Dream Daddy Book Tag [ORIGINAL]

Fuck it. Times have been hard. Here’s a book tag.

Since finishing school, I’ve been playing a buttload of video games, including queer mainstay Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator.

A good alternate title might be Subverting Stereotypes: The Game.

I should do a Dad ranking one of these days because two of these daddies absolutely stole the show.

I have two routes and a secret ending to go, everyone act normal.

Rules

1. Answer the prompts. Some prompts have multiple options – pick your favorite or answer both.
2. Tag the creator in your post.

Brian Harding

A rivals-to-lovers romance

Rebel Belle features academic-rivals-to-allies-to-lovers and it’s fantastic.

David defeated Harper in a spelling bee and he uses his winning word in a sentence any chance he can. I love the pettiness.

I never read any further into the series. Something tells me I should.

Hugo Vega

Option 1: A book about academia

Option 2: A pretentious book

I love Hugo and I also can’t help myself.

For option 1, we’ve got R. F. Kuang’s Babel.

I’m a little worried about this one because I don’t usually enjoy historical fiction.

I DID love The Poppy War, though, so I’ll give Babel a shot.

For option 2…this opinion will be controversial and I don’t have much of a leg to stand on, considering how much I love Neil Gaiman.

Ahem.

I didn’t love The House in the Cerulean Sea.

T. J. Klune’s writing has a pretentious quality.

Like, fine. You write cozy and affirming stories for queer people. That’s great.

You’re not reinventing the wheel.

Also, I don’t know if you can make body positivity a theme if you’re going to include multiple fat jokes. I don’t think that’s what it means to deconstruct fatphobia.

I know a lot of people felt seen and/or comforted by this book and I don’t want to take that from them.

I’m just not a fan.

Craig Cahn

A sports romance

If The Scorpio Races is about horse racing and features a romance, does that make it a sports romance?

I think it does.

I’m ready to fight people on this.

Joseph Christiansen

Option 1: A book that explores spirituality

Option 2: A book featuring a sinister minister or a cult

Believe it or not, this is me on my best behavior.

For option 1, I thought I Kissed Shara Wheeler had some meaningful things to say about faith, queerness, and community.

This book made me feel things. I just care about these kids.

I probably don’t need the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition. It is, however, purple.

For option 2, Hell Followed With Us is all about religious body horror.

Andrew Joseph White wasn’t messing around in his content note.

I kind of dig the seraph imagery. This book’s concept is really neat.

Also, trans monstrosity as a method of exploring both shame and survival? Love it.

Mat Sella

A book about food, music, or art

Since reading Roselle Lim’s Natalie Lu’s Book of Love and Fortune, I’ve seen multiple Asian authors publish romcoms featuring food.

Food writing is really neat and also HARD. I love that romance readers get to see more of it.

Special shoutout to Roselle Lim, though. The way she writes about food is something special.

Robert Small

Option 1: Your favorite “bad” book

Option 2: A serious book that is way funnier than it should be

I always choose Black Moon Rising for “bad” book prompts, so I have to pick something else.

Can You Ever Forgive Me? isn’t precisely “good.”

Lee Israel was a fascinating and deeply unpleasant person.

She was a good writer, even if her personality was straight battery acid.

I’ve said this before: while The Bluest Eye is largely serious, some of the quips from the kids made me laugh.

Kids are funny.

Even when serious stuff is happening, they can’t help being petty sometimes.

Damien Bloodmarch

A book that became a surprise favorite

Lauren Pick A Book That Isn’t The Councillor Or American Gods challenge.

Let me just trawl Storygraph for a second.

Oh hey, let’s talk about Girls Can Kiss Now.

I’m constantly told that certain books are “laugh-out-loud funny” only to read them and find they are…not.

Sometimes they’re WAY more serious than I bargained for; other times, they elicit a chuckle and not much else.

Girls Can Kiss Now made me laugh on the bus.

There was a whole chapter on queer Swifties and one on “important lesbian paparazzi photos” that had me rolling.

The funny moments (of which they are many) are balanced out by extreme vulnerability w/r/t sensitive topics like rape, isolation, and mental illness.

Jill Gutowitz does a service to her queer readers by openly sharing her pain.

It made me feel less alone and for that I’m grateful.

Do my book tag, by golly!

I’m going to go play Hugo’s route and drool over his perfect jawline!

If you feel like it, answer the following question: who is your favorite Dream Daddy and why is it Mat?

Or, if you’d rather, tell me your best dad joke.