Heather, Author at Not a Novel Concept

A brown-and-white tabby cat (Tib) rubbing against a tall stack of books (my TBR pile), while laying on a very cat-hair covered blanket on a bed

2022 Queer Romance Readathon

June 13, 2022June 12, 2022 Heather

It’s summer, it’s Pride month, and I went a bit wild choosing books for BeautifullyBookishBethany’s Queer Romance Readathon!

Cover of "The Greatest Thing," with an illustration of 3 white teens (the 3 main characters) at the bottom, leaning against each other, with a purple backdrop and a star in the top left corner

OH YEAH!! Fridays

The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle

June 10, 2022June 4, 2022 Heather

This is a story about queer teens dealing with depression and eating disorders while holding on as tightly as they can to friendships and new love. The immense weight of these teens’ emotions is never diminished, and it seems to me (a very middle-aged lady) like this might be fabulous reading for a real YA audience (despite its “vintage” setting in 2002).

Cover of "Hell Followed With Us", which is a very striking image of a person with 6 angel wings with eyes on each wing. He's wearing a red crop top and jeans, had a visible black heart with spreading veins, and stigmata-style wounds on his hands. The color palette is red, black and blue, and there's a chain framing the figure in the center, with a red cityscape at the bottom of the page

Stop the Presses

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

June 7, 2022June 4, 2022 Heather

This is an astounding book, full of fury and force. It’s like if you took Sorrowland, foregrounded the religious dystopia even more, added toxic white evangelism along with dashes of Wise Blood and Evangelion, and tied it all together with one hell of a strong trans boy protagonist. I fucking loved it.

Cover of "I Am Margaret Moore," which features a few photos of a white girl in black and white superimposed on each other, to show her moving her head; the background is black and the lettering is huge in orange, cursive font

Angry Girls and Furious Femmes

I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin

June 6, 2022June 12, 2022 Heather

This is a weird, lyrical, complex book. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’re into girl groups, revenge, and a slow-burn mystery with supernatural elements, consider this one.

Cover of "Tidesong," with the title in white script font on the bottom, across an illustration of a young pale girl with brown hair and a green dress standing on a rock, in the middle of purple-tinted water, with a green sea-dragon's tail whipping up at her. The sky is pink with white clouds.

Skittles' Cozy Corner

Tidesong by Wendy Xu

November 20, 2021November 13, 2021 Heather

This is a massively cute and visually lush work–if you like Kay O’Neill’s Tea Dragon world, definitely check this out!

Cover of "In the Ravenous Dark," with title in white script font at the bottom, over an image of a pale femme person with red-rimmed eyes (probably crying blood), wearing an elaborate sparkly headpiece. The background is black, with red illustrated flowers all over.

Angry Girls and Furious Femmes

In the Ravenous Dark by AdriAnne (A. M.) Strickland

November 15, 2021November 13, 2021 Heather

This book is SOOOOOO GOOD. If you love furious, queer femmes literally smashing the patriarchy, read this NOW.

Cover of "The Deep & Dark Blue," with the title in light blue font at the top of an illustration of the central twins, one wearing a blue and white dress, one wearing a white shirt, black trousers, and carrying a sword. The background is purple and reddish pink, with flames leaping up to burn a blue tapestry in the background.

Skittles' Cozy Corner

The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith

November 13, 2021November 11, 2021 Heather

Between the eye-catching art and the heartwarming message of trans affirmation, Niki Smith has created a lovely ode to the importance of community and being open to change. It’s really good.

OH YEAH!! Fridays

Where the Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass

November 12, 2021November 11, 2021 Heather

This is a gorgeous YA contemporary coming-of-age/romance that balances heavier topics with a lush, ultimately feel-good plot. Plus, it’s a reimagining of Jane Austen’s Persuasion–what more could you want?!