Let's have a safe staycation!
19 August 2020 • Bournemouth, hotels.com, spon
Hello, angels. Who needs a bit of a break? All of you, and ASAP? Yep, that’s what I thought. These past few months, I’ve been seeing the same things pretty much every day. And surprisingly, I’ve grown a bit tired of my little flat, the residential streets in my neighbourhood where I’d walk up and down, round and round, day after day in lockdown… even the seafront is getting a bit samey for me, lately. I never thought that would happen! Anyone else feeling me on this? Oh well, there’s not much we can do about this restless feeling we’re all having, at the moment.
… or is there?
Obviously going away abroad is fraught with issues at the moment and while a cheeky trip to sunny Spain, for instance, is the dream for most of us, you have to think – is it worth the time in quarantine when you get home? Nope! So why not stay in the UK, and do a little exploring here? There are so many wonderful places to discover not far from your doorstep, and you never know, you might find a new favourite holiday spot that you can visit without going through the faff of flying!
I personally have had some lovely experiences travelling within the UK; exciting road trips down the coast with friends, chilled solo adventures to historical towns, and epic train rides up to the Midlands and beyond. One of my favourite places to visit, though? It’s gotta be the Bournemouth area.
I have a few good friends who live in this area, and obviously it’s a treat seeing them when I travel that way. And it’s partly thanks to them, partly to my inquisitive mind and wandering feet, that I know of many lovely spots to visit within this part of Dorset. Here are a few of them…
Brownsea
Island.
I come from a family that’s very involved in the Girl Guiding movement, and I attended my local Brownie, Guide and Young Leader meetings as I grew up, so of course I had heard about the legendary Brownsea Island. It’s where the worldwide Scout movement began in 1907! I finally got to visit there as a helper with my mum’s Rainbow unit, and it was a serious ‘wow’ moment. This National Trust site is a short boat ride from Poole Harbour, and has the most spectacular views across to the Purbeck Hills. I’d definitely recommend a day spent there, going along the free trails laid out all around the island, and spotting all the creatures who live happily in the woodland and lagoons. Oh, there’s also a picnic area and natural play ground, so it’s perfect for a family trip!
The Bournemouth beaches.
Well, obviously. Bournemouth boasts a truly brilliant sandy beach, which stretches on for miles, just a short walk from the town centre – via a beautiful little park, actually. Fun fact: it was in Bournemouth that the beach hut was invented 100 years ago, and they still have some of the oldest ones there. Weird eco-geek moment: the entrance to the beach from the centre of town has some MASSIVE recycling, glass, and general waste bins. That excites me, because the amount of beach litter collected in this country is ridiculous, and there’s no excuse for it.
Jurassic Coast day trip.
Another geek out moment: I did Geography GCSE, and was obsessed by the natural arches and caves that are formed by weather and the sea, over time. Durdle Door is not far from Bournemouth, and Lulworth Cove too. When you take one of the day trips available, you can see both of these natural sites, as well as Sandbanks, Swanage and Durlston Country Park.
Sopley Farm.
I’m biased, because I had a particularly marvellous trip here to do some pumpkin picking (although for us, as we visited on a rainy day, it was more like ‘pumpkin scooping’) but this fabulous farm in Christchurch is a gem. Vast PYO fields, and a cute cafe for those post-picking cuppas.
Oh also, Sopley Mill is a lovely wedding/event venue.
Healthy Habits.
Oh c’mon, I couldn’t not put a vegan-friendly cafe in here! This gem is in Broadstone, just outside Poole. Check out their Instagram for a (visual) taste of their menu – ooh, and they’re currently doing Eat Out to Help Out! All the more reason to go, when you book your staycation to Bournemouth.
In case you were worried about visiting these spots in this tricky time of COVID, fear not! I have looked up all of these activities and spaces, and they’re all imposing strict guidelines and hygiene measures. And of course travelling there by public transport is perfectly safe, too; I know our National Rail services are making it mandatory to keep a distance from fellow passengers, and wear face coverings at all times on their services and in their stations/waiting areas. And to ensure you stay somewhere that’s adhering to the new rules, check out the places listed here.
Okay, have I sold it to you? Good. Book your super safe staycation now!
This post is in collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are my own.
