I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. And although I really appreciated the rare opportunity to read about queer women in their 70s, there were a lot of things that just didn't sit right with me.
There wasn't a single decent male character. Every single one of them (with maybe one tiny exception) was a homophobic, racist, abusive PoS. There were some parts of the story that felt unrealistic, especially the end. There were parts that sounded like they were taken out from a "Home alone" movie. The relationships between the characters developed too quick and lacked background, lacked build-up. There were attempts to make the narrative sound very <i>"woke"</i> and politicize it by portraying certain complex beliefs as the obviously proper ones for any reasonable person to have according to the author. All of those issues just turned it into a pretty odd mix for me.
I appreciated the good intentions to write a supportive and inclusive book that sheds a light on homophobia and the many ways it can negatively affect the health and well-being of a community that has zero social support.

There must be something I'm missing here, because so many other people seemed to enjoy this book. I got to around 18% before I had to stop. I couldn't see myself finishing the book so I simply just left it there.
I did not like the writing style at all. Something about it wouldn't sit in my head right, and I found the plot / story boring. It just felt flat to me.
I'm sorry I couldn't bring myself to finish it, it just wasn't for me.

An exciting story from beginning to end, The Queering is extremely timely. The local podcaster spouts common tropes about the dangers of the LGBTQ+ community, similar to what anyone can hear daily on the internet and TV. Except the women in this story fight back with a vengeance. So good to see. The friends to lovers story of Taylor and Brooke is beautiful and tragic, affecting Taylor's life for the next 40+ years. Until she summons the courage to tell her story to her family and community, come what may. I loved this book and especially loved Taylor, Grace, Shannon, Maddi, and Brooke.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I love that it's about multiple generations of queer women. It was noted in the text that we never hear about older queer people, so for the protagonist to be a 70 year old lesbian was a nice change of pace. The found family aspect was delightful. I loved how badass Maddi and Shannon were.

What I disliked was immediate. A teacher giving a student a book with graphic sex scenes is inappropriate, point blank. Yes, the author made a point to say that Grace was 18 (more than once), but she was still Taylor's student. If Taylor were a man, he'd be seen as a predator. The whole issue could have been fixed by making Grace a freshman in college. Taylor could have taught a women's lit class. Her being in high school isn't crucial enough to the plot for it to be necessary.

And why was Principal Jackson the only decent man in the whole book? Literally every other living man was a giant PoS.

Overall, I enjoyed the Queering. It was a quick, fun read. The meta of Brooke Skipstone was incredibly interesting, and by the end of the novel, I hardly knew what was fiction (which I believe to be Skipstone's intent).

when i first started reading this book, i was unsure how to feel. i knew the story sounded interesting, but i was unsure of what the story was. some of it felt… a bit on the nose with current events and politics, but it makes sense for the things we see in the news to translate to media. i think it’s a weird time to live in where current events can be written into books so quickly. but it was interesting to watch the story unfold in dual timeline… kind of. the story of the past is told through taylor’s most recent book project, being read by a student and her family. taylor wanted to make sure everything came out her way because she knew her life was at risk.
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now, all of that sounds a bit confusing. because the book is wild from start to finish. every new character added a new personality, a new piece to the puzzle the author is building through the book. and as skeptical as i was about reading it at first, i’m really glad i pushed through because seeing the final piece of the puzzle slot in was so, so worth it.
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if you like badass queer women, taking down the patriarchy, and dislike conservatives, this is a great read for you!
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((I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.))

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book*

I am a bit on the fence about this book. On the one hand, this story of finding queer pride and fighting for one's place in society was quite empowering, gripping, and wholesome. On the other hand, "The Queering" features not a single good male character. While I'm all for female empowerment, I found it quite sad that the only queer main characters were women and that there did not seem to be any queer men, really. All men in this novel were terrible, no helpful allies, nothing, it seemed quite limiting -- I would've liked to see more trans people, non-binary characters, hell even some gay men, give me diversity. I also liked the found family trope but I thought that the relationships between the characters evolved way too fast and were quite unrealistic overall. The main character also did not feel like a 70yo grandmother to me, she felt much younger. In addition, the novel tries too much, it sometimes reads like the draft of a novel that still needs to be expanded and filled with details,background story. But it was also very gripping, the narrative situation really forces the reader to keep reading in order to find out why this grandma is afraid of being killed by her brother because of something that happened 48 years ago. In contrast, I would really be interested in somebody with a background in law to look at this novel because especially the climax / ending felt unrealistic. I liked the meta aspects of a writer assuming a pen name on the narrative level and then Brooke Skipstone being the pen name of the actual author of the novel itself. Fun twits.

