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Becoming a Queen
Jeder(Mann) kann ein Kleid tragen.
Ganz wie er selbst. So fühlt sich Mark, als er beim Talentwettbewerb der Highschool in einem Kleid auftritt. Doch er hat nicht damit gerechnet, dass sein Freund sich daraufhin von ihm trennt. Mark schwört sich, zukünftig die Finger von Jungs und Pailletten zu lassen. Aber dann entdeckt er plötzlich ein perfektes, lila Kleid und lernt den charmanten Ezra kennen … Als das Schicksal Mark auf eine harte Probe stellt, erkennt er, dass es okay ist, man selbst zu sein – und oft sogar der einzige Weg.
Ganz wie er selbst. So fühlt sich Mark, als er beim Talentwettbewerb der Highschool in einem Kleid auftritt. Doch er hat nicht damit gerechnet, dass sein Freund sich daraufhin von ihm trennt. Mark schwört sich, zukünftig die Finger von Jungs und Pailletten zu lassen. Aber dann entdeckt er plötzlich ein perfektes, lila Kleid und lernt den charmanten Ezra kennen … Als das Schicksal Mark auf eine harte Probe stellt, erkennt er, dass es okay ist, man selbst zu sein – und oft sogar der einzige Weg.
480 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2023
49 people are currently reading
4686 people want to read
About the author
Dan Clay
1 book49 followersDan Clay is a writer and drag queen thrilled to be making his debut as a novelist with Becoming a Queen. Until now, he focused on spreading love and positivity online through his drag persona, Carrie Dragshaw. His writing as Carrie has been featured in hundreds of magazines, newspapers, and television shows–from Cosmo to People to Watch What Happens Live–and his TED Talk on being your “whole self” details his first-hand experience with the healing power of drag.
Dan graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Philosophy and went on to get an MBA from Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania. When he’s not writing, he works for a climate change nonprofit and a New York-based branding agency. He lives in New York. Connect with Dan on Instagram @dan_clay or online at WriterDanClay.com
Dan graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Philosophy and went on to get an MBA from Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania. When he’s not writing, he works for a climate change nonprofit and a New York-based branding agency. He lives in New York. Connect with Dan on Instagram @dan_clay or online at WriterDanClay.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
December 20, 2022
Oh, how to even start talking about this marvelous story?
Dan Clay completely took my heart to the shredder with Becoming a Queen. It literally took me a month to finish this book… a month to think about Clay’s timeless and poignant messages… a month to ruminate over Mark’s choices, a month to process Eric’s words.
And I’m still stunned, and (pretty much) speechless.
I’d like to scrape some words together, to do justice to the experience of reading this incredible novel. To find a way to impress just how much this story touched my heart. To give you just a hint of what’s in store for you when you share Mark’s journey… but I guess it’s best to just leave it with Dan Clay, who’s already said it all so beautifully in Becoming a Queen.
thank you to Roaring Book Press, Macmillan Publishing, via NetGalley for providing an ARC of Becoming a Queen for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
Dan Clay completely took my heart to the shredder with Becoming a Queen. It literally took me a month to finish this book… a month to think about Clay’s timeless and poignant messages… a month to ruminate over Mark’s choices, a month to process Eric’s words.
And I’m still stunned, and (pretty much) speechless.
I’d like to scrape some words together, to do justice to the experience of reading this incredible novel. To find a way to impress just how much this story touched my heart. To give you just a hint of what’s in store for you when you share Mark’s journey… but I guess it’s best to just leave it with Dan Clay, who’s already said it all so beautifully in Becoming a Queen.
thank you to Roaring Book Press, Macmillan Publishing, via NetGalley for providing an ARC of Becoming a Queen for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
September 19, 2022
I didn’t feel anything. I found the timeline too choppy, I liked Mark, Ezra and Eric, but overall the story fell flat to me. And suddenly tears ran down my face.
This book is different than I thought it would be, and the first and second half are complete opposites. Both contain anger. Both contain pain. Both contain love. But where the first half is just a story about a gay boy, who learns to love again, the second half is much darker and feels like a punch in the gut.
From the moment everything changes, Mark’s pain sliced through my body and cut my heart into a thousand pieces. His love for Eric, his parents, and Ezra eventually mended my heart slowly, but it took time, just like it takes time for Mark to start dealing with what happened. And like his therapist says: Grief is like a pinball machine and Grief can be like a chronic condition that you and I learn to manage, together.
Mark is a boy who, in the end, wears the dresses he always wanted to wear. But it takes time, courage, pain, and self-love. Those pinballs fired back so many times. I read the whole second part being teary eyed. My chest tightened while reading the lessons from my brother chapters. So while the first half of the story was just okay for me, the second half was heartbreaking and uplifting and changed my opinion completely. Therefore, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves emotional and heartfelt YA stories. Be aware of the trigger warnings, though!
I received an ARC from Macmillan Children’s Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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This book is different than I thought it would be, and the first and second half are complete opposites. Both contain anger. Both contain pain. Both contain love. But where the first half is just a story about a gay boy, who learns to love again, the second half is much darker and feels like a punch in the gut.
From the moment everything changes, Mark’s pain sliced through my body and cut my heart into a thousand pieces. His love for Eric, his parents, and Ezra eventually mended my heart slowly, but it took time, just like it takes time for Mark to start dealing with what happened. And like his therapist says: Grief is like a pinball machine and Grief can be like a chronic condition that you and I learn to manage, together.
