Book CommuniTEA: L. Bardugo Responds, Mediocre YT Man AJ Finn, Publishing & Interracial Romance [CC]

[@blackheartbooks]

I’m a bisexual who happens to be in love with a woman but every time I mention an ex boyfriend people say, “oh, so you used to be straight.” Like no I was bi with my ex boyfriends and I’m bi with my girlfriend and I’ll still be bi with whoever I marry

[@bookladyreads]

The ignorance of it all. It's exhausting.

[@aneweliseonlife]

I relate to this so hard 😩

[@katieholden6577]

I understand exactly where you're coming from xx

[@AR-yi4qn]

Genuinely baffling to me why bisexuality is so hard for people to accept. I mean, I can't personally imagine only being attracted to one gender myself but I'm not gonna go around denying the existence of straight/gay people, am I? Ridiculous

[@Valentine-jo7ls]

yes biphobia is so frustrating bc if a man is bi people think he’s just gay and if a woman if bi people think she’s straight but thinks a few female celebrities are hot or will kiss a friend as a joke. some bi people have a preference and some even prefer the opposite gender more.

[@witheredahlia]

In light of readers (and authors) erasing bisexuals, I (a bisexual) am genuinely so excited to read Perfect on Paper. I’m sick of people constantly acting like bisexuals who are in a f/m relationship aren’t bisexual, and I’m so happy the author wrote about it, can’t wait to read it

[@ElizabethNicoleSchwartz]

Fully agree!!

[@Ericaaaaaaaaaa]

Happy International Day Against Transphobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia! Love, a fellow bisexual person 💗💜💙

[@kthoov]

perfect on paper is absolutely delightful! definitely one of my top reads of the year so far; so sad to hear about the disgusting response especially considering how the book literally talks about this at length

[@ashleighmikaelson507]

I will most definitely be reading this book as well!!! (I am bi too)

[@valarya]

WELL SAID and hard same

[@KD-CD]

When Black people say Black love is important this is what we mean. There's no problem with interracial relationships but when people push that as an agenda it gives the same vibes as people obsessed with mixed babies. Black romance like Sweethand was so good bc there was no racism talk or Black pain at the forefront. I need Black Joy 😭❤

[@JessOwens]

YES YES EXACTLY!!! I’m so tired of every Black story having to include racism. Like we know but can we not !!?

[@jazwhoaskedforthis]

It must be so tiring to have to see black pain in every depiction and bit of media. Things that can be escapism for other people like books and movies still push pain into your line of sight all the time if you want to see people that you relate to. That’s got to suck

[@zoeblonde5588]

As a bi-person Thank You. We ofter hear we are too straight to be queer and too queer to be straight. I'm so happy people are speaking up because it almost made me question my identity and I am not alone

[@valarya]

you are not alone ♥

[@ashleighmikaelson507]

YES!!! It freaking sucks when some of the LGBTQ+ community says we aren't Queer enough! the B stands for Bisexual, but OKAY!!! ;p

[@Genitianadinarica]

I agree so much. I worked so hard to accept and be proud of who I am. It makes me so sad and angry that my identity is erased, my label only appearing before words "or whatever", and my experiences being dismissed by both sides. I'm honestly just tired. I recently read a review of a book that praised that the word bisexual was used in the text. How is that a thing worth praising and not a bare minimum. Sorry for ranting on your comment, but this is on my mind a lot lately.

[@brees3]

Yes! I was convinced until college that I was gay because I liked women and I was told if you like women, you're gay. Any time I felt like I was attracted to a man, I would hear my friends say things like "Oh that's just the bi bridge. Gay people pretend to be bi so coming out is easier."

[@babs8809]

My brain cannot understand people who can’t enjoy a story if there isn’t a white character in it. Like? You can read a book about elves and dwarves but an all black group of characters is where you draw the line?? Sigh.

[@Ahopelessromantic]

I’m happy that Leigh came out and said something but overall I hope everyone understands how much control the Author doesn’t have over the show ?? 🙃🙃 but overall good for her for coming out and saying something

[@ashleighmikaelson507]

did you mean to say how much control the author DOESN'T have?! 'cause she has little to no control over it since she most likely sold the rights to Netflix to make it into a show... that is what MOST authors do! I hope you don't take this comment as rude or anything... that is not what I am trying to do!

