I loved the idea of this book, but honestly I just never really got into it. I loved Arther and thought his half of the story was great. His plot was so inspiring and I loved his backstory and development throughout the book.

Teddy on the other hand, I thought his character came off as so entitled. I wish he had a better ending.

Thank you to Ryan Love, Harper 360, and NetGalley for sending me this book as an ARC. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

It isn’t often you see a double coming out story, particularly one that spans generations like this one. What’s beautiful about Arthur & Teddy Are Coming Out is that it isn’t just a story about the titular characters’ queer identities, but it’s also about their personal journeys as individuals and their family relationships. In fact, family plays a major role in the story, and really shapes how both characters move through the world and how they both approach their coming out journeys.

The story brings us on both Arthur’s and Teddy’s journeys simultaneously, alternating between 79 year-old Arthur announcing his newly-uncovered sexual identity to his family, and 21 year-old Teddy, who is not yet ready to share his. It’s interesting that it is the younger Teddy who is not ready to come to terms with his sexual identity, rather than Arthur; I appreciated that the author didn’t take the stereotypical approach and have the older generation here be the one to be afraid to embrace their true self.

Teddy’s relationship with his grandfather is perhaps one of my favorite aspects of the story. It’s tender, genuine, and multi-dimensional. While Teddy was often frustrating as a character, perhaps due to his young age and naive, sometimes spoiled attitude, it was Arthur’s patience, and deep love for his grandson that always drew me back into the story. Arthur’s own personal journey of self-discovery was incredibly moving, and I found myself tearing up on more than one occasion, despite the overall tone of the story being lighthearted.

Overall, this was a charming and clever debut by Ryan Love that was beautifully written and that really feels like a warm hug, filled with love and self-acceptance.

Extremely cute! I love how many new romance novels are being published about older queers. It always makes me emotional to read about gay elders, even if they don't come out until later in life. I'm excited to be able to start recommending this sweet gem of a book!

Arthur Edwards’ 80th birthday is approaching and, with the help of Madeleine, his wife of 50 years, he’s decided to tell their two children his most difficult secret: he is a gay man. His son is startled, but supportive. His daughter, Elizabeth, who’s a widow raising three kids and planning her own second wedding, is aghast, appalled, and ashamed. She cuts off contact with her clearly delusional and lying, conniving father and insists her children do the same.

Elizabeth’s three children are stunned, especially Teddy, because he has a very close relationship with both Arthur and Madeleine. He may be 21, but he considers his grandparents as surrogate parents since the sudden loss of his father three years ago. Teddy’s grief was intense, leaving him with anxiety and abandonment issues, while Elizabeth was blindsided and began running her life on automatic pilot. Teddy’s further traumatized by his mother’s shunning of Arthur, making him wonder how would she treat Teddy if she found out he is also gay.

Mired in depression, Teddy opted out of university, and he’s put off both finding a job and coming out. Insisting Teddy get on with his life, Elizabeth arranges an internship for him at the newspaper where she’s a syndicated columnist. While Teddy appreciates this leg-up, he’s mortified that people will resent him for the nepotism. Ben, the other intern, does resent him, at first. Ben has Feelings about Elizabeth’s influence on Teddy’s spot at the paper, mostly because his own parents cut him off for being both gay and following a career in journalism against their wishes.

Ben and Teddy have a tumultuous pseudo-friendship/rivalry set up by the competitive nature of the internship, which features a job interview at its completion. Teddy admires Ben’s take-charge attitude, while Ben envies Teddy’s inventiveness and storytelling. A reluctant rapport grows between them sparking mutual attraction, even as Teddy’s friends warn Teddy that Ben could be using him to get ahead in the internship. Ben’s pushing Teddy to come out so they can have a relationship. Teddy’s gun-shy considering his mom’s continued bad behavior about Arthur’s announcement.

Meanwhile, Arthur is facing the aftermath of a forced outing–gossip mongers, losing close friends, and diminished status in his small town. On the upside, he’s supported by his wife, son, son’s girlfriend, and Teddy. He’s getting “out there” on apps, and making friendships with other queer people who lift him up. A local tragedy highlights how precarious life can be for queer youth, prompting Arthur to plan an outrageous stunt to raise funds to support queer folk. Teddy’s on board, and the positive publicity that comes from his columns helps him find more strength to finally come out himself.