Mark is a boy who, in the end, wears the dresses he always wanted to wear. But it takes time, courage, pain, and self-love. Those pinballs fired back so many times. I read the whole second part being teary eyed. My chest tightened while reading the lessons from my brother chapters. So while the first half of the story was just okay for me, the second half was heartbreaking and uplifting and changed my opinion completely. Therefore, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves emotional and heartfelt YA stories. Be aware of the trigger warnings, though!
I received an ARC from Macmillan Children’s Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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April 30, 2023
“Be yourself, your full sequin-y self!”
I finished Becoming A Queen earlier today and I’m still reeling from all the emotions it brought out. Be prepared to both laugh and cry if you pick up this book/audiobook!
As the author has said: “It’s a book about drag and love and growing up. It’s sad and it’s happy and it’s full of hope.”
Becoming A Queen is a coming-of-age story of a gay teen, but ever so much more. Mark is a 16-year-old with an older brother, Eric, who is off at college. Mark has been dumped by his boyfriend John, after he wears a dress while performing in the high school talent show. He’s just too much for John, apparently. Eric is such an amazingly supportive older brother and has a bunch of very quotable advice, including the “be yourself” quote I mentioned above.
When tragedy strikes Mark’s family, the tone of the book changes dramatically. A lot of the story hit home very personally for me, so other readers may not have quite the visceral reactions I had, but I think that you’d have to have a heart of stone if you aren’t affected by how Mark and his parents deal with their loss. The author’s treatment of grief was wonderful and so realistic.
I adored Mark and his new boyfriend, Ezra!
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated in stunning fashion by the author, Dan Clay. Since I listened to a lot of the second half of this book while out walking, I was glad I was wearing sunglasses so people couldn’t see the tears streaming down my face.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
I finished Becoming A Queen earlier today and I’m still reeling from all the emotions it brought out. Be prepared to both laugh and cry if you pick up this book/audiobook!
As the author has said: “It’s a book about drag and love and growing up. It’s sad and it’s happy and it’s full of hope.”
Becoming A Queen is a coming-of-age story of a gay teen, but ever so much more. Mark is a 16-year-old with an older brother, Eric, who is off at college. Mark has been dumped by his boyfriend John, after he wears a dress while performing in the high school talent show. He’s just too much for John, apparently. Eric is such an amazingly supportive older brother and has a bunch of very quotable advice, including the “be yourself” quote I mentioned above.
When tragedy strikes Mark’s family, the tone of the book changes dramatically. A lot of the story hit home very personally for me, so other readers may not have quite the visceral reactions I had, but I think that you’d have to have a heart of stone if you aren’t affected by how Mark and his parents deal with their loss. The author’s treatment of grief was wonderful and so realistic.
I adored Mark and his new boyfriend, Ezra!
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated in stunning fashion by the author, Dan Clay. Since I listened to a lot of the second half of this book while out walking, I was glad I was wearing sunglasses so people couldn’t see the tears streaming down my face.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
June 27, 2023
What just happened? One second I was laughing and getting excited and smiling… and then it was like my insides were ripped open and I’m physically and emotionally spent.
I love Mark! He’s just a boy who wants to be loved and live as himself. Does it matter that he loves dresses and just wants to feel pretty every once in a while? Absolutely not! The fact that anyone sees anything wrong with that is what’s wrong with the world. Heteronormativity is monotonous sometimes. Nothing is black and white and forcing someone to be what they aren’t is a crime.
He goes through a lot from the beginning to the end of Becoming a Queen. I feel so happy for him that he had Eric, Enzo, and his friends through all of it. So when that changes…. I don’t want to start bawling again. I hurt for him.
If you like RuPaul’s Drag Race, Dear Evan Hansen, or any kind of emotionally charged coming of age YA story (or a blend of all of them), then this book is for you!
I love Mark! He’s just a boy who wants to be loved and live as himself. Does it matter that he loves dresses and just wants to feel pretty every once in a while? Absolutely not! The fact that anyone sees anything wrong with that is what’s wrong with the world. Heteronormativity is monotonous sometimes. Nothing is black and white and forcing someone to be what they aren’t is a crime.
He goes through a lot from the beginning to the end of Becoming a Queen. I feel so happy for him that he had Eric, Enzo, and his friends through all of it. So when that changes…. I don’t want to start bawling again. I hurt for him.
If you like RuPaul’s Drag Race, Dear Evan Hansen, or any kind of emotionally charged coming of age YA story (or a blend of all of them), then this book is for you!
October 21, 2022
Thanks you Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press for this eARC, these opinions are my own. What a stunning book. Mark just got out of a relationship because his ex boyfriend didn’t like that he wore a dress. But mark yearns to wear dresses. With the help of his super supportive brother he’s trying to move on. Then he meets Ezra, who makes him feel seen and understood, but can he get over his past hurt to make it work? And when his life hits a life altering bump can he survive it? I absolutely loved the relationship between Mark and Eric, his brother! Eric not only told him constantly that he loved him and unconditionally so but it was more than that it was with so much enthusiastic unconditional love! I think that would feel so amazing to have that kind of love. My favorite part of the book though is the second half when Mark hits that life altering bump and is on his grief journey. Dan Clay writes grief like I’ve never read before! I feel like a lot of time it’s discussed but not focused on so you don’t see characters journey. But I never stopped crying in the second part because the read goes through all the ups and downs with Mark, the reader process everything at the same time he does! His grief journey is so beautifully told! The description of the book is a little off as I feel like Mark and the dress, while important throughout the book, are not the main focus until the end when Mark connects wearing dresses to the grief journey. That said how Mark does that is also beautiful and wonderful! I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for it to come out! Though readers be warned you’ll want the tissues close by!