[@maritareads5229]

@@ashleighmikaelson507 you’re both saying the same thing

[@Ahopelessromantic]

@@ashleighmikaelson507 nah your not being rude !!! LOL ya I mean exactly what you think they don’t have control ! 😩😩😩 I feel so bad for her but overall I really appreciate her speaking up even when she didn’t have to

[@Ahopelessromantic]

Leigh could have kept quiet but she cares for the fans so much 💙💙

[@Valentine-jo7ls]

if i ever have my books published i would want it turned into a show or films but that end of stuff and the likely event that you have little creative control is so scary

[@TheBookFinch]

The bi erasure is too much. Also, these people tend to forget there are actual bi people of different genders dating each other... -_-

[@ostrichreads7715]

All this biphobia really inspires me to finally write my story on a depressed bi twenty-something-year-old.

[@champslim]

Do it!

[@sweetpeabee4983]

🙌 Yes! Do it -- you got this! 🙌

[@NeverGiveUpExisting]

Please do it! I want to read that!

[@JessOwens]

Yes we need it !

[@ostrichreads7715]

Thanks to all of you for the support! 😱 I didn't expect so many reactions!

[@LisatheWeirdo]

As a biromantic gray asexual who is married to a man, I'm so done with people who expect sex scenes in romances. Especially if it has LGBTQ+ characters. Also, thanks for mentioning acephobia!

[@musicinthesoul95]

Right? I'm right there with you sexuality wise, and honestly I do NOT care for ssx scenes in books, and *especially* not in YA books! Sex scenes should not be the defining factor for if a book is queer enough or not

[@avsambart]

I literally go out of my way to find books that don't have romance cos I know the romance is not going to have ace rep so I'd rather have no romance at all 😭

[@Ericaaaaaaaaaa]

I'm bisexual, so no relationship I'm ever in is a straight relationship! I love that the author explained this. 💗💜💙 Happy International Day Against Transphobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia, friends! 🏳️‍🌈

[@bridgetanne]

Thank you for mentioning the tweet about ace teenagers. That was my sister in HS and college. Only recently is she in a relationship with a bisexual male. She’s told me a lot about the hate and gate keeping in the queer community she has received and it breaks my heart she has experienced this. People often forget the fluidity of sexuality and who you end up with doesn’t negate how you identify if it supposedly deviates at any point.

[@chelseawritesbooks8763]

This is really like, flabbergasting at how little control she has over everything. She had no idea about it. And how closed and private the sets are that it didn't come out until now.

[@Ahopelessromantic]

Agreed I’m glad she came out and said something and didn’t stay silent but overall it’s definitely not her fault I hope fans aren’t blaming her

[@3carmen1]

Most authors don’t have a say or input when it comes to an adaptation of their book. Since they sell the film/tv rights of book/series to the producers that make them.

[@chelseawritesbooks8763]

@@3carmen1 Yeah, but actually see how little is shared, even when she was on set, is just....dang

[@ashleighmikaelson507]

@@3carmen1 SO DAMN TRUE! Most people don't know that tho... I really hope no one has/is harassing Leigh Bardugo!!! She seems like a wonderful human being!!! I have only read 2 of her books... book one of Shadow and Bone Trilogy (i have the whole trilogy, just haven't gotten around to it... I need to tho so I can finally watch the damn show!) and one of my fave books Ninth House!!!! I cannot wait until book 2 comes out!!!

[@Ahopelessromantic]

@@ashleighmikaelson507 I still need to read ninth house also !!

[@katieholden6577]

As a bisexual I'm trying to read more books where the main character identifies the same as me, it's hard for me to be bi in public sometimes as I get questioned by people constantly what I prefer, then I will end up questioning me, I'm so sick of "having to choose" when people ask. Thank you for bringing this up I really appreciate it x

[@blackheartbooks]

If you haven’t read it I recommend The Brightsiders by Jen Wilde. Bisexual mc and pansexual love interest

[@katieholden6577]

@@blackheartbooks omg thank you so much xx

[@ashleighmikaelson507]

I 100% agree, I know what you are feeling, it does suck! (I am bisexual also)

[@katieholden6577]

@@ashleighmikaelson507 I'm here if you ever need to talk x

[@booktales1687]

I’m in the same boat actually. Here’s a few recommendations I’ve read so far Gentlemen’s guide to vice and virtue Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo Autoboyography

[@stefaniedominguez364]

"you don't have to look like somebody to relate to them." Why is that so hard for people to understand?!

