Obsessed with Heated Rivalry? Love a queer sports romance and want to read more? Whether you're after erotic romance or sugar-sweet graphic novels, we've got you covered. From magical girl softball leagues to fast-paced graphic novels and rivals-to-lovers hockey romance, here are 15 queer and sporty books like Heated Rivalry. Game Changer Rachel Reid Hockey & Romance Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading age: 18+ New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter takes his pregame rituals very seriously. When a particular smoothie precedes Scott's breaking his on-ice slump, he’s desperate to recreate the magic… and to get to know the sexy, funny guy behind the counter. Kip Grady knew there was more to Scott’s frequent visits than blended fruit, but he never let himself imagine being invited back to Scott’s penthouse. Or kissed with reckless abandon - and more. What goes on between them is hot, incredible and frequent… but also only on Scott’s terms and always behind his closed apartment doors. Scott needs Kip in his life, but with playoff season approaching, the spotlight on him is suddenly brighter than ever. He can’t afford to do anything that might derail his career or the public’s image of what a hockey captain should be. Kip is ready to go all in with Scott - but how much longer will he have to remain a secret? Blades Of Furry Emily Erdos & Deya Munis Skating & Romance - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Men, Queer Cast Reading age: 14+ Enter the high-stakes world of battle skating in this rivals-to-lovers romance based on the spectacularly popular webcomic. Emile is an up-and-coming rookie in battle skating, a sport that combines the grace of figure skating with the high-impact sparring of martial arts. Just as he is gearing up to fight in his next duel at the championships, there’s a change in the lineup! To his horror, he’ll have to face off against reigning champion Radu, the best battle skater in the world (and Emile’s longtime skating idol). There’s no way he can win! During a pivotal moment in their match, however, Emile discovers Radu’s most closely guarded secret…and it’s a bloody one. This could destroy Radu’s career for good, but when feelings start to develop between them both on and off the rink, will this rivalry turn into something more...? Bunt!: Striking Out on Financial Aid Ngozi Ukazu & Mad Rupert Softball & Art School - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women, Queer Cast Reading age: 14+ Molly Bauer loves her hometown of Peachtree, North Carolina. And her favourite part about her town is the prestigious art school, Peachtree Institute of Collegiate Arts. On the first day of attending this school of her dreams, the spunky freshman - buoyed on the native Peachtreeian Full Ride Scholarship - discovers her scholarship is defunct. Rather than take out loans her parents can't afford, she uncovers a lesser-known scholarship in the PICA financial-aid policy book. If she and a dozen other art students can win a single game at the varsity level, they'll all be retroactively qualified for a PICA athletic scholarship. It's a softball scheme for the ages.  It's A Love/Skate Relationship Carli J. Corson Hockey, Figure Skating & Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading age: 14+ Charlie Porter is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the hockey rink. When she accidentally starts a brawl after a game, she's suspended from school, meaning no hockey this season - and no chance to play in front of college scouts. Alexa Goldstein's pairs skating partner was hurt in the fight, and with only four months until their next competition, pickings for a replacement are slim. So she strikes a deal with Charlie - skate with her at the competition well enough to place, and her Olympian mother will use her formidable connections to get Charlie in front of scouts at D1 schools, even without her team. It seems impossible, and not just because Charlie has never figure skated before. Where Charlie is powerful, Alexa is elegant; where Charlie is quick to blow up, Alexa is cold as ice. But as the frostiness between them starts to thaw, they begin to wonder if they've found a partner for more than just skating. Grand Slam Romance Ollie Hicks & Emma Oosterhous Softball, Magical Girls & Romance - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women, Non-Binary Reading age: 18+ A queer magical girl/sports romance where the balls are fast, the smooches are spicy, and the girls... well... magical. In this queer graphic novel that’s equal parts romance, softball, and magical girl drama, Mickey Monsoon and Astra Maxima are best friends... and maybe more. That is, until Astra unceremoniously dumps Mickey to become a softball wunderkind at a private girl’s school in Switzerland. Years later, Mickey is the hotshot pitcher for the Belle City Broads, and their team is poised to sweep the league this season. But Micky is thrown off their game when Astra shows up to catch for the Gaiety Gals, the Broads’ fiercest rival. Astra is flirty, arrogant, and reckless on the field - everything the