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bibliomania_express's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out by Ryan Love is a book about family, friendship, and seizing the moment. Arthur has loved seventy-nine years hiding his truth, but he's finally ready to come out. The shockwaves his announcement sends through the family affect his grandson, Teddy, who has been struggling to find his own way to come out. Now together they are finding a way to be true to themselves and find love and community amidst hardship.
This book was very cute and warm, despite a some major trigger warnings. Arthur is so adorable, and I loved his and Madeleine's enduring friendship. The author explores the hardships of being gay back in the sixties as well as some of the continued issues of homophobia today. I also enjoyed seeing the supportive community, from Cora at the café to new friends.
Love balances Arthur's and Teddy's narratives so well. While Arthur is trying to find a new normal after a long life, Teddy is still trying to figure out who he is. They both deal with past grief, current adversity, and the pressures of coming out and being out. Teddy is also dealing with new relationships and deciding what he wants.
This book is less a romance and more a family story, although both protagonists have a bit of romance. I do wish there was a bit more development of Teddy's ultimate romance, and some more scenes of Arthur.
Now, the major trigger warnings. There is an off-page suicide, discussions of suicidal ideation (past), discussions of an experience of conversion therapy, an off-page homophobic attack (past), and present day homophobia and microaggressions. These are handled with as much care as possible, although I will say the suicide was the most unexpected part.
This book was very cute and warm, despite a some major trigger warnings. Arthur is so adorable, and I loved his and Madeleine's enduring friendship. The author explores the hardships of being gay back in the sixties as well as some of the continued issues of homophobia today. I also enjoyed seeing the supportive community, from Cora at the café to new friends.
Love balances Arthur's and Teddy's narratives so well. While Arthur is trying to find a new normal after a long life, Teddy is still trying to figure out who he is. They both deal with past grief, current adversity, and the pressures of coming out and being out. Teddy is also dealing with new relationships and deciding what he wants.
This book is less a romance and more a family story, although both protagonists have a bit of romance. I do wish there was a bit more development of Teddy's ultimate romance, and some more scenes of Arthur.
Now, the major trigger warnings. There is an off-page suicide, discussions of suicidal ideation (past), discussions of an experience of conversion therapy, an off-page homophobic attack (past), and present day homophobia and microaggressions. These are handled with as much care as possible, although I will say the suicide was the most unexpected part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, and Physical abuse
Minor: Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Cancer
coffeeandprose's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Violence, Suicide, and Death of parent
aoifeprettypurplepolkadots's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Suicide, Death, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
writeordietrying's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
Minor: Suicide
henriettaenam's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Homophobia, Death of parent, Cancer, and Suicide
romillyj95's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent
Minor: Grief, Violence, and Cancer
sijago's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A pleasant and well-intentioned story but it leans more towards fairytale than anything resembling real life. The character arc of each key character is set up and telegraphed very clearly. Characters make sudden lurches towards redemption and it is all very ‘happy ever after’. At the heart of the book there’s a sub-text that only when you come out can you be happy, which ignores any of the complexity than can exist around doing so. Some events happen so rapidly that I kept thinking my copy had missing pages. It is all very sweet but almost Mills and Boon sweet. If you’re looking for anything with a bit of bite then there may be other books on the subject that are a better fit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Cancer
hayleyvem's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Lesbophobia, Child death, Grief, Suicide, Homophobia, Outing, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Medical content, Cancer, Death of parent, and Chronic illness
Minor: Alcohol
lady_of_the_ulla's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Suicide
josieruby1's review against another edition
3.75
This was really difficult to rate because there was a lot of this book that I absolutely adored. Arthur and Madeleine's relationship for exactly was the most wholesome thing ever.
However there was also several things I didn't think were resolved well, lacked consequence, came out of nowhere or were skipped over.
All in all I would give Arthur's story a 5/5 and Teddy's more of a 3.
However there was also several things I didn't think were resolved well, lacked consequence, came out of nowhere or were skipped over.
All in all I would give Arthur's story a 5/5 and Teddy's more of a 3.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Cancer and Violence