Finding Him, Finding Me: A memoir About Love, Chaos and Questionable Decisions

by Leo Weston

When 22-year-old Leo returns to London after a year in Australia, he’s sun-kissed, single, and spiralling. What begins as a quiet pint at The Pennyfarthing pub quickly turns into a whirlwind of reunion, romance, and emotional unravelling. Enter William — a charming Scottish nurse with big ears and a steady heart — and suddenly, Leo’s plans to stay unattached become very, very complicated.


Set in the early '90s, Finding Him, Finding Me is a raw, hilarious, and tender memoir of queer life, chosen family, and self-discovery. Between pub lock-ins, disastrous dates, and unexpectedly profound moments in bathtubs, Leo must confront his past, embrace his inner chaos, and figure out what it means to be truly seen — and truly loved.

With wit, warmth, and a generous pour of self-deprecation, Leo Weston tells the story of falling in love — with someone else, yes, but more importantly, with himself.

276 pages, Paperback

Published July 5, 2025

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6? Clearly a passion project (at least semi-autobiographical) and engaging, but a bit messy and could have used editing to clear up the telling of the story (as well as many incongruities in timeline - this is 1992, but many small references to things/people were present from future decades - like selfies or Beyonce).

[Katherine Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is loud and vibrant. It’s fabulous. It’s been a while since I’ve read a big-hearted memoir that captures the messy pulse of being young. Our protagonist is trying to make sense of himself in a world that keeps changing. We start with a return to bleak England after a failed romance in Australia. The storytelling is immediate and candid. It feels like being swept into a conversation. It’s written with the chaotic sincerity of being twenty-something and building a life from mismatched pieces.

Tenderness underpins every sharp joke and moment of emotional freefall. Small, disarming instants come into hyper-sharp focus. I felt the hope that keeps him moving, and the courage needed to let another person in after being hurt. The book is warm. It’s funny and grounding.
A brilliant story about life and becoming the person you didn’t know you could be.

[Lisa Brooke Reads Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

Finding Him, Finding Me had potential, but unfortunately, the execution fell completely flat. The pacing dragged, the characters never felt fully developed, and the emotional depth the story wanted to deliver just never landed. Instead of being pulled in, I found myself pushing through page after page, hoping something, anything, would spark interest. It didn’t.

The storyline felt repetitive, the dialogue lacked authenticity, and the overall structure was disjointed enough to make the book feel more like a rough draft than a polished novel. I kept waiting for that big moment of connection or clarity the book seemed to promise, but it never arrived.

Simply put: this one did not work for me at all.

If you want a story that grips you or characters you can truly root for… this isn’t it.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

Ima be real. My oldest child is gay. And as a mom, I always knew, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying about the world my child will grow up in. That’s why this book touched me in a way I didn’t expect—it really got to my emotions.

This book was beautiful. It wasn’t perfect, but it was honest, emotional, and full of heart. Some parts made me smile, some hurt a little, and some made me pause and reflect on my feelings. It moved me so much that I called my son just to talk.

To me, this book wasn’t just one person’s story. It was about being yourself, about friendship, about love, and about finding where you belong. As a mother, that meant everything to me.

[Thomas Rafferty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Him, Finding Me is like Heartstopper all grown up and going out with Queer as Folk — funny, raw, and heartbreakingly relatable. Leo Weston’s writing will have you laughing one moment and gasping the next with its tenderness. The friendships, the Sunday roasts, the late-night chaos in 1990s London all feel so real you’re right there with him. At once a love story and a celebration of friendship and chosen family, this memoir is warm, witty, and unforgettable.

[John Slater]

I remember being gay in the 90s, and Finding Him, Finding Me brought so much of that time back to me. The pubs, the friendships, the humour we used to survive on — it’s all here. Weston captures both the joy and the fear of that era with honesty and warmth. It reminded me of my own youth, but it also felt fresh and hopeful. A moving, funny, and very real memoir.

[Daisy Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Finding Him, Finding Me and honestly I couldn’t put it down, what a ride. It’s funny, raw, and so full of heart that I didn’t want it to end. The mix of humour and tenderness had me laughing one minute and a bit teary the next. Thoroughly enjoyed every page. Highly recommend! 🌈📚

[Jenny Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mum of a gay son, Finding Him, Finding Me moved me to laughter and tears. It’s a heartfelt reminder that love, friendship, and chosen family can make the world a brighter, safer place.

[Amanda Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a self-confessed fag hag in the 90s, I adored this book. The pubs, the lock-ins, the gossip — it was like stepping back into my twenties. Funny, raw, and full of love. Highly recommend.

[Ryan Osbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

This was a real page turnerer. Pills, Poppers and Belonging is probably my favorite chapter, very thought provocative. I would recommend ^.^

[tami Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this memoir. It’s a beautiful love story, beautifully told. And it’s funny and honest with just the right amount of sexy descriptions. Honestly, it was so refreshing to read from a gay writer - made me miss my gay friends I spent so much time with when I was young and single.

[kellie lee prior · Rating 5 out of 5]

read it in a day

Absolutely loved the book , funny heartwarming great read couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to the next instalment 😄. I’m invested in Leo Weston’s now 😄