Gaysians

by Mike Curato

From the acclaimed author of the YA graphic novel Flamer , comes a gorgeous, heart-warming adult debut following four gay Asians as they navigate love, identity, and friendship in Seattle during the early aughts.

When AJ arrives in Seattle, naïve and eager for a new, gay, life, he has no friends, no job, no money. His first apartment sits so far north of the gayborhood that "not even lesbians live there." Leaning into his identity for the first time in his life, AJ he walks past the velvet rope into his first gay bar and discovers what he moved across the country to gay men who are out, proud, and unashamed.

That first night, a chance spilled drink unites him with new group of friends, also of Asian  K, ethereal drag queen, activist, matriarch; John, introverted gaymer who doesn't feel seen in real life; reckless Steven, who wields his good looks to secure validation via sex (whites only, please); and Tai and Eddie, the "perfect" Chinese-American couple. Together, this “Boy Luck Club” helps AJ navigate his new semi-fabulous life, with its equal trials and unbridled joys. But just as AJ begins to find his way, a devastating attack splinters the group, and tests everything each one of them knows about love, friendship, and family.

A meticulously observed, gorgeously-crafted snapshot of gay culture in the pulsing early years of the tech boom, Gaysians renders its hilarious, flamboyant, human protagonists with love and individuality, showing tenderly the particular joy of queer friendship and yearning.

Genres: Graphic Novels, LGBT, Queer, Comics, Fiction, Adult, Audiobook

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

MIKE was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. He has been drawing ever since he could hold a pencil. Mike attended Syracuse University and has a BFA in Illustration. After college, he moved to Seattle, where he eventually began a career as a graphic designer. You can see examples of Mike's design work here. In 2012, Mike finally achieved his lifelong goal of becoming a published author & illustrator of children's books when Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (MacMillan) offered him a 3-book deal featuring his character, Little Elliot. The first book in the series, Little Elliot, Big City, debuted August 26th, 2014. Mike currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Reviews

[Jan Agaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

i didnt realize this was a graphic novel until i was about 20 minutes into the audiobook. I've never listened to a graphic novel, but it was quite the experience with all the sound effects and full cast. it was a PERFORMANCE, to say the least.
this book humorously explores the sense of community and belonging. it has such great commentary on Asian stereotypes, fetishes, expectations, and culture, as well as on being queer and trying to find your place in a new city. this was heartbreaking during certain scenes but equally so much fun overall♡

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

With deep compassion and ferocious wit, Curato introduces a Seattle-based queer Asian friend group in all of their messy glory. The Boy Luck Club, as they style themselves, are searching for love, for sex, for jobs, for safety, for community and a place to belong. Between brunches and drag shows they fight and make up, learn how to love each other, learn how to love themselves, show up for each other, fail to show up for each other, and then show up a hundred times more powerfully in glitter and heels. I've been hunting for books like this my whole life; this story broke my heart and healed it. I had the extreme pleasure of reading this book early and giving it a blurb, but it's out on shelves now! I highly recommend you check it out! And look up Mike Curato on insta, he has a pretty extensive book tour planned this summer. Maybe you can see him in person :D

[ryan ⚡︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is MY sex and the city

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, heartfelt, and thought-provoking. Gaysians is a graphic novel that follows a group of gay Asian friends in Seattle over the course of a year of so. There's relationship drama, traumatic pasts, micro-aggressions and assault, found family, miscommunication, therapy, dating troubles, friendship, gender identity, and nuanced conversations about being gay and part of the Asian diaspora. It's hard-hitting yet soft, sometimes raunchy, sometimes sweet, with all of the characters going on a journey of growth.

There's a half-Filipino baby gay who just came out and moved to town, desperate for a boyfriend and put off by experiences with dating apps. There's a Vietnamese playboy who sometimes uses casual sex as a distraction from dealing with his feelings. There's a Korean gamer who was adopted by non-Asians and often feels out of place as a larger-bodied gay man. And then we have a Chinese drag-queen who is mostly no-contact with unsupportive family, navigating the complexities of gender. It's really well done and definitely worth a read! I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Asian-American LGBTQIA+ found family does the soap opera, comedy, drama, trauma, inspirational thing in Seattle in 2003.

Engaging and enlightening.

Recommended for fans of Queer as Folk.

[Emmy P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did the ALC audiobook of this by Hachette and wow. What a unique time.

This has to have been the wildest, most historically relevant for the moment, little experience. It was almost like watching a stage show without the theatre. Camp AF and I don't think I have ever enjoyed an audiobook so much. If you love an immersive and reflective experience that's hit after hit, come this way.

A glimpse into the city life, I felt the go-go-go go as our characters went-went-went. It's giving synopsis cultural commentary and I might even be a touch obsessed.

Screaming, we love that for her. Get up sl*t, this one is for everyone.

[Heather Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ironically, I picked this up because it's the same author as one of my favorite children's book series, Little Eliot. Curato is so talented across the board.

This book was educational, eye-opening, heartwarming and tragic. I loved the author's note too where he acknowledges this may not be every queer Asian boys story because they are all different, but it is some of their stories.

[tillie hellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

stayed up a whole hour and a half past my bedtime for this #crazy (i’m also technically on vacay rn ig… anyways). this was amazing!!!! a friend group of queer asian people in the early 2000s, each of the four main characters had a lot of development and different relationships with each other, the world, and themselves. lots of cool drag stuff, along with a plotline about coming out as a trans woman. honestly so many issues addressed in this: immigration, being adopted transracially, being half asian, fatphobia, lots of race/racism in general, ptsd/healing from hate crimes, etc etc. the art was not the style i normally like but it worked rlly well for this book! not exactly pretty but like real? it didn’t soften stuff in a good way. while still having some very pretty moments and being overall well done. decently nsfw ngl, but i read from the safety of my room at nighttime. overall very enjoyable!!!

[s.elle.books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I had high hopes for this ALC and I felt prettyet down. The storyline was decent, but the continuous sex sounds, kissing sounds, crying/laughing (sometimes I couldn't tell the difference), and really poorly done background noises made it hard to listen to this ALC.

I wouldn't recommend it ...

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adult debut by YA graphic novel author @mike_curato that follows four gay Asians in the early 2000s.
🏳️‍🌈
AJ arrives in Seattle with next to nothing, but hope for finally being able to live an authentic life as a gay man. Asian K is a drag queen, activist and matriarch. John is an introverted gaymer who doesn’t feel seen in real life. Steven seeks validation from sex and Tai and Eddie are the perfect Chinese-American couple. All of these people become part of AJ’s inner circle and are called the Boy Luck Club. When a devastating attack occurs, it creates a ripple effect for everyone in their inner circle.
👨‍❤️‍👨
While this is a graphic novel, I enjoyed reading the audiobook from @librofm and can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy so see the artwork, as I loved Flamer when it released. The narration was done beautifully by multiple voice actors and read like a play. Fans of Sex in the City will love this, but know it is strictly for the 18+ crowd.

CW: transphobia, homophobia, racism, racial slurs, grief, death, abandonment, hate crime, panic attacks, violence, xenophobia, drug use, body shaming, fatphobia, infidelity, toxic friendship, alcohol, classism, sexual violence, suicidal thoughts, emesis

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was, in a lot of ways, a difficult read. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED this book. But it has some really heavy and challenging themes to deal with. Curato does a brilliant job balancing a lot of diverse characters and a lot of diverse personalities in this found-family, coming-of-age graphic novel. The art is spectacular, gorgeous, and playfully sweet and mischievous, just like the characters. So, if I loved this book so much, why was it a difficult read? There are some real emotional roller coaster moments that can get quite challenging. I’m a survivor of my share of homophobic fueled assaults, panic attacks, and even sexual assaults. Thankfully, nothing as scary as what happens in Part Three. But I get it. I’ve been there. I even had a period of my life where the thought of returning to my college campus drove to near complete agoraphobia. And the reality of being biracial in the US can cause all kinds of other unexpected issues. I’m may not be of Asian ancestry, but there is still a whole hell of a lot in these pages that I can identify with. Like Flamer, this new book a brilliant and amazing read, that is equally as entertaining and it is an opportunity for growth and healing. This book is an absolute treasure.

