Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out: The uplifting, feel-good read of 2023

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Arthur and Madeline’s relationship was beautiful, and I found myself wishing that all of Arthur And Teddy Are Coming Out was about them. I didn’t so much care for Teddy and Ben, and oblivious Teddy’s friend who has the hots for him. I’ve got high hopes that we’ll see more stories like Arthur’s in future – late-in-life coming out is an underexplored area in queer literature, IMHO. Until then, I suppose at least younger readers will (probably) enjoy the Teddys and Bens of the fictional world. The feel-good read of 2023. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, Beth O'Leary and Alice Oseman's Heartstopper. When 79-year-old Arthur Edwards gathers his family together to share some important news, no one is prepared for the bombshell he drops: he's gay, and after a lifetime in the closet, he's finally ready to come out. Arthur’s grandson Teddy also has a secret… the same secret in fact. But is he ready to take the same step as his grandad, or is one bombshell in the family enough? Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out is a debut novel by Ryan Love. The story opens with Arthur, Teddy’s 79-year-old grandfather, coming out to his children. Teddy has a secret of his own: he’s also gay… Ryan shares a few words below. I really enjoyed this book it was so easy to read and I think it will appeal to the younger readers because it’s got a modern vibe too it.

Covering around a year of their lives, it's full of interesting twists, characters that really pull you in, and a brilliantly crafted plot. I found myself gasping more than once, laughing at some parts and feeling emotional during others. This story is hard to put down once you get going. It's also perfectly paced - I didn't feel bored at all while reading it, and every part seemed to move the story forward. 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.Too often, queer literature is enjoyed only by the LGBT+ community, but this is a novel ready to be loved by the masses.' Arthur’s grandson, Teddy, is also learning to embrace his sexuality. They are both beautifully written characters, both vulnerable and relatable in their own ways. You can’t help falling in love with Teddy and Arthur. The two POVs weave perfectly throughout and the supporting cast of characters (especially Oscar and Madeleine) are expertly crafted. The multiple relationship threads running through the story come together beautifully at the end and the book is a joy to read from start to finish!' An] absolute delight of a novel. Life-affirming, warm and so full of love.' Chloe Timms, author of The Seawomen

What an absolutely beautiful book! Dealt with sensitive subjects really, really well and brilliantly descriptive characters.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Despite the story being a little twee, I really enjoyed it and I would recommend it if you're looking for a comforting read that will tug at your heartstrings. While some of the characters show bigotry towards Arthur and Teddy, most show only love, support and compassion to them as they embark on a new chapter of their lives. This book exudes happiness, wholesomeness and inclusion. It tells the story of a grandfather and grandson both grappling with the coming out process and the prejudices that still exist in our society. But there is so much more here....excellently well thought out family and friendship dynamics and a bit of a subversion of expectations when it comes to happy endings. For me, the hero of this story is Madeline, who was the epitome of grace and forgiveness. Maybe more focus could have been put on her, but ultimately this wasn't her story. Every single character in this books brings something special to the story, be it positive or negative. What I liked most about the book was that the characters were well fleshed out and the relationships were believable: the friendship between Teddy and Shakeel and of course the relationship between Teddy and Arthur as the duality of their coming out stories unfolds.The story follows Arthur, a 79 year old, who finally decides to come out of the closet to his family. His grandson, Teddy, is also gay but doesn’t feel ready to come out due to the reactions following his grandfather’s coming out. Arthur and Teddy have always been close, and now they must navigate first loves, heartbreak, and finding their place in their community. Teddy's story was less successful for me, in that he's a nepo baby who gets upset whenever anyone less privileged dares point out that he's benefiting unfairly from flagrant and overt nepotism, and also a terrible self-centred boyfriend. It's been a while since I read a story where we're asked to sympathise with the nepo baby over the guy who had to work for his job. Super-cute, super-accessible, and suffused in the cheering truth that there’s no age limit to finding love and living free, Ryan Love’s Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out tells a heart-warming story of a grandfather and grandson who decide to come out. While it doesn’t shirk from presenting homophobia at its most shattering, this is, above all, a charming feel-good novel that brims with family drama and the warm-hearted glow of following your heart. In fact, through its easy-to-read, relatable style and loveable lead characters, this story wears its heart loud and proud on its sleeve.

Arthur and Teddy have always been close, and now they must navigate first loves, heartbreak, and finding their place in their community. But can they – and their family – learn to accept who they truly are? Though the road has plenty of bumps, with painful past experiences of homophobia related by Arthur, and prejudice still having devastating effects in the present, this is a wonderfully romantic tale of two men finding their way to fabulously fresh new lives, with support from loved ones. Teddy is a privileged, self-absorbed, incredibly unreflected ass who spends most of his time complaining about the fancy journalism traineeship is very established (and terrible) mother 'forced' upon him - you're 21, asshole, if you don't want the job leave it to someone who does I have read a lot of queer fiction, but I have never come across anything that gives the perspective of someone who is 79 years old and has been in the closet their entire life. Mixed with the story of a young person coming to terms with their own sexuality, this book hit close to home and is, to me, an extremely important piece of queer literature. The story is told in alternating chapters of Arthur and Teddy. This is a book which will appeal to everyone.This is a book firmly in the 'feel-good modern novel about someone finding themselves with a side of romance' genre, with the intergenerational element that many of these books have thrown in as well. Each chapter alternates between Arthur and Teddy's perspectives, which works well, and you get the expected range of side characters who mostly all turn out to be good people as this is meant to be a happy book (the somewhat of a villain character was very obvious from the start, as you might expect). The bond between Arthur and Teddy is something that stands out in the book, making their stories well-connected rather than two different elements. I was excited when I saw this late-in-life coming out story since there aren't many of those out there. But unfortunately I didn't find the story itself as colorful, vibrant and full of promise as the beautiful cover. Sometimes, I simply don't know where to start when writing a review. "Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out" is a book that makes you feel a lot of things. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book, it's just that the story is sad, but also endearing and, at the same time, it makes you wonder why some people can't accept others the way they are. When 79-year-old Arthur Edwards gathers his family together to share that he's gay, and after a lifetime in the closet, he's finally ready to come out.

Generally, the handful of women in this are flat clichés. Elizabeth is the 'career obsessed bitch'. Teddy's other best friend Lexi is a quirky straight girl without a personality beyond going out for drinks with her two ✨gay best friends✨ and complaining about being single.. The feel-good read of 2023. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, Beth O’Leary and Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper. Takes approximately 1-3 working days to arrive, (but can take longer during busy periods like bank holidays or Pride Month)

But don’t worry! At the end, our little nepo baby oh so magnanimously turns down the job at the newspaper so that Ben can have it! How civic-minded of him! Recommended Reads about Race, Racism, and Demarginalizing History - Necessary Non-fiction You Should Read for Life-changing Insights and Impact