My pronouns are she/her
Happy International Pronouns Day!
October 15 is International Pronouns Day, a reminder that the words we use for one another matter. Pronouns aren’t just grammar—they’re identity, dignity, and recognition. Getting someone’s pronouns right is one of the simplest, most profound ways to say: I see you. I respect you.
As a queer and spiritual romance author, I know the power of names, language, and identity in shaping love stories. Today, I want to spotlight three books that center trans and nonbinary characters in all their complexity, joy, and humanity.
Peter Darling by Austin Chant, narrated by Mark B. Knight
A reimagining of Peter Pan from my TBR list. Peter is a trans man who returns to Neverland—not as a boy running away, but as someone running toward himself.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender, narrated by Logan Rozos
Are you sick of me recommending this book yet? 😉 Felix is Black, trans, queer, and navigating the rollercoaster that is high school, art, identity, and first love. This story tackles big themes—gender, belonging, transphobia, and self-discovery—without ever losing its heart. Felix is messy, vibrant, and real, and Callender shows us that claiming our pronouns is also about claiming our right to joy.
Their Troublesome Crush by Xan West
This is new to me, so here is what I learned: “When author Corey Alexander, who also used the nom de plume Xan West, passed away in August 2020, romance superblogger Sarah Wendell used her website Smart Bitches Trashy Books to host a virtual mourner’s Kaddish for them. You can’t Google any version of Alexander’s name without seeing the outpouring of love their fans and colleagues expressed after their death. Alexander identified as ‘an autistic queer fat Jewish genderqueer writer with multiple disabilities,’ and it’s clear that their memory is as much a blessing as their many books.”
International Pronouns Day isn’t about political correctness—it’s about compassion. When we respect pronouns, we honor people’s truths. And when romance novels do the same, they expand what love looks like on the page and in our world.
So today, I invite you to do two things:
Ask someone their pronouns (and share yours, too). We share our pronouns so that doing so becomes normal—even unremarkable—making it easier and gentler for those who struggle with their own to do the same.
Pick up a book where gender-diverse characters aren’t just included, but celebrated.
Which stories have helped you better understand or affirm someone’s pronouns—including your own? Share them—I’d love to grow this list.
