Reviews

The Times I Knew I Was Gay by Eleanor Crewes

indust's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

ggriffin14's review against another edition

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Had to return it to the library but it was really good

sofiema's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

3.75

sadie_g's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

3.5

closetdiscoqueen's review against another edition

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3.0

I really enjoyed this zine-to-book creation filled with illustrations reminiscent of Amelia's Notebooks. I appreciate that Eleanor shared her (multiple) coming out stories, especially to readers who may have expectations of it being a grand, single-instance event. Often times it's not, as Crewes depicts throughout her story. It's worth noting that the author has supportive parents and friends in the book, but still struggled with their sexual identity for years. Sometimes we don't know how to own these things about ourselves until our hearts and minds are ready - even when it feels like everyone else knows, especially when growing up in heteronormative environments.

infinitelibrary's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

knkoch's review against another edition

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funny reflective medium-paced

3.5

I read this quite quickly, and don't remember all of it! But I liked the way Crewes' understanding of her identity didn't move in a straight line (pun intended) and that her coming out wasn't a binary before & after story. Her memoir felt more realistic for that, and diary-like in its emotional messiness, uncertainty, and complexity. It's good to be reminded of stories like this within the body of coming out and coming of age stories. 

zajedenwiersz's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.75

misserikalee's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful fast-paced

4.0

elenahasashelf's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.5

I appreciated this for its nuance and different perspective from the “I always knew” coming out stories. I found Eleanor’s story more relatable than those. Also loved the accurate portrayal of gay dating being just as complicated and annoying as straight dating 😂