Welcome to Litsy!

#12Booksof2025 August / Book 8 : highlighting these two books from #camplitsy25 that I loved and wouldn't have had on my radar without the buddy read!

This has made all my lists, and a lot of other people's too, I see. Well deserved.

@TheEllieMo #12Booksof2025

July

#12booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

#12Booksof2025

Favorite in July by far and a favorite of the entire year.

@TheEllieMo

#12BooksOf2025

Another semi-difficult choice for July as I also read & loved Death of the Author & I Who Have Not Known Men, but this #CampLitsy2025 pick really had my heart. ❤️❤️❤️

I always feel guilty about all the books I didn‘t get to but I gotta call it sometime: https://multitudes-contained.beehiiv.com/p/on-reading-in-2025-my-favorite-books

Thank you to @jenniferw88 for this inspiring list of books and to @monalyisha as always for dedicated and creative matching! 11 here are on our audiobook list in Toronto, which is great. I‘ve included everything for the benefit of others! Sorry, my graphics are as fancy as a lot of others are.

I‘ll write a list of 20 things to know about me tomorrow!
#Auldlangspine2026

I really enjoyed this trans coming of age story about a middle aged high school teacher in a conservative midwestern town. As she is discovering more about her identity she interacts with the only trans student, a surly girl who doesn‘t want to be the queer Sherpa for her teacher. The dialogue was so believable and I liked the scenes with theater, local politics and navigating friendships. A surprising find for me this year!

July #ReadingBracket2025 Fiction update
The #CampLitsy25 selections for July hit it out of the park. Both Woodworking and Death of the Author were five star reads for me. Woodworking made just a little more of an impression on me, so it's my July pick, but DotA will most likely grab the bonus spot for the quarter

I don‘t know how I felt about the first half of the book, but the second half was incredible. #camplitsy25 #summerreading #summerjob #parks

Still not reading as much as I usually do but loved everything I read this month. Not pictured are Under the Painted Sky and Death of the Author.

I‘ve thrown the towel in on almost all challenges and am letting my mood take me where it will. Luckily the #CampLitsy books are working for me.

#summerreading #summerjob #camplitsy25

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Imagine having to hide yourself for fear of your life. Think about that, truly. I don‘t know what that feels like. Reading builds empathy. You don‘t have to understand gender identity in order to be respectful and kind to others. People who aren‘t exactly like you don‘t have to be a threat. They are just living, too. This is a very thoughtful, and thought-provoking read.

Starting this book (late) for #camplitsy25 #queer #summerreads #summerjob

#readingbracket2025 #July @Catsandbooks

I would not be 100% surprised if the two semi-finalists were The Devil and the Dark Water and Woodworking.

#july #readingstats

I finally finished this (it‘s been a busy month for me!) and I loved it. Leave it to #camplitsy to bring some great books into my hands!

I‘ll be going back over the questions tonight to see what everyone had to say. This shows that trans lives can look so many different ways, different for every person living it. 🏳️‍⚧️🩵🩷🤍

This was the tightest vote in a while - certainly tighter than my month last year (James/All Fours 😂) - but Woodworking won 25-18. In the end, I'm really pleased we had a month with great discussions about two books a lot of us enjoyed! Thank you all so much for participating and making this a fun month to lead! #CampLitsy25 @barbarabb @squirrelbrain

I‘ve been really looking forward to this one and it definitely didn‘t disappoint. Great selection for #CampLitsy25

I loved this so, so much, and am pretty sure it‘s going to end up on my top-ten (or however many titles I allow myself to count as “top”) for the year. Erica, a trans teacher in small-town South Dakota—who‘s not yet out—befriends the only other trans person she knows: one of her students. Told from multiple perspectives, this gave such a rich, complex portrait of trans experience. The characterization and nuance here were phenomenal— ⤵️

Once again, I would never have picked this up without #CampLitsy. The “friendship” between Erica and Abigail was deeply disturbing to me, and I came so close to bailing. It still gives me the ick. However, watching all of the characters evolve on their respective journeys was incredible. St. James writes beautifully, with depth and compassion. This feels like a big, important book that everyone should read. ⬇️

3✨ It helps provide perspective to different walks in a trans persons life. As a cis person I don‘t know what this feels like, or the struggle. I like the strength that Abigail had in this book to be herself. I also like the support she found. While I struggle with the teacher/student dynamic in this book. I also know that it was more about how there are people who want to understand, and time and effort are how we can get there. #CampLitsy25

****THIS DISCUSSION WILL CONTAIN MAJOR SPOILERS**** Please be mindful of this if you choose to read it.

Brooke was certainly one of the most surprising and confounding characters in this book! I'm dying to know what y'all think! #CampLitsy25

@barbarabb @squirrelbrain

Last week we talked about Abigail as Erica's “trans mom,“ which rightfully made a lot of readers uncomfortable with the teacher/student and adult/teen dynamics already present. Abigail is a kid, and she definitely needed a mom herself. Two women stepped up to fill that void in this book. What do you think of Jennifer and Brooke and mother-figure to Abigail? #CampLitsy25

@barbarabb @squirrelbrain

This book had such fantastic characters, and I'm glad so many of you enjoyed it, too! Tomorrow, I'll make the post to vote for your favorite book of July. I have truly enjoyed leading these discussions for the 4th year, and thanks to all of you who make #CampLitsy25 so wonderful and enlightening!

