Never Been Shipped Release Day

 Never Been Shipped Release Day

Happy release day to Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson. Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for the free copy of this story. This book has bisexual and non-binary representation. 

Blurb

Micah’s relationship to music is complicated. As teenagers, her band took off after being featured on a popular TV show, but the group barely released their sophomore album before breaking up. Now, over a decade later, the band is reuniting for one more performance on a themed cruise, and Micah is determined to learn from her past mistakes — no losing herself in the music, and no losing her heart along the way. 

 

John misses playing in a band, and mostly he misses Micah, who’d been his best friend until the music stopped. Back then, he didn’t take the lead, either in his guitar parts or while he sat back and watched her date another bandmate. John’s never been one to rock the boat, but he’s faced with another chance now that this cruise has brought music — and Micah — back in his life.

 

Onboard, Micah can’t help but see John with brand new eyes, and John’s feelings only intensify as the discordant band’s tension grows to a breaking point. With five days at sea, there’s a ticking clock on anything that might develop between them, and they’ll have to decide if their relationship is destined to be more than a one-hit wonder.

WPS Author Interview Day 10: G. L. Rueda

 WPS Author Interview Day 10: G. L. Rueda

Welcome to day 10 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing G. L. Rueda. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

GL's Books

• Unlikely Ideal
• Looping Threads (coming later this year)

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"I'm an ace woman."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"Unlikely Ideal is my debut. It's a romance between a gay man (Dillon) and a Demiromantic/pansexual man (Karlos). Besides them, their friend group is diverse: Dillon's friend group has an asexual woman and a married gay man. Karlos' group has an aromantic/pansexual woman, a nonbinary lesbian, a bisexual man, and a trans woman who is married to that bi man. 

My upcoming release, a Holiday Romance called 'Looping Threads,' will feature a Sapphic relationship. It'll be the second book in the Love in Bellinvue series out of six, with Unlikely Ideal being the first. Three of them will be Achillean romances, and three will be Sapphic."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"Because it's normal, and it should be treated as such. More and more people are able to feel comfortable finding themselves because they can see people like them out and proud. Knowing yourself and being able to live your truth makes life just a little bit easier, and finding community through that can save lives, especially when hatred and bigotry [are] still so prevalent, particularly with people in power."

4. What got you into writing?

"I started out with Pokémon fanfiction when I was 10 or so, because I wanted more episodes where Team Rocket had happy endings. It kind of clicked that, if I want a story, I have to write it myself. I finally jumped from fanfiction to original work when I decided it was time to see something that is entirely mine. I have a lot to learn, but the feeling of having my ideas materialize is inexplicable."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"There are always legends like Marsha P. Johnson, and current icons like Lady Gaga. I'd like to mention Nava Mau, though. She's from the same city as me, is involved in various causes, and is so talented and so kind (from what I've seen). I hope she keeps thriving."

WPS Author Interview Day 9: M.E. Samm

 WPS Author Interview Day 9: M.E. Samm

Welcome to day 9 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing M.E. Samm. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

ME's Books

• El & Em

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"I am an ally."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"I only have one release to date, El & Em. Both characters in that story are bi.

My WIP is set in a queer-normative world, where almost everyone is somewhere along the scale rather than at one specific end (and the main character concludes he prefers men)."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"The world is a big place with all kinds of people, identities, and relationships in it. The more books reflect that diversity, the better stories we have! In turn, a broad range of LGBTQ+ representation in stories can help push back against negative stereotypes and harmful ideologies."

4. What got you into writing?

"I've written for my whole life, one way or another. Usually, it's because I have a craving to explore a specific type of relationship. Mostly, I write the stories I want to read."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"It's hard to pick one. I've always been fascinated by Jean Genet and his transgressive, topsy-turvy take on society. James Baldwin was and is a critical figure in American cultural history. Currently, I think people challenging toxic ideologies in gender (like Billy Porter, say) or sports (like RK Russell) are so important."

