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Spiralling
'Oh, by the way, Gabe. I know what happened with Seamus! Everybody at Kiss does.'
How did Mitchell know any details about my breakup? I felt my jaw tense. Why did everybody at the third most popular bar in The Village also know? Did Seamus tell them? My heart rate switched from a pulse to a vibration, and my limbs stiffened. Were they all talking about it and laughing at me? Did they, for some reason, now hate me?
Gabriel is at rock a scandalous break-up with his wannabe poet ex-boyfriend, followed by a sudden sacking, and he’s spiralling. Thank God for his best friends, Tasha and Evie, who are committed to pulling him out of his depression hole and back into the world of work and dating. But suddenly there are new How can he convince DiscreetHung from Grindr to go on a real-life date with him? Could the gorgeous man in the Post Office be The One? And why is Tasha’s boyfriend, Scott, trying to get between her and Gabe?
How did Mitchell know any details about my breakup? I felt my jaw tense. Why did everybody at the third most popular bar in The Village also know? Did Seamus tell them? My heart rate switched from a pulse to a vibration, and my limbs stiffened. Were they all talking about it and laughing at me? Did they, for some reason, now hate me?
Gabriel is at rock a scandalous break-up with his wannabe poet ex-boyfriend, followed by a sudden sacking, and he’s spiralling. Thank God for his best friends, Tasha and Evie, who are committed to pulling him out of his depression hole and back into the world of work and dating. But suddenly there are new How can he convince DiscreetHung from Grindr to go on a real-life date with him? Could the gorgeous man in the Post Office be The One? And why is Tasha’s boyfriend, Scott, trying to get between her and Gabe?
320 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2025
14 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 16, 2025
Spiralling is the story of Gabe, a young gay man living in Manchester with boyfriend Seamus. That is until he discovers the ultimate betrayal, he loses his job and he, effectively falls apart. Or he would have done if it wasn't for best mates, Tasha and Evie. Who, along with a supporting cast of family, friends and Paul the security guard, help to push Gabe back onto his feet.
I loved this book. The writing is a mix of prose, some rather risqué poetry and text messages. It is really funny in parts, a little bit near the knuckle in others and very emotional as well.
Cal Speet is an author new to me but I really hope that he writes more soon. His characters were totally believable and wonderfully vulnerable. The holiday to Seville was my favourite part.
I'll warn you now that if you are a sensitive soul you might want to skip some parts but do read this book. Its a wonderful story about real friendship, learning about yourself and a lesson in gaining self-respect, knowing what you want and always standing up for your real friends.
Highly recommended. If you like something a bit different with great dialogue and characters then this is for you.
Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperNorth for the advance review copy.
I loved this book. The writing is a mix of prose, some rather risqué poetry and text messages. It is really funny in parts, a little bit near the knuckle in others and very emotional as well.
Cal Speet is an author new to me but I really hope that he writes more soon. His characters were totally believable and wonderfully vulnerable. The holiday to Seville was my favourite part.
I'll warn you now that if you are a sensitive soul you might want to skip some parts but do read this book. Its a wonderful story about real friendship, learning about yourself and a lesson in gaining self-respect, knowing what you want and always standing up for your real friends.
Highly recommended. If you like something a bit different with great dialogue and characters then this is for you.
Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperNorth for the advance review copy.
September 28, 2025
i loved this! so hilarious and a very authentic representation of contemporary queer life and love
January 8, 2026
a bit silly, but genuinely funny at times
July 6, 2025
Spiralling is a novel about a gay man living in Manchester whose life falls apart after his boyfriend cheats on him, so he has to spend the next year trying to pull himself back together, with the help of his friends. Gabriel has just broken up with his boyfriend and then he's fired from his job, so he's ready to start spiralling. His best friends Tasha and Evie are there to help him, but they have relationship ups and downs of their own. As Gabriel tries to deal with his problems and not forget to care about his friends' problems too, everything gets messy.