3.5 stars

This book was unlike anything I could have expected. It was heartbreaking yet uplifting. I came away with a haunting feeling that slowly subsided after a few days.

Thank you to Skipstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This was an incredible read that was so fresh and original and I just couldn't put it down. It is well written with a riveting storyline that was constantly engaging there was never a time hen I felt like it slipped or lulled. The characters are incredibly well developed and I felt like I was right there with them.
This book had everything from stereotyping, prejusdice, discrimihnation, homophobia, romance, drama, family dynamics, family drama and so much more that made this for emotive reading at times but also made this book what it is. I loved it,

[First of all: Massive thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for letting me read this book pre-publishing.]

I really enjoyed this story. It made me curious from the very start, which shortly but brilliantly introduces the plot and main characters, one of them named after the author - which I hadn‘t encountered like this before.

I would categorize The Queering as a queer feminist story for mature readers. It’s about the protagonist’s life story: A lesbian woman who lost the love of her life, who then moved on through marrying a man and hiding her true identity. Many years later she decides to write and publish books in her lost love‘s name and finds her life change forever. That is where the book sets in, following her journey seeking freedom. I found it refreshing to have a 70 year old grandmother as a main character, who was still so incredibly badass and relateable. (Nevertheless though she felt rather young.) The Queering is an empowering story full of tragedy, rejection, hate, love support and friendship. There is family drama, romance, politics, and even some crime mystery.

The main characters were very likeable and easy to connect with. I felt for Taylor & Brooke and enjoyed the way their love story was told through embedded narrative. They are realistic and wholesome despite or especially because of the unsupportive circumstances they grew up in. The author further managed to create beautiful characters and friendships you wish you had yourself. I do need to say though that I think they evolved a little too quickly, which made some parts a bit unrealistic if you really thought about it. But I still enjoyed them.

The antagonists on the other hand were truly despiseable and their awful mindsets clearly exposed as such. Through the way they are portrayed there is no doubt in the reader‘s mind who the bad guys are and why they‘re wrong. I consider that very essential to a book that contains such a large amount of homophobic content. Slight trigger warnings may nevertheless be appropriate because of potential similarities in people‘s real lives. Some of the characters are gaslighting, narcissistic, violent individuals who oppress their family members and successfully twist the truth for their anti-queer endeavors.

Besides, one critique I‘d like to add and have seen in other people‘s reviews as well, is the lack of kind male characters. The whole town was essentially homophobic and most men oppressive. I would have liked to see a more adequate representation of the fact that there are also some good men out there. Feminism or similar movements tend to have that blind spot which I hope we can put back into balance.

I loved the author’s storytelling and writing style, and was positively surprised and intrigued by the unfolding story. It was impossible to put down. Despite its intensity at times, it still somehow felt like an easy read. Brooke presented such a beautiful way of combining fiction with real life circumstances. I believe and hope that many queer folks will feel heard, understood and empowered through this story. And that is exactly what we need more of.

A 70-year-old grandmother and author is afraid of being killed by her brother after his release from prison. No one in her family knows of his existence or that she writes lesbian romances. She doesn’t want to die by his hand without her story being known. Taylor Baird MacKenzie hopes that someone in her community and family will read her autobiography about her relationship with Brooke Skipstone and help her avoid her brother’s revenge.

This book is impossible to put down. The characters are beautifully realized, and the conflict is ever-present. Besides the touching romances, family drama, and bad-ass Alaskan women, this book delves into current politics, including the new war against the LGBTQ+ community. Here’s an excerpt:

“We need to eliminate the mindset that being straight is normal, and we’re abnormal. I’ve lived most of my life believing that shit, and I won’t allow you to do the same. You girls are better human beings because you’ve broken free from the continual pressure to fit into stereotypes.”

“Compulsory heterosexuality,” Shannon said.

“Exactly,” Taylor agreed with a firm nod. “Girls are socialized from babies to adults to believe women have a natural preference for relationships with men. And guess why?”

“So they’ll believe they need men,” Grace said.

This story will make you laugh, cry, and think.

