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Beating Heart Baby

Lio Min

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When artistic and sensitive Santi arrives at his new high school, everyone in the wildly talented marching band welcomes him with open arms.

Everyone except for the prickly, proud musical prodigy Suwa, who doesn’t think Santi has what it takes to be in the band.

But Santi and Suwa share painful pasts, and when they open up to each other, a tentative friendship begins.

And soon, that friendship turns into something more. . . .

Will their fresh start rip at the seams as Suwa seeks out a solo spotlight, and both boys come to terms with what it'll take, and what they'll have to let go, to realise their dreams?

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Posts about this title from Discotopia | Diverse Books

Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • Mar 24

Trans and Non-Binary Romance Book Recs

TRR DAY 7! Books listed: A Heart to Hold by Sula Sullivan Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min Reclaimed by Seth Haddon A Hex For Hunger by Alistair Reeves The Companion by EE Ottoman The Prospects by KT Hoffman Chef’s Kiss by TJ Alexander A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall Peter Darling by Austin Chant Sing Anyway by Anita Kelly Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore #booktok #trr26 #trr #bookrecommendations #romancebooks

9 books

Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • May 18 2025

Hey there party people and disco dancers!\ \ This week I’ve been thinking about all the wonderful romance books I’ve read by AAPI authors, there are so many.\ \ So this week’s Diverse Discoveries will have: AAPI romance recs, current reads/just finished, on my radar.\ \ AAPI romance recs\ \ No romance list of mine would be complete without Adiba Jaigirdar, I’ve read 4 of her 6 books and loved every one. She’s a queer Bangladeshi-Irish author and writes sapphic YA romance about Bengali-Irish girls.\ \ The first one I read was Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating. In this one there’s a lovely scene where the girls go on a fake date, and one of them has compiled a list of Halal places so the Muslim girl can eat.\ \ \ \ My favourite is The Dos and Donuts of Love, with a plus size Bengali-Irish girl going on a teen baking show with her ex. I’ve never watched The GBBO in my life but I still loved the reality TV show aspect of this!\ \ \ \ One of my favourite books from the Trans Rights Readathon this year was Dulhaniyaa by Talia Bhatt. A young woman travels to India for an arranged marriage but gets distracted by her trans dance instructor. If you’re a Bollywood fan, or you want to try out a book with a Bollywood vibe, this novella is such a fun ride.\ \ \ \ Another one for the foodies, I highly recommend Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee. This is another YA fake dating story, about a young chef fake dating a richer boy in the lead up to a Mooncake baking competition. It delves into the connections between Singaporean food, culture and family and it’s super sweet.\ \ \ \ I yell about Azalea Crowley’s cozy horror romance books all the time, but they really are fantastic. The first book, Odd Blood, is about a 30-something Filipino-American woman with autism meeting a himbo vampire, and becoming a live-in caretaker for his elderly vampire roommate. It’s funny, ridiculous and oh so brilliant. There are 4 books in the series so far and a spin off novella. Azalea is Kanaka-Maoli.\ \ \ \ Lastly, Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min. This is about between a Korean-Japanese trans boy and a Filipino-Latino boy bonding over music and anime while dealing with some sad events in their lives. It’s tender and honest and beautiful.\ \ \ \ I’m realising I don’t read enough adult Asian romance, so do let me know if you have recs!\ \ Current reads & just finished\ \ I haven’t read a whole lot since last week because I’ve been busy, but I did start a new alien romance series that I’m now obsessed with!\ \ The Clecanian series by Victoria Aveline is very popular but I’m only now getting into it. The first one, Choosing Theo, has a plus size white woman abducted from Earth, taken to a matriarchal alien planet, and told to choose a husband! It’s a great, fun, silly romance, with a little bit of spice.\ \ \ \ I know I have way more books I should be reading, but my tired work brain is having a holiday I think, and I’m embracing it. And the alien world is very queer normative, which I appreciate.\ \ I finished 100 Queer Poems as well. This was mostly good, but I find poetry anthologies difficult. Just like short story anthologies, I think I find the chop and change between styles too hard to sink into. But it had some great stand out poems and the selection is really diverse.\ \ \ \ On my radar\ \ Aside from trying to finish the Murderbot books (I LOVED the first 2 episodes of the Apple show), I’m still hoping to get to my previous AAPI picks, Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, and Tokyo Ueno Station.\ \ I also want to get a head start on my Pride Month ARCs, especially Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose, a queer fantasy about a chef using magic meat to rebel against tyranny. Eat the Rich!\ \ \ \ That’s all for now, party on dudes!\ \ Disco

