconstructing her challenges and in the account she delivers of others making and finding spaces in their worlds.
It’s a book I genuinely recommend to everyone, especially those looking to be allies to trans people and to those who think current states with anti-trans laws, book bans, etc. "got what they asked for" by voting certain politicians in—this book shows how many queer people live everywhere, not just in big metropolises, and how hard they are fighting. We need to join them.
Giveaway!
This summer, enter to win a mystery box of ARCs! Books will be from all across genres, but will all be 2023 releases (a few 2022). There will be at least 3 winners, possibly more as I collect more books to add to the giveaway! (I can definitively say there are a couple romances, a couple mysteries, and some nonfiction already in the stack!)
To enter:
US only
Must be 13 or older, or have parent/caregiver permission
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Every comment on any June or July post will earn you 1 entry. This applies to What’s on my Stack posts AND weekly book recommendation posts.
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More Books
Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations:
Read a book about a bank heist, con artists, and falling in love
Read a cautionary tale of a modern princess trapped in her castle
Read about a lawyer fighting against an unfair justice system
I also love hearing from readers! Let me know what kinds of books you’re looking for that you’d like to see featured, or send in your most recent five-star read (or two) and get a recommendation just for you. You might be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Reply to this email to get in touch!
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Content warnings include homophobia, transphobia, Trump politics and quotes, racism.
Thanks for sharing!
Definitely borrowing this from my library ASAP!