Imogen, Obviously

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli is a college visit that leads to a self discovery. 

Imogen Scott may be hopelessly heterosexual, but she’s got the World’s Greatest Ally title locked down.

She's never missed a Pride Alliance meeting. She knows more about queer media discourse than her very queer little sister. She even has two queer best friends. There's Gretchen, a fellow high school senior, who helps keep Imogen's biases in check. And then there's Lili—newly out and newly thriving with a cool new squad of queer college friends.

Imogen's thrilled for Lili. Any ally would be. And now that she's finally visiting Lili on campus, she's bringing her ally A game. Any support Lili needs, Imogen's all in.

Even if that means bending the truth, just a little.

Like when Lili drops a tiny queer bombshell: She's told all her college friends that Imogen and Lili used to date. And none of them know that Imogen is a raging hetero—not even Lili’s best friend, Tessa.

Of course, the more time Imogen spends with chaotic, freckle-faced Tessa, the more she starts to wonder if her truth was ever all that straight to begin with. . .

Albertalli is great author of YA literature. Imogen, Obviously is a sweet coming out story.

Albertalli, Becky. (2023). Imogen, Obviously. New York: Balzer + Bray.

Icebreaker

Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei is a sports romance set on a college ice hockey team.

Mickey James III was born for hockey. At times he feels like that is all his father and grandfather care about. Both of them were pick as first pick in the NHL draft in their days. Mickey is at school for one year, until the draft. He is listed as likely to go number one, but on his heels is his new classmate, Jaysen Caulfield.

Jaysen Caulfield is the first person in his family to play ice hockey. He does it for the love of the game. He plans on being picked in the next draft, but will be getting a degree before stating in the NHL. 

This is a great sports book, but also so much more. A sensitive look at depression. I listened to the audiobook. The reader is great and I was sucked in right away.

Graziadei, A.L. (2002). Icebreaker. New York: Macmillian.

Fourth Wing (Empyrean #1)

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is the first book in her Empyrean fantasy series. 

Violet Sorrengail has been studying her whole life to enter Basgaith War College and become a scribe - one who keeps all of the history of Navarre. She will follow in her father's footsteps. Or so she thought. 

At the very last minute, her mother, General Sorrengail, tells her she will not become a scribe, she is going to become a dragon rider - or die trying. Odds are not in her favor as most classes lose about half of their students.

On conscription day each prospective student must cross a parapet to get to the school. If you make it across the only ways out of the school are graduation or death. If your classmates don't kill you, the dragons might. 

Yarros has written a heart pounding tale that fans of Sarah Maas will love. 

Yarros, Rebecca. (2023). Fourth Wing. PA: Red Tower Books.

The Missing Hours

The Missing Hours by Julia Dahl is about a sexual assault of a college freshman and her process of trying to find out what happened to her.

Claudia Castro is known as a rich, party girl. She is a freshman at NYU who has decided to stay in the dorms over Spring break. 

When Claudia wakes up the morning after going to a campus adjacent bar, she does not know what happened to her. She is missing some of her clothing and smells like she has been sick. But she has no memory past ordering a drink.

What follows is the harrowing tale of knowing something terrible happened, having no idea what or who. With the help of a dorm neighbor, she tries to piece things together while staying away from her family until her face heals.

Dahl, a crime reporter herself, has written a hard-hitting story that is all too real in our society. 

Dahl, Julia. (2021). The Missing Hours. New York: Minotaur.

Seneca Falls

Seneca Falls by Jesse Thoma is a story of healing and finding love.

Seneca King goes to Sophia College, an Ivy League women's school in New England. She is on scholarship and works three jobs. She has a reputation around campus and at the local lesbian bar - she is aloof and gorgeous. She never goes home with the same woman.

Her roommate, Britt, knows her a little better than everyone else, but still not well. Britt is her fifth roommate and only friend until she meets Kate. Kate Smith is the new athletic trainer. And she offers Seneca a job - one job to replace the three. Seneca jumps at the chance.

Seneca also meets Dylan. Dylan is a senior who spent her last year studying abroad. When she returned she felt disconnected from her old friends. She wants someone who knows more about the world outside of campus.

Seneca's past is a block that could get in the way of her relationship with Dylan. She hasn't told anyone at school what happened to her. Only Kate knows that Seneca's limp is from a gunshot wound.

Thoma has written a great story of redemption and healing. Her characters are real and compelling. This is the third book of hers I have read recently and I have thoroughly enjoyed each one.

Thoma, Jesse. (2015). Seneca Falls. Valley Falls, NY: Bold Strokes Books.

What We Left Behind

What We Left Behind by Robin Talley is a book about first love and finding oneself.

Toni and Gretchen fell in love the night they met - at a Homecoming dance. Toni walked into the dance a local celebrity after winning a lawsuit against the all girl's school allowing Toni to wear pants. Gretchen came to the dance with a family friend after moving to town the day before - it was her introduction to her new school.


Toni and Gretchen are a couple that everyone envies. They are completely in love, never fight and are going to college in the same city. Except they are not. Gretchen tells Toni the night before they leave that she will not be in Boston because she will be going to New York University.

They are both sure that, though they will be a few hours apart, their relationship is strong enough to make it. Toni starts Harvard, making new friends and joining one of the queer groups on campus. Meeting new friends, including some trans people, has given Toni the idea that maybe instead of being genderqueer, maybe Toni is actually trans.

Gretchen starts at NYU. She meets a couple of new friends and runs into someone she competed against in debate all around the country. She is sad about the distance between herself and Toni, but excited to be back in New York where she grew up.

Talley has written a story of first love, expanding horizons and self discovery. Her debut novel, Lies We Tell Ourselves, established her a brilliant storyteller whose characters are people we would want in our own lives. Her portrayals, both race and queer issues, are thought-provoking and spot on. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. If you haven't yet read either of her books, start one now.

Talley, Robin. (2015). What We Left Behind. New York: Harlequin Teen.

Just Girls

Just Girls by Rachel Gold is an amazing book that highlights many of today's civil rights issues and the ongoing need to push for equality - all in the guise of a coming of age, first year of college novel.

Jess Tucker is in line in her college cafeteria at the beginning of the school year when she overhears someone behind her saying she saw a memo about a trans woman in the dorms. The girl goes on to say pretty negative things about "him" and before Tucker can think anything past some poor woman has to deal with this crap all of the time, she outs herself as trans and confront the girl and her friends. Tucker thinks that she got through high school as an out lesbian, this will be similar.

What Tucker doesn't count on is the level of transphobia being much higher than that toward gays and lesbians. She tells her friends in the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex and Allies) student club what she did and they back her up. But when someone spray paints her dorm room with anti-trans slurs, her girlfriend decide Tucker should move in with her.

Ella Ramsey is the trans woman who Tucker is protecting. They have never met and only a couple of people in administration know she was born into a boy's body. She has a two suite dorm to herself as a result.

When Ella sees the paint on Tucker's door she stops and stares. Tucker catches her and is surprised she is not there to add insult to injury. After a short talk, Ella invites Tucker to move to her extra room so she can start over.

This is Gold's second novel featuring trans characters. Claire and Emily from her book Being Emily appear in this book, too. Gold creates real characters who readers will want to befriend. Her books are great. Buy a copy of each and start reading today.

Gold, Rachel. (2014). Just Girls. Tallahassee, FL: Bella Books.