Member Reviews
Gently affirming, no matter where you are on your queer acceptance journey. It's good for the young people just discovering themselves, but also for the older queers like me who are never finished with coming out (and who sometimes may be struck with Imposter syndrome about not being "openly queer enough.")
Speaking of, I especially love that this book took the time to delve into how the labels you start with may not be your ;final' ones, but that's okay and it doesn't make what you want to call yourself today any less valid. I felt like tearing up a bit at "The exploration of who we are IS who we are."
While hopeful in its messaging, this book is also honest about how things can change when coming out re: how others see you. That it can even be dangerous to do so, and that's why finding community is so important.
I think it's even approachable enough for a "straight" audience, whether it's someone who's questioning or someone confident they're cishet but interested in the perspective of the other side to become a better ally.
I also loved the little references made to homemade zines when explaining "self-care" to-dos, as zines feel very much a part of queer culture to me, in the past and still today.
A super straight-forward discussion of coming out and how to tackle some of the challenges that you may face when doing so. The art is quite pleasant and the narrators (the authors?) are quite fun. A good resource for LGBT+ folks of any age.
This quick & easy guide does what it says on the packet. Nothing can be comprehensive in 80 short pages, however the authors touched on many key experiences, reactions and concerns that young people may worry about when considering coming out.
The style was difficult for me to follow at times, but I feel that's more of a me thing than a them thing. I can see this being a handy little pocket guide for young teens making initial steps in their queer journeys. A valuable resource for sure.
Kristin Russo and Ravi Teixeira's A Quick & Easy Guide to Coming Out is an invaluable resource for anyone on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. It offers practical advice, emotional support, and celebrates queer joy, making the coming-out process more manageable. The guide is both compassionate and informative, providing a comforting roadmap for those navigating this personal journey. Highly recommended for its inclusivity and encouragement. I give it full 5 stars.
Special Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Knowing that this is just a quick and easy guide, I think this provides a good introduction to the topic of coming out. Hopefully it will provide some answers to people who are searching for them.
I have read all the Quick and Easy guides and I like them so I was happy to read and review this one. As its predecessors, it really is quick and easy, in that it does treat its topic in a digestible, fun way but at the same time it goes a bit deeper than just the surface. I liked the inclusion of personal stories of the authors and also of their cats (cats make everything better you know). On the serious side, I appreciate the emphasis of safety and importance of self-care.
I wasn’t a fun of the layout that was too chaotic in places - it was difficult to discern who says what sometimes. But I liked the art very much.
I recommend the entire series as fun and affirming intros to sexuality, gender identity and adjacent topics.
This is a very supportive book for anyone who is wondering how to come out. It covers a wide range of sexualities and gender expressions. It also covers a wide range of life circumstances so anyone who is contemplating coming out should. be able to see themselves represented somewhere in this book. I wish there had been a book out there like this when I was first thinking about coming out!
A fantastic nonfiction graphic novel about coming out in the LGBTQIA+ community. At 80 pages it's a quick read, which is great for teens since it's written for 8th grade+. Loved the illustrations and this entire series is a must-read.
CW: coming out (theme)
I'm going to be honest I was nervous about this one because coming out is so complicated and having a quick and easy guide made me quite nervous but I can thankfully say that this book does a fantastic job at outlining the complexities of coming out as well as pros and cons.
Most queer people will tell you that coming out is not a one and done situation. We come out everyday multiple times a day sometimes in every interaction we have. I was really happy that this book touched on that specifically but it also touched on the fact that you absolutely do not need to come out in order to be queer and you do not owe anyone your coming out. If it is unsafe for you to do so or if you are unsure, you do not have to come out.
Another thing I really liked that this book touched on was coming out as multiple things and that labels can change and it's okay to come out as one thing and then change your mind later. You know our experience has changed as we get older and gender and sexuality can be fluid for a lot of people. I personally came out as bisexual first and then asexual and then also aromantic and then most recently agender. It is a constant process of learning and knowing and understanding ourselves and this book does a fantastic job at describing that entire situation.
This was a very well done, relatively short, and easy to read book. It did an excellent job of balancing the roles of educating and entertaining, which is an amazing approach to take. I always love it when something can be educational in a meaningful and powerful way, while also entertaining enough that people are more likely to engage with it and enjoy the process. This book covers some relatively complicated topics (or, some people find them complicated) of sexuality and gender and presents them in relatively straightforward and easy to understand ways. I think this would be a great read for anyone and everyone.
