Release the Beast: A Drag Queen's Guide to Life

by Bimini Bon Boulash, Jules Scheele (Illustrator)

THE BIMINI BON BESTSELLER (Sunday Times official!)

A hilarious and inspiring guide to transforming your life through lessons from drag, by the UK's favourite drag queen and star of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Bimini Bon Boulash.

'MAGIC! A fun, fierce, honest origin story of how to drag yourself up out of trouble and become an icon' Katherine Ryan

'A triumph for UK queer culture' Travis Alabanza

'Eye-opening, intelligent, thoughtful as well as sassy and surprising - a must read' Lorraine Kelly
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Bimini Bon Boulash is the nation's sweetheart, capturing hearts and minds as the gag-inducing, death-dropping, plant-based breakout star of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 2. Not only did she make us laugh and cry, she showed us how to develop a Positive Mental Attitude and live happily and healthily outside society's idea of 'normal'.

Telling the story of how drag took her from the brink of self-destruction to the mainstage, as well as life lessons drawing on convention-breaking icons from Kate Moss to Katie Price, in this book Bimini uses all her wit, charm and kindness to show us how to lead the lives we wish we could lead, through the life-changing magic of dragging up.
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'Radical, life-affirming, and utterly important for this time' Riyadh Khalaf

'A very important read' Gottmik

'She's a superstar' Kathy Burke

'You will always be our winner' Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

'A force of nature' James Acaster

Genres: Nonfiction, Queer, LGBT, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Politics

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2021

Reviews

[Kayleigh Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not out yet, but I already love it💗

[jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s hard not to see this wide-spaced, illustration heavy book as a quick cash grab and I tried really hard not to be sucked in by Bimini’s charm but.. I was sucked in! I think this book would have benefited from a better structure as the ideas seemed a bit disorganised and repetitive. Although I feel like this book would probably be most helpful to young teens since some of the focus is on gender theory and general advice, I still found parts that spoke to me and rang true. Bimini’s authentic voice does grab you as I said, it’s hard to resist them.

[Johann (jobis89) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A fun read - exactly the type of book I’d expect from Bimini!

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this all in one day after seeing Bimini talk live about it. They're just infectiously iconic, fun, sharp and sincere. They draw in references and theory from all over the map in a mostly accessible way, with a good balance of vulnerability and more lighthearted moments. They're also well are of their own privellege and hypocrisies, but more than anything their actions speak for themselves and show that they truly do use their platform to lift up others. They've credited and signposted plenty of people more qualified to talk on certain issues, but obviously are very passionate about intersectionality themselves. There's an odd sense of the first couple of chapters maybe being left deliberately unpolished, and more provocative to the mainstream without the degree of clarity and honest reflection as the rest of the book. It would also be nice to see them have the room or allowance to talk more deeply about capitalism, because this again is something they're obviously knowledge about but often comes out in a more slogany way than their observations on gender, authenticity and sexuality. The lessons are a very loose format but empathetic, grounded in their story, available for person retailoring and recycling, and never prescriptive. The illustrations are fab, and I applaud their taste in classic camp cinema.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

i like how it flips from queerness- to veganista- to fashion- to favorite lists- to movie recommendations. it’s just a book about one persons like trying to share what they think is fun, important, and interesting.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release the Beast by Bimini Bon Boulash (5 stars) tells their story of how drag took Bims from the brink of self-destruction to becoming one of the UK's most beloved drag queens. Through this 'Drag Queen's Guide to Life, Bimini's charm and wit shine through as they recount how a positive attitude and a more understanding approach can shift the way we live.

Disclaimer: I fucking love Bimini. I was cheering Bims on from episode one of RuPaul's Drag Race UK S2 and she's one of my top three favourite queens. I think they look absolutely gorgeous on the cover and author image and I enjoyed the little cartoon images within the pages of the book.

Though I'm probably not the 'target' audience of this book as I'm a straight & cis gender, I am a proud LGBTQIA+ ally and I found so much of the book was incredibly relatable. Bimini talks eloquently about their gender identity (being non binary/gender fluid), gives us a her-story lesson in all things queer and shares tips about self-love. I listened to Audible's preview and damn, hearing Mx Bon Boulash's voice narrate Release the Beast was incredibly entertaining. Someday I'll have to listen to the whole book to hear Bim's raspy voice telling me how to be a better person.

