If you love literary fiction that’s as eccentric as it is tender, Greta and Valdin is a must-read. Set in Auckland, New Zealand (I looked it up after I forgot), this novel is a queer, multigenerational family saga that’s less about ripping your heart out and more about wrapping it in a cozy, chaotic blanket.

The characters are delightfully odd, each with their own quirks and struggles, and the queer representation is so organic and joyful. It’s the kind of book that makes want to jump into the pages and join the fun. Just read it.

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Amazon | Bookshop.org | StoryGraph | Goodreads

Genre: Literary Dystopian

Vibe: Brutal, darkly funny, socially evicerating

This book is not for the faint of heart. Chain-Gang All-Stars is a dystopian takedown of mass incarceration and capitalism, framed as a gladiatorial reality TV show where incarcerated people fight for their freedom. It’s violent, thought-provoking, and painfully relevant, with characters you’ll root for even as the system grinds them down.

Adjei-Brenyah’s writing is sharp, unflinching, and darkly humorous. If you loved The Hunger Games or anything by Octavia Butler, this is your next obsession. It’s literary fiction with the urgency of a thriller—prepare to be gutted.

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Okay, this should have gone in the romance category, but I ran out of time—and honestly, it’s too literary to box in. Yes, it’s a taboo romance, and yes, it’s a hot mess (in the best way). But it’s also a deep dive into loss, grief, and how we make space for new love after tragedy.

Akwaeke Emezi’s writing is lyrical and raw, and I’ll read anything they write. If you want a romance that hurts so good, this is it.

This book is sapphic longing meets magical cannibalistic horror, and it’s glorious. Set in a medieval world where reality blurs into madness, The Starving Saints is gory, dreamlike, and impossible to put down.

The tension between the three women at its center is searing and toxic, and the horror elements are visceral and haunting. If you’re in the mood for a fomenting fever dream — dark, lush, and deeply queer — this is your book.

Horror (But Make It Fun and YA)

The Black Girl Survives in This One (Edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell )

Amazon | Bookshop.org | StoryGraph | Goodreads

Genre: YA Horror Anthology

Vibe: Funny, terrifying, empowering, a delight

This young adult horror anthology is a must-read for anyone who loves short stories with bite. From demonic MLMs to werewolves to intergenerational curses, it’s packed with creative, fresh, and audience-appropriate horror.

The stories range from hilarious to chilling, and the whole collection is a celebration of Black girls surviving—and thriving—in horror. If you want quick, punchy, and brilliant reads, pick this up.

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Final Thoughts

And that’s a wrap on the miscellaneous edition of Books I Won’t Shut the Fuck Up About! These books might not fit neatly into one genre, but they’re all unforgettable in their own ways. Whether you’re in the mood for queer family drama, dystopian satire, taboo romance, gothic horror, or empowering YA, there’s something here for you.

What’s a book you can’t stop talking about? Drop your recs in the comments—I’m always looking for the next book to dodgeball at unsuspecting strangers!

/rae/