Merged review:
Thanks you Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press for this eARC, these opinions are my own. What a stunning book. Mark just got out of a relationship because his ex boyfriend didn’t like that he wore a dress. But mark yearns to wear dresses. With the help of his super supportive brother he’s trying to move on. Then he meets Ezra, who makes him feel seen and understood, but can he get over his past hurt to make it work? And when his life hits a life altering bump can he survive it? I absolutely loved the relationship between Mark and Eric, his brother! Eric not only told him constantly that he loved him and unconditionally so but it was more than that it was with so much enthusiastic unconditional love! I think that would feel so amazing to have that kind of love. My favorite part of the book though is the second half when Mark hits that life altering bump and is on his grief journey. Dan Clay writes grief like I’ve never read before! I feel like a lot of time it’s discussed but not focused on so you don’t see characters journey. But I never stopped crying in the second part because the read goes through all the ups and downs with Mark, the reader process everything at the same time he does! His grief journey is so beautifully told! The description of the book is a little off as I feel like Mark and the dress, while important throughout the book, are not the main focus until the end when Mark connects wearing dresses to the grief journey. That said how Mark does that is also beautiful and wonderful! I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for it to come out! Though readers be warned you’ll want the tissues close by!
Merged review:
Thanks you Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press for this eARC, these opinions are my own. What a stunning book. Mark just got out of a relationship because his ex boyfriend didn’t like that he wore a dress. But mark yearns to wear dresses. With the help of his super supportive brother he’s trying to move on. Then he meets Ezra, who makes him feel seen and understood, but can he get over his past hurt to make it work? And when his life hits a life altering bump can he survive it? I absolutely loved the relationship between Mark and Eric, his brother! Eric not only told him constantly that he loved him and unconditionally so but it was more than that it was with so much enthusiastic unconditional love! I think that would feel so amazing to have that kind of love. My favorite part of the book though is the second half when Mark hits that life altering bump and is on his grief journey. Dan Clay writes grief like I’ve never read before! I feel like a lot of time it’s discussed but not focused on so you don’t see characters journey. But I never stopped crying in the second part because the read goes through all the ups and downs with Mark, the reader process everything at the same time he does! His grief journey is so beautifully told! The description of the book is a little off as I feel like Mark and the dress, while important throughout the book, are not the main focus until the end when Mark connects wearing dresses to the grief journey. That said how Mark does that is also beautiful and wonderful! I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for it to come out! Though readers be warned you’ll want the tissues close by!
April 10, 2023
Trigger Warnings: alcohol, underage drinking, break-up, homophobia, vomit, cursing, jail, death, grief, medical content, funeral, counseling, overdose, infidelity, divorce, sex, addiction, alcoholism
Representation: Drag, Gay, mental health
Becoming a Queen is a queer, young adult contemporary. If only Mark Davis hadn’t put on a dress for the talent show. It was a joke—other guys did it too—but when his boyfriend saw Mark in that dress, everything changed.
And now, fresh on the heels of high school heartbreak, Mark has given up on love. Maybe some people are just too much for this world—too weird, too wild, too feminine, too everything. Thankfully, his older brother Eric always knows what to say to keep Mark from spinning into self-loathing. "Be yourself! Your full sequin-y self.” But Mark starts to notice signs that his perfect older brother has problems of his own.
When tragedy capsizes the Davis family, the source of Mark’s strength suddenly becomes the source of his greatest pain, and the path back to happiness seems impossible. Searing for a way out, Mark slips into a dress to just, briefly, become someone else, live a different life. His escape, however, becomes an unexpected outlet for his grief—a path to authentic connection, and a provocation to finally see other people as fully as he wants to be seen.
This ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. Just wow. I actually don’t have enough words for the heartbreak and beauty within these pages. As someone who lost their mom young, I have never found the words to express the pain I felt when I lost her. The anger that is on these pages is so humane and relatable. I think this book needs some serious content/trigger warnings but for someone so many years out from loss, I thought the book was absolutely amazing. The author writes a character experiencing terrible grief, it is absolutely heart wrenching. It also so accurately depicts the grief process that is common with this type of loss, at least from my perspective.
I thought the author got the grief and loss so completely right, but some of the other aspects were a bit off. I absolutely loved the concept of using drag to help with his grief but something about it felt a bit off. I’m not sure if it was the pacing or the writing style but that aspect, in my opinion, could use a bit of tweaking. Overall, this book is just amazing!
Representation: Drag, Gay, mental health
Becoming a Queen is a queer, young adult contemporary. If only Mark Davis hadn’t put on a dress for the talent show. It was a joke—other guys did it too—but when his boyfriend saw Mark in that dress, everything changed.
And now, fresh on the heels of high school heartbreak, Mark has given up on love. Maybe some people are just too much for this world—too weird, too wild, too feminine, too everything. Thankfully, his older brother Eric always knows what to say to keep Mark from spinning into self-loathing. "Be yourself! Your full sequin-y self.” But Mark starts to notice signs that his perfect older brother has problems of his own.
When tragedy capsizes the Davis family, the source of Mark’s strength suddenly becomes the source of his greatest pain, and the path back to happiness seems impossible. Searing for a way out, Mark slips into a dress to just, briefly, become someone else, live a different life. His escape, however, becomes an unexpected outlet for his grief—a path to authentic connection, and a provocation to finally see other people as fully as he wants to be seen.
This ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. Just wow. I actually don’t have enough words for the heartbreak and beauty within these pages. As someone who lost their mom young, I have never found the words to express the pain I felt when I lost her. The anger that is on these pages is so humane and relatable. I think this book needs some serious content/trigger warnings but for someone so many years out from loss, I thought the book was absolutely amazing. The author writes a character experiencing terrible grief, it is absolutely heart wrenching. It also so accurately depicts the grief process that is common with this type of loss, at least from my perspective.
I thought the author got the grief and loss so completely right, but some of the other aspects were a bit off. I absolutely loved the concept of using drag to help with his grief but something about it felt a bit off. I’m not sure if it was the pacing or the writing style but that aspect, in my opinion, could use a bit of tweaking. Overall, this book is just amazing!
July 26, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
This book was so wonderful, so much more than I expected.
Review to come soon, I have to get my emotions in check. So MANY EMOTIONS!!!
This book was so wonderful, so much more than I expected.
Review to come soon, I have to get my emotions in check. So MANY EMOTIONS!!!
May 24, 2023
A beautifully written book with characters that came alive on the pages. A YA book that I’m grateful I read. This story deals with so many struggles that teens have. One of my favorite books I’ve read in 2023.
April 25, 2023
Holy shit.
Well I finally stopped crying long enough to write a review.
I picked this book based on title and cover. I expected a funny, cute, coming of age romance; which definitely is the case but I wasn’t expecting the second half of the book to rip my heart out.
Mark is such a great main character. So funny, quick witted and super relatable (well to me, a super stressed out person always feeling like I’m inconveniencing everyone around me)
Mark just wants to feel pretty and wear dresses once and a while. And even though he has wonderful support in his life he also has some naysayers. His journey to drag was so lovely and heart wrenching.
Read it. It was great.
But also know you may need to pull the car over to cry if you go audiobook. Which you should. It’s read by the author and his performance was incredible.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy of this book.
Well I finally stopped crying long enough to write a review.
I picked this book based on title and cover. I expected a funny, cute, coming of age romance; which definitely is the case but I wasn’t expecting the second half of the book to rip my heart out.
Mark is such a great main character. So funny, quick witted and super relatable (well to me, a super stressed out person always feeling like I’m inconveniencing everyone around me)
Mark just wants to feel pretty and wear dresses once and a while. And even though he has wonderful support in his life he also has some naysayers. His journey to drag was so lovely and heart wrenching.
Read it. It was great.
But also know you may need to pull the car over to cry if you go audiobook. Which you should. It’s read by the author and his performance was incredible.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy of this book.
August 17, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I Just started reading it and I cant easily put it down. Its a great story about some of the struggles of high school. The book fallows Mark through heartbreak and finding himself. I can't wait to see/read what else this new author creates.
May 12, 2024
I have no idea what I just read here. This was an erm interesting roller coaster going from weird romance to attempted philosophical book peppered with random descriptions of dresses.
It took me ages to figure out what the actual plot was (ok, that’s not entirely true, I’m still somewhat confused)
It took me ages to figure out what the actual plot was (ok, that’s not entirely true, I’m still somewhat confused)
November 5, 2023
Whoof. Lots to process on this one. Still deciding between 4 and 5 stars.
July 20, 2023
SO GOOD!! darn I wish I picked as my book club choice!!! Beautifully emotional! Oh, and a boy wants to wear a dress. Author does an incredible job narrating , excellent audiobook
November 6, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This book provided in exchange for an honest review.
Congratulations Dan Clay on a masterful debut!
What I thought was going to be a coming of age story about Mark, was unexpectedly much more than I thought, and absolutely perfect.
You learn about Mark’s desire to be pretty, and wear dresses. Beneath the surface, is a story about family, friends, relationships, substance abuse, and grief. Dan Clay had me giddy with excitement, and near sobbing throughout this book, and I was here for it.
I was incredibly moved by the scene when tragedy strikes the Davis family, as well as the confrontation Mark has with his father at the end of the book. The absolute anguish and performance by Dan Clay’s narration was heartbreaking. It is easily one of the best performances I have heard in an audiobook.
Becoming a Queen will stick with me for a long time, and I will be suggesting this to my book club, as I think it would be a fantastic book for discussion.
***This could be a difficult read for some, so please check trigger warnings before diving in***
Congratulations Dan Clay on a masterful debut!
What I thought was going to be a coming of age story about Mark, was unexpectedly much more than I thought, and absolutely perfect.
You learn about Mark’s desire to be pretty, and wear dresses. Beneath the surface, is a story about family, friends, relationships, substance abuse, and grief. Dan Clay had me giddy with excitement, and near sobbing throughout this book, and I was here for it.
I was incredibly moved by the scene when tragedy strikes the Davis family, as well as the confrontation Mark has with his father at the end of the book. The absolute anguish and performance by Dan Clay’s narration was heartbreaking. It is easily one of the best performances I have heard in an audiobook.
Becoming a Queen will stick with me for a long time, and I will be suggesting this to my book club, as I think it would be a fantastic book for discussion.
***This could be a difficult read for some, so please check trigger warnings before diving in***
December 6, 2022
I adored this story. The grief was VERY powerfully displayed; all the thoughts and emotions from affecting characters were clearly felt and easy to follow. I loved the romance piece as well, and how the main characters' choice of partner reflected their own self-acceptance (we accept the love we think we deserve sort of thing!). All in all, this was one of my favorite reads of 2022. I will definitely be following this author for more.
