By Yaasmeen Piper

Assistant Editor-in-Chief

 

If you liked “Call me By Your Name” read the novel it’s based on “Call Me By Your Name” by André Aciman.

Dive deeper into the romance between Elio Perlman, played by Timothée Chalamet, and Oliver played by Armie Hammer.

The two meet when Oliver is introduced as a summer guest at Perlman’s parents cliff-side mansion on the Italian Riviera. Their six week romance is riddled with obsession, fear, fascination and desire. The New York Times calls the book published in 2007 “exceptionally beautiful” and received the Lambda Literary Award for Men’s Fiction.

Similar books: “The Story of the Night” by Colm Tóibín, “At Swim, Two Boys” by Jamie O’Neill, “Comfort and Joy” by Jim Grimsley and “The Beauty of Men” by Andrew Holleran.

 

If you liked Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” read “Amy and Isabelle” by Elizabeth Strout.

Strout’s first novel tells a story of the distant relationship between a mother and daughter. On top of her struggling relationship with her mother, the teenager must deal with her coming-of-age and dealing with her sexuality.

Similar books: “Anywhere but Here” by Mona Simpson, “White Family” by Maggie Gee, “White Oleander” by Janet Finch, and “White Album” by Joan Didion.

If you liked “The Shape of Water” read “The Mad Scientist’s Daughter” by Cassandra Rose Clarke.

“The Mad Scientist’s Daughter” keeps the same science fiction feel as the “The Shape of Water.” This novel is about Finn, a robot that look and behaviors like a human. He was made to assist and perform duties to perfection. He was given a job to tutor Cat and over the years the two develop a connection and Finn becomes her guardian, friend, and more.

Similar books: “And All the Stars” by Andrea K. Höst, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Phillip K. Dick, “Wild Beauty” by Anna-Marie Mclemore and “The Devourers” by Indra Das.

 

If you liked “Moonlight” read “Prelude to Bruise” by Saeed Jones.

“Prelude to Bruise” keeps the same symbolic relationship between the characters and the ocean as seen in “Moonlight.” Through a series of poems, this story speaks about Chiron who is being bullied at his school. After a hard day he goes to the ocean and meets up with his sole friend and bares all his truths by the water.

Similar books: “Black Aperture” by Matt Rasmussen,  “Night Sky with Exit Wounds” by Ocean Vuong and  “Bright Dead Things” by Ada Limon

All books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other bookselling stores and websites.   

Email Yaasmeen at:

ypiper@live.esu.edu