Red, White & Royal Blue

by Casey McQuiston

Straight people, he thinks, probably don’t spend this much time convincing themselves they’re straight.

I think if I could single out the most important line of this book, this would be a top three contender. I made a very conscious decision to write an entire chapter of Alex processing and coming to terms with his sexuality after spending 22 years ignoring all the obvious signs, because it reflects the way so many queer people stumble into their identity. That’s why this is a line that resonates with many queer folks—many of us had that exact realization at some point in our lives.