WPS Author Interview Day 8: Jo Morgan

 WPS Author Interview Day 8: Jo Morgan

Welcome to day 8 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Jo Morgan. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Jo's Books

• The Key
• Stableshoes (coming September 2025)

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Yes – I am trans non-binary/genderqueer (ftm-ish), pan-attracted, and largely orchid-sexual, in that I am on the asexual spectrum but tend to enjoy written content over in-person action."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"My debut book, The Key – released by Midnight Meadow Publishing in December 2024 – is a second-chance romance between a trans man and his former high-school sweetheart, who is bisexual. These two main characters participate in an LGBTQ+ DND group, so a number of other queer characters are featured. My next release, Stableshoes, will be released in September 2025 and is a MLM twist on Cinderella. The female protagonist is nonspecifically queer, but she has an obvious attraction to the neighboring kingdom’s princess; their journey will be explored further in the sequel, Seven Shards, which is in progress. I have another unpublished book that features a masculine gay couple at its center, but until that one is unleased into the world, everyone will have to settle for watching me pine alone for them!"

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"Representation like this – especially realistic, joyful representation that isn’t focused on the trauma of being queer as a whole – is crucial for letting adults of all creeds understand life from this perspective, and in some cases, help people understand themselves. Writing has been an incredible outlet for me to express my innermost thoughts and live in ways I never could in real life, and if I’d had more access to queer content earlier in my life, I might not have taken so long to recognize my own queerness. Beyond these reasons, it’s also a healthy and safe outlet for those wanting to read about characters who are very different from themselves; a reader once told me she enjoyed MLM content because it allowed her to feel safe immersed in a romantic connection that couldn’t result in the assault she’d experienced firsthand."

4. What got you into writing?

"Like many Millennials, I began writing unhinged fanfiction many years ago. In late 2013, I became positively obsessed with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and woke up with a headcanon for one of my favorite characters. Instead of ruminating privately about it, I opened my laptop and wrote it down—just so happens, I never stopped. Within three weeks, I’d written 60k words. In four months, I’d written six installments. The final “book” in the series was the birth of something new, though. My MMC—a child of the character who inspired my writing in the first place—gave me the distinct impression that he had a male companion. This new character, Amund, served as my muse and kept me actively tweaking my fanfiction series for about seven years before he convinced me to bring him to life in a story entirely my own. All of this ((casually gestures at everything)) is Amund’s fault."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"I look up to a number of queer folks in the public eye, from groundbreaking creators from history like Oscar Wilde to current brave folks like Elliot Page. There are several outlets available now that celebrate queer people in ways I never saw as a kid, like the large cast of LGBTQ+ contestants on The Great British Bake-Off (David Atherton is by far my favorite!). On a smaller scale, my best friend growing up came out as a lesbian when we were about fourteen years old, and she’s an incredible person worthy of admiration by anyone."

WPS Author Interview Day 7: Sonia Blue

 WPS Author Interview Day 7: Sonia Blue

Welcome to day 7 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Sonia Blue. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Sonia's Books

• Pleasing My Professor series
• The Pointe of Love series

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"I am! I’m a pansexual demigirl and I use she/they pronouns."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"All of my books have LGBTQ+ rep, a lot of my characters are gay, bisexual, or pansexual, and I also address that sexuality can be fluid. Some of my characters are demisexual/gray as well. The setting of my latest series is a wedding hall, and I make sure to include LGBTQ+ couples on their wedding days."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"I’m in my 50s, and when I was young, I was not aware of homosexuality (no internet back in those ancient times, and I grew up in a sheltered environment). It wasn’t until I was 12 that I learned about it, and that’s when something clicked into place. Representation means that people won’t feel lost, or like a piece of them is missing, because it’s right there, in their media, telling them that they can be what they are. Representation gives you hope."

