Spectrum Queer Bookshop

12/12/2025

Pregnant or know someone who is?

Rose, co-founder of Spectrum, has now began a new adventure after the birth of their daughter, training as a hypnobirthing antenatal instructor specialising in supporting people who are marginalised in the birthing systems - q***r people, trans people, people of colour, neurodivergent people, fat people - every kind of birthing person!

They have a completely free taster class in Wirral on 20th January at Kraken Comics - the coolest venue for a hypnobirthing class - and have their first group course staring in February (tip: get 50% off using code XMAS50), and have their books open for private classes both in person and online.

Check it all out over at www.embodiedbirth.co.uk ❤️🌈

Education and empowerment through pregnancy, birth and beyond. ​ Embodied Birth is here to support all families to feel informed, confident and empowered through inclusive, evidence based hypnobirthing and antenatal education in Wirral, Merseyside and online. ​ Cis, trans, q***r, straight, neuro...

21/02/2023

NEW COLLABORATION!

We have joined with the wonderful for a big q***r, inclusive, accessible collaboration to shout about!

If you don't know who Lovelocks are, they are the OG cafe for making everyone feel welcome and part of their club, and have been home to incredible organisations and events such as , ***rspiralhealing_, and *xualitysocialliv 😍

Today we brought over some of our books to the shop, sharing a space alongside incredible businesses including the one and only . Soon we'll be bringing over our children's books along with our free community resources including free period products for all and gender affirming clothing such as binders.

Over the coming weeks and months, we'll be working with Lovelocks to build on their existing accessibility for d/Deaf, Disabled and all kinds of people! This will look like BSL training, alternative menu formats, signage, online information and more.

We are so excited to be joining forces with such an incredible space and we can't wait to show you what we've got coming!

[Image description: photo of bookshelves featuring a range of q***r books, with a sign reading 'Spectrum' with a list of identities underneath: q***r, trans, Deaf, non-binary, Muslim, Disabled, old, young, neurodiverse, Black, global majority, s*x workers, fat, immigrants, blind, Asian, sick, unwaged, inters*x, multiracial, autistic. Around this is other brilliant merchandise from fellow q***r businesses.]

07/02/2023

Missing us?

Good news - we've got some exciting announcements coming soon!

[Image description: photo of two people with beards kissing and holding green mugs]

08/01/2023

Closing down sale at our bookshop today with 20% off absolutely everything! Get down here and grab some good books and merch 🎉

19/10/2022

New trans/non binary/gender books in stock in !

Lots of new stock coming in the next couple of weeks so head to our shop to find some new gems by authors including , , , and more!

[Image description: photos of book covers.
1. Trans Power by Juno Roche
2. In Their Shoes by Jamie Windust
3. Beyond Pronouns: the essential guide for parents of trans children by Tammy Plunkett
4. They/them/their: a guide to non binary and genderq***r identities by Eris Young
5. The Book Of Non-Binary Joy by Ben Pechey
6. Gender Pioneers: A celebration of transgender, non-binary and inters*x icons by Philippa Punchard
7. Gender Explorers: our stories of growing up trans and changing the world by Juno Roche
8. Trans Affirming Churches: how to celebrate gender variant people and their loved ones by Christina Beardsley and Chris Dowd
9. How to Understand Your Gender: a practical guide for exploring who you are by Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker
10. Trans Pride: a colouring book by Fox Fisher.]

***rBooks ***rBookshop ***rLiverpool

11/10/2022

It's S*xual Health Week and this year's theme is Breaking Barriers!

To celebrate we're giving out free condoms (kindly donated by - trick or treat anyone?) and highlighting some brilliant books available at Spectrum promoting inclusive s*x education and s*xual health information - swipe to check them out! Don't forget to pick up a leaflet all about condoms from *xpositive when you get yours.

We'll be sharing in our stories throughout the week inclusive s*xual health information to join the fight in breaking barriers when it comes to accessing s*xual health services and s*x education 👊

Books:
S*x Ed: An Inclusive Teenage Guide To S*x And Relationships by *xed
A Practical Guide to S*x: Finally, Helpful S*x Advice! by Justin Hancock and Meg-John Barker
A Quick & Easy Guide To S*x And Disability by A. Andrews
The Every Body Book () by Rachel E. Simon
What Makes A Baby by Cory Silverberg



[Image description in alt text and comments]

16/09/2022

Did someone say camp?!