This is a fun book that manages to cover a lot of aspects of modern day life for gay men through Gabriel and other people he knows, delving into some serious topics but always keeping things pretty light-hearted. The story is told through a combination of first person narration, messages between people, and occasional other, more creative forms of writing, seemingly to reflect Gabriel's desire to be a writer (even if he hardly ever writes, a highly relatable trait). There's also occasional footnotes to explain things, which were meant to be humorous but sometimes read like the book was entirely aimed at straight people with no awareness of modern queer culture or any slang. Generally, the style of telling the story worked well to keep the book light and funny even as things went wrong, in the same way Gabriel tended to make jokes about things even when they were bad.
The Manchester setting was great, with a lot of recognisable details, and generally it is packed full of British culture and things like exactly which pair of Dr Martens Gabriel is wearing. It was refreshing to see this kind of book—someone down on their luck in terms of love and work who has a messy time with their friends—being about a gay man, and I liked how the book had space to explore some of Gabriel's feelings about what it is like to be a gay man in the modern world. As you'd expect from the genre and vibe of the book, things are wrapped up pretty neatly with some potential big drama averted at least for Gabriel. Overall, this is a funny, messy read that reminded me of the sitcom Big Boys in its approach to both serious topics and showing modern gay life.
This is a fun book that manages to cover a lot of aspects of modern day life for gay men through Gabriel and other people he knows, delving into some serious topics but always keeping things pretty light-hearted. The story is told through a combination of first person narration, messages between people, and occasional other, more creative forms of writing, seemingly to reflect Gabriel's desire to be a writer (even if he hardly ever writes, a highly relatable trait). There's also occasional footnotes to explain things, which were meant to be humorous but sometimes read like the book was entirely aimed at straight people with no awareness of modern queer culture or any slang. Generally, the style of telling the story worked well to keep the book light and funny even as things went wrong, in the same way Gabriel tended to make jokes about things even when they were bad.
The Manchester setting was great, with a lot of recognisable details, and generally it is packed full of British culture and things like exactly which pair of Dr Martens Gabriel is wearing. It was refreshing to see this kind of book—someone down on their luck in terms of love and work who has a messy time with their friends—being about a gay man, and I liked how the book had space to explore some of Gabriel's feelings about what it is like to be a gay man in the modern world. As you'd expect from the genre and vibe of the book, things are wrapped up pretty neatly with some potential big drama averted at least for Gabriel. Overall, this is a funny, messy read that reminded me of the sitcom Big Boys in its approach to both serious topics and showing modern gay life.
June 30, 2025
A hilarious, down-to-earth, heartwarmingly honest celebration of queerness in the north: I’ll be recommending Spiralling to everyone I know!
This stunning debut follows a gay twenty-something recovering from a terrible heartbreak and explores how queerness isn’t just a label, but a way of moving through the world. Gabriel is a witty, intelligent, sometimes flawed but always loved protagonist: it’s impossible not to root for him from the very first page as he ventures through the ever-changing dynamics of friendships, relationships, and an unexpected father-son bond, aided by a vibrantly refreshing narrative voice. I read this as a love letter to Manchester, to the LGBTQ+ community, and to modern life with all its diversity. By the end, the characters felt like friends - and I wanted them to be!
This stunning debut follows a gay twenty-something recovering from a terrible heartbreak and explores how queerness isn’t just a label, but a way of moving through the world. Gabriel is a witty, intelligent, sometimes flawed but always loved protagonist: it’s impossible not to root for him from the very first page as he ventures through the ever-changing dynamics of friendships, relationships, and an unexpected father-son bond, aided by a vibrantly refreshing narrative voice. I read this as a love letter to Manchester, to the LGBTQ+ community, and to modern life with all its diversity. By the end, the characters felt like friends - and I wanted them to be!
August 1, 2025
An authentic and hilarious love letter to Manchester and the LGBTQ+ community. The minute Gabe likened himself to a member of The Shire I was hooked. Love, love, love!
August 10, 2025
Gorgeous!! So much energy, so funny and heartwarming. Thanks so much to Harper North for my copy, review soon!
December 1, 2025
Speet is a talented writer, and Spiralling is a fun debut. His sentences are rich, his references are fun, and the way the story unfolds is exciting. I read this book within a couple of days (an easy, before-bed pick-up) and I couldn’t wait to reach the end. That alone is a testament to Speet’s writing. He knows how to make a story both funny and compelling.