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to audiobook versions of Graphic Novels is always such an interesting experience. I do wish I would have had the physical copy to follow along with it just to really get the visual but the audio did a good job bringing the story to life. There's sound effects and a full cast to really help the audiobook sound like a you're listening to a radio/tv show.

I enjoyed our character and the plot, but I am not the target demographic for this book so I can't really speak on the realism of the characters experiences. I have seen some reviews compare this so Sex and the City and I can confirm it has those vibes! Overall a really solid contemporary GN!

I would totally recommend reading the physical with the audio for that full experience!

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook!

*All opinions are my own!*

[Meggie Ramm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This comic was PHENOMENAL. Curato vividly illustrates the multifaceted queer community while also diving into the difficulties of being a queer minority. The four main characters aren't perfect, they are fallible and hurt one another. But in the end they bond together to make a space for themselves where there isn't one. I want this comic adapted into a four season HBO show, it made me so sad and happy and was wonderful. Recommended for everybody, because you should read it.

[ジェシカ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a graphic novel that I wish I had when I was much younger and being the only visible queer Asian at my high school.

I think for a lot of LGBTQ+ Asian Americans who've had more exposure to community or media with LGBTQ+ Asian American representation may find the narrative pretty "standard," but it was beautiful to see it as a graphic novel. And, also necessary, cause I've read some reviews and there are still people mixing up Asian ethnicities and gender identities.

It's also just a fun time. Give it a try.

[Anne Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this 94854738364 stars if I could, literally flawless!!!!!

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read this year. Just a legitimately important, powerful, and poignant.

With this and Flamer, Curato is two-for-two with these absolute knockouts

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like heartstopper but for adults. I loved ittttt. So emotional and hopeful. The characters and relationships were all so well developed and the art was great too.

Also obviously love the PNW rep!

[Katie Nelson]

I LOVED THIS ❤️ Mike Curato has made me cry twice now.

[Emz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never done an audiobook of a graphic novel, but this was actually quite cool? The full cast, music, and "acting" helped capture the story well, but it still felt like I was missing something since I couldn't see the panels. I think reading and listening at the same time would have been the best experience for this story honestly. I also wish this was a full book rather than a graphic novel. The story was great but felt unfinished, but it still worked for the format it was in.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was like Sex and the city but for the "Gaysian" scene in San Francisco. I loved the diverse group of queer Asian friends in this story. They each had past traumas to work through and struggled with finding love, being a good friend and showing up for the community. It's definitely not PG but it was so realistic and heartfelt. I listened to the audio (which was fantastic) while flipping through a physical copy to enjoy the art with the text. I am quickly becoming a big fan of the graphic novel audio adaptations although I did notice some of the audio didn't match up with the text. A great pick for Pride Month and 100% recommended!

[yush]

:”)

[Marina Marcello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaysians was a graphic novel adapted to audiobook and I had the pleasure of listening while also reading along! The audiobook experience was unique in that it felt like a version of graphic audiobooks, that sound like a movie without watching one. Therefore the book included sound effects and a more theater-like script that lacked exposition. The audiobook featured a full cast that included the author, and I think a full cast experience is definitely needed with this type of adaptation, each character was unique and came “off the page” clearly!

The storyline is that of a newly out and relocated from a small town to Seattle, gay, Filipino man, AJ, making new friends who are also gay, Asian men, from various backgrounds including a Vietnamese immigrant, a Korean adoptee of non-Korean parents, a Japanese-American transgender woman, and some of their other gay, Asian friends. The group of new friends bare to the reader their experiences being Asian in America, their families (whether accepted for their queerness or otherwise), dating, and being on the bottom of the proverbial gay totem pole as Asian gays. The everyday micro-aggressions of some of the characters, particularly John, were poignant and I felt frustrated along with him! The overt aggressions the cast of characters experienced made me angry on their behalf and so ashamed for the way they were treated by other humans. I also previously did not know the prejudices gay Asians experienced within the LGBTQ community. I appreciated the author for sharing these ugly truths.