4. What got you into writing?

"I wanted to put down the worlds in my head, the things that are always spinning around, so I spent a lot of time in high school writing during class. The teachers always thought I was taking notes, but I was pouring out my heart."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Marsha P Johnson, Indya Moore, Ian McKellen, and Martina Navratilova. I’ll stop there because the list is pretty long."

WPS Author Interview Day 7: Paul Coccia

WPS Author Interview Day 7: Paul Coccia

Welcome to day 7 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Paul Coccia. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Paul's Books

• Leon Levels Up
• Recommended Reading (I can personally attest that this one is lovely)
• On the Line
• The Player
• Cub
• Here & Now Volume 1 (part of this anthology)
• Here & Now Volume 2 (part of this anthology)
• The Annethology (part of this anthology)

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"I’m gay, although use it interchangeably with queer. I’m also a bear."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"All my books have queer rep in them. I include a broad spectrum of queerness too, so some characters are gay, others bi or pan, lesbian, questioning, curious or sexually-fluid, and others are still simply growing up and figuring themselves out and haven’t worked out their specific labels. I tend to include body-positivity in my books, so rep the bear/chub community, and I love to include drag performers, as well as characters who would fall into the demi and sapiosexual spectrums.

My most recent, Recommended Reading (YA) has gay, pan, lesbian, chub, and drag queen characters included in it."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"LGBTQ+ rep opens up discussions that benefit everyone. It destigmatizes sex, sexuality, and desire, things we all experience, as well as helping people simply be who they are, a hard thing to do. Representation also creates a document that validates and legitimizes not only our existence, but our history."

4. What got you into writing?

"I always loved stories. Usually, my mom would read to me. My dad, who is not a reader, would read me comic books when I was quite young. I saw them and knew I wanted to make them. I am not skilled enough to illustrate, but I can write a story, and maybe one day I will try to write a graphic novel because I still love comic books."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"My brother, who is a drag queen. I think he’s incredibly brave. What he does is subversive and transformative. I’m so proud of him and find his courage and artistic expression inspiring.

Outside of my immediate family, I love Divine for her irreverence and boldness, plus the John Waters’ movies and awesome music catalogue. She was an unlikely icon, but all the things that shouldn’t have worked came together perfectly."

WPS Author Interview Day 6: Kimm Topping

 WPS Author Interview Day 6: Kimm Topping

Welcome to day 6 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Kimm Topping. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Kimm's Books

• Generation Queer

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Yep! I'm trans/gender fluid and queer."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"Generation Queer is my debut book and it features 31 people from around the country who started their advocacy as young people. They are artists, educators, and organizers all with different approaches to their work. There's representation across the entire LGBTQIA2S+ community in the book. The book also focuses on the ways that race, ethnicity, religion, disability, and class intersect with trans and queer experiences."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"It's essential! We need to see ourselves represented to know what possibilities there are. You might have heard Laverne Cox talk about 'possibility models.' LGBTQ+ people don't need to be superheroes, but it's so crucial for us to see possibilities for our future. To imagine full lives for ourselves, and more loving, inclusive futures for all. Books are one way we access and celebrate those stories."

4. What got you into writing?

"I've been drawn to writing and any forms of art that tell the truth since I was pretty young. I love that writing and art can express truths about humanity in meaningful ways that people can connect to and access. After working with LGBTQ+ youth for years, I wanted to celebrate their brilliance, advocacy, and joy through my writing. I plan to keep at it! I've been working on new nonfiction projects and experimenting with poetry and fiction."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"There are so many - all of the people featured in Generation Queer, of course. Janet Mock is also an incredible influence. Reading her book, Redefining Realness, was the first time I genuinely learned about trans people and communities in a positive way. I had the opportunity to see her speak, and it changed the way I understood myself. It helped me feel connected to this broader community."

