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Winter Reads to Help You Ride Out the Chill

Cozy up with these queer books

It’s cold out there, and not just because of the weather — we’re officially in another Trump era. Bearing the frigid temps outside and the chill of our current political landscape, it’s all too easy to get stuck in the grip of endless headlines and doomscrolling. If you're feeling the weight of the world closing in, it’s time to unplug and escape into a different kind of world, perhaps one that includes fantastical forest homes — or Cher.

Step away from the screen and lose yourself in one of these captivating reads that promise respite, inspiration and, at times, divine gay icon wisdom — recommendations from Editorial Director Chris Azzopardi and Managing Editor Sarah Bricker Hunt.

Chris Azzopardi’s list:



'Private Rites,' Julia Armfield

Need a reminder that family dynamics can be complex in various forms? Blending the personal and apocalyptic, Julia Armfield’s “Private Rites” offers a poignant and unsettling exploration of just that. The story follows three estranged sisters — all queer — who are brought together after their cruel father's death to sort through his estate in a world where it never stops raining. The sisters’ reunion — born out of necessity rather than warmth — seems like a chance to heal old wounds. But when a shocking secret in their father’s will drives them even further apart, they’re forced to confront not only their fractured family bonds but also a sinister mystery.

As their lives unravel and the world teeters on the brink of catastrophe, the sisters realize that they’ve been chosen for something much darker. This revelation forces them to reckon with the legacy of their father and a fate that could have devastating consequences for both their family and the world at large. “Private Rites” has received glowing reviews, deemed “stunning” by Harper’s Bazaar and praised by Vulture as “a queer end to the world you don’t want to miss.” 

Sinead1

‘Sinead O’Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations’

In 2014, I had the privilege of interviewing Irish music icon and outspoken critic of the Catholic Church, Sinéad O’Connor, who died in 2023. Her unfiltered honesty was a breath of fresh air, standing in stark contrast to the polished, often guarded personas of many celebrities. That conversation is among eight others featured in “Sinéad O’Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations,” part of Melville House Publishing’s esteemed series, which highlights the voices of significant cultural figures. My interview, the sole piece in the collection conducted for LGBTQ+ press, captures a uniquely personal moment with O’Connor, who at the time spoke candidly about her life and identity.

Alongside it are other illuminating pieces, including NME’s 1988 interview “I Open My Mouth and Scream” and a 1991 Rolling Stone feature, together painting a vivid, multifaceted portrait of Sinéad O’Connor. Musician and friend Kristin Hersh of band Throwing Muses contributes a poignant introduction, reflecting on O’Connor’s enduring legacy: “I wished she could have shouted all that she believed and made only friends, no enemies. I wished that she had never accepted that invitation to the entertainment industry party and, instead, had kept the richness of her own life untainted. I wished that she could have loved herself and everyone else. I wished that she had absorbed the spiritual peace she fought for. But that wouldn’t have been Sinéad, I guess.” Through these candid and deeply personal conversations, the book captures the essence of an artist who defied conventions and left an indelible mark.

Tjklune

TJ Klune's 3-Book Paperback Collection

Out gay fantasy writer and Lambda Literary Award winner TJ Klune won’t just help you survive winter — his work might just sustain you through the entire year. Maybe even the next three, if you pace yourself by reading one book from his new boxed set annually. Each novel invites readers to escape into fantastical worlds brimming with promise of a better existence and a kinder world. In the found-family tale “In the Lives of Puppets,” Klune introduces a peculiar home nestled within the branches of a grove of trees, where a family of robots shares their lives with a human named Vic.

Meanwhile, “The House in the Cerulean Sea” transports readers to a mysterious island housing an orphanage for magical children deemed “dangerous.” Here, Linus Baker, a by-the-book caseworker, discovers that these children — and their enigmatic caretaker — challenge everything he thought he knew about rules, love and acceptance. “Under the Whispering Door,” about a ghost who refuses to cross over and the ferryman he falls in love with, rounds out the set. Come on, whimsy, take us away. 

