Megan's Pick: 20 LGBTQIA+ Books to Read for Pride and Beyond [Contributor: Megan Mann]

Welcome to 2020 where everything you thought would happen didn't, where the things you thought wouldn't happen are plaguing us, and where we've realized that maybe staying away from people isn't the worst thing in the world. We've also entered into a very important time in America's history. Late May and the month of June, so far, have been dedicated to eradicating systemic racism and defunding the police.

While this is vital (please make sure you sign petitions, donate, learn everything you can to be anti-racist and help in the fight), June is also Pride Month. This is a month where the LGBTQIA+ community can stand together, proud of who they are and where they've come from. After all, much like we're seeing today, Pride was started 51 years ago by Black and Brown trans women who were tired of the system betraying them.

To celebrate this rainbow month, I've put together a list of books that are all about the LGBTQIA+ community. While this is only a small sampling of all of the amazing books out there, here's something to get you started! 

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

I am stupidly biased about this one because it is tied for my favorite book of all time, so I feel like everyone should read it. It follows Astrid as she navigates figuring out how she fits into the conservative small town that her mother is so desperate to maintain appearances in. Which makes her struggling with her sexuality even harder to try to figure out. Her mom is worried about the wrong things, her dad unwilling to listen, and Astrid doesn't want to to confide in her sister. So she asks the passengers in the planes flying overhead for advice. Using magical realism, Ask the Passengers is an absolute must-read. (Again, not only because it's my favorite book, but also because it's just that good.)

When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri

If you want a deliciously sexy read, I cannot recommend When Katie Met Cassidy enough. Katie has just discovered that her fiance is cheating on her with her friend. So it's no surprise that when she heads to a brief one morning, she doesn't realize that the man she assumed she bumped into in the lobby is actually a female lawyer, and she's sitting across from her. Katie decides to go out later that night and who does she run into but the same woman. Cassidy, ever the suave player, sees Katie as nothing more than a conquest; Katie sees her as nothing. However, the two wind up spending more time together and bring out sides of each other that both are surprised to discover.

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

I was mad at myself for waiting so long to finally read this. It's that good. Marin is a college student who is quiet and keeps to herself. She doesn't have a ton of possessions in her shared dorm room and aside from her roommate, she doesn't really have any friends. But it wasn't always that way. When Marin lived in California with her grandpa, she had plenty of friends including her best friend Mabel. They were inseparable and held feelings for each other that they never told anyone about. When Mabel comes to visit Marin, everything they've kept from each other comes out.

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

This is a really fantastic graphic novel if you want to understand pronouns, and I think is an absolute must-read for everyone. Identity is sometimes difficult for those who are conflicted about it and/or their sexuality, so if you don't understand the hurt and pain it can cause if you misgender someone, this is crucial reading. Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, takes readers through eir journey through navigating self-identity, sexuality, and having the difficult discussions with family about pronouns. E takes you through the trauma of pap smears, the confusion around sex, and being proud of the skin you're in.

Lot by Bryan Washington

This was something so unique and interesting to read. Instead of taking readers on a linear journey, Washington has taken his novel about a gay kid living with his family in Houston and woven in short stories about the people in the surrounding area to give the city and story itself more depth. It was absolutely incredible. The story follows a boy who is half-Black and half-Latino as he navigates his family, their constantly-on-the-brink-of-going-broke restaurant, and tries to figure out where he fits in in this world. We also learn of a woman whose lover is killed by her husband, a local drug dealer, a group of hustlers just trying to make a living and others who surround him. Oh, and there's a story about a chupacabra, so it's got that if nothing else interests you. A powerful new voice. 

My Brother's Husband by Gengoroh Tagame

Yaichi is home cooking for his daughter when a burly Canadian shows up at his door introducing himself as his dead twin brother's husband, Mike. Yaichi is uncomfortable and it's only at the behest of his daughter, who has come home to discover Mike there, that he allow him to stay with them. Over time, Yaichi realizes that making assumptions based on someone's sexuality isn't fair and that Mike is as much a member of his family as Ryoji. In a country that does not allow the LGBTQIA+ community to openly be themselves, Mike and Yaichi both learn from each other. Just a note: this is a manga. If you are not sure how to read them, you can watch a video. It can be hard at first!

