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

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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! He shows that life begins at whatever age the individual chooses; that we are responsible for our own happiness and that being old doesn’t mean that life is over. 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.

Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out is a very sweet, somewhat predictable but always heartwarming story with an eye-catching cover about two men; elderly gentleman Arthur and his 22 year old grandson Teddy, both of whom are gay and are finding the right moment to come out and live as their true, authentic selves.year-old Arthur Edwards has had to live his whole life a lie, but he’s decided that it’s time to change that fact. He invites his family over to tell them the news… he’s gay. Can his family handle the revelation? Will his friends accept him now he’s out of the closet? Being the eldest of five kids, with parents who are both one of eight and nine respectively, family has always been a huge influence on my life. It was only natural that it would also play a big role in the story I wanted to tell in my first book, Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out.

This story is perfect for you if you love queer romances and are in need of a great book that you’ll finish in no time because of the writing style and story itself. Trigger warnings ⚠️ I could easily see this story being made into Netflix show, it would help so many people going through the same thing, even if you’re the same age as Arthur or Teddy it doesn’t matter as it appeals to all the ages. 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. 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!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐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. It’s a very easy read, even though there are some difficult topics. I’ll mention the trigger warnings below if you want to know. I did notice that at times the story went really fast, and certain things are skipped, which I thought could have been a bit better. And other times, I had the feeling some parts could have been wrapped up a bit sooner. A mediocre execution of a really fun and sweet concept. Not mad I read it but I wish it had been better. Ugh, that cover is so cute! Look at the little grandpa in his pink shirt and bowtie and he's bonding with his grandson over coming out as gay! UGH UGH. A book of two halves. Arthur's story is intensely feelgood in a Matt Cain sort of way, with an octogenarian embracing who he is and getting over the traumas of a lifetime of homophobia. It's perhaps a bit one-note, an exceedingly bright and cheery note where everything goes super well, but given the amount of My Policeman type gay tragedy lit out there, many will embrace this rebalancing of the scales, not to mention the welcome focus on a much older man. His life-enhancing relationship with his wife is a terrific element.

Love gives his protagonists insightful observations and wise words: Arthur tells Teddy “Life is full of sacrifices, Teddy. We’ll make good and bad choices, but we shouldn’t let regrets define us. I’m not perfect, but I hope when I’m not here that the people I love will remember me for the good things and know I did my best for them.” A heart-warming and thought-provoking read. 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. Life is full of sacrifices, Teddy. We'll make good and bad choices, but we shouldn't let regrets define us. I'm not perfect, but I hope when I'm not here that the people I love will remember me for the good things and know I did my best for them. -Arthur

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CW: Suicide, threat of murder, homophobia, gaslighting, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, death of a parent, physical abuse, cancer, addiction, grief, abandonment of a child, abandonment of an elder. The ending was extremely rushed, and Teddy’s romance was so cheesy and predictable that I actually found it off-putting rather than romantic. That’s what I mean when I say that this book makes you feel a lot of things. It makes you think and wonder, it makes you sad, happy, maybe even angry at times, but that rollercoaster of emotions is worth it. quote 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?