I have yet to see the new Queer Eye, but it has been on my to-watch list for a really long time. I was sort of familiar with the cast, but I didn’t know their names until many of them were listed as releasing memoirs this year.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, and read about 20% of it. I then requested it from the library in order to hold the book in my hands, because some books are just faster for me to read when I can touch them.

I was right: I finished the other 80% of this book in one afternoon. It was an extremely fast-paced read, and honestly a lot of it felt redundant. For example, Tan would make a statement in one sentence, and then in the next paragraph say basically the same exact thing but just reworded. I can tell that obviously he was trying too hard to meet a word quota.

The book’s timeline was also scattered, but I really enjoyed the relationship development between him and his husband. Their love story was so incredible and I loved how he explained his intense dedication to their relationship. However, it felt like the timeline would go from current day, to a memory, to current day, to a memory – all in a few paragraphs. It also felt like even though that’s probably not how it happened, it sounded like he invested money and then BOOM he was flying to China to develop samples of his clothing line. He portrayed that as anyone could take $20,000 and instantly start developing their own clothing line. I know that it is not realistic though and that probably wasn’t how his experiences actually unfolded. Also, I didn’t quite understand how he was chosen to audition for the show; it seemed like he was randomly chosen to audition based on the writing.

Now, I am not aware of Tan’s mental health history. But, one chapter went from how he was working so hard on his businesses to him stating that he sincerely was considering suicide. I know that everyone’s mental health experiences are different, but the writing itself went from one end of the spectrum to the other, quickly and without a real explanation. I am not trying to invalidate his feelings, but the writing itself did not make it absolutely clear what was happening during this time period. This is where he could have taken some of these sentences that were repetitive and expanded on his mental health experiences. As for the writing style, it constantly seemed random and stories seem to appear out of nowhere.

If you are looking for a book where you can spend an afternoon with one of your favorite cast members from the show, then this is the book for you. Or, if you are looking for a new perspective from a person you have not necessarily heard of, then you are on the right track to spending an afternoon with a new and unique voice in media.

I am going to watch some episodes of Queer Eye and then perhaps I’ll update this with a more informed review. I’m looking forward to diving into the memoirs of the other cast members, and overall I give this memoir 3 out of 5 stars.

🌟🌟🌟 Naturally Tan by Tan France
I received a free egalley of this book #netgalley in exchange for an honest review. (I don’t tag authors in negative reviews because it feels mean-spirited.) I was disappointed by this book. There were many times when I wanted to DNF. It feels two different books that an editor smushed together. One was a poignant and compelling story about facing adversity as a queer, brown, Muslim. The second was a collection of fashion advice meant to draw on Queer Eye fame. The former felt open-minded and honest while the latter felt judgey and forced.

ADORED this book, though that's no surprise given how much I love Tan France. His writing was easy to read yet thoughtful. It was eye-opening to read about Tan's upbringing to become the man he is today and a memoir that I will definitely recommend to my friends!

I love this. And him.

I got this as an ARC (Thanks Netgalley!) but then stopped reading the ARC when I heard Tan was narrating the audiobook, because I couldn't pass up that opportunity, so I pressed paused for a little bit until I got my hands on the audiobook. This is definitely a book to listen to, because hearing him read it (and the bonus features with Antoni when he drops by) is so worth it.

Hearing/reading him speaking so openly about the challenges he faced as a kid, and also how humble he is after his Queer Eye success was inspirational on many levels.

I'm a big fan on Tan on Queer Eye and his other AV appearances, however I felt that the writing in Naturally Tan fell flat and were at many times stilted. There was a lot of repetition in his points, in his language (which felt vulgar and way too casual sometimes), and at times his voice felt VERY preachy which kept throwing me off. If you already love Tan, this may not be a must-read

Tan’s book is a great insight into his life. Emotional, funny and poignant stories are filled in this book. I loved the insight into his rise to fame with Queer Eye. I also really liked hearing about his growing up in England and how his journey was. Such a great memoir.

I'm a huge fan of Netflix's popular show, Queer Eye, and knew I had to read this book!

I loved learning about Tan's life before the show from growing up in a Muslim family in England to discovering his passion for clothing and fashion to living in Salt Lake City, Utah. The book made me laugh and warmed my heart. I laughed when he described first encountering Antoni (I definitely recommend the audio version as well since Antoni makes an appearance). He had powerful pieces of advice that, as someone in their twenties, I appreciated so much. I loved when he talked about the bad jobs he had and how he dealt with horrible bosses.

