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The Magnificent Sons
Two brothers. Two different journeys. The same hope of a magnificent future.
Jake D'Arcy has spent most of his twenty-nine years trying to get his life just right. He's nearly there: great girlfriend, great friends, stable job. A distant relationship with his boisterous family - which is exactly the way he wants it. So why does everything feel so wrong?
When his popular, irritatingly confident teenage brother Trick comes out as gay to a rapturous response, Jake realises he has questions about his own repressed bisexuality, and that he can't wait any longer to find his answers.
As Trick begins to struggle with navigating the murky waters of adult relationships, Jake begins a journey that will destroy his relationship with girlfriend Amelia, challenge his closest friendships, and force him to face up to the distance between him and his family - but offers new friends, fewer inhibitions, and a glimpse of the magnificent life he never thought could be his.
The Magnificent Sons tells the tale of two very different brothers, searching for the life they want - and for the person they want to be. Fans of The Last Romeo will delight in the same wicked sense of humour, for this timely coming-of-age story is as wise as it is witty and as sharply observed as it is deeply moving.
Jake D'Arcy has spent most of his twenty-nine years trying to get his life just right. He's nearly there: great girlfriend, great friends, stable job. A distant relationship with his boisterous family - which is exactly the way he wants it. So why does everything feel so wrong?
When his popular, irritatingly confident teenage brother Trick comes out as gay to a rapturous response, Jake realises he has questions about his own repressed bisexuality, and that he can't wait any longer to find his answers.
As Trick begins to struggle with navigating the murky waters of adult relationships, Jake begins a journey that will destroy his relationship with girlfriend Amelia, challenge his closest friendships, and force him to face up to the distance between him and his family - but offers new friends, fewer inhibitions, and a glimpse of the magnificent life he never thought could be his.
The Magnificent Sons tells the tale of two very different brothers, searching for the life they want - and for the person they want to be. Fans of The Last Romeo will delight in the same wicked sense of humour, for this timely coming-of-age story is as wise as it is witty and as sharply observed as it is deeply moving.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2020
24 people are currently reading
1176 people want to read
About the author
Justin Myers
5 books124 followersJustin Myers is an author and journalist from Shipley, West Yorkshire. Perhaps best known for his work as The Guyliner and his Impeccable Table Manners blog, Justin's writing has featured in many leading publications, including the Guardian, GQ, and The Times. He is the author of four novels: The Last Romeo (2018), The Magnificent Sons (2020), The Fake-Up (2022), and Leading Man (2024), all published by Little, Brown. A fifth novel, The Glorious Dead, arrives September 2025, from Renegade.
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November 28, 2021
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The Magnificent Sons follows two brothers, Jake and Trick D'Arcy, with opposing personalities, one is a rather private person while the other one is a social butterfly and YouTuber. Their age-gap, Jake is 29 while Trick has just turned 17, doesn't make their relationship easier. They are rather inflexible, and seem unwilling to stray from their generation's values, beliefs, and worldview. Jake believes that Trick is spoiled and mollycoddled, while Trick thinks Jake is an awkward and boring loser.
After Trick comes out as gay, their parents couldn't be more supportive, while a jealous Jake makes an intensive comment, souring their already fraught relationship. Jake himself is struggling to reconcile himself with his sexuality. Although he has a girlfriend he sort of cares for, he's no longer willing—or able—to 'hide' his bisexuality. When he comes out as bi however, his parents aren't impressed. They are confused and unsure of what 'bisexuality' means. Trick, the supposedly woke younger brother, offers him no support, and makes fun of him behind his back (his disparaging comments reminded me of Little Britain's 'the only gay in the village' sketch ). As Jake navigates his 'new' life, he's confronted with how his coming out has affected the way his family, friends, and colleagues see him.
I wish the story could have been entirely focused on Jake and Trick. The third-person narrative however would move from character to character, often within the same scene. These different perspectives added little to the overall story, and didn't really add any depth to the secondary characters. If anything this 'shifting' between perspectives interrupted the flow of the narrative. Also, if more time had been spent on Jake and Trick, perhaps they would have been a bit more layered.
There are so many superfluous characters: friends of friends, colleagues of friends...and they are all very forgettable. Jake is perhaps the most fleshed out character in the novel, and even he would have benefitted from more a more developed personality. Still, as he's called out, or calls himself out, for his past/existing preconceptions (about being with other men, the LGBTQ+ community, masculinity), he does seem to have a character arc. He's flawed but capable of challenging his lazy-thinking or biases.
