As a reader exploring books with queer fantasy casts, I'm hoping this one includes relatable LGBTQ+ characters and romance arcs. Thoughts?
2026-07-27 04:15:01
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Dorothy Alexander
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11 Answers
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Rick Hatfield
Yes, ‘Carry On’ is another book with strong LGBTQ+ representation in the form of a romantic relationship between two male characters. While I think that a story is better with identity woven into the plot rather than just being a characteristic of a person, there is another YA novel that includes a heartwarming and very developed queer romance. In ‘Lean On Me’, the main conflict of the story revolves around one secret supernatural identity that threatens to destroy the two main characters’ relationship. This novel treats the emotional parts of the relationship with a lot of care.
2026-08-01
Cher Cher
I think the narration of ‘Carry On’ is wonderful and another layer to the story’s representation. Hearing Baz’s internal monologue, full of yearning and poetic angst at being in love with Simon is very intimate and immediate. You hear his vulnerability and Simon’s confusion. The way the story is performed aloud heightens the emotional impact of the pining and the payoff of it. I think it’s a fantastic way to experience the story, as it again validates the romantic tension being serious and central to the story, rather than just a subplot. Also, for people who are auditory learners or connect more with performed stories than print, it could actually strengthen their perception of the LGBTQ+ elements in the book.
2026-07-28
Wyatt
'Carry On' is a book with so much LGBTQ+ representation and it thrives off it. The relationship between Simon and Baz is at the heart of the novel and their queerness runs right through their characters and the humor in the book. None of the characters are stereotypical in any way and there’s also lots of other queer representation in the background with all the smaller characters too. If you want a book with lots of magic and loads of genuine and unapologetic queer rep then ‘Carry On’ is the book for you.
2026-07-29
TIAMIYU TAOFIKAT
When 'Carry On' by Rainbow Rowell first came out, the cover and marketing did not give away the central queer romance of the chosen one story. Instead, people were drawn in by the fantasy, and then were treated to a wonderful romance in the middle of the book. So, lots of readers were normalize to the fact that there could be a central LGBTQ+ romance in a fantasy, and then they told their friends about the great love story in the book. In fact, the book got a lot of word-of-mouth recommendations specifically for the romance. I think the accidental (or maybe strategic) way that this book marketed got a lot of positive representation in front of a huge cross-over audience of people who would not normally read a “queer” book but loved this one.
2026-07-30
analee bendula
My friend who is a high school librarian reports that Carry On is one of the most frequently checked out books in her LGBTQ+ section. She says many teens, particularly those exploring their identity, can see themselves in Simon’s confusions or in Baz’s guardedness. Because the book is a fantasy adventure, it can serve as a portal for teens to safely explore feelings and vulnerabilities in a setting of magic and monsters, making them seem less intense or forbidding than in real life. And here, I would argue, the real value of the book’s excellent quality lies: it is having the impact of representation on a large number of young people and serving as a connection to and tool for their own self-discovery.
2026-07-30
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