It was also so fun to read about his friendship with the rest of the Fab Five.

However, I didn't really like how he sometimes talked about his criticisms about people who wear clothing he doesn't deem fashionable. That's the only negative thing I have to say because overall, this was a wonderful memoir!

I was honored to have a starred version of this review run in the June 28th Stonewall anniversary issue of Shelf Awareness, a one-time-only-all-queer-books-all-the-time sort of deal. This version is republished here with permission.

As a gay, Muslim, South Asian boy from South Yorkshire, Tan France grew up with a multitude of conflicting emotions. Sure of himself and "weirdly world wise" from watching mature television dramas, France faced racism and homophobia that left him doubting whether his differences would ever be accepted. He fantasized about "being a white kid," and pretended to "give a shit about watching football on TV when I clearly just wanted to watch reruns of Golden Girls and hang on the lanai, eating cheesecake with those broads."

In Naturally Tan, a thoughtful memoir full of attitude, heart and bravado, France shares how he became one of the "Fab Five"--a handful of design, fashion and culture experts who transform everyday "heroes" on the Netflix series Queer Eye. A "very few fucks given" kind of guy with an affinity for personal style, France forged a path to success at a young age, building several wildly successful fashion brands by his 30s.

France has a knack for straight talk peppered with feistiness and humor, and his conversational style makes for an entertaining read. Naturally Tan is a series of short, contemplative pieces on sexuality, diversity, media, celebrity, marriage and business that deftly mix in anecdotes and tips on fashion, dating and life. One of few South Asians on "such a grand stage," France is constantly referred to as "the gay, British Muslim." Despite the pressures and labels, he has learned how to be visible and shine as his refreshingly and unapologetically authentic self.

STREET SENSE: A fun, heartfelt and informative memoir from one of the Queer Eye experts that shares his personal history through entertaining, candid essays on fashion and life. Queer Eye has turned into something different than it was, and while the "old" version was fun, this one is more inclusive (gay men, lesbians, straight women, anyone can be nominated) and is all about helping the "heroes" feel good about themselves in ways that are unique to them, not necessarily what is thought to be mainstream or "proper." I admit it, I've shed a tear.

A FAVORITE PASSAGE: It's almost impossible to top the Golden Girls on a lanai, so I went with something a bit more serious:

Straight people love to ask, “When did you know you were gay?” Maybe some people do have an epiphany. I am not that person. For me, when somebody asks me this question, it’s the same as someone asking, “When did you know you were a boy?” or “When did you realize you were a human?” Because I breathe. I’ve always known. It sounds cliché, but I never had that Oprah aha moment. I always knew that women weren’t for me. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve always loved women, in that I wanted to surround myself with females, and they are the people who have molded who I’ve become, but there was never a time when I thought it was a viable option for my romantic future. I also never thought that a man was not an option. Even when I was very young, I assumed I would get married one day and it would be to a man. Why wouldn’t it be so? It was men I was attracted to and loved, so it stood to reason that I would eventually marry one.

COVER NERD SAYS: Nothing to complain about here. It's simple and straight-forward with a nice palette. You're know what you're getting when you see it. Also, I could really use the Queer Eye treatment, but even *I* know that's a great suit and awesome hair. The gray tee I've got covered.

This book shows so many sides of Tan and makes him feel so real. At times you read a chapter and go, “damn, Tan, that’s petty.” While at others you sit back and go, “why is Tan so precious??”

That all helped me appreciate the book more because it wasn’t just showing us the bright and happy spots of Tan’s life, but created a more well rounded picture of Tan as a person.

And, of course, you can’t go wrong having Tan’s voice in your ear for 7 hours.

This was a really interesting look into Tan France’s life, and I like that it was also peppered with fashion tips and tricks throughout as well. It was nice to hear the story of how Queer Eye came to be and how it has affected Tan and his life. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

I'm not one who is big on reading memoirs. I'm a fiction only kinda gal. But, once in a blue, blue moon, I find myself reading a memoir......and falling in love. That's what I did with Naturally Tan. Tan France took me on a journey of fashion, life, and just plain fun. The title's of his chapters, the way he pulled me into the book, the way he made me look a life in a whole new picture, was incredible. I am very happy to say that this is a 4 star worthy book and I highly recommend it.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

What a refreshing read! This felt like Tan was a friend and just having a casual conversation with a bud. I enjoyed how he weaved in his personal life story with fashion advice. It flowed well and was a nice change of pace when each section swapped off. There is so much more to Tan, the person, other than just what we see on TV and this book showed that. I think I would have loved it on audiobook as well, because his accent is perfection. Super easy read and one I will recommend to friends!