Mama's Boy by Dustin Lance Black

Dustin Lance Black is a well-known screenwriter (he won the Oscar for Milk) and LGTBQIA+ activist, but unless you read his book, Mama's Boy, you'd never know that he grew up in a conversative Texas town with an even more conservative mother. As you might expect, this combination does not mix well with a young, gay teen. The two people go at each other over their ideals, but it's his mother who shows Dustin what strength and resilience looks like and how family can sometimes change their long-held beliefs. It's a story about familial love, identity, politics, and facing the odds together.

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker

Nova is a young witch who works at her grandmothers' bookshop. They sell books, but if you know what you're looking for, they'll loan you the right spellbook. She loves a good investigation and one night, she discovers her childhood crush battling a horse demon. Tam has been wandering around for years without any place to call home, but with dark forces trying to steal her white wolf powers, Nova offers to help Tam defeat the enemy. Working so closely together brings up old feelings for both of them. It's got witchcraft and evil spirits and love and magic! Who could ask for anything else from a graphic novel?

George by Alex Gino

George is a girl stuck in a boy's body and she's tired of it. When she decides to audition for to play Charlotte in the school's production of Charlotte's Web, she sets in motion a string of events that give her the strength to embrace who she really is and start living the life meant for her. This is a really great middle-grade novel for those who want to understand the trans experience in simpler terms or for those who want to share a trans story with the children in their lives. It's a great lesson in acceptance both of yourself and others. Bonus: Alex Gino wrote another book along these lines called Rick which is also super important!

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle is a bit of a loner. While at the pool one day, he meets Dante, a boy with a lot of personality but whom he's not exactly sure about. There's something different about Dante though. He makes Ari laugh and the two quickly become friends who spend most of every day together. But Ari's parents know something is different about Dante, and it's something they don't want Ari being around. When Dante says he'll be moving to Chicago for eight months and then something terrible happens, Ari doesn't know how to feel. Life and the universe have many mysteries, and Ari believes that Dante has figured out most of them. But can Ari figure out the secret that's most important? Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a stunning novel that you will be drawn into from start to finish.

Too Much is Not Enough by Andrew Rannells

You may know him from Broadway productions, as Elijah from Girls, from the sadly cancelled-too-soon The New Normal, or the one guy who hit Blake Lively's character with a car in A Simple Favor. But before all of that, Andrew Rannells was just a struggling actor trying to make it in New York. It's about a Midwestern kid coming of age through horrible auditions, bad relationships, not-so-great hookups, and all of the ups and downs of chasing your dreams. It's hilarious, it's relatable (even if Broadway isn't your prize), and a really great memoir of what it's like before you finally find real success. It stops just before he gets a major role and I love that it doesn't keep going and get too muddied by that. It's about chasing the dream, not what it's like once you're there.

Bingo Love by Tee Franklin

When I tell you I adored this graphic novel, I really mean I loved every single page. It's about a same-sex couple over the span of 60 years. SIXTY. Hazel and Mari meet in 1963 at a church bingo game as teenagers. As the two girls grow up and get closer, they realize that they love each other more than just platonically. But their families put a stop to the relationship before it can go any further. Both women wind up marrying men and having children, though they're not as fulfilled as they hope to be. Decades later, they find each other again at a bingo hall. Once they see each other, they know that their hearts still belong to each other. I cried. A lot.

These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

Imagine that all of the witches in Salem weren't burned during the witch trials. Imagine that those who didn't get found out stayed hiding in plain sight and that their descendants, and therefore their coven, still live there today. Hannah's an elemental witch who's just coming into her power and learning how to wield it. Her grandmother is the head of their coven and maintains the rules pretty strictly. When things start happening in her town, she thinks it's because of something stupid her ex, Veronica, did with some blood witches (the worst sort of witches). Between dealing with the blood witch threat without the full use of her magic and trying to date the new girl, she's got a lot on her hands. I read this book so fast and Isabel just released the sequel, This Coven Won't Break!