As promised, tomorrow night at Pride Prom we will have performances throughout the night featuring some iconic hits throughout the decades and every one of them promises to be cheesy goodness that won't disappoint!

Get your dancing shoes on and be ready to sing and dance along with us to some absolute bops! Swipe for a sneak peak 👀

Tickets from just £2: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pride-prom-tickets-372756373347

[Image description:
1. Photo of Sandy and Danny from Grease dancing in the school dance scene.
2. Photo of 3 of the Ghostbusters pointing the wands of their proton packs towards the camera.
3. CD cover of Backstreet Boys Everybody (Backstreet's Back).
4. Classic cover photo from High School Musical with the cast jumping into the air in front of a red curtain.
5. PSY dancing with women dressed in white vests and hot pants to Gangnam Style in what looks like a barn.]

12/09/2022

Want more friends who get you?

We've had a few of you lovely lot message us to say you've not got a ticket to our q***r prom this Saturday at because you've not got anyone to go with or you're anxious of people you don't know. Please know that you are not alone! One of the reasons we created Spectrum was because of the lack of community spaces available to many LGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, Disabled and neurodivergent people within our city, which can make it really difficult to find your people.

If you'd like to come to Pride Prom, please send us a message and we'll pair you up with other likeminded folk beforehand who you can chat to and get to know. Once you're in Pride Prom, there's no obligation to stay for the whole night if it doesn't feel right for you. You're welcome to turn up, pay what you can which can be absolutely nothing, have a look around and see if you'd like to stay. There will be at least 4 of the Spectrum team and friends available on the night to chat to about anything you need in terms of access or whatever else, and to find you a quiet space if needed. We'll be doing a post all about access for all shortly too, but if you want to know anything in advance let us know.

Drop us a message, comment or email to make some new friends ahead of this Saturday!

[Image description: Two hands holding each other, one with dark skin and one with light skin, and a rainbow painted on the arm of the person with light skin]

11/09/2022

Tickets now available from just £2 for Pride Prom - A Big Q***r Prom Party! for anyone who needs it!

This coming Saturday 17th September with true q***r bops PLUS performances through the decades featuring iconic hits from 70s-2010s!

Get your tickets quick to make sure this iconic night can go ahead 🎉🌟

PRIDE PROM IS COMING! Get ready for a night of music, dancing, games and more q***r, camp, prom-tastic fun as we have a big prom do-over!

11/09/2022

BOOK REVIEW

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by

This 9-12 novel is absolutely perfect for magic and adventure story lovers. Nonbinary author, L D Lapinski has made a beautiful three book series which is a fun read for kids and adults alike. The lead character, Flick; an independent 12 year old who just moved to a new town, finds her world changing when she discovers a magical travel agency containing suitcases that allow you to visit different worlds in the multiverse! She sets out on a journey with Jonathan, an 18 year old trans man with very "born in the wrong era" vibes, to help keep the multiverse safe.

The trans rep in this book is very subtle and not a big plot point, Jonathan is just accepted as he is but with enough context to see the truth of who he is.  

I came across this book in my quest for alternative magical books for kids in my family before their parents buy them the obvious... and I truly fell in love with the entire series. So much fun, so well written and lots of important messages and high stakes while maintaining the joy. Cannot recommend this series enough, do yourself a favour and pick up the first book from Spectrum, you can thank me later ;)

Review by

[Image description: photo of the Strangewlrld book within a dark red and pink border reading 'book review' at the top with the Spectrum logo at the bottom. On the book is a white, brown haired girl is holding one strap of a blue backpack decorated with a sun. The other strap is being held by a white hand, the arm of which is disappearing into an old style brown suitcase. Various items such as books, a magnifying glass, a pocket watch and a globe are being pulled by magic into the same case. Higher up the page a red suitcase is open with a tree with blue and purple birds, some pink, orange and blue crystals, green tentacles and clouds with an orange hot air balloon and red old style plane coming out.  The book title The Strangeworlds Travel Agency features in gold on a red rectangular background. The background of the cover is dark blue.
The second and third image read the review in the caption.]