rule-abiding Mickey hates. Hex Americana Bree D. Wolf Motorsport & Paranormal Romance - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading age: 10+ Ken Takamoto is a wannabe racer stuck at home for the summer, with only his mother for company. Dante Willow is a ghost stuck in the car he crashed while racing his rival twenty years ago. When they meet by chance, Ken has the answer to both their problems - enter the local racing league, Hex Americana, and win the annual Grand Prix. If they win, Dante can pass on to the afterlife and Ken can keep Dante's fixed-up car to go anywhere he wants. What starts as a simple plan becomes a wild summer full of witches, gnomes, feelings, magical chickens, and more as they prepare for the big race. Will Ken and Dante finish first? Can they even make it to the finish line? And more importantly, what happens when this racing duo blooms into something more?! Wake Up, Nat & Darcy Kate Cochrane Hockey & Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading age: 18+ Cut from the US women’s hockey team right before her third chance at gold, Natalie Carpenter is scrambling for a plan that’ll help her avoid moving back home. The answer: a guest-hosting gig on Wake Up, USA’s winter games coverage. Her cohost: Darcy LaCroix, Nat’s ex-girlfriend, one-time college teammate turned adversary. Since leaving Team Canada, Darcy has worked hard to make a name in broadcasting. If her big break requires sharing screen time with the former cocky freshman who turned her world upside down, so be it. At this point, there’s nothing between them except history. But audiences disagree. #PuckingHotties is trending hard, and Nat and Darcy agree to lean into it - for ratings, obviously. It’s not like Nat can forget the way Darcy broke her heart or their bitter team rivalry. Between working, traveling together and that irresistible spark, it’s getting hard to separate what’s real and what’s for the camera. Because somewhere underneath everything that went wrong is the sneaking suspicion that nothing will ever feel quite this right again. Kickflip LD Lapinski & Logan Hanning Skateboarding & Self-Discovery - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Non-Binary Reading age: 12+ A poignant LGBTQ+ graphic novel about self-discovery, skateboarding and finding your true community of friends, perfect for fans of Heartstopper. What happens when your two worlds collide . . . At school, Elliot gets bullied for being 'different to other girls', whereas at the skate park, everyone welcomes Elliot - presuming they're male - but neither label feels right. As Eliot's love of skateboarding and friendships grow, their worlds collide at a sports expo where the school netball team and skate crew are competing. Can Elliot find the courage to share what they've learned about non-binary identity? Will best friend Jess or the skateboarding crew accept Elliot for who they are? And what about Ryan, the skater who Elliot has been feeling increasingly close to? The Prospects KT Hoffman Baseball & Romance Queer Rep: Trans Men, Queer Men Reading age: 18+ The pressure cooker of minor league baseball leads to major chemistry in this exhilarating, sexy, and triumphant rivals-to-lovers debut romance. Hope is familiar territory for Gene Ionescu. He has always loved baseball, a sport made for underdogs and optimists like him. He also loves his team, the minor league Beaverton Beavers, and, for the most part, he loves the career he’s built. As the first openly trans player in professional baseball, Gene has nearly everything he’s ever let himself dream of - that is, until Luis Estrada, Gene’s former teammate and current rival, gets traded to the Beavers, destroying the careful equilibrium of Gene’s life. Gene and Luis can’t manage a civil conversation off the field or a competent play on it, but in the close confines of dugout benches and roadie buses, they begrudgingly rediscover a comfortable rhythm. As the two grow closer, the tension between them turns electric, and their chemistry spills past the confines of the stadium. I Heart Skull-Crusher! Josie Campbell & Alessio Zonno Dystopian Sports Leagues - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Cast Reading age: 14+ Mad Max meets dodgeball in this wild, dystopian sports graphic novel full of colour, violence and personal heroes set in a post-apocalyptic America. 18-year-old Trini will do anything to compete in her favourite sport, Screaming Pain Ball, alongside her longtime hero Skull-Crusher! But she can’t do it alone, and a gaggle of misfits is just what she needs to cross the American wastes and battle in Queen Mob’s deadly tournament. With Trini’s dreams of being just like Skull-Crusher on the line, do she and her friends have what it takes to win a coveted spot on their team? The Avant-Guards Carly Usdin & Noah Hayes Basketball & Friendship - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women, Queer Cast Reading age: 14+ When Charlie transfers to the Georgia O’Keeffe College of Arts and Subtle Dramatics, she struggles to find her feet, but winds up exactly where she belongs... in the school’s (terrible) basketball