March 16, 2023
Thanks for Libro.fm for the complimentary audiobook!
This was quite possibly one of the most wonderful audiobooks, not only in the story, characters, and drama, but because of the wonderful and powerful performance of the narration by the author.
I most certainly recommend this! There are quite a few content warnings, so buckle up.
This was quite possibly one of the most wonderful audiobooks, not only in the story, characters, and drama, but because of the wonderful and powerful performance of the narration by the author.
I most certainly recommend this! There are quite a few content warnings, so buckle up.
April 14, 2023
I absolutely adored this book. The narration from the author spooked me when it was stated before the story began, because often, authors do not make great narrators. This was absolutely not the case here. Dan Clay portrayed every emotion so clearly with his voice, from glee to panic and all consuming grief. He put on an absolutely stunning performance. There were a few scenes that will stay with me forever because of the narration. Mrs Davis screams in one scene, and Dan didn’t hold back. I felt my heart rip in half from the pain of the sound she made. Another, was the talent show. I absolutely sobbed through Marks song, completely unable to contain the emotion that his singing voice brought out in me.
Mark has become my favourite MC of the year, by far. This boy was so relatable, from his sarcastic retorts to his over thinking inner dialogue. He just felt so much, and that shone so clearly within the story.
The relationships in this book were absolutely breathtaking. Whether they were familial, romantic, or platonic friendships. Marks relationship with his brother Eric was my favourite dynamic, with how open and honest they were with each other. They related so well to each other, and communicated so much of their feelings, it was really refreshing to see. Marks relationship with Ezra was the sweetest thing I’ve ever read, and I could not love those boys more if I tried.
I really loved the portrayal of faith in this book. So often we see queer storylines with a negative portrayal of church and faith, but here, it was so positive and welcoming, it felt so comforting to hear. Knowing that Marks family has such a strong connection to their church, and never once was there even a hint of anything negative between Marks identity as a queer boy and his religion. I know not all churches or faiths are as welcoming as it was written here, but it was just such a breath of fresh air to me.
The emotional roller coaster within the story is really the shining star for me. I connected to the characters on such a deep level, and I felt so much pain over the loss of someone I felt was so integral to Mark, not only in the literal sense, but integral to who he is as a person. It felt like a personal loss, like I’d just been separated from someone I hold dear in my own heart. I sobbed for a solid 20% of this book.
My favourite piece, and likely the hardest part of this book, was the grief. Not only the feelings I got from the characters, but the overall breakdown of how a person feels being effected by loss and grief. The stages, the feelings of guilt and anger, and the fact that, although so many people experience loss in our lives at various times, there’s never a clear cut way to move through it. That one step forward can result in 10 steps back, and how time doesn’t heal a damn thing, but it just might make the hit of pain feel a little less like a death blow.
Okay, I think that’s enough 😂 I could talk about this book for days on end. I’ll end this with “I highly recommend this book to absolutely everyone, and will be purchasing the audiobook, as well as a physical copy and the ebook, just to make sure I never have to be separated from it.”
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mark has become my favourite MC of the year, by far. This boy was so relatable, from his sarcastic retorts to his over thinking inner dialogue. He just felt so much, and that shone so clearly within the story.
The relationships in this book were absolutely breathtaking. Whether they were familial, romantic, or platonic friendships. Marks relationship with his brother Eric was my favourite dynamic, with how open and honest they were with each other. They related so well to each other, and communicated so much of their feelings, it was really refreshing to see. Marks relationship with Ezra was the sweetest thing I’ve ever read, and I could not love those boys more if I tried.
I really loved the portrayal of faith in this book. So often we see queer storylines with a negative portrayal of church and faith, but here, it was so positive and welcoming, it felt so comforting to hear. Knowing that Marks family has such a strong connection to their church, and never once was there even a hint of anything negative between Marks identity as a queer boy and his religion. I know not all churches or faiths are as welcoming as it was written here, but it was just such a breath of fresh air to me.
The emotional roller coaster within the story is really the shining star for me. I connected to the characters on such a deep level, and I felt so much pain over the loss of someone I felt was so integral to Mark, not only in the literal sense, but integral to who he is as a person. It felt like a personal loss, like I’d just been separated from someone I hold dear in my own heart. I sobbed for a solid 20% of this book.
My favourite piece, and likely the hardest part of this book, was the grief. Not only the feelings I got from the characters, but the overall breakdown of how a person feels being effected by loss and grief. The stages, the feelings of guilt and anger, and the fact that, although so many people experience loss in our lives at various times, there’s never a clear cut way to move through it. That one step forward can result in 10 steps back, and how time doesn’t heal a damn thing, but it just might make the hit of pain feel a little less like a death blow.
Okay, I think that’s enough 😂 I could talk about this book for days on end. I’ll end this with “I highly recommend this book to absolutely everyone, and will be purchasing the audiobook, as well as a physical copy and the ebook, just to make sure I never have to be separated from it.”
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 2, 2025
ENGLISH VERSION BELOW
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Becoming a Queen von Dan Clay ist eine emotionale Coming-of-Age-Geschichte über Selbstfindung, Trauer und Akzeptanz. Besonders mochte ich die Familiengeschichte rund um die Hauptfigur Mark – sie war berührend und authentisch erzählt. Zeitgleich war diese auch schockierend und unerwartet, da sie vom Klappentext her absolut nicht zu erwarten war. Auch die Entstehung von Marks Identität und seine Entwicklung sind schön eingefangen.