This book was pretty much what I expected. Tan discusses growing up and what brought him to Queer Eye. I particularly loved the chapters in which he talks about his husband. It is obvious how much he loves him and was very sweet to read. The writing wasn't the strongest, but I still love him all the same.

eARC provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I really hate the idea of rating memoirs, so let's ignore my star rating for now.

Queer Eye is one of my favorite shows, perhaps even of all time. I was so excited for the release of Tan's book this year to get my fill before season 4 airs. I really loved the personal anecdotes and the voice Tan France shares in this book. However, there was just one thing that didn't make it a #1 hit for me and that stuck with me. The number one thing was the repetition of some major points. It kind of threw me off because of the structure of the book - but that might just be a personal thing that might make some others love it! However it was just something that kept frustrating me and taking away from my personal experience.

As a whole, I liked this - and definitely recommend it if you're a fan of the show and of Tan!

Tan is my favorite of the Fab Five and I was so excited to learn more about his life. The book was very engaging and a very quick read. Despite thinking I'm pretty good at dressing myself on my own, I immediately started subtly changing my style to reflect his tips. On the memoir side, I would have liked to learn more about how he and his husband work their different religious faiths into their marriage but I can also see that that might be something he would prefer to keep private. In all, I can say that the book showed me that Tan is exactly as cool as I thought he was and has me very much looking forward to the next season of Queer Eye.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "Naturally Tan" by Tan France. I really loved the quirky tips Tan gave throughout the book. Overall, it was an an average read for me. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. The random cursing and slang terms that were sprinkled everywhere throughout the book made me not take the book very seriously. I also felt there were a lot of things that kept being repeated through the chapters. I love the Queer Eye show on Netflix which prompted me to request this book.

I’m a huge fan of Queer Eye and especially of Tan. I did enjoy this book but for some reason I did not love it. Probably because the way the book just ends. I enjoyed reading about Tan’s background and how he’s become the person he is today. And I found it reassuring that someone who portrays himself as so confident also has self doubt at times.

Of the Queer Eye hosts, I've always felt the most drawn to Tan, so I loved learning more about him and his life. His wit and snark came through, but he also conveyed genuine emotion really well (especially in how he describes his relationship with Rob). I would have enjoyed learning more about his childhood, but I really appreciated how he described how his childhood and cultural upbringing affected how he operates as an adult.

As a fan of Queer Eye, I was super excited about this memoir. I love how the Fab Five see the beauty in everyone, and I was intrigued to know more about Tan's own journey.

This memoir was a fun, easy read and Tan's voice was very distinct in the writing. Though he has faced many challenges, he keeps his tone upbeat. The happy parts made me smile and laugh; the harder parts made me respect him so much more.

Tan fans will not be disappointed by this memoir. He covers racial and sexual identity, growing up South Asian and gay, raised in South Yorkshire in a traditional Muslim family; school life; his early realisation of his interest in fashion; relationships; his unconventional career path and experience on Queer Eye, including the audition process, how the opportunity came upon him, and insecurities; and fashion tips, of course.

This memoir is by Tan France, who is the fashion expert on the new Netflix version of Queer Eye. I'm a big fan of the show and I enjoy celebrity memoirs so I thought I'd check this one out. Most chapters are very loosely organized around a particular piece of clothing, but mostly he's just telling his life story in roughly chronological fashion, along with the occasional fashion or life tip. So we have everything from what it was like growing up a Muslim Pakistani in England, figuring out his career and love life, and then eventually getting cast on Queer Eye. He comes off as very relatable and down to earth, much like he does on the show, though with more cursing than I expected. I think the parts about his childhood are actually the best, but I enjoyed that he did talk about making the show and what it's like to become famous - I feel like a lot of celebrity memoirs talk a lot about their pre-fame life but then get kind of vague after that. Not a must-read, but if you are a fan of the show, then you would enjoy this. 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.