The 2025 Fantasy League of Books: Queer Books Edition

My rationale for these picks falls into three broad categories: my belief that they could win awards, my expectation of their popularity, and simply because I am fond of them. Let’s delve into the potential award winners and best-of contenders.

Starting with the award potentials and best-of prospects:
– Stag Dance: A Novel & Stories by Torrey Peters: Following the success of Detransition, Baby, this sequel stands a chance to feature on best-of lists due to its critical acclaim and popularity.
– Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel: With the previous success of Kaikeyi, this book is likely to garner attention for best-of lists, if not literary awards.
– Palaver by Bryan Washington: As a respected literary fiction writer, Bryan Washington is expected to receive critical acclaim for this work.
– Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth: Originally released in the UK, this book’s crossover to North America might attract a following on platforms like TikTok and feature on best-of lists.
– Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan: Given the success of Bellies in 2023, there are high hopes for this book making it to best-of lists in 2025.
– The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong: With Ocean Vuong’s esteemed status as a literary figure, this book is a strong contender for awards.

Moving on to my selections for potential bestsellers and Goodreads Choice Awards:
– Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab: V.E. Schwab’s popularity coupled with the theme of toxic lesbian vampires makes this a compelling choice.
– Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid: I was surprised to discover the queer aspect of this book, considering the success of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, it is a must-include.
– The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling: Despite mixed feelings about the author’s previous works, the premise of sapphic medieval horror is too intriguing to overlook.
– The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong: Riding on the success of The Teller of Small Fortunes, this cozy fantasy promises to be a hit.

Finally, there are a couple of choices that may not be entirely rational but are close to my heart:
– Awakened by A.E. Osworth: This fantasy novel featuring trans witches battling an evil AI left a profound impact on me, warranting a five-star rating.
– Sympathy for Wild Girls: Stories by Demree McGhee: Although deserving of awards and best-of lists, being from a small press may hinder its recognition, yet its debut status from an indie publisher makes it a special inclusion.