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Prince Sebastian is supposed to be looking for a bride, but he's just not into it. He's dreaming of the pretty dresses all of the ladies get to wear. At night, Sebastian likes to dress up as a woman and galavant around Paris going by the name Lady Crystallia. But his secret is found out by Frances, a woman who works in the castle and is waiting for greatness to happen in her life. Together, the two become the talk of the town: he as the most fashionable woman and she as his dressmaker. But his secret weighs heavily on her. How long can she keep it? How long can she hold herself back from her own dreams to see his dreams come true? This is a BEAUTIFUL story of love and identity and acceptance.

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

A brand-new release, this stunning collection of essays by George M. Johnson, a journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist, explores everything from childhood to college, from adolescence to the bullying that took place throughout his entire life. He talks about his relationships and what family means to him. It's about the difficulties about not only being queer, but also being Black and queer. It's about identity and masculinity (toxic and otherwise), love and consent, and being proud of who you are. This has been optioned by Gabrielle Union, so get on it!

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

This is another book that I suggest to everyone. I'll Give You the Sun follows Jude and her twin brother Noah as they grow up and grow apart. Noah is a gifted artist who begins to realize that he's in love with the boy next door. Jude has always been jealous of the ease with which Noah creates art. He's quiet while she's the party girl. Over the next few years, they stop speaking altogether and lose their innate, twin telepathy. The first half of the novel is told by Noah and the second half is by Jude; the story weaves love, friendship, identity, jealousy, art, family deceit, and so much more together. This is an absolutely breathtaking novel.

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the First Son of the United States and he basically runs that place with his sister and the Vice Presidents's granddaughter. Together they do the perfect marketing for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. When photos of Alex and his British rival, Prince Henry, leak to the press, the dream team has to think of a way to save the situation before it spirals out with some serious consequences. So they dream up a fake friendship between the two. Alex soon realizes that maybe Henry isn't too bad after all. And then maybe he decides that he's super into him and they have a secret relationship that could also derail a ton of things... like his mother's reelection. This story is so delicious that you won't be able to put it down.

Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan

Lou is determined to have the absolute best summer ever. Except... she's the girl in the hotdog costume at Magic Castle Playland. She can't stop swooning over Diving Pirate Nick, who totally has a girlfriend, but Lou has never felt this way about anyone before and wants to be the princess of the story for once. Her best friend, Seeley, works over at the carousel and sees her friend struggling with the whole "best summer ever" thing. And yeah, maybe Seeley wants her happily ever after too. With Lou, Diving Pirate Nick, Seeley, and Nick's princess girlfriend all realizing this is the last year they'll be at Magic Castle Playland, they fight to keep the park from closing and their hearts open to love and all its possibilities.

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

This book is also a brand-new release and follows Felix, a transgender teen, as he navigates growing up queer, his identity, and falling in love for the first time. He thinks that love is easier for everyone except him. Why doesn't he deserve love? But he worries that all aspects of his identity — queer, Black, and transgender — are just too much for any one person to take on. The novel follows as a student anonymously posts photos of Felix, along with his deadname, from pre-transition and transphobic messages and how Felix decides to tackle that situation. It's an absolute must-read that will have you addicted. It's a great story about how everyone deserves love.

Drag Teen by Jeffrey Self

Drag Teen is a really fun novel. It's about a high-school student whose parents don't understand why he wants to go to college. They certainly don't have the money to send him so if he wants to go, he is told that he needs to figure it out for himself. Thankfully, his friends have his back and tell him about a drag competition for teens with a college scholarship on the line. Totally insecure and questioning whether he should do it, Drag Teen is a story about friendship, finding your confidence and voice, knowing what's right for you — and above all — love and acceptance.

Memoirs! Graphic novels! YA! Fiction! Mangas! It's all here for you. What are some of your favorite Pride books? Tweet me at @MissMeganMann and let me know. 

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20 Shows to Watch While You Social Distance [Contributor: Jenn]

With the world in an upheaval because of coronavirus, a lot of companies have decided to have their employees work remotely to prevent the spread of the virus. People are practicing social distancing — staying away from crowds and public spaces in order to protect themselves and others from the spread of the virus. But with social distancing can come loneliness. Even introverts are used to leaving their homes and taking quick trips to grocery stores, gyms, shopping malls, movie theaters, or theme parks every once in a while.

With all of your free time confined to an apartment or house, you might be looking for something to binge-watch and pass the next two or more weeks’ worth of time. I have 20 different shows that might just do the trick for you. They’re varying lengths and available to watch on different streaming platforms, but all are shows that I’ve found to be fun and might brighten your spirits during your isolation.