The art was great too!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the art style that went into this book. I feel like it was the perfect way to show that coming out isn't just a one time thing and there is no one right way to come out. I loved getting to read the journeys that both contributors have gone through over their lives and showing that gender and sexuality are both fluid, and that labels can and do change over time and that that's okay. If you or someone you know is dealing with figuring out their identity or having to come out, this book really helps you know you've got people on your side no matter what and that you are okay and normal for changing your labels.
A lovely book and a valuable resource in one! The supportive and comforting tone comes through clearly in the writing and the art. I hope my library can add this to its collection as I can see a lot of people being helped out greatly by this!
Thoughts:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great small book to help teens get their heads around the idea of coming out to those around them. It is handled in a great way being able to stay lighthearted while giving the gravity necessary when necessary.
Favourite Quote:
"There are people who came before us who never got to know that. Never got to be who they are. I feel like I owe it to them to live as I am, you know? To honour their lies by really living mine."
**I received an E-ARC copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest review**
This was a very friendly, easy to read guide to the complexities of coming out. I appreciated that it addressed the validity of the readers sexuality or gender despite outward appearances, previous experience, or relationships. It also discusses how your identity may change over time as you learn more about yourself, and that is okay.
The narrative is friendly and casual, with some information about the authors own journeys added. I wasn't expecting this, but felt it added to the goal of showing how each person may handle their journey differently. It also addresses situations where someone else may out you or where it may be unsafe to be open about your identity. I especially loved the section about dealing with various ill or well meaning comments.
This guide really hones in on the coming out part of the queer experience so it does not cover too much about different identities. I've seen several other books in this style that fill that niche though, so I like that this did stick to the main goal.
The content in my opinion was completely appropriate for younger audiences who are looking for support with this topic. I think my only complaint is a couple of the panels were harder to navigate when reading but overall it is a very solid guide and one I would consider adding to my educational library.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC :)
I have been a fan of Kristin's for awhile now, following her for about a decade-- but fell off the wagon for a little. I'm surprised and delighted to find out she has this guide out! I wish that I had something like this when I came out. This is informative, colorful and real in a kind and empathetic way. The fact that they emphasise change and constant growth, and not pressuring yourself to fixate on a label or coming out "perfectly" was a wonderful message. This book is like a love letter and guide to queer folks everywhere, an assurance that even though it's just a graphic novel, that someone out there cares about their well-being. I appreciate the love and care that both authors took to spread this message in their graphic novel. The illustrations are also beautiful and cute! Loved seeing different bodies and shapes represented.
A must read!!
A Quick & Easy Guide to Coming Out is exactly that! A quick and easy to understand guide to the journey of coming out that includes something for everyone. The narrators that take us through all the ways queer people come out are fun and comforting, and make this Big Event feel so much more approachable. Even if you aren't in the LGBTQIA+ community, this is an important read to educate on the intersectionality of sexuality and gender.
If you find yourself on a coming out journey, or know someone who is, this is the perfect book for you!
A great guide for anyone (young or old) who needs support when trying to come out. I liked how the book gently explained different terms and approaches, and how they had included tips on how to shut down bad reactions. The book made it clear that you are in control of your own coming out and that you should keep everything on your own terms. The illustrations were fun and helped make the guide more accessible for a younger audience.
This is a personal and accessible book for any reader. I loved the graphic novel format as it felt like an easy read even with so much information. The authors discuss a nuance topic with care as well as both personal and studied knowledge. This book is important and I will be buying for our public libraries collection.
This graphic novel was a comfortable and easily digestibly guide to coming out. (it does what it says on the label!)
To me, this appeared pitched at middle grade to early high school readers. But making it a graphic novel it made it easily digestible, provided handy hints on how to manage the conversations, safety and self care. I think crucially it addressed some of the common phrases or hurdles that a person could face in coming out, and gave simple scripts for responses that could work.
Just as a personal preference, I do like a graphic novel style for information communication. It makes the information feel more conversational. I just enjoyed this as a great idea to communicate.
I would love to see another version released for older teens and adults as well that gets a bit deeper.
This little guide is a perfect starting point for anyone who is thinking about coming out! Some great advice regarding coming out on your own terms, how to handle safety, dealing with being outed, and self care.