Recognising the Physical Effects of Anxiety*
15 August 2020 • contributor
*this post was written by a contributor*
It’s safe to say that this pandemic has made people more aware than ever of the importance of looking after their mental health. Long periods of isolation, coupled with concerns about friends and family members all lead to a lot of stress and anxiety, so it’s important that you take check in with yourself now and again, and take steps to manage your anxiety. The problem is, a lot of folks don’t realise that they are struggling with anxiety, especially if they have never suffered from it before.
The most obvious symptom is anxious thoughts, but anxiety actually manifests itself in a lot of different ways and it’s important that you know how to recognise some of the other signs. And the physical signs of it often get overlooked. Here are a few of them, so you can keep an eye out…
Stomach Problems
Your mental health and gut health are closely linked and when you are feeling anxious, it’s very common to have stomach problems. You may feel nauseous, and you can develop a lot of issues with digestion as well. It may not always be down to anxiety of course, and you should consider whether your diet could be causing it, but if you haven’t changed anything about your lifestyle and you suddenly start getting stomach problems, that’s a sign that you may be feeling very anxious.
Vision Problems
Most people don’t realise that stress and anxiety can lead to vision problems. When you feel very anxious, your body releases a lot of adrenaline and this puts pressure on your eyes, causing blurred vision. If you do notice that your vision is changing, it’s important to get your eyes tested and invest in a pair of specs (you can get some affordable ones at Eyeglasses.com) if necessary. There are a lot of other reasons for vision problems so you should rule those out first, but if you find that your vision is blurred and you can’t find any other medical reason for it, it could be down to anxiety.
Headaches
Tension headaches are very common in people that are stressed and anxious. The muscles in your neck, shoulders and scalp tighten when you are stressed and this is what causes the headaches. If you do some stretches to relax your muscles and relieve that tension, you will notice a big difference and your headaches should go away. Check out greatist.com for some simple stretches that will help to loosen up your muscles.
Fatigue
Everybody gets a bit tired sometimes but if you always feel like you don’t have any energy, there is probably something else going on. There are a few reasons why anxiety causes fatigue; firstly, your brain can run out of energy just like any other muscle so when you are very anxious, you will always feel tired. Anxiety causes your body to release a lot of adrenaline and your heart rate increases, but when this adrenaline runs out, you experience a crash and start to feel very fatigued. The physical impact on your muscles also leads to tiredness because your muscles are constantly tense all day long and they get worn out. In some cases, tiredness is a coping mechanism from your body because, by making you feel tired, your body hopes that you will take a break and recuperate. Sleep problems are also common in people with anxiety. It’s important that you find ways to improve your sleep patterns if you want to beat anxiety-induced fatigue.
Chest Pains
Chest pains are one of the scariest physical symptoms of anxiety. If you experience chest pains, it’s important that you see a doctor because there could be something more serious going on. However, a lot of the time, it’s down to anxiety. When you are anxious, it can affect your breathing so you take a lot of short, sharp breaths, which can cause the chest muscles to spasm and lead to chest pains. Anxiety also causes your heart to beat a lot faster and that extra stress on the heart leads to pains as well. When you are already feeling anxious and you start getting chest pains, it’s easy to jump to the worst case scenario and start worrying that something is seriously wrong, and this will only make your anxiety worse.
Often, the physical effects of anxiety are more of an issue than the anxious thoughts but people don’t make the connection between the two. You need to watch out for these physical symptoms and take steps to reduce your anxiety if you notice them.
A Short Guide to a 'Better Relationship'*
10 August 2020 • contributor
*this post was written by a contributor*
Have realistic expectations. Have you ever been with someone that drives you up the wall? They might make you laugh every day, and you might have great sex, but does it still annoy you how they let mugs pile up on the bedside table, or never do the washing up?!
You might not realise it, but their expectations are different from yours, and there's likely a million things that tick them off too. It's all about managing those expectations and compromising if you want to get along – just remember some expectations are valid.
Talk it out. Communication takes many forms in a relationship. There's the vocal kind, the emotional kind, the physical kind. Really, communication is all-important if you want to be with just about anyone. A lot of the time miscommunication is the root of a problem and talking things out can help.
Don't ditch a good relationship because of a communication issue. If there’s love it's worth making some effort to get to know the issue a bit better and get creative with a solution. If you aren't understanding each other, set some time aside to talk it through - and maybe one day you'll need that 1 carat diamond...!
Try to compromise. Compromise is when you both want to do separate things but there's a reason why you have to pick one of those things. It could be something like where to go for Christmas Dinner; your family home, or his. Or maybe you can't agree on when to go on holiday? Or what film to watch at the cinema?
