The Big Gay Book Club

After a six month hiatus, Amy and Chris are back and better than ever. Seeking a stripped down, more casual experience, your favorite hosts have simplified the pod and are here to bring you that ever so spicy Heated Rivalry commentary you crave. On this episode, they discuss Game Changer, book one of the Heated Rivalry series of HBO fame focusing on hockey all star Scott Hunter and his blueberry b...

This month your hosts, Amy and Chris, read Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, the first book in the Simon Snow series, which follows the adventures of a magical young adult (Simon Snow), his whip smart best friend, his couldn’t-care-less (ex?) girlfriend, and his devious roommate who most certainly is a vampire (probably (I mean look at him)). Being the chosen one sucks, honestly, and Simon has had just...

This month your hosts, Amy and Chris, readThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. In this salacious historical fiction that dramatizes the life and exploits of starlet Evelyn Hugo, not all is as it may appear. A decidedly queer tale of love and heartbreak that you’re going to have to read to believe. Amy even says its one of her favorite books we’ve read so far. Listen in to find...

This month your hosts, Amy and Chris, read A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock. In this sumptuously floral tale of two men’s pursuit of love - whether it be a love for science or family or community - a sinister presence lurks just beneath the surface. A unique and entrancing debut novel, A Botanical Daughter delighted your hosts and brought to light some questions that might’ve been better left...

This month, your hosts, Amy and Chris, read Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle. Their Season 3 premiere is packed full of everything this time of year has to offer: queer horror, queer joy, and yes, of course, the dreaded queer exhaustion. You’ll have to listen to find out why! While this was both of their first times reading a Tingler, it definitely won’t be their last! Thank you to Kevin MacLeod for...

SPOILERS galore in this bonus season two episode all about superlatives. Our hosts, Chris and Amy, discuss all their favorite moments from the novels they read over the course of the last year. With season one drawing to a close, look back on all their highlights and reminisce about all the characters, fluffy animal companions, first kisses, scariest moments, and everything else that made these ga...

This month our hosts, Amy and Chris, read In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan. Their Season 2 finale (wow!) promises to be a hoot. This was a book Amy had been suggesting for a long time and Chris wishes they'd read it sooner. A new favorite and a story they know everyone will relate to. Read Chris's synopsis below: Mermaids and unicorns and elves and dwarfs and harpies and trolls, oh my! The Oth...

This month our hosts, Chris and Amy, read This Is My Body, podcast alum Lindsay King-Miller’s sophomore novel that Chris has affectionately deemed an absolute “slam!” Seriously, this story seamlessly ties its multiple threads together into a gorgeously gruesome tapestry of horror that will delight fans of the genre, queer or otherwise. For fear of giving anything away, we’re going to leave you her...

On this special bonus Pride Month episode, our hosts, Chris and Amy, read All Systems Red, the first book in The Murderbot Diaries. Murderbot may not be a human, but oh gosh is it relatable! With equal parts humor and peril, this is a story for everyone. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cringe, you’ll even clench your teeth! And all Murderbot will want to do is continue watching Sanctuary Moon. Bu...

On this special supplementary episode, our hosts Chris and Amy had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Natalie Naudus, author of Gay the Pray Away and narrator of over 600 beloved audiobooks. Natalie brings a unique perspective to this episode and, even more importantly, to the growing field of queer teen literature. We discuss everything from her upbringing and how it influenced the novel, to...

This month our hosts, Chris and Amy, read Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus, a sweet and hopeful tale about a teenage girl who, despite growing up in a conservative religious cult, manages to discover truths about herself long buried beneath her molded exterior. Valerie’s story reminds us why reading is important, why banning books from libraries, and schools, and households is so detrimental, a...