[Siona Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it was interesting to learn some of Bimini’s history/background, this book is set up to be a guide of sorts to breaking out of cishet societal norms and embracing your unique and queer identity. And it’s nice, but nothing that I personally don’t already know/haven’t already heard. For this new to queer culture, be they cishets or baby queers, this’ll be great, but for me it was nothing new, although I could definitely hear Bimini’s voice while reading this in my head which was quite fun lol

[Tamsin Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

ICONIC

[Layla Crowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book, read it in one sitting, could not put it down.

To read another enby's experience and have it resonate so clearly with my own was validating.

Educational, thought provoking, witty and real. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone wanting to learn more about queer history, being non-binary and living ones authentic truth.

[Zach Abraham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madame Boulash is as charming as they are onscreen, offering a lighthearted, positive and glossy intro to queer theory, making these ideas maybe more accessible for the generation of kids just starting to discover queerness. Very precious.

[Dylan Reay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, I mean it's the only autobiography/guide to Life that I've read so that speaks about person who has written it. At the start I was worried it would be a little preachy, but throughout the middle and end it finds its way and mixes autobiography well with life lessons learned. I came away happy with having invested the time to read it and I think others will too.

[Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bimini could never do wrong, but this is pretty mediocre as far as the Boulash legacy goes.

There's no denying that everything said in this is important stuff, but really none of it feels especially fresh or inspired. Perhaps for some, the sentiments on queer vitality or veganism will be enlightening, but it does lack any distinct perspective on pretty much everything discussed.

Did appreciate the recognition of the relationship between queerness and socialism - again, nothing revelatory, but still a positive to see what feels like an increase in major publication support for raw British queer voices.

I implore all to consume this in audio form, mostly because Bimini's voice is more distinct than any of their words, but also because they adopt a conversational tone which is better appreciated this way.

Can't help but feel that this is a missed opportunity of sorts, but my love for Bimini will forever eclipse any literary criticism I might attempt.

[Tomasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Przyjemna rzecz dla fanów Drag Race i samej Bimini, ale w sumie nic więcej. Nie ma tu głębokich przemyśleń czy przełomowych idei, ale być może jest to kwestia tego, że żaden z poruszanych tu tematów nie był dla mnie nowością. Perspektywa życia osoby niebinarnej w cishetero społeczeństwie, poszukiwanie własnej tożsamości i seksualności, trochę o wyzwaniach i zagrożeniach, z którymi zmagają się osoby LGBTQ+ (z uwzględnieniem pandemii) ogółem, ale z naciskiem na Wielką Brytanię. Oprócz tego kilka ciekawostek z programu i cudowne ilustracje- must read dla fanów.

[Emma book blogger Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this proof copy of A drag queens guide to life by Bimini from @VikingBooksUk. I am really glad I got to read this book. I found this very fascinating to read and it has open my eyes up to gender about how the decision of your sexuality is just two boxes male or female. I found Bimini really honest about there life and what she has been through. This is guide of being drag queen is to empower you and encourage you to be kind to yourself and that you are not alone. I definitely recommend this book . I give it 5 stars .

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun and easy read!! I’ve always adored Bimini and have been fascinated by their style, masterfully conveying art through fashion. This book was such a joy to read, Bimini’s positivity and humour is infectious. Bimini provides such thoughtful discourse on heteronormativity, patriarchy and capitalism. Loved this 🩷

[Darcy Short · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Bimini, they are one of my fave drag queens. However i didn’t really enjoy this book. Maybe I’m just not the right target audience, but it was very repetitive and not exactly what I thought the book was going to be.

[Luis O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Bimini and their vibe (that's why I got a signed copy), but I did feel the book was a bit empty and repetitive at times. The drawings were so good though!

[Kate Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

DOESNT KNOW WHAT IT WANTS TO BE
BIMINI WAS ROBBED OF THE CROWN BUT IVE BEEN ROBBED OF MY TIME.

