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The Trans Rights Readathon might be over (for now), but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be reading trans and non-binary stories all year round. Especially when so many great books have been (and will be) published after March and beyond. Let’s keep supporting trans stories throughout 2025. Here are four books out this year you should check out ASAP!
Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi
National Book Award finalist Akwaeke Emezi’s latest novel is a young adult fantasy that follows Somadina and her twin brother Jayaike—two halves of a whole. Both were gifted with magical powers, but Somadina’s powers strike fear throughout her town. When her brother suddenly goes missing, Somadina loses her only ally in an otherwise hostile environment. Somadina has no choice but to enter the Sacred Forest and face unimaginable dangers to find her brother and bring him back home.
Devils Like Us by L.T. Thompson (Bloomsbury, June 3)
This queer YA fantasy is out in June, just in time for Pride Month! Cas knows that it’s important to keep prophetic visions and feelings of gender discomfort a secret. Cas learned this the hard way when Remy ended their friendship over these things. Remy is consumed with the search for her missing father and refuses to heed the vision Cas has had about him. Meanwhile, Finn has a secret she has to hide as well—her love for Remy, who would never reciprocate those feelings for fear of sinning. The three are an unlikely trio, but when Cas reveals a new vision, all three find themselves on the run… and aboard a ship of outcasts not unlike themselves.
Hot Girls with Balls by Benedict Nguyễn (Catapult, July 1)
Hot Girls with Balls is the satirical debut novel from Benedict Nguyễn. Six and Green have a lot in common; they’re both trans Asian women who have launched into fame by playing professional men’s volleyball. When they started dating, the internet loved it. But how will Six and Green be able to manage their careers, their social media accounts, and their relationship?
You Weren’t Meant to be Human by Andrew Joseph White (Saga Press, September 9)
You might recognize Andrew Joseph White from his YA novels like Hell Followed with Us and The Sprit Bares its Teeth. But this is his debut adult novel. Appalachia has been invaded by aliens, and the world as we know it is over. For Crane, it’s a fresh start, an opportunity to reinvent himself. He’s also just met Levi, who treats him like the man he’s always known he’s been. But then Levi gets Crane pregnant, and in the face of the end of humanity, Crane must make a difficult choice that goes against what the rest of the world might want from him.
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Looking for more new releases from trans authors? Check out these 12 books by trans and non-binary authors out this year. And here are 6 new trans romance books. Of course, reading stories from trans and non-binary authors is only the beginning. If you’re an ally, here’s a guide to supporting transgender people in your life. If you are transgender and searching for more support, check out these resources.
The following comes to you from the Editorial Desk.
This week, we’re highlighting a post about the literary events that should be on your calendar for the rest of 2025. From awards announcements to famous authors’ birthdays to Banned Books Week, these are the dates readers should have on their radars. Read on for an excerpt and become an All Access member to unlock the full post.
The Most Anticipated Literary Events of (the Rest of) 2025
For some, the major literary events of the year come as a pleasant or interesting surprise—something to enjoy in the moment, rather than to anticipate. For others, there’s big appeal in bookmarking these occasions in advance to plan, predict, and build around. I and the rest of the editorial team are in the business of thinking ahead about what the year has in store for book lovers, publishers, industry experts, and the like, which is why we all got together toward the end of 2024 to plot out everything from birthdays of literary greats, to anniversaries of books that have made a deep cultural impact, to literary awards and events coming up this year. We’ve been marking these events as they happen on the site for what’s shaping up to be a very busy year in books, but there are still so many big, exciting literary events of 2025 to anticipate.
Whether you’re a book-focused or -adjacent content creator, someone who beefs up their TBR with literary awards honorees, or a book lover who appreciates being in the know, I’m here with a starting place for calendaring out the rest of this storied year…
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