Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out

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.

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traceyanderson's review

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challenging relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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sophcart_'s review

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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crashingchandelier's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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chelseamayxxx's review

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challenging emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.0

This book is so so amazing I loved the main character Arthur the main character though out this whole book the way he told his family and friend he was gay was the most sweetest thing I have read in a book in ages and the way he comes back together with his family after they initially fall out with him at the start of his new life journey it was so good to see how they came back together as a family and how they accepted him in the end. The 2nd main character teddy wasn’t my favourite and his car crash of a friendship and relationships thought out all this book made me so annoyed and so uninterested in his parts of the book. I wish this book was mostly about Arthur if I am been honest. The ending of this book was done in such a cute way and I think the ending of the book really fitted it so well. I was smitten and giggling whilst reading the ending. Xxx

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capyval's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

Arthur gets out of the closet at age 79, and his daughter doesn't take it so well... Which puts Teddy (Arthur's grandson) in an awkward position, as he's also gay and hasn't told his mum yet.
The story has a cute start, it's cool to see an elderly person coming out of the closet and telling their story, but the book didn't have a strong story and the everything turns boring very early, in my opinion. I didn't care much about any of the characters and their dramas.
The book is not YA as far as I know, but the story is so simple, it may as well be. There's no explicit sex.
TW: suicide
The two narrators of the audiobook are ok, but also not so great IMO.

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chethaki's review

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emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

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just22jess22's review

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dark emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

CW: Suicide, threat of murder, homophobia, gaslighting, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, death of a parent, physical abuse, cancer, addiction, grief, abandonment of a child, abandonment of an elder.

Are you surprised? Because honestly, I was!

To me, “Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out” is marketed as this lighthearted, heartwarming little book about a grandpa and a grandson both coming out to their family members as being gay. I honestly don’t think this book was either heartwarming nor lighthearted in the way that the author aimed for.

[And here is where it gets a bit spoilery – prob don’t read on if you plan to read this book….]

A few of my biggest gripes: This beautifully composed man comes out to his family as being gay at age 79, with full acceptance and support of his ex wife. His daughter FLIPS out and refuses to talk to him for over half of the book, forcing her children (including Teddy) from talking to him also. She then kicks her son out of the house when he declares he is also gay. When she (surprise!) has a complete change of heart in the third act.. Literally no one calls her out for being a shitty human, nor does she seem to have any character growth from the whole experience.

Teddy was my least fav character – he spends the entire book whinging about the silver spoon he has been given, yet literally every time he faces any sniff of hardship, he runs to others to fix his shit. I honestly don’t have enough words to describe how deeply problematic his romantic arc was, so I will just say that the three boys were all as horribly gaslighty as each other and they all deserve each other.

Last thing – why is Arthur suddenly super famous and on the cover of multiple magazines/newspapers for coming out as gay? Does that seriously warrant a front page…?! The mind boggles.

Parts of this book I liked? It was quick and easy to read, I enjoyed that it portrayed the older generation as people who still aimed to live life to the fullest and I love the message that it is never too late to chase your desires.

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