Eleanor Crewes

A charming, highly relatable graphic memoir that follows one young woman’s adventures in coming out and coming of age. Ellie always had questions about who she was and how she fit in. As a girl, she wore black, obsessed over Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and found dating boys much more confusing than many of her friends did. As she grew older, so did her fears and a deep sense of unbelonging. From her first communion to her first girlfriend via a swathe of self-denial, awkward encounters, and everyday courage, Ellie tells her story through gorgeous illustrations—a fresh and funny self-portrait of a young woman becoming herself. The Times I Knew I Was Gay reminds us that people sometimes come out not just once but again and again; that identity is not necessarily about falling in love with others, but about coming to terms with oneself. Full of vitality and humor, it will ring true for anyone who has taken the time to discover who they truly are.

The Times I Knew I Was Gay

Came into this pretty skeptical given my personal emulsification in coming out/lgbt+ self-discovery narratives, but by the end I was actually shaking a bit? I need to read more outright romantic lit if this managed to capture me that much.

Might also be a BIT in need of serious closet decluttering given just how strongly i reacted to it. Been clear on how I’d like it to look in my head for the better part of a decade now but even the most clean and organized closet will attract mildew and bugs (which metaphors aside are good and cool in my book) if left without enough fresh air and usage. 

Robin Thall

Came into this pretty skeptical given my personal emulsification in coming out/lgbt+ self-discovery narratives, but by the end I was actually shaking a bit? I need to read more outright romantic lit if this managed to capture me that much.

Might also be a BIT in need of serious closet decluttering given just how strongly i reacted to it. Been clear on how I’d like it to look in my head for the better part of a decade now but even the most clean and organized closet will attract mildew and bugs (which metaphors aside are good and cool in my book) if left without enough fresh air and usage. 

Joycelyn Ghansah

Loved it! Very relatable. Was rooting for Elle from beginning to end
 Really loved the epilogue and how they express themselves throughout the book. How difficult it is to come out, be your true self, or even embrace your identity. Would recommend.

Izza

KADY BURNS

Fiona Coffey

I loved it! It was so cute and I love this style of illustration!

zilver 

Ohhh this one was very dear. 

“The Times I Knew I Was Gay” by Eleanor Crewes tells– well, kind of what it says on the tin. It gives us Ellie’s journey (so far) as she comes out, comes of age, becomes. It’s about how a struggle with one thing in yourself can be the insidious seed for more struggles with yourself. How difficult a place to be your own headspace is if you’re so vehemently denying something you don’t even know what you’re denying. 

I found this really heartwarming. Heart wrenching as well at parts. There’s a huge focus on process, and needing to process. At some point - after having come out to her friends once already - she’s turning the thought over again in her mind, time and time again, and she says, “It wasn’t such an epiphany as last time ... it was more like small moments of clarity. Like I had to test the words, allow them to settle inside me before speaking them aloud to anyone.” As someone who needs about a week to process any minor decision this is an extremely recognisable feeling. I especially also really like the focus on transitional places in this graphic memoir about change - this particular moments on the London Underground. 

I really liked how we get both the narrator Ellie and the narrated Ellie’s thoughts - we see how they differ, and how she reflects on herself at the time. It’s one of the thing that makes autographies such as this very appealing to me, the aspect of direct revisiting through the author’s own art. Ellie switches to her present-day self at significant moments, rethinking her own thoughts out loud (or, on page), taking us with her in her thought processes as they develop and have developed. 

Overall I think this is an accomplished, well narrated and wonderfully drawn, but most of all a hopeful book.

I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Caitlin Berger

Shannon Leigh Williams

'It's for everyone. Candid, authentic and utterly charming' Sarah Waters, author of Tipping the Velvet 'Funny and super relatable' Alice Oseman, author of Heartstopper A tender and funny graphic memoir about identity, love and Willow from Buffy Ellie always knew she was different. Contrary and creative, she wore black, obsessed over Willow in Buffy and somehow never really liked boys. As she grew, so did her fears and a deep sense of unbelonging. From her first communion to her first girlfriend via a swathe of self-denial, awkward encounters and everyday courage, Ellie's journey is told through tender and funny illustrations - a self-portrait sketched out from the heart. The Times I Knew I Was Gay reminds us that sexuality is not often determined by falling in love with others, but by coming to terms with oneself; that people must come out not just once but again and again. Full of vitality and love, it will ring true for anyone who took time to discover who they truly are.

A Graphic Memoir 'for everyone. Candid, authentic and utterly charming' Sarah Waters

Alice

Apple

A tender and funny graphic memoir about identity, love and Willow from Buffy Ellie always knew she was different. Contrary and creative, she wore black, obsessed over Willow in Buffy and somehow never really liked boys. As she grew, so did her fears and a deep sense of unbelonging. From her first communion to her first girlfriend via a swathe of self-denial, awkward encounters and everyday courage, Ellie's journey is told through tender and funny illustrations - a self-portrait sketched out from the heart. The Times I Knew I Was Gay reminds us that sexuality is not often determined by falling in love with others, but by coming to terms with oneself; that people must come out not just once but again and again. Full of vitality and love, it will ring true for anyone who took time to discover who they truly are.

The Times I Knew I Was Gay

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