Gift recommendation, if anyone has one?

[camwyn]

Looking for some books for one of my young relatives for Christmas. He put What if It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Red, White, and Royal Blue: A Novel by Casey McQuiston on the list, and in the past has expressed a fondness for Hallmark Channel movies because the girl always gets the boy. Also fond of Steven Universe and k-pop. The only other book on the Amazon wishlist is a cookbook from Homeroom, the mac & cheese restaurant. I'm having a little trouble using the Smart Bitches Trashy Books bookfinder to turn up something that hits both Teen Reader and LGBTQ categories; anybody have any suggestions?

(In between yesterday and today, the She-Ra With Pride Flag sticker he had on the list appears to have been either bought for him or removed.)

Comments

[ceitfianna]

You probably need to use YA instead of teen reader, that's the more common phrasing though it sounds like New Adult would work too. Its a phrasing that's not used as much but those books mentioned definitely fit into. There's an author with a series that starts with When Dimple met Rishi that's really good and Casey McQuiston has written other books as has Becky Albertalli. I know there are other authors but blanking on the moment.

Putting in New Adult, I get about 150 books, be useful to know what he likes, like does the m/m nature of the other too books or another aspect. One option might be, get one of those books and then a gift card to an independent bookstore.

[camwyn]

I'll give it a shot. I did find one item that looked like it might be up his alley when I went through the LGBTQIA+ tag there- Hamilton's Battalion: A Trio of Romances. The reviewers liked it, the m/m story was considered the most enjoyable by several of the responders, and he was super into the Hamilton musical. I can get it (and a couple of others that looked promising) through bookshop.org.

[rymenhild]

I've read Hamilton's Battalion and it's cute, but not the best work of any of the authors who contributed.

[rymenhild]

I have books. Do I have books. How old is he?

[camwyn]

Fifteen. Second year of high school.

[rymenhild]

If I don't reply with five or more recs by the end of the evening, poke me.

[rymenhild]

Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe

Adib Khorrab, Darius the Great is Not Okay

Jandy Nelson, I'll Give You The Sun

David Levithan, Boy Meets Boy

Preston Norton, Where I End and You Begin

I've read and loved everything on this list except Darius, which has been highly recommended by an English teacher I trust.

[ceitfianna]

Seconding Aristotle and Dante, that's an amazing book.

The Check Please books might work too, really good m/m graphic novels.