team! Charlie was determined to leave sports behind when she transferred to the Georgia O’Keeffe College for Arts and Subtle Dramatics, but perky and very cute barely-a-basketball-team captain Liv has other ideas! With a ragtag crew, a persistent streak, and the future of the whole league on the line, Charlie and the Avant-Guards must come together to figure out who they are on-and-off the court! Charming and hilarious characters with a lot of heart shoot their shots until the final buzzer in this hit series about love, teamwork, and basketball! One Of The Boys Victoria Zeller American Football & High School Queer Rep: Trans Women Reading age: 14+ Grace Woodhouse has left a lot behind. She used to have a great friend group, an amazing girlfriend, and a right foot set to earn her a Division I football scholarship - before she came out as trans. As senior year begins, Grace is struggling to find her place in early transition, new social circles, and a life without football. But when her skills as the best kicker in the state prove to be vital, her old teammates beg her to come out of retirement, dragging her back into a sport - into a way of life - she thought had turned its back on her forever. When a chance meeting cracks the door to college football back open, she has to decide how much of herself she's willing to give up for the game she loves. Fence CS Pacat & Johanna The Mad Fencing, Rivals & Romance - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Men, Queer Cast Reading age: 12+ Nicholas Cox is determined to prove himself in the world of competitive fencing, and earn his place alongside fencing legends like the dad he never knew, but things get more complicated when he’s up against his golden-boy half-brother, as well as sullen fencing prodigy, Seiji Katayama. Nicholas, the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion, is a scrappy fencing wunderkind, and dreams of getting the chance and the training to actually compete. After getting accepted to the prodigious Kings Row private school, Nicholas is thrust into a cut-throat world, and finds himself facing not only his golden-boy half-brother, but the unbeatable, mysterious Seiji Katayama... Through clashes, rivalries, and romance between teammates, Nicholas and the boys of Kings Row will discover there’s much more to fencing than just foils and lunges. S.I.R. Fell Hound Motorcycles, Jousting & Romance - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading age: 14+ Fight Club meets 90's yuri anime on motorbikes: to win back her girlfriend, Avery Sakai will need to compete in her school's violent underground extracurricular... a motorcycle jousting competition known as Seismic Ironclash Roulette! Fate brutally separated Avery Sakai from her girlfriend Nico Xing, but acceptance at Bridleham Academy might be just the thing to bring them back together. As it turns out though, Nico's extracurriculars are the last thing Avery expected… Now to win a chance at love, Avery will need to throw herself into the violent but captivating world of the motorcycle jousting fight club known as the Seismic Ironclash Roulette! Wuvable Oaf Ed Luce Ex-Wrestlers & Cats - Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading age: 18+ Oaf is a large, hirsute, scary-looking ex-wrestler who lives in San Francisco with his adorable kitties and listens to a lot of Morrissey. The book follows Oaf's search for love in the big city, especially his pursuit of Eiffel, the lead singer of the black metal / queercore / progressive disco grindcore band Ejaculoid. Luce weaves between the friends, associates, enemies, ex-lovers and pasts of both men into the story of their courtship. A romantic comedy at its core, Wuvable Oaf recalls elements of comics as diverse as Scott Pilgrim, Love and Rockets, and Archie, set against the background of San Francisco's queer community and music scene. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeek Bookshop  or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk  ✌

Not into fiction? No problem! There are loads of queer non-fiction books coming out in 2026 and we thought we'd put together a quick list of some of our most anticipated titles. From gay memoirs to queer self-help guides and even a few books about the history of queer literature, here are our ten most anticipated LGBTQ+ non-fiction books coming out in 2026. Note: some release dates of these books may be pushed back and covers may change. The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened Tash Walker & Adam Zmith 29 January 2026 In a crawlspace at the offices of Switchboard, a queer helpline in operation since 1974, lies dozens of log books kept by volunteers describing the phone calls they had taken: a teenager whose parents had kicked them out of home for dressing as the wrong gender; a lesbian terrified of having her baby taken away from her; a man arrested for chatting up another man in a public toilet; a young person wanting to know how to come out. These logs were traces of tens of thousands of queer lives, a bridge to a past hidden from people like Tash Walker and Adam Zmith in their youth, captured