What do you think?
Rate this book
Be Real: A Guide to Authenticity
A zombie apocalypse in Singapore.
A gentle poke at the shenanigans writers get up to.
And a satire about our hunger for the real thing.
Meet Zachary Kwan, a middling novelist trapped in a bout of writer’s block. His marriage to a celebrity model is on the rocks, his latest book is met with scathing reviews, and he’s about to be cancelled. Things really couldn’t get any worse.
Spoiler they do.
A zombie epidemic takes over the world. And Zachary Kwan, writer of best-selling self-help book under a pseudonym, is infected.
Written in poetic form by Felix Cheong and illustrated by Arif Rafhan, Be Real puts a finger on the zeitgeist of our times. In an age defined by curation, how do we know what is real? Will we even recognize ourselves when we reveal our ‘true’ selves?
‘A Singapore zombie apocalypse story by Felix Cheong you can sink your teeth into, with stunning artwork by Arif Rafhan. A thoroughly enjoyable read.’ —Max Le Blond, Cultural Medallion, Drama, 1987
‘Felix Cheong tells a story that at once reminds one of Godard’s Le Mepris, Percival Everett’s Erasure—and nothing you’ve ever read or seen before. The storytelling is deft, the art is meticulous, and the result is a multilayered narrative that pushes back against conventions of genre and form. Besides and beyond all of that, it is an engaging and thrilling read—for real!’ —Angelo R. Lacuesta, novelist and short story writer
A gentle poke at the shenanigans writers get up to.
And a satire about our hunger for the real thing.
Meet Zachary Kwan, a middling novelist trapped in a bout of writer’s block. His marriage to a celebrity model is on the rocks, his latest book is met with scathing reviews, and he’s about to be cancelled. Things really couldn’t get any worse.
Spoiler they do.
A zombie epidemic takes over the world. And Zachary Kwan, writer of best-selling self-help book under a pseudonym, is infected.
Written in poetic form by Felix Cheong and illustrated by Arif Rafhan, Be Real puts a finger on the zeitgeist of our times. In an age defined by curation, how do we know what is real? Will we even recognize ourselves when we reveal our ‘true’ selves?
‘A Singapore zombie apocalypse story by Felix Cheong you can sink your teeth into, with stunning artwork by Arif Rafhan. A thoroughly enjoyable read.’ —Max Le Blond, Cultural Medallion, Drama, 1987
‘Felix Cheong tells a story that at once reminds one of Godard’s Le Mepris, Percival Everett’s Erasure—and nothing you’ve ever read or seen before. The storytelling is deft, the art is meticulous, and the result is a multilayered narrative that pushes back against conventions of genre and form. Besides and beyond all of that, it is an engaging and thrilling read—for real!’ —Angelo R. Lacuesta, novelist and short story writer
164 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 12, 2025
A fury, dark plot in a compelling package of social satire and zombie apocalypse setting. I followed Zachary Kwan, a middling novelist in his mess of writer’s block, marriage crisis and having to deal with a storm of backlash from his previous published book. As the world turned decayed over a zombie epidemic, Zach gets infected and was overdose with anxiety going all obsessed on being authentic. He did a self-help comeback under a pseudonym with book titled Be Real: A Guide to Authenticity; a best-selling that soon unexpectedly ensued a chaos.
Having fast and tense pacing with engaging cinematic worldbuilding; loved its gory illustrations as well how the illustrator managed to express that troubled psycho-madness character for Zach. The writing was poetic, sharp and quite whimsy— a satirical insight to the self-help cliches, on influencer culture of fake vs real as well how media could playfully monetizing one’s issue and exploit it. The irony of Zach wanted to be real yet was forced to use a pseudonym for his comeback. A glimpse on desperation and revenge that turned into a chaotic aftermath, a thrilling dynamic both for the plot and characters, loved that last spread of Zach before ‘the end’ page.
Stunning artwork, a quick, short, easy to grasp narrative despite its mash-up satire and grotesque zombified themes: neat and enjoyable overall.
(Thank you PenguinBook SEA for the gifted copy!)
Having fast and tense pacing with engaging cinematic worldbuilding; loved its gory illustrations as well how the illustrator managed to express that troubled psycho-madness character for Zach. The writing was poetic, sharp and quite whimsy— a satirical insight to the self-help cliches, on influencer culture of fake vs real as well how media could playfully monetizing one’s issue and exploit it. The irony of Zach wanted to be real yet was forced to use a pseudonym for his comeback. A glimpse on desperation and revenge that turned into a chaotic aftermath, a thrilling dynamic both for the plot and characters, loved that last spread of Zach before ‘the end’ page.
Stunning artwork, a quick, short, easy to grasp narrative despite its mash-up satire and grotesque zombified themes: neat and enjoyable overall.
(Thank you PenguinBook SEA for the gifted copy!)
April 27, 2025
Book 086 of 350 ~ 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
To pull off something like this, you must be talented on loco levels. This is my first graphic novel where the story is told in poetic format.
The punch of the lines has an extra hit to it IMHO as they are beautifully laid out by @arifrafhan
To me, this is a work of art, and I am so lucky to have been given the opportunity to review this one.
I still have to get my hands on the titles mentioned in #BeReal
I don't know how you still do it @felixcheong65 but one thing is for sure, regardless of the genre, you never disappoint.
Definitely recommend this one... oh, and one 🌟 just because it is @felixcheong65 :)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#book086of350 #amreading #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2025 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
To pull off something like this, you must be talented on loco levels. This is my first graphic novel where the story is told in poetic format.
The punch of the lines has an extra hit to it IMHO as they are beautifully laid out by @arifrafhan
To me, this is a work of art, and I am so lucky to have been given the opportunity to review this one.
I still have to get my hands on the titles mentioned in #BeReal
I don't know how you still do it @felixcheong65 but one thing is for sure, regardless of the genre, you never disappoint.
Definitely recommend this one... oh, and one 🌟 just because it is @felixcheong65 :)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#book086of350 #amreading #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2025 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds
December 26, 2025
Such a fun read!
I read it in one sitting while waiting, and I appreciate the artwork and the story. However, I really feel like there is something more that I am looking for in a certain graphic novel.
I read it in one sitting while waiting, and I appreciate the artwork and the story. However, I really feel like there is something more that I am looking for in a certain graphic novel.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews