LGBTQ+ Ally Bookclub |

Every First Thursday of the Month | 6pm

A welcoming space for readers and allies to explore literature that celebrates and supports the LGBTQIA+ community. Join us each month as we dive into diverse voices and stories that inspire understanding, empathy, and advocacy. Everyone is welcome!

All the bookclub picks

Bookclub book suggestions? Email us!

Where do I get my bookclub book?

Below each book title is a link to purchase through Bookshop.org. In most circumstances, we do not keep mulitple copies of each bookclub book in the bookbar.

Bookshop.org partners with independent bookstores like ours so we can offer e-books, audiobooks, and home delivery—all while keeping money in the indie bookstore ecosystem. If you would like us to pre-order you a copy of a bookclub book to pick up at the bookbar, let us know!

Could you buy the book on Amazon instead? Yep. Free will is a beautiful thing.

Would it be cheaper? Maybe… probably.

But here’s the rub.

We’re a family-owned bookbar in the Fox Cities. We live here. Our staff are basically extended family. We’re not a global conglomerate, and none of us owns a private island for parties.

We’re just trying to keep the lights on, stack the shelves with great books, and keep building a cozy, nerdy space where the community can gather.

So if you choose to buy your next read through us, thank you. Truly. It means a lot that you’d spend a few extra dollars to support a small, quirky neighborhood spot.

Upcoming Books

May

May’s pick: The Guncle
Author: Steven Rowley
A funny, tender, and deeply human story about grief, love, and the families we build (sometimes before we feel ready).
Patrick, also known as Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP), is excellent at being the fun uncle 🕶️🏡. Weeklong visits in Palm Springs? Holidays back home in Connecticut? Delightful. Full-time parenting? Absolutely not part of the plan.
But when sudden tragedy leaves Patrick’s niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant, without their mother and his brother facing a serious health crisis, Patrick steps into the role of primary guardian. Armed with his carefully curated “Guncle Rules” and a lifetime of charm, Patrick quickly learns that love alone doesn’t solve everything… especially when paired with grief, responsibility, and two very real kids 🍦📚.
As Patrick navigates loss, healing, and the messy realities of caretaking, The Guncle reminds us that family isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up, learning as you go, and choosing love again and again ❤️‍🩹🌈.
Warm, witty, and full of heart, this is a book about becoming human to one another in the moments that matter most.

Adopt a Guncle
June

June’s pick: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
Author: Mackenzi Lee
A witty, fast-paced adventure set in 18th-century Europe 🌍. Follow Henry “Monty” Montague, a reckless young lord determined to make the most of his Grand Tour before real life (and responsibility) catches up with him 🎩. Alongside his best friend, and the object of his very complicated feelings, Percy 💙, Monty sets out for one last indulgent escape.
But when his impulsive choices spiral into danger ⚠️, their carefree journey turns into a high-stakes chase across the continent 🏃‍♂️, testing loyalty, identity, and the blurry line between friendship and love.
Think historical adventure with modern heart.

Make Good Choices
July

July’s pick: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
A captivating tale of fame, ambition, and hidden love ❤️. When legendary (and famously private) film icon Evelyn Hugo finally decides to tell her life story, she shocks everyone by choosing an unknown reporter, Monique Grant, to write her biography. Why Monique? And why now? 🤔
Monique is struggling, her personal life is falling apart 💔, and her career feels stuck. But this opportunity could change everything. Invited into Evelyn’s luxurious world 🏙️, she becomes entranced by the star’s rise to fame, her carefully crafted image, and the truth behind her seven marriages.
As Evelyn reveals a life filled with ambition, sacrifice, friendship, and a powerful forbidden love 🔥, Monique forms a deep connection with her. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear their lives are linked in ways Monique never expected… and the truth may change everything.

Get the drama

🌈 Join the Conversation! LGBTQ+ Bookclub Discord for Members! 📚✨

Click here to join the online conversation.

LGBTQ+ Book Club Discord

Our LGBTQ+ Book Club Discord is an exclusive space for book club members to continue discussions beyond our in-person meetups. If you loved or hated the monthly pick, want to share additional reads, or just connect with fellow LGBTQ+ book lovers, this is your place!

House Rule: Don’t be a dick. We follow the same respectful and inclusive community guidelines as our in-store discussions.

✨ For book club members only. Want to join?