i really dont like when cishet reviewers call a book a "gay book" just bc it has a gay relationship it in or talks about queerness

bc like, yes there's gay elements and in some cases the queerness is essential and central to the story but in other cases it's not exactly the main point of the book,,, it would be like calling any book that has a couple in it a romance

and sometimes just because queerness is central to a book, calling it "a gay book" feels reductive if that makes sense? again for example you wouldn't call normal people by sally rooney a romance book

(not that there's anything wrong with romance books) but even if normal people centers around marianne and connell's romantic relationship it's not really a romance book...

(i started this thread bc i saw someone on tiktok call on earth we're briefly gorgeous "gay and it slaps" and like,,,, yes but also no)