WPS Author Interview Day 5: C.J. Tuma

 WPS Author Interview Day 5: C.J. Tuma

Welcome to day 5 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing C.J. Tuma. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

CJ's Books

• First Oaths (coming October 2025)
• Solemn Vows (coming February 2026)
• Sacred Orders (coming June 2026
• Last Rites (coming October 2026)

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"I am a nonbinary ace lesbian, so I tick a lot of LGBTQ+ boxes! lol"

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"My series (co-written by my ace bestie) coming out in October features an MM main couple (one of whom is demisexual) and several LGBTQ side characters."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"I think it’s so important for people to be able to see themselves in characters, and for too long it’s been standard for the main couple in a book to be straight. I want my stories to be a place where people can feel seen and represented across the spectrum of sexuality. On top of writing with the assumption that all main characters are at least bi until proven otherwise, I strive to have my worlds be largely queer-normative—though there is a particular character in this upcoming series who is a jerk about it, but he’s the odd one out—because without the religious influences of the real world, why should LGBTQ+ people be considered aberrant or sinful? Many cultures used to celebrate queer folks, and it’s time to bring that back."

4. What got you into writing?

"I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, but the biggest influence and the reason I’m still writing today is my fifth-grade teacher. I wrote a bit of description that I was particularly proud of about the moonlight on the snow one evening while walking to my best friend’s house, and then wrote it in my journal for school the next day. My teacher was so impressed with it that she read it for the whole class, and I think that was the first time I realized I might be good at it. From then on, I always knew I was going to be a writer, even if it took me decades more to get to the point of being happy enough with something to publish it."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"I can’t think of one particular person off the top of my head, but collectively, I would have to say the lesbians who took care of those dying during the AIDS crisis in the 80s. When everyone else was afraid to be near those who were ill because they weren’t sure how HIV/AIDS was transmitted and thus were willing to let them die alone, the lesbians stepped up and made sure they were looked after. They treated the ill and dying with the humanity that the rest of the world was not, and I think we could all learn a thing or two from their selflessness and the love they had for their queer brothers."

WPS Author Interview Day 4: Any

 WPS Author Interview Day 4: Any

Welcome to day 4 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Any. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Any's Books

• Y’a d’la fierté dans l’air (she is one of the authors in this anthology)

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"No, but love is love no matter who you are attracted to."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"Yes, I have one: Y’a d’la fierté dans l’air, an anthology in collaboration with Montreal Pride. In my story, Leila [fell] in love with a woman, and she is thinking about all the great moments they have together."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"Yes, very important because most of [us] know at least one person who is part of this community and they are inspiring, plus it’s help[ful] to write stories that have never been [written] before. They should be represented just like heterosexual[s]. Every one of us is unique." (Quote modified to be grammatically correct, all changes are in brackets)

4. What got you into writing?

"I always love[d] creating stories, even when I was a little girl, and after I lost my grandma, I thought a lot about what I would really love to do in life, and it was the first thing that came [to] my mind. I wanted to be in touch with my artistic side, and I found out that it was the first thing I really enjoyed [doing] without feeling anxious." (Quote modified to be grammatically correct, all changes are in brackets)

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"If I have to pick just one, I would say RuPaul. I love RuPaul’s Drag Race, especially the karaoke part, and I always [end] up laughing and forget about my problems after watching the show."

WPS Author Interview Day 3: Adrienne Lothy

 WPS Author Interview Day 3: Adrienne Lothy

Welcome to day 3 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Adrienne Lothy. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Adrienne's Books

• Kestrel
• Killjoy (coming June 24th)

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"I’m bisexual grey-ace! And non-binary. I go by she or they."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"My debut novel, Kestrel, is an MM enemies-to-lovers sci-fi romance and the first in an ongoing trilogy. Both romantic leads are gay men. The sequel, Killjoy, which comes out June 24th, features the same couple, as well as sapphic, polyamorous, and trans representation in some of the prominent side characters."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"I think LGBTQ+ representation is vital, because it gives a safe space for diverse readers. Books like this help show we’re not alone, that we deserve our own happily ever after too. Having LGBTQ+ characters out fighting crime, slaying dragons, falling in love, running their own businesses, sailing the world on a pirate ship (or any other story you could think of) shows queer readers that we all deserve our own adventures. We’re not just side characters… we get to be the heroes of our own stories too."

