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A Man and His Pride
An uplifting and deeply moving gay novel by an exciting new Australian voice in commercial fiction, ideal for fans of Honeybee and Heartstopper.
Sometimes life can be hard – until the right person shows you the way.
Despite coming out years ago, twenty-six-year-old Sean Preston has never been one to shout his sexuality from the rooftops. When his relationship of three months comes to a humiliating end, he vows never to become emotionally attached again, falling into a cycle of hook-ups, booze and an unrelenting gym routine.
The rest of Sean’s life isn’t panning out how he hoped either. His job as an online troll moderator is testing his mental health, his best friend and former girlfriend still resents him for coming out, and even his own mother seems to blame him for a tragedy that tore their family apart. But it is his surprising connection with an 87-year-old nursing home resident that pushes his identity crisis to the brink.
Then Sean meets naive but kind nurse William, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. William is shy and inexperienced when it comes to the gay dating scene, and Sean offers to show him the way – but it turns out William has a few unexpected life lessons to offer in return . . . and when it comes to forgiveness and self-love, Sean has a lot to learn.
Set in Brisbane during Australia’s 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, A Man and His Pride is an exuberant and deeply moving story that celebrates some of the many ways to be gay, and shows that finding your pride is a journey – one you cannot take alone.
Sometimes life can be hard – until the right person shows you the way.
Despite coming out years ago, twenty-six-year-old Sean Preston has never been one to shout his sexuality from the rooftops. When his relationship of three months comes to a humiliating end, he vows never to become emotionally attached again, falling into a cycle of hook-ups, booze and an unrelenting gym routine.
The rest of Sean’s life isn’t panning out how he hoped either. His job as an online troll moderator is testing his mental health, his best friend and former girlfriend still resents him for coming out, and even his own mother seems to blame him for a tragedy that tore their family apart. But it is his surprising connection with an 87-year-old nursing home resident that pushes his identity crisis to the brink.
Then Sean meets naive but kind nurse William, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. William is shy and inexperienced when it comes to the gay dating scene, and Sean offers to show him the way – but it turns out William has a few unexpected life lessons to offer in return . . . and when it comes to forgiveness and self-love, Sean has a lot to learn.
Set in Brisbane during Australia’s 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, A Man and His Pride is an exuberant and deeply moving story that celebrates some of the many ways to be gay, and shows that finding your pride is a journey – one you cannot take alone.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 19, 2023
A Man And His Pride has a moving ending, especially for those of us who remember the day the results of the plebiscite were announced. This is a novel sure to speak to a lot of people, particularly cis-gay men who are still trying to figure it all out.
My full review of A Man And His Pride is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of A Man And His Pride is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
January 29, 2023
When Sean Preston’s first serious relationship ends, the social media moderator makes a list. Get body back in shape. Visit Meredith. Call Mum. Don’t date. He also needs to find somewhere else to live, crashing with his best friend, and former girlfriend, Abby can only be a temporary solution.
Eager to restore his self esteem, Sean throws himself back into the world of hook ups via Grindr, convinced now that exclusive partnerships are antithesis to the gay lifestyle, despite the current campaign with regards to the Same Sex Marriage plebiscite. Yet the rewards seem increasingly hollow.
As Sean is struggling to find his place in the world, he meets William, a nurse at the home where Meredith, suffering late stage dementia, is confined. Her impending death, a mystery correspondent and William’s friendship, forces Sean to face the emotional traumas he carries, and re-claim his pride.
The author thoughtfully explores issues such as identity, homophobia, acceptance, and friendship. Sean initially presents as shallow and narcissistic, playing up to the media stereotype of a promiscuous gay party boy, but as the story unfolds his avoidance of intimacy begins to make sense. With compassion and insight Rutledge slowly strips away Sean’s outward persona to expose his vulnerability, guilt, and loneliness.
William is a sweet foil for Sean, and I really liked the way Rutledge developed the relationship between the two men. What starts as a sort of mercenary exchange becomes something more meaningful and moving. William, and his friends, also illustrate the diversity of the gay community, and model an alternative lifestyle for Sean.
Tender, forthright, entertaining and poignant, I enjoyed A Man and His Pride.
Eager to restore his self esteem, Sean throws himself back into the world of hook ups via Grindr, convinced now that exclusive partnerships are antithesis to the gay lifestyle, despite the current campaign with regards to the Same Sex Marriage plebiscite. Yet the rewards seem increasingly hollow.
As Sean is struggling to find his place in the world, he meets William, a nurse at the home where Meredith, suffering late stage dementia, is confined. Her impending death, a mystery correspondent and William’s friendship, forces Sean to face the emotional traumas he carries, and re-claim his pride.
The author thoughtfully explores issues such as identity, homophobia, acceptance, and friendship. Sean initially presents as shallow and narcissistic, playing up to the media stereotype of a promiscuous gay party boy, but as the story unfolds his avoidance of intimacy begins to make sense. With compassion and insight Rutledge slowly strips away Sean’s outward persona to expose his vulnerability, guilt, and loneliness.
William is a sweet foil for Sean, and I really liked the way Rutledge developed the relationship between the two men. What starts as a sort of mercenary exchange becomes something more meaningful and moving. William, and his friends, also illustrate the diversity of the gay community, and model an alternative lifestyle for Sean.
Tender, forthright, entertaining and poignant, I enjoyed A Man and His Pride.
January 11, 2023
Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The same sex plebiscite in 2017 did divide Australia and thankfully paved the way for marriage equality.
Even among the gay community a reticence and complacency did exist when the hype and agendas of those for and against showered news feeds.
The journey Sean travels in this era is reflective and offers reminiscent emotions for all gay people.
Sean is young, lives in the digital age and is to a degree superficial.
He doesn’t really care if the bill is passed, a breakup and being stuck in a frustrating job at the forefront of his life.
Hook ups with fine specimens never going astray to boost his confidence.