What I never enjoy in a novel are those moments when the author’s voice comes too clearly to the forefront. When characters are used a bit too obviously as mouthpieces to address the reader. It doesn’t feel natural or logical, and it pulls me out of the narrative. In that sense, it reminded me slightly of Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T. J. Klune: a great book with great characters, but at times a bit too overt in its messaging (even though I wholeheartedly agree with that message).
All in all, I’ll be adding Speet to my list of writers to watch. I’m very much looking forward to his next book.
What I never enjoy in a novel are those moments when the author’s voice comes too clearly to the forefront. When characters are used a bit too obviously as mouthpieces to address the reader. It doesn’t feel natural or logical, and it pulls me out of the narrative. In that sense, it reminded me slightly of Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T. J. Klune: a great book with great characters, but at times a bit too overt in its messaging (even though I wholeheartedly agree with that message).
All in all, I’ll be adding Speet to my list of writers to watch. I’m very much looking forward to his next book.
July 29, 2025
I'd like to begin by admitting that I am convinced I am not the intended reader for this book (middle aged woman who enjoys a good M/M romance or historical novel). I think I was deceived by the cover (which I find very distasteful, by the way, by combining such a beautiful image with horrible lettering and bold bright colours that looks like it was made in Word 95) and the title into thinking it was a more heartfelt narrative about loss. Hence why I was not impressed with the first half of part one, and I struggled to connect or empathize with the MC.
On that note, I found Gabe to be rather irritating, high maintenance and self centered, and sometimes even arrogant towards his friends. It was well deserved when he had the talking down by Mitchell.
Having said that, I´ll have to commend the author for his use of different formatting in some of the sections which, although I found a tad childish myself, I´m sure will resonate with young readers and make for a welcome change. I also appreciated the lack of gratuituous sex descriptions that are so rife in M/M romance books these days. Although there were some (like the 'douche guide') that will unfortunately close the door to a potential young adult audience.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2025
Absolutely loved it!! as a village and mcr city centre resident it was lovely to picture Gabe’s life in various haunts of the city centre and even beyond in good old stockport. hope there’s a sequel on the horizon.
January 11, 2026
my firstborn
January 18, 2026
I knew I’d love this book but I didn’t expect to love it this much.
Spiralling follows Gabe, a young gay man living and working in Manchester in the aftermath of a breakup under very messy circumstances (no spoilers) and the loss of his job.
The novel follows the year post heart ache and how he begins to rebuild his life in the city, supported by his fabulous and wildly opposite girlfriends.
It sounds like a simple premise, but the execution is anything but. The book genuinely surprised me, full of turns and twists, and every situation felt deeply real. Nothing felt forced or overly dramatic. It was messy in the way real life is messy.
As a gay man living up north, I found this book incredibly relatable. I loved the references to real places and real brands, and how every character feels like they have been inspired by an actual person. They are so fully formed. I know these people. We all do.
What I loved most was how the book highlights parts of the gay experience that can be uncomfortable to talk about, shame, internalised homophobia, the pressure to prove yourself due to that lingering feeling of being less than we all have felt. Cal Speet does an excellent job of weaving these themes organically into this work and it never feels heavy handed.
A standout character for me was Paul, a hard edged, straight, blokey bloke who experiences a later in life shift in his perspective on queer people through getting to know Gabe. It genuinely warmed my heart. It is so relatable, we all know a Paul, and we all know how hard it can be for older generations to unlearn and rethink their beliefs.
This book and the writing itself, is also hysterically funny. Maybe it is because I am a northern gay, but the language, the references, the chaotic cliff notes, all of it was spot on. Messy, nonsensical, heartfelt chaos that queer people and good allies will instantly recognise.
This book made me belly laugh, ugly cry, angry scowl, and sit uncomfortably with my own thoughts on my personal gay experiences. It brought back those teenage feelings of shame, but most of all it gave me the warm and fuzzy’s feeling the support and love from Gabe’s support network and the love they have for one another.