These separate ideas can actually cause quite a bit of friction and discontent between you. You go around asking yourself why your partner had to be so unreasonable, and why you have the right to this, etc. Well, you need to compromise. You need to give something up, and so do they, to make things better for everyone.
Look after yourself. Even if you're not in a long-term relationship, this one still applies. You've got to know what inspires you every day, what routines work best for you, and what will bring you happiness in the long term. If you don't know what does it for you it's time to find out.
Making yourself happy is not something you only do as a single person, it's something you need in a relationship too. In a relationship, it's easy to forget about yourself sometimes but each time you remember, do something about it. Go meet up with friends, or travel solo for a change.
Be dependable. Loving someone is about having fun in the bedroom, no doubt! It's also about being there for your lover when they need you. If they're feeling down or unloved you need to catch them and lift them up again. If you're not there at those important times it can lead to trust issues and opens up a gap between you.
To be a dependable partner, understand what their moods are like and try to be there for them when they dip. You can expect the same from them. To make your relationship better you can talk about this stuff now and again so you're on the same page.
How to find calm within the chaos.
8 August 2020 • contributor
* This post was written by a contributor *
2020 was a chaotic and confusing year for many people, and 2021 is looking like it may well be the same vibe… While the worldwide pandemic is improving, people across the globe are still having to deal with lockdowns and other restrictions that make it hard to live a normal life. Your mental health should always be a priority when you are living through something like this, and finding a little bit of calm can make a bad situation feel better. To help you out with this, this article will be exploring some of the best ways to find calm amidst the chaos…
Music. Unlike other animals, humans have a deep connection with music. The sounds you hear can easily influence the way you feel, but everyone has a different way of looking at music and this means that you have to find songs and artists that work for you. Music with low BMP, acoustic instruments, and soft vocals are usually the most effective. Apps like Spotify make it easier than ever before to find calming music.
Exercise. Much like music, exercise can definitely have a positive impact on the way you feel. A lot of people are finding themselves feeling restless when they have to spend so much time inside, but most places have rules that allow people to exercise outside. Even if you have to do this alone, going out for a run, bike ride, or a gentle walk can be an excellent way to boost your mood and make yourself feel calm.
Meditation. People have been using meditation for thousands of years, and there are loads of different reasons to go down this route. Mindfulness meditation is a good example of this, providing you with the means to properly understand your emotions. Many people find that meditation makes them feel calmer in their day to day life, but how exactly are you supposed to do something like this? There are loads of guides around the web that can help you to make your meditation more effective.
Supplements. There is a lot of chemistry that goes on in your body to dictate your mood. For many people, this makes it hard to overcome negative emotions, as the power of your brain is quite strong. There are plenty of supplements on the market that can help with this. CBD for pain relief can be a great tool when you feel trapped in chaos all the time.
With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge that is 2021. As time goes by, you will get better and better at managing this side of life, but this doesn’t mean that you will be able to do it without any help at all. It’s okay to ask for help, and to look for it yourself. Don’t be afraid.
27 things I love.
7 August 2020 • birthday, happy birthday, life
Hang on a sec there, Gracelet. Haven’t you done this before?
Yes, yes I have. But before, I did a ‘24 Things I Have Learned’ list. That’s old news now. This year, I’ll be blogging about 27 Things I Love. Sound good to you? Good. Here they are, in no particular order…
Coffee. Let’s start with one of the biggies, and most obvious. I was brought up in cafes (thanks, Mama and Papa) and started drinking sachet lattes when I was 14, in my Drama classroom at lunchtime with my best friends. Since then I have worked in several cafes, dated several baristas, and really honed my coffee snobbery. I will only drink the strongest long blacks, these days. And the odd oat milk flat white (and in this weather I’ll have it on ice, please).
Books. Another obvious one. I’ve grown up with books. I love bookshops. I love the smell of books. I love writing about books. I love love love reading. It’s awesome, and important, and magical. Anyone who says otherwise is a twit.
Writing. I remember realising at the age of 10 that I was one of the only kids in my class/friendship group who wrote stories, diaries and even poems in their spare time. I started my blog at 17, and it was the perfect therapy as well as a creative outlet. I studied Creative Writing at uni. Someday, I want to write a book. I mean, I’ve tried many times but never got one ‘done’. Well, who knows? Maybe I’ll have one finished by 28…
Kindness. It’s the most attractive trait in any person. That famous, Instagrammable passage from The Twits, about being kind and it showing on your face? 100% true. Nastiness makes people ugly. Be kind. It costs nothing.