20. Galavant (Netflix)

Of all of the shows on this list, Galavant is perhaps the most underrated. This short-lived ABC meta musical comedy only got two seasons but it made the most of its time on the air. It’s a show set in medieval times with references to present pop culture and hilariously subtle jokes. The music is wonderful (composer Alan Menken and Christopher Lennertz produced the music), the guest stars are fantastic (JOHN STAMOS APPEARS), and the stories are unexpected in the best way. You’ll be able to finish this one pretty quickly so I recommend moving right into the next show on our list!

19. Psych (Amazon Prime)

Psych is one of my absolute favorite shows. Not only is it hilariously meta, but it’s also such a good example of a show that mixed comedy, drama, and procedural into one. James Roday and Dule Hill are absolute stars. They have the chance to do really hilarious physical comedy, deliver snappy one-liners, and also really punch you in the heart with feels. The rest of the cast is just as stellar: Timothy Omundson is also in this show as Detective Lassiter, and Detective Juliet O’Hara is played beautifully by Maggie Lawson. Psych is just such a wonderful, charming, engaging series that proves you can do character development, comedy, and romance well while also still having “case of the week”-style episodes.

18. Community (Hulu)

I love this show so much that I started a podcast about it! Though Community has been off the air for years now, the show is actually going to be moving to Netflix soon (and hopefully fulfilling the in-show prophesy of “six seasons and a movie”). Community is a series about a group of lovable misfits who attend Greendale Community College and form a Spanish study group. But one thing this former NBC sitcom was known for is its risk-taking. This series features claymation episodes, homages to famous films, and even a few musical episodes. It’s a series that, at its best, could turn itself into anything and still ultimately make sense. The ensemble is led by the always-charismatic and snarky Joel McHale, and if you haven’t watched this show yet, you certainly should. I doubt you’ll regret it!

17. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Hulu)

I chose a bunch of shows from the Mike Schur universe to include in this list because they’re all incredible! Brooklyn Nine-Nine took a few tries to hook me, but once it did, I never looked back. Centered around the 99th precinct in New York, this cop-centric ensemble comedy is an absolute gem. The characters all have the chance to get fleshed out over the seasons, and recurring jokes are a part of this show’s DNA. It’s hard to put into words exactly what makes Brooklyn Nine-Nine special, but I’ll say this: it’s genuine. It’s got a wonderful heart and soul and it doesn’t waver from that for the sake of an easy joke. It’s authentic and it’s fun. And you need to start watching it ASAP if you have not already.

16. Good Girls (Netflix/NBC)

This might be the darkest show I’ve recommended, but I think you’ll find it as addicting as I did. I could not watch a next episode fast enough. Good Girls features a wonderful trio of women: Christina Hendricks, Retta, and Mae Whitman. Each brings their own brand of dark humor and intensity to their roles. And at its core, Good Girls is about the relationship between these women and the question: “How far would you go?” How far would you go to provide for your family? What would you do if you got hooked and couldn’t stop? Can you justify bad behavior for a worthy cause? And when is the cause suddenly not even a factor anymore? This NBC series is still on the air so you can use Netflix and Hulu to watch the show’s first few seasons and most recent episodes. Just a warning: this stuff does get a bit dark. Maybe break it up with some cheesy fun shows!

15. Single Parents (Hulu/ABC)

I’ve talked extensively about Single Parents, and I could do so for the next few years. But for those of you who haven’t heard my loving pitch yet: this is a show from women who worked on New Girl (creator Liz Meriwether and EP J.J. Philbin helm this show) and writers who also worked on the show. So if you enjoyed New Girl, Single Parents has a very similar feel in tone and storytelling. It’s a show about a group of, you guessed it, single parents (played by Taran Killam, Leighton Meester, Kimrie Lewis, Brad Garrett, and Jake Choi) raising young kids. Shenanigans ensue, of course, but this beautiful ensemble comedy doesn’t relegate kids to the background — they are integral to the stories! And they’re FUNNY! There’s a sweetness to this show that not many network comedies have, so please check it out. It’s endearing and fun and wonderfully delightful.