by people who lent an ear to those in need. Walker and Zmith came of age in the time of Section 28, a law which banned councils and schools ‘promoting the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship’. In recovering these logs, they encountered people grappling with feelings, questions and problems both familiar and different, and set out to learn from – and sometimes speak to – those on both sides of the calls. Kink Curious: A Guide to Exploring Your Kinks, Dispelling Shame, and Staying Safe Gigi Engle 21 January 2026 Kink has been around as long as humans have existed, but comes with an astonishing amount of myths and misunderstandings. This is a sex-positive, shame-free guide to kink for everyone from curious beginners to seasoned kinksters. This book delves deep in every corner of the kink sphere. It jumps headfirst into the foundations of powerplay, at the differences between kink and fetish, and gives you the low-down on all kinds of bondage and impact play styles, while putting mental and physical health at the forefront. Whether you want a 101 in flogging safely, to plan a roadmap for experimenting with different kinds of niche play, or learn how to explore what your desires and boundaries are in a fun, consensual and trauma-informed way - this is the guide for you. With kink exercises, journal prompts, worksheets and agony aunt letters, this has all the practical tools you'll need for a spicy, shame-free kink journey. The Queer Bookshelf: A Reader's Guide Layla McCay 04 June 2026 We have always been here, and so have our stories. Queer writers and writing about LGBTQ+ people have existed since the dawn of writing itself, from Ancient Mesopotamia through to the Victorians right up to to the present day, where we are currently experiencing a vibrant new era of queer writing. The Queer Bookshelf  is your ultimate guide to this rich history. Alongside the author’s own love affair with queer books, this book is packed with recommendations from prominent queer authors, booksellers, and readers and is an entertaining journey through the evolution of queer literature to discover the most important, fascinating, and fun queer classics from around the world. Literary classics, pulp fiction, war writing, crime thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, young adult all have a queer history and future.  The Queer Bookshelf  lights the way, making it the perfect companion for anyone beginning or continuing their queer reading journey. Ace Of Hearts: Lessons In Love From An Asexual Girl Cooklin 19 February 2026 Growing up, Caitlin Cook knew the recipe for social success from watching television and reading books: two best friends, two enemies, and a boyfriend. So she arranged her life accordingly: making friends and dreaming of the boys she met in school. But she felt that inside, something was wrong with her. Because though she wanted to get close to people, every time she experimented with sex, she just felt bored. This graphic novel follows Caitlin Cook, who is asexual but does not yet fully realize it. From evangelical purity politics to the footloose college campus, Caitlin navigates different worlds each with their own sexual orthodoxies, and clumsily attempts to fit into each of them. Manboobs: A Very Queer Memoir Komail Aijazuddin 25 June 2026 Even as a young child in Lahore, Komail Aijazuddin knew he was different. Other boys didn’t pirouette off their desks, get bullied for their ‘manboobs’ or spontaneously burst into songs from The Little Mermaid. Other boys didn’t play together like that. Starved of a crucial part of himself, he ate. And ate. Before long, his own body became another burden to carry everywhere and to hide. Komail began to believe his only chance at a happy, meaningful life would be found in America, land of the free, home of the gays. But he would soon learn that finding happiness takes a lot more than a plane ticket. This is Aijazuddin’s riotous, intelligent memoir of searching for his place between two worlds while navigating a minefield of expectations, prejudice and self-doubt. In Manboobs, Aijazuddin confidently announces himself as a sharp new voice in humour with his moving, wickedly funny search for love and the bravery required to be yourself. Say Nephew: On Boyhood, Unclehood, and Queer Mentorship Steven Pfau 26 May 2026 Blending memoir and criticism, Steven Pfau pays tribute to the gay uncles who have shaped his sense of queer identity, culture, and history. The most influential - the mentor who would set the standard for all of Steven’s future mentors - was his uncle Bruce. A charismatic storyteller with a Burt Reynolds–esque bravado (and a mustache, leather jacket, and pair of cowboy boots to match), Bruce came out in 1950s Memphis and lived in New York City through many of the defining events of the gay liberation era. Bruce was both a unique fixture in Steven’s upbringing and an archetypal figure within a much broader history - a link in a long lineage of uncles, literal and figurative, who have offered various forms of queer tutelage to younger men. But what role is the nephew supposed to play in these