Scan barcode
bookishkellyn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Imagine HBO’s Insecure but with Black gay male millennials. Dominick (advertising executive), Troy (sixth grade teacher), and Remy (realtor) navigate gentrification and the bleak dating landscape in “New Detroit.” There were jaw-dropping moments, LOL moments, and tender moments of vulnerability. Per the author’s note, the main characters were initially supposed to be women, but I’m glad he leaned into authenticity and gave us this insightful but relatable debut instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Excrement, Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Homophobia
zongo's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Gun violence
xoeybear's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Cursing, Drug use, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, and Gun violence
ess_x's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
I must say as I was reading this book, I could not put it down. Every page I turned just kept me laughing and very engaged. I saw myself in these characters. I’m so happy to have a story like this! As someone of the younger generation, never did I think that I’ll get to witness people like me being written about.
It reminded me a bit of if Girlfriends and Insecure had a baby. I’m so happy that I purchased this book to read! I hope to see more by this author.
It reminded me a bit of if Girlfriends and Insecure had a baby. I’m so happy that I purchased this book to read! I hope to see more by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content
selfbybee's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings: racism, homophobia, mentions of sexual assault, domestic violence (on page), gentrification, cheating, PTSD, mentions of parent death, divorced parents,
4.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and Belt Publishing for an eARC of Boys Come First in an exchange for an honest review.
I think my first note is that if you approach this book as anything other than contemporary fiction you are going to be sorely disappointed--I saw that because many people instantly categorize cartoon covers.
Boys Come First is just a refreshingly endearing exploration of friendship, blackness, queerness and the social stakes of being a 30 year old in our modern-day world. Boys Come First follow Troy, Dom and Remy through POV jumping prose as they try to find, and re-find their place in their ever changing home city of Detroit. Our trio approaches issues such as gentrification, class, strained familial relationships, and the complexities of black masculinity + queerness through a relatable (and sometimes messy) lens.
These characters are so human. Messy, loving, brave, weak, intelligent, dumb, kind, and cutthroat and it is such a breath of fresh air to see black men. Black queer men. Be portrayed in this way that isn't trauma porn. It is just innate humanity--the common place experiences of 30 year olds around the world--layered with their shared, and individual identities and I could not love it more for being just that.
Some POV transitions felt choppy and disjointed-- and the formatting made the reading experience not 100% enjoyable and I am hoping these are improvements made for the final version! BRAVO to Aaron, what a debut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Homophobia, and Domestic abuse
tay_af's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A thoughtful and insightful slice-of-life novel, with three compelling main characters and a central focus on friendship and connection which struck me as relatively unique. BOYS COME FIRST follows the lives of three gay Black thirty-something men in modern day Detroit, and ultimately gives a well-written in-depth description of the characters’ struggles and successes, doubts, and frustrations. It’s a great character-driven novel, with compelling engagement with LGBTQ+ issues, Black life, and the complexities of contemporary urban life, with issues like gentrification taking a forefront.
This novel’s greatest strength lies in its deft and dynamic characterisation, as Dominick, Remy, and Troy are all deftly portrayed, three-dimensional, with clear, unique voices. Many of the most compelling elements of the novel, then, lie in way their clearly established individual characters and values can create friction between themselves and their world, as well as just in their interactions.
Occasionally, the pacing felt rushed or less than ideal, especially toward the end. It also took me a while to really get into and begin to engage with the book. Finally, I do question the choice to have one of the three central perspectives in first person and the other two in third person. I had hoped that particular choice would become clearer in the end of the novel, but I don’t feel like it added to the novel in any specific way and was distracting.
Ultimately, Foley’s debut is funny, intelligent, and largely unique. Fans of LESS by Andrew Sean Greer and Issa Rae’s INSECURE will find this particularly engaging.
I was provided a proof of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
This novel’s greatest strength lies in its deft and dynamic characterisation, as Dominick, Remy, and Troy are all deftly portrayed, three-dimensional, with clear, unique voices. Many of the most compelling elements of the novel, then, lie in way their clearly established individual characters and values can create friction between themselves and their world, as well as just in their interactions.
Occasionally, the pacing felt rushed or less than ideal, especially toward the end. It also took me a while to really get into and begin to engage with the book. Finally, I do question the choice to have one of the three central perspectives in first person and the other two in third person. I had hoped that particular choice would become clearer in the end of the novel, but I don’t feel like it added to the novel in any specific way and was distracting.
Ultimately, Foley’s debut is funny, intelligent, and largely unique. Fans of LESS by Andrew Sean Greer and Issa Rae’s INSECURE will find this particularly engaging.
I was provided a proof of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Drug use
Minor: Gun violence
dionnesims's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
I genuinely enjoyed every moment of reading this book! Troy, Dominick, and Remy are the quintessential millennial, queer, Blac adult trio. The dialogue felt fresh, the conflicts were relatable, and the questions brought up (and answered) felt so genuine that I found myself nodding along at parts. Can't recommend this more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, and Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent and Rape
Minor: Gun violence and Cancer
More...