Spiralling follows Gabe, a young gay man living and working in Manchester in the aftermath of a breakup under very messy circumstances (no spoilers) and the loss of his job.
The novel follows the year post heart ache and how he begins to rebuild his life in the city, supported by his fabulous and wildly opposite girlfriends.
It sounds like a simple premise, but the execution is anything but. The book genuinely surprised me, full of turns and twists, and every situation felt deeply real. Nothing felt forced or overly dramatic. It was messy in the way real life is messy.
As a gay man living up north, I found this book incredibly relatable. I loved the references to real places and real brands, and how every character feels like they have been inspired by an actual person. They are so fully formed. I know these people. We all do.
What I loved most was how the book highlights parts of the gay experience that can be uncomfortable to talk about, shame, internalised homophobia, the pressure to prove yourself due to that lingering feeling of being less than we all have felt. Cal Speet does an excellent job of weaving these themes organically into this work and it never feels heavy handed.
A standout character for me was Paul, a hard edged, straight, blokey bloke who experiences a later in life shift in his perspective on queer people through getting to know Gabe. It genuinely warmed my heart. It is so relatable, we all know a Paul, and we all know how hard it can be for older generations to unlearn and rethink their beliefs.
This book and the writing itself, is also hysterically funny. Maybe it is because I am a northern gay, but the language, the references, the chaotic cliff notes, all of it was spot on. Messy, nonsensical, heartfelt chaos that queer people and good allies will instantly recognise.
This book made me belly laugh, ugly cry, angry scowl, and sit uncomfortably with my own thoughts on my personal gay experiences. It brought back those teenage feelings of shame, but most of all it gave me the warm and fuzzy’s feeling the support and love from Gabe’s support network and the love they have for one another.
July 18, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Spiralling follows Gabe through a year in his life, in which is loses his boyfriend, his job and his trajectory.
It covers so many aspects of modern gay life, diving into some difficult topics with a lighthearted spin.
Told through a mix of first person narration, messages, lists, diagrams and footnotes, reflecting Gabe’s dream of writing and his ever moving thoughts. This style of storytelling definitely worked for me and made it a lot more interesting, but the footnotes did annoy me a bit, as they were humorous but it began to feel like the book was written for clueless straight people which how much explanation there was, overall though I loved the style and found it really engaging.
It took me a little while to get hooked, mostly because the cover had me expecting something a little more lit fic (I know, I know, never judge a book blah blah blah) but once I was in I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to HarperNorth and Netgalley for the ARC!
Spiralling follows Gabe through a year in his life, in which is loses his boyfriend, his job and his trajectory.
It covers so many aspects of modern gay life, diving into some difficult topics with a lighthearted spin.
Told through a mix of first person narration, messages, lists, diagrams and footnotes, reflecting Gabe’s dream of writing and his ever moving thoughts. This style of storytelling definitely worked for me and made it a lot more interesting, but the footnotes did annoy me a bit, as they were humorous but it began to feel like the book was written for clueless straight people which how much explanation there was, overall though I loved the style and found it really engaging.
It took me a little while to get hooked, mostly because the cover had me expecting something a little more lit fic (I know, I know, never judge a book blah blah blah) but once I was in I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to HarperNorth and Netgalley for the ARC!
October 10, 2025
it was… fine? surprising amount of spelling/grammar mistakes dotted around and the more descriptive paragraphs are (as another reviewer put it) very GCSE assignment. this book is at its best when it’s being funny and bitchy.
overall: fascinating look into the world of cis gays. you will never catch me douching
overall: fascinating look into the world of cis gays. you will never catch me douching
January 7, 2026
A fun, quick read with some lovable characters and an entertaining writing style, and I liked the chaos of it all. However, there were a tad too many pop culture references for my liking and the Spain chapters could've basically been summed up as "Brits abroad". Also, according to the characters, Spaniards aren't fashionable, which is just really not true.
January 12, 2026
Stick this on the ever-growing list of “Queer Books Written for Non-Queers” 🙃
As always, I want to love all queer books (specifically written by queer people), but this had so much representation of a hideous part of gay culture, which I thought we were all trying to move on from - judgmental, nasty, and self-absorbed.
