Some of these are retellings, others are completely new stories built with old bones. But every single one is rooted in myth and magic that goes way deeper than dragons and immortals. Whether you’re looking for epic fantasy, quiet ghost stories, or something with a more modern voice, these books bring it. Each one carries its own take on fate, family, honor, or chaos. And yeah, there are some gods involved. Of course there are.

Summer doesn’t need to be dramatic to be good. Sometimes it’s enough to have a cold drink, a decent playlist, and a book with a love story that isn’t trying too hard. This week’s recs are romances that feel like long afternoons and slow burns. Nothing too heavy, but not fluff with zero substance either.

We’re focusing on books with transgender lead characters, whether they’re navigating identity, love, grief, revenge, or just trying to stay alive in worlds that aren’t always built for them. There’s a mix of genres here, some are contemporary and quiet, others are wild and witchy. What they all have in common is how fully they let their trans characters exist, love, mess up, and keep going.

It’s Pride Month, and this week’s lineup is celebrating leads who are pansexual, asexual, or bisexual. I wanted to make sure these aren’t stories where queerness is just a footnote. These are characters living it, figuring it out, or just vibing, and the stories are better for it. Whether it’s romance, grief, coming of age, or saving the world, these books offer characters who sit across the full spectrum and bring a lot of heart. I mixed genres here too, so there’s something