Life behind the muscular and attractive facade consists of visiting an elderly lady in a nursing home and dealing with the dysfunctional elements of his family life.
Meeting nurse William at the nursing home will become a cornerstone of growth and a game changer.
An unexpected blast from his past challenges his future and upheaves memories that still hurt and have scarred him.
The bigger picture of life and purpose dawns on him.
It was interesting and enjoyable to read about characters that share similar experiences to me as they navigate being gay.
Being from a different generation I had few eye opening moments and fondly remember when I too thought 3 years was a long term relationship.
I can see a book like this helping those about to come out and if nothing else validates on paper a life they want to lead.
The same sex plebiscite in 2017 did divide Australia and thankfully paved the way for marriage equality.
Even among the gay community a reticence and complacency did exist when the hype and agendas of those for and against showered news feeds.
The journey Sean travels in this era is reflective and offers reminiscent emotions for all gay people.
Sean is young, lives in the digital age and is to a degree superficial.
He doesn’t really care if the bill is passed, a breakup and being stuck in a frustrating job at the forefront of his life.
Hook ups with fine specimens never going astray to boost his confidence.
Life behind the muscular and attractive facade consists of visiting an elderly lady in a nursing home and dealing with the dysfunctional elements of his family life.
Meeting nurse William at the nursing home will become a cornerstone of growth and a game changer.
An unexpected blast from his past challenges his future and upheaves memories that still hurt and have scarred him.
The bigger picture of life and purpose dawns on him.
It was interesting and enjoyable to read about characters that share similar experiences to me as they navigate being gay.
Being from a different generation I had few eye opening moments and fondly remember when I too thought 3 years was a long term relationship.
I can see a book like this helping those about to come out and if nothing else validates on paper a life they want to lead.
December 9, 2022
A MAN AND HIS PRIDE is a raw, honest and powerful portrayal of gay male life in the Grindr era. Luke Rutledge writes deftly and unflinchingly about the brutal realities of unresolved trauma and the psychological impact of Australia’s infamous same-sex marriage plebiscite. A MAN AND HIS PRIDE is equal parts funny, sexy, brutal and poignant – an impressive debut and a welcome new addition to the Australian gay literary canon.
February 14, 2023
The Grindr era and a young gay man trying to find his way in suburban Brisbane.
Not a coming of age story but a portrayal of a 20s something gay bloke trying to navigate what it means to be gay.
Competent writing~ with World Pride about to commence this book has received lavish praise and hope more young gay men read this book {an optimist I know: do they read apart from social media bites????}
Await Luke's next book.
Not a coming of age story but a portrayal of a 20s something gay bloke trying to navigate what it means to be gay.
Competent writing~ with World Pride about to commence this book has received lavish praise and hope more young gay men read this book {an optimist I know: do they read apart from social media bites????}
Await Luke's next book.
July 26, 2024
Watching William gain more self-confidence and Sean find his way onto the path of self-acceptance was such a wonderful feeling and it felt like something a reader was a part of making A Man and His Pride an outstanding debut novel, one I wish I was able to read much sooner, a hidden gem I’m glad I discovered.
Read the full review on my blog
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
Read the full review on my blog
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
February 20, 2023
What an outstanding debut! A MAN AND HIS PRIDE introduces a fresh new voice to the #AusLit scene and one I hope to hear more from.
Told from the perspective of a gay man and set in Brisbane during the same sex marriage plebiscite, the setting looks at a fascinating time in recent history. The setting & premise had compelled me to pick up this book, but the writing & story within kept me enthralled. It did not disappoint!
This book gave me a better understanding of the emotional turmoil caused by the postal vote and the perspectives of the gay community at the time. Raw, funny and with soft edges to a sometimes brutally honest story, A MAN AND HIS PRIDE will appeal to many readers.
Themes of sexuality, friendship, identity and mental health after trauma are navigated beautifully throughout the story. The slowly unraveling backstory was a nice little puzzle that really explained so much about the characters and their challenges when it all fell into place.
The friendship at the heart of this story was absolute gold and readers will adore kind and awkward William. I’m ready for a sequel about William!
This is an Aussie debut not to be missed!
I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher.
Told from the perspective of a gay man and set in Brisbane during the same sex marriage plebiscite, the setting looks at a fascinating time in recent history. The setting & premise had compelled me to pick up this book, but the writing & story within kept me enthralled. It did not disappoint!
This book gave me a better understanding of the emotional turmoil caused by the postal vote and the perspectives of the gay community at the time. Raw, funny and with soft edges to a sometimes brutally honest story, A MAN AND HIS PRIDE will appeal to many readers.
Themes of sexuality, friendship, identity and mental health after trauma are navigated beautifully throughout the story. The slowly unraveling backstory was a nice little puzzle that really explained so much about the characters and their challenges when it all fell into place.
The friendship at the heart of this story was absolute gold and readers will adore kind and awkward William. I’m ready for a sequel about William!
This is an Aussie debut not to be missed!
I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher.
February 9, 2023
A Man and His Pride by Australian author Luke Rutledge is a powerful book on personal development, fulfillment, and growth.
Sean Preston, 26 lives in Brisbane Australia working as an online troll moderator. When his three-month relationship comes to a demeaning end, he willingly disconnects and turns off emotional connections with others as a defence. Grindr, alcohol, and uppers become his go to.
Struggling to meet standards set by his mother and former girlfriend Abby who both blame him for ruining their lives Sean connects with 87-year-old Meredith who lives in a nursing home. When he meets nurse William an unlikely friendship develops. William is shy and inexperienced with gay dating finding many obstacles; Sean provides advice and in return learns from William.
As bonds grow stronger with Meredith and William, Sean’s life starts to turn around, he reconnects with himself, overcoming internal resistance. Lessons are learned allowing him to make the most of his life for growth, joy, and happiness.