As always, I want to love all queer books (specifically written by queer people), but this had so much representation of a hideous part of gay culture, which I thought we were all trying to move on from - judgmental, nasty, and self-absorbed.
August 26, 2025
Could not put this book down! Spiralling was raw, honest, hilarious and thought provoking all at once. I also loved reading a book set in Manchester, following Gabe around so many familiar places. This book took me on an emotional journey and I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
September 17, 2025
Spiralling is the debut novel from Cal Speet and what a brilliant debut it is!
We meet Gabe, a young gay man living in Manchester with his boyfriend Seamus – that is, until he discovers the ultimate betrayal.
In the space of a few days his world comes crashing down: he loses Seamus, his job and his sense of self.
It could all have been too much, but thanks to his best mates Tasha and Evie (and a whole supporting cast including family, friends, and even Paul the security guard) Gabe begins to slowly put himself back together again.
This book is a wonderful mix of prose, text messages, and some rather risqué poetry.
It’s laugh-out-loud funny in places, a little near the knuckle in others, and deeply emotional too.
Cal Speet doesn’t shy away from the messiness of life – friendship dramas, relationship struggles, insecurities – but he wraps it all up with humour, warmth and honesty.
The Manchester setting is brilliantly drawn; full of little details that made it feel alive and authentic. And I have to say, the holiday to Seville was a real highlight of the book.
What struck me most was how believable and vulnerable the characters felt. Gabe in particular is witty, flawed, loveable and very relatable. You can’t help but root for him as he figures out who he is, what he deserves, and how to stand tall with the support of his friends.
A quick word of warning – if you’re a sensitive soul you may want to skim a few bits, but don’t let that put you off. This is ultimately a story about real friendship, finding your voice, and learning self-respect.
Spiralling felt like a love letter to Manchester, to the LGBTQ+ community, and to the bonds that hold us together when everything else is falling apart.
This is a debut that feels fresh, bold and full of promise. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Cal Speet.
Highly recommended if you enjoy something a little bit different, packed with great dialogue and unforgettable characters.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We meet Gabe, a young gay man living in Manchester with his boyfriend Seamus – that is, until he discovers the ultimate betrayal.
In the space of a few days his world comes crashing down: he loses Seamus, his job and his sense of self.
It could all have been too much, but thanks to his best mates Tasha and Evie (and a whole supporting cast including family, friends, and even Paul the security guard) Gabe begins to slowly put himself back together again.
This book is a wonderful mix of prose, text messages, and some rather risqué poetry.
It’s laugh-out-loud funny in places, a little near the knuckle in others, and deeply emotional too.
Cal Speet doesn’t shy away from the messiness of life – friendship dramas, relationship struggles, insecurities – but he wraps it all up with humour, warmth and honesty.
The Manchester setting is brilliantly drawn; full of little details that made it feel alive and authentic. And I have to say, the holiday to Seville was a real highlight of the book.
What struck me most was how believable and vulnerable the characters felt. Gabe in particular is witty, flawed, loveable and very relatable. You can’t help but root for him as he figures out who he is, what he deserves, and how to stand tall with the support of his friends.
A quick word of warning – if you’re a sensitive soul you may want to skim a few bits, but don’t let that put you off. This is ultimately a story about real friendship, finding your voice, and learning self-respect.
Spiralling felt like a love letter to Manchester, to the LGBTQ+ community, and to the bonds that hold us together when everything else is falling apart.
This is a debut that feels fresh, bold and full of promise. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Cal Speet.
Highly recommended if you enjoy something a little bit different, packed with great dialogue and unforgettable characters.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2025
Love love love love!
Never wanted it to end
Never wanted it to end
November 16, 2025
felt like i was being preached at the whole time but also like it was written for 60 year old men that don’t know what grindr is???? what was with all the footnotes???
also where tf does Gabe live? the locations of places were all over the place
also where tf does Gabe live? the locations of places were all over the place
August 31, 2025
i judged a book by its cover and mistakenly thought i was going to get some literary fiction - it’s readable (and dare i say enjoyable) but has the creativity and execution of GCSE coursework
August 9, 2025
I’d been in a bit of a reading rut, but once I started this, I kept reaching for it. I got totally attached to the characters and found myself laughing at all their shenanigans. There are also some really thoughtful themes woven in that got me thinking. Would definitely recommend!
