Othman - Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
This debut young adult novel by Sher Lee sees an aspiring chef who discovers love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a new customer to attend a family wedding in the Hamptons. Make some mooncakes and tuck into this book about romance, good food and family.
Jitendra - A Little Life
A Little Life tells a deeply emotional story about love, pain, and resilience. It explores identity and relationships in a way that’s honest and unflinching.
Rowan - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles reimagines the myth of Achilles and Patroclus, exploring their deep bond and love in the face of war and fate. Told from Patroclus’s perspective, the novel delves into themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the consequences of heroism. With beautiful writing and a fresh take on ancient myths, Miller brings new life to a timeless story in her debut novel, making it both emotional and powerful.
Holly - This feast of a life by Cynthia So
Cynthia So’s coming-of-age novel explores main character Auden grow into their non-binary identity as they learn to live more authentically as themself. A romance novel that brings together two people who are trying to figure themselves out through shared love of food. A perfect choice for anyone who loves a BookTok romance!
Othman - All of Us Strangers
All of Us Strangers stars Andrew Scott, and follows a middle-aged man who is drawn back to his childhood home to have a series of conversations with his parents, who have been dead for more than 30 years. He can only guess what their reactions would have been to his adult life; his job, his personality, and most significantly, his sexuality. The film is also based on the 1987 novel Strangers by Taichi Yamada, but explores a queer love story that is not found in the original text. The film explores the idea of confronting and discussing feelings and sexuality with those you love, which is something that has often been difficult for LGBTQ+ individuals within the UK. The film also explores how familial rejection based on your sexuality can make an impact on your relationships.
Jitendra - Super Deluxe
Super Deluxe is a bold and thought-provoking film that dives into themes of identity, family, and acceptance. It portrays LGBTQ+ characters with depth and humanity, challenging societal norms in a way that feels both raw and real.
Rowan - Love Lies Bleeding
A tense romantic drama set in the high-stakes world of bodybuilding, Love Lies Bleeding follows the passionate and destructive relationship between Lou, a reclusive gym manager, and Jackie, a driven bodybuilder determined to make it to the top. As Jackie’s obsession with her physical transformation intensifies, Lou is drawn deeper into her world, where love and ambition blur into something darker. Their romance becomes a dangerous spiral, exposing the emotional and physical toll of chasing perfection while revealing the brutal undercurrents of a high-pressure, competitive environment.
Holly - Major!
This documentary follows the life of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a transgender woman of colour and veteran of the Stonewall Riots. We watch as she recounts her life, spanning 40 years of fighting for trans rights, surviving incarceration and mistreatment from the state, and her advocacy work within HIV and AIDs organisations and across the transgender community.
Othman - Alan Turing (1912-1954)
Alan Turing’s story is one of the most heart-breaking, seen as a national hero for his work during the Second World War, breaking the wartime Enigma codes in Bletchley Park, as well as devising the Turing Test, which is still a measure of artificial intelligence. Despite his scientific breakthroughs, he was treated as a criminal after acknowledging his sexual relationship with Arnold Murray in 1952. Historically, homosexuals convicted under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 could choose between imprisonment or probation, probation being conditional on undergoing chemical castration, designed to reduce libido. He accepted the injections, a synthetic oestrogen, which feminised his body for the course of one year, rendering him impotent and causing breast tissue to form. In 1954, he was found dead in his own home in Wilmslow, the coroner’s report stating he’d died by suicide by ingesting cyanide. 55 years later, Prime Minister at the time Gordon Brown offered a formal public apology for the treatment of Turing: “…this recognition of Alan’s status as one of Britain’s most famous victims of homophobia is another step towards equality and is long overdue”
Jitendra - Dr Kaveri Rajaraman (Bittu)
Dr Kaveri Rajaraman inspires me with their courage and authenticity. As a neuroscientist and LGBTQ+ advocate, they have shown how to embrace your identity while breaking barriers in both science and social justice. Their work and openness make them a role model for inclusivity.
Rowan - Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was an Irish writer known for his wit, humour, and social commentary. His works, including The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest, challenge societal norms and explore themes of identity, love, and hypocrisy. Wilde’s sharp critique of Victorian society, combined with his flamboyant persona, made him one of the most celebrated and controversial figures of his time.
Holly - Lou Sullivan (1951-1991)
Lou Sullivan was a gay and transgender historian, community organiser, author and diarist. Sullivan was a founding member of the GLBT Historical Society, and his diaries documented his social and medical transition, sharing his feelings on his journey from the age of 10 up until his passing. He was one of the first transgender men to publicly identify as gay and lobbied for the American Psychiatric Association and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health to recognize gay trans men. His advocacy work fought to change the requirements for gender identity disorder to no longer include sexuality as a requirement and was key in helping people distinguish the difference between gender and sexuality.