Luke Rutledge has a special knack for enabling people to understand what it means to be gay, his writing comes from a place of compassion and understanding, and the reader can feel it. A Man and His Pride provides a humorous and insightful look, at maintaining ties with one's family, building love relationships that last and accepting oneself as decent and worthy of respect.
I loved how Luke included the Same-Sex Marriage 2017 Plebiscite in the novel. The postal survey was very unnecessary, it was an entirely pointless process that should have been legislated through parliament without a public vote. Being in a position where your life is the subject of such intense scrutiny and debate caused a great deal of stress and emotional turmoil. People had to live through difficult discussions about their lives, and their existence whilst being traumatised through the process. No one has a right to pass judgement on now anyone lives and who they love.
LGBT readers will admire the author’s ability to honestly portray everyday joys and struggles, I feel this book will help young people who may be agonizing with the added layer of complexity that comes with being gay and some of the difficult choices they will make or face in their life.
You don't have to be gay to appreciate this book, straight readers, or anyone who might not understand the gay experience will be reminded how significant life is and how to cherish it regardless of your sexuality.
Thank you, Beauty & Lace, and Penguin Australia Pty Ltd for the opportunity to read and review/
Sean Preston, 26 lives in Brisbane Australia working as an online troll moderator. When his three-month relationship comes to a demeaning end, he willingly disconnects and turns off emotional connections with others as a defence. Grindr, alcohol, and uppers become his go to.
Struggling to meet standards set by his mother and former girlfriend Abby who both blame him for ruining their lives Sean connects with 87-year-old Meredith who lives in a nursing home. When he meets nurse William an unlikely friendship develops. William is shy and inexperienced with gay dating finding many obstacles; Sean provides advice and in return learns from William.
As bonds grow stronger with Meredith and William, Sean’s life starts to turn around, he reconnects with himself, overcoming internal resistance. Lessons are learned allowing him to make the most of his life for growth, joy, and happiness.
Luke Rutledge has a special knack for enabling people to understand what it means to be gay, his writing comes from a place of compassion and understanding, and the reader can feel it. A Man and His Pride provides a humorous and insightful look, at maintaining ties with one's family, building love relationships that last and accepting oneself as decent and worthy of respect.
I loved how Luke included the Same-Sex Marriage 2017 Plebiscite in the novel. The postal survey was very unnecessary, it was an entirely pointless process that should have been legislated through parliament without a public vote. Being in a position where your life is the subject of such intense scrutiny and debate caused a great deal of stress and emotional turmoil. People had to live through difficult discussions about their lives, and their existence whilst being traumatised through the process. No one has a right to pass judgement on now anyone lives and who they love.
LGBT readers will admire the author’s ability to honestly portray everyday joys and struggles, I feel this book will help young people who may be agonizing with the added layer of complexity that comes with being gay and some of the difficult choices they will make or face in their life.
You don't have to be gay to appreciate this book, straight readers, or anyone who might not understand the gay experience will be reminded how significant life is and how to cherish it regardless of your sexuality.
Thank you, Beauty & Lace, and Penguin Australia Pty Ltd for the opportunity to read and review/
February 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this one - fully fleshed, utterly believable characters that I wanted to understand better.
April 28, 2024
I'm always glad to read gay plots situated in the land down-under (there's not enough of them)! A great character development study that had (IMO) shadings of Miss Austen's Emma. 3.5 stars.
August 28, 2023
A beautiful debut novel from a Brisbane author who so perfectly captured the many different ways to be a gay man in the current era. There’s so much I want to say about the novel but worry I’ll spoil it, so I’ll just say that I loved the through line of finding your people, and there’s no universal gay experience. I laughed a lot during this book, and by the final few chapters I had tears streaming down my face with sadness and relief and even some recognition of pain and self-hatred that creeps in. I’m so happy I got to meet these characters.
February 18, 2023
Thank you @penguinaus for sending me a review copy of A Man and His Pride. It is always delightful reading a book set in my own country with well known references. Set in Brisbane this is the story of Sean Preston’s personal growth and self fulfilment.
The book opens with the ending of his three month relationship with his roommate. It is brutal and awkward and it left me with similar feelings. I felt for Sean and the discomfort he was feeling having to be in that house with his now ex. Cue the spiral of self destruction and myriad of pills and alcohol fueled encounters.
The growth in this book stems from new relationships in Seans life, namely 87 year old Meredith and her nurse William. With the help of these two unlikely friends Sean’s life begins to turn around and he truly gets to learn about himself.
This book is hard hitting and gives an honest portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships and the community. It is set in the time of the 2017 Same-Sex Marriage Plebiscite and describes the emotional turmoil caused by the spineless government. Why did we need a postal vote FFS.
Overall, this book will be loved by lovers of Australian fiction, LGBTQ+ readers and people who enjoy that genre and those that love a beautiful story of love and friendship.
The book opens with the ending of his three month relationship with his roommate. It is brutal and awkward and it left me with similar feelings. I felt for Sean and the discomfort he was feeling having to be in that house with his now ex. Cue the spiral of self destruction and myriad of pills and alcohol fueled encounters.
The growth in this book stems from new relationships in Seans life, namely 87 year old Meredith and her nurse William. With the help of these two unlikely friends Sean’s life begins to turn around and he truly gets to learn about himself.
This book is hard hitting and gives an honest portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships and the community. It is set in the time of the 2017 Same-Sex Marriage Plebiscite and describes the emotional turmoil caused by the spineless government. Why did we need a postal vote FFS.
Overall, this book will be loved by lovers of Australian fiction, LGBTQ+ readers and people who enjoy that genre and those that love a beautiful story of love and friendship.
April 14, 2023
A wonderful read. Raw, emotional and beautiful. This is a one of kind book. Fantastic to read something based in Brisbane, that celebrates challenges, friendships and new beginnings.
April 20, 2023
An easy to read and beautifully crafted novel…loved the authenticity of the characters and how it perfectly captured the sense of time and place in Australia.