Yet, while Jake realises why he has behaved badly towards his girlfriend, Trick, and his friends, most of the other characters aren't called out on their biphobia or their biphobic comments. Trick in particular really irritated me. He act like an entitled 14-year-old, whose obnoxiousness verges on the solipsistic. His 'grudge' against Jake was so childish. More often than not, Jake is just existing and Trick thinks things like: “[he] wished life were a photo so he could crop Jake out of it”. Much of his narcissistic or cruel behaviour is chalked up to his 'young age'...but I low-key hated this guy. He was portrayed as a stereotype of the generation Z.
While I appreciated the realistic romantic/sexual relationship in this book, part of me would have liked to have seen some 'emotional' depth to them (Jake and his girlfriend for example...I felt nil between them). Platonic relationships too could have been a bit less stilted.
While the characters don't respond well to Jake's bisexuality, I did enjoy Myers' portrayal of Jake's sexuality. Many of his doubts or desires resonated with me, and I particularly liked it when Jake describes the differences between his attraction to men and to women.
Still, I wish that Jake hadn't been so often painted as the bad guy. It seemed like the author would often go out of his way to embarrass him or make him say/do the wrong thing. The secondary characters blurred together, and I frequently forgot who was friend with who. Trick was an incredibly annoying character, who in spite of his privileged background, wants others to 'feel' for him.
All in all, I have quite a few reservations about this novel.
“Don't get me wrong, labels can be destructive and restrictive, but they also help you define yourself.”
The Magnificent Sons follows two brothers, Jake and Trick D'Arcy, with opposing personalities, one is a rather private person while the other one is a social butterfly and YouTuber. Their age-gap, Jake is 29 while Trick has just turned 17, doesn't make their relationship easier. They are rather inflexible, and seem unwilling to stray from their generation's values, beliefs, and worldview. Jake believes that Trick is spoiled and mollycoddled, while Trick thinks Jake is an awkward and boring loser.
After Trick comes out as gay, their parents couldn't be more supportive, while a jealous Jake makes an intensive comment, souring their already fraught relationship. Jake himself is struggling to reconcile himself with his sexuality. Although he has a girlfriend he sort of cares for, he's no longer willing—or able—to 'hide' his bisexuality. When he comes out as bi however, his parents aren't impressed. They are confused and unsure of what 'bisexuality' means. Trick, the supposedly woke younger brother, offers him no support, and makes fun of him behind his back (his disparaging comments reminded me of Little Britain's 'the only gay in the village' sketch ). As Jake navigates his 'new' life, he's confronted with how his coming out has affected the way his family, friends, and colleagues see him.
I wish the story could have been entirely focused on Jake and Trick. The third-person narrative however would move from character to character, often within the same scene. These different perspectives added little to the overall story, and didn't really add any depth to the secondary characters. If anything this 'shifting' between perspectives interrupted the flow of the narrative. Also, if more time had been spent on Jake and Trick, perhaps they would have been a bit more layered.
There are so many superfluous characters: friends of friends, colleagues of friends...and they are all very forgettable. Jake is perhaps the most fleshed out character in the novel, and even he would have benefitted from more a more developed personality. Still, as he's called out, or calls himself out, for his past/existing preconceptions (about being with other men, the LGBTQ+ community, masculinity), he does seem to have a character arc. He's flawed but capable of challenging his lazy-thinking or biases.
Yet, while Jake realises why he has behaved badly towards his girlfriend, Trick, and his friends, most of the other characters aren't called out on their biphobia or their biphobic comments. Trick in particular really irritated me. He act like an entitled 14-year-old, whose obnoxiousness verges on the solipsistic. His 'grudge' against Jake was so childish. More often than not, Jake is just existing and Trick thinks things like: “[he] wished life were a photo so he could crop Jake out of it”. Much of his narcissistic or cruel behaviour is chalked up to his 'young age'...but I low-key hated this guy. He was portrayed as a stereotype of the generation Z.
While I appreciated the realistic romantic/sexual relationship in this book, part of me would have liked to have seen some 'emotional' depth to them (Jake and his girlfriend for example...I felt nil between them). Platonic relationships too could have been a bit less stilted.
While the characters don't respond well to Jake's bisexuality, I did enjoy Myers' portrayal of Jake's sexuality. Many of his doubts or desires resonated with me, and I particularly liked it when Jake describes the differences between his attraction to men and to women.