Diverse Discoveries: AAPI Romance Special

8 books

Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • May 11 2025

Hey there party people and disco dancers!\ \ May is ESEA heritage month in the UK, AAPI month in the US, and Asian heritage month in Canada, so this month’s updates will have a lot of Asian and Pacific Islander content…\ \ First up, some niche AAPI recs- books I don’t see others talking about nearly enough!\ \ The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho\ \ \ \ A fun, queer novella about a nun who joins up with a group of bandits. This was the first Zen Cho I ever read and I became an instant fan.\ \ The Nameless Restaurant by Tao Wong\ \ \ \ A cosy fantasy novella about a retired mage who runs the best restaurant in the world, hidden in Toronto, catering to humans and magical folk alike. As he prepares amazing food and customers eat the best food of their lives, a plot begins to brew among the patrons. Very light on plot but great for foodies!\ \ Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min\ \ \ \ A YA romance between a Korean-Japanese trans boy and a Filipino-Latino boy who connect over anime and music. Both deal with their painful pasts as their friendship blossoms into something more. I love this tender book.\ \ Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu\ \ \ \ A children’s picture book and short animated film telling the story of four Mahu, with both male and female spirits, who bring healing arts to Hawaiʻi from Kahiki\ \ Stitched to Skin Like Family Is by Nghi Vo ( short story in Uncanny magazine)\ \ https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/stitched-to-skin-like-family-is/\ \ An incredible, emotional spec fic story about a seamstress with the ability to see visions through clothing, looking for her lost brother\ \ Current reads:\ \ I’m halfway through Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier and loving it. Lucier is an author from the Pacific Island of Guam, and wrote Year of the Reaper, which I adored.\ \ \ \ This is a lush, vibrant fantasy about a young dragon hunter unhappily allied with a pirate to chase down a magical dragon egg.\ \ I’m also trying to make my way through all the Murderbot books before the new TV show comes out. I’ve nearly finished book 2: Artificial Condition. \ \ \ \ I love the way the Murderbot books discuss gender, identity and human connection (often unwanted). So fun. I loved the trailer and I’m excited for the show.\ \ And I’m halfway through Black Water Sister by Zen Cho, a fantasy about a queer Malaysian-American woman who moves to Malaysia and is haunted by her snarky Grandmother.\ \ \ \ Her grandmother is hilarious I love her.\ \ Just finished\ \ I finished Augmented by Kenechi Udogu. This was a fun dystopian / climate sci fi book with a Black British-Nigerian lead.\ \ \ \ The plot was fun and the climate spec fiction elements were fantastic, and I loved the London setting. It did fall down a bit for me towards the end though, a plot point felt shoehorned in and didn’t feel like it quite fit. But overall I had a lot of fun. This is out in July.\ \ I also want to mention that Wicked Flavors by Azalea Crowley, one of my favourite authors, just came out this week.\ \ \ \ This is a brilliant horror romance about a Filipino-Hawaiian doll maker with autism, who makes a deal with a creepy-yet-alluring antiques dealer (who’s also mixed heritage). This couple were fantastic, they really made each other worse and I loved it. It’s hot and gory and creepy and I was thoroughly entertained.\ \ Azalea is also Kanaka Maoli, so this is potentially one for AAPI tbrs.\ \ \ \ And I LOVED Caribbean folklore poetry novel (S)kin by Ibi Zoboi\ \ A Black girl wishes for freedom, from her soucouyant mother, from their fireball powers. A mixed heritage girl hates the burning beneath her skin, the secrets, the lies... Felt like it was written just for me\ \ Here are some books I’m hoping to read this month:\ \ Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yu (lit fic novella by a Zainichi Korean author)\ \ \ \ Song of Silver Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao (fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology)\ \ \ \ A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (cosy fantasy follow up to The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches). I blurbed the advance proof copy!\ \ \ \ Thanks all folks!\ \ Be excellent to each other,\ \ Disco

Diverse Discoveries: AAPI month special

11 books

Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • May 4 2025

Queer East and South East Asian book recs

Read and loved all of these! Books listed: Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min Cafe con Lychee by Emery Lee Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee Portrait for a Thief by Grace D. Li In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo Silver Under Nighfall by Rin Chupeco Iron Widow by Xirin Jay Zhao Books for ESEA heritage month (UK), AAPI month (US) and Asian heritage month (CA). #booktok #aapiheritagemonth #asianbooks #mmromance #eseaheritagemonth

8 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Mar 31

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🏳️‍⚧️ 30 Trans Books to Read All Year 📚

Because every story matters. 🩵🩷🤍

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Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • Mar 24

Trans and Non-Binary Romance Book Recs

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Discotopia | Diverse Books\ \ Disco (he/they)\ \ • May 18 2025