June 27, 2025
Growing up gay in Brisbane at the time of the plebiscite. A beautiful debut novel about finding yourself and coming to terms with one's sexuality.
September 1, 2023
I really enjoyed this novel though I do think the ending was a bit rushed, trying to tie up the loose ends for a happily ever after ending.
Set in Brisbane in 2017 during the same sex marriage debate, the story follows Sean through breakups, clubs, drugs & alcohol & a lot of hook ups. There's a hint throughout the book that something happened in his youth that affected him - you find out what near the end. I would read this author again
Set in Brisbane in 2017 during the same sex marriage debate, the story follows Sean through breakups, clubs, drugs & alcohol & a lot of hook ups. There's a hint throughout the book that something happened in his youth that affected him - you find out what near the end. I would read this author again
February 1, 2023
Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Penguin for my copy.
Wow, what a great read! I found this book to be raw, honest and totally entertaining. I was very surprised to find that it’s the author’s debut novel!
Set in Brisbane in 2017 the story is about Sean, 27 who has just been cheated on and dumped by his lover after a three month long relationship. The other characters are Sean’s mum, an elderly lady friend, Meredith in aged care, Abby who works with Sean and William, who becomes a good friend.
Be warned, there is swearing, some graphic sex scenes and casual hook-ups. I was totally fine with all of this and found the whole gay dating and hook up scene really interesting. The story also contains gay men trying to navigate the dating app scene, mainly GrindR, social media both in the workplace and private lives, gym workouts and body imagery.
The story also bounces back to Sean’s life as a boy and teenager about trying to work out his sexuality, coming out and also the same-sex marriage plebiscite in 2017.
A very well written book that flows nicely and comes highly recommended.
Wow, what a great read! I found this book to be raw, honest and totally entertaining. I was very surprised to find that it’s the author’s debut novel!
Set in Brisbane in 2017 the story is about Sean, 27 who has just been cheated on and dumped by his lover after a three month long relationship. The other characters are Sean’s mum, an elderly lady friend, Meredith in aged care, Abby who works with Sean and William, who becomes a good friend.
Be warned, there is swearing, some graphic sex scenes and casual hook-ups. I was totally fine with all of this and found the whole gay dating and hook up scene really interesting. The story also contains gay men trying to navigate the dating app scene, mainly GrindR, social media both in the workplace and private lives, gym workouts and body imagery.
The story also bounces back to Sean’s life as a boy and teenager about trying to work out his sexuality, coming out and also the same-sex marriage plebiscite in 2017.
A very well written book that flows nicely and comes highly recommended.
June 26, 2023
- thanks to @penguinbooksaus for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review
I confess I did not have A Man and His Pride on my radar, but the minute @sleemol recommended it, I got my hands on a copy. Once I learned more about the story, I was confident about having made a good choice. And alas, I was not wrong.
Speaking of confessions: not even a third into the story, I believed I would not finish it.
My problem? Sean, the main character.
I genuinely do not remember the last time I grew to dislike a character so rapidly... and passionately. Getting to know this character from an unavoidable judgemental lens, I was convinced Sean was... a dickhead. The more I learned about him and his thought processes, the more I disliked him. I mean, what 26 years old is not as traumatised and broken? Even more so if we add queerness to the equation? However, although I intellectually understood this, I still could not help wanting to walk away from the novel and never hear from Sean again.
But I persevered. And I am pleased I did so.
This story is utterly character-driven, with a beautiful, tactful, thought-provoking development. All the rage I felt towards Sean was fully evaporated by the end, and, fortunately, it had a purpose. I am confident that if I had not felt so infuriated by Sean, I would not have enjoyed this novel to the same extent. Although the emotional and intellectual rollercoaster was challenging at times, it only speaks of Luke's clearly identifiable writing talent.
Set right before voting for the right to same-sex marriage in Australia, the author explores the social and cultural atmosphere of such a historical and life-changing moment in this country. I very much appreciated the author's thoroughness and compassion, much necessary to tackle such a mammoth and create a story full of food for thought.
Overall, A Man and His Pride is an invitation to an emotional and challenging ride to explore love, friendship, forgiveness, identity and more, much more—100% recommended.
I confess I did not have A Man and His Pride on my radar, but the minute @sleemol recommended it, I got my hands on a copy. Once I learned more about the story, I was confident about having made a good choice. And alas, I was not wrong.
Speaking of confessions: not even a third into the story, I believed I would not finish it.
My problem? Sean, the main character.
I genuinely do not remember the last time I grew to dislike a character so rapidly... and passionately. Getting to know this character from an unavoidable judgemental lens, I was convinced Sean was... a dickhead. The more I learned about him and his thought processes, the more I disliked him. I mean, what 26 years old is not as traumatised and broken? Even more so if we add queerness to the equation? However, although I intellectually understood this, I still could not help wanting to walk away from the novel and never hear from Sean again.
But I persevered. And I am pleased I did so.
This story is utterly character-driven, with a beautiful, tactful, thought-provoking development. All the rage I felt towards Sean was fully evaporated by the end, and, fortunately, it had a purpose. I am confident that if I had not felt so infuriated by Sean, I would not have enjoyed this novel to the same extent. Although the emotional and intellectual rollercoaster was challenging at times, it only speaks of Luke's clearly identifiable writing talent.
Set right before voting for the right to same-sex marriage in Australia, the author explores the social and cultural atmosphere of such a historical and life-changing moment in this country. I very much appreciated the author's thoroughness and compassion, much necessary to tackle such a mammoth and create a story full of food for thought.
Overall, A Man and His Pride is an invitation to an emotional and challenging ride to explore love, friendship, forgiveness, identity and more, much more—100% recommended.
March 29, 2023
A Man and His Pride was an enjoyable enough read but there were two problems I had with it that brought down the rating for me.