[@JessOwens]

Seems like a complex idea 😒

[@damekkoDark]

last story reminds me of gaming industry so much: they trained audience yo expect cishet white protag so much fanbase basically have a meltdown when there's other options

[@MsAwesomeSaucey]

The email to Kailyn Baron screams of white privilege. Like you said, all us BIPOC have had to read white characters for all our lives and have to find them relatable! But you can’t do the same on reverse?! That’s some bs

[@heyimsasa]

omg i saw that email on kalynn bayron's twitter and i got soooo mad. it was basically a "tell me you're racist without telling me you're racist" moment.

[@JessOwens]

Exactly

[@MsWOCReader]

Ooh I made a book communitea! Thanks for bringing up this topic up because it's an important discussion. There's so much push for diversity books but the diverse books that get priority are usually books that easily fit within the white gaze. Which means often times the non white lead needs to neatly fit into a white space. So you won't see more cultural aspects being written into those stories to not alienate those readers. And by culture I mention certain foods, language, and traditions. And if they are in there they're overexplained for an audience not from that culture. Also often times these books are dual pov so you're getting a more diverse book but half of it still centers a white mc. Everyone wants representation but right now these stories are the main representation for Black readers in romance.

[@JessOwens]

I hope we can make it to a point where an author can write their culture loud and proud and not worry about it it’ll be published or not

[@MsWOCReader]

@@JessOwens That'd the dream. I really think we need more imprints that are BIPOC specific.

[@lauracorsi3309]

yes Gretchen's comments strike me as super marginalizing of Ace voices too. Thanks so much for highlighting this.

[@danaslitlist1]

"In this case, THE B AS IN BISEXUAL" I lost it here lmao I felt that in my little bisexual soul!

[@JessOwens]

😂😂😂

[@Cinia18]

I’m watching this at work and laughed out loud 🤣

[@gracedays7443]

Gretchen sounds like the kind of woman who writes mlm fanfic and constantly refers to it as “sin”/“sinning” while being unable to comprehend the idea that LGBT+ identities and graphic sex have nothing got do with each other. (Also, I feel like there’s a word for people who desperately want books about teens to have graphic sex in them 😬)

[@Lizzie_04]

I remember reading the author of Perfect on Paper’s response on goodreads before even reading the book and was like “yesss.” It’s baffling to me that people can’t seem to wrap their head around someone liking multiple different genders and still being bi/pan regardless of what gender they’re with at the moment.

[@MariaClaraBruno]

Hey Jess! Screenwriter/director here: yes, in the US you’re allowed to do a tv show or film based off someone’s life without paying them or even getting their authorization hahahaha

[@JessOwens]

Omg YAY😂😂

[@monstersmakemegiggle]

Black love books have been some of the most beautiful romances I have read and it’s honestly sad that people are missing out because of their small mindedness. Publishing needs to push more for black romance and black stories without main white characters.

[@aduckwithabook5988]

It's so sad that the email (regarding Cinderella is Dead) is written in such a sweet(? barring the fact that it's obviously insulting) way, like they truly believe they are helping and providing kind feedback. It's important to remember that racism and bigotry don't always come in the form of screaming white supremacists.

[@a_bookish_gemini]

I truly believe this is a super young, super sheltered individual. Classic example of toxic positivity. They need to come out of their bubble and see how wrong they are.

[@JessOwens]

When people phrase things in “polite, sweet” ways, it somehow makes it worse ??

[@stitchwitchreading9460]

As a pan romantic asexual in a straight passing relationship I love you so much for speaking out about bi erasure and pointing out that not all of us want our queer books dripping in sex.

[@adamnreader4599]

as a biromantic ace, this has bothered me for so long. like, i could not differentiate my experience because like everyone insisted that i had to have sexual interest in people to be queer. while, all i wanted was to hold hands and cuddle. it took me a LONG time to accept myself and the constant biphobia and acephobia is just making me want to lock the doors of my house to the world.