This book is an intergenerational family drama that features some romantic elements. Arthur doesn’t anticipate finding love at 80; he just wants to live his truth for whatever time he may have left. He had a true love once, and his lover was nearly killed for their dalliance. The relationship between Madeleine and Arthur emerged from a youth that forced them to make the best of bad options. While Elizabeth assumes her father hoodwinked her mother, it’s clearly not the case. I loved how Arthur and Madeleine rescued each other from bleak futures through marriage. They may not have developed a romantic love, but both partners led full lives filled with trust and support. Teddy’s reflections on the horrors that Arthur survived helped him to grab the courage necessary to live his truth.

I think the book was really interesting, with vivid cinematic plot points and poignant conversations. Teddy and Arthur are good men, with real issues, who struggle with the morass of queer representation, or lack of it, in their lives. They felt like full humans, and I was invested in their stories and their happiness. While the book takes place in England, the story itself felt like it could have been set in any suburban area, which I think is a testament to its cultural translatability. There were some grandiose moments that beggared my belief, but in a way that I would have kind of accepted had it been a movie. The end felt rushed, especially in the resolution of Teddy’s job situation and his developing relationship. I had to read the Epilogue twice, because there were twists for Teddy that confused me.

Expect a happy ending here. All amends having been made, all truths revealed, and Teddy and Arthur have brighter futures awaiting them.

Note: Please note there are repeated mentions of a secondary character’s suicide, which could be a trigger for some readers.

I loved the concept of this book - a grandfather and grandson are navigating life together as two freshly out gay men. It had so much potential. I hate giving negative reviews, but this book really just wasn't executed well. The characters were not fully realized - they felt two dimensional, and were often doing / saying things that felt very contradictory to who they were supposed to be. Elizabeth's reaction to both her father and son coming out never made any sense to me, and it felt like she got away with her bad behavior with zero repercussions. The plot also contained a lot of contradictory details. The book would flip back and forth between Arthur and Teddy, but so many important things were happening off page that it made the plot confusing and hard to follow. For the most part I was enjoying the plot even though the writing left something to be desired, but then I got to the ending. Teddy had been debating between two career options that were both interesting to him, but instead chose something else completely out of left field? And the friends to lovers did not land the way it was intended to. If this book had been just about Arthur's journey, it would have felt much more cohesive.

Ryan Love’s Arthur & Teddy Are Coming Out is a special novel about titular characters Arthur and Teddy as they set off to live as their true selves. While there’s a considerable age difference — grandfather Arthur is 79 and his grandson Teddy is 21 — both face similar obstacles and successes after coming out of the closet. The book is full of characters that are multi-faceted and as lovable as the main characters. Madeline, Arthur’s wife, is so caring and a bright spot in his story. I also thought the themes and topics around mental health were handled well — know that the author is an advocate and has written about his personal experience with it in the past. Special shout out for a LGBTQ story from the perspective of an older member of the community — we don’t see that often enough!

Arthur and Teddy’s journeys to be themselves are interesting but they aren’t without faults; the latter interacts with a character whose storyline is full of tropes and isn’t as well developed. The book also overstays its welcome which is unfortunate because the beginning is so well done. Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh my goodness how sweet and cute was this one!! Arthur at 79 has come out to his family, with his wife’s support. His grandson Teddy is grappling with coming out on his own. Together - they learn to love and live on their own terms.

Things I loved about this book:
Arthur was so cute and sweet - a grandpa with a heart of gold, great advice, and a yearning to live as he’s always dreamed of.
Madeline - what a supportive and wonderful partner! Learning their history had me 😭.
Teddy - he was just trying to figure out who he was at 22 after losing his dad and kind of fumbling around for a couple years.
Oscar. What a wonderful friend he turned out to be.
I actually really enjoyed the conflict with Ben. It was well done.
Meddling friends 😅.
Finding Jack had me 🥹.
Shak 🧡.
That super adorable ending!