October 13, 2025
I loved how much Manchester was a supporting character in this story ♥️
October 7, 2025
I would guess this book is not aimed at my demographic - older gay man - and it is very much a question of read the image on the cover! Whoever chose it deserves a medal as it is spot on!
The book is about a somewhat selfish, twenty something, gay, sexually passive, twink called Gabe who lives in a trendy Manchester flat - with doorman - and who seems to spend money like water not thinking about what might be round the corner! ….. Oh those were the days, and we were all young once!
He gets up to lots of things with his equally fatuous friends Evie and Tasha and the book seems to be all about relationships developing, progressing, and falling apart sometimes in spectacular fashion.
Not sure I appreciated all of the writing styles - the use of ‘timed text messages’ and so many footnotes got me a bit frustrated - and that ‘poem’ was absolutely rubbish in my view - but again this probably works for a younger twenty something demographic!
It was strangely informative about male douching, something back in the day no-one would have worried about - how times change!?!
As I have run an LGBT+ book group for 14 years I was sent a free copy - thanks Harper North - and because the cover made me realise it might not be ‘my sort of thing’, it did sit on my shelf for a while before I started it! - That written however, once I got going I did fly through the book, a good sign, and I will recommend it to our group as the Younger Members of our group as they would probably give it 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 - for me however it was only the four!
The book is about a somewhat selfish, twenty something, gay, sexually passive, twink called Gabe who lives in a trendy Manchester flat - with doorman - and who seems to spend money like water not thinking about what might be round the corner! ….. Oh those were the days, and we were all young once!
He gets up to lots of things with his equally fatuous friends Evie and Tasha and the book seems to be all about relationships developing, progressing, and falling apart sometimes in spectacular fashion.
Not sure I appreciated all of the writing styles - the use of ‘timed text messages’ and so many footnotes got me a bit frustrated - and that ‘poem’ was absolutely rubbish in my view - but again this probably works for a younger twenty something demographic!
It was strangely informative about male douching, something back in the day no-one would have worried about - how times change!?!
As I have run an LGBT+ book group for 14 years I was sent a free copy - thanks Harper North - and because the cover made me realise it might not be ‘my sort of thing’, it did sit on my shelf for a while before I started it! - That written however, once I got going I did fly through the book, a good sign, and I will recommend it to our group as the Younger Members of our group as they would probably give it 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 - for me however it was only the four!
July 30, 2025
Received an advance copy. It is not often a book will make you laugh out loud, this one managed it during every chapter, sometimes multiple times a page. The characters are flawed, but so loveable. The narrative voice is witty, and even though Gabe can be self important and annoying, you can’t help but root for him. The relationship between him and Paul was beautiful. I was sad when finishing it, like I’d became part of a friendship group that I had to leave by the close of the last page. The occasional switches in style from script to play to poem etc. as Gabe tried to find his way helped to keep it engrossing even when the plot was slightly thin. A warm, witty and hilarious book. 4.5 stars rounded up.
August 5, 2025
I’m definitely not the target audience for this book, but that’s part of what made it so powerful for me. It opened up a world and perspective I haven’t lived, and I learned a lot from it while still laughing out loud.
Where else do you get a How To Guide to cleaning out your arse followed by a shout out to Kevin De Bruyne?
But Spiralling isn’t just outrageous and funny, it also hits deep. There are moments that properly stop you in your tracks, especially around the realities and emotional weight of what many gay men have lived through. It’s honest, sharp, and full of feeling.
Paul’s relationship with his son really landed for me, some of it hit very close to home. It’s one of those books that makes you laugh, cringe, and reflect, often in the space of a single chapter. Loved it.
Where else do you get a How To Guide to cleaning out your arse followed by a shout out to Kevin De Bruyne?
But Spiralling isn’t just outrageous and funny, it also hits deep. There are moments that properly stop you in your tracks, especially around the realities and emotional weight of what many gay men have lived through. It’s honest, sharp, and full of feeling.