1) The portrayal of body image, particularly at the start of the book, is very full on and the entire book as a whole seems to glorify particular body types. I understand that this was intended as the main character starts as extremely problematic and has to learn these lessons throughout the book, however I still found that by the end of the book appearances were still viewed as either ‘attractive’ or ‘not’. For example, on the last page Sean notes how when William smiled at him he didn’t even notice his crooked teeth - but as this is a first person narrative him mentioning it in this line means he did notice it. The lesson that Sean learns is that it doesn’t matter if someone is ugly they can still be beautiful inside. While this is close to a good message, I feel the book still puts a large emphasis that there is such thing as inherently ugly and inherently good looking. I would have liked to see Sean learn his lesson one step further and understand that different bodies/faces/physical attributes will be appealing to different people. I think he should have learned that these features can be beautiful, not that someone is beautiful EVEN WITH those features which is what he seems to learn.
2) The descriptions of Abby and Sonya at the beginning of the book come off as misogynistic. Sean describes Abby in a way that focuses on her body and slim figure, and in the next chapter is describing Sonya as a deeply unattractive person due to her weight gain and Botox. Again, I understand that this is the description from a problematic characters point of view, but it made it difficult to get into the book initially when most the character descriptions we got focused on a character at surface level.
All this said, I want to mention the things I really loved about the book because I don’t want this to be a negative review as I did find it enjoyable and loved certain aspects.
1) The storyline surrounding Meredith and how the trauma related to this was revealed spectacularly with just enough hints of information to make me want to keep reading. THe writing around Sean confronting his mother was deeply emotional and you could really feel the catharsis in these scenes.
2) The author did not shy away from showing the ugly sides of a gay community many of us have experienced.
3) I found that the dialogue was extremely well written and really helped me become immersed in the scene. I found this particularly true at Abby’s goodbye party. even though a lot happened in the short time, the way it was written and the way the characters interacted with each other helped me stay grounded in the story. The conversations throughout seemed extremely natural.
To finish I’d say overall I did enjoy this book, but I would warn people who are sensitive to body image issues that this book and the portrayal of appearances may be triggering for them. I think the authors writing style was easy to read and very natural and I’d be happy to read more of their work in future.
1) The portrayal of body image, particularly at the start of the book, is very full on and the entire book as a whole seems to glorify particular body types. I understand that this was intended as the main character starts as extremely problematic and has to learn these lessons throughout the book, however I still found that by the end of the book appearances were still viewed as either ‘attractive’ or ‘not’. For example, on the last page Sean notes how when William smiled at him he didn’t even notice his crooked teeth - but as this is a first person narrative him mentioning it in this line means he did notice it. The lesson that Sean learns is that it doesn’t matter if someone is ugly they can still be beautiful inside. While this is close to a good message, I feel the book still puts a large emphasis that there is such thing as inherently ugly and inherently good looking. I would have liked to see Sean learn his lesson one step further and understand that different bodies/faces/physical attributes will be appealing to different people. I think he should have learned that these features can be beautiful, not that someone is beautiful EVEN WITH those features which is what he seems to learn.
2) The descriptions of Abby and Sonya at the beginning of the book come off as misogynistic. Sean describes Abby in a way that focuses on her body and slim figure, and in the next chapter is describing Sonya as a deeply unattractive person due to her weight gain and Botox. Again, I understand that this is the description from a problematic characters point of view, but it made it difficult to get into the book initially when most the character descriptions we got focused on a character at surface level.
All this said, I want to mention the things I really loved about the book because I don’t want this to be a negative review as I did find it enjoyable and loved certain aspects.
1) The storyline surrounding Meredith and how the trauma related to this was revealed spectacularly with just enough hints of information to make me want to keep reading. THe writing around Sean confronting his mother was deeply emotional and you could really feel the catharsis in these scenes.
2) The author did not shy away from showing the ugly sides of a gay community many of us have experienced.
3) I found that the dialogue was extremely well written and really helped me become immersed in the scene. I found this particularly true at Abby’s goodbye party. even though a lot happened in the short time, the way it was written and the way the characters interacted with each other helped me stay grounded in the story. The conversations throughout seemed extremely natural.
To finish I’d say overall I did enjoy this book, but I would warn people who are sensitive to body image issues that this book and the portrayal of appearances may be triggering for them. I think the authors writing style was easy to read and very natural and I’d be happy to read more of their work in future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2023
After finished reading, I felt certain emotions but I thought it was best to lay off writing a review after I settled in. Well, 10 months have passed and here I am.
Overall, it's a read-able book but I had balked, and continue to do so, at the white superiority complex spiel.
There were no less than 4 instances where the author felt it necessary to inform his readers of the supriority of the white gay male:
1. On Page 50, Sean was sent a photo by a John Smith. "His face was blurred out, but the body wasn't bad: he was white, fit...".
2. On Page 62, "I opened Grindr again. Soon my vision blurred and I couldn't distinguish between all the pics of white torsos".
3. On Page 140, Sean was showed an advert for Australia's Yes campaign for the same sex plebicite coming up. "The advert starred a young man who was white, fit and masculine."
4. On Page 125, "And he'd be right. I'd long felt the most privileged position that existed within the gay community: white, gymfit, passable as a straight jock."
Each of the 4 instances on its own could be seen as benign. And I do recognise that in some cases, a racial description of some sort would be necessary. However I couldn't find, in this book, any context to support the inclusion of the racial descriptions in the manner I have listed above.
To give you some context of where I'm coming from and taking you momentarily away from the novel - when you:
- look at a photo of Naomi Campbell in 2023, would you go "Wow, what a beautiful black model!"? I wouldn't.
- open a dating app, would you go, "Wow so many hot [race] men/women!"? I wouldn't. Or even if you live in an exclusively white area, wouldn't you just go, "Wow, so many hot guys/girls!"? Well, unless you set the filter to show only a particular ...
- have watched a Superman movie, would you describe it as "A white powerful superhero battling the forces of evil."? I wouldn't.