I'll pass the mic to @barbarabb for August, which starts with Tilt by Emma Pattee next weekend. Hope to see you there! @squirrelbrain

You have always tried to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but that doesn't work when you want to obliterate yourself.

I stayed up too late and finished this. Can‘t wait for the discussion tomorrow!
#14books14weeks

Loved it. Great characters with distinctive voices , plotting that avoided cliché and predictability, smart writing and some wonderful calling out of the attitudes of the “Christian” Right - “…everything you say is bankrupt, warped by money and power and privilege”. “But a person‘s life is their own. Few sins are greater than trying to squeeze someone else into the shape you require them to be.” Can‘t wait to discuss #CampLitsy2025

This is so good! I read a lot of trans writing so I don't feel as blown away as others seem to be, but I really enjoyed this. Particularly how the other S. Dakota people were represented. "Allies" hiding in unlikely places, while you still are very aware of the results of an election that has not happened yet (quotes b/c you cannot be an Allie and vote for someone like Rose).
I thought the characters were realistic, the setting was perfect & ?

The idea of names in this novel. I am not sure if we are going to tackle this on Saturday but I had so many thoughts as I finish - in comments under spoilers.

Oh how I love this book ❤️ #camplitsy

Link to the recording of the book talk with Emily St. James that I‘d posted about last week - it was delightful (as is she!): https://youtu.be/oqRAV4GJQNY
#CampLitsy25

Not much to add to all the wonderful reviews of our latest #CampLitsy25 selection. It was a lovely, quick read about found family and finding yourself, and pushing back against a society that forces people into conventional pigeon holes. I enjoyed it, and loved catching up on everyone's discussions from last weekend!

#weeklyforecast
I didn't get much reading done this weekend, but hoping to make up groud this week!

3.5 ⭐️
This book was eye-opening. I learned about some of the hardships that trans people go through in trying to come out. I can not begin to imagine the constant struggle in trying to be your true self while many refuse to accept who you are.

I did not feel any attachment to any of the characters, but I did empathize with their pain. I understood Erika's confusion and Abigail's anger. They had each other for support. ⬇️

Another hit for #camplitsy25 🙌
Abigail (our 17 year old trans heroine) jumps right off the page as she‘s in conflict with just about everyone in her orbit. We get her perspective along with her (newly out to herself) teacher, Erica‘s POV. A learning experience for many and an emotional yet hilarious read full of heart. A winner! Looking forward to the remainder of the conversation next weekend.

This gem could very well become my favorite book of the year. I laughed, cried, and learned so much ♥️ #camplitsy25 @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks
#readyourkindle

Another great #camplitsy25 selection and an important read about trans lives and experiences and how vital it is to be seen and accepted for you truly are. I didn‘t expect this to be such a hard to put down, page turner but I had to know how things were going to turn out for these wholly vibrant, imperfectly perfect characters. #14books14weeks book 11

I finished this by the lake today and I‘ll add my praise to that of other reviewers. Every time this verged on cheesy or over the top St James brought it back to the likable but flawed characters. I loved it.

What a great summer of reading we‘ve had so far with #CampLitsy

I fully intended to save the second half of this for later in the week, just before our next #CampLitsy25 discussion, but I just couldn‘t wait. I LOVED this! St James does a beautiful job of showing the reader that there are many ways to be trans. This is such a stunning debut. It has earned the rare privilege of being included in my permanent collection.

A story unlike any I‘ve read before that brings you inside the experience of being trans, of coming out as trans, of hiding that you‘re trans. The characters are all richly drawn and ones I‘ll remember for quite some time.

Thank you to #camplitsy25 for selecting this one as a summer read.

What a terrific debut! A trans high schooler befriends her still closeted trans teacher in this funny, sharp, compassionate novel that highlights a variety of trans experiences through an ensemble of fantastic, fleshed out characters and complex relationships. It champions the importance of solidarity and joy within the trans community despite the challenges that come with living in a society that often lacks understanding. I just loved it. 5⭐️

Lessons learned:
There are three types of courage - 1 You are yourself no matter what anyone says. You are your past, present, and future and you will fight anyone who tries to put you in a box. 2 You come out to one person at a time till you can deal with the repercussions (you may lose some, but look at what you will gain). 3 Even hiding yourself is courageous when you have to leave those you love and embrace the unknown.
YOU NEED SUPPORT...

#camplitsy25 is really working for me this year! 4/4 getting 5 stars!

I started this at 6:10 this morning and have just finished it! And I had tears near the end, although not full-on crying!

@squirrelbrain @Megabooks @BarbaraBB

Welcome to our first discussion of Woodworking! Don't forget there are two additional questions.

Helen, Barbara, and I all have busy Saturday's, but we will do the best we can to be present for the discussion.

I'm truly happy this book has seen such as positive response, and I hope everyone enjoys today's questions! #CampLitsy25

Helen Swee's quixotic campaign is a big part of the first half and a catalyst for Megan and Abigail's friendship. What do you think of Helen's campaign? #CampLitsy25

In addition to wondering about their friendship and Abigail's role as Erica's trans mom, there is the teacher/student dynamic at play, too. I think there's also something to question whether the nature of their relationship as appropriate for a teacher and student.

That's all for this week. Hope to see you back next week when we'll talk about the whole book! #CampLitsy25

"It's a thing we transes do. The second we learn who somebody is, we can make them snap into place. "There you are," we say, because there you are."

???