bonds? And who does he become once his uncles are no longer there to guide him? Both a coming-of-age story and a wide-ranging study, SAY NEPHEW is a wholly original and expansive consideration of queer mentorship. How Queer Bookshops Changed The World A.J. West 07 May 2026 Home not only to books but chaotic community noticeboards, vicious rescue cats and countless meet cutes, queer bookshops have always been more than just bookshops, offering friendship, solidarity and sanctuary. Travelling the world – Shakespeare and Company in Paris, Gay’s the Word in London, the Oscar Wilde Bookshop in New York – A. J. West explores the remarkable history of these bookstores. Tracing their evolution from under-the-counter operations to beloved out-and-proud institutions, West reveals how the queer bookshop stood at the vanguard of LGBTQ+ rights, offering support and vital information through the AIDS crisis and bringing the fight to Section 28 and book bans. A powerful testament not only to bookshops but to the courage of queer booksellers, from Sylvia Beach hiding books from the Nazis in laundry baskets to Craig Rodwell facing off against the police at the Stonewall riots, A. J. West celebrates the shops and booksellers that brought queer literature and lives into the mainstream. The Other A In LGBTQIA+: An Introduction to the Aromantic Community, in Our Own Words Aurea - The Aromantic-Spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy 21 May 2026 Do you ever feel alienated by the way society presents love? Maybe you find the idea of romantic relationships off-putting, or maybe it's just 'not your thing'. Sound familiar? Aromanticism is a spectrum of identities where people have little to no interest in romance, or only feel attraction under certain circumstances. This essential book weaves together insights and perspectives from aromantic people across the world, sharing their stories of self-discovery and community. Chapters explore how aromanticism interacts with mental health, dealing with stigma or dismissive attitudes, intersection with different cultural expectations, and more. Whether you're new to an aromantic identity, have been part of the community for years, or just want to know more, this book will help you understand what aromanticism is and what it means for you. Queer Comics: A Critical Guide Lecturer Tof Eklund & Sam Orchard 20 August 2026 An international and intersectional introduction mapping the history, impact, key critical issues and seminal texts of the genre,  Queer Comics  looks at queer creators and queer content in graphic narratives beyond. Not advocating for a canon but instead offering new avenues for exploration beyond what has thus far been very US-focused, this book surveys the queer experience, looks at the genre as a queering of an already queer medium and dives into how it can speak to all communities. Accessible and inclusive in the easy-to-navigate structure of the Bloomsbury Comics Studies series, the book covers manga, pornography, Tijuana Bibles, contemporary webcomics, zines, children's and YA comics and adult graphic memoirs beyond American underground comix. Includes key texts by creators such as Alison Bechdel, Howard Cruise, Yamaji Ebine, Crystal Frasier, Megan Rose Gedris, Kay O'Neill, Jem Yoshioka and Tab Kimpton, among many others. No Fats, No Fems: A Guide To Queer Empathy and Unpacking Prejudice Max Hovey 21 May 2026 From queer activist and sex educator Max Hovey, the essential modern guide for understanding what divides us and the path to building a better community - a revolutionary call to arms for embracing kindness and empathy. Exclusionary and derogatory rhetoric in online spaces like “no fats, no fems” is often an unfortunate reality for many queer people and speaks to a larger issue at hand - but it doesn’t have to be this way. Activist Max Hovey has gained thousands of supporters worldwide in his efforts to challenge stereotypes and unpack the problematic ideologies queer people can place on each other - and often on themselves.  Regardless of background or sexual orientation, our mutual goal is empathy, and Max gives us all the tools needed to get there. The Velvet Rage for a modern audience, No Fats, No Fems is an urgent call to action, offering a roadmap to building stronger community and a much kinder future. Think we've missed something great? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeekStore  or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk  ✌