14. Happy Endings (Hulu)

When people discuss unjust cancellations of television shows, Happy Endings typically makes it onto lists. I love this series (and might do my yearly rewatch in the next few weeks...) and think it’s one of the silliest, most meta, fun comedies out there. The show focuses on a group of six friends (Eliza Coupe, Damon Wayans, Jr., Adam Pally, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, and Casey Wilson) that are splintered in the pilot because one of the women leaves one of the guys at the altar. I assumed that Happy Endings was just going to be a re-imagining of Friends, but it’s not. This show is wonderfully unexpected because the humor and comedy is often so zany. I love it. And I think you’re going to love it too.

13. GLOW (Netflix)

GLOW is a show about women. That’s the selling point (or at least it should be). It focused over the years on things like female empowerment, motherhood, love, purpose and connection, race, etc. Though the show is primarily about wrestling, one of the most important things the show focuses is on is women’s complexities. People aren’t black-and-white heroes or villains. They’re not defined by one thing or characteristic or choice. People are complex, especially women. And what’s incredibly refreshing (in addition to the fact that GLOW features examples of diversity and representation) is that the show doesn’t attempt to reduce any of its female characters to just one thing. Ruth (Alison Brie) could easily be perceived as the villain given the choices she makes. Betty Gilpin’s Debbie could easily be victimized or demonized but she’s not. While GLOW has its ups and downs over the seasons, it’s definitely worth checking out!

12. Love is Blind (Netflix)

Let me tell you a story: on Valentine’s Day, my roommate and I got addicted to Netflix’s reality dating show, Love is Blind. It’s the very definition of addicting television. The premise is this: women and men are separated from one another and sent to “pods” — essentially rooms connected by doors so participants can hear each other but not see one another. The hypothesis of the experiment is the show’s title: “Is love really blind?” The participants choose who they want to be with, without ever seeing them. They propose, and then spend the next few weeks before their weddings (!!!), seeing whether their physical connection in the outside world matches the emotional one they formed in the pods. Not everyone makes it down the aisle, and even if they do, not everyone chooses to marry the person they chose in the pod. Mix a few cute couples you can genuinely root for with a whole lot of hot messes and you have a recipe for the best binge-watch during your social distancing. Be warned: you’ll probably yell at the television multiple times.

11. Superstore (Hulu/NBC)

Are you a fan of wacky workplace comedies? Then Superstore is the show for you! Anchored (for now, as she’s set to depart next season) by the lovely and talented America Ferrera, this is a show about a fictional workplace called Cloud 9 and its employees. Of course, shenanigans ensue all the time. There are genuinely sweet and heartbreaking moments as the series progresses, and we get the chance to know these workers as more than just employees. We see them evolve, fall in love, fight, and suffer. It’s a perfect show for you to binge-watch!

10. The Good Place (Netflix)

If you haven’t checked out The Good Place yet, you need to do so as soon as possible! Not only is this a show that manages to make you laugh and cry, but it does so while focusing on a lot of really deep topics like philosophy, morality, and what it means to love each other well. The Good Place is also one of the only shows on television that manages to consistently reinvent itself in the best ways. By the end of the first season, you’ll be ready to hit “play” on season two. In addition to the tight writing, extensive callbacks, and jokes, the cast is astounding. Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, D’Arcy Carden, Manny Jacinto, William Jackson Harper, and Jameela Jamil are stellar. They will make you laugh until you cry and cry until you cry harder.

9. Dollface (Hulu)

I wrote a bit about why this new Hulu original is worth your time! It’s a quick watch (I finished season one faster than I thought I would) and absolutely adored it. It has three fantastic women: Kat Dennings, Shay Mitchell, and Brenda Song. The premise is that a woman who’s been in a long-term relationship (Dennings) suddenly finds herself broken up with, and realizes she distanced herself for years from her female friends because she had a boyfriend. The show is a look into female friendships and millennial women. It has silly, absurd comedy mixed in with genuinely real topics and conversations that women have. It featured a brilliant Wizard of Oz homage too! And it’s a show I think you all will enjoy if you add it to your queue.