A story spanning decades of time, fueled by loss and love, The Queering is a totally unique read that I could not put down. Taylor Baird McKenzie, a high school teacher in her seventies with a husband and grandchildren, has some big secrets. She writes queer fiction under a pen name, something nobody in her small Alaskan town knows except for her student Grace. She sees a lot of herself in Grace, a young lesbian under the thumb of an ignorant and dangerous father.

Secrets, first loves, and cruel patriarchal structures weave their way throughout the two timelines in which this story is told. Back in the seventies, Taylor was once a young woman in love with her best friend Brooke coming to terms with how the world saw and treated relationships like theirs. In the present, she gets a second chance at life when she finds a group of queer ladies who want to help in protecting each other against the cruel men in their lives who insist on what they’re doing is wrong.

The Queering is a beautiful story of hope and exactly the kind of YA Fiction that the genre needs more of. The characters are captivating and well-written, their stories full of heartbreak, romance, bravery, and finding places where they fit in the world.

What. A. WILD. Ride.

I was not expecting any of this when I requested the book! It is a story of revenge, murder, mystery, love, exploring sexuality and gender, lies, and heart-pounding moments.

This felt like a real-life mystery podcast but looking back at someone who is still alive. We know what happened but the reader's family doesn't. I was completed hooked this entire story.

I was expecting a story based on finding yourself and I got that and SO much more! If you like mystery, thriller, romance and LBTQA+ books, this is everything wrapped into one!

Brooke Skipstone’ writing style is intriguing, one of a kind. She started chapter one with this: “No one in the world is actually named Brooke Skipstone.” This is a fantastic hook, and it caught my attention immediately. At first I was a bit confused, but I continued reading because I wanted to know more.

Chapter one sets the tone for the story as the main character, Taylor Baird Mackenzie, is introduced. Taylor is a high school substitute teacher who writes secretly under the pen name Brooke Skipstone, in remembrance of her lover, who died almost fifty years prior. Taylor has been writing lesbian liberation and coming of age books, something unexpected for someone her age, especially one that is married to a man. She has kept the secret for years, but the truth was finally coming out slowly.

Taylor’s student, Grace, approaches her and reveals that she knew her secret. Grace inquired about Taylor’s life, and Taylor shares a bit of the story with her. Taylor shares her unfinished story with Grace and, through Grace reading the book, we were able to learn more about Taylor’s relationship with Brooke and more about her homicidal brother, Austin, who wants her death.

I really don’t want to get into the story beyond this point, because I want this fascinating piece of art to unfold like magic right before your eyes, as it did mine. Just read the book and enjoy the story for yourself. I will add that this book was fun to read. I loved the suspense and mystery throughout the story. The concept of a story within a story was very appealing to me. What I love most is that the author managed to wrap me around her finger, having me question whether this book is a work of fiction or reality..

Highly recommend!

The Queering by Brooke Skipstone

Thank you Netgalley and Skipstone publishing for an arc for an unbiased review.

If asked to try to describe the book in one word my answer would be; riveting.

This book opens with a story that immediately grabbed my attention, and it didn't let go until I'd finished the book. Actually that isn't truly accurate, because after I finished it I was still thinking about it, so it still had me gripped even after the last page.

Think of this of a coming of age story, but in two completely separate decades and ways, but for the same person.
The one who might've lived a more authentic life had things turned out differently when they were younger, to someone who as a 70 year old Grandmother, decides to open up that authentic life in perhaps the most public way possible. Doing so isn't without its own dangers. Add in a vengeful brother and a homophobic podcaster, and you've got just the right amount of intrigue.
Those last few paragraphs of the book though were so joyful and heartening.

The writing was such that it gave voice to each character, so you deeply cared about the ones you needed to, dislike or ambivalence towards others. It showed realism on your fears, is both funny and tragic, joyous and sad, but most of all - riveting.

This book is surely deserving of a wider audience. While it is LGBTQIA in nature, it has a lot many can take from the pages, and that for me is always a sign of great writing.

A book I will surely read again, gift out and recommend to others.
5/5 stars 🌟 easily given.

I loved the way the book is written, addictive and quick to read. It handles real topics specially about the LGBTQ+ community. Taylor’s fear and frustration could be felt at every moment as well as happiness and love. We also have a bit of mystery and revenge in this book.

I really like that the characters are gray. They made mistakes. You get to feel a connection with them and understand the sacrifices and the things they had to hide in their past.

