The descriptive bit: Yay! You’re Gay! Now What? by Riyadh Khalaf is a book for young queer guys. It covers pretty much everything you might want to know, including things you may not have even thought of! This book is a great resource for young people and it’s written by someone who has been through it! What makes this book different is the personal insight from Riyadh
My thoughts bit: I have been watching Riyadh on YouTube for years. He is honest and straight-forward, he’s hilarious, unapologetic and talented. On his channel, he has always shared personal details about his life that have helped people to realize they aren’t alone. This book is an extension of that sharing that Riyadh has always done.
This book has a chapter on pretty much anything you might wonder about if you’re a young queer man (and I would venture to say that a lot of it is relevant regardless of gender or orientation). You can read about coming out, developing crushes, telling friends, dating, sex, the queer community, bullying, and so many more useful things.
Physically, the book is a delight! The colours are vibrant (much like Riyadh!) and there are some great photos. It’s the kind of book that is fun to read despite being about some really life-changing subjects.
Throughout this book, Riyadh shares stories from his own life and experience. It’s this personal touch, complete with Riyadh’s candor and sense of humor that truly makes this book such a helpful tool. Interspersed with chapters full of useful information, there are notes from famous queer role models, and from everyday folks.
This book was a joy to read and very educational. While the focus is on those in the UK – I feel as though the information in this book could be helpful to anyone anywhere. The contact information included at the back of the book provides some great resources for people living around the world.
The video below is one of my very favourites from Riyadh’s channel and I’m including it in this review because it needs to be seen.
I received an ARC of this Yay! You’re Gay! Now What? by Riyadh Khalaf from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Childrens via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Kinzie Things 