[@JessOwens]

Ugh I’m so sorry. there’s no exact way to be queer or a person. We have our own feelings and experiences. I wish we could all learn to stop generalizing groups 😩

[@bettyreads222]

I was just about to share this, like as a biromantic ace, the way folks just exclude that perspective is wild.

[@katiewilliams9771]

“Gretchen 😒” is my new catchphrase for showing disapproval 😂. Thanks, Jess!

[@HeyItsShey]

I'm ready to incorporate "bloop blip blop, go kick rocks" into my vocabulary 💀

[@m.f.hopkins8728]

Me too! lol

[@Elizabeth-uu5tv]

This ☝🏽☝🏽☝🏽☝🏽😆😆😆😆😆

[@bettyreads222]

Same I loved that so much!

[@JessOwens]

As you should !

[@00moon]

Re: biphobia, I think there's a good video on that by Princess Weekes, titled I kissed a girl. It's about queerbait, but she as a bi person talks about biphobia too of course. And acephobia as well. Her videos are very good in general.

[@mariapascoal2511]

Saying that stories centered around Black characters aren't relatable is SUCH bullshit. Readers relate to characters of other genders, with other professions, living in different places and decades, and of other ages all the time. "Relatable" is not the issue. Expectation to center whiteness and white being the default are issues.

[@JessOwens]

Exactly!

[@AR-yi4qn]

Holy shit, that condescendingly racist email made my jaw drop. The audacity. I will never understand the relatability criticism anyway. Literally half the stories I read are so that I can "experience" a story that I myself would not experience in my life. Imagine having so little empathy you can't read a book representing people of different races or cultures. What the hell.

[@aneweliseonlife]

I am acespec biromantic, and bierasure hurts my heart. It is another way people can say someone “isn’t good enough” when I thought the purpose of all this was “you *all* are good enough” We are bigger than this. Smh Thank you so much for talking on this!

[@RaetheSaint]

I loved Aaron’s video about IR relationships and I’m happy you brought it up. I’ve wanted to read more sapphic stories but the fact that so many cater to soft white femmes was something that I’d noticed too. I really want more Black romance in traditional publishing because IR books can be fun but how many more “does your mom know I’m Black” storylines will I have to read before I know peace 😭 Also, I want more IR relationships that don’t involve white people

[@MsWOCReader]

At least the ones you're reading are actually acknowledging that the characters are different races. A lot of the ones I've read ignore that completely ignore that because "it's ruins the fantasy"

[@JessOwens]

Yes, can we please have different swirls ? There’s so many other people than just white & black 😣

[@MsWOCReader]

@@JessOwens I read Happy Endings this yr which was Vietnamese x African-American

[@caitlynealyssa4762]

So people don’t want sex in YA, then they do. Im an adult and i go into certain books, like YA, knowing there may not be sex. A book doesn’t have to have sex, and a bisexual person does not have to end up with the same gender. That invalidates their identity, as well a pan sexual people.(and like you said ace) As someone who is still questioning my sexuality, this make me scared to say anything. Not just because of people in my own life, but because of things like this as well. I don’t know if this made sense, but hope someone understands it.

[@BooksToAshes]

I've been with the same guy for 7 years (since I was 20) he's my first and only relationship. I only realized last year that I'm interested in woman asexually. I find woman and people who are agender attractive, as well as men, but not being with the opposite sex doesn't take away the fact that I'm panromantic. Just because someone doesn't sleep with another person doesn't invalidate how they feel romantically or sexually. That author seriously needs to take a step back and check herself because she's 100% misinformed. Wishing you the best with finding yourself. I hope you feel comfortable enough someday ♥ I personally don't have a labeled sexuality and I finally feel content with that. I wish you the best with your own!

[@missburn]

But the people who do not want sex in books are not neccessarily the same ones saying they do. Both types of people will always exist as with any other disagreement.

[@Booksandbabel]

First off this is only my second video of yours I have seen but your dog breaks give me life and the “let me collect myself so I don’t kill someone” is such a mood!

[@AdrianneChristineBooks]

The only good thing about Tuesdays!