Still, I wish that Jake hadn't been so often painted as the bad guy. It seemed like the author would often go out of his way to embarrass him or make him say/do the wrong thing. The secondary characters blurred together, and I frequently forgot who was friend with who. Trick was an incredibly annoying character, who in spite of his privileged background, wants others to 'feel' for him.
All in all, I have quite a few reservations about this novel.
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July 31, 2025❧ audiobook review
‘Is my life a picnic? Am I, you know, privileged?’ The trouble with this question [...] was that people having to ask it undoubtedly were and also usually preferred to remain ignorant of that fact.
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THESE DISASTROUS CINNAMON ROLLS
If this book isn't on your list, I must insist you add it! I really liked Myers' first book, The Last Romeo, but this is definitely my favourite of the two. I loved Jake. He's definitely the heart and soul of this story. It's so nice to get a bi mc, which is something not enough novels do.
Okay, this review gets SPOILERY from here so beware. <3 Also, it's just a WHOLE LOTTA THOUGHTS, so apologies if it's ramble-y.
The story follows Jake, who's been closeted his whole life and his little brother, Trick, who has always embraced his true self. After Trick has a coming out party that leaves Jake reeling with uncertainty, he comes out to his girlfriend and breaks off their relationship because he's not happy and he's never been himself.
When he decides to come out to his family, none of them, including Trick, have a great reaction. In fact, Jake experiences a lot of biphobia throughout the novel which was really hard to get through. My heart ached for Jake throughout the entirety of the story. His loneliness bleeds through the pages.
‘When Mum was pregnant, I hoped someone else like me in the family would come along. Prove I wasn't a weirdo, maybe. Then there you were, a star is born. You were like me, but nothing like me. [...] This isn't about you being gay or me being bi, not for me. No, I hated that you didn't seem to need me. Not at all. You seemed to be doing well on your own. I felt even more of an outsider.’
‘I thought you hated me because I was camp.’
This scene is basically,
The two brothers spend the novel defining themselves by their differences, rather than their similarities, and butt heads as a result. Jake is understated, reserved, stoic and uptight; Trick is flamboyant, extroverted, chatty and seemingly the life of the party. It's something Jake's deeply jealous of: jealous that Trick knows who he is, jealous that everyone embraced Trick easily, jealous of his energy, jealous of how he never had to face the constraints Jake faced. On the flip side, Trick doesn't understand why Jake can't be happier that things were easier for him and doesn't get why his brother harbours less than open-minded views on clothing and self-expression. Jake, for example, gets easily embarrassed by Trick, which hurts Trick on a fundamental level. And that's honestly what's so heartbreaking about the story. Both sides are entirely sympathetic. Jake should have been able to grow up being himself, just like Trick, but being born a decade later hasn't erased Trick's problems and insecurities and fears.
I really appreciate that Myers addressed biphobia and how it can often be found in people who otherwise believe themselves to be open-minded, even though those scenes were hard to get through. One of the first things Jake's parents ask him, having never had an issue with Trick's being gay, is why can't Jake be 'normal'. It's gutting. I wanted to reach into the book and hug Jake throughout that entire scene. There's a later bit where Jake's straight friends accuse him of 'lying' to a girl he's flirting with because he must be 'secretly gay'. And his own brother even thinks he's lying about being bi.
As he left the kitchen, he turned back. ‘Just ask yourselves why Trick’s life is one great big gay picnic and mine is inconvenient because you've run out of straight sons and don’t have a spare.’
THIS SCENE. IT WRECKED ME. PROTECT JAKE AT ALL COSTS. ;_;
This book is basically a coming-of-age bro tale and I wholeheartedly recommend it. (And I went for the audiobook and the narrator is class!) ^_^
[Other great Jameson narrations: An Honest Man, Caught Inside, The Prince of Thorns and The Last Romeo.]
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
‘Is my life a picnic? Am I, you know, privileged?’ The trouble with this question [...] was that people having to ask it undoubtedly were and also usually preferred to remain ignorant of that fact.
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THESE DISASTROUS CINNAMON ROLLS
If this book isn't on your list, I must insist you add it! I really liked Myers' first book, The Last Romeo, but this is definitely my favourite of the two. I loved Jake. He's definitely the heart and soul of this story. It's so nice to get a bi mc, which is something not enough novels do.
Okay, this review gets SPOILERY from here so beware. <3 Also, it's just a WHOLE LOTTA THOUGHTS, so apologies if it's ramble-y.