Paul’s relationship with his son really landed for me, some of it hit very close to home. It’s one of those books that makes you laugh, cringe, and reflect, often in the space of a single chapter. Loved it.
October 12, 2025
4.5 Stars - Brilliantly hilarious.
This was the exact book I needed - funny, charming, but a lot of soul. I loved the way it was written too - from the first person with some funny unique writing styles in the form of steps, diary entries, scene settings and more!
I sped through this and adored it. It deals with a lot of gay topics, such as internal homophobia, character development, identity and relationships too. I recommend everyone to read this - you won't regret it and I promise you will be finding yourself laughing out loud!
Cal Speet is a new author and I hope he writes more, I would not be mad if this novel had a sequel (not that it necessarily needs one), but I can tell that he poured a lot into this story and I would love to see what else he writes! Consider me a fan!
This was the exact book I needed - funny, charming, but a lot of soul. I loved the way it was written too - from the first person with some funny unique writing styles in the form of steps, diary entries, scene settings and more!
I sped through this and adored it. It deals with a lot of gay topics, such as internal homophobia, character development, identity and relationships too. I recommend everyone to read this - you won't regret it and I promise you will be finding yourself laughing out loud!
Cal Speet is a new author and I hope he writes more, I would not be mad if this novel had a sequel (not that it necessarily needs one), but I can tell that he poured a lot into this story and I would love to see what else he writes! Consider me a fan!
July 31, 2025
Although I assume I’m not the target audience for this book, I picked it up due to its familiar setting in contemporary Manchester.
My aspersions on the romcom genre proved unnecessary due to the wit and light-hearted nature of both the main character and the writing, where instead of getting bogged down in a diatribe of what it means to love and date in the modern world, you get to just laugh at it.
Personally, I found the story rather unique - something that doesn’t come naturally to the genre - due to my (unintentional) ignorance of gay culture and everything that comes with it.
An approachable book that I’d recommend to anyone who has a sense of humour!
My aspersions on the romcom genre proved unnecessary due to the wit and light-hearted nature of both the main character and the writing, where instead of getting bogged down in a diatribe of what it means to love and date in the modern world, you get to just laugh at it.
Personally, I found the story rather unique - something that doesn’t come naturally to the genre - due to my (unintentional) ignorance of gay culture and everything that comes with it.
An approachable book that I’d recommend to anyone who has a sense of humour!
August 10, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Not for me at all but I was really looking forward to this. I found Gabe, the main character annoying. Someone did at some point give him a talk about it, which I thought was deserved. I did not enjoy the writing style, I instantly get annoyed when there’s a lot of “texting style” in books.
Some parts were cool, like the “articles” by Gabe which weren’t really articles, ick list, game sessions, I don’t know how to describe them but nice as they were, even those weren’t enough for me to make up for the rest of the book. Neither was the twist I didnt see coming a little over halfway.
Not for me at all but I was really looking forward to this. I found Gabe, the main character annoying. Someone did at some point give him a talk about it, which I thought was deserved. I did not enjoy the writing style, I instantly get annoyed when there’s a lot of “texting style” in books.
Some parts were cool, like the “articles” by Gabe which weren’t really articles, ick list, game sessions, I don’t know how to describe them but nice as they were, even those weren’t enough for me to make up for the rest of the book. Neither was the twist I didnt see coming a little over halfway.
August 31, 2025
This was sooooo good omg! I was hooked, I couldn’t put it down, which is so refreshing because I’ve been in such a slump (for basically the entire year, let’s be real!).
This book covers topics like heartbreak, depression, homophobia and complex family relationships, but does so with a humorous touch, and with engaging and creative writing. It made me laugh and cry.
The characters were messy, layered and so believable and I think the author really captured life in your 20s in a British city well.
An easy 5 stars!
This book covers topics like heartbreak, depression, homophobia and complex family relationships, but does so with a humorous touch, and with engaging and creative writing. It made me laugh and cry.
The characters were messy, layered and so believable and I think the author really captured life in your 20s in a British city well.
An easy 5 stars!
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