I always love books in verse, and I really like reading queer books to better understand other people. So when I heard about this book, it went to my TBR immediately, so I was very excited when this was approved for me on NetGalley!

Other books I’ve read in verse always go for my emotions way more than books in prose. As Sarah Crossan once told me, she undresses the story until it’s bare bones, and she gives those bare bones to the reader to dress them up. I think that captures the feeling of reading in verse perfectly, and the same goes for this book.

As a white cis hetrosexual woman, I have no apparent connection to the main character of this book, and that is why I like to read those books. To understand other people better and to be able to connect with them. So my opinion and experience with this book is based on that, I cannot judge this on any own experience or whatsoever.

But I really enjoyed reading this book. I really felt with the character, and because of the way the book is written and how you really are inside their head, it’s a really powerful book.

I really like how many aspects are touched and written about, and how all the side characters really come to life as well.

I also really love the friendship in this book. How it's clear how important friendship is next to family and a lover, but also how friendship evolves over time.

I highly recommend this to, well, anybody, because reading this book will definitely bring you knowledge and compassion.

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC. I loved this story and the characters in it, found the prose really lovely to read and enjoyed the illustrations too. This story is one that really resonates with me, gender wise. I also loved the queer south Asian representation and would recommend this book to anyone! I will be purchasing this for sure!

I absolutely adore this book and enjoyed every moment of the journey it took me on! Easiest five stars ever!

While this isn’t quite the book for me, I see the beauty in it. I think it’s for people younger than myself, and I think it’s a really beautiful exploration of queerness for those new to being queer and exploring what that may mean, or understanding more of it. I really liked how poetry was used as the writing itself as a form of story and while I engage with a lot of poetic fiction with prose, this was different and I enjoyed that. I’d say that perhaps some of the language choices and phrases could be slightly more complex at times, but I also think this is targeted at a much younger age group than myself and so understand the artistic choice. It’s heartwarming, beautiful representation for South Asian queers, with a really good exploration of the connections between gender and colonialism. In terms of enforcing pronouns and ‘pride’, it’s important to remember safety and consider whether the assumption someone doesn’t enforce their pronouns is because of a lack of pride could be slightly harmful for younger readers. All in all a lovely read.

Beautifully written, tender and powerful, this is the book I deeply needed when I was a teenager.

Whilst not shying away from exploring difficult topics such as familial expectations, cultural pressures and first relationships, Kamalakanthan is expertly still able to craft a heart warming read with pages full of compassion.

Although this is clearly written for a younger audience, so the complexity wasn't always there, I still really enjoyed the exploration of these themes alongside the use of verse. I also really appreciated the centrality of different forms of love and relationships in Surya’s life – parents, grandparents, friends, teachers - as well as romantic love.

A fantastic novel from a brilliant new to me author. Bad Queer is an emotive rollercoaster that you won't be able to put down.

A moving YA coming of age story about teenage Surya’s journey towards becoming comfortable and confident in their gender identity. The representation of a queer family who are proud to live authentically and differently to those around them is powerful, though I appreciated Gayathiri Kamalakanthan’s choice to also highlight difficulties and imperfections that arise in all of the character’s lives. In a YA book, I thought it was great that no character is dismissed or written off as a result of their mistakes. Surya’s relationship with their Grandparents was one of the most impactful parts of the story for me, as they navigate generational and religious differences while always prioritising the love that they have for one another. The verse form and first-person narration worked so well with Surya’s quest to deliver the perfect monologue, and communicate the different facets of their identity to others. Chi Nwosu’s illustrations also beautifully complement moments of real emotion, expressing feelings Surya sometimes struggles to put into words.

I will never pass up a verse novel, and this is a great one! Our main character goes through a lot over the course of the book, coming of age as a non-binary person of colour, and dealing with friendship struggles, first relationship struggles, family struggles. All of this was approached so softly, full of care, nuance and depth. There are difficult and painful moments, but there's also so much love and support. I think this will make for a wonderful read for any teen (and adult) reader.