[@JessOwens]

😌😌

[@sushisreads2477]

The AUDACITY of that email

[@tasnim1559]

dude i LOVED perfect on paper !! it has so many conversations surrounding queerness & biphobia, i literally get outraged when people say it’s not “queer enough”. as a queer gal, i’m still going to be queer if i date a guy lol. it’s not that confusing?

[@lisagna7234]

ikr!! they really do their best to misunderstand such a simple word like bisexual

[@heyyouyou1000]

Now i want to read it hahahha

[@evies.1018]

@@heyyouyou1000 You should, it’s so cute!!

[@thetiktokpenguin4343]

Tell me about it! I’m bisexual and my ex-boyfriend was, too, but people kept saying we were now straight because he’s a guy and I’m a girl??

[@dimerymichaels3539]

I will never tire of “keep you abreast ...” ** shakes at camera. 😂

[@jedibookmasterivy]

🙌

[@ElizabethNicoleSchwartz]

The biphobia has been way too much lately. Imagine how tired we are. 😒

[@JessOwens]

Exhausted 😩

[@TheGoofy1932]

In reference to the Leigh Bardugo thing, that is more the norm than it's not. When a studio buys the rights that's usually the way it works. We give you piles of 💰 and we can do whatever we want to the story. That's a big reason why Charlaine Harris drew such a huge line between her 📚 and the show, True Blood -to the point that people discussing the show on her website would be directed to the HBO threads for it on their site. Same reason why we'll never see an Anita Blake show-Hamilton refuses to give over her creative control (unfortunate as her first 8 or so books would make a great paranormal /UF series). Anyone who read the Vampire Diaries can tell you that the books are a very loose outline for what the show was. It's usually a handful of very rich and powerful (usually also white) men for the most part who are actually making these decisions. Those decisions usually stem around making really large piles of 💰.

[@everythingexploration707]

Is there a way around this? Like say an author want to also direct/co-direct the adaptation of their book. Can they keep their creative control?

[@TheGoofy1932]

@@everythingexploration707 Directors still have to answer to production companies /producers. So they would have to both have the 💰 to actually fund the project and be willing to gamble their own money for it.

[@kiervol]

okay, I love books so much that I find it hard to watch booktube because it makes me want to read everything and then my head explodes. But this video was amazing and I have no idea how I wasn't following you before? ANd for some reason I also could stare at your dog's face all day and I WAS interested in the answers to the questions you were asking him. Very interested. Is he the cutest? I think he is. Thanks for the rants, this totally scratched an itch to talk about books, without feeling like I have to buy every book.

[@shellees.8202]

Shellee S. I just want to know when the switch happened for black romance in multiple media forms (sitcoms and books) to be pushed to almost exclusively Indie. I mean How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Waiting To Exhale, etc. were huge in both book and movie formats. Albeit, Waiting to Exhale was more Women’s fiction...still

[@theadora1693]

So, this isn't an intellectual comment but just. The story of "A.J. Finn" had me thinking about a friend I had in high school. She lied about having a brain tumor and told us she only had a few years to live. She would have like these seizure episodes and later would pretend to have memory issues. A lot of other stuff happened, but she super manipulated all of us into believing she was going through this horrible thing. I eventually called her out (most of us didn't believe her in future years) but then our friend group was mad at me for being too harsh on her. Like, girl was trying to fake her death? I spent hours trying to sooth her while she had an "episode". Like. So hell no to that and hell the fuck no to this "Finn" and all the space people continually give him.

[@LienesLibrary]

“Kick rocks Gretchen” is sending me 🤣🤣🤣

[@JessOwens]

Gretchen is the worst 😂

[@marjoriebruton6909]

As someone who identified as bisexual for almost a decade (I now realize I’m more Pan as I am non-binary) this whole bi erasure is really painful for me. I don’t understand why there is a WHOLE ASS LETTER in LGBT but it’s constantly shit on as not real. I hate it here (this works/society. I love this channel lol)

[@zahra2724]

you can be bi and non-binary ☺️

[@sunkissedbeautyxo]

I have no business accepting Leigh Bardugo’s apology, but shoutout to her for matching the outrage and commitment in her apology. The book community is notorious for mediocre apologies.

