Only nearly June and my first review of 2019! I have read SO much with good intentions and then there’s life and two kids and all the germs. All the germs. I so enjoyed this book that I had to finally stay up past my bedtime to post about it.
Naturally Tan, Tan France
In this heartfelt, funny, touching memoir, Tan France, star of Netflix’s smash-hit QUEER EYE, tells his origin story for the first time. With his trademark wit, humor, and radical compassion, Tan reveals what it was like to grow up gay in a traditional Muslim family, as one of the few people of color in Doncaster, England. He illuminates his winding journey of coming of age, finding his voice (and style!), and how he finally came out to his family at the age of 34, revealing that he was happily married to the love of his life–a Mormon cowboy from Salt Lake City.
Are you watching Queer Eye on Netflix and crying regularly like me? If you’re like me you’ll have a guess at how excited I was to get my grabby hands on an ARC of Tan France’s memoir. Thankfully Tan comes off just as delightful in print as he does on screen. I love how truly appreciative he sounds of the life he’s having – a gay, South Asian, Muslim man who had his share of hardships now holding himself out there to a whole world of queer, brown children. As I reader I was appreciative of his honesty with what he wanted to talk about vs. topics like his faith not being for public consumption.
When Tan was open about his past he was definitely open though. Romance, bad jobs, teenage exploits – as well as bullying, real sadness and hard feelings. Best of all were the warm fuzzies I got from reading about going out with his husband for the first time.
The stories of meeting the Fab Five were everything a fan could want! Tan puts himself out in this book without giving too much of himself away. He’s someone you just feel happy for over the success he’s finding.
Pick this up for good stories and fashion tips! What other celebrity memoirs should I be looking for? Busy Phillips is pretty high on my list right now…
Thank you Shelf Awareness and St. Martin’s Press for this advance copy!
Gun In Act One 