As a coloured person reading this book, I was constantly reminded that a non-white person doesn't exist in Sean's world (bearing in mind that Sean's world is set in Brisbane, which as been described as a multicultural city), or if they do exist, they are invisible, immaterial or not relevant. I was also reminded that you can only be attractive if you are a white. This was all rather confronting. Now, 10 months later, the unpleasantness I felt when reading this book still lingers on, so much so that I feel compelled to call it out here.
However, this being a debut novel, I will close one eye. And in the spirit of being in the same community, I remain hopeful that the author's next novel will be more...polished.
Overall, it's a read-able book but I had balked, and continue to do so, at the white superiority complex spiel.
There were no less than 4 instances where the author felt it necessary to inform his readers of the supriority of the white gay male:
1. On Page 50, Sean was sent a photo by a John Smith. "His face was blurred out, but the body wasn't bad: he was white, fit...".
2. On Page 62, "I opened Grindr again. Soon my vision blurred and I couldn't distinguish between all the pics of white torsos".
3. On Page 140, Sean was showed an advert for Australia's Yes campaign for the same sex plebicite coming up. "The advert starred a young man who was white, fit and masculine."
4. On Page 125, "And he'd be right. I'd long felt the most privileged position that existed within the gay community: white, gymfit, passable as a straight jock."
Each of the 4 instances on its own could be seen as benign. And I do recognise that in some cases, a racial description of some sort would be necessary. However I couldn't find, in this book, any context to support the inclusion of the racial descriptions in the manner I have listed above.
To give you some context of where I'm coming from and taking you momentarily away from the novel - when you:
- look at a photo of Naomi Campbell in 2023, would you go "Wow, what a beautiful black model!"? I wouldn't.
- open a dating app, would you go, "Wow so many hot [race] men/women!"? I wouldn't. Or even if you live in an exclusively white area, wouldn't you just go, "Wow, so many hot guys/girls!"? Well, unless you set the filter to show only a particular ...
- have watched a Superman movie, would you describe it as "A white powerful superhero battling the forces of evil."? I wouldn't.
As a coloured person reading this book, I was constantly reminded that a non-white person doesn't exist in Sean's world (bearing in mind that Sean's world is set in Brisbane, which as been described as a multicultural city), or if they do exist, they are invisible, immaterial or not relevant. I was also reminded that you can only be attractive if you are a white. This was all rather confronting. Now, 10 months later, the unpleasantness I felt when reading this book still lingers on, so much so that I feel compelled to call it out here.
However, this being a debut novel, I will close one eye. And in the spirit of being in the same community, I remain hopeful that the author's next novel will be more...polished.
February 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this.
I’m not sure I’ve read a novel that deals so eloquently with not the coming out process, but a coming of age process of sorts, for a man in his approaching-late 20s. Sean Preston has been ‘out’ since he was 19 and the book opens with his first real ‘boyfriend’ of such, ending things after only several months. Sean didn’t see it coming and he realises that in the several months he’s become complacent, let himself go and so he throws himself back into a new gym regime and gets back on Grindr. Before that most recent relationship, Sean was immersed in the gay Brisbane casual hook up scene and he returns to it with gusto.
Sean is an interesting character. He’s snappy and sarcastic, judgemental and a bit abrasive. He struggles with a job that doesn’t fulfil him, deleting troll comments on a social media for a large bank and responding politely to the ones that don’t meet the standard for deletion. His boss despises him and he also works with one of his only real friends Abby, who was also Sean’s girlfriend for the two years prior to his coming out. Although they’d probably describe each other as their “bestie”, to be honest, Sean and Abby’s friendship is wrought with unresolved issues and recurring tensions. Sean has a troubled relationship with his mother and both his father and brother are absent, interstate for very different reasons. The only other constant in Sean’s life is Meredith, an elderly lady with dementia that he visits regularly in a nursing home. It’s through these visits that he meets William, 24, recently split from a long term boyfriend and looking for the sort of thing that Sean is an expert in. Originally irritated by William’s earnestness, he grows on Sean and Sean offers to help him find what he seeks.
I adored William. He’s so sweet and curious and has just stepped out of this long term relationship and is wondering what he might’ve missed out on. He’s so uncaring or oblivious of Sean’s sarcasm at times, it all just rolls off him. He is also part of a tightly knit crew of loved up couples and they’re quite active in campaigning for the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite. Sean doesn’t care about that, he has no interest in who wants to get married but he finds himself swept up in events, sweetly coerced into taking part by William as the friendship between them develops. Sean and William are sort of opposites in many ways – Sean is confident and not at all afraid to put himself out there on an app or arrange a hook up with someone he’s never met before. He’s well known on social media, popular in the scene and William doesn’t really seem like he’s ever entered that part of the sphere. He’s willing to be educated by Sean on his profile, on his pictures, on flirting but William is William and he’s built completely differently. He’s also not conventionally attractive in the way that many guys on the app are (or are looking for) but William’s resilience is just….remarkable. He takes a few hits in a row and just maintains his same soft, sweet disposition and keeps on trying different things and putting himself out there, following Sean’s suggestions.
I tried to spend a bit of time puzzling out Sean’s reasoning for visiting Meredith and the way it unfolded was told so well. It definitely gave a lot more insight into Sean’s character, the sort of things that had shaped his late teenage years and impacted his relationship with different family members. I felt like Sean showed a different side of himself in his visits with Meredith, perhaps because of the ways in which he could speak so openly with her. It was quite clear he confided things in her that he didn’t feel he could confide in others, the people he should receive unwavering support from.
I really appreciated Sean’s growth throughout this story, he starts off teaching William about things but he also learns from William and his friends as well. The end of the novel had him in a really interesting place and I would read more about him, if the author chose to….but if not, I think this is a very satisfying read.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
I’m not sure I’ve read a novel that deals so eloquently with not the coming out process, but a coming of age process of sorts, for a man in his approaching-late 20s. Sean Preston has been ‘out’ since he was 19 and the book opens with his first real ‘boyfriend’ of such, ending things after only several months. Sean didn’t see it coming and he realises that in the several months he’s become complacent, let himself go and so he throws himself back into a new gym regime and gets back on Grindr. Before that most recent relationship, Sean was immersed in the gay Brisbane casual hook up scene and he returns to it with gusto.