I love Bimini but this is just a cash grab. It's all over the place, there's no new insights in here, I so desperately wanted more details of their life but its not a memoir. It's also not entirely self help. I don't know what it is.

Mostly boring, and a disappointment.

TAKEAWAYS:

- ON MENS SPORT " The can cry if they want because it isn't being sensitive, it's because they feel so much passion for these men in shorts kicking a football into a net. It isn't weakness it is seen as strength" Why are they only allowed to cry then?

- "Being kind to yourself when confused is crucial"

- George Orwell quote " The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history".

- WATCH PARIS IS BURNING, DEATH BECOMES HER AND HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH

- I liked that they highlighted the lack of sober safe spaces available to the LGBTQI+ community

- I had no idea Vivienne Westwood drove a military tank into some dude David Camerons home to protest against fracking. WTF COOL!!

- "Life is short so why not give someone the option to admit they fucked up and try to be an ally".

- "Gender only becomes comfortable because we've repeated gendered acts so often and therefore it feels 'real'.


-

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great introduction to queer life and how to understand and navigate the nuances of gender fluidity and everything else that sits under the umbrella of the label 'queer'. Bimini shares a little of her own life and a lot of her own thoughts and educational processes here. It really is a guide to life.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle guide into gender identity and sexuality written by the iconic Bimini! This is a great starting point for further reading into the subject and was written in Bimini’s charming tone of voice so it’s an easy win!

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book got to know more about Bimini and good to know more about their experience and gender

[James Greaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw that Bimini was releasing a book, it quickly rose to the top of my Christmas list after forming an instant affinity with them during their fearless and fabulous appearance on Drag Race. Being a queer person from Norfolk myself, I was also eager to discover if there were any similarities in our experiences. After reading, I can say that, for sure, Bimini’s descriptions of their hometown evoked much nostalgia for me.

Regardless of where you’re from or how you identify, this is a heart-warming, informative and, at times, evidently personal book brimming with enough spirit and vibrancy to put a smile on the face of just about anyone (whether you’re he, she or them.) Transcending the typical celeb ‘me, me, me’ autobiography formula, Bimini pairs autobiography with self-help and gender studies and whizzes them all together in a couture Vivienne Westwood x Juicy Couture blender to create the delicious offering that is Release the Beast!

It is clear Bimini has a sharp and passionate understanding of gender theory, and they are able to wittily blend this theory with personal experience to illustrate their visions of a genderless society and the dismantling of the patriarchy (among many other things.) This ample use of theory also serves as a means to reassure the reader that their expression of gender (and their self in general) is entirely valid…which is beautifully done. However, it’s important to note that the book is not so bogged down in theory that it feels like a lecture; the ratio is very much Bimini Bon Balanced! At times, Release the Beast reads as if it is a manifesto which suits me just fine because the anarchic sensibility that permeates this book feels absolutely necessary right now.

Contrary to other reviews I’ve seen, I think this book is structured well and is fairly easy to follow. Certainly, in terms of narrative, it feels pretty linear. My only criticism is that it does become a bit repetitive at times (perhaps that is structure?), but the repetition is only of the positive and forward-thinking musings of a drag star which really isn’t much of a hardship.

I read this book in one sitting on a long train journey, on a wet and miserable winter’s day and as I looked out of the window after finishing the last sentence, as if by queer magic, there was a beautiful rainbow staring back at me from across the country fields. It must’ve been Bimini……

[Anthony Cheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️ 4/5 STARS ⭐️

This book was gifted to me by my wonderful best friend Amy, who was aware of my unprecedented OBSESSION with Bimini re: beginning of 2021. Like most of the queer community, I was completely enamoured by Bimini's performance in the second half of Drag Race and felt an even greater bond beyond belonging in the same community/communities given the fact that we both shared residence in Norwich (obviously not at the same time but-).

Overall, I would say that I enjoyed this memoir/anti self-help guide but ultimately non-fiction isn't for me. My preference fully resides in fiction and thus, it took a while to finish this. I don't think it helped that my love for Bimini (dare I say) has subdued as time has progressed, but nonetheless this was far from becoming a hard read. It was insightful learning more about queer culture and Bimini's journey to drag etc. In particular, I appreciated how Bimini acknowledges that they are just touching the surface of queer history by providing references to other texts and literature which are, arguably, more substantial. There's even a cute little glossary at the back to serve as a reminder of terms and acronyms that have progressed throughout the years.

