Disclaimer: I hope I got the title correct, if not blame Google!
The book Bad Queer will make you think. Author, Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, makes a lot of things happen all at once. On one level things are familiar as this is nothing more than a coming of age story. This is a story where we all can relate to such issues as situations with family, friendships and possible lovers. But there is more to things on top of that. It is also a queer person’s awakening to be themselves and to be their own best advocate. And not just an advocate for themselves, but with their family, friendships and beyond. They will also come to an understanding of their families past, present and future. They will see how their culture was erased, recreated and in the end, them reclaiming the parts that were always meant to be.
I read this via an online reader copy. It is due June 2026. I had a lot of emotions when reading. Sometimes I liked the characters, sometimes I disliked them. Sometimes at the same time. I was not sure how some people would react, others were very clear. There was a lot going on. I found myself asking questions, realizing things I never thought of, wondering if things could have been done differently. You might learn a few things, question a few things, maybe not even agree. But regardless, you will have a reading experience. In the end, this is a very personal story for the author, the characters that come alive on the page and each reader. 
Included are references you can use to learn more about the subject and a reading list of the main character. Triggers include (but not limited to) family trauma, the grandfather’s dementia and misgendering.
