Queer YA Books with 1990s/2000s Movie Connections
“Emmett,” by L.C. Rosen. Copyright 2023, Little, Brown and Company (264 pages, $18.99).
Fans of Jane Austen’s classic, Emma, and the 90’s take on it, Clueless, will enjoy Rosen’s updated take on this story. Add a dash of queer representation and you have a very modern and current take on Austen’s original work. We follow a teenage Emmett as he tries to navigate life as he helps his friends (by matchmaking and/or tutoring them) and learns what it really means to be “nice.” Something that all people can connect with as we navigate niceties without rewards.
With The Absinthe Underground you’ll get Moulin Rouge vibes meet the ever complicated world of Faeire all in this friends-to-lovers sapphic romantasy adventure. Sybil and Esme are making ends meet by stealing and selling rare posters in order to survive in their world. But when they’re caught by the subject of one poster they’re trying to sell, Maeve, they are offered a heist of a lifetime. To steal the crown jewels from the QUEEN OF WHAT for Maeve with the possibility of never needing to work again. While attempting this heist, Esme and Sybil learn more about themselves, and each other, and what it means to truly love someone in a world that does not love them.
And to round out our 90’s/00’s references is Croucher’s Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, which combines the classic A Knight’s Tale found family vibes with a new fan favorite – Heartstopper. It’s been centuries since the famed King Arthur’s reign, but now it’s his future descendant’s turn to take a crack at the story. Like in the original text, this Arthur is betrothed to a lady Gwen (Gwendoline in this text); but unlike the original text, they loathe each other and both have their romantic sights set on another person. But once Art and Gwen find out each other’s secrets (that Art likes kissing boys and that Gwen is in love with the only lady knight that Camelot has) they make a pact in order to carry on as is in their noble life, while also helping each other cover up they’re queer escapades.
All books and most movies mentioned here can be found with Alamance Public Libraries. Anything else can always be requested to purchase.
Kayleigh D. is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library.