Sean is an interesting character. He’s snappy and sarcastic, judgemental and a bit abrasive. He struggles with a job that doesn’t fulfil him, deleting troll comments on a social media for a large bank and responding politely to the ones that don’t meet the standard for deletion. His boss despises him and he also works with one of his only real friends Abby, who was also Sean’s girlfriend for the two years prior to his coming out. Although they’d probably describe each other as their “bestie”, to be honest, Sean and Abby’s friendship is wrought with unresolved issues and recurring tensions. Sean has a troubled relationship with his mother and both his father and brother are absent, interstate for very different reasons. The only other constant in Sean’s life is Meredith, an elderly lady with dementia that he visits regularly in a nursing home. It’s through these visits that he meets William, 24, recently split from a long term boyfriend and looking for the sort of thing that Sean is an expert in. Originally irritated by William’s earnestness, he grows on Sean and Sean offers to help him find what he seeks.
I adored William. He’s so sweet and curious and has just stepped out of this long term relationship and is wondering what he might’ve missed out on. He’s so uncaring or oblivious of Sean’s sarcasm at times, it all just rolls off him. He is also part of a tightly knit crew of loved up couples and they’re quite active in campaigning for the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite. Sean doesn’t care about that, he has no interest in who wants to get married but he finds himself swept up in events, sweetly coerced into taking part by William as the friendship between them develops. Sean and William are sort of opposites in many ways – Sean is confident and not at all afraid to put himself out there on an app or arrange a hook up with someone he’s never met before. He’s well known on social media, popular in the scene and William doesn’t really seem like he’s ever entered that part of the sphere. He’s willing to be educated by Sean on his profile, on his pictures, on flirting but William is William and he’s built completely differently. He’s also not conventionally attractive in the way that many guys on the app are (or are looking for) but William’s resilience is just….remarkable. He takes a few hits in a row and just maintains his same soft, sweet disposition and keeps on trying different things and putting himself out there, following Sean’s suggestions.
I tried to spend a bit of time puzzling out Sean’s reasoning for visiting Meredith and the way it unfolded was told so well. It definitely gave a lot more insight into Sean’s character, the sort of things that had shaped his late teenage years and impacted his relationship with different family members. I felt like Sean showed a different side of himself in his visits with Meredith, perhaps because of the ways in which he could speak so openly with her. It was quite clear he confided things in her that he didn’t feel he could confide in others, the people he should receive unwavering support from.
I really appreciated Sean’s growth throughout this story, he starts off teaching William about things but he also learns from William and his friends as well. The end of the novel had him in a really interesting place and I would read more about him, if the author chose to….but if not, I think this is a very satisfying read.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
June 10, 2023
TW: homophobia; hate crime
Sean had been out since he was 19 and, at 26, he thinks everything is a-ok. He’s living with his boyfriend (of 3
months) and everything is fine and dandy. Until he spots a hickey on his boyfriend’s neck and he realises things aren’t so peachy. He hates his job, his boss is a homophobe and everything is exacerbated by the impending plebiscite on same-sex marriage in Australia. But then he meets William, a shy nurse who works at the nursing home where he visits Meridian, an 87 year old resident, and an unlikely friendship sparks.
First and foremost, I was drawn to the cover of the book in the library. The colours are so vibrant that they can be spotted across the room. So, sometimes, you CAN judge a book by its cover.
Secondly, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book. I liked Sean but grew to love him as the book progressed and William is the kind of person that I would want to wrap in a hug.
I loved that the story was set in Brisbane and that Luke didn’t shy away from real, raw emotions through his writing. I also loved that I had a feeling there was some kind of interconnection but couldn’t work out what that was until very late in the book.
Whilst this book does include themes of homophobia and hate crimes, overall, the book is lighthearted and, as a reader, you’re left with a case of the warm and fuzzies and a feeling of hope for the future.
Highly recommend this book!
Sean had been out since he was 19 and, at 26, he thinks everything is a-ok. He’s living with his boyfriend (of 3
months) and everything is fine and dandy. Until he spots a hickey on his boyfriend’s neck and he realises things aren’t so peachy. He hates his job, his boss is a homophobe and everything is exacerbated by the impending plebiscite on same-sex marriage in Australia. But then he meets William, a shy nurse who works at the nursing home where he visits Meridian, an 87 year old resident, and an unlikely friendship sparks.
First and foremost, I was drawn to the cover of the book in the library. The colours are so vibrant that they can be spotted across the room. So, sometimes, you CAN judge a book by its cover.
Secondly, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book. I liked Sean but grew to love him as the book progressed and William is the kind of person that I would want to wrap in a hug.
I loved that the story was set in Brisbane and that Luke didn’t shy away from real, raw emotions through his writing. I also loved that I had a feeling there was some kind of interconnection but couldn’t work out what that was until very late in the book.
Whilst this book does include themes of homophobia and hate crimes, overall, the book is lighthearted and, as a reader, you’re left with a case of the warm and fuzzies and a feeling of hope for the future.
Highly recommend this book!
January 31, 2023
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Thank you Penguin Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review
A Man and his Pride is a raw, edgy, and powerful portrayal of a gay male, Sean, in the 2017 same sex plebiscite that divided Australia. Sean is young, naive, living a superficial life in the era of technology, while his world crumbles and cracks around him. With bad habits, traits, and a ex relationship that still haunts him, Sean is desperate to boost his confidence.
Luke Rutledge has written and deep, brutal, and powerful story that I couldn’t put down. This unflinching story is funny, poignant and will leave an imprint on Australian literature in years to come.
