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This book has sat in my Amazon basket for ages. Probably since it came out. It’s not my usual thing but the story just sounded so cute. When I also found it on BookBeat, I decided that I would add it my Pride TBR. I figured, at the very least, it would be a charming story to listen to at work. As you would expect, a lot of stories about coming out are full of drama and angst. It’s an experience that is different for everyone but it’s not always a positive experience. Especially when you go further back in time. So, it’s understandable that many books focus on the trauma that can come with the decision. However, it’s also nice to get the alternative view. That way anyone struggling with their sexuality can see that it can be a good thing. I hoped that Arthur and Teddy would be able to show that coming out can be liberating and fulfilling at any age.

I picked this up because I wanted something charming and cute to listen to during Pride month. What could be better than Ryan Love’s story of a grandfather and grandson coming out together? It just sounded so lovely and I couldn’t wait to dive in. The story opens with 79-year-old Arthur Edwards revealing his deepest secret to his family. With the support of his wife, Arthur tells his children that he’s gay. It’s a decision that causes shockwaves throughout his family but it gives his grandson Teddy the courage to do the same. Not long after Arthur’s reveal, Teddy confides in his grandfather that he’s also in the closet. Together, the pair work towards accepting who they are and living freely. Teddy has to work out how to tell the rest of his family. Something that is made more complicated by the arrival of a new man in Teddy’s life. Will this push him into finally coming out himself?

For me, Arthur’s story is way more compelling than Teddy’s. That’s partly because we never get to hear the stories of older gay people. It also helps that it taps into the history of gay people. Arthur was forced into hiding because his father disapproved of his sexuality. He was forced to give up the man he loved, get married and live as a straight man. Arthur has a culture shock once he starts to live freely, but it’s wonderful to see him become more comfortable. I almost wish this had just been Arthur’s story but it did add a sweet layer that he was sharing the experience with his grandson. At 21, Teddy’s experience as a gay man was a bit different to his grandfather’s but he still isn’t ready to fully live in the open. Meeting Ben at his new job, Teddy embarks on his first real relationship with a guy. It’s all going well until Ben starts putting the pressure on him to come out.

That was my main problem with Teddy’s story. Ben starts pushing Teddy to tell his mother so they can be together in public. Nobody in the book ever calls him out on it. It’s absolutely horrendous behaviour to force someone to come out before they’re ready and none of Teddy’s friends stick up for him. In fact, they mostly agree. On the other hand, Arthur has plenty of people in his corner. His wife Madeleine has known about his sexuality since the beginning and has always supported her husband. Their relationship is so positive and I love how close they remain. Then there’s Oscar, who becomes Arthur’s first gay friend. It’s adorable watching the more experienced Oscar showing Arthur what life can be like in the open. I could read a whole book of their adventures together.

This is a lovely story but it doesn’t come without its own share of angst. Arthur’s daughter, Elizabeth, doesn’t respond well to the news and rejects her father. Then there are the people who live in their town. Everyone gossips about Arthur and some of his oldest friends turn their back on them. It goes to show that life hasn’t improved as much as we like to think. There are still plenty of people with outdated attitudes towards sexuality and Ryan Love isn’t afraid to show this. What is so wonderful about this book is that none of that ever stops anyone from being themselves. It shows the strength of the LGBTQ+ community and the relief of being truly yourself. The overall message of this book is that it’s never too late to live your true life.

For me, the ending is a little too cutesy but that’s to be expected. It’s the kind of book this is and I went in knowing how it would end. The point isn’t really about that aspect. It’s about the characters and there are some wonderful characters here. Some of the characters are little one-dimensional and some of the storylines are a little simplistic. I didn’t respond to the younger characters because I don’t think their story added much to the coming-out conversation. If anything, it just took attention away from the more interesting story. Still, it was a sweet and quick read that I did enjoy.