I loved this one. It does many things well; explores the intersection of faith and sexuality and the possibility of reconciling the two, talks about performative tolerance in communities which speak of acceptance whilst oppressing people they claim to support. Perhaps its best achievement, though, is the treatment of being openly queer or in the closet.

I think we use a lot of language about coming out that revolves around bravery, and that makes sense because coming out is a scary act and it's absolutely brave to do it, but sometimes I feel we risk speaking of those who don't or can't come out as cowards because they haven't taken that brave step. We forget that some people are absolutely unable to come out for reasons of safety, or even their lives. People aren't inherently less brave because they can't come out.

That's what Autoboyography explores well. Tanner knows he deserves more than to be Seb's secret, but he also knows he can't force Seb to come out and lose his whole community and family. He never thinks less of Seb for being in the closet, even as he wonders whether it's fair for Seb to expect him to wait around. It shows how complicated an issue it is.

A really great and surprisingly upbeat (but also heartbreaking) novel about discovering your identity and navigating accepting it when to do so could cost you everything.