It’s My Birthday! So Here are Books that Represent Me and Mean a Lot to Me (Because Birthday Means I’m Sappy!)

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!

(I posted this 5 minutes before midnight in my time zone but it still counts!!! I can’t help being a procrastinator and writing this post at 10pm okay.)

In “celebration” of my birthday, I decided to talk about books that mean a lot to me / represent me. Because I feel like it’s very on brand of me to talk about books on a day that’s supposed to be all about me*, and books have been worth more than any birthday gift (unless they are, of course, the birthday gift).

And in general, I’m just sappy on my birthday, so why not cry over books that mean everything to me??? I’m getting older and deserve to get a little sentimental about it!!

*I’m kidding! Mostly!

SIX OF CROWS

Why not start out with one of my favorite books ever?

I love everything about this book, the characters, the story, the world, the themes, the messages. Every time I reread it or even just look at the cover, it feels like returning home. Let me be dramatic in peace please.

And I’m not really represented by anything in this book? You’ll see that the a lot of the books that I mention in this post are books that represent me, and I mean, there are bi characters, but that’s it. Yet for some reason, I adore this book with my heart and soul.

 There was no part of him that was not broken, that had not healed wrong, and there was no part of him that was not stronger for having been broken.

Fun fact, I just teared up typing that quote!!! I can’t wait to reread this book next month!!!!!

GIRL MADE OF STARS

Of course, I had to mention my favorite book of the year, that I mention literally every chance I get! Because I love it so much and not nearly enough people have read it!

Seriously, though, I adore this book. And though it does represent me (bi MC and genderqueer love interest, the genderqueer rep being the best I’ve read), I think this book means more to me beyond that? It’s about girls coming together and supporting each other and becoming stronger with each other because they have to, and that is just so beautiful and inspiring and meaningful to me.

 Even girls made of stars aren’t asked, aren’t believed, aren’t considered worth the effort unless they can offer something in return.

STARFISH

I know I’ve talked about this book a lot, but let me live!! It truly means a lot to me as an Asian person, because this book is about a biracial Japanese and white girl named Kiko who struggles with seeing herself as “beautiful” because of her being Asian.

And I know beauty is something kinda superficial, but it matters so much in societal culture? And I’ve always struggled with viewing myself as beautiful because I’m Asian too, and seeing Kiko overcome those negative views and start seeing herself differently means everything to me.

 I draw a girl with arms that reach up to the clouds, but all the clouds avoid her because she’s made of night and not day.

GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE

Hello, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING BOOK about two sapphic Asian girls in a relationship fighting against oppression in an Asian-inspired world written by a queer woman of color that means the world to me!!!

That sentence pretty much sums up why I love this book. It represents a part of my identity I don’t often get to see in books, and watching two girls like me fall in love with each other and overcome oppression was so inspiring and empowering to me.

 When the world denies you choices, you make your own.

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO

This book is honestly just… so powerful. It features a queer woman of color (specifically a bi Cuban woman), and the way this book tackles identity, specifically queer women of color’s identities, is just amazing.

The whole book is about Evelyn Hugo recounting her life and how not only Hollywood but also she herself erased her identity as a bi Cuban woman. Seeing her reclaim her identity is just so incredibly inspiring. As a bi person myself, it was amazing to see her take back that part of her.

 “Don’t ignore half of me so you can fit me into a box.”

SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA

I think the best thing about this book being on this list is that both the main character Simon and author Becky have the SAME BIRTHDAY AS ME. (I’m still not over this tbh.)

But this book means a lot to me because it’s the book that started my sexuality questioning journey. It literally made me ask my friends “wait… how do you know you’re straight”, and when I realized that I didn’t just know that I was straight like they did, I started the year-long process of questioning!

Also, when I reread this book in March this year to prepare for the movie adaptation release, I teared up because of how much I actually related to Simon now that I didn’t identify as straight. This book is just a place of happiness for me and I’ll always adore it!

 Why is straight the default?

PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS

This series is… my childhood. I love it with my entire heart and soul. I reread the whole series earlier this year and I literally teared up over it because I missed the characters and the story so much?????

I don’t know. This series, like Six of Crows, just feels like home and comfort. It’s the first book series I got obsessed over and eventually led me to find YA and I think it’s just a series that will always bring back so much nostalgia? This series just fills my heart with joy and reminds me why I fell in love with reading.

 “You drool when you sleep.”

Fun fact: I also teared up writing that quote!! Why am I like this!!!!

This is a bit of a shorter post (and I’m sure you all are thinking: THANK GOD), but I just wanted to add in a little thank you for all your love and support, today and every day. Blogging has given me so many gifts, and I truly think that the people in this community are some of the best. I can’t wait to see what this year brings me and I can’t wait to grow into a better person, for myself but also for you. 💞💖 💫

(I take it back, I hate being sappy.)

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what books mean a lot to you or represent you? what fun traditions you do on your birthday?? see any favorites on my list? I hope you’re having a great day!!