The story follows Jake, who's been closeted his whole life and his little brother, Trick, who has always embraced his true self. After Trick has a coming out party that leaves Jake reeling with uncertainty, he comes out to his girlfriend and breaks off their relationship because he's not happy and he's never been himself.
When he decides to come out to his family, none of them, including Trick, have a great reaction. In fact, Jake experiences a lot of biphobia throughout the novel which was really hard to get through. My heart ached for Jake throughout the entirety of the story. His loneliness bleeds through the pages.
‘When Mum was pregnant, I hoped someone else like me in the family would come along. Prove I wasn't a weirdo, maybe. Then there you were, a star is born. You were like me, but nothing like me. [...] This isn't about you being gay or me being bi, not for me. No, I hated that you didn't seem to need me. Not at all. You seemed to be doing well on your own. I felt even more of an outsider.’
‘I thought you hated me because I was camp.’
This scene is basically,
The two brothers spend the novel defining themselves by their differences, rather than their similarities, and butt heads as a result. Jake is understated, reserved, stoic and uptight; Trick is flamboyant, extroverted, chatty and seemingly the life of the party. It's something Jake's deeply jealous of: jealous that Trick knows who he is, jealous that everyone embraced Trick easily, jealous of his energy, jealous of how he never had to face the constraints Jake faced. On the flip side, Trick doesn't understand why Jake can't be happier that things were easier for him and doesn't get why his brother harbours less than open-minded views on clothing and self-expression. Jake, for example, gets easily embarrassed by Trick, which hurts Trick on a fundamental level. And that's honestly what's so heartbreaking about the story. Both sides are entirely sympathetic. Jake should have been able to grow up being himself, just like Trick, but being born a decade later hasn't erased Trick's problems and insecurities and fears.
I really appreciate that Myers addressed biphobia and how it can often be found in people who otherwise believe themselves to be open-minded, even though those scenes were hard to get through. One of the first things Jake's parents ask him, having never had an issue with Trick's being gay, is why can't Jake be 'normal'. It's gutting. I wanted to reach into the book and hug Jake throughout that entire scene. There's a later bit where Jake's straight friends accuse him of 'lying' to a girl he's flirting with because he must be 'secretly gay'. And his own brother even thinks he's lying about being bi.
As he left the kitchen, he turned back. ‘Just ask yourselves why Trick’s life is one great big gay picnic and mine is inconvenient because you've run out of straight sons and don’t have a spare.’
THIS SCENE. IT WRECKED ME. PROTECT JAKE AT ALL COSTS. ;_;
This book is basically a coming-of-age bro tale and I wholeheartedly recommend it. (And I went for the audiobook and the narrator is class!) ^_^
[Other great Jameson narrations: An Honest Man, Caught Inside, The Prince of Thorns and The Last Romeo.]
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
March 29, 2020
Don’t get me wrong, labels can be destructive and restrictive, but they also help you define yourself.
On my blog.
Rep: bi mc, gay side characters, trans side character, lesbian side character
CWs: biphobia from family members (mostly challenged), grooming, internalised homophobia
Galley provided by publisher
If the sign of a good book is that you just can’t stop thinking about it for days after, then The Magnificent Sons is definitely one. It’s been about a week since I finished it and still every now and then I find myself thinking. Honestly, it’s all a bit inconvenient.
The story here follows Jake, the oldest of three siblings. When Jake’s younger brother, Trick, comes out as gay, it induces Jake to start thinking about his own bisexuality, something he’s been repressing since he first realised he liked boys.
Probably the reason I liked this book so much was Jake. You know those characters you just click with from page one? That was how it went here. And he was a complex character too. As much as you felt for him with the whole repressing his bisexuality and expressing internalised homophobia, he did do things wrong (like kissing his girlfriend’s brother’s boyfriend). But the narrative was never like, this is the protagonist we can’t confront him about it. He was confronted about it and challenged over it and he grew as a person throughout.
I also loved how this book is not a romance, it’s more like a coming-of-age story except the main character is nearing their 30s. But, in all honesty, I think books like this are so necessary. It’s all well and good having your gay characters know they’re gay from a young age and not hiding it, but how many people really know themselves that well as a kid and how many people aren’t affected by society and peers when it comes to sexuality. I don’t know, I just really appreciated a different perspective on it all.
Central to this story too is a family. It’s not a dysfunctional family by any means, but it’s one that Jake feels he doesn’t fit into and part of his journey involves articulating that and finding his place in it. And, as much as Trick irritated me throughout the book, I loved them all. And I loved how they came together at the end.
