I’m still processing the fact that we’ve already gone through half of the year, let alone the last Sunday of June 2k25 🥲
Time hasn’t been a cooperative player with us this year (or honestly with the past five of them) and it truly feels like time is just slipping right through our fingers, as we try desperately to hold onto it…
As mentioned in Friday’s Hot Ghoul Summer post, the ultimate goal for this summer (and honestly, until the end of time) is to remain chill and keep the vibes fresh 😎 or else, we’re changing channels until we find that sweet station. It’s this attitude that I believe will fuel me during these next couple of months- to be more present with, and appreciative of, these beautiful moments of my hauntingly finite time within our universe 🥹
I want to take the time tonight, for our Unsettling Sundays 6:00pm post, to call out and honor this month’s special dedication and time to celebrate my fellow fabulous boils and ghouls, as well as shed some light on some notable books & looks that I feel fit perfectly into the mix for our prideful celebrations 🌈👯
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH 👨❤️💋👨🏳️🌈👩❤️💋👩
As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am celebrating this month (and into July for East Coast Pride edition) with all of you lovely boils & ghouls, showing my support towards our community and the inclusive, empowering energy we all cultivate and express within and amongst each other!
I’ve never been one to draw attention to my sexuality and like to be quite fluid with my gender and orientation, but I am so ecstatic to be my 🌈gender/queer self, in every and all expression.
I’ve been mildly ashamed and picked on for saying “I like to choose books by their cover art“, but I have always been proud of my inclusivity and captivation with representation by all voices and perspectives, in fashion and in literature 🖤
Personally, I feel if we don’t represent all the voices and perspectives that exist among us, or allow individuals to feel safe to express themselves, we are actually doing ourselves as human beings an empathetic disservice.
By being inclusive and open to others, we end up unlocking newer insights and gaining more knowledge into the lives and worlds of others, that we couldn’t possible experience on our own. And that, as a means of story-telling, is a beautiful and precious gift that we should celebrate (and treasure for years to come 🫂)
So in theme of Pride Month and all things fabulous, let’s talk books & looks that celebrate and support our bright and spirited LGBTQ+ community!
🌈 LGBTQ+ Books YOU NEED to read
Veal
“Offering the atmosphere of Twin Peaks and the queer camaraderie of comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, Veal is a thrilling exploration of friendship, fear, and the thin line between justice and vengeance.“
Written by
Mackenzie Nolan
This story was such a MOOD to experience, as it was devastatingly emotional and hit those sweet spooky spots it needed to in order to give you that unsettling tension (both sapphic, and horrific, in nature) This is a must-read if you are into Queer Creature Horror, True Crime/Mystery with Strong Female friendships 👏🏻
I read this through NetGalley last month and I was hooked within the first few pages! It’s scheduled to be released later this year in October (and you can actually put in your prehold order now through Chapters|Indigo 👀)
Our Wives Under The Sea
“Our Wives Under The Sea is the debut novel from Julia Armfield, the critically acclaimed author of Salt Slow. It’s a story of falling in love, loss, grief, and what life there is in the deep deep sea.“
Written by
Julia Armfield
I was recommended this book as a Horror reader and was not disappointed. Again, as a Queer Horror reader- Julia had my sapphic heart in her grips as she wrote the love story(?) of Leah and Miri. I’m pretty sure, similar to Chlorine, this book as the perfect blend of Sapphic Romance meets Body Horror that had my eyes glued to every page I read.
I’ve also very recently reread this with the Strange and Unsettling Book Club on Fable and have to 🗣️ shout out to @Wasabiapple and her 580+ amazing book club members for being the best welcoming crowd for this weirdo here!
I have never felt so vindicated in my personal feelings about the story’s ending 😬🫣
Exquisite Corpse
“Poppy Z. Brite dissects the landscape of torture and invites us into the mind of a killer. Exquisite Corpse confirms Brite as a writer who defies categorization. It is a novel for those who dare trespass where the sacred and profane become one.“
Written by
Poppy Z. Brite
First, I can’t believe I read this back in 2013 and actually repressed a chunk of the story… because when I picked this one up to reread again in January, I was shook at what my eyes were reading (and couldn’t imagine being asked to explain this book to someone back then on a lunch break…)
Second, this book is truly not for the faint-hearted (TRIGGER WARNINGS GALORE ⚠️) however, I am obsessed with how Poppy writes and immerses us through such a raw and thought-provoking story, and yes, I’m very glad to say I read the book twice 😬🫣 (for now…)
If you want to see other LGBTQ+ books I’ve read
And if you’ve like what you’ve read? Then you should probably…
LGBTQ+ Brands YOU NEED to Check Out ✨
OcTopied Mind
“‘Octopied Mind’ is a play on the words “occupied mind” – it represents a mind that is cluttered with chaotic and unhelpful beliefs that obscure the realization of one’s true potential and uniqueness.“
Alert!!! You MUST check out this East Coast Brand 🗣️🫂
I cannot express to you enough how much I adore their work, the quality of their clothing, their inclusive sizing and just their all around dark & moody design aesthetic, in every single way!
As a rightful Sunday Scaries weekly survivor, I have the above design in a half-zip sweater, as well as many of their other moody graphic tees & stickers 🫣
I even have their cute suncatchers on my windows to add even more rainbow magic into my cozy abode!
Wild Fang
““It’s always stood out to me how exclusive and binary the fashion industry is. I recall walking into a department store years ago and finding an amazing graphic tee or cool blazer with stretch and pockets in the men’s section and thinking to myself…’why is this stuff off limits for women?!’ With that, Wildfang was born.” – Emma McIlroy, Founder and CEO”
I’ve only just recently discovered this brand online, but I am obsessed with the inclusive and genderfluid/androgenous designs that are friendly for all shapes and sizes! And I learned that they won a Guinness World Record for the World’s Longest Drag Show in Portland, Oregon?!
As well as raised over $300k, in partnership with The Trevor Project, to help in support of crisis services for Queer youth!?!
Absolutely incredible!!! 🎊
If you know of other LGBTQ fashion brands (and bonus points if they are femme/female-founded), please share them in the comments!
As we manifest the HELL out of today’s world (and not our kind of Hell, Boils and Ghouls 😘) I want to try as much as possible to show up for the spirited LGBTQ+ community and support brands and businesses that are also spreading inclusive vibes through the darkness that can and does exist out there (again, the BAD Darkness, not our creepy corner of the interwebs 🕷️🕸️)
I hope you are left feeling full of pride after reading tonight’s Unsettling Sunday 6:00pm blog post and continue to feel fabulous through what’s left of June (and also into Hot Ghoul Summer 2k25 👻)
Drop a 🌈 down in the comments below if you’ve read this post & share some of your favorite LGBTQ+ books & looks with us!
Until we meet again,
Happy Pride Month!!!
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