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September 2022: Historians Said They Were Roommates!
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They were the best of friends.
They wrote love letters to each other, lived together until they died, were buried together. This is dedicated to those who…
HISTORIANS SAID THEY WERE ROOMMATES!🌈 Cemetery Boys was one of our first books, and we are so excited to say that our September BOTM is the first in Aiden Thomas’ new duology, The Sunbearer Trials! You’re going to LOVE this book - it’s part adventure and part deadly competition, filled with lush descriptions, beautifully described locales, and a friendship and love that may just be… to die for! Our copies come with an exclusive dust jacket, gorgeous page overlays by @chioink, an author letter, and a bookplate signed by Aiden!
SUMMARY:
As a new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of 13 and 18 are selected by Sol himself to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years.
The Sunbearer competitors are always Golds, so Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others, and not himself. But for the first time ever, Sol chooses two Jades for the competition: Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, and… Teo. Now they must compete in five mysterious trials, against opponents who are both more powerful and better trained, for fame, glory, and their own survival.
QUEER REP: Trans male mcs, achillean and sapphic mcs and scs, nonbinary scs, queer-normative world, trans-normative world
OTHER REP: Latinx cast and Deaf characters, masculine women
CW: bullying, violence, injury, death, ritual sacrifice (not on page), blood, fire, classism, gender dysphoria, death of parent
🌈 The e-book for Sept. will be announced soon!
🌈 Featured fandoms:- Soulbound series by Hailey Turner (mlm, achillean m) (magnet)
- This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron (wlw, pan f )
- Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (wlw, bi f)
- Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel (aroace f)
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August 2022: Enemies to Lovers
Love a little tension with your love stories? Then August’s theme is perfect for you! Without further ado, our August theme is…
ENEMIES TO LOVERS!🌈 Our August BOTM is The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver! The Feeling of Falling in Love is a new kind of love story, about walking disasters, the bad decisions we make, and the people who help get us back on the right path.
SUMMARY:
Just days before spring break, Neil Kearney is set to fly across the country with his childhood friend-with-benefits Josh, to attend his brother's wedding—until Josh tells Neil that he's in love with him and Neil doesn't return the sentiment.
With Josh still attending the wedding, Neil needs to find a new date to bring along to show Josh that he’s SO over him. But the only one available is his roommate Wyatt, who is hot, but way too nice, and loud, and also hates him (for good reason).
At first, Wyatt (correctly) thinks Neil is acting like a jerk. But when they get to LA, Neil and Wyatt begin to understand one another… and maybe, just maybe, fall in love for the first time…
QUEER REP: trans male, enby-questioning character, gay, sapphic, bi maleOTHER REP: Black & Korean characters
CW: transphobia, homophobia, divorce, misgendering, deadnaming (name not shown), classism, underage drinking, neglectful parenting, death of parent (off pg)
🌈 The e-book for August will be announced soon!
🌈 Featured fandoms:- Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston (mlm, bi m mc, gay li) (magnet)
- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (wlw)
- Love Bites by Duckie Mack (mlm)
- The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri (wlw, lesbian)
🌈 An item from each fandom and the botm will be included in your boxes! We’re excited to announce we will also be featuring art by Odile (@odile.lavdor)!
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July 2022: Beats of Pride
They say that music is the voice of the soul, and when words fail, music speaks. Our July books all embrace the power of music in the queer experience! Without further ado, our July theme is…
BEATS OF PRIDE
🌈 Our July BOTM is Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min! Beating Heart Baby is a dazzlingly-written story of first love in a vulnerable heart, a dizzying, sexy, and utterly heartfelt love letter to internet friendships and indie rock.
SUMMARY:When artistic and sensitive orphan Santi arrives at his new high school, everyone in the wildly talented marching band welcomes him with open arms. Except for the prickly, proud musical prodigy Suwa, who clearly doesn’t think Santi has what it takes.
But when Santi and Suwa open up to each other about their painful pasts, a tentative friendship begins. And soon, that friendship turns into something more.
Will their budding relationship rip at the seams when Suwa seeks something more, and Santi figures out his deepest secret? Can what they built survive?
QUEER REP: mlm, pansexual m, trans m, non-binary sc, sapphic sc, lesbian sc
OTHER REP: Japanese-Korean mc, Black sc, Latinx sc
CW: transphobia, homophobia, deadnaming (name not shown), anxiety attack, underage drinking, smoking, mentions of past child abuse, death of a parent, body dysmorphia, racism, past forced outing, pressure to come out🌈 The e-book for July is A Demon for Midwinter by K.L. Noone! More about that soon!
Featured fandoms:
- The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow (demisexual bi f) (magnet)
- We're Here, We're Here by K.M. Szpara (mlm, trans m, bi m, nb)
- This is What it Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow (wlw, lesbian, bi f)
- If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich (mlm, gay, bi m)
June 2022: The Future is Queer
What's better than one amazing story in a book? SEVENTEEN amazing stories in one book! That's right – in June you got to experience 17 unique, entirely QUEER stories by your favorite authors!
🌈 JUNE CRATE INVENTORY:
- Hardcover copy of Out There: Into the Queer New Yonder, the brand-new all-queer anthology with exclusive digitally-signed bookplate, print by @ace_artemis_fanartistand exclusive letter from the editor!
- Ebook copy of Gateway by Juliette L. Dunn!
- Monthly collectible magnet featuring Gideon and Harrow from Gideon the Ninth by Tamsuin Muir!
- Light summer blanket based on Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell, art by Tiff (hiyoribo on twitter)!
- Collapsible straw and magnetic case based on The DIsasters by M.K. England!
- Reusable cup sleeve based on The Starship Teapot series by Si Clarke!
