#cynthia so

[lgbtqreads]

Happy International Nonbinary Day 2025!

Happy International Nonbinary Day! We’re celebrating as we do with great books starring nonbinary protagonists or love interests. For even more recs, check out past years’ posts! Children’s Robin’s Worlds by Rainie Oet (text) and Mathias Ball (illustration) A nonbinary child is whisked off on a spellbinding adventure for their birthday in this dazzling tale of friendship, community, and…

Happy International Nonbinary Day 2025!

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Fiction Free-for-All Book Bracket Tournament: Round 1C

Choose a book:

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So

Voting ended onMar 1, 2025

Book summaries below:

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

Miri thinks she has got her wife back, when Leah finally returns after a deep-sea mission that ended in catastrophe. It soon becomes clear, though, that Leah is not the same. Whatever happened in that vessel, whatever it was they were supposed to be studying before they were stranded on the ocean floor, Leah has brought part of it back with her, onto dry land and into their home.

Moving through something that only resembles normal life, Miri comes to realize that the life that they had before might be gone. Though Leah is still there, Miri can feel the woman she loves slipping from her grasp.

Our Wives Under The Sea is the debut novel from Julia Armfield, the critically acclaimed author of Salt Slow. It’s a story of falling in love, loss, grief, and what life there is in the deep deep sea.

Horror, contemporary, literary fiction, science fiction, adult

If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So

Elsie has a crush on Ada, 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…

Contemporary, romance, coming of age, young adult

[transbookoftheday]

This Feast of a Life by Cynthia So

From the author of IF YOU STILL RECOGNISE ME comes a delicious story of two people brought together by a shared love of food as they figure out themselves and each other.

Auden is finding different ways to be themself. The first - using their new chosen name, which feels most authentically them. The second - starting a food blog where they can share their passion for food, through family recipes and the stories behind them. And when the blog brings them Valerie, they discover more than they'd ever expected.

It's been over a year since Valerie lost her mum - her beautiful, vibrant mum who loved cooking. Since her mum's death, Valerie and her dad have drifted further and further apart, the kitchen left cold and empty, until Valerie finds Auden's blog. The blog (and its writer) spark something in Valerie. Could she have found a recipe for happiness?

[lucahaasnt]

why do i read a book with a main plot in fandom and finding friendship in fandom and yet there is no fanart to put on my blog

[the-final-sentence]

The future is wide and glittering, and I’m taking Joan with me into it.

Cynthia So, from If You Still Recognise Me

[enfinizatics]

finished another queer book written by a queer poc!! it was an absolutely delightful read and it gave me so much hope and closure and god, why didn’t i read it sooner!!!

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

Quick Review: If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So Rating: 4/5

A sweet book about love, friendship, fandom and balancing identities. I especially loved learning a little about lesbian culture in Hong Kong through Joan's recollections of her time at school. It touches on some important topics and tackles some complex issues with care but mostly it's just a nice read. I'll be interested to see what Cynthia So writes next!

[libraryleopard]

If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So

I wonder how adults learn to live with this feeling that the past is always growing bigger, that you’re always losing more of yourself to it.

I take no credit for any photos