Really, if I had any complaints at all, it’s just this: I wished some of the biphobia was called out more, particularly Trick’s, Margo’s and Helena’s (those are the two times it stuck out to me as being not well confronted). On the whole the book was good about it. It’s just there were a couple of incidences where I wanted it to be done more. Especially because, in Trick’s case, his friends aren’t cishet and were very good at calling out other bits of bigotry. Just not this one. But like I said, on the whole it was good about it.
At the end, though, I really enjoyed this book, and it’s one I will be picking up a physical copy of as soon as possible, just for a reread (or three).
August 12, 2020
I really wanted to like this book more than I did...
It started well, and explored 2 themes which I think are really important:
- Bisexuality - it’s rare to see bisexual characters, and men in particular, in main roles in books. The book was interesting in its exploration of the unique challenges and discrimination bisexual people can face.
- coming out later than some - Jake’s coming out story in the first half of the book was well handled and interesting, particularly the way others related to it (the ‘i always knew’ brigade, and those who refused to accept it).
However...
I couldn’t get over how deeply unlikeable the main characters in this book were. I’m used to reading things where protagonists are complex, problematic and unlikeable at times - but Jake was so deeply deeply annoying and frustrating, I just couldn’t find much sympathy beyond the first few chapters of the book. Likewise, Trick and the other supporting characters are generally badly written and unrealistic - and felt like people you would never want to spend time with.
For such a dialogue heavy book, some of the writing was also really jarring. I just don’t believe that people actually talk in that way - and it just added to the sense of disconnect I had with the characters.
5/10
It started well, and explored 2 themes which I think are really important:
- Bisexuality - it’s rare to see bisexual characters, and men in particular, in main roles in books. The book was interesting in its exploration of the unique challenges and discrimination bisexual people can face.
- coming out later than some - Jake’s coming out story in the first half of the book was well handled and interesting, particularly the way others related to it (the ‘i always knew’ brigade, and those who refused to accept it).
However...
I couldn’t get over how deeply unlikeable the main characters in this book were. I’m used to reading things where protagonists are complex, problematic and unlikeable at times - but Jake was so deeply deeply annoying and frustrating, I just couldn’t find much sympathy beyond the first few chapters of the book. Likewise, Trick and the other supporting characters are generally badly written and unrealistic - and felt like people you would never want to spend time with.
For such a dialogue heavy book, some of the writing was also really jarring. I just don’t believe that people actually talk in that way - and it just added to the sense of disconnect I had with the characters.
5/10
August 7, 2020
Two brothers, 10 years (or so) apart, come into terms with their sexualities and the relationships with their family. It might be a simple idea, but somehow Justin Myers manage to pack a punch into this book. From the awkward adolescent crushes, heartbreaks and sexual encounters, through journeys to self-discovery, trying to deal with who they are, to realising that being out is not necessarily an end of the road, but its beginning - D'Arcy brothers have a lot to talk about. The problem is, they never do. Trick is the youngest baby in the family, full of sparkle (and glitter), outspoken and glamorous; Jake is distant, awkward and repressed, feeling like he does not belong. But when Trick comes out to his family as gay Jake starts to accept his bisexuality, so maybe now they will finally find a common ground...
"The Magnificent Sons" was, well, as magnificent read. I must say, I did not expect such a completely different book after -"The Last Romeo" - Myers's second book is an exploration of queer communities and societal perceptions. Coming out and acknowledging one's true nature does not lead to a happily ever-after and it is not even a single episode. There are many situations where Jake is misunderstood, used and confused, but he is also not the perfect character, as his actions sometimes hurt others. His bisexuality is also a perfect example of the harm that heteronormative society and people's prejudices as well as expectations can cause, even in a group of well meaning friends and family.
There are a lot of subplots in this book as well, perhaps some characters are not entirely necessary, but by introducing different generations of queer characters (who themselves are on different parts of their journeys) and different personalities, Myers makes sure nothing get swept under the carpet. So, we look and learn the shameful, hidden stories of men denied their place in society, we admire the flamboyant and proud queers pushing against toxic masculinity and homophobia, ad we uncomfortably acknowledge those who through wilful or misguided actions and attitudes make other' lives just a bit harder. And yet, despite the multitude of issues covered, the book somehow remains light and funny. Altogether, what a great read.
