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

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Sich mit 79 für ein Coming Out zu entscheiden ist eine schwere Entscheidung und ihm werden zunächst einige Steine in den Weg gelegt, aber er steht unerschütterlich für sich selbst ein und bleibt dabei immer freundlich und verständnisvoll (selbst an Stellen, bei denen ich beim Lesen am liebsten selber losgebrüllt hätte). After moving into music PR, Ryan worked on campaigns for global superstars including Britney Spears, Shakira, Usher, John Legend and OneRepublic.

The bond between Arthur and Teddy is something that stands out in the book, making their stories well-connected rather than two different elements. Arthur’s 21-year-old grandson, Teddy, has a secret of his own: he’s also gay, and developing serious feelings for his colleague Ben. This was a solid and original debut novel with some gentle humour and sweet moments, and I would happily read more from this author. The second thing, if you’re still here reading this review, was about Elizabeth, Teddy’s mother and Arthur’s daughter. At the end, our little nepo baby oh so magnanimously turns down the job at the newspaper so that Ben can have it!This decision has ramifications in his family and community, but overall the vibe is one of familial support. So this continues, and it’s clear to the reader at least that Ben is struggling with feeling insecure about his job (because Teddy, being a nepo baby, has obviously got the end position all sewn up) and insecure about his relationship (given how much Teddy’s best friend hates him and how Teddy’s always telling Ben to try get along with Shakeel, and never confronting Shakeel about how he’s treating Ben).

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.

This was a remarkable story, with a feel-good ending, but interlaced with the tensions associated with homophobia, small-town thinking and not conforming to what they all think are the norms. A beautiful read…I picked up Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out by Ryan Love to take with me on a weekend away. Except everyone seems to have forgotten about the second trainee, Ben, too excited as they are about nepo baby being there. I suspect this is going to be the dividing factor on whether people like this: are you a reader who wants to see the best in everyone, or do you feel some people need a good kicking? She was probably my least favourite character, and I don't mean that in the sense that she's badly written, no, no, she's very well written, but her character.