This month our hosts, Chris and Amy, survived the harsh New England dystopian nightmare that is Manhunt , a trans-centric and unabashedly queer horror novel written by Gretchen Felker-Martin. We feel that Chris summed it up best: “ Manhunt is a novel that dares you to read it, to feel the way its characters feel, and to grapple with the reality that is being a transwoman in a world that wants you...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, are very thankful for the big gay blanket this month as they explore the frozen Wingspan Continent with Tyrus and his many friends - brrr! Come along with them on this very queer, quintessentially-teen fantasy adventure that’s oozing heart and style in equal amounts. While Owlbound By Winter’s Beak may be author Wesley E. Joseph’s first novel, we cannot deny its absolute...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, read the hauntingly devastating When Haru Was Here this March! Admittedly, Chris picked this one up based on the cover alone, but what was nestled within that dust jacket lived up to its beauty. Written by Dustin Thao, this book is a unique story that is magical in all the best ways. Join The Big Gay Book Club this month for a discussion about grief, self discovery, and q...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, feel very lucky to have gotten to read Kyle Lukoff’s A World Worth Saving this month! This middle school grade-level read follows the journey of A, a trans Jewish teenage boy on a quest to save his friends from forces far more sinister than he could have ever imagined. A’s story is enlightening to anyone not familiar with the trans experience and demands to be read for it...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, have extended the holiday spirit into 2025! Come on down to Christmas City, where the snow is white and the space heaters are…pretty? This month, they’ve read The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch. This Netflix Christmas movie of a novel is going to brighten your year, no matter when you read it. With enough spicy romance and political intrigue to keep every sensibi...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, have so much to say about Jandy Nelson’s prolific third novel, When the World Tips Over, that Episode 18 has a run time of more than two hours! You’ll not want to miss a second of this delightfully celebratory discussion of what has become one of their top reads of 2024! Amy said it best: this novel is a reminder to live life to the fullest and appreciate the family and c...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, fly away, into the stars, for this episode in which they read Jessica Mary Best’s debut novel, Stars, Hide Your Fires. Intergalactic espionage to the extreme. Murder plots. Framed for crimes you didn’t commit. Crawling around air vents. Disarming your enemies. Narrow getaways. Budding romance. This story has it all. Join Cass, Amaris, and crew as they fight against the em...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, present a special bonus Halloween episode in which they discuss Full Shift, the teen (were)wolf graphic novel written by Jennifer Dugan. This book is jammed (wolf) pack full of suspense, found family, sapphic romance, self discovery, and so much more. Howwwwwwwwl! And enjoy! Thank you to Kevin MacLeod for the use of our theme song, 'Werq.' You can find more of their music...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, get witchy for this month’s Halloween themed episode! They’ve read the first book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series, Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper, thanks to the recommendation of one of their awesome listeners. Join them as they discuss the wonderful trio of witches, Emmy, Talia, and Linden, and the brilliant schemes these three friends set in motion. Who will ul...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, welcome you back to Marsyas Island for their highly anticipated (as least for them) season two premiere! With less than a month passed since its release, they discuss the newest installment in the Cerulean Chronicles, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Written by TJ Klune, this wonderfully fantastical tale welcomes us back into the arms of the family we grew to care so much about...

SPOILERS galore in this one shot bonus episode all about superlatives. Our hosts, Chris and Amy, discuss all their favorite moments from the novels they read over the course the last year. With season one drawing to a close, look back on all their highlights and reminisce about all the characters, fluffy animal companions, first kisses, scariest moments, and everything else that made these gay boo...

Our hosts, Chris and Amy, welcome you to their season one finale. Thirteen books, fifteen episodes, one year of podcasting - it's all been leading to this! Chris feels it may even be one of their best episodes yet! This month they've read The Girl from the Sea, which is written and illustrated by Molly Know Ostertag, who lends her magical voice and unique artistry to a wonderfully vibrant story al...

Our hosts Alex and Henry–oops, sorry, Chris and Amy–thoroughly enjoyed the sensationally queer romance novel Red, White and Royal Blue, written by Casey McQuiston. A globe trotting romp that brings together two diametrically opposed foes (yes, that’s a Hamilton reference, which feels incredibly on brand), RWARB (rhubarb) tells the tale of how the president’s son and a member of the royal family fe...

In this bonus Pride Month episode, Amy and Chris had the amazing opportunity to speak with Lindsay King-Miller, the author of their June book of the month, The Z Word! The three of them talked horror, queer literature and liberation, rainbow capitalism, book number two, and so much more! A huge thank you to Lindsay for taking the time to speak with us about her debut queer horror novel that we bot...