"The Magnificent Sons" was, well, as magnificent read. I must say, I did not expect such a completely different book after -"The Last Romeo" - Myers's second book is an exploration of queer communities and societal perceptions. Coming out and acknowledging one's true nature does not lead to a happily ever-after and it is not even a single episode. There are many situations where Jake is misunderstood, used and confused, but he is also not the perfect character, as his actions sometimes hurt others. His bisexuality is also a perfect example of the harm that heteronormative society and people's prejudices as well as expectations can cause, even in a group of well meaning friends and family.
There are a lot of subplots in this book as well, perhaps some characters are not entirely necessary, but by introducing different generations of queer characters (who themselves are on different parts of their journeys) and different personalities, Myers makes sure nothing get swept under the carpet. So, we look and learn the shameful, hidden stories of men denied their place in society, we admire the flamboyant and proud queers pushing against toxic masculinity and homophobia, ad we uncomfortably acknowledge those who through wilful or misguided actions and attitudes make other' lives just a bit harder. And yet, despite the multitude of issues covered, the book somehow remains light and funny. Altogether, what a great read.
February 13, 2020
The Magnificent Sons is a coming out story, but with added layers and twists. Jake D’Arcy, regarded as the boring one by his boisterous family, has never really fitted in. Despite a lifelong lurking suspicion that he might not be entirely heterosexual, Jake has firmly repressed it, acquiring a long term girlfriend and a group of straight mates. His flamboyant young brother Trick (Patrick) is the gay one in the family, coming out on his seventeenth birthday to the surprise of literally nobody.
While everybody’s cool with Trick’s sexuality, nobody has ever considered that Jake might not be 100% straight, and his dawning acceptance - and announcement - of his bisexuality is a shock to those around him.
Jake’s parents’ struggles with him being bisexual feel real, though Amelia’s asking him if that meant he fancied everybody didn’t necessarily seem like something she would say. Though maybe it’s forgivable in the circumstances. Justin Myers does a really good job of rendering Jake’s feelings of slight disconnection from both the straight and gay worlds, and other people’s discriminatory or simply uncomprehending attitudes - still a thing, even in these days of pansexuality and sexual fluidity. Likewise, the effects on other people - notably Jake’s girlfriend and brother- are not minimised. The tense relationship between the two brothers is a key element of the plot.
It’s often hilariously well-observed (colleague Harry’s predilection for compound-noun insults was spot on) and the characters are really believable, I found I could visualise them all so clearly - Jake’s family, friends, and the people he meets on his journey of self discovery... (which sounds far more dull and worthy than it actually is). Trick and his pals Kia and Hot Will are particularly memorable.
A really enjoyable read - thanks!
While everybody’s cool with Trick’s sexuality, nobody has ever considered that Jake might not be 100% straight, and his dawning acceptance - and announcement - of his bisexuality is a shock to those around him.
Jake’s parents’ struggles with him being bisexual feel real, though Amelia’s asking him if that meant he fancied everybody didn’t necessarily seem like something she would say. Though maybe it’s forgivable in the circumstances. Justin Myers does a really good job of rendering Jake’s feelings of slight disconnection from both the straight and gay worlds, and other people’s discriminatory or simply uncomprehending attitudes - still a thing, even in these days of pansexuality and sexual fluidity. Likewise, the effects on other people - notably Jake’s girlfriend and brother- are not minimised. The tense relationship between the two brothers is a key element of the plot.
It’s often hilariously well-observed (colleague Harry’s predilection for compound-noun insults was spot on) and the characters are really believable, I found I could visualise them all so clearly - Jake’s family, friends, and the people he meets on his journey of self discovery... (which sounds far more dull and worthy than it actually is). Trick and his pals Kia and Hot Will are particularly memorable.
A really enjoyable read - thanks!
June 24, 2020
oh my god, yes. can I just get a hell yeah for a book for actual adults that deal with figuring yourself out while not portraying life as suffering upon suffering upon suffering? like, i wouldn't call this book happy (definitely not the too idealistic saccharine-filled everyone is bloody accepting kind of happy that i see in YA all the damn time) - but it wasn't a sad, life is a torture sort of book either.
also i think i'm at that point in my life when i can finally say that i do not care about the plot. give me a book about great characters just living their lives and being a lil' stupid and fucking shit up and then making up by the end. that's all i need and that's exactly what i got here.
also i think i'm at that point in my life when i can finally say that i do not care about the plot. give me a book about great characters just living their lives and being a lil' stupid and fucking shit up and then making up by the end. that's all i need and that's exactly what i got here.