My favorite part was the excerpts from Brooke's biography, I also really liked the bond that Taylor and Grace managed to form through the pages. Maddie and Grace were so sweet. And Shannon, she’s the best Gram.

This story is about overcoming and the grays in life. About family and love. Of growth and acceptance. Of how there’re still prejudices, homophobia, ignorance towards people of the LGBTQ+ community. But it also teaches us about fighting for our happiness, being proud and loving ourselves, as well as having hope for a better future for the new generations.

Highly recommended, with many important quotes I really love like this one:

“You girls are better human beings because you’ve broken free from the continual pressure to fit into stereotypes.”

I know I’ll remember Taylor, Brooke and Grace for a long time. And I’ll probably come back to this story many times in the future.

The Queering by Brooke Skipstone is a beautiful coming-of-age story.

Such a wonderful book! I was eager to start this one.
Skipstone's writing was phenomenal and captivating.
The book provides a roller coaster of emotions. I was so engaged throughout.
The characters are well protrayed and very well developed.
A wonderful story is full of drama, heartache, humor, and hope.
I loved Taylor and her story.
Will Taylor find the courage she's been searching for?!
This book is full of heart and it shines through in her characters and every sentence.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Skipstone Publishing,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

Taylor Baird and Brooke had feelings for one another and had only recently begun their romantic relationship. But their beautiful moments together would be cut short abruptly. It was 1974, and they were on their way to Oregon to search for new job opportunities. Brooke's death left Taylor devastated and broken. In recent years, she suffered yet another tragedy when death robbed her of her daughter, causing the wounds she had suffered so long ago to resurface. Taylor tries her hardest to find a reason to live. Her only escape is writing, and she has won several author awards. She writes intricate family sagas and novels about lesbian liberation, using a pen name because of concerns about what would happen if her family found out about her sexual orientation. Worse, after 48 years in prison, her brother has been released and is looking for her, possibly to harm her. Will Taylor continue to suffocate to conceal the source of her greatest happiness? To find out, pick up a copy of Brooke Skipstone's The Queering: The Life and Death of Brooke Skipstone.

Although I initially didn't believe this was my vibe, I was completely drawn in by the author's writing style. She made a wise and original title choice that effectively conveys the main idea of her narrative without giving too much away. This book explores the true definition of love, which I appreciated, and the friendship everyone deserves. Brooke Skipstone did a fantastic job with character development. All the cast are well-portrayed, with distinct personalities that will pique your interest. Taylor was my favorite character. Despite the loss and heartbreak, I admired her determination to face her fears and rewrite her song with a better melody. The author succeeds in promoting attitudes that encourage us not to be afraid or ashamed of who we are and what we are happy to be. The Queering deserves a wide readership, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

From friends to lovers, but only for two days before a tragic death. Then 48 years of keeping secrets from her husband and kids and eventually grandkids. Until Taylor Baird MacKenzie receives notice that her brother will be released from prison in February. It is now March, and Taylor is afraid he will kill her and no one will know why.

What does she do? Purposely blow her cover as an author of lesbian romances. And write a book about her last days with Brooke Skipstone. And hope a miracle happens in a small, conservative town in Alaska where a homophobic podcaster is eager to spew hate toward Taylor and blame her for the Queering of America.

But Taylor finds allies and friends, and maybe even another lover at age seventy.

Such a good story of murder, revenge, courage, and the possibility of open, joyous, queer love.

This story pulls you in from the first line and never lets you go. No one is named Brooke Skipstone? But she’s the author, isn’t she? We learn that Brooke was best friends with Taylor Baird in college before they graduated in 1974. Tragically, Brooke died during the trip to Oregon to take theatre jobs–two days after becoming Taylor’s lover.

This story is told through a book within a book, one which Taylor writes in 2022 to explain her past and current situation to her family and community. Why? Because her brother has just been released from prison and wants to kill her.

When the local Alex Jones wannabe, homophobic podcaster learns that Taylor has written several lesbian romances under the pen name Brooke Skipstone, he turns her into a pariah who must be stopped. The problem is, this podcaster has secrets of his own.

The story is riveting, funny, sexy, tragic, and joyous.

I....I really wanted to like this one. I love the idea of it? The plot absolutely screams to me. Just something about it made it hard for me to read, it reminded me of fanfiction.