Hello and welcome back to Diversishelf!
This issue closes out January. Recently, and especially in these last few weeks, it feels like it is impossible to open up the news or social media without being inundated by the corruption of our governments and the suffering of our fellow human beings everywhere. Us in the Diversishelf team are far from exempt from that. The murder of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis for protesting ICE, the continued struggle of Palestinian in Gaza as the ceasefire continues being treated like a joke, and the fascist descent of the UK government all make it really difficult to feel like anything any of us does matter in any way.
We encourage you to not fall for that trap. Like many others have been saying as a result of the constant onslaught of bad news - take a break, and go talk to people in your community. Volunteer for a local charity, attend a protest, take part in mutual aid, read about organizing, join your local library, listen to voices other than the ones of people who look like you. All these things do make a difference when we put them all together, and they will help with building resilience in a world that wants us feeling numb and helpless.
We hope that this week’s selection brings you some joy and solace, knowing that people all over the world continue telling their stories so that they may be shared with readers everywhere.
Some of these books contain sensitive themes. Please check content warnings before purchasing and reading these titles.
We use affiliate links. This means that if you buy a book through a link we provide, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores. This allows us to keep Diversishelf free at no cost to you, while still generating some revenue.
Les Normaux, volume 2 by Janine Janssen - Out 15 Jan 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Graphic Novel, Queer representation
We Should Not Have Come Here by J.D. Mills - Out 01 Feb 26
Tags: Horror, Queer author, nonbinary author, disabled author, Achillean representation
Read Between the Lies by Jesse Q. Sutanto - Out 01 Feb 26
Tags: Thriller, Chinese-Indonesian author
Red Skin Dreams: Twenty Years of Curating Indigenous Art at the Venice Biennale by Nancy Marie Mithlo - Out 01 Feb 26
Tags: Memoir, Indigenous American author, anti-colonialism themes, anti-imperialism themes
The Re-Do List by Denise Williams - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Romance, Black American author, Black American representation
Living in a Daisy Age: The Music, Culture, and World De La Soul Made by Austin McCoy - Out 29 Jan 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Historical Nonfiction, Black American author, Black American representation, anti-racism themes
Solemn Vows by C.J. Tuma and Quinn Cameron - Out 30 Jan 26 US
Tags: Romantasy, Queer author, neurodivergent author, nonbinary author, Achillean representation
The Demon of Beausoleil by Mari Costa - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Graphic Novel, Queer representation, nonbinary author, lesbian author, Brazilian Portuguese author
Axes and O's by Kayla Grosse - Out 29 Jan 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Romance, Bisexual representation, disabled author
Love (Literally) Bites by Corina Bair - Out 27 Jan 26 US
Info & Order - US link
Tags: Romance, Bisexual representation, bisexual author
See You at the Summit by Jordyn Taylor - Out 12 Mar 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Romance, Bisexual representation, bisexual author, anti-biphobia themes, anti-monosexism themes
Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: YA Thriller, Sapphic representation, bisexual author
10 Things I Love About Her by Tara Pammi - Out 14 Jan 26 US
Info & Order - US link
Tags: Romance, Sapphic representation, Indian representation, Indian American author
Hold Your Horses by Ali K. Mulford - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Romance, Asexual representation, nonbinary representation, queer representation, nonbinary author
Freddie and Stella Got Hot by Maggie Horne - Out 27 Jan 26 US
Info & Order - US link
Tags: YA Romance, Sapphic author, sapphic representation
Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar by Anahita Karthik - Out 12 Mar 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: YA Romance, Indian author, queer author, bisexual representation, debut author, Desi representation
The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass - Out 12 Mar 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: YA Romance, Black American author, queer representation, nonbinary author, queer author
The Hour of the Wolf by Fatima Bhutto - Out 26 Feb 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Memoir, SWANA author
The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams - Out 29 Jan 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Literary Fiction, Black American author, Black American representation, feminism themes, anti-racism themes
Burn Down the Master's House by Clay Cane - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Historical Fiction, Black American author, anti-racism themes, Black American representation, queer representation
Poor by Caleb Femi - Out 05 Nov 20 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Poetry, Nigerian British author, anti-racism themes
Nothing at All by Olivia Tapiero - Out 12 Mar 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Poetry, Translated, feminism themes, anti-colonialism themes, Canadian author, pro-Palestine author
Negro Liberation by Harry Haywood - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Political Nonfiction, Black American author, anti-capitalism themes, anti-racism themes
Tags: Essays, Indigenous American author, neurodivergent author
On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield - Out 29 Jan 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Horror, Nonbinary author, Black American author, anti-racism themes, sapphic representation, lesbian author, autistic author
Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar - Out 19 Feb 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Thriller, Indian American author, Muslim representation, sapphic representation, anti-racism themes, anti-queerphobia themes
Love Makes Mochi by Stefany Valentine - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: YA Romance, Sapphic representation, Japanese representation, Chinese American author
The Flowers of Good: the Science and History of Marijuana Liberation by Sidarta Ribeiro - Out 27 Jan 26 US
Info & Order - US link
Tags: Science Nonfiction, Translated, anti-capitalism themes, Brazilian author, harm reduction themes, anti-racism themes
Way of the Walker by Salinee Goldenberg - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Fantasy, Queer author, biracial author, anti-colonialism themes, bisexual author
To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Fantasy, Indigenous American author, anti-colonialism themes, Indigenous representation, bisexual representation, bisexual author
I Identify As Blind: A Brazen Celebration of Disability Culture, Identity, and Power by Lachi - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Political Nonfiction, Disability representation, anti-ableism themes, Nigerian American author, disabled author
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters - Out 16 Feb 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Romance, Achillean representation, interracial relationship representation, BIPOC author
Persona by Aoife Josie Clements - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Horror, Transgender representation, sex work representation, anti-capitalism themes
Humboldt Cut by Allison Mick - Out 27 Jan 26
Tags: Horror, Biracial author, Black American representation, environmental justice themes
A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang - Out 19 Feb 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: Fantasy, Chinese American author, debut author, anti-colonialism themes, Chinese representation
Saber-Tooth by Robin Gow - Out 05 Mar 26 UK/27 Jan 26 US
Tags: MG Novel-in-Verse, Transmasculine representation, Autistic representation
Demon Chef's Recipe for Fried Chicken by Ariana Jade, Arizona Tape - Out 29 Jan 26
Tags: Fantasy, Sapphic representation, sapphic author, Chinese author
Thank you for reading all the way to the end of the issue! Thoughts? Comments? Or simply want to keep in touch? Email us at [email protected], or find us at @diversishelf on Instagram. The next issue will be out on Monday, February 2. In the meantime, why not reach out with a comment, or share this with your friends?