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Pride
When seventeen-year-old Lucy comes out to her friends and family, she expects to feel like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders until her entire world is shattered in a day. While she is attending Pride in Brighton, she is a victim of an LGBT based terrorist attack.
Traumatised and determined to push away everyone she used to love, she creates a second life for herself, fleeing denial and her own self-neglect. Pride follows Lucy’s story, as she mentally struggles with her inner-demons as she craves a ‘normal’ life.
But Lucy can’t keep running forever.
Traumatised and determined to push away everyone she used to love, she creates a second life for herself, fleeing denial and her own self-neglect. Pride follows Lucy’s story, as she mentally struggles with her inner-demons as she craves a ‘normal’ life.
But Lucy can’t keep running forever.
- GenresLGBT
190 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2020
1 person is currently reading
151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 2, 2021
Ahhh I loved this! This book is so well written, with a plot that doesn't shy away from exploring the darker, self-destructive behaviours that can come from suffering trauma, and the book handles these topics in a really mature way, that is also accessible for teen readers. Our MC is at time frustrating, almost dislikable, in how they begin hurting those around them, but as the story unravels, we begin to understand more from Lucy's perspective, and why she feels and behaves this way, and I think Leona Storey summarises this in a really good way; "It doesn't give it an excuse. It just gives it a reason", and I'm really glad that our protagonist was so self-aware of this, and willing to apologise. I think a lot of YA books with mental health rep often fail at this final hurdle, whereby characters use their MH as an excuse to treat others badly. But Leona really explores this, and has such a mature perspective on it that I really appreciate.
Definitely a book I would highly recommend!
Definitely a book I would highly recommend!
June 16, 2020
I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who has struggled with their sexuality or with their mental health, and especially to people interested in supporting LGBT-themed YA fiction.
Pride is an effortlessly readable and emotionally powerful debut novel. Leona Storey created vivid and likable characters that I really enjoyed spending time with throughout the book, and Pride also offers a realistic and sensitive portrayal of mental illness, trauma, and the sometimes devastating experience of being an LGBT teenager. Seeing glimmers of hope shine through for the protagonist despite everything she endured was extremely satisfying and comforting as a reader, and I was very moved by many passages in the novel.
I'm very intrigued to read Storey's future work, she is a highly gifted writer.
Pride is an effortlessly readable and emotionally powerful debut novel. Leona Storey created vivid and likable characters that I really enjoyed spending time with throughout the book, and Pride also offers a realistic and sensitive portrayal of mental illness, trauma, and the sometimes devastating experience of being an LGBT teenager. Seeing glimmers of hope shine through for the protagonist despite everything she endured was extremely satisfying and comforting as a reader, and I was very moved by many passages in the novel.
I'm very intrigued to read Storey's future work, she is a highly gifted writer.
March 15, 2021
PRIDE took me one whole day to read, which says a lot as I rarely finish a book that quickly. But I was invested from the extremely strong opening and the realistic portrayal of trauma and mental health issues.
Full review here: https://ratingmyreads.co.uk/2021/02/2...
Full review here: https://ratingmyreads.co.uk/2021/02/2...
July 10, 2020
I wanted to love this so so so much but there were some issues that just didn't sit right with me. It took me over a month to finish because I just couldn't get invested in the story, despite the strong beginning.
November 9, 2020
Such an amazing book! Honestly fantastic! The story line while heart breaking at times was not hard to follow at all and it got me hooked within the first 3 chapters
June 9, 2020
The book itself was good, but the publisher should fix the issues with the Kindle edition.
April 23, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
TW: mentions of homophobia, lesbophobia, self harm, mental illness, terrorist hate crime, trauma and others
The blurb of this book doesn’t give too much away as to the plot so I won’t either. We follow a seventeen year old girl called Lucy via a first person POV over the course of around a year. It starts with her and her best friend Brittney becoming victims to a severe terrorist-like hate crime during the Brighton’s Pride celebrations. Lucy not long came out as gay thinking the weight over her head had been lifted but after the events of that traumatic day she begins to question a lot. She’s evidently affected and just wants to feel safe but in doing so pushes away those who love her and loses herself in a web of lies. There is more but as I’d totally recommend picking this up I don’t want to give anything else away.
I think what Storey does the best is not by telling the most interesting or well written story but the thoughts and feelings of the MC are just so relatable. Lucy’s situation and what she went through doesn’t happen to many people, especially to such an extent, but she was so real. Her experiences of being queer in modern (British) society are portrayed so amazingly and I totally connected to her - when she was sad I was, when she convinced herself of something I could reason with her, when she had moments of feeling hopeful I did too and there were many more. She did lots of harmful things to herself and I longed to get inside the pages and give Lucy a big hug, inciting a visceral response in me throughout reading this book. Storey lets the characters have both internal and external conversations on many things, most notably the need to seek out help with your mental health and how this process to recovery is slow with many ups and downs but it can get better. Another major motif is the queer shame Lucy and nearly all queer people experience at some point, myself very much included. It’s horrible to read but also great to know you’re not alone in this. It may seem easier to pretend, you won’t get at best looks on the street or at worst be a victim of an anti-queer hate crime so it’s safer but you’re not free. I hate this so much and as much as times have changed, straight is still very much the default - this notion and ever present prevalence of cis-heteronormativity still takes its toll on us. Storey does a phenomenal job at conveying this and so many parts I could relate to which was amazing (and sad too I guess) and this was the thoughts/feelings more then the real actions taking place. Furthermore, the depressive episodes Lucy went through were depicted so well, especially her desire to disappear or stop time in a way, this is something I often feel too so I did have a very personal relationship with this book.