Trotzdem konnte mich das Buch nicht völlig überzeugen. Es war für mich teilweise einfach zu amerikanisches Jugendbuch mit vielen Highschool-Elementen, aus denen ich mittlerweile schlichtweg herausgewachsen bin und die mir teils am Nerv gehen. Der Fokus des Buches lag auch nicht beim Thema Drag, wie Cover und Klappentext vermuten lassen, sondern bei vielen anderen Themen.
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Becoming a Queen by Dan Clay is an emotional coming-of-age story about self-discovery, grief, and acceptance. I especially liked the family storyline surrounding the main character, Mark – it was touching and authentically told. At the same time, it was shocking and unexpected, as it wasn't hinted at at all in the book’s blurb. Mark’s journey toward finding his identity and his personal growth were also beautifully portrayed.
Still, the book didn’t completely win me over. At times, it felt too much like a typical American YA novel with lots of high school elements — something I’ve simply outgrown and now often find grating. Also, the focus of the story wasn’t really on drag, as the cover and blurb might suggest, but rather on many other themes.
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Becoming a Queen von Dan Clay ist eine emotionale Coming-of-Age-Geschichte über Selbstfindung, Trauer und Akzeptanz. Besonders mochte ich die Familiengeschichte rund um die Hauptfigur Mark – sie war berührend und authentisch erzählt. Zeitgleich war diese auch schockierend und unerwartet, da sie vom Klappentext her absolut nicht zu erwarten war. Auch die Entstehung von Marks Identität und seine Entwicklung sind schön eingefangen.
Trotzdem konnte mich das Buch nicht völlig überzeugen. Es war für mich teilweise einfach zu amerikanisches Jugendbuch mit vielen Highschool-Elementen, aus denen ich mittlerweile schlichtweg herausgewachsen bin und die mir teils am Nerv gehen. Der Fokus des Buches lag auch nicht beim Thema Drag, wie Cover und Klappentext vermuten lassen, sondern bei vielen anderen Themen.
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Becoming a Queen by Dan Clay is an emotional coming-of-age story about self-discovery, grief, and acceptance. I especially liked the family storyline surrounding the main character, Mark – it was touching and authentically told. At the same time, it was shocking and unexpected, as it wasn't hinted at at all in the book’s blurb. Mark’s journey toward finding his identity and his personal growth were also beautifully portrayed.
Still, the book didn’t completely win me over. At times, it felt too much like a typical American YA novel with lots of high school elements — something I’ve simply outgrown and now often find grating. Also, the focus of the story wasn’t really on drag, as the cover and blurb might suggest, but rather on many other themes.
April 20, 2023
Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and Dan Clay for the opportunity to listen to this book as an advanced listener copy.
General Description: Mark likes to wear dresses. But he can't admit that to the world yet. After a break up, Mark tries to find who he is in high school without being in a relationship. His brother is a huge supporter of anything Mark does. However, when tragedy strikes Mark family, he must discover who he is after experiencing traumatic loss, and if drag can be an acceptable form of solace in his small town.
This is a 5/5 star read for me, and let me explain why:
- for a character driven book, this is fast paced and I love it. I was engaged the entire time while listening.
- If you're not used to audiobooks, you should definitely try this one because Dan Clay narrating it himself was FANTASTIC. You could feel the emotion in every word he read and it enhanced the experience.
- You have complex characters that grow in a beautiful way.
- The book definitely takes a turn from lighthearted to serious and heavy in a minute, and you're along for the ride every minute, while the book handles grief extremely well.
- The side characters are fantastic and i want more about them.
Overall: please read this especially if you're experiencing grief. I recently lost my grandfather and listened to his book while planning this funeral and it really helped me process my grief.
General Description: Mark likes to wear dresses. But he can't admit that to the world yet. After a break up, Mark tries to find who he is in high school without being in a relationship. His brother is a huge supporter of anything Mark does. However, when tragedy strikes Mark family, he must discover who he is after experiencing traumatic loss, and if drag can be an acceptable form of solace in his small town.
This is a 5/5 star read for me, and let me explain why:
- for a character driven book, this is fast paced and I love it. I was engaged the entire time while listening.
- If you're not used to audiobooks, you should definitely try this one because Dan Clay narrating it himself was FANTASTIC. You could feel the emotion in every word he read and it enhanced the experience.
- You have complex characters that grow in a beautiful way.
- The book definitely takes a turn from lighthearted to serious and heavy in a minute, and you're along for the ride every minute, while the book handles grief extremely well.
- The side characters are fantastic and i want more about them.
Overall: please read this especially if you're experiencing grief. I recently lost my grandfather and listened to his book while planning this funeral and it really helped me process my grief.
August 5, 2023
Wow…I’m going to need time to process this, but I know this book is going to stick with me for a very long time.
May 21, 2023
The perfect book. I’ll reread this again and again. As someone else who escaped grief through gender expression, I’ve never felt more seen. That said, the book itself is real and raw without being gratuitous, and is wonderfully written.
May 7, 2023
Cannot recommend this book more highly, it is simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful... And very funny.
When Dan Clay started Carrie Dragshaw, he said his aim was to “create a little corner of the internet that’s only positivity and love.” This book feels like a worthy extension of that endeavor. Don't get me wrong, this book has real loss, conflict, and grief but it still feels refreshingly optimistic.
