Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Not a Whimsical Portal Fantasy, But a Corporate Retail Portal Fantasy

Finna by Nino Cipri

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Oh, there’s always been something a bit sus about that certain Swedish furniture store, hasn’t there? Just a little? About how once you go in, there’s no telling how long it’ll take you to get back out again. Whether or not it’s a new throw rug or some nice meatballs, there’s always something that keeps on trying to draw you away from the exit It’s this feeling that made me pick Finna first out of all the Hugo-nominated novellas to read, as the premise of […]

What Comes Next

By Way of Sorrow by Robyn Gigl

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Read as part of CBR13Bingo: they/she/he. The author is a trans woman and the protagonist (as well as another main character) is also a trans woman.  Once again, I’m grateful for book bingos because they challenge me to read stuff that I’ve been making excuses to put off. It’s no secret that the mystery/thriller world is largely devoid of bestselling LGBTQIA+ writers, specifically trans writers. This is not for lack of talent, rather a lack of seeking talent on behalf of publishing houses. On the rare […]

Please read this book.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

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CBR Bingo: They/She/He (author and one of the main characters are trans) A book like this makes me thankful for CBR because I get to talk about something that made me so happy. Cemetery Boys is a delight. Yadriel is a teenager in a family of brujx. They want him to follow in their footsteps, but the problem is they’re having some trouble accepting that Yadriel is a boy who wants to become a brujo (rather than a girl who should become a bruja). Determined to prove […]

“And once it had seemed like enough, like such a precious thing, just for April to exist, for April to be allowed to exist.”

For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes

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CBR13Bingo: They/She/He (author and MC are trans) and my first BINGO! You know the hurt/comfort trope? This book felt like that for me, where I was the hurt person and this book was doing the comforting. It’s centered on a queer friendly kink community in Austin and a very loving and accepting relationship, but it also smacks you in the face with the realities of what’s like to be a trans woman who doesn’t pass. April moved to Austin to give herself a fresh start, and, […]

“There isn’t anything wrong with love. There isn’t anything embarrassing about love.”

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

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Cbr13bingo They/She/He Just read this novel. It’s incredible. I read it within 24 hours and was crying at the end. This is a YA novel, but I want every adult I know to read this powerful story of a trans teen who struggles to love himself. As a result, all of his relationships are strained. Felix Ever After (2020) is a National Book Award winner, a Stonewall Honor Book and a Time magazine Best YA Book of All Time. It provides a much needed perspective […]

The cover of this book is as gorgeous as the writing inside it

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

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They She He: what else could this book be?! Our main character, Felix, is a transgender [boy] of 17 who is figuring out his gender identity while figuring out who’s the transphobic prick in his school while figuring out how to get a boyfriend I’m surprised by how much I liked this book! Which is because usually stories about teenagers + love make me side eye just a little–I’m sorry I’m sorry! It’s just the way it is, I am just a bit cynical. For example, I […]



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