This one is out 2/27/24! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although the plot caught my interest, the story and writing style didn’t keep it. Although homophobia is real and rising (as homophobes have become more emboldened in recent years), I felt that the awful reactions Arthur received from his own daughter and lifelong friends were appalling. I just felt so sorry for him and was frustrated by his compulsive need to understand and make excuses for people who wronged him.

I also thought all the romantic relationships were tepid at best and awkward at the very least. There was absolutely zero chemistry with any of the couples, and the “love triangle” with Teddy made no sense, especially since he wasn’t willing to be with a man publicly and couldn’t even make up his mind about what he wanted in love or his career. His choice about both partner and job at the end seemed nonsensical.

I felt all the characters were underdeveloped and the writing style was lacking in literary merit. It was as if the author was reading someone’s diary, recounting what they did each day with no nuance, emotion, etc. Not recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from HQ Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

While Teddy's story was a bit predictable, Arthur's was delightful enough on its own to earn that five star rating. The book as a whole felt very real, with characters reacting in different ways that felt realistic. Overall a very enjoyable read! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the eARC of this book; all opinions expressed are my own.

I LOVED the premise of this book: an elderly man and his young adult grandson coming out as gay at the same time. However, the execution fell flat in some areas.

What I loved: Arthur's story as a whole. The complexities of someone coming out after spending decades in the closet was done thoughtfully. His wife, Madeline, who has known the whole time, was so supportive. What amazes me is how these two gems could have raised someone as close-minded as their daughter, Elizabeth.

What I didn't like: Teddy's whole storyline. He's a privileged nepo baby who develops a crush on another guy; they're both vying for the same job, but because his mother works for the company, we all know Teddy's going to get the job. He's oblivious of the feelings of one of his best friends. His character doesn't have much depth and felt one-dimensional.

I also didn't like the resolution of the storyline. The ultra-reactive homophobes have a sudden change of heart and all is forgiven? Didn't work for me, which is too bad.

A sweet and heartwarming story. Arthur is an absolutely brilliant character who I was absolutely wishing the best for, however many of the other characters didn't have much of an impact on me. Overall, this book is definitely worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this novel!

I was excited for this novel when I read the description. I have been really into stories with older queer characters and finding yourself no matter how old you are. I really enjoyed and like Arthur's and Madeline's story line. I thought it was really cute and important. You don't see that kind of representation to often. While I enjoyed their story line I wasn't the biggest fan of Teddy's. I just couldn't get into it.

Review is also posted on Goodreads!

3.5 Stars
Ryan Love's Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out is an interesting coming out story.
Both Teddy and his grandfather, Arthur, deal with coming out around the same time. The author does a great job exploring the struggles of both men, and the differences that come from their experiences and generations.
Their story includes a good range of reactions and internal struggles, as well as friends and family reactions,
There are definitely some parts of Teddy's storyline that irritated me though. I don't want to give anything away, but I was bugged by some of this actions/thoughts/cluelessness. And thus I found the story dragging on.
Overall, it's an okay read.

This book is funny and sensitive and filled me with all of those warm, fuzzy feelings that I want from a story like this. The situation is a difficult one! I found myself developing sympathy for the elderly man who has hidden his truth nearly his entire life and for the family who now have to acknowledge this new reality where the father they’ve always known is actually gay. The repeated question of “why now?” irritated me, but also forced me to examine how this revelation affected their perception of their own lives. Arthur is such a dear, reading his story made me tear up several times.

The other half of our novel, Ben’s narrative, was a touch much frustrating. There were moments when I wanted to shake him for his obliviousness! His relationship with his grandfather really endeared me to him though. I think a bit more clarity on his behavior in the time following his father’s death would have made the relationship between him and his mothers and sisters a bit easier to understand. There were moments when I craved larger emotional reactions from the character, more anger from Arthur or Teddy.

Thank you to Harper 360 for the ARC of Arthur and Teddy in exchange for an honest review! Sometimes when you read a book, you can see it visually, like watching a movie. Arthur and Teddy was like that for me: incredibly heartfelt, saccharine and charming, with a dash of complex family relationships, love triangles, and happy endings. Everything that makes something perfect on page and on screen, and the type of feel-good stories we love to immerse ourselves in.

