What do you think?
Rate this book
The Tragedy of Miss Geneva Flowers
Like many gay sixteen-year-olds, Erick Taylor dreams of being a star. The problem is that he’s unpopular and stuck in Catholic school, and his parents, in their own desperate search for sainthood, fail to see that their son is on a path toward self-destruction. Unable to face his tormentors at school, unsure of whether he wants to live or die, Erick meets Chloe, “a twenty-six-year-old self-proclaimed ‘grandiloquent’ drag queen.” With a glam-rock makeover and a pair of platform shoes, Erick finally finds the courage to out himself, erasing his former identity and leaping blindly into Minneapolis’s gay nightlife. What begins as an innocent journey of self-discovery soon turns tragic when Erick’s life as an aspiring drag queen is halted by the unthinkable, and he finds himself alone, lost in the insanity of a world exploding. With exhilarating style and dark wit, Joe Babcock—winner of the Best Self-Published Novel awards from both Writer’s Digest and the Lambda Literary Foundation—paints a provocative, devastating portrait of what it’s like to grow up gay.
280 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2005
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 5, 2026
With the city heavy on my mind this year, I found this tale of being young and gay in Minneapolis a necessary and optimistic reflection as it takes place at the same time when I, too, was young and gay in Mpls. Miss Geneva Flowers took a piece of my heart.
October 9, 2011
I think that this book was mistitled. It could more properly have been called The Birth of Miss Geneva Flowers. As with most births, there is a good deal of pain, but the ordeal ends with some promise for the future.
This is the story of Erick, a young catholic boy, and a junior at the local catholic school. His family has been devastated by the death of his younger brother, and all are still feeling the after effects of that tragedy several years later. Although they've attempted to move on and have even adopted a new "replacement" child, Erick and his family are still dysfunctional to varying degrees and all are suffering from varying degrees of depression. Added to that turmoil is Erick's gradual realization/acceptance that he's gay.
When Erick meets a self proclaimed, "Gradiloquist drag queen" who goes by the name Chloe, he gains a fairy godmother, a friend and a love interest of sorts.
The boys do way too many drugs and this book does seem to fixate on that. Certainly, it becomes a major problem for Erick and it shapes his experience in significant ways - the book tends to plod along as we are forced to wallow through these experiences as well.
Fortunately, although there is tragedy in the story, it ends on a note of promise that redeems it and makes this a worthwhile read.
There are very few new stories under the sun and there's nothing here that hasn't been touched on elsewhere but, as John Donne said, "no man is an island" and while any man's death diminishes me, understanding any man's story enriches me.
There are riches here if one troubles himself to sift through the pain.
This is the story of Erick, a young catholic boy, and a junior at the local catholic school. His family has been devastated by the death of his younger brother, and all are still feeling the after effects of that tragedy several years later. Although they've attempted to move on and have even adopted a new "replacement" child, Erick and his family are still dysfunctional to varying degrees and all are suffering from varying degrees of depression. Added to that turmoil is Erick's gradual realization/acceptance that he's gay.
When Erick meets a self proclaimed, "Gradiloquist drag queen" who goes by the name Chloe, he gains a fairy godmother, a friend and a love interest of sorts.
The boys do way too many drugs and this book does seem to fixate on that. Certainly, it becomes a major problem for Erick and it shapes his experience in significant ways - the book tends to plod along as we are forced to wallow through these experiences as well.
Fortunately, although there is tragedy in the story, it ends on a note of promise that redeems it and makes this a worthwhile read.
There are very few new stories under the sun and there's nothing here that hasn't been touched on elsewhere but, as John Donne said, "no man is an island" and while any man's death diminishes me, understanding any man's story enriches me.
There are riches here if one troubles himself to sift through the pain.
November 15, 2008
Possibly one of the most touching and entertaining books I had ever read. The story is poignant yet laughable, the plot is intensely real as the characters are portrayed richly vivid. I was engrossed from the very first page and devoured the rest. I definitely recommend this novel - although reader should approach this with an open and accepting mindset.
June 28, 2026
3,5 ★
This book was very interesting. To be honest, before and when I started reading it, I thought it would be a stupid story, like a lightweight comedy book about a drag queen saving someone's life, but it was far from that. The whole plot, focusing on growing up, addiction, and friendships, was so intriguing. I have never read a book like this.
The prose was very simple to read, although sometimes it was too much. I kinda cringed at some of the dialogue, but maybe that was part of it. It did feel like it was playing into the gay stereotypes and making it seem that the feminine gay men are the "correct" ones, and if you wanted to present more masculine, you are hiding yourself from the world. Didn't like that
Overall, a solid read, mainly the second and third parts of the book.
This book was very interesting. To be honest, before and when I started reading it, I thought it would be a stupid story, like a lightweight comedy book about a drag queen saving someone's life, but it was far from that. The whole plot, focusing on growing up, addiction, and friendships, was so intriguing. I have never read a book like this.
The prose was very simple to read, although sometimes it was too much. I kinda cringed at some of the dialogue, but maybe that was part of it. It did feel like it was playing into the gay stereotypes and making it seem that the feminine gay men are the "correct" ones, and if you wanted to present more masculine, you are hiding yourself from the world. Didn't like that
Overall, a solid read, mainly the second and third parts of the book.
April 5, 2009
I read this book because there were some really strong reviews for it. I got 150 pages in and still couldn't figure out if this was an extremely well written book about a narrator/main character that is completely overdramatic and vapid, or if this was just bad writing. I'm more inclined to think the latter. The ultimate problem is not enough time elapses for the reader to feel that the situation has earned the reaction Erick gives to it. People who have never been a gay teen, or known one, will likely think this is a good novel. I was, and I've known more than one, so I'm abandoning this one and moving on.
January 23, 2011
This was one of those books that I found with the library database. It was a coming-of-age story about a boy who is alienating himself from his family. His is as gay as they come but his family is overwhelmed due to the death of his younger brother. The boy meets a Diva who takes him under his wing and gives him a place to land while he is finding himself. AIDS makes an expected appearance and the drug abuse can be intense but it is necessary to the story. There is a warm ending but that’s fine with me.
February 9, 2009
Erick is young and naive and dramatic, but his story is Worth reading for the narrative voice alone. He drops out of high school and moves in with his campy drag queen friend Chloe (they generally spend a lot of time smoking pot, trying on "fierce" outfits, and hanging out at the mall) and experiments with drugs, sex and transforming himself into Geneva Flowers.
September 8, 2011
I LOVED this book. Such a page turner. It makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you cringe, makes you smile. This was my favorite book for a long time, but its been years since I read it. Its super edgy and controversial, and I love that.
December 19, 2007
teenage angst at its finest. at points hinges on trashy romance, but an overall emotionally-legitimized story.
Read
June 13, 2009MAybe if I was a secret gay teenage boy in the mid-west this would be my bible on how to behave. Instead my skin crawled, girlfriend!
October 14, 2014
A fall back rereader for me... I loved this coming of age book...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews