By Sarah Bricker Hunt and Chris Azzopardi
It’s all too easy right now to get stuck in the grip of endless headlines and doomscrolling. If you’re feeling the weight of the world closing in, it’s time to unplug and escape into a different kind of world, perhaps one that includes fantastical forest homes — or Cher. Step away from the screen and lose yourself in one of these captivating reads that promise respite, inspiration and, at times, divine gay icon wisdom — recommendations from columnists Chris Azzopardi and Sarah Bricker Hunt.
‘Private Rites,’ Julia Armfield
Need a reminder that family dynamics can be complex in various forms? Blending the personal and apocalyptic, Julia Armfield’s “Private Rites” offers a poignant and unsettling exploration of just that. The story follows three estranged sisters — all queer — who are brought together after their cruel father’s death to sort through his estate in a world where it never stops raining. The sisters’ reunion — born out of necessity rather than warmth — seems like a chance to heal old wounds. But when a shocking secret in their father’s will drives them even further apart, they’re forced to confront not only their fractured family bonds but also a sinister mystery.
As their lives unravel and the world teeters on the brink of catastrophe, the sisters realize that they’ve been chosen for something much darker. This revelation forces them to reckon with the legacy of their father and a fate that could have devastating consequences for both their family and the world at large. “Private Rites” has received glowing reviews, deemed “stunning” by Harper’s Bazaar and praised by Vulture as “a queer end to the world you don’t want to miss.”
‘Sinead O’Connor:
The Last Interview and Other Conversations’
In 2014, I had the privilege of interviewing Irish music icon and outspoken critic of the Catholic Church, Sinéad O’Connor, who died in 2023. Her unfiltered honesty was a breath of fresh air, standing in stark contrast to the polished, often guarded personas of many celebrities. That conversation is among eight others featured in “Sinéad O’Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations,” part of Melville House Publishing’s esteemed series, which highlights the voices of significant cultural figures. My interview, the sole piece in the collection conducted for LGBTQ+ press, captures a uniquely personal moment with O’Connor, who at the time spoke candidly about her life and identity. Alongside it are other illuminating pieces, including NME’s 1988 interview “I Open My Mouth and Scream” and a 1991 Rolling Stone feature, together painting a vivid, multifaceted portrait of Sinéad O’Connor. Musician and friend Kristin Hersh of band Throwing Muses contributes a poignant introduction, reflecting on O’Connor’s enduring legacy: “I wished she could have shouted all that she believed and made only friends, no enemies. I wished that she had never accepted that invitation to the entertainment industry party and, instead, had kept the richness of her own life untainted. I wished that she could have loved herself and everyone else. I wished that she had absorbed the spiritual peace she fought for. But that wouldn’t have been Sinéad, I guess.” Through these candid and deeply personal conversations, the book captures the essence of an artist who defied conventions and left an indelible mark.
TJ Klune’s 3-Book Paperback Collection
Out gay fantasy writer and Lambda Literary Award winner TJ Klune won’t just help you survive winter — his work might just sustain you through the entire year. Maybe even the next three, if you pace yourself by reading one book from his new boxed set annually. Each novel invites readers to escape into fantastical worlds brimming with promise of a better existence and a kinder world. In the found-family tale “In the Lives of Puppets,” Klune introduces a peculiar home nestled within the branches of a grove of trees, where a family of robots shares their lives with a human named Vic. Meanwhile, “The House in the Cerulean Sea” transports readers to a mysterious island housing an orphanage for magical children deemed “dangerous.” Here, Linus Baker, a by-the-book caseworker, discovers that these children — and their enigmatic caretaker — challenge everything he thought he knew about rules, love and acceptance. “Under the Whispering Door,” about a ghost who refuses to cross over and the ferryman he falls in love with, rounds out the set. Come on, whimsy, take us away.
‘Cher: The Memoir, Part One,’ Cher
In 2023, when I asked Cher when we could finally expect her memoir, she responded with her signature wit: “I don’t know, babe. Don’t ask. Well, you just did, but don’t ask me again.” Thankfully, I didn’t have to. Her memoir — part one, at least — turned back time on her iconic life and career when it arrived just in time to help us believe in life after a politically turbulent winter. This first volume covers Cher’s journey from her childhood to her breakthrough as an acclaimed actress. It opens with an author’s note explaining her thoughtful decision to use her son Chaz’s deadname, with his permission, to accurately reflect the eras she discusses. Though Cher admitted to The New York Times in November that she hasn’t read her memoir yet, the book serves up a deeply personal feast of family history, the highs and lows of her tumultuous relationship with Sonny Bono, and vivid recollections from the early years of her rise to pop goddess. Cher’s unflinching honesty and resilience fill every page, making this memoir not just a reflection of her life but a much-needed dose of diva inspiration in 2025. And I don’t even have to ask about when we can expect Part 2 — it’s out Nov. 18 of this year.
‘The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf,’ Isa Arsen
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but what if that cover exudes an irresistible aura of mystery? On the jacket of Isa Arsen’s “The Unbecoming of Margaret Alsen,” half-hidden faces suggest untold secrets. A man’s hand lights a woman’s cigarette as another man watches from the sidelines, while a wine glass hints at an evening of indulgence — leaving much to the imagination. And then there’s the tagline: “Two Shakespearean actors in an unconventional marriage get caught up in a renowned director’s scheme. Which will either draw them closer than ever or tear them apart for good.” If Bravo had existed in the 1950s, Margaret, the rising stage actress at the heart of this story, could have easily been the star of her own series. Margaret is in a lavender marriage with Wesley, and as you settle in, you’ll find yourself swept into a whirlwind of drama: the ways she “plays wife” to Wesley, her dependence on uppers (“just a little help to get through the days”), and a love triangle that unfolds between the couple and director Vaughn Kline after Wesley joins the cast of Kline’s Shakespearean production. It’s a cocktail of secrets, ambition and betrayal, all served with the allure of mid-century theatrical glamour. Feeling the heat? This novel brings it in spades.