September 7, 2020
A lot of the gay classics either end in despair or death. Just the other week I tried to think of gay novels with a happy end and struggled to find any. One that came to mind was the fantastic 2018 Pulitzer Prize winner ‚Less‘ by Greer. Myers‘ ‚The Magnificent Sons‘ is another one to add to this list. Fans of ‚Less‘ will take pleasure in this one too. Both novels feel very „now“, deal with current issues and offer a positive outlook on gay life. Not short of struggle, however, Myers tells the coming out story of 29 year old, bi-sexual Jake. I was drawn to this (in my case) very relatable character from the get-go. Myer’s managed to add in characters like a gay brother and his trans friend without making their storylines feel forced. I enjoyed reading about the dynamics of Jake’s family too. A cross-generational, relevant and funny novel!
June 15, 2020
ARC provided by Little Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Magnificent Sons by Justin Myers is an amazing novel about introspection, family bonds and friendship with great bisexual representation — in my opinion, which may be erroneous, in that case I’ll stand corrected. And moreover, I think it’s the first time I read a book with a bisexual main character. In all the books I read, bisexuality only figured, if represented, in a secondary character. Such novelty wasn’t obviously the lone factor that contributed to this magnificent work. The self-examination, the unapologetic queerness and the loving, yet difficult, relationships among the characters were what made it excellent.
The Magnificent Sons by Justin Myers is an amazing novel about introspection, family bonds and friendship with great bisexual representation — in my opinion, which may be erroneous, in that case I’ll stand corrected. And moreover, I think it’s the first time I read a book with a bisexual main character. In all the books I read, bisexuality only figured, if represented, in a secondary character. Such novelty wasn’t obviously the lone factor that contributed to this magnificent work. The self-examination, the unapologetic queerness and the loving, yet difficult, relationships among the characters were what made it excellent.
July 13, 2020
Queer representation!
I was so delighted by the bisexuality representation in the book. I have found that queer representation, rare as it is, usually leans towards the gay side of the spectrum. So it felt great to read a book with pretty good bi representation. But that's not where the positives end.
The language is charming and captivating. There are some really brilliant lines, like
"Don't get me wrong, labels can be destructive and restrictive, but they also help you define yourself."
If this book is not on your list yet, add it! It deals with introspection, with unapologetic queerness.It examines familial bonds and how they shape our worlds. It's more than just a simple coming out story :)
I was so delighted by the bisexuality representation in the book. I have found that queer representation, rare as it is, usually leans towards the gay side of the spectrum. So it felt great to read a book with pretty good bi representation. But that's not where the positives end.
The language is charming and captivating. There are some really brilliant lines, like
"Don't get me wrong, labels can be destructive and restrictive, but they also help you define yourself."
If this book is not on your list yet, add it! It deals with introspection, with unapologetic queerness.It examines familial bonds and how they shape our worlds. It's more than just a simple coming out story :)
February 8, 2020
I really enjoyed The Last Romeo when I read it a couple of years ago so I was quite excited to get my hands on this book. Excited and a little anxious that it wouldn't live up to my quite high expectations. Well, I had nothing to fear. I started it yesterday fearing that I'd had to put it down to go out - Friday night you know - but then I got the "can't make it sorry" text and had to pretend to be a tad miffed when inside I was turning cartwheels cos I could just get back to reading it! A situation that, in itself, is not wholly removed from the spirit of some of the events contained herein. Anyway, I digress... So Jake is 29 and still working at his life. He's got the job, the home, the friends, the girlfriend, but something isn't quite right. Ok so his family are a bit chalk to his cheese but that's not what's wrong. Not all of it anyway. And then his brother Trick announces that he's gay - not really a shock to be honest - and is pretty much revered for this. Jake starts to question his own sexuality, reminiscing scenes from his past, but he has a girlfriend, he can't be gay. He must be Bi. But girlfriend Amelia has just moved in with him. Oh my, what a tangled web...
Ironically enough I read this book at the same time as a well loved national icon announced his own sexuality to the world, having denied his true feelings for a considerable time. Lying to himself as much as others, you could say fooling himself, living how he thought others (and society) wanted (expected) him to, and I guess that Jake is feeling similar when we first meet him. But how do you change at the ripe old age of 29, when everyone has expectations on you, when it will turn your world (and others') upside down? What do you even do with these new feelings now you are embracing them?
This is Jake's story. But it is so much more than that. It's Amelia's and Trick's, and Jake's family's and a whole host of other people's. Jake's news is like the old stone in the pond, ripples from which spread in ever increasing circles which eventually cover the whole of the pond's surface.
