Here are some of our highly anticipated releases for the remainder of 2022
BY LUCAN FAIRWEATHER
With so many LGBTQI books coming out this year, this list gives a month-by-month guide of what we’re most excited to read in the second half of 2022!
JULY
The Queens Of Sarmiento Park by Camila Sosa Villada (12 July 2022)
Auntie Encarna’s house hosts a found family for sex workers, and for young trans woman Camila it has become a refuge. Until Auntie Encarna takes in a lost baby boy one night, and everything changes. Camila Sosa Villada’s new “queer fairy tale” is a beautiful yet tragic story about sex work, gender identity and chosen family.
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield (12 July 2022)
When Leah returns from a deep sea mission that ended in disaster, Miri is delighted to have her wife back. But it doesn’t take long to see that Leah isn’t the same woman she knew. Something happened down there, and whatever they found has been dragged back up to dry land as a part of Leah. Julia Armfield’s debut novel offers love, loss and the mystery of the deep, deep sea.
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson (21 July 2022)
Four young girls are bound together by their oath to join Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, a government department of witches established by Queen Elizabeth I. Decades later, after their separation and as the witch community recovers from a civil war, the coven’s very existence is threatened. These friends must unite to decide whether they preserve the coven’s tradition, or do what is right.
AUGUST
Knocking Myself Up: A Memoir Of My (In)Fertility by Michelle Tea (2 August)
In the beloved Michelle Tea’s new memoir, she recounts her journey to motherhood as a 40-year-old, infertile, queer woman. She is supported by her incredible friends, her genderqueer lover and a kindhearted drag queen. Her hilarious and powerful quest for pregnancy, trying everything from black market medication to witchcraft, shatters our perception of “traditional” families.
None Of The Above: Reflections On Life Beyond The Binary by Travis Alabanza (4 August)
This memoir breaks down seven of the most influential phrases that Travis Alabanza has received as a Black, mixed-race and non-binary individual. Travis explores the context behind these phrases, some celebratory, others ambiguous, and some outright offensive, making us question the roots of society’s fixation with a binary world.
The Feeling Of Falling In Love by Mason Deaver (16 August)
Neil is about to head to his brother’s wedding with his childhood best friend (who happens to be his friend with benefits), Josh. But when Josh confesses his love just before, Neil doesn’t feel the same way. With Josh still attending the wedding, Neil scrambles to find a new date and recruits his roommate Wyatt to attend. Slowly, Neil and Wyatt begin to understand one another and realise how they really feel about one another.
SEPTEMBER
Aces Wild: A Heist by Amanda DeWitt (6 September)
The son of a casino tycoon, Jack sets up a secret Blackjack ring in his private school’s basement. But everything starts going wrong when his mother is arrested because of the family’s ties to organised crime. It soon becomes clear to Jack that his mother was sold out, by rival casino owner Peter Carlevaro. Backed up by his asexual online support group, Jack hatches a plan to infiltrate Carlevaro’s gambling club and find out what he’s up to.
The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg (20 September)
From the award-winning author of the novella Birdverse, The Unbalancing is the first full novel of the same universe. Ranra is the protector of a sleeping star beneath the sea, which is beginning to send tremors through her home isles. When she meets the reclusive poet Erígra, sparks fly. But when the dangers of the restless star beneath the isles become clear, it may already be too late to save their home.
The Genesis Of Misery by Neon Yang (27 September)
This epic queer space fantasy follows non-binary Misery Nomaki, a nobody from a forgettable mining planet who happens to have rare saint-like powers. Though these powers also appear in those suffering from voidmadness, which killed Misery’s mother. For years Misery keeps their powers secret and tries to find a way off their planet. Until they are drawn to the centre of the empire, where opposing forces want to use Misery’s powers for destruction.
OCTOBER
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner (11 October)
When college senior Cassie buys a drink for a hot, older woman at an off-campus bar, she doesn’t plan on an amazing one-night-stand. But least of all, she didn’t plan on hooking up with her best friend’s mom, Erin. When the two realise there is something real between them, they can’t ignore it. Now they have to decide if their feelings for each other are worth the risk.
Season Of Love by Helena Greer (11 October)
In this queer, Jewish rom-com, Miriam unexpectedly and unwantedly inherits her aunt’s Jewish-run Christmas tree farm upon her passing. But when developers plan to close the farm, she takes action and teams up with the farm manager, a grumpy butch woman whom she starts to fall in love with.
The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman (12 October)
A follow-up to the award-winning comics and Netflix series, this book gives an insight into Alice Oseman’s creative process in making the beloved Heartstopper. It gives fans exclusive content, including never-before-seen artwork, mini comics, trivia and character profiles, all narrated by a cartoon version of Alice.
NOVEMBER
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun (November 1)
Animation artist Ellie had everything, until she falls in love with a stranger who leaves her feeling betrayed and loses her job soon after. One year later, her new boss at a coffee shop offers a solution to her money troubles. If she pretends to be his wife over the holidays, he’ll split his inheritance with her. But when Ellie realises her boss’s sister is the woman she fell in love with a year ago, she has to make a decision.
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn (8 November)
The sequel to the New York Times bestseller Legendborn, Bloodmarked continues Bree’s quest to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. This King Arthur retelling is jam-packed full of secret societies, Black girl magic and a diverse group of friends, many of whom are queer.
At Midnight edited by Dahlia Adler (22 November)
Fifteen authors reclaim classic fairy tales, rewritten from a modern and diverse perspective to hand over to the next generation. These re-imaginations include traditional stories like Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, Puss In Boots, The Little Mermaid and a newly created fairy tale by Melissa Albert.
DECEMBER
Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales (6 December)
Two years ago, Maya dumped her cheating ex-boyfriend Jordy. Now famous, Jordy invites her and the rest of his ex-girlfriends to a game show where he’ll find “the one who got away”. Maya decides to take part and plans to break Jordy’s heart at the live finale of the show as an act of revenge. But she never expected to run into Skye, the girl Jordy cheated on her with and the two realise there’s chemistry between them.
Acting The Part by Z.R. Ellor (6 December)
Lily finds fame while playing the lesbian warrior Morgantha on hit TV show Galaxy Spark. But when the showrunners reveal their plans to kill off Morgantha’s love interest Alietta, Lily tries to maintain the positive queer representation and prevent Alietta’s death by pretending to date their co-star off-screen. But in pretending to be a girlfriend on and off screen, Lily soon realises that words like “girl” don’t feel right to them.
A Million To One by Adiba Jaigirdar (13 December)
The historic tragedy of the Titanic becomes the setting for a heist when four girls, a thief, an artist, an acrobat and an actress, unite to steal a jewel-encrusted book onboard the ship. But their chances of success are threatened when faced with old grudges, reckless mistakes and new romance. Pulling off this heist begins to seem impossible, as does their survival.
DIVA magazine celebrates 28 years in print in 2022. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQI media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
✨ linktr.ee/divamagazine ✨