4. What got you into writing?

"I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer. Even back in primary school, I was scrawling out story after story on notebook paper, accompanied by little illustrations. As I grew older and matured, so did my ideas, until they became complex novels. I can’t imagine a life without the joy of stories in it. I’m so privileged and happy that I get to share my writing with the world."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"This one really stumped me, because there are just so many to choose from! I’ll have to go with C.S. Pacat, though. Her books really opened my eyes to how deep and beautiful queer romance books are. I’d never read romance before that, and to say I was obsessed is an understatement. Her books inspired my own to eventually exist, because I wanted to create my own queer love stories too. And I haven’t stopped reading or writing diverse romance books since."

WPS Author Interview Day 2: Kai Jennex

 WPS Author Interview Day 2: Kai Jennex

Welcome to day 2 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Kai Jennex. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Kai's Book

• Cold Fire

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Yes, gender fluid, pansexual and demisexual."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"All of my books have representation. I only write MM romance, or MM+ romance."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"Because I know what it's like to crave reading a story that you can see yourself in. There was nothing for so long, and when the dam finally broke and LGBTQ+ books became more numerous, I decided to publish some of my work and share it with others."

4. What got you into writing?

"I've been writing since I was in elementary. I struggle with it because of my ADHD and dyslexia, but working twice as hard to create my stories feels so rewarding that I can't stop. I needed a place to escape, and instead of daydreaming elaborate plots in my head, I started putting words to paper. There was nothing specific that started it, I just wanted a place to feel like I was home."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Ian Mckellen is always at the top of my list. He's so unapologetically himself that I find it inspiring."

WPS Author Interview Day 1: Xan van Rooyen

 WPS Author Interview Day 1: Xan van Rooyen

Welcome to day 1 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Xan van Rooyen. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandlpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

Xan's Books

• Second Soul (releasing January 2026)
• Waypoint Seven
• Silver Helix
• My Name is Magic
• By the Blood of Rowans
• The Other Me
• I Heart Robot

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"I don't love labels and if I had any choice I probably would use any to describe myself - I'm just me afterall, but I understand how helpful labels can be in letting others know who I am so I describe myself as nonbinary and bisexual (meaning that I'm attracted to more than one gender) but I'm also more demi-ace, and these days I find myself drawn more and more to 'autigender' as my experience of gender and autism seem inextricably entwined."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"All my books have LGBTQ+ characters in them. My most recent novels feature nonbinary protagonists with an array of queer side characters. My two new novels also both feature nonbinary main characters as well as various other queer side characters. It might be easier to say which of my characters aren't queer!"

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"Because despite how hard certain politicians might want to erase queer people, we are here - we have always been here, and LGBTQ+ people should be seen and heard just like every other person. We should be able to read stories about all identities and their various intersections, and young readers especially deserve to read books where they can see themselves reflected in the pages."

4. What got you into writing?

"I've always been an avid reader and started telling stories before I could hold a pencil. I used to dictate them to my mom before I could write. I can't ever remember a time I wasn't reading or writing. I had a really wonderful English teacher in high school who encouraged me to take writing a bit more seriously, but it wasn't until I was at university studying music, that a friend introduced me to NaNoWriMo, which is when I actually managed to write my first novel."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and all the other trans people, especially the BIPOC trans community, who fought for queer rights during Stonewell and who have never stopped fighting despite the many layers of discrimination they face.  In particular, writers like bell hooks, Audre Lorde, and Octavia Butler are figures I look up to for their valuable work challenging the status quo through their work in education, activism, and fiction."

