Scan barcode
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
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
4.25
Wow is this book full of heart and emotion. A beautifully written story that explores friendship, self-acceptance and -discovery, and grief (in the many facets of life). This is a book I will be thinking about for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
angiimii's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, and Grief
peskilanim's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Homophobia
enter_the_phantom's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
siggyo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying and Vomit
sglance9's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia
mabellene's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Infidelity
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a free audio e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
After being dumped for performing in a dress during the school talent show, Mark feels that he’s too much for someone to love him. With the encouragement of his older brother, Eric, and new crush, Ezra, at the costume store, things might be turning up for him. Yet, Mark realizes that his brother has struggles that he doesn’t know about or what to do to help him. When he wears the dress he got when he first met Ezra, Mark realizes that the dress could help him be how he wants to be seen.
Becoming a Queen is a book that can be full of wit and charm at one point and heart-wrenching at another point. A stellar debut from Clay, this book really dives into themes of loss and self-discovery and that reflects into Mark’s character development. From the first page, I enjoyed having Mark as an MC and I think that his journey with faith, grief, and being who you want to be is really something readers can resonate with.
For the narration, Clay takes the honor as the sole narrator for this 10 hour and 40 minute audiobook that can be easily listened to at 1.25x. While Clay makes a bold choice with doing his own narration for Becoming a Queen, it ultimately works for him. Clay brings about all the laugh out loud and heart-wrenching emotions in this book to life as well as every other emotion in between. Since there are plenty of short chapters, this is an easy-to-listen audiobook that’s perfect for multi-tasking. My only critique of Clay’s narration is to work on creating distinct voices for the female characters.
Nevertheless, I think this is a really good read. If you’re looking for an emotion-filled, queer coming-of-age novel, you are going to love Becoming a Queen.
After being dumped for performing in a dress during the school talent show, Mark feels that he’s too much for someone to love him. With the encouragement of his older brother, Eric, and new crush, Ezra, at the costume store, things might be turning up for him. Yet, Mark realizes that his brother has struggles that he doesn’t know about or what to do to help him. When he wears the dress he got when he first met Ezra, Mark realizes that the dress could help him be how he wants to be seen.
Becoming a Queen is a book that can be full of wit and charm at one point and heart-wrenching at another point. A stellar debut from Clay, this book really dives into themes of loss and self-discovery and that reflects into Mark’s character development. From the first page, I enjoyed having Mark as an MC and I think that his journey with faith, grief, and being who you want to be is really something readers can resonate with.
For the narration, Clay takes the honor as the sole narrator for this 10 hour and 40 minute audiobook that can be easily listened to at 1.25x. While Clay makes a bold choice with doing his own narration for Becoming a Queen, it ultimately works for him. Clay brings about all the laugh out loud and heart-wrenching emotions in this book to life as well as every other emotion in between. Since there are plenty of short chapters, this is an easy-to-listen audiobook that’s perfect for multi-tasking. My only critique of Clay’s narration is to work on creating distinct voices for the female characters.
Nevertheless, I think this is a really good read. If you’re looking for an emotion-filled, queer coming-of-age novel, you are going to love Becoming a Queen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
courtnoodles's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Misadvertised
Rtc
Rtc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Vomit, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, and Medical content
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content
readwithjavi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book broke my heart and then put it back together in the best way possible. I want to review without giving spoilers, so I'll just say it's completely different than what I expected. It starts out fun and almost like a romcom, but goes somewhere much deeper and, for me, more meaningful. I absolutely loved it. Mark is one of my favorite MCs I've ever read. He was anxious and in his own head a lot, and when his heart breaks, mine did too. But then when he found drag and started not only healing himself, but also really just becoming a better human to the people in his life ... I really felt it. I also liked that it was complex. It wasn't: "Oh tragedy strikes and BAM he becomes a fierce queen!" His path felt real. The chapters on grieving especially felt very very true. My favorite was his relationship with Eric, who was super wise (sometimes at the start it felt almost TOO wise), but then we also learn very flawed in his own ways. I really loved it and I finished it a week ago and find myself still thinking about it. That to me is a testament to a good book. One that stays with you and grows with time. It's not even my typical genre but I'm so glad I found it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Grief