Work. I am very fortunate (and bloody privileged) to have only worked in jobs I have truly wanted. I am also blessed to have parents who have never forced me into a job, or criticised what I’ve chosen to do for work. I wanted to learn about coffee, so I became a barista. I love movies, so I worked behind a bar in a bloody bougie small chain cinema. I am obsessed with jewellery, so I’ve worked in a couple of crystal/jewellery shops. I wanted to be in the book world, so I interned (unpaid) for a publisher. I bloody love skincare and baths, so I got a job at LUSH. I’m worryingly experienced in the realm of social media, so I freelance as a social media manager. I want to write, so I blog and pitch and edit and do all sorts of random shit in that wild industry. I haven’t followed one path, ever.
Crystals and jewellery. As I said before, I’ve always been obsessed. There are photos of me as a teeny one with costume pieces on, or even grabbing relatives’ silver jewellery, and I used to wear the odd ring to school (the only school rule I ever broke, I think!) before starting to wear one on every finger from college age.
Drama. As in, theatre. Not toxic, shady real life stuff. I used to want to be an actor, and then a week or so into my combined honours Drama degree I realised I wouldn’t stand a chance, and it was okay to just study it because I was good at that, and act in the odd production for fun. What a relief. I miss acting, actually. It was such a lovely break from reality, and there was nothing like the bond you’d form with people when you worked on something together.
Plants. They’ve become my pets in this little one bed flat, throughout lockdown. They also look cool, and make fun projects.
Podcasts. Most of the time, I prefer listening to podcasts than music. There. I said it. It’s like my own personalised radio. I can have a giggle, learn something, feel seen, get some gossip… it’s magical. (Shall I do a blog post about my favourite podcasts? Would you read that?)
Tattoos. Obvious, again. I never thought I’d get any ink, when I was young. I actually thought sleeve tattoos were ugly and scary, when I was tiny. Please forgive Baby Me! I am now obsessed, and love how getting inked makes me feel; more in control of my body, and like I’m expressing myself for all to see.
Whole Earth Crunchy Peanut Butter. If you like smooth, get out.
Pooping. And poo talk. It’s a shit (lol) taboo, and it’s so great to talk about openly. As Mama would say, ‘everybody pulls down their pants to poo’ - and you are no better than me, if you don’t talk about it or even straight up deny ever doing it. You weirdo.
Hugs. Tight, hard hugs, full of emotion. Casual, gentle greeting hugs. Morning cuddles. Evening snuggles. All of ‘em. Love it.
Sex. And sexuality, sensuality, solo stuff, experimenting, literature, photography, intimacy, shops, kinks, all sorts. Much like poo, I wish it was talked about more openly.
Living by the sea. Like, within 5 mins walking distance. The sea keeps me sane. I have to walk along my seafront every day and absorb it, because sometimes I actively dread moving somewhere else, where there is no fresh sea air, sparkling water, weirdly-shaped pebbles or big ugly honking seagulls.
The moon. I will frequently text friends simply saying ‘LOOK AT THE MOON’, when it’s looking particularly sexy. I like to think it comes out and shines some nights, just for me. (I know I could not be more wrong or more selfish saying that, but let me have this)
The sun. I forget how much I love the sun until spring comes rolling around - I think it’s a form of protection; part of me deliberately forgets that I am essentially solar powered, to prevent myself from getting properly miserable in the shitty, wet, cold, grey months.
Bourbon biscuits. See my Twitter account for stories, rants, photos and reviews of these delightful biscuits, that have been a huge part of my life since I was very young. No, I’m not joking. It’s a passion.
Getting emails on my professional account. Because they’re almost always exciting, weird and wonderful.
Spiritual shit. I love tarot, the moon, crystals, and just the idea that we are all part of this great big magical universe that has its own energy and plans - but we’re not its puppets, by any means.
Paper diaries. My memory is not what it used to be, and I have never trusted electronic devices with all my information and day to day plans - because, well, what if they die and I’m left without anything!? Eeek. Paper diaries are definitely the way forward. So many friends are shocked when I pull mine out to schedule a coffee date, but then when they try it out themselves, their lives are forever changed. You are welcome, friends.