[@jessy638]

That moment of sheer motherly love at 23:44 😭

[@JessOwens]

🥰🥰🥰 love my bébé

[@RobinReads]

"Bloop blip blop. Go kick rocks, insert name" is about to be my new email signature for work. Raise your hand if you recently picked up Sweethand while on a blackout book shopping spree ✋🏾

[@JessOwens]

Omg not a blackout book shopping spree 😆😆😆😆

[@msgeorgejourney]

We need a lawyer up in here, because reading that " the author of the selected novel will be awarded the OPPORTUNITY to enter into a $50,000 book deal with Gallery Books" has me full of questions marks. It's like saying the winner of the lottery ticket has the opportunity to win the money. But didn't you already win though?

[@myepictbr6968]

I think the idea is that you as an author have the right to decline this offer if for some reason you change your mind. You are not bound by obligation to publish with them even if you win.

[@AdrianneChristineBooks]

Omg that Cinderella is Dead email made me nauseous

[@AdrianneChristineBooks]

When you said “I’m married to a White” 🤣

[@ashleycollins8737]

This is the first video I’ve ever watched from you... and I think I just found my new fave person to watch. 💜 thank you for the knowledge!

[@JessOwens]

🥰🥰🥰 welcome to the chaos

[@Bibliofilth]

Nigel's eyes in the first photo are killing me. Also your hair looks super cute. Anyways to the video.. AJ Finn is another example of how "cancel culture" doesn't impact certain people...it doesn't get much more "cancelled" than having your shit blasted publicly by the New Yorker but he still is making a ton of money. "Kick rocks Gretchen" really about sums it up. And that email Kalynn Bayron got was just sickening.

[@JessOwens]

Thank you ! AJ Finn will probably continue to “succeed” 😤

[@oXtatsukoXo]

Even though I’m not a person of color I appreciate Leigh speaking out. Unlike miss maas who (to my knowledge) has yet to say anything to her fans about body shaming that actress. Lost a lot of respect there.

[@megan_the_grey]

I literally screamed a primal scream when you said the award went to Joanne

[@JessOwens]

😒😒 ids awful

[@mrejj04]

When Jess started reading that email I just got under my desk because I knew the "write more white people" line was coming and oh boy did it. Also, more S Club 7 bops please.

[@JessOwens]

More S Club 7 bops .. noted 😏

[@iana.2973]

I was very angry about that biphobic mess, but I admit I also thought 'Wow cant wait to hear more about this on Book CommuniTEA'

[@lmac3869]

I always forget what day this is uploaded and have a pleasant surprise every week 😁

[@tathoiclassicalindianbollywood]

I swear watching half an hour of Jess talking (often while I am doing other things around the house) is so much better use of my time than spending 2 and half days scrolling through Twitter trying figure what all the subtweetin is about. And I get to see Nigel, whose such an adorable little hoomph

[@RoseRamblesYT]

Hot dang a lot of frustrating topics today. I would be rightfully venting just as much as you, Jess.

[@JGVIllustrations]

Your reactions to literally all of these stories had me laughing along. Thank you again for shedding light on these issues! I lost it when you pointed out all of shared beef with some of Leigh Verdugo work LOL

[@nlnlth]

I literally thought that 'my book has graphic gay sex' tweet was a joke it was so stupid 💀 wtf is wrong with people??

[@JessOwens]

I wish I knew 🙄

[@chanceofrainne]

I don't understand why people get so het up about bisexuals. Like... how much does it cost to not act like that? It costs $0.00 to not act like that.

[@JessOwens]

It makes no sense

[@itsjustmeandmycats]

I just found your channel through searching for content talking about Emery Lee’s book Meet Cute Diary (currently one of my favorites) and I’m so thankful for you! And your pups. Seems like you make really enjoyable well researched videos, and cover a lot of the things I want to hear about! Yay 🥳💛

[@catsandbats77]