The writing was okay I’d say, it’s nothing really bad or anything great either. I found the sentences to be a little simplistic and it did read slightly amateurish (it is Storey’s debut and was indi-published) where another few rounds of editing would have greatly benefited this novel. What didn’t help was quite a few noticeable grammar and word order mistakes that could’ve been fixed. It doesn’t take you out of the story but I did pick up on these. Other then that I don’t think there was much else I disliked, possibly being slightly longer but it’s another edit and fine-lining that was missed most.
I really recommend this book so much. It’s not a literary masterpiece with an enticing plot and poetic prose but it does make you think. If you’re queer I would even more so guide you to it because there is likely a lot you can relate to and sympathise with the MC too. Similarly, those struggling with depression or trauma of some type, I feel it would help but could also be a trigger.
Thank you Leona for this, you really gave me a lot to think about, I found a lot of parallels with Lucy in how she felt and thought and it’s for moments like this that I read.
TW: mentions of homophobia, lesbophobia, self harm, mental illness, terrorist hate crime, trauma and others
The blurb of this book doesn’t give too much away as to the plot so I won’t either. We follow a seventeen year old girl called Lucy via a first person POV over the course of around a year. It starts with her and her best friend Brittney becoming victims to a severe terrorist-like hate crime during the Brighton’s Pride celebrations. Lucy not long came out as gay thinking the weight over her head had been lifted but after the events of that traumatic day she begins to question a lot. She’s evidently affected and just wants to feel safe but in doing so pushes away those who love her and loses herself in a web of lies. There is more but as I’d totally recommend picking this up I don’t want to give anything else away.
I think what Storey does the best is not by telling the most interesting or well written story but the thoughts and feelings of the MC are just so relatable. Lucy’s situation and what she went through doesn’t happen to many people, especially to such an extent, but she was so real. Her experiences of being queer in modern (British) society are portrayed so amazingly and I totally connected to her - when she was sad I was, when she convinced herself of something I could reason with her, when she had moments of feeling hopeful I did too and there were many more. She did lots of harmful things to herself and I longed to get inside the pages and give Lucy a big hug, inciting a visceral response in me throughout reading this book. Storey lets the characters have both internal and external conversations on many things, most notably the need to seek out help with your mental health and how this process to recovery is slow with many ups and downs but it can get better. Another major motif is the queer shame Lucy and nearly all queer people experience at some point, myself very much included. It’s horrible to read but also great to know you’re not alone in this. It may seem easier to pretend, you won’t get at best looks on the street or at worst be a victim of an anti-queer hate crime so it’s safer but you’re not free. I hate this so much and as much as times have changed, straight is still very much the default - this notion and ever present prevalence of cis-heteronormativity still takes its toll on us. Storey does a phenomenal job at conveying this and so many parts I could relate to which was amazing (and sad too I guess) and this was the thoughts/feelings more then the real actions taking place. Furthermore, the depressive episodes Lucy went through were depicted so well, especially her desire to disappear or stop time in a way, this is something I often feel too so I did have a very personal relationship with this book.
The writing was okay I’d say, it’s nothing really bad or anything great either. I found the sentences to be a little simplistic and it did read slightly amateurish (it is Storey’s debut and was indi-published) where another few rounds of editing would have greatly benefited this novel. What didn’t help was quite a few noticeable grammar and word order mistakes that could’ve been fixed. It doesn’t take you out of the story but I did pick up on these. Other then that I don’t think there was much else I disliked, possibly being slightly longer but it’s another edit and fine-lining that was missed most.
I really recommend this book so much. It’s not a literary masterpiece with an enticing plot and poetic prose but it does make you think. If you’re queer I would even more so guide you to it because there is likely a lot you can relate to and sympathise with the MC too. Similarly, those struggling with depression or trauma of some type, I feel it would help but could also be a trigger.
Thank you Leona for this, you really gave me a lot to think about, I found a lot of parallels with Lucy in how she felt and thought and it’s for moments like this that I read.
June 22, 2023
This is the WORST story I have ever read in my entire life. It’s just a big slew of stereotypes and hackneyed cliches. The main character is absolutely awful, there is no real conflict and the author doesn’t even seem to remember the time skips and main characters age! The amount of grammatical errors is in the 100’s. Leona, this is your debut book? Let’s keep it that way. Don’t torture the world with another horrific read.
I was so excited for a LGBT book, as a gay person myself I love books that showcase hardships we go through, but there is only ONE traumatic experience our main character has and then she acts like she’s been bullied for being gay her whole life when she hasn’t! This book feels like it’s mocking the LGBT community as the main character is an offensive portrayal of a lesbian. Disgusting. Awful. I would rate zero stars if I could.
I was so excited for a LGBT book, as a gay person myself I love books that showcase hardships we go through, but there is only ONE traumatic experience our main character has and then she acts like she’s been bullied for being gay her whole life when she hasn’t! This book feels like it’s mocking the LGBT community as the main character is an offensive portrayal of a lesbian. Disgusting. Awful. I would rate zero stars if I could.
September 20, 2024
If the author's poor grammar in their self-awarded 5-star review isn't enough to deter you, then the innumerable mistakes in 'Pride' will be. This resulted in me DNF'ing by the end of Chapter 2, but a quick flick through confirmed that I'm not missing out on anything. Well, except a questionable story that would probably cause offence to most lesbians in our community.
December 16, 2020
A lovely little book about a girl struggling to deal with her identity after a traumatic experience. Leona Storey isn't afraid to dive into some very real and intense themes with this story. I could see this being an important read for anyone who's ever struggled to accept their sexuality.
August 15, 2020
Pride is a lovely debut novel from Leona Storey, tackling the coming of age story of a girl trying to come to terms with trauma and her sexuality at the same time. Very much worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews