Guest Editor Gabby Rivera is a truly unique writer with a powerful voice and great taste in books. The author of Juliet Takes A Breath let She Reads in on some of her favorite books and if you loved Rivera’s latest novel, you’ll adore her book picks. This is what Gabby Rivera reads.

The Stars and The Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus

When 16-year-old Audre is sent from Trinidad to America because of her mother’s disapproval of her sexuality, she fears she’ll lose herself entirely in a city like Minneapolis. But then she meets the daughter of her father’s friend, Mabel and the two fall for one another. While they are happy to be together, everything comes crashing down when test results confirm that Mabel is sick. Together, they’ll learn to navigate their love, high school and Mabel’s diagnosis.

Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg

For nearly three decades, Jess Goldberg didn’t know how to gender herself. As a transgendered person, she comes to find that she’ll have to do whatever it takes to be accepted and happy – even if that means posing as a man to keep a job. Set in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, Stone Butch Blues tells the story of a transgendered person who must learn how to live in a world where others are wary of who she is.

Flaming Iguanas: An Illustrated All-Girl Road Novel Thing by Erika Lopez

In Flaming Iguanas, Tomato Rodriguez is on a mission to find the true meaning of life and love while riding her motorcycle across the country. A laugh-out-loud novel that combines prose, drawings and rubber stamp art, this book is a truly unique read.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante are both going through personal struggles when they meet at the swimming pool. As the two spend more time together, they begin to learn about themselves and who they want to be.

*Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links. These picks are editorially selected, but if you purchase, She Reads may get something in return. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.