Since Pride Month has commenced, I would like to re-read one of my favourite Pride Month reads, I Wish You All the Best, by Mason Deaver. It focuses on the life of a young teenager, Ben, who has come out as non-binary and is subsequently thrown out of the house by his parents who are stunned by this revelation. Dejected, he finds refuge in his estranged sister’s home and rekindles his strained relationship with her. The only ray of hope in his life was his friend Nathan who encouraged him to live the way he was without paying any heed to what others said.

Within a short time, this friendship deepens into love but it doesn’t turn out as expected. Soon, Ben embarks on an inspirational journey of self-realisation and learns the art of healing from tragedy and rejection. The author has covered every issue which teens these days are reticent to speak about, in a very subtle, smooth way, along with throwing some light on health mental issues as well. Heartbreak, romance and hope are the keywords of this tale. If you are looking for a good read, go for this; it won’t disappoint you. (Add to the list of books for you to read this Pride Month ... June 7)

Aayman Anwar Ali

A Lady For A Duke by Alexis Hall — This historical romance revolves around two individuals, who have been through their fair share of grief and battled their respective demons, finally finding their long-awaited happiness with each other. The novel follows Viola, who was presumed dead in the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo which allowed her a liberating opportunity to finally be the woman she wanted to be, the woman she always was. When she is summoned to help her oldest friend’s younger sister, her path crosses with Gracewood, who has spent years mourning the loss of his best friend and has since found solace in alcohol and opium. Alexis Hall’s vivid writing imbues this romance with sparkling humour and heartbreaking tenderness and allows Viola and Gracewood’s relationship to truly blossom across the course of the novel.

Loveless by Alice Oseman — This heartwarming young adult novel revolves around Georgia, a first-year university student, who comes to terms with her identity as a young aromantic, asexual person. As the book unfolds, Georgia realises that platonic love and friendships can be just as fulfilling and beautiful as romantic relationships. Oseman does a wonderful job of portraying queer joy and providing some much-needed representation to people on the asexual and aromantic spectrums.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun — Alison Cochrun puts her unique spin on The Bachelor to craft a queer love story that is equal parts hilarious and moving. Told from the dual perspectives of Charlie, a tech billionaire on a fairy tale-inspired reality dating show called Ever After, and Dev, a producer on that show, The Charm Offensive offers a nuanced portrayal of a queer romance that is filled with well-rounded supporting characters and incredible mental health representation. This novel truly has my heart for its beautiful writing, relatable characters, and candid depiction of mental illness.

Rupanjali Samadder

The first book that comes to my mind is Lihaaf, an Urdu short story by my favourite author Ismat Chughtai. Published in pre-Partition India (1942), it caused quite a furore, a cross-country court case against Chughtai and engendered heated debates in poet-writer circles. It was bold literature then, and it is a brilliant trailblazer today. It marked many firsts. Chughtai became the first woman writer to defend herself in court (in Lahore) and enjoyed staying in Lahore (she lived in present-day UP then) and fondly remembers the “food, gardens, pomegranates” in her reminiscences later.

The second book is Those Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach, OBE. Released in 2004, the story revolves around several retirees from the queen’s empire, coming to live in and experience India. Among them is a former high court judge Graham Dashwood, a quiet, introverted person, who is seen roaming around the city of Jaipur, looking for his childhood friend Manoj.

Jaipur being the city of his birth, language is not a problem for Graham. Finally, he meets Manoj in a provincial town. We are later told of the family scandal when the two childhood lovers were discovered, years ago, and how Graham was packed off to the UK. Now, in the sunset of his life, fate reunites him with his long-lost love. Shortly after meeting Manoj, Graham passes away. At the end of the story, Manoj, his family and Graham’s friends drive through the dusty fields to Manoj’s village (where the duo first met), where Manoj, clad in a white dhoti and shaven-headed, cremates Graham’s remains, with all the rituals befitting a spouse.

Pampa Paul

Funny Boy by Shyam Selvadurai, is one of my favourite LGBT books. Set against the 1983 riots in Sri Lanka, the story revolves around Arjie, a Tamil boy growing up in Colombo, and his journey from childhood innocence to maturity. The journey is not a sweet one, yet there are moments between him and Soyza which help us believe that true friendships really do exist. Though they do not have a happy ending, they do not end on a sad one either, such as ending with arguments and fights; it is a perfect mix of the two. The romance between the two, in spite of the opposition from Arjie’s family, is perfectly captured by the author.

However, it is not the only thing this story revolves around. Arjie’s journey from the simple childhood days into the confusing world of secrets and injustice with its capacity for violence is a memorable one; as always, the true desires of the human heart are held against the way reality is. It reminds the reader that they are not alone.

Samiha Falaque

Effervescent and empowering on all levels, Red, White & Royal Blue is both a well-written love story and a celebration of identity. Casey McQuiston’s debut novel is a lighthearted, delectable combination of two of America’s favourite pastimes: the British royals and politics, blended with just the right amount of scandal.

Red, White & Royal Blue concerns a rivalry-turned-romance between the Prince of Wales and the First Son of the United States. Alex Claremont-Diaz, whose mother is running for a second term for president, is sharp, passionate and eager to kickstart his own political career. Prince Henry (full name: Henry George Edward James Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor) is much more measured and guarded — a Jane Austen lover with a smile made to be printed on money. McQuiston writes with optimism, not just in telling Alex and Henry’s story, but in discussing their individual aspirations, their concerns about the future of their respective countries, and their efforts to help the LGBTQ community. Ironically, she also walks us through the reality of a sitting female president who won the 2016 election and throws us into the political cesspool of a fictional 2020 race that feels all too real. This romantic comedy became something of an online phenomenon when it was first released two years ago and has continued to gain momentum through word-of-mouth recommendations. Through this story, McQuiston broadens the archetypes available to gay and bisexual men: in her world, they can be as fun and frivolous and flighty as, say, Bridget Jones or Carrie Bradshaw or even Elizabeth Bennet. They can also have heartbreaks, crushes, and ridiculous confrontations in the rain.

Roshni Ojha