- Multifandom bamboo fiber plates featuring a Where’s Waldo treasure hunt of the characters from your favorite books! Illustration by @jamielynnlano.
- The Rainbow Gaze, which contains a monthly Spotify playlist themed to each month's box, talks about our fandoms, introduces our queer charity of the month, and lets you know what's up in Rainbow land!
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photo by @shelf_blame
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photo by @foreverinastory
May 2022: Follow Your Dreams
Sometimes being out and queer isn’t enough. Sometimes you want to be the world’s first OUT GAY Country music star! It’s nice to have a dream, and we threw our weight behind that with our May theme!
🌈 MAY CRATE INVENTORY:
- Hardcover copy of A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy with signed bookplate, print by @ace_artemis_fanartistand exclusive author letter!
- Ebook copy of More by Abra Pressler!
- Monthly collectible magnet featuring Conrad and Alden from Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert!
- Foiled bookmarks featuring Emmett and Luke from A Little Bit Country with art by @mavilezart!
- Teal card case featuring Dare Mighty Things by Heather Kaczynski!
- Gold-accented Fabric book box featuring Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur!
- Trans pride Rubik’s cube featuring Obie Is Man Enough by Schuyler Bailar!
- The Rainbow Gaze, which contains a monthly Spotify playlist themed to each month's box, talks about our fandoms, introduces our queer charity
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photo by @aprilreadsandlistens
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photo by @bookworm_panda
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photo by @aprilreadsandlistens
April 2022: Friends to Lovers
Spring is a prime time for romantic love, or so they say… and for April have we got a love for you!
🌈 APRIL CRATE INVENTORY:
- Hardcover copy of Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk with signed bookplate, print by @ace_artemis_fanartistand exclusive author letter
- Ebook copy of Dad Jokes and Pine Cones by C.J. Banks plus bonus sticker
- Monthly collectible magnet featuring Leah and Abby from Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Abertalli
- Keychain featuring our favorite fiery quote from NBABAY
- Bamboo collapsible phone stand featuring our favorite quote from The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons
- Booksleeve based on The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun, with art by @justinlart- Noah’s Banana paperclips based on Noah Can’t Even by Simon James Green
- The Rainbow Gaze, which contains a monthly Spotify playlist themed to each month's box, talks about our fandoms, introduces our queer charity of the month, and lets you know what's up in Rainbow land
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photo by @wordsandworldsbooks
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photo by @shelf_blame
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photo by @shelf_blame
March 2022: Breaking the Binary!
We pulled in resources far and wide to line up some diverse and truly amazing books this month!
This is our 3rd identity box (following our ace and sapphic boxes) and focuses on identities outside the gender binary!
🌈 In the box:
- Hardcover copy of And They Lived… by Steven Salvatore with print by Ace Artemis, and exclusive author letter
- Ebook copy of Villainous by Lou Wilham
- Monthly collectible magnet featuring Evelyn and Flora/Florian from The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. Magnet design by @jamielynnlano
- UV arm covers featuring the fairy tale from And They Lived…
- The next in our library metalmark series featuring shelves full of nonbinary books and podcasts, featuring the mcs from The Love Study by Kris Ripper
- Glass storage canister featuring a gorgeous quote from The Brilliant Death by AR Capetta
- Pencil roll featuring Noah from Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee. Art by@bloodwrit
- The Rainbow Gaze, which contains a monthly Spotify playlist themed to each month's box, talks about our fandoms, introduces our queer charity of the month, and lets you know what's up in Rainbow land!
February 2022: QPR (Queerplatonic Relationships)
🌈 This month is about a kind of relationship that is a little more intense & intimate than is common for friendships, but doesn't quite fit a traditional couple model!
QPRs are characterized by a strong bond, love, and emotional commitment. You can read more about QPRs at the LGBTA wiki!
🌈 In the box:
- Hardcover copy of Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor with print by Ace Artemis, and exclusive author letter
- Ebook copy of Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault
- Monthly collectible magnet featuring Ingrid and Alex from Fire Becomes Her. Magnet design by @jamielynnlano
- Puzzle based on Brothersong by TJ Klune, art by @chuck_the_goon
- In-world silicone baking mat based on Baker Thief
- Stationery set based on Royal Rescue by A. Alex Logan
- In-world tea tin based on If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann
- The Rainbow Gaze, which contains a monthly Spotify playlist themed to each month's box, talks about our fandoms, introduces our queer charity of the month, and lets you know what's up in Rainbow land!
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photo by @shelf_blame
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photo by @worldsfromwords
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photo by @wordsandworldsbooks
January 2022: Playing with Pride
🌈 This month we are celebrating inclusion in sports, and books that show that it doesn’t matter how you love (or don’t love), it’s how you play the game!
🌈 IN THE BOX:
- Hardcover copy of Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei with print by Ace Artemis, and exclusive author letter
- Ebook copy of Endgame by Zoe Reed
- Our monthly collectible magnet - this month we featured Ana from Ana on the Edge by A.J. Sass. Magnet design by @jamielynnlano
- Stadium seat cushion featuring our favorite quote from Icebreaker, "I don't wanna be just another one of your former teammates."
- Sports sip bottle featuring the cast of The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic
- Lanyard whistle to help keep you safe (or in charge!) based on Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Val K. Wise, and Oscar O. Jupiter
- Backpack designed by @c_leadraw based on Running With Lions by Julian Winters and print of the artwork
- The Rainbow Gaze, which contains a monthly Spotify playlist themed to each month's box, talks about our fandoms, introduces our queer charity of the month, and lets you know what's up in Rainbow land!
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photo by @shelf_blame
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photo by @wordsandworldsbooks
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photo by @shelf_blame
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Go to: 2022 Boxes | 2021 Boxes Jul-Dec | 2021 Boxes Jan-Jun | 2020 Boxes
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