Queer Romance Book Club Reads: Oh! You Pretty Things

The Queer Romance Book Club is a group of adults that reads and discusses queer romance stories of all kinds. From new releases to older stories, contemporary to historical settings (with even some fantasy on occasion!), the books we’ll read will also feature diverse pairings/configurations, sexualities, and gender expressions. Join us on the second Tuesday of every month to go deep on the themes, tropes, and emotions that connect the titles we read, or drop in for your favorite books or sub-genres! All are welcome!
Registration is required, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TXMhbVCETAamP-iws1Kg9g
This Month’s book is Oh! You Pretty Things by Jane Hadley
Summary:
By the time imaginative Arthur Ohashi starts his junior year at the University of Minnesota in 1970, he’s made an art of forging conventionality into armor. That is, until Eve Clark turns his careful world upside down. Beautiful and enigmatic, Eve pours her considerable charisma into fronting a local rock band called The Tarts – and she wants Arthur to play keys for them. As he is absorbed into the band, their parties, and their giddy world of subversive rock ‘n’ roll, Arthur is increasingly drawn to the Tart’s guitarist, James Novak, whose appreciation for underground records and androgyny unlocks long-suppressed desires in him.
As Eve and James strip Arthur’s armor away (and replace it with lush red lipstick), he embarks on a path of self-discovery entirely outside his expectation or experience, tapping into a well of bombshell energy he never knew he had. But when Arthur finds himself caught in the middle of Eve and James’ complicated relationship, he realizes that he can’t continue to contort himself to fit into other people’s expectations. Not if the cost is himself.
Grounded in local LGBTQIA history, Oh You Pretty Things is a story of self-actualization, love, and rock ‘n’ roll. Fans of the Velvet Underground, Ziggy Stardust, and T.Rex will find themselves at home in the rich soundtrack of this novel set to music.
Identities/Themes/Tropes: Historical, drag, m/nb
2026 Books:
JANUARY – When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
FEBRUARY – Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao
MARCH – Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell
APRIL – The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
MAY – I Think They Love You by Julian Winters
JUNE – Moonlighters: A Novella Collection by Anita Kelly
JULY – A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander
AUGUST – Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory
SEPTEMBER – Oh! You Pretty Things by Jane Hadley
OCTOBER – Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti
About the facilitators:
Kira Apple (she/her) has been a bookseller at Charis since the summer of 2020. Originally from Pennsylvania, she first discovered a love of romance through fan fiction and fantasy novels. Now, she reads broadly across fantasy, sci-fi, and romance, and is a huge fan of queer lit and media. In addition to swooning over romantic things, Kira enjoys tabletop roleplaying, video games, crocheting, writing, and wrangling her three cats. You can find her on Instagram – @kiapple.
Kate Harlan (she/her) is an aspiring librarian who has lived in Atlanta her whole life. She loves queer stories, devouring queer romance, fantasy, and sci-fi books with both her ears and her eyes at what some say is an alarming rate. When she’s not reading (and, honestly, sometimes while she’s listening to books), she’s gardening with children in her neighborhood, doing jigsaw puzzles, petting dogs, or knitting. You can find her on Instagram- @meetingmeonce
The event is free and open to all people, especially to those who have no income or low income right now, but we encourage and appreciate a solidarity donation in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate via this link: www.chariscircle.org/donate
Charis Circle’s mission is to foster sustainable feminist communities, work for social justice, and encourage the expression of diverse and marginalized voices.
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