Synopsis: “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. Arthur's 21-year-old grandson, Teddy, has a secret of his own: he's also gay, and developing serious feelings for his colleague Ben. But Teddy doesn't feel ready to come out yet – especially when Arthur’s announcement causes shockwaves in the family. Arthur and Teddy have always been close, and now they must navigate first loves, heartbreak, and finding their place in their community. But can they – and their family – learn to accept who they truly are?”

The book bounces back and forth between Arthur’s and Teddy’s experiences with coming out. While Arthur is mostly accepted by his family, his daughter Elizabeth (Teddy’s mother) isn’t so quick to warm to the idea. This leaves Teddy in a very difficult predicament between being himself and being who his mother believes he is, lest he rock the boat any further. I found Arthur’s sections of the book to be poignant, moving and deeply affecting. The idea of still wanting to find yourself and claim your identity far down a worthy road was a story worth telling. The freedom to redefine yourself, change your mind, and seek your own truth is important. While I enjoyed Teddy and Arthur’s familial scenes together, Teddy’s love triangle fell a little flat for me. I don’t always love friends-to-lovers type relationships because they can feel too sudden and jarring. But there’s plenty here to fall for, and be swept off your feet if you give love a chance. Out February 27th!

Arthur and Madeline have been married for 50 years and they’ve invited their children Patrick and Elizabeth for dinner so they can let them know they’re dad Arthur is gay. Patrick takes it well and is only concerned about his mom happiness and all this but as for his sister Elizabeth she said she never wants to speak to her dad again. When she arrives home she tells her children they’re never to speak to their grandfather again either. This poses a problem for her son Teddy, he’s 20 years old and recently started working as an assistant at the newspaper she works for and he also has been waiting for the perfect time to come out to his mom. When Teddy sneaks over to see his grandparents he unknowingly admits to his grandfather he too is gay and find an ally in a man he already admired so much. When Arthur and Madeline with the help of Patrick’s girlfriend signed him up for a dating app this is how he meets Oscar and although Oscar is nothing like his long lost love Jack he does help Arthur become more comfortable with who he is. If only someone could do that for his grandson Teddy. There is so much I’m leaving out of this review like Elizabeth public pronouncement to the town gossip that her dad‘s gay her upcoming wedding the guy Ted is in love with Ben not to mention his best friend Shakeel who is in love with Teddy there’s many things I love about this book I am definitely team author and team Teddy if you love happy endings great stories about family drama then you’ll definitely enjoy the story I certainly did what an imaginative plot The story isn’t a very long one but they have a lot packed in to the story of Greek characters it’s a fast moving narrative and one I definitely and totally enjoyed absolutely five star read! I want to thank Harper 360 and Net Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Thank you to @netgalley for a copy of this eARC for review.

This story follows Arthur, a 79 year old married man who has spent his life keeping the secret of being gay. He makes the decision to decide to come out and it subsequently leads to his grandson, Teddy, wanting to do the same. I was excited to read into a late-coming out story and its effects but I was stuck feeling connected to the story. There is a warning for homophobia that comes from several characters. It was a slow burn of a book which led me to skim through some of the chapters. Due to the homophobic reactions, i was hoping for more resolve instead of feeling like the characters were blowing off the insults and moving on to the next part of the story. This book felt like it was reaching to be a wholsesome and sweet read while untagling heavy themes. The narrative pacing and the ultimate resolution for Teddy's story just felt a little flat for me.

"arthur and teddy are coming out" is such a wonderful and heartfelt story about a grandfather and his grandson who have a very big secret in common. when arthur decides to come out at 79, they both have to deal with the aftermath of his revelation in different ways, and it sets off a series of events chronicled through both of their POVs. i absolutely loved this book and found it so touching, sincere, and hopeful, and it's safe to say i was on the verge of tears toward the end. arthur and teddy's story does have its fair share of struggles and it's not an easy road, but while a lot of the characters were deeply flawed, their redemption arcs pay off in the end. my only real issue with the book was pacing—the beginning of the book felt very slow paced compared to the last third of the book, where so much happened in very quick succession, with a lot of time jumps in between. this did make me feel like ben's redemption came a tad too early and teddy forgive him too easily, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. "arthur and teddy are coming out" is out from harper collins on february 27th! thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

Let’s lead with the good: I love this premise. The idea that a grandfather finally feels like it’s time to come out before the end of his life right at the same time as his twenty something grandson is coming out to start his? Charming! And there’s a lot to love about big-hearted Arthur and awkward Teddy.

