Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

The Times I Knew I Was Gay by Eleanor Crewes

12 reviews

booksjessreads's review against another edition

funny inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.25

I really enjoyed this book and found it very relatable for myself in my own journey of figuring out my bisexuality. I thought it was really clearly delivered and the illustrations complemented the writing well. There isn't much that I can say about this really but I think it is really easy to read and enjoy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Eating disorder, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Bullying and Sexism

bootrat's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Eating disorder, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

emilo's review

emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Lesbophobia, and Sexism

james1star's review

hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.0

This was a good, readable and at times relatable graphic memoir (my first in this genre) and I did enjoy it. We follow Ellie Crewes as she recounts her childhood to adulthood and her coming to terms of coming of age and then coming out. As the title suggests, she highlights the certain times she knew she was gay (or more so told herself she wasn’t). 

Personally, I felt that the art style and drawings weren’t really that engaging and didn’t really add all that much to the story - i.e. I could have just read the text and probably had a similar reaction. I think this is mainly due to the simplicity of the drawings, suited more to a children’s book than a YA/adult-targeted audience, lacking emotion at times, quite repetitive and hard to distinguish who certain characters were due to their similarities. This isn’t a dig at Crewes’ talent which is far beyond mine, I just didn’t gain much from the ‘graphic’ elements of this ‘graphic memoir’ - evidently a major part. 

What I did like was how Crewes highlights the idea that coming out to yourself and truly understanding oneself is not a clear linear path. There are ebbs and flows with a general realisation that what you are is just that: what you are. Two parts that stuck out to me was when Ellie came out to her brother, later stating ‘TELLING HIM TURNED OUT TO BE EASIER THAN TELLING MYSELF’ - something I do feel is very relatable. Likewise, ‘I FEARED I HAD MISSED OUT ON WHO I COULD HAVE BEEN HAD I KNOWN EARLIER’ very much resonated with me and probably a lot of queer people having this sense of missing out on things because we had to hide away and/or suppress out true selves. The friendships and familial relationships in this book are nice, progressive and shows the power of unconditional love. I personally didn’t gain all too much from the story but it was well compiled, readable and the MC was very lovable, albeit at times doing things we (and she now) know weren’t what was going to make her happy - but we can’t blame her for this. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Bullying

Minor: Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Eating disorder

storykath's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

A fun and generally lighthearted reflection on the author's coming-out journey. It was lovely to delve into her experiences and to see where my own experiences were similar or different.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Mental illness

brogan7's review

lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

A quick, easy read about the journey to self-understanding which isn't linear and isn't simple.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Bullying, Lesbophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders

aquariusisms's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Sexual content

miss__manga__'s review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

A fast read with a cute style. Feels very homely and honest. Loved it.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

sophafie's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Eating disorder

jessnreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

Is it a queer experience to hide in a library? I'm not sure but perhaps so. I really enjoyed this graphic novel! I loved the illustrations and how they changed a little throughout the book. Everything just felt right whilst I was reading it and I cried and laughed and had a few existential crises but it made me enjoy this book that much more. I don't really know how to put it into words how much I enjoyed this book, I just did...and I may have given it a hug once I finished it too. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, and Body shaming