Boy Meets Boy
Summary:
Paul is in his early years at high school and has been openly gay for most of his life. He describes his life so far as fun, nothing complicated or out of the ordinary. He lives in a town and goes to a school that is mostly very open and inclusive of its LGBT community. Paul’s identity is accepted by everyone around him and he is happy in his own self-identity. However, when he meets the love of his life, Noah, he learns he is not immune to heartbreak and begins to really realise others around him are not so lucky in the acceptance they are surrounded by.
Edited by: Dublin City University
Comment:
This novel is noteworthy in the almost idyllic setting that Paul’s love life plays out against. Paul does not have a traumatic experience of coming out and does not experience inequality in his daily life. Yet, not too far from the surface, the injustices experienced by a diverse cast of characters brings to light how individuals experience gender and sexuality very differently. His best friend Joni is silenced in her new relationship with Chuck, who conforms to ideals of a toxic version of masculinity. His good friend Infinite Darling, described as a drag queen, is popular and accepted by their peers, confirmed by their place on the football team and status as homecoming queen. Yet Infinite Darling is rejected by “the other drag queens” for not conforming to all of the bodily gendered norms and deals with many other conflicts. Kyle, Paul’s ex-boyfriend, who has rejected him, ignored him and accused Paul of ‘tricking’ him into being gay, is angry and confused. Throughout, Paul’s experiences of the complications of his first love with Noah facilitate greater understanding of the struggles of others.