‘Cher: The Memoir, Part One,’ Cher

In 2023, when I asked Cher when we could finally expect her memoir, she responded with her signature wit: “I don’t know, babe. Don’t ask. Well, you just did, but don’t ask me again.” Thankfully, I didn’t have to. Her memoir — part one, at least — turned back time on her iconic life and career when it arrived just in time to help us believe in life after a politically turbulent winter.

This first volume covers Cher’s journey from her childhood to her breakthrough as an acclaimed actress. It opens with an author’s note explaining her thoughtful decision to use her son Chaz’s deadname, with his permission, to accurately reflect the eras she discusses. Though Cher admitted to The New York Times in November that she hasn’t read her memoir yet, the book serves up a deeply personal feast of family history, the highs and lows of her tumultuous relationship with Sonny Bono, and vivid recollections from the early years of her rise to pop goddess. Cher’s unflinching honesty and resilience fill every page, making this memoir not just a reflection of her life but a much-needed dose of diva inspiration in 2025. And I don’t even have to ask about when we can expect Part 2 — it’s out Nov. 18 of this year.

‘The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf,’ Isa Arsen

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but what if that cover exudes an irresistible aura of mystery? On the jacket of Isa Arsen’s “The Unbecoming of Margaret Alsen,” half-hidden faces suggest untold secrets. A man’s hand lights a woman’s cigarette as another man watches from the sidelines, while a wine glass hints at an evening of indulgence — leaving much to the imagination. And then there’s the tagline: “Two Shakespearean actors in an unconventional marriage get caught up in a renowned director’s scheme. Which will either draw them closer than ever or tear them apart for good.”

If Bravo had existed in the 1950s, Margaret, the rising stage actress at the heart of this story, could have easily been the star of her own series. Margaret is in a lavender marriage with Wesley, and as you settle in, you’ll find yourself swept into a whirlwind of drama: the ways she “plays wife” to Wesley, her dependence on uppers (“just a little help to get through the days”), and a love triangle that unfolds between the couple and director Vaughn Kline after Wesley joins the cast of Kline’s Shakespearean production. It’s a cocktail of secrets, ambition and betrayal, all served with the allure of mid-century theatrical glamour. Feeling the heat? This novel brings it in spades.


Sarah's list:

‘Coming Home,’ Brittney Griner

At first glance, Brittney Griner’s, “Coming Home” is primarily a harrowing account of her nine-month detention in Russia, where her identity as a gay Black athlete added layers of vulnerability to an already precarious situation — one that thrust Griner into harsh international scrutiny. The book goes well beyond the details of her 2022 arrest for carrying vape cartridges containing medical cannabis oil, however. Griner’s journey is one of redemption and hope, with a true love story at the center. 

Coming Home

The book, co-written with Michelle Burford, weaves Griner's detention narrative with personal history, including her coming out story and her father's initial rejection (“I ain't raising no gay bitch!”) before their eventual reconciliation. Her relationship with wife Cherelle emerges as a source of strength throughout her ordeal, evidenced by tender details like finding comfort in touching Cherelle's signature in a sudoku book.

Now free and back playing basketball, Griner welcomed her first child with Cherelle in 2024. The book serves as both a suspenseful memoir and a warning about the risks LGBTQ+ athletes face in countries with anti-gay policies, even as lucrative overseas contracts continue to draw American players to these regions.

‘There Is a Rio Grande in Heaven,’ Rubin Reyes, Jr.

“There Is a Rio Grande in Heaven” by Ruben Reyes, Jr. marks a groundbreaking debut in speculative fiction, weaving LGBTQ+ and Latinx narratives into 12 short pieces that blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

The collection includes both short and flash-fiction entries that explore queer experiences, immigration and cultural identity through a sci-fi lens (though, arguably, “sci-fi” isn’t a perfect description for the genre here). In one story, a gay son grapples with losing his homophobic father while imagining a more accepting alternate version. Another story reimagines the traditional immigration narrative, depicting Americans attempting to reach Mars while facing violent consequences if caught.

Reyes, the son of two Salvadoran immigrants, tackles complex themes within the Latinx community, including internal discrimination and exploitation through stories ranging from a Latinx-owned company underpaying workers to a magical mango tree being exploited, perhaps a critical commentary on overlapping community intersectionalities.

The book culminates in an interactive chapter where readers create their own immigration story. Throughout the collection, Reyes maintains a delicate balance between fantastical elements and harsh realities, making the work accessible to a broad range of readers beyond the sci-fi genre. His careful handling of queer and immigrant perspectives creates a unique contribution to both speculative and LGBTQ+ literature.

‘Kissing Girls on Shabbat,’ Sara Glass

In her debut memoir, New York Times “Modern Love” contributor Sara Glass offers a raw and intimate memoir of growing up lesbian in Brooklyn's strict Gur Hasidic community, where same-sex relationships are condemned and arranged heterosexual marriages are the norm.

Glass details her journey from a sheltered 19-year-old bride in an arranged marriage to her eventual emergence as an out lesbian at age 32. The memoir chronicles her secret relationship with a woman named Dassa, her complicated first marriage to Yossi and a subsequent marriage to another man — both driven by religious expectations and custody concerns for her children.

The book explores the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in ultra-religious communities, where rejection of traditional marriage can mean complete ostracization. Glass describes harrowing experiences, including a traumatic childbirth delayed by religious constraints and the constant pressure to suppress her identity.

While acknowledging positive aspects of her Hasidic upbringing, Glass ultimately advocates for those trapped between religious obligations and authentic sexuality. The memoir ends on a hopeful note, with Glass finally securing custody of her children and finding freedom to live openly. You’ll never read her “Modern Love” contributions the same way again.

‘A Boy Named Rose,’ Gaelle Geniller

A gorgeously illustrated graphic novel nominated for a 2024 Eisner Award, “A Boy Named Rose” focuses its tender narrative on 19-year-old Rose, a rising stage performer at famed Parisian theater Le Jardin. 

Rose begins exploring feminine presentation while pursuing dance under the guidance of three mentors known as The Flowers. Set against the backdrop of Paris's nightlife, the narrative blends themes of artistic expression, gender exploration and found family.

Geniller's artwork captures both the glittering allure of cabaret life and intimate moments of personal transformation. The acclaimed work, translated from French by Fabrice Sapolsky, stands out for its celebratory approach to gender nonconformity and its portrayal of a supportive queer community within Le Jardin's walls.

While addressing serious themes of identity and social acceptance, the story maintains an uplifting tone, offering a refreshing perspective on LGBTQ+ narratives through its distinctly European sensibility — plus, it’s just so pretty. 

‘Gay Girl Prayers,’ Emily Austin

Emily Austin, already established through her debut novel “Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead,” makes a striking poetic entrance with “Gay Girl Prayers,” a collection that reimagines Catholic doctrine through a queer lens. Literally, Austin rewrites Bible passages in a way that reflects her lived experience growing up gay in a traditionally religious culture.

The work carefully reconstructs religious teachings to embrace LGBTQ+ experiences rather than reject faith entirely. Austin amplifies the voices of female figures who have been historically silenced by patriarchal interpretations, while simultaneously celebrating queer identity as sacred rather than sinful. The collection serves as a bridge between religious upbringing and queer identity, offering a path to reconciliation for those who have felt excluded from traditional religious spaces.

Through her verses, Austin creates an inclusive vision of spirituality that maintains reverence while challenging conventional interpretations of scripture. Rather than dismantling religious tradition, she rebuilds it into a more welcoming structure that honors both faith and queer experience, demonstrating how ancient texts can be reinterpreted to embrace rather than exclude.



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