The story of Mark, his family, friends, and boyfriend is addictively readable. The characters are funny, flawed, relatable, and memorable. Several of the scenes will stick with me for a long time.
Nothing about this book is overtly political but at a time when people are attacking drag queen storytime, it feels right to read a book about drag giving a kid a source of joy and an outlet for grief.
Lastly, I'm sure this book is delightful in all forms but the audiobook, narrated by the author, is a real treat! His years in theater gave him range and his voice brings this story to life.
When Dan Clay started Carrie Dragshaw, he said his aim was to “create a little corner of the internet that’s only positivity and love.” This book feels like a worthy extension of that endeavor. Don't get me wrong, this book has real loss, conflict, and grief but it still feels refreshingly optimistic.
The story of Mark, his family, friends, and boyfriend is addictively readable. The characters are funny, flawed, relatable, and memorable. Several of the scenes will stick with me for a long time.
Nothing about this book is overtly political but at a time when people are attacking drag queen storytime, it feels right to read a book about drag giving a kid a source of joy and an outlet for grief.
Lastly, I'm sure this book is delightful in all forms but the audiobook, narrated by the author, is a real treat! His years in theater gave him range and his voice brings this story to life.
April 4, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and Dan Clay (author AND audiobook narrator) for the opportunity to read Becoming a Queen in exchange for an honest review.
Dan Clay is not only the author, but also the narrator of his own audiobook, and he is an excellent and flavorful voice actor! I also love that the author himself is a drag queen and has written a brilliant debut novel to share the perspective of drag for a teen.
After wearing a dress for the talent show (since a bunch of other guys did it too), Mark's joke becomes something more, especially after a comment from his boyfriend. Giving up on love, Mark turns to his older brother, Eric, for advice. Eric has been Mark's go-to for advice since childhood, with simple inquiries from the age of seven about kissing boys and wearing dresses. Eric always encourages Mark to just be himself.
Mark follows his older brother's advice, but he realizes soon that his older brother has problems of his own, especially with alcohol, and maybe Eric needs someone to look up to as well. When tragedy strikes, Mark uses his dresses to become someone else, soon to learn that "someone else" is just another part of who he truly is. Navigating through a complicated romance with his boyfriend Ezra, the family tragedy, and exploring how to express himself to the best of his ability, Mark follows his brother's advice through-and-through: be himself.
This is an amazing novel that explores self-esteem, alcoholism, loss, and discovering oneself. Learning to express who one is is one of the most important aspects of being human, and this novel is a well-written blend with exploring sexual orientation and what it means to be a drag queen.
A brilliant debut for any reader of the LGBTQ community and allies, and anyone interested in a heart-felt story that hits hard what it means to be human.
Dan Clay is not only the author, but also the narrator of his own audiobook, and he is an excellent and flavorful voice actor! I also love that the author himself is a drag queen and has written a brilliant debut novel to share the perspective of drag for a teen.
After wearing a dress for the talent show (since a bunch of other guys did it too), Mark's joke becomes something more, especially after a comment from his boyfriend. Giving up on love, Mark turns to his older brother, Eric, for advice. Eric has been Mark's go-to for advice since childhood, with simple inquiries from the age of seven about kissing boys and wearing dresses. Eric always encourages Mark to just be himself.
Mark follows his older brother's advice, but he realizes soon that his older brother has problems of his own, especially with alcohol, and maybe Eric needs someone to look up to as well. When tragedy strikes, Mark uses his dresses to become someone else, soon to learn that "someone else" is just another part of who he truly is. Navigating through a complicated romance with his boyfriend Ezra, the family tragedy, and exploring how to express himself to the best of his ability, Mark follows his brother's advice through-and-through: be himself.
This is an amazing novel that explores self-esteem, alcoholism, loss, and discovering oneself. Learning to express who one is is one of the most important aspects of being human, and this novel is a well-written blend with exploring sexual orientation and what it means to be a drag queen.
A brilliant debut for any reader of the LGBTQ community and allies, and anyone interested in a heart-felt story that hits hard what it means to be human.
April 24, 2023
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis from Amazon: If only Mark Davis hadn’t put on a dress for the talent show. It was a joke—other guys did it too—but when his boyfriend saw Mark in that dress, everything changed.
And now, fresh on the heels of high school heartbreak, Mark has given up on love. Maybe some people are just too much for this world—too weird, too wild, too feminine, too everything. Thankfully, his older brother Eric always knows what to say to keep Mark from spinning into self-loathing. "Be yourself! Your full sequin-y self.”
But Mark starts to notice signs that his perfect older brother has problems of his own.
When the source of Mark’s strength suddenly becomes the source of his greatest pain, the path back to happiness seems impossible. Searching for a way out, Mark slips into a dress to just, briefly, become someone else, live a different life. His escape, however, becomes an unexpected outlet for his pain—a path to authentic connection, and a provocation to finally see other people as fully as he wants to be seen.
Review: This book. This. Book. This book somehow made my mama heart so happy and so devastated. The whole Davis family has my heart. This is a book I'll have my daughter read not only so she knows that she should always be herself, even if there are 52 versions of her and each one is a little bit of a lie (IYKYK) but also so she knows that she deserves a partner who only wants to amplify who she is, not squash her down. This book was everything I didn't know I needed in a book right now.
Synopsis from Amazon: If only Mark Davis hadn’t put on a dress for the talent show. It was a joke—other guys did it too—but when his boyfriend saw Mark in that dress, everything changed.