Free For All Friday: Spring Cleaning Book Tag

Free For All Friday: Spring Cleaning Book Tag

Intro

Hello loveslies! As the spring weather is coming to a close, what better time to finally complete a bit of bookish spring cleaning? Of course, this is just a book challenge. I actually managed my shelves not that long ago. I saw this tag on Dini Panda Reads' blog. Anyone who sees this is welcome to give the challenge a try! Let's get to cleaning!

The Prompts

• Getting started: A book series you've been wanting to read (Beartown)
• Cleaning/organizing closet: the best way to organize books (by author and series)
• Getting rid of unnecessary things: book/series you no longer need (Skink No SUrrender)
• Get some air: your favorite lighthearted read (Beg, Borrow, or Steal)
• Clean out the kitchen cupboards: your favorite food-themed read (Sweet on You (on a peach farm))
• Dust the shelves: the fifth book on your shelves (Unsteady by Peyton Corinne)
• Wishing for the end: a 2025 release you are excited about (Caught Up)
• Long but satisfying: the longest book series you've read (Wolf Mountain Ranchers)

My Picks and Explanations

Getting Started: I have really been wanting to try reading the Beartown series by Fredrik Backman. I've heard fantastic things about it, and I am a big hockey fan, so I think it would be totally up my alley!

Cleaning/organizing closet: I admit I don't have the best shelf organization due to very limited shelf space. That said, I always keep series and authors together. Otherwise, it is just based on what fits. 😬 Hopefully, in the future, I also have room to sort by genre.

Getting rid of unnecessary things: The only book on my shelves that I don't know if I would actually read is Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen. I used to love his book growing up. I had gotten this one and even started it, but never got the chance to finish it. 

Get some air: I had a bit of trouble deciding what book I've read recently that would actually be considered nearly entirely lighthearted. That is when I landed on Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams. I remember it being quite lighthearted and a fun read. If I am incorrect and forgot something notably heavy, my apologies.

Clean out the kitchen cupboards: There are very few food-themed books I've read, which feels like a fail on my end, and I will do my best to remedy this in the near future. That said, I did recently read a book set on a peach farm, so I think that counts. Right? That book is Sweet on You by Dani Galliaro.

Dust the shelves: After referencing my shelves, the fifth book on it is Unsteady by Peyton Corinne. Which I admit I saw in Barnes & Noble one day, and totally fell in love with the cover. Needless to say, I really want to read it when I have the time. It appears to not be too long. 

Wishing for the end: Admittedly, I have a whole series on my blog called Can't Wait Wednesday, so I had a lot of trouble deciding which I wanted to choose for this challenge. In the end, Caught Up by Navessa Allen won out. I cannot wait to experience more of her dark comedic writing later this year!

Long but satisfying: This prompt seems to really be made for the fantasy reader girlies, so this isn't really for me. I am also generally not a fan of super-long series, so the longest I could remember reading in recent memory was the Wolf Mountain Ranchers series by Erin FitzGerald. 

Outro

Well, lovelies, we have come to the end. Do you feel cleaner? I don't know if I would go that far, but I do feel productive, so that is worth something. I absolutely love doing book tags like this one, so if you discover any in the book blogging world, feel free to send them my way! I will see you all on Sunday for the start of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight interviews!

 Wonderland Pride Spotlight Lineup

Hello lovelies! Today, I'm here to share all of the authors involved in the Wonderland Pride Spotlight project this year! You will get to see interviews with them every single day of Pride! Thank you to everyone who is participating and giving this project love!

The Lineup

• Xan van Rooyen
• Kai Jennex
• Adrienne Lothy
• Any
• C.J. Tuma
• Kimm Topping
• Sonia Blue
• Paul Coccia
• Jo Morgan
• M.E. Samm
• G. L. Rueda
• Gabriel Hargrave
• R. Dawnraven
• Logan Sage Adams
• Rachel O’Rourke
• D.C. Emerson
• Rochelle Wolf
• A.E. Jensen
• Diahanna Aurora Hampton
• Kree Sullivan
• Lacey Ray
• Bree Wiley
• Dakota Jackson
• Marlon Yelich
• Rian Durant
• Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith (an author duo)
• Christopher Hartland
• Kelly Brocklehurst
• Heather Leighson
• Rayne Hawthorne
• Iris Retzlaff
• Ryan Hamshaw
• Alek L. Cristea

Outro

Isn't this lineup incredible? Each person listed here is an indie author who includes LGBTQ+ characters in their work. Many of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ community themselves. See you this Pride month!