8. mixedish (Hulu/ABC)

I’d recommend that you also watch blackish because it’s a fantastic show. The currently-airing mixedish (which is a spin-off of the other ABC series) has a sweetness to it that is fresh and fun. It follows narrator Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross) as she recounts her life growing up in the 1980s as a mixed-race child. Arica Hammel plays the young Rainbow (or “Bow”) who is absolutely endearing and sweet. The rest of the kids in the cast — Ethan William and Mykal-Michelle Harris — are equally as enjoyable. Rounding out the cast are the fantastic Tika Sumpter and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, plus Gary Cole. mixedish is the kind of show that makes you feel warm and fuzzy; it teaches you moral lessons without being so overt about them, and it focuses on its characters over plot. It’s a sweet coming-of-age comedy that you should catch up on.

7. The Bold Type (Hulu/Freeform)

The Bold Type is your Sex and the City-esque fix without having to watch Sex and the City. It’s a Freeform series which means that it’s focused on a younger generation of women trying to make it through life, love, and their careers at a magazine. The Bold Type is the kind of show that features some fun, fluffy storylines alongside some really deep and meaningful ones (like about Kat struggling with her racial identity or Jane dealing with medical issues). Plus it stars the talented Melora Hardin as a strong, powerful, sensitive, caring boss. She gets to shine in a lot of stories, but none more powerful than “Carry the Weight”: an episode that will make you emotional. Check out the show!

6. Schitt’s Creek (Netflix/POP TV)

What could possibly be said about Schitt’s Creek that hasn’t already been written (or that I haven’t already written)? The show is a wonderful example of an ensemble comedy that’s character-driven. From season one to the current season, characters experience so much growth and development. The storylines are funny, iconic, Tweetable, but they’re also just real. They’re funny because of the amazing cast (Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Annie Murphy, and Emily Hampshire) and the tight writing. If you’re looking for a show that’s surprising in how quiet but enjoyable it is, check this one out. It’s a critical darling for a reason!

5. Parks and Recreation (Netflix)

If you haven’t watched Parks and Recreation up until this point, I have a lot of questions. First off: “Why not?!” Parks and Rec is one of the most heartwarming shows — about politicians and government figures no less. It’s where a number of pop culture references come from (#treatyoself), but most importantly, the writing and acting in the show is so solid. There’s a reason that Leslie Knope has become a hero among so many of us, and it’s because she’s a character who exemplifies love, leadership, honesty and integrity, and a sense of humor. The characters on this show love each other so deeply and so well. They learn from each other and grow. Parks and Rec is also a rare show in which once the writers decided to commit to romantic couples, they didn’t look back. A lot of shows continue to draw out tension or relationships, but not Parks and Rec. It’s a show about friendship and joy, and I’ll probably rewatch it. Again.

4. The Mandalorian (Disney+)

Okay this is probably one you’ve already watched. But even if you’re not into Star Wars lore, The Mandalorian is a fun romp into the universe without asking much from you in return. It features an array of amazing diverse writers and directors, and it’s self-contained so you don’t need to know a whole lot about Star Wars to understand it. But let’s be real here: the true reason you should watch it is because of baby Yoda (or “The Child” if you want to get specific to the show). Just watch for the adorableness alone and sooner or later, you’ll forget that you’ve been social distancing for a week.

3. Younger (Hulu/TV Land)

In the same vein of The Bold Type, Younger is another Sex and the City-esque series focusing on young women in the book publishing industry (New York-set television shows sure do love their publishing jobs). Liza (played by the talented Sutton Foster) is a 40-something woman who decides to pose as a millennial in order to get hired at a publishing company. Of course, the longer the series goes on, the more people discover Liza’s secret (she has an ex-husband and a college-age daughter after all). But the most fun is Liza’s interaction with her coworker Kelsey (Hilary Duff). Younger is an addicting romp through some soapy comedy, so check it out!

2. One Day At A Time (Netflix/POP TV)

I can’t promote this show enough. It’s smart, heartbreaking at times, incredibly poignant and relevant, funny, and just so dang likable. One Day At A Time boasts a fabulous cast: Rita Moreno and Justina Machado are absolute stars. The comedy follows the Alvarez family during all of their ups and downs. The storylines cover everything from depression to addiction to immigration to coming out and family conflicts. It’s a show about family and found family. It is beautiful. It is important. It is so very special. And it is more than worth your time. Please watch it as soon as possible!

1. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Netflix)

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is one of my favorite shows. It is so smartly written, the humor is on point, and the musical numbers are perfection. This is a show that somehow manages to tackle things as dark and difficult as suicide and mental health without being “Very Special Episode” about it. Rachel Bloom is absolutely worthy of all the awards as the incredibly complex Rebecca Bunch. You won’t always root for Rebecca. In fact, there’s a very meta song early in the show’s run that is all about how Rebecca realizes she may, in fact, be the villain in her own story. But she is worth your time and development. And the supporting cast in this show is just as important as Rebecca (especially the relationships between the female characters on the show). Honestly this CW comedy is one of the most thought-provoking shows in the last few years, so give it a shot. You won’t regret it.

Even while you’re practicing social distancing, take some breaks from television and step outside onto your front porch or take a lap around the neighborhood. Remind yourself of the goodness and beauty in life. Take a break from your screens! But when you decide to binge-watch shows, be sure to keep the ones on this list in mind!

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Jenn's Pick: The Top 20 Episodes of 'New Girl'

I knew from the moment I watched the pilot that I was going to enjoy New Girl.

But honestly, I didn't fall completely in love with the show until "Wedding," which was a few episodes later. Though the story of a quirky, awkward and newly-single woman living with a bunch of guys she found on a Craigslist ad sounded like something that had the potential to be hilarious, the tone of the show subtly shifted after a few episodes — for the better. When New Girl began, it was a show that fixated a lot on Jess' eccentricities. And though that made for a nice joke, it wasn't going to sustain the series long-term. What the show did was rather brilliant: over the years, the FOX comedy has drawn away from focusing only on Jess and what makes her funny and weird, to focusing on all of the roommates in the loft. New Girl has become a true ensemble comedy, and it's this choice that has made it such a hit. It's also what has made it more well-rounded and inclusive. A show only about a weird girl was beginning to (after even a few episodes) feel way too cartoonish and flat.

The show became better when it embraced Nick's quirks and Schmidt's oddities and Winston's weirdness and Cece's sarcasm. Over the past five years, this show has brilliantly tackled everyday subjects and made them both funny and endearing. This is a show about how being an adult doesn't mean you have all of your crap together. And that's something that is sorely lacking in television these days, where it seems like 20-somethings have apartments that are way too nice and jobs that are way too good and wardrobes that are supposed to look casual and young, but would — in reality — cost thousands of dollars.

(And, okay, the loft in New Girl is totally an unrealistic living situation for Los Angeles, but the fact that four people have to share it in order to make rent is something the show at least acknowledges.)

It's a show about adult friendship and what it means to love, lose, and occasionally just be downright confused about who you are and what you should do with your life.

New Girl celebrates its 100th episode on Tuesday (can you believe we have had 100 episodes of this show already?!) and in honor if it reaching this milestone, I've decided to rank my top 20 episodes of the show in order. This list was super hard to make and I had to cut a lot of episodes out that I really love (holla "First Date," "Tinfinity," "Fluffer," "Oregon," "Mars Landing," and more).

So what episodes DID make my cut? Check out the list below!

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Jenn's Pick: A Definitive Ranking of 20 Disney Heroines

Ever since I was a child, I have dreamt of being a princess. While I spent the vast majority of my childhood in Pennsylvania, my parents brought me to Disney World on vacation so many times when I was little that when we moved here permanently in 2002, I wasn't as fazed as many people would have been to be a mere half an hour away from princesses and fairy tales. But I'll let you in on a little secret: I still love Disney World. I still love princesses. I still want to BE a princess. I love sparkles (shout-out, Maggie) and I love gorgeous gowns and balls and the idea of living in a castle, happily ever after with a tiara on my head and a prince on my arm. I think that princesses and fairy tales awaken this desire within us -- this extremely human desire that wants happiness wrapped up with a neat little bow and a beautifully belted song.

And when I thought about the Disney princesses and heroines that I admired, I realized that I loved each princess for a different reason but that they also shared some similar characteristics. What makes a princess worthy of admiration? What really makes a hero or a heroine? What makes one character better than another? I don't know if I can answer all of these questions but what I CAN do is this: I can definitively rank twenty of my favorite Disney princesses and heroines. My list is final. There is no other list and none better than mine. Basically my word is law and everyone else is wrong.

