Back to top

And the Lammy Goes To...

2023 Lambda Winners

June 30, 2023

You’ve probably heard of the Oscar, the Tony, the Grammy, and the Emmy. But have you heard of the Lammy?

More formally known as the Lambda Literary Awards, the Lammys have been around for over 30 years championing LGBTQ+ books and authors. Lambda Literary believes “that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer literature is fundamental to the preservation of our culture, and that LGBTQ lives are affirmed when our stories are written, published, and read.”

Before the awards were announced, I had actually read two of the winners already: The Foghorn Echoes and I’m So (Not) Over You

The Foghorn Echoes by Danny Ramadan – Winner: Gay Fiction

How far can you run from your past? The Foghorn Echoes follows two curious teenagers living in Syria, Hussam and Wassim. But after they are caught acting on their feelings, a tragedy occurs that reverberates through their lives. Ten years later, despite living across the world from one another they both struggle to come to grips with their shared past.

I have difficulty in articulating exactly what The Foghorn Echoes meant to me. Despite the story having very little in common with my life experience on the surface, I found that I had so much I could relate to in both Hussam and Wassim’s stories. This is a rich, detailed story that I felt so deeply moved by that I have been sharing about this book for months. The Foghorn Echoes is a difficult, and at times painful, read, but it is well worth the journey.

I’m So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson – Winner: Gay Romance

Hudson, son of a wealthy family, contacts his ex out of the blue, not to apologize, but to ask him to pretend they are still dating when his family visits. Kian, an aspiring journalist, reluctantly agrees. Of course, Hudson’s parents insist that Kian join them at their estate for an upcoming wedding.

Combing the romance tropes of exes-to-lovers and fake-dating-to-real-dating, I’m So (Not) Over You is able to balance what I love about romance while not making it feel like a cookie-cutter romance. My biggest concern with exes-to-lovers stories is how they handle coming to terms with the initial break-up in order to move on. The characters handle their shared pain so well that my concerns were easily put to rest. Fans of contemporary romance will enjoy this one!

There are many other winners from this year that I already have on my to-read list. I have put a list together of all of the 2023 Lammy winners that we have in our collection. You can find the full list of winners and nominees on LambdaLiterary.org.

Andrew M.
Library Systems

View All Blogs

Read Similar Blogs:
Books and Reading

Resources You May Also Like

Indie Author Project

Submit and share your eBook in libraries statewide.
More Info

TeachingBooks

Find educator resources about youth books.
More Info

TumbleMath

Learn basic math concepts through animated stories.
More Info

Middle and Junior High Core Collection

Discover children’s books for grades five through nine.
More Info

Events You May Also Like

Blogs You May Also Like

Día de los Muertos: Day of the Dead
Read More

Día de los Muertos: Day of the Dead

Día de los Muertos is an important two-day celebration that reunites the living and the dead.
Curiouser and Curiouser? A Very Merry Birthday to Lewis Carroll!
Read More

Curiouser and Curiouser? A Very Merry Birthday to Lewis Carroll!

No, it is not his “un-birthday”!
Meet Soul Food Scholar Adrian Miller
Read More

Meet Soul Food Scholar Adrian Miller

We’re nearly a month into the official summer season, which means the heat is on and so are many barbecu
Spy Life: Fiction and Fact
Read More

Spy Life: Fiction and Fact

Espionage fiction is a staple in the world of thrillers.

Was this page helpful? Yes No