Free For All Friday: The Wonderland Pride Spotlight Project

 

Free For All Friday: The Wonderland Pride Spotlight Project

Discussing My Project

Over on Instagram, I'm starting a project called The Wonderland Pride Spotlight project. All of Pride month, different LGBTQ+ authors and authors who include rep will be featured each day. All of these authors were personally interviewed by me as part of the project. I will be including the full interviews on my blog each day (I apologize for the spam in advance).

The project is designed to showcase books with representation in hopes that it becomes more normalized. The real world has many queer people in it, the literary world should too. 

If anyone is interested in participating, just let me know! 

Behind the Scenes

The existing support for this project has been overwhelming! It is truly a wonderful feeling to see just how many people are as passionate as I am about using their platform to uplift marginalized voices. I am so very thankful for everyone who has given me the chance to make this project the success I'm hoping it will be!

Speaking to the authors has been nothing less than inspiring. To see why each and every one of them got into writing, why they find rep important, and what queer figures they look up to has truly been fascinating. I've found the entire experience surprisingly enlightening. The kindness and compassion they have expressed to me warms my heart. 

I'll admit, setting up this project has been a ton of work, but it is a labor of love to be sure! I've had to do a lot of speaking to strangers to make this happen, which was definitely a hurdle with my social anxiety. That said, I've done it and I'm massively proud of myself. 

This year, I've created a guide to help posters have all of the information they need in one place. My goal is to simplify everything related to the project for the participants. I assessed what went well and what didn't to make big changes from last year's version of the project. It was a lot to assemble, but I benefit from it as well. I still have to get to work on my own posts, but that is my plan for the rest of today. 

Here's to hoping the project runs smoothly come June! I've got to get back to work!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Till Summer Do Us Part

 

Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Till Summer Do Us Part

Author: Meghan Quinn

Publisher: Bloom

Release Date: June 3rd

Blurb:

Scottie Price just started a new job, and it's a real sausage fest. She's the only woman on a team filled with Brads and Chads. Expecting a bachelor pad atmosphere, she is quickly corrected when she finds out everyone is happily married.

In an effort to impress her boss, Scottie mentions her nonexistent husband in a company meeting. But eagle-eyed Chad points out her lack of wedding ring. Panicked, Scottie creates a story about her unhappy marriage. Unfortunately for Scottie, her boss has a solution—a one-on-one session with the best marriage counselor in the Northeast, who happens to be her boss’s husband.

With no way out of her lie, Scottie agrees to see him. Frantic, she calls in help from her best friend, who sets her up with his brother, an improv-obsessed millionaire.

Enter Wilder Wells. More than happy to take on the job, he teaches Scottie the main rule of improv: always say yes. But the rule backfires during the session when Wilder signs them up for an eight-day summer marriage camp with all of Scottie’s co-workers, where she’ll have to share a cabin with her way-too-handsome fake husband.

Explanation:

I loved her book, Bridesmaid by Chance. You can see my thoughts on it here. I am so incredibly in the mood for a summery romance book. They are all such a vibe, and I am here for it! With the dreary weather I've had lately, I have to read about sunshine to make up for it.  Luckily for me, I have the ALC and so far I'm really loving it! Stay tuned for my thoughts on it.