On the other hand, this book had so much love, acceptance, and (found) family! When K found herself, and AJ got immediate acceptance, and Steven began to love himself, these moments made this book so full of big, beautiful, queer love! I loved seeing all the love and how these characters became each other’s family.

I highly recommend this book, but it’s definitely got quite a few chili peppers if that’s something you like to know in advance!

[Braden Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Curato's GAYSIANS is an illustrated SEX IN THE CITY set in Seattle. This adult graphic novel follows the trials and tribulations of four Asian friends - AJ, John, Steven and K. Curato not only writes, but also fully illustrates all of the booties and hogs on display, and he's not afraid to shy away from any nudity or complex social issues regarding Asian stereotypes and racism in and out of the gay community.

He undoubtedly infuses his own experiences with discrimination to provide a heartfelt and authentic portrayal of what it's like being a gay Asian. Sex and dating, shame, addiction, loneliness, gender exploration, hatred, trauma and more are all explored in full detail here, with the emphasis on found family and self-love being equally as important. Have no fear Mike, you've done a wonderful job reminding us all that queer Asians should never be forgotten.

Some quotes I pulled:

- “In this life, we die and are reborn in our hearts many times.”
- “This life is hard AJ, but it’s MY life. I can only be myself. Nothing else.”
- “I want to not constantly be thinking about what I need to do to get someone to love me. Can someone just love me while I’m not trying? I realize now that I can’t try to be what someone else wants.”

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this graphic novel, and the production was absolutely top-tier! It’s a full-cast, dramatized experience that truly feels like watching a movie with your ears. While I do wish I had the graphic novel in hand to follow along visually, I still highly recommend doing an immersive read if you can. Michael crafts a powerful story that beautifully blends found family with deeper themes like self-love, racism, and the nuanced challenges within the Asian and LGBTQIA+ communities. A heartfelt and impactful listen that I highly recommend it!

[Lowardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and while I liked that the MCs had their own voice actors (even if one of them sounded like Jared Padalecki to my ears), sometimes I couldn't tell the difference between who was laughing or crying. The sex noises caught be my surprise as well and not in a fun way.

With that said, I enjoyed the story and liked the friend group. Even if it was messy, I was entertained. I could've listened to their lives for a couple more hours.

I might read the graphic novel sometime, to see if that changes anything about my experience.

[KT]

this was funny & heartfelt & i also cried a few times while reading it. i love all of the characters, but especially K and Steven. im also obsessed with stories that take place in a very specific place + time, & this story is set in early 2000s Seattle, so i loved the setting/worldbuilding details. and the art is so good!! so expressive, immersive, and beautiful (Mike Curato's illustration background really comes thru). :')

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't perfect, but I loved it. Some of it, especially at the beginning, is well-trodden ground/low-hanging fruit, but the charcters and their relationships grow and are revealed throughout the story. There is also so little representation of Asian Americans, much less queer Asian Americans, that the books is a sigh of relief at the visibility and candid-yet-nuanced representation of struggles and joys at the intersection of Asian identities and queerness.

[Kaylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so special. So much heart and vibrancy, so much hurt so deftly and often wordlessly shown, and gorgeous and sexy too. I'm not a gay man or a trans woman or even Asian, but this wrenched my queer little heart and made me feel seen, or at least like I was seeing someone. Absolutely gorgeous and so important. This is chosen family and community-building at its absolute best. Wow.

[Chase Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal and beautiful on all levels. I have not felt attached to characters like this in a very long time. I’m not very familiar with graphic novels, but this one floored me and stole my heart. And now I want to read more. I felt so deeply immersed (crying big fat tears and grinning and giggling) and I really didn’t want it to end. Begging and hoping for a sequel.

[bookswithjm · Rating 4 out of 5]

would love to read the physical version to see the illustrations but the audio performance was spectacular and the story was heartwarming! so many important topics handled with care, i thoroughly enjoyed these characters.