(Kidding, totally kidding. Feel free to discuss which rankings I got right and which I missed the mark on and which Disney heroine YOU would add in the comments section. Ready? Grab your tiaras and kindly locate your dashing prince because we are counting down twenty of the best Disney ladies of all time.)

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Jenn's Pick: My Top 20 Nick/Jess Moments

When I first started watching New Girl, I immediately fell in love with the idea of Nick and Jess becoming a romantic couple. I never ship couples from the pilot episodes, but I did with these two. I can’t put my finger on it and I suspect that the writers couldn’t quite either, but there was something inherently interesting about the way that Jake Johnson and Zooey Deschanel played off one another in their scenes that made me believe that they had potential.

It’s often hard to find great chemistry between characters on a television series, but this is something that Jake and Zooey have never lacked. They’ve always seemingly had a natural rapport and easiness as Nick and Jess, which made the two characters so appealing. Seemingly, Nick and Jess are polar opposites. When we meet both of them in the pilot, we are introduced to a gruff, curmudgeonly bartender in the character of Nick and a quirky, idealistic young woman in Jess. But as the audience grew to know and understand these characters over the course of a few seasons, we learned that they were more similar than immediately presumed. Both had suffered through the loss of a love, and it shaped the way that they viewed the world around them (for better or worse). Both had goals for themselves; both cared a lot about the people around them and had high expectations for the way that they should be treated in return.

Eventually, Nick and Jess grew from these goofy, weird, unexpected friends to romantic interests and – most recently – exes. The road has been paved with some amazing and delightful moments in both their friendship and romantic relationship and while we anxiously await the return of New Girl next fall, I thought I would ease our hiatus woes with a countdown of my top 20 Nick/Jess moments of all time. (I could have easily added more than 20, but I refrained.) So, if you’re ready, let’s take a look at some of MY favorite moments between these characters. Some are significant and others are so simple that you may have blinked and missed them during an episode. Feel free to add your own or rank your own favorite moments in the comments section.

Grab an Old Fashioned and settle in because we’re about to count down my favorite Nick and Jess moments of all time!

* GIF credit goes to everyone but me, since I'm not talented at things.

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Jenn's Pick: My Top 20 Favorite Disney Songs Ever (#10 - #1)

I decided to make a post ranking my favorite Disney songs of all time and I needed to split it up into two posts for the sake of rambling and praising each of my choices. So, in case you missed the first installment, I wrote about my #20 - #11 songs here and ranked them.

And now, without further adieu, I give you my top ten favorite Disney songs ever. Ever. This was a difficult list to compile, but I feel pretty good about all of my choices. I only chose Disney (not Disney Pixar) songs and only listed songs where a character  or person performs them in the actual movie itself. There are no end credit songs, no scores, etc. included for the sake of my own personal rules and because I would have way too many choices if I went in that direction.

So here we go: click below the cut to find out what I chose as some of my favorite songs of all time and see if you agree with some, all, or none of them.

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Jenn's Pick: My Top 20 Favorite Disney Songs Ever (#20 - #11)

I love few things in life more than I love Disney.

It’s true: for as often as I’ve been to the theme parks, I love Disney World. I recently went to Epcot with my roommate Leah and our friend Lisa after our half-marathon (which you can read all about here). While we walked around, we discussed which Disney parks we were most familiar with and ranked them. I’m most familiar with The Magic Kingdom, knowing the park like the back of my hand.

I love Disney movies. I love the animation and I love the stories and the characters, but most of all, I love the music. I love that I have friends across the world who share this love with me and who make Spotify playlists or listen to Disney Pandora radio stations. There’s something magical in these songs, really. There are messages of hope and love and they’re catchy tunes that you can’t help but sing along with. As I contemplated my favorite songs from Disney movies, I decided to make a list, as I often do, and ranked twenty of my absolute favorite songs from Disney films. Since there are twenty of them and that’s a rather large number for a single blog post, I decided to break them up.

So, below the cut, join me on a magical journey through my #20 - #11 picks for favorite songs in Disney movies. And feel free to hum along with me as we work our way through the list! I won’t even judge you if you bust out some dance moves, I promise.

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