So much to say in this! I'm glad Leigh Bardugo talked about the brown face. You can tell she's mad. The bisexual erasure just pisses me off. My bestie is bi and has a grown daughter. She's been in relationships with men and women. She didn't suddenly stop being bi when she was in a relationship with a man. It makes me so angry. It feels like an attack on her and that makes me feel super protective and I want to beat them all down. Need to read that book. As far as white people not relating to POC in books, I just don't know what to say. I'm white, white. As in I've gotten a sunburn from running errands kind of white. One of my favorite romances was A Bollywood Affair. No white people. I could still relate. One of the absolute best books I've read this year so far was Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink. Two black teens falling in love in the month leading up to the Tulsa Race Massacre. It was a wonderful book. Brought me to tears and I don't cry when reading. All of this to say I hope authors of color continue to write stories that don't involve white characters. A funny thing happened during your video. You said Sweethand so loudly, that my google speaker thought I was talking to it and told me the location of a restaurant called Sweet Dee's in Scottsdale.🤣 My husband and I were just 😯🤨😏🤭

[@Juiceharlot]

"I'm married to a white." The way I SCREAMED S CLUB 7 A WHOLE BOP.

[@JessOwens]

S Club had the hits !!!

[@carrieshow7817]

The Woman in the Window was one of the worst books I've ever read. I can't believe they made it into a movie starring Amy Adams.

[@gabbygamez4562]

"The series examines white identity and how we as an audience participate in making room for this behavior." We literally don't need this! We already have You on Netflix!

[@JessOwens]

LMAO EXACTLY

[@bellanovella3752]

How can an author brag about writing queer fiction while simultaneously ignoring and erasing the different experiences of queer people? Make it make sense oml

[@JessOwens]

It truly makes zero sense

[@LienesLibrary]

Not kidding my jaw LITERALLY DROPPED at that email re Cinderella like what in the wide wide world of f$ckery is that?!

[@BooksToAshes]

I was doing my face moisturizing routine while listening and walking around my room and when I heard Jess read the email aloud, my jaw literally dropped and I walked over to the laptop staring at it in shock. Like WHAT? Seriously? I'm appalled people actually think like that but also, not surprised.

[@audiofandoms]

thank you for being so vocal about LGBT issues on your channel. it makes me feel very safe to be here!

[@audiofandoms]

also i'm living for the performance at the end lol

[@JessOwens]

Always 🙌🏾

[@JessicaMiller-sd2uf]

damn whoever wrote that message about including white characters was so close yet soooo far from realizing how white centric all media is and how awful that is 😭 I feel so bad for that author who has to read dumb shit like that all the time

[@sarahc9306]

I’m so impressed by the way LB responded to the situation. It seems like she’s actually concerned rather than trying to save face. Wow the bar is low for internet apologies.

[@stephaniehauenstein9123]

The whole 'my book has graphic gay sex' and 'my book is queer as a verb, not a noun' argument is honestly so fetishistic of LGBT people. Gretchen is really trying to imply that a book isn't 'really' queer if there isn't a graphic sex scene because that's probably all that really matters in her eyes, not the actual queer experience.

[@Elslein]

Wow. I think I have had “Cinderella is dead” on my TBR list since forever. Also, thank you so much for speaking against biphobia

[@PostBlueHaze]

White people: we don't see colour Also white people: there aren't any white people, not relatable!!1

[@JessOwens]

Make. It. Make. Sense

[@BrokenDarkFire]

Your sunscreen is Nigel-approved! Wow, publishing was exhausting this week, and I didn't even realize how much I had missed 😭 Also it actually gives me so much life to see you being like "I'm not giving any more time to this trash person."

[@spira-virgo5746]

The one true book I want from the book industry is Jess and Nigel's relationship. Just imagine what a great series it'd be! :D

[@JessOwens]

😏😏 I’m intrigued by this idea

[@ScorpionFlower95]

I hate how the b in lgbt is viewed as "not gay enough" by people in the community and "not straight enough" by people outside of the community. And I hate how one's bisexuality is invalidated once they start to date a person of the opposite sex. People where mad about this with "Nature of witches" too because the main heroine is bi but she ends up dating a man. Bi people don't have to be a certain way or date a certain person for them to be valid and they don't own sh*t to anybody. Also, that Gretchen person can calm the f down. Just because she depicts queer teens having graphic sex, doesn't make her more valid. If anything, she walks on the line of fetishization and being creepy.

[@hiigghhggg9150]

This is not my apology to accept, but Leigh Bardugo seems very sincere!

[@booksofkell]

Agreed

[@JessOwens]

I agree

[@camilleareads355]

Is that a new baner!!! It looks so good, Jess!