Although the writing feels authentic, sometimes the sarcasm or jokes went over my head. At other times, I felt like some phrases could have been structured better grammatically (uh oh, grammar police here!). All in all, I'm glad to have received this book and read it, thus awarding it 4 out of 5 stars :)

[Sarah AF · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only quibble is what on *earth* was Penguin thinking giving an artist like Bimini such a generic title for their first book?!

I adore all things Bimini to the point where I purchased this book without reading the blurb and presumed it was an autobiography. This is SO much more than an autobiography. Although Bimini draws on their life experiences, this book is ultimate expression of love to the LGBTQIA+ community, challenging existing societal constructs that have allowed discrimination to become so deep-rooted and a call to arms to upend this status quo. The touches of Bimini cheekiness were there throughout and their genuine passion for using their platform to lift others absolutely shone. Consider me even more of a stan than I already was.

[Jonathan Strombom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going in to it, I thought I'd just get the witty humor that I've seen Bimini preform with on screen, which I absolutely did. I did not however, expect this book to deliver such a bullseye comment on our political world and the stereotypes and struggles that comes with it, regardless of if that touches on class, race, sexuality, gender etc. Even though the book can be summed up with "love yourself" (say that again), every page was worth turning to. I laughed, I felt pain, I felt validation. Just adored this book from start to finish and it has increased my respect for Bimini even more, even though it was already high to begin with. She's not only funny, talented and clever, she's more wise than our top politicians and leaders of today. All hail the true queen!

[Caroline Fosse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad I listened to the audiobook version of this, narrated by Bimini themselves. There's just something about them that makes me smile, I feel like they're just a kind and loving person with a lot to say, and I admire that.

Even though I'm not a drag queen myself, and I'm not planning on becoming one, the book is still filled with actual useful tips (and I think this book can be especially helpful for young lgbtqa+ people struggling!!). Bimini shares personal stories from their childhood, growing up, failing, traveling, dressing up, competing in drag race etc, and I was entertained the whole way through.

[Evan Strandberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I just want to say that I absolutely ADORE Bimini with all my heart. I loved reading along with their voice in the back of my head the whole time. A lot of really interesting topics are discussed in this book surrounding sexuality, gender, and disrupting the patriarchy. Was it engaging? Yes. Could it have used a better editor so it didn’t feel unstructured and repetitive in certain aspects? Also yes. Whether you have followed Bimini since Drag Race UK S2 or are just discovering who they are, you will enjoy getting to know more about Bimini and how incredible of a human being they are. I know I did.

[Helena Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Está cool que Bimini explica conceptos bien complejos de una forma muy sencilla (qué es ser no binarie, el paraguas que implica la palabra trans, la fluidez de género, entre otros). También está cool que Bimini está bien consiente de su privilegio y de como, si bien la escena drag generalmente se lleva a cabo en un mundo nocturno y de drogas, no lo vende como algo glamoroso (no siempre, a veces sí a veces no).
No está cool que es bien cuidadose cuando habla de su experiencia en drag race. Tampoco está tan cool que no es nada que una persona blanca no haya dicho ya (tip your local drag queen, hay que volvernos personas veganas, hay que meditar y vestirnos como se nos de la gana).

[All My Friends Are Fictional · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great reminder to myself and everyone that being kind to yourself is crucial, especially when it comes to questions of gender identity and sexual orientation, or one's confusion regarding this matter. Confusion can be fun and is very important, let us not forget that!
And let us not forget these iconic lyrics:
"Gender-bender, cis-tem offender
I like it rough but my lentils tender
Don't be scared to embrace the femme
Whether you're he, she, or them."
Amen.

[India · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book -Bimini being a GY girly too - but I felt that it was actually quite self indulgent. The book did have some really good points and I enjoyed the rhetoric throughout but h something always seemed to fall short. I really would recommend this to someone who is less familiar with gender and sexuality theory though. I still love Bimini though.