Handwriting. I will never take it for granted again.
Whisky. (yes, this was originally porridge, but I had a rethink and realised this was more important than my breakfast projects)
I've grown up in a family that loves a good scotch (particularly Papa, and Grandad), so I've had that influence from a young age. But I started drinking Jack and Cokes at uni, genuinely just because I fancied a guy in a band who wrote a song that contained the lyrics 'your boyfriend's downstairs drinking Jack and Coke'. I stopped getting Coke mixers a few years later, because they gave me hiccups and tbh I hate Coca Cola (don't @ me). I moved on to ginger ale for a while, and then one night my local didn't have any... so I had it neat. And I've never looked back. I'd marry whisky if I could. It makes me so damn happy. Gin is another fave, but that can go any which way when I drink it (happy, sad, angry, dopey, headachey... it's a lottery). Whisky is always a safe bet.
Having no hair. Folks think when I say ‘I love being bald/buzzed’ I’m talking exclusively about the ease of it. Nope. I mean, yes, there’s that, but it’s something bigger. I have had so much more confidence ever since my lovely barber shaved my head for charity in 2018; I’ve learned how to own my look when people gawp at me in the street, and how to generally dress to express my inner self.
My body. It should come as no surprise to you, readers, that after everything my body has been through, I am truly in awe of how much it has coped with, and how it fights to go on. I’ll never criticise it like I used to, or see its normal human parts - such as cellulite, stretch marks and, of course, scars, as ‘flaws’.
My brain. Same as above, really. My own squishy collection of grey matter has been through the worst shit; it’s been delved into, pulled apart in places, examined intimately, and zapped ferociously with radio waves, yet it still keeps on.
Oh heck, I’ll throw in the NHS here too, because I recently discovered that I’d have had to pay upwards of $250,000 for all the treatment I’ve had on them for the past 6 years alone, and y’know what, y’all may trash them on a daily basis for having long queues or messing up the odd appointment, or not running the right tests, but let me tell you - they are the best of the best, I’ve never ever had a bad experience, and I owe them my life a few times over.
Myself. Well, obviously.
'Boy Queen'; a review and exclusive author content!
6 August 2020 • bookish, drag, RuPaul's Drag Race
Hey girl, hey. This is not just your average Almost Amazing book review, oh no… this one is special. Because you see, my queens, this book 'Boy Queen' is not just an utterly fierce treat that slays in the exciting world of drag lit as well as UKYA - it was also written by one of my favourite humans in the book world, THE George Lester. AKA That Gurrrl, the Drag Queen.
Oh, and this review of mine is merely the warm up for the big show – the lovely George has written about his favourite works of LGBTQ+ fiction, and you can read that excellent piece below.
George did a bit of a Taylor (see: folklore), and Ru-vealed this divine debut quite late in its publishing journey, considering how long it takes to get from writing to pitching to selling. What a cheeky move. And while I was surprised by the news, I wasn’t surprised at ALL by the subject matter of his first novel. Because George is, honestly, the #1 drag stan. He was the one who got me into Drag Race, some years ago, and I owe him several bevs for that.
Anyway, here’s the tea: Robin Cooper’s life is falling apart. His friends and peers are moving on to university, and he’s been rejected from every drama school he’s applied to. Suddenly, everything is ending and he’s being left behind. He’s just starting to doubt his potential, and is even considering giving up on his dreams, when he and his friends end up going to a local drag show, and suddenly it dawns on him that his future may not be what he’d originally planned… in fact, it’s considerably more sparkly.
… A less rambly synopsis and some readers’ reviews are on Goodreads, FYI.
The library is open, and you best believe I am doing some serious reading… but no shade. ‘Boy Queen’ is a truly brilliant tale of a young man finding himself in the most unexpected way, with some wonderful supporting characters, some good old juicy teen romance and bravery in the face of adversity. I mean, George himself has described ‘Boy Queen’ as ‘Dumplin’ meets RuPaul’s Drag Race by way of Gilmore Girls’, and this is perhaps the perfect summary of the story. You’ve got the downtrodden, inexperienced but determined main character who shines when they’re given the right opportunity, the supportive drag community - with some shade thrown in for good measure - the adorable first love with classic teen complications, friendships that could withstand any storm, and a bloody good mother-son relationship that makes your heart swell. I flew threw this proof in the early stages of lockdown, and it was just what I needed to lift my spirits and give me hope. Thank you for this, my darling. It’s golden.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. Time for some excellent guest content from the glamazon author! Read on, queens.
GEORGE LESTER’S FAVOURITE 5 LGBTQ+ BOOKS…
This is such a hard blog post to write. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a big reader of queer books, so I have a pretty big collection on my shelf. Whenever anyone asks me what my favourite is, the answer changes almost as quickly as I have given it. HOWEVER, dear reader, I will do my utmost to keep this list to just five of my favourite queer titles. These are just the first five that popped into my head.
HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME | Adam Silvera
*makes strange groaning noise because MY FEELINGS*
I will never forget the reading experience that I had with this book. There is something about the way that Adam writes (and this is true of They Both Die At The End, More Happy Than Not and even his fab new Urban Fantasy book Infinity Son) that really grabs hold of your feelings and SQUEEZES THEM!
History Is All You Left Me is the story of Griffin whose ex-boyfriend Theo has died in a drowning accident. Even though the two of them had broken up, Griffin is absolutely destroyed by this news and the only person who understands how he feels is Theo's new boyfriend Jackson. The entire book is told in chapters from the past (History) and the present (Today) and I spent every damn page of the book aching. It's absolutely one of the best queer books I have ever read and I will never forget being stood on a crowded train during my commute in absolute pieces while reading it.
HOLDING THE MAN | Timothy Conigrave
I pretty much talk about this book on my YouTube channel at any available opportunity (and talking about it now has me wanting to relisten to the audiobook!) This is a memoir that I stumbled upon a few years ago and fell head over heels in love with. To my knowledge, it is still out of print in the UK, but you can find editions of it on the internet. Anything is possible with the power of Google. But I don't understand why no one has picked it up. It's stunning.
It is the story of Tim's 15-year love affair with John Caleo, the captain of his school's rugby team when he was at school. It tracks his life growing up gay in a very conservative society in Australia around the height of the AIDS crisis. Conigrave finished the book shortly before dying of an AIDS-related illness, which is actually a fact I didn't know when I was reading the book. Because I'd made it all the way to the end and Tim was still alive, I assumed that he still was. Unfortunately he passed away, but this story still lives on and I urge people to read it. It really spoke to my soul. It's fantastic.
(This is an adult memoir, so there are adult themes in the book!)
PROUD | edited by Juno Dawson
Short story collections are usually hit and miss for me. I find it is a very rare thing to find a short story collection where every story in the book is an absolute belter and you love each one as fiercely as the last. Proud is just such a collection. From start to finish it is a glorious rainbow of queerness that made my heart sing! From the adorable to the achingly beautiful, the funny to the fabulous, what we have in Proud is a collection of stories that speaks to so many different experiences. Not only is it written by a fabulous collection of queer authors it is also illustrated, making it doubly wonderful and gorgeous and sparkly and QUEER QUEER QUEER! I live!
THE BLACK FLAMINGO | Dean Atta
This is quite a recent love for me but it is a fierce and burning love that I can't see going away any time soon. If you've read it, you'll understand, but The Black Flamingo is a novel written in verse that tracks the life of Michael, who is half Jamaican and half Greek-Cypriot, from when he is a baby all the way to when he is at University and discovers the sheer magic of drag. It is a journey of self-discovery and identity, a celebration of queerness and finding power within yourself. It is honestly one of the best books I have ever read in my life and if you've not got it on your TBR already, you're doing life wrong. Why are you still here reading this post? Go and get it!
WE ARE OKAY | Nina LaCour
My first experience of reading Nina was in her collaboration with David Levithan, You Know Me Well, which also happens to be a fantastic book btw. I didn’t really know what to expect going in but what I got was an achingly beautiful story of a girl being forced to confront all the things she has run away from when her best friend visits her at college over Christmas break. I finished it quite recently (it's been one of my many lockdown reads) and I am still thinking about and making that little groaning noise when something punches you right in the feelings. No, it really is that good!!
Please know that this is just a selection of queer books that I super love! There are so many more, just go to my Instagram and you'll see! Every other week I find another queer book that makes me scream and cry because I love it so much!
*
Thanks so much for this, darling George. This brilliant fella’s new book Boy Queen is out from 6th August 2020, and is available from all good bookshops (it’s on offer from my fave small family-run shop A Great Read, FYI).
You can find him as a boy on Instagram @TheGeorgeLester or in drag @ThatGurrrlQueen.
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