But the actual execution missed the mark. The plot loses focus—too many things are happening. There’s Arthur’s daughter (Teddy’s mother) and her homophobia. (Except she’s not really upset that they’re gay but because it was a secret? Even after she outs one and slaps the other? I’m not buying.) There’s Arthur’s failing health, his lost love, and his uncertain future. There’s Teddy’s obliviousness to his best friend’s crush, his anxiety, his professional indecision, his grief for his dead dad, and his failure to launch. There’s charity events and tv shows and outing and relationship drama and—

Are you confused and exhausted? So was I. This book should have been light and bright, giving both characters a tight, unified main storyline. (Maybe a joint coming out or living together navigating being newly out? Maybe healing their family relationships?) And then each could have gotten a supporting storyline (for Arthur maybe it was finding his lost love or his health. Maybe for Teddy it would be realizing his best friend was the love of his life.)

Bottom line: this novel’s focus was too split to remain coherent. It needed a stronger editorial hand to eliminate some of the distractions. Better luck next time, Mr. Love!

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book. My review will post on my blog on 2/20/24 and I'll also post my review to Goodreads, Storygraph and retail sites around this time. I'll also feature the book on Instagram.

Review:
I was in the mood for something light and uplifting, and this book definitely delivered. This is a heartwarming tale with engaging characters and a relatable storyline; I was captivated from start to finish.

The story alternates between two characters: 79-year-old Arthur Edwards, a lovable grandfather who has kept his sexuality secret for a lifetime, and his 21-year-old grandson Teddy, who is also harboring a similar secret. Teddy knows that he needs to embrace his truth and finally come out to his family, but when Arthur gathers his family together to reveal his truth, the impact it has on his loved ones is rougher than expected. When Teddy sees how his mother reacts to the news that her father is gay, he fears coming out himself, but it's through talks with his grandfather that he finally learns to embrace who he really is lest his life pass him by.

One of the aspects that makes this book truly special is the genuine and endearing characters. Arthur is portrayed with depth and sensitivity, and his journey is beautifully written. It is a joy to witness his growth as he embraces his true self despite the fear and uncertainty that come with it. I also adored his wife, who stood by him the entire way. She knew that their marriage was an act of convenience that saved them both from uncertain futures. The two of them grew to love one another over time and raised a beautiful family together, but she knows that she needs to let Arthur go and be who he really is. I absolutely loved this aspect. It would have been easy to make her a victim, but I loved how the author made her character sympathetic and encouraging.

Teddy, the 21-year-old grandson, is also a compelling character who adds a layer of youthful energy and relatability to the story. His struggle with his own coming out process is also portrayed with authenticity and compassion. I enjoyed watching Teddy figure out who he was in general - not just in coming to terms with his sexuality. He really grows over the course of the book and finds himself in more ways than one.

The plot, while centered around the theme of coming out, explores various other aspects of identity and love. The blossoming romance between Teddy and his colleague Ben, and Arthur learning how to date are heartfelt subplots that add a layer of emotional depth to the story. Love explores the challenges and joys of first love, highlighting the importance of genuine connections and understanding. There were also some not-so-surprising crushes and hidden loves that came to light that, while not surprising, brought several "aww shucks" moments to the story.

I think my only issue with this one was there were moments that felt unnecessarily drawn out, and then there were other moments that felt slightly rushed, especially towards the end. Certain scenes could have benefitted from more time and development, while others could have been edited for brevity. This unevenness made the pace falter a bit for me. I felt the book started strong, dragged a bit in the middle, and then felt a little rushed at the very end. Nevertheless, this minor flaw does not overshadow the overall appeal of the book.

Overall, I felt that this was a charming and creative debut novel. With its engaging characters and timely storyline, it is a book that will warm the hearts of readers. While the pacing faltered at times, the book's overall message of acceptance and love shines through. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming and uplifting read.