I have started using Storygraph in 2026, as well as Goodreads, so that will be interesting to see at the end of 2026 as they have lots of different graphs about format of books read, and so on.
I also decided that in January 2026 I would only read books under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. This idea partly came about because I have a new desk at home for doing actual work on (as opposed to this desk, which is in my craft room) and it's right in front of the LGBTQIA+ books. I kept looking at them while working and thinking, ooh I'd like to read X, I'd like to read Y. So I thought for the month I would only read queer books. It is nearly the end of January now and it's been an absolute joy to read queer books all month.
However, I didn't love this book. But I am glad I read it because I've been looking at it for ages! The book is about two best friends, Lula and Rory. Lula lives with her grandparents, who are pretty strict with her, because her mum walked out when Lula was only little. She was a teen mum and couldn't cope. Lula's grandad has never forgiven his daughter for leaving, so the family never mentions her. Lula still has some of her mother's posessions though, including a bunch of her books.
Rory lives with his mum, who is an alcoholic, and who is chaotic. Rory doesn't have a very happy home life. Lula kind of does - her grandparents adore her - but she's stuck too. They're kind of outcasts at school. They spend every Friday night watching old episodes of The X Files and uploading to their blog about the TV show. The book is set in 2008 so it was a bit past the prime of the series, so their classmates just think they're weird.
Rory came out as gay to Lula ages ago, but he hasn't told her that he is having an affair with his boss, who is like nearly three times his age, and who is divorced and has two daughters who are not that much younger than Rory. Rory seems to think that the two of them will be out and proud together eventually, and that they have a future together. It is obvious as an adult reading that they do not, but I liked the way it was portrayed. Rory also tries out for the high school football team, but doesn't tell Lula that either because he knows she'll scoff about it. I did think the book was quite fatphobic in the way that it talked about Rory's body, which I didn't like at all. He's big and tall and therefore an asset to a football team, sure, but it was quite shame-y in the way it talked about his body.
Anyway, Lula then goes missing. She has been reading her mother's books and goes off to New York to try to find her mum. The first part of the book is from Rory's point of view and the second part is from Lula's. I don't think either part really worked for me. I can't decide what I just didn't like about the book but I didn't. I am giving it three out of five; I liked the stories mostly, but the writing, not overly.
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