This month we're focusing on all things geeky (not that that's much different from the other eleven months of the year). Think film festivals, comic conventions, fan fiction and tabletop games! So pack your favourite dice, open up AO3 and spend the next 72 hours frantically trying to finish that cosplay - these are 12 LGBTQ+ books about queer nerds that everyone should read: If You Still Recognise Me Comic Books & Fan Fiction YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women. LGBTQ+ Cast Reading Age: 14+ Elsie has a crush on Ada. With a shared obsession with a queer-coded comic book series and the fan fiction that accompanies it, Ada is the only person in the world who truly understands her. Unfortunately, they've never met in real life and Ada lives an ocean away. But Elsie has decided it's now or never to tell Ada how she feels. That is, until her long-lost best friend Joan walks back into her life. In a summer of repairing broken connections and building surprising new ones, Elsie realises that she isn't nearly as alone as she thought. But now she has a choice to make... Broken Hearts And Zombie Parts Indie Films YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 14+ A Big Gay Rom-Zom-Com with Heart. Jesse Spark has a broken heart and in a few short weeks he'll require major surgery to repair it - which means he only has a month to accomplish two almost-impossible tasks. 1) Shoot his epic zombie movie on a shoestring budget if he has any hope of getting into film school. 2) Fall in love before this surgery lands him with a huge scar - because how will anyone ever fancy him after that? Sex Education meets Love, Simon - with fake zombies - in this savagely funny gay YA romance about body image, self-acceptance and falling in love, all while shooting a low-budget zombie flick! Breakup, Makeup ComicCon and Cosplay YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Men, Non-Binary Reading Age: 14+ Glow Up meets Comic Con in this bold, queer second chance romance where a special effects makeup artist must compete against their ex-boyfriend in a unique makeup and cosplay competition to win the scholarship of their dreams... and maybe their ex's heart. Eli Peterson is a self-taught, up-and-coming makeup artist in the cosplay scene who is just barely making ends meet. While they might be slaying it with their breath-taking, innovative looks, they're also trying to save up enough money for top surgery and convince their parents that taking a gap year to focus on their dream of being a makeup artist is worthwhile. During a convention, Eli hears about Makeup Wars, a cosplay makeup competition that could change everything. The problem is that they be going head-to-head with some of the most talented up-and-coming makeup artists - including rival influencer Zachary Miller, who also happens to be their ex-boyfriend. A Con Affair ComiCon & Comics Erotic Rom-Com Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 18+ Romance, sex and spandex all collide in this romantic drama that considers if love and career can co-exist, or are they always just a crisis waiting to happen. Arran Wilson is an aspiring comic book writer. Cameron Perkins is an avid cosplayer. When they meet at a London comic con, the pair hit it off immediately, in every sense. As they start hooking up at comic cons all over the country, what at first seemed like a bit of fun starts turning into something more. Then Arran gets his first major publishing contract. Suddenly, his noisy mind is filled with new concerns. As he gets swamped by all these questions and fears, Arran has to learn if he can have it the dream career, the hot lover and romance too. Or is that just as colourful a fiction as the superheroes he writes about… Stars In Their Eyes ComicCon YA Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women, Non-Binary Reading Age: 12+ In this lighthearted YA romance, Maisie and Ollie discover that nothing beats the feeling of falling in love for the first time. Maisie is on her way to Fancon! She's looking forward to meeting her idol, Kara Bufano, the action hero from her favorite TV show, who has a lower-leg amputation, just like Maisie. But when Maisie and her mom arrive at the convention center, she is stopped in her tracks by Ollie, a cute volunteer working the show. They are kind, charming, and geek out about nerd culture just as much as Maisie does. And as the day wears on, Maisie notices feelings for Ollie that she's never had before. Is this what it feels like to fall in love? I Think I Love You Film Festivals YA Contemporary Romance Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 12+ A sweet and funny debut novel about falling for someone when you least expect it... and finding out that real-life romance is better than anything onscreen. Emma is a die-hard romantic. She loves a meet-cute Netflix movie, her pet, Lady Catulet, and dreaming up the Gay Rom-Com of her heart for the film festival competition she and her friends are entering. If only they’d listen to her ideas. . . Sophia is pragmatic. She’s big into boycotts, namely 1) relationships, 2) teen boys and their BO (reason 2347683 she’s a lesbian), and 3) Emma’s nauseating ideas. Forget starry-eyed romance, Sophia knows what will win: an artistic film with a message. Cue the drama. They Came to Slay: Queer Culture of DnD Dungeons & Dragons Queer Culture - Non-Fiction Queer Rep: LGBTQ+ Reading Age: 17+ Queer people have always played Dungeons & Dragons. Since the mid-2010s, the queer dice-rolling magic and might-wielding contingent have been taking up more space. They Came to Slay is a queer non-fiction book about the history of Dungeons & Dragons within queer culture, and how the game became such a powerful mechanic for queer people. The book examines how DnD allows