And now, fresh on the heels of high school heartbreak, Mark has given up on love. Maybe some people are just too much for this world—too weird, too wild, too feminine, too everything. Thankfully, his older brother Eric always knows what to say to keep Mark from spinning into self-loathing. "Be yourself! Your full sequin-y self.”
But Mark starts to notice signs that his perfect older brother has problems of his own.
When the source of Mark’s strength suddenly becomes the source of his greatest pain, the path back to happiness seems impossible. Searching for a way out, Mark slips into a dress to just, briefly, become someone else, live a different life. His escape, however, becomes an unexpected outlet for his pain—a path to authentic connection, and a provocation to finally see other people as fully as he wants to be seen.
Review: This book. This. Book. This book somehow made my mama heart so happy and so devastated. The whole Davis family has my heart. This is a book I'll have my daughter read not only so she knows that she should always be herself, even if there are 52 versions of her and each one is a little bit of a lie (IYKYK) but also so she knows that she deserves a partner who only wants to amplify who she is, not squash her down. This book was everything I didn't know I needed in a book right now.
April 25, 2024
I didn't expect that this book would make me cry so hard.
I mean my grandma died today and I didn't shed a tear (she was 92, not very nice and she suffered so much in the past few days that it was actually a good thing that she passed in her sleep) but this book has so much raw grieve.... And it deals with it in an impressive way. It has beautiful moments and even though I don't share the religious part of the grieving part, I was happy about how different topics were handled.
Not the fun story I was hoping for when I bought it because of the cover and the title but a very good book nonetheless.
I mean my grandma died today and I didn't shed a tear (she was 92, not very nice and she suffered so much in the past few days that it was actually a good thing that she passed in her sleep) but this book has so much raw grieve.... And it deals with it in an impressive way. It has beautiful moments and even though I don't share the religious part of the grieving part, I was happy about how different topics were handled.
Not the fun story I was hoping for when I bought it because of the cover and the title but a very good book nonetheless.
October 5, 2023
so incredibly beautiful 💜💜
This was one of those books that made me laugh, and cry, and cry again because it was over. I could’ve spent a lifetime with Mark Davis.
There is a lot in this book that I think so many people would relate to. It’s starts with Mark’s first heartbreak over his first love, which will remind you of how strongly you felt about everything at 16. Then there is Mark finding his second love, but being so scared of his heart breaking again. There’s Mark finding a piece of himself that he always knew was there, but couldn’t quite let out: that he feels beautiful and happy when he puts on a dress.
There’s also a lot of grief and how Mark gets through it. I think anyone who’s lost someone will relate to Mark, and how navigating grief is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.
Then there’s hope, and love, and beauty. Mark’s stunning boyfriend Ezra (I need to know that Ezra exists somewhere!!) and Mark’s amazing friends, who may not totally understand but are always there to hold his hand and fix his wig.
A beautiful story about growing up, friendship, pain, love, and finding your own queen 💜
This was one of those books that made me laugh, and cry, and cry again because it was over. I could’ve spent a lifetime with Mark Davis.
There is a lot in this book that I think so many people would relate to. It’s starts with Mark’s first heartbreak over his first love, which will remind you of how strongly you felt about everything at 16. Then there is Mark finding his second love, but being so scared of his heart breaking again. There’s Mark finding a piece of himself that he always knew was there, but couldn’t quite let out: that he feels beautiful and happy when he puts on a dress.
There’s also a lot of grief and how Mark gets through it. I think anyone who’s lost someone will relate to Mark, and how navigating grief is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.
Then there’s hope, and love, and beauty. Mark’s stunning boyfriend Ezra (I need to know that Ezra exists somewhere!!) and Mark’s amazing friends, who may not totally understand but are always there to hold his hand and fix his wig.
A beautiful story about growing up, friendship, pain, love, and finding your own queen 💜
March 3, 2024
This book checked all the boxes. It made me laugh out loud, cringe, gasp, cry, and hope.
When Mark put on the dress for his high school talent show, it changed everything. Mark has always wanted to wear one, and now that he's finally there, he's on cloud nine. And then his boyfriend sees, and everything changes. Now, Mark is fresh out of a horrible breakup, and he's sure he'll never wear a dress again. But throughout it all, Mark's brother, Erik, always supports him, encouraging him to be his "full sequence-y self!". But when Mark's source of comfort transforms into his source of despair, he must rely on his new boyfriend, friends, and family.
An amazing book, this is a story that is filled to the brim of humor, love, and emotion. I recommend this book for people 13 and up for mature references, language, and death.
When Mark put on the dress for his high school talent show, it changed everything. Mark has always wanted to wear one, and now that he's finally there, he's on cloud nine. And then his boyfriend sees, and everything changes. Now, Mark is fresh out of a horrible breakup, and he's sure he'll never wear a dress again. But throughout it all, Mark's brother, Erik, always supports him, encouraging him to be his "full sequence-y self!". But when Mark's source of comfort transforms into his source of despair, he must rely on his new boyfriend, friends, and family.
An amazing book, this is a story that is filled to the brim of humor, love, and emotion. I recommend this book for people 13 and up for mature references, language, and death.
October 26, 2023
You saw the cover and it made you hope for something, and it was everything you were looking for. You laughed, and smiled, and cried and sobbed and sighed when it ended, then got misty-eyed again when the author's note addressed you directly at the end. You rated it 5 stars on Goodreads, then went to bed thinking about Mark, Eric, Ezra and what dress you were going to wear the next day.
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