 

Top 5 Tuesday: Books with Hearts on the Cover

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday! This week, I'm feeling the love, and what better way to celebrate than with hearts

This week's prompt is..... books with hearts on the cover

These are in no particular order

1. Wild Love by Elsie Sliver
2. The Girlfriend Zone by Lauren Blakely
3. Punt in the Dark by Ariana St. Claire
4. The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford
5. Overturned by Lamar Giles

These are all books I've read in 2025. Admittedly, there may be some higher-rated books in previous years, but I try to keep my picks as recent as possible on here. These are all books I enjoyed and would recommend. 

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

I'm so happy I got a chance to get this up for you all this week. Yay me for pre-planning! I'll see you all next week for even more fun!

Free For All Friday: 2025 Reading Firsts

 

Free For All Friday: 2025 Reading Firsts

Describing the Tag

The 2025 Reading Firsts tag is all about discussing which book you read (or other milestone) first in various categories. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to look back at some of my earlier reads and reminisce. I saw A Knight's Reads do this and knew it would be perfect for me. 

If you see this and feel like you wanna give it a try, consider yourself tagged! 

The Prompts

• First book read in 2025
• First book reviewed in 2025
• First debut novel read in 2025
• First new-to-me author of 2025
• First book that slayed me in 2025
• First book of 2025 I wish I could get back the time I spent reading it

My Picks and Explanations

If any of these books fit multiple prompts, I would choose the next book to have all different reads

First book read

Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

I had mixed feelings about this one. I had a lot of trouble keeping up with the different perspectives, which didn't help my experience. If you pick this one up, maybe try physical or digital because the audio didn't work out.

First book reviewed

Recommended Reading by Paul J. Coccia

My first review on my blog of the year! You can check it out here. Spoiler alert, I quite enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes LGBTQ+ YA stories.

First debut novel

Good Lookin' Cookin' by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George

This is a bit of a cop-out answer, as it is certainly not Dolly's first book. That said, it is Rachel's first book. Admittedly, I only listened to the audiobook, so I cannot speak to the recipes personally, but I am confident they are fantastic. 

 

First new-to-me author

When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

The real answer is Mark Kubica, but as discussed earlier, I'm not repeating. Well, Dustin was my second and... I wish he weren't. I did not like this book very much. I haven't heard anything better about his other stories either. The cover art is by far the best part about his books. 

First book that slayed me

Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy

I wasn't entirely sure what this prompt meant, so I took it to mean my first 5-star read of the year. This book is incredible, and Bindi is an incredible human who deserves all of the love! If a hockey romcom is at all of interest to you, this is a must-read!

First book I regret reading

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

I normally enjoy the books by Christina Lauren, but unfortunately, this was not one of them. The miscommunication in it is so monstrously bad. The book would be significantly shorter if even a single productive conversation had happened. 

Final Thoughts

Wowie, this was quite the adventure down memory lane. We had some highs and some lows. I liked this challenge and how simple it was. Have you read any of these? I'll see all of you again next Free For All Friday, where who knows what we will end up discussing. Fridays will always be my favorite blog day because I get to show the most of my personality in my posts. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Problematic Summer Romance

 

 Can't Wait Wednesday

This week's book is.... Problematic Summer Romance

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 27th

Series: Not in Love

Blurb:

Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life.

Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.

It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.

But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists.

When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.

Explanation:

I have enjoyed all of Ali Hazelwood's releases to date, excluding Bride (I will not be reading that one because I know it is not at all for me). I am so incredibly ready for a summery romance story, and I know this one will fill that craving. I am also super excited to go back to the characters of Not in Love. It should be a fantastic read for me!

What new release are you hyped for?

Top 5 Tuesday: Reading Spots

Welcome back to Top 5 Tuesday! This week, I'm gonna talk about where I love to read

This week's prompt is..... reading spots

These are in order, for once

1. My bed
2. In a beach chair at the lake
3. In my headphones while on a walk
4. At my desk
5. Curled up in a corner with many pillows and a blanket

I like to be comfortable and love some pretty sights. What are your favorite reading spots?

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic 😁

I'm currently very wrapped up in planning my Wonderland Pride Project, so tbd on if there will be a blog post next week