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Queerly Beloved
Queerly Beloved: A Novel | Susie Dumond
18 posts | 14 read | 13 to read
A people-pleasing bridesmaid-for-hire meets her polar opposite in this delightfully heartwarming debut. Will she find her happily ever after? At her day job in a Christian bakery and with her conservative family, Amy plays the role of a straight, church-going young womanexactly whats expected in mid-2010s Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Buckle of the Bible Belt. But at night, she tends bar at the only place in town that truly feels like home: Ruby Reds, a lovably grungy queer bar with a group of regulars who have become her chosen family. Amys spent a lifetime learning how to walk this fine line, placing others before herself so effortlessly that she doesnt even realize shes lost touch with her own needs and desires. Still, everything seems more than fine, especially when Amy falls into a whirlwind romance with Charley, a charming newcomer to Tulsa. But then Amy is suddenly outed and subsequently fired from her bakery job. When a new friend begs her to fill in for one of the bridesmaids at her weddingand offers to pay Amy more than she makes in a single night at Ruby Redsshe cant afford to turn it down. As her relationship with Charley heats up, this one-off opportunity turns into a full-time business, thanks to Amys baking talents, crafting skills, and expert ability to become whatever other people need her to be. Between weddings, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, and dress fittings, Amys in her element, her years of watching rom-coms and Say Yes to the Dress finally paying off. But at what cost? Gay marriage is not legal, yet shes playing the role of a straight girl, working hard to facilitate strangers special days even while shes secretly dreaming of her own potential wedding day with Charley. When Amys precarious balancing act strains her relationships to a breaking point, she must decide what it looks like to be true to herselfand if she has the courage to try.
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Soscha
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I‘m not sure how & why I started on “Queerly Beloved” but I enjoyed it. How can anybody that‘s not a phobe not?

Both likable characters & some silly het bridezilla conundrums. The setting is before the Obergefell (gay marriage) ruling so that‘s a bit of the theme.

The setting is Oklahoma so that was a rough road ahead in the early 2010s. The books does get a bit preachy but it‘s a cause we should all support & never, never lose.

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Kerrbearlib
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Fulfills the same-sex wedding category for #SapphicBingo2023!

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Andrea313
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Had to break out a decoy book so that #TomKitten would let me read. Anyone else have a pet who needs to be all up in your shit at all times? 😂 #CatsOfLitsy

RaeLovesToRead Too cute! 🤣🤣🤣 @Ruthiella was just about to say the same thing! 2y
ElizaMarie Awe!!! Outsmarted this kitty!!! I love it! My Lobster sees me relaxing with a book and thinks it‘s the perfect time to lay on my chest. 2y
LitStephanie So cute! I love that the decoy worked! 2y
35 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Kenyazero
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this bright, fluffy, feel-good (well, other than the homophobia Amy faces) story. It was just what I needed right now. I love unusual business adventures inspired by odd coincidences, and enjoyed the social world building. This was one of my #Roll100 picks recently and it came just at the right time! I think I also used it for #LGBTQ2023 bingo 🤔 #LGBTQ #Baking #Wedding

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 2y
28 likes1 comment
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Kenyazero
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I realized that I didn't read a single one of my #Roll100 picks from February. Here are March's titles!

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 2y
23 likes1 comment
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xicanti
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I‘ve been angry and depressed for the last couple days thanks to a sudden and intense downturn in the weather. Hopefully the Happy Lamp‘ll help. QUEERLY BELOVED has already raised my spirits a teensy bit by giving me something outside myself to angst over AND delivering enough humorous wedding shenanigans to earn it its romcom tag. Y‘all know I scowl at “romcoms” where nothing funny ever happens.

Ruthiella I hope this book does the trick and elevates your mood! ❤️ 2y
LiteraryinPA 💗💗💗 2y
sarahbarnes Yes, the shift in the weather is rough for sure. 2y
xicanti @sarahbarnes it was so grey for mist of today, and now there‘s snow. Sigh. 2y
37 likes1 stack add5 comments
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xicanti
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It‘s book & beer o‘clock! QUEERLY BELOVED is great as of page 50, and I‘m here for this lemongrass mango gose, too. It‘s still more of a sour than a gose, as seems standard for Manitoba breweries‘ efforts, but the lemongrass comes through beautifully. I‘d definitely drink it again.

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Smrloomis
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Pickpick

Although I don‘t usually like romance, I really enjoyed this. Probably because the writing was good and there was much more to it than just the romance angle. Highly recommended 💕

73 likes3 stack adds
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Smrloomis
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10% in and I‘m already attached to the main character. Great! Except too many good things have happened so now bad stuff has to happen because … life isn‘t all rainbows and kittens??? Or maybe this will just be rainbows and kittens 🤞🏽 I‘ll keep you posted!!!

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rachelsbrittain
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Some of the many LGBTQ books on my TBR list this Pride Month!

julesG Is Restless Truth out already? I'm so looking forward to reading it. 2y
rachelsbrittain @julesG no not until this fall I think. But I managed to snag a galley 😁 2y
julesG So jealous! I requested an ARC on Netgalley but haven't heard back yet. 2y
50 likes3 comments
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Lauren.Archer
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Pickpick

This is a very cute palette cleanser, considering I have read a lot of serious books lately. It does have all the typical cliches of a romantic comedy, so you won‘t be surprised, but nonetheless I found myself enjoying this one a lot. Great for the beach as it does not take a lot of concentration to get through this one.

ShyBookOwl What a great title lol 3y
53 likes1 comment
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rachelsbrittain
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So excited for this surprise finished copy ARC I got in the mail today! Susie and I were in a theatre program together as kids and now both write for Book Riot so it's fun to see her first book about to go out into the world. Can't wait to start reading it!

52 likes2 stack adds
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Matilda
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So excited!

Booknerd222 I‘m so sad I can‘t find this on audio anywhere! 3y
Matilda @Booknerd222 it doesn‘t come out until June so audiobook info may not be available yet, sometimes it doesn‘t come out until after the print/ebook. 3y
Booknerd222 I miss read the date lol. My ass thought it said January, not June. 🤪 3y
Matilda @Booknerd222 book excitement is clearly to blame! 3y
35 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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Oops. Barnes and Noble is having a pre-order sale and that was all the excuse I needed to go ahead and pre-order a friends debut as well as a couple from favorite authors 😂

Bkwrm7 I'm so glad it goes through tomorrow because I have a gift card that's burning a hole in my pocket, but won't have time to look until then! 3y
51 likes1 comment
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Alfoster
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Pickpick

This was a nice break from the dark, twisty thrillers I usually read! It centers around protagonist Amy who loses her job as a baker after having met and falling for Charley, a lovely young woman who isn‘t as into Amy as she‘d hoped. But a new business and a new attitude centers her and I found myself laughing and crying a bit at the end. Enjoy!
Thanks to #NetGalley for this ARC (out beginners of May)!

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Preciouz29
Mehso-so

While I enjoyed the representation, I really couldn‘t connect with any of them at all. I#The whole feeling I got from this was, unfortunately, uncomfortable depression. Basically, I was expecting some fun and this just left me sad and uncomfortable. And not wanting to come back to this. But, I‘m not a book quitter.

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BookInMyHands
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Pickpick

Amy loves to bake, so when she‘s outed to her conservative baking boss and subsequently fired, things feel like they‘re falling apart. Thank goodness for her new love interest, Charley, her two best friends, and her part-time gif at Ruby Red‘s Tavern. And then there‘s the new job she invents - Bridesmaid for Hire.
Full of lovely characters, self-examination, and lots of love and heart, this is a charming read!
#NetGalley