Boy Queen

By George Lester

Life’s a drag until you try it: Boy Queen by George Lester is a showstopper of a book. With a little bit of cringe, an adorable romance and a whole lot of drag, it is a must-read for people of all ages.

When Robin’s dreams of going to LAPA, a college for performing arts, come crashing down around his shoulders, he feels like his world is coming to an end. Next year, when all of his friends had gone off to their separate colleges, Robin would be stuck in Essex, repeating the same routines, hoping upon hope that he would make that year’s auditions. He was sure of it. However, a trip to a drag show at his local gay bar for his birthday could just change that. Because what if Robin’s future is leading him on a different, more sequinned path. And with a best friend who is determined to cover him in makeup, a secret boyfriend who won’t acknowledge him, and a new kid at school that makes Robin feel like he’s dissolving into a puddle of glittery goo whenever he sees him, what else could he do but fall wig-first into the world of drag?

A story of wigs, sparkles, high heels and even higher stakes, Boy Queen is one of my favourite books to date. It is hilarious – I got quite a few funny looks for giggling randomly in the middle of the classroom- and I couldn’t put it down until it was done. There are some topics in this book that wouldn’t be appropriate for younger readers. Robin faces a lot of homophobia and the ‘f’ slur is used. Also, there is mentions of someone being beaten up because he was gay. However, the book tackled the issue really well, and explores Riley’s journey towards self-acceptance and self-belief in the best way possible.

Overall, I believe that this book is appropriate for people over the age of 14. The characters are hilarious, the romance is adorable and the story leaves you perched on the edge of your seat. The only thing left to be desired is a sequel.