Bookstagram
Website
Thank you Penguin Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review
A Man and his Pride is a raw, edgy, and powerful portrayal of a gay male, Sean, in the 2017 same sex plebiscite that divided Australia. Sean is young, naive, living a superficial life in the era of technology, while his world crumbles and cracks around him. With bad habits, traits, and a ex relationship that still haunts him, Sean is desperate to boost his confidence.
Luke Rutledge has written and deep, brutal, and powerful story that I couldn’t put down. This unflinching story is funny, poignant and will leave an imprint on Australian literature in years to come.
April 3, 2023
''A Man and His Pride' is set in Brisbane during the Marriage Equality plebiscite in 2017. The novel centres around Sean Preston, a 26 year old gay man, who is, despite coming out at age 19 has not been keen to make a big deal about his sexuality. After the end of a three month relationship, he falls into a cycle of working out at the gym, drinking and random hook ups. After meeting a kind but naive nurse William, a friendship grows.
This was a sweet and sometimes moving story about life as a gay man in 21st century Australia. Luke Rutledge has crafted a novel that celebrates the many different ways that we can live out our homosexuality and that pride in ourselves and or sexuality is a continuous journey that is made easier with the help of friends. This was a joy to read and kept me turning the page!
This was a sweet and sometimes moving story about life as a gay man in 21st century Australia. Luke Rutledge has crafted a novel that celebrates the many different ways that we can live out our homosexuality and that pride in ourselves and or sexuality is a continuous journey that is made easier with the help of friends. This was a joy to read and kept me turning the page!
February 25, 2023
Just as money does not buy happiness, but it can make misery much more comfortable; so too great genetics can make all the difference socially, especially in the gay world. This truism is railed against by many, and in this work it can be seen at the centre. Privilege has its perks.
Without a doubt the city of Brisbane is a core character in this story, and if a reader knows the place, then there will be a better grounding in the context, but it is not lost to any Anglos, especially Australians. And it is great to read from a perspective that is not from the self imposed isolation of the ghetto of one of the other main Australian capitals (of Sydney & Melbourne).
Without a doubt the city of Brisbane is a core character in this story, and if a reader knows the place, then there will be a better grounding in the context, but it is not lost to any Anglos, especially Australians. And it is great to read from a perspective that is not from the self imposed isolation of the ghetto of one of the other main Australian capitals (of Sydney & Melbourne).
November 4, 2023
This is the book that changed my perspective on what being gay means and having some pride in myself, and not being ashamed of others.
I was a lot like Sean, the protagonist in this story; I did not care for same sex marriage (I am gay, don't come at me), in Australia where I live, and was not into the scene, and heavens forbid, awkward to be around camp gay men.
What this book did, was give me perspective, and respect for all the different type of people in our lives. While I won't give anything away, the title does have more than one meaning, and I wish we could see where Sean is today, in a sequel. I no longer feel shame in my people, or myself, and I have this novel to thank for it.
I was a lot like Sean, the protagonist in this story; I did not care for same sex marriage (I am gay, don't come at me), in Australia where I live, and was not into the scene, and heavens forbid, awkward to be around camp gay men.
What this book did, was give me perspective, and respect for all the different type of people in our lives. While I won't give anything away, the title does have more than one meaning, and I wish we could see where Sean is today, in a sequel. I no longer feel shame in my people, or myself, and I have this novel to thank for it.
April 10, 2023
I was going to do my usual thing and set the scene and opine (I love that word). For a change Dear Reader, not this time. All I will write is that this is an impressive debut novel, that will appeal to many gay men, whether a gym-toned bunny, or an in/experienced wannabe. The subterranean subplot that lurks in most of these novels is deftly handled, never overpowering the main storyline. The author is a name to follow; next please Mr. Rutledge.
(One caveat: the cover. I’m bewildered why you thanked the person who designed the cover. It’s absolutely awful. I took a Vox pop poll of friends and colleagues and it was universally a thumbs down)
Don’t let it put you off.
(One caveat: the cover. I’m bewildered why you thanked the person who designed the cover. It’s absolutely awful. I took a Vox pop poll of friends and colleagues and it was universally a thumbs down)
Don’t let it put you off.
March 17, 2024
How true
If anyone wants a snapshot of gay life for a Gen Z bordering on millennial this is it.
Sean is a self obsessed superficial 26 year old who eventually gets an awakening. He's lived a fairly aimless life, though not free from trauma, stumbling from one one stand to the next. Then he meets someone who makes him re-evaluate.
It's an honest story, one in which I have been able to recognise some people in my life, even now at my age.
Well written and easy to read but also entertaining.
If anyone wants a snapshot of gay life for a Gen Z bordering on millennial this is it.
Sean is a self obsessed superficial 26 year old who eventually gets an awakening. He's lived a fairly aimless life, though not free from trauma, stumbling from one one stand to the next. Then he meets someone who makes him re-evaluate.
It's an honest story, one in which I have been able to recognise some people in my life, even now at my age.
Well written and easy to read but also entertaining.
May 17, 2026
A Man and His Pride is a fictional story set in the very real context of the marriage equality plebiscite in 2017 in Australia. This novel follows the story of Sean, a twenty-six year old gay man struggling with a lot of shame and internalised homophobia, and the way that genuine friendship with another gay man allows his perspective to shift. This story has a deeply honest and uniquely queer voice, tackling very raw emotions surrounding shame and the way it impacts our lives, the importance of connection, community and friendship, and the importance of vocal acceptance over mere tolerance
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2023
Luke Rutledge’s debut novel is thoughtful, tender and unflinching in its honesty. We immediately become immersed in the superficial world of Sean, the main protagonist. His journey of self-discovery is beautifully paced, as we watch him piece together who he is, revealing the layer of shame that has shaped his life.
A Man and his Pride is one of those rare books that stay with you long after you read them.
A Man and his Pride is one of those rare books that stay with you long after you read them.
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