[@JessOwens]

Thank you !!!

[@IconRocket]

On the Cinderella is dead topic, the two main characters being black are relatable because they are best friends and old girl been reading YA FOR 10 YEARS AND SINCE IN THAT MIND SET. 🙄

[@KikeNavarrete68]

Actually they don’t have to pay Mallory because the series/movie is based on the New Yorkers article, so they payed for the rights of the article. It’s like when somebody made a bopic based on a book and the subject of the book don’t get paid, technically is a book/article adaptation not a biopic

[@JessOwens]

🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@emroyka]

Sipping some homemade iced tea along with Book CommuniTEA! Always 'still here' for you Jess!💞

[@danichiong6727]

Reading that e-mail regarding Cinderella is Dead aged and dehydrated me

[@JessOwens]

LMAO

[@ashleighmikaelson507]

yay!!!! one of my fave Booktubers posting one of my fave videos on my birthday!!! thanks so much, Jess, iloveyou girl!!!!

[@JessOwens]

🥰🥰🥳🥳🥳 happy belated birthday !!!

[@BooksToAshes]

Alright so I only found out last year that I'm panromantic and attracted to woman. I've only dated one person my entire life (still with him) and until he came into my life, I had never kissed someone let alone sleep with them (that wasn't until I was 24 years old). I've also never been with a woman *BUT* that doesn't instantly just take away the fact that I'm still attracted to them. I really don't get that mindset of what Gretchen said. Also by that authors thought process, do people who are Acesexual and Biromantic/Panromantic not fit into the LGBTQIA+ community because they don't sleep with the opposite gender?? It makes no sense to me. Everyone is valid, damn.

[@RuthieDR89]

Omg the song at the end!! I was not expecting that also through me that i still remembered the lyrics😅

[@JessOwens]

It’s a classic !

[@ericarowanarts]

I am hoping (but not feeling exceeding optimistic about it) that all this biphobia and conversation around bi peeps will lead to some actual change in perception. -_- Thank you for the energy you brought to this topic as well as everything else you cover. Dan Mallory getting a show about his life while the director is saying "we're doing it to highlight white identity blah blah blah" is like punishing your kid by giving them ice cream after they refused to eat their veggies. Incredible.

[@rileym9207]

Bi enby here: Let’s write more bi stories and find joy! I want to add “to spite them...” but they don’t deserve our energy. I’m so tired of being told who I am is fake/wrong because I appear cis/hetero. My partner is also bi but male bodied and people just assume we’re straight. Love is love y’all I wish these haters would back tf off and focus on their own hearts.

[@eduardaarrais]

I'm curious to know what the beef with King of scars is.

[@JessOwens]

That it was marketed as Nikolai’s duology but he was a side character in his own story 🥴

[@eduardaarrais]

@@JessOwens consider me ✨intrigued✨ 😂 I have only read the shadow and bones trilogy, I was excited for king of scars because of Nick, now I'm kinda sad :/

[@osteophagus]

The Ace erasure in claiming a sexless book can't be LGBT+.... ALSO; when will we be getting merch with Nigel in a little newscaster costume?

[@JessOwens]

Omggg perfect idea brb

[@alexis-thenerdybruja3236]

That throw back to two in a million 🙌🙌

[@JessOwens]

A bop forever

[@caesuracrossing5473]

This video makes me feel confident to continue my novel which is bi-centric

[@JessOwens]

YES

[@BreakingStubad]

That reaction to the JK award is so accurate... there are no more words

[@MonnyArcade]

I think Leigh Bardugo spoke very well about it there especially since it seemed off the cuff

[@legumesss]

Thanks for your amazing videos! I wonder if you could mention in your next video that in here Germany there is an annual Catholic youth book award and this year one of the books that was chosen by the committee had a trans side (!) character. The Catholic church told the committee to exclude the book and nominate another one instead. They refused and it ended with the ENTIRE award being canceled... Yup. It's not really surprising but still infuriating.

[@Jax-jx5uu]

after a long and exhausting day of work, book communitea with jess & nigel sounds exquisite! *grabs snacks*

[@carmendelcastillo7724]

Also thank you for bringing perfect on paper to my attention.