queer people to explore how they want to lead their lives in real and imagined worlds alike. Sarahland Fan Fiction Contemporary Short Stories Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 17+ In Sarahland, Sam Cohen brilliantly and often hilariously explores the ways in which traditional stories have failed us, both demanding and thrillingly providing for its cast of Sarahs new origin stories, new ways to love the planet and those inhabiting it, and new possibilities for life itself. Including one story, a Buffy-loving Sarah uses fan fiction to work through romantic obsession. As the collection progresses, Cohen explodes this search for self, insisting that we have more to resist and repair than our own personal narratives. Readers witness as the ever-evolving "Sarah" gets recast: as a bible-era trans woman, an aging lesbian literally growing roots, a being who transcends the earth as we know it. While Cohen presents a world that will clearly someday end, "Sarah" will continue. The Queer Games Avant-Guard Video Games Queer History - Non-Fiction Queer Rep: LGBTQ+ Reading Age: 17+ In The Queer Games Avant-Garde, Bonnie Ruberg presents twenty interviews with twenty-two queer video game developers whose radical, experimental, vibrant, and deeply queer work is driving a momentous shift in the medium of video games. Speaking with insight and candor about their creative practices as well as their politics and passions, these influential and innovative game makers tell stories about their lives and inspirations, the challenges they face, and the ways they understand their places within the wider terrain of video game culture. Their insights go beyond typical conversations about LGBTQ representation in video games or how to improve “diversity” in digital media. Instead, they explore queer game-making practices, the politics of queer independent video games, how queerness can be expressed as an aesthetic practice, the influence of feminist art on their work, and the future of queer video games and technology. The Shadow Glass 80s Cult Films Supernatural Fantasy Queer Rep: Queer Men (side character) Reading Age: 17+ A thrilling race against the clock to save the world from fantasy creatures from a cult 80s film – perfect for fans of Henson Company puppet classics like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, and The NeverEnding Story. Jack Corman is failing at life. Jobless, jaded and facing the threat of eviction, he’s also reeling from the death of his father, one-time film director Bob Corman. Back in the eighties, Bob poured his heart and soul into the creation of his 1986 puppet fantasy The Shadow Glass, but the film flopped on release and Bob was never the same again. In the wake of Bob’s death, Jack returns to his decaying childhood home, where he is confronted with the impossible - the puppet heroes from The Shadow Glass are alive, and they need his help. Renegade Rule Video Games YA Graphic Novel Queer Rep: Queer Women Reading Age: 14+ The Manhattan Mist have beaten the odds to land themselves in the national championships for Renegade Rule, one of the hottest virtual reality games in existence. But they're in for competition fiercer than they ever imagined, and one team member's entire future could be at stake. Four queer female friends will have to play harder than ever against self-doubt, infighting, romantic distraction, and a slew of other world-class teams if they hope to become champions. Both hilarious and heartwarming, this new graphic novel from Ignatz-nominated writer Ben Kahn, debut author Rachel Silverstein, and artist Sam Beck is a celebration of friendship, competition, queer identity, and the insane things we do for the things and people we love. Board To Death Board Games Contemporary Mystery Queer Rep: Queer Men Reading Age: 17+ Back in his hometown of Sugar House running his family's board game shop and cafe, Ben Rosencrantz just can't seem to get his life to pass go, much less collect $200. Once he was a happily married English professor in Seattle. Now he's a divorced caregiver, looking after his ill father and a chihuahua named Beans while still figuring out the rules of retail management. But despite his usual clientele of gamers, Ben is barely earning enough to keep the store running and stay on top of his father's medical bills. Then a local toy and game collector named Clive offers him a winning strategy--to purchase a turn-of-the-twentieth-century edition of The Landlord's Game , the realty and taxation game that inspired Monopoly , at a tenth of the rare edition's true value. Suspicious of Clive's shady, low-priced deal, Ben turns the offer down. Then Clive turns up dead in the dumpster behind Ben's shop and a backpack full of $100 bills appears on his doorstep. Now Ben is the number 1 suspect in Clive's death, and unless he and Ezra can prove his innocence and find the real killer, he'll go to jail for murder--and no amount of double dice rolls will set him free . . . Have we missed your favourite nerdy fiction? Send us a message on Instagram @ProudGeek Bookshop or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