Oh my goodness, I've made the book sound quite heavy... well, there's no getting away from the fact that a book of this genre is likely to be quite an emotional ride, both for the characters and the reader but, and this is important, the delivery of the story, the wonderful humour contained herein, keeps it from getting too dark and depressing. There's is light at the end of most tunnels, it's just being able to walk through to get to it that's key. It's enlightening, uplifting, at times a bit cringy, but it all comes across as real. Characters and story alike.
It's a book I feel privileged to have read, one that I thoroughly enjoyed - if reading about another's pain and anguish can be enjoyable, but you get what I mean - and one that will stay with me a while longer. Yes, OK, it gets a bit .... at the end (no spoilers) but I like endings like that when they fit the book, as this does here.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Ironically enough I read this book at the same time as a well loved national icon announced his own sexuality to the world, having denied his true feelings for a considerable time. Lying to himself as much as others, you could say fooling himself, living how he thought others (and society) wanted (expected) him to, and I guess that Jake is feeling similar when we first meet him. But how do you change at the ripe old age of 29, when everyone has expectations on you, when it will turn your world (and others') upside down? What do you even do with these new feelings now you are embracing them?
This is Jake's story. But it is so much more than that. It's Amelia's and Trick's, and Jake's family's and a whole host of other people's. Jake's news is like the old stone in the pond, ripples from which spread in ever increasing circles which eventually cover the whole of the pond's surface.
Oh my goodness, I've made the book sound quite heavy... well, there's no getting away from the fact that a book of this genre is likely to be quite an emotional ride, both for the characters and the reader but, and this is important, the delivery of the story, the wonderful humour contained herein, keeps it from getting too dark and depressing. There's is light at the end of most tunnels, it's just being able to walk through to get to it that's key. It's enlightening, uplifting, at times a bit cringy, but it all comes across as real. Characters and story alike.
It's a book I feel privileged to have read, one that I thoroughly enjoyed - if reading about another's pain and anguish can be enjoyable, but you get what I mean - and one that will stay with me a while longer. Yes, OK, it gets a bit .... at the end (no spoilers) but I like endings like that when they fit the book, as this does here.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
June 19, 2020
The story of Jake, a normal chap in a loud and brash family, whose younger brother Trick just came out of the closet in a shower of glitter and glue on lashes. Jakes over Trick getting all the attention and acceptance.
He’s happy with his girlfriend Amelia isn’t he? They’ve been together three years, and don’t live together, but that’s normal, isn’t it? And that encounter with Evan at school meant nothing.....
This was a risky one for me, not because of the book itself, but more because the author is someone I enjoy following on his blog and social media. Not because he’s gorgeous (although he is) or funny (again, big tick) but because his writing and media always have a kindness and empathy behind them.
Basically, Myers is one of those people you want to be when you grow up (Shit. As always nowadays, there’s a good chance I’m older than him).
I was hesitant the novel mightn’t match these expectations. Many a time you think you like an artist online and they churn out crappy drivel in their writing. Or you love their work then find them on socials and they’re a TERFy Drivel-Mongerer (cough Jane Harris, Graham Linehan, She Who Will Not Be Named and others).
I needn’t have worried. This was a treat, Jake is a well rounded lovable character. We watch him make mistakes, alienate his loved ones and on his journey to find himself lose parts of his life. But we never fail to root for him, and his oddball family.
Trick is a wonderful creation, a lovely rebuttal to the notion that YouTubers are shallow trashy types.
Hannah is the friend we always want in our lives.
Amelia is better written than any other ‘long suffering girlfriend’ in a coming out tale whose tenure you think is limited. The temptation in a narrative where the protagonist ‘finds themselves’ is to give this character a sudden unlikeable trait in order for us to move them out of our heads and concentrate on the journey. But Myers stays with Amelia and follows her story as the person left behind, and shows how there are often no bad guys in self discovery stories.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wince pretty hard at an incident with a bike. A treat.
The bisexual representation is extremely well done.
I’m thrilled this was so good, and can continue to enjoy The Guyliner. If anything, having met Jake, a little more than before. I don’t want to say he’s the gay equivalent of Marian Keyes (TOTAL GODDESS), but....
He’s happy with his girlfriend Amelia isn’t he? They’ve been together three years, and don’t live together, but that’s normal, isn’t it? And that encounter with Evan at school meant nothing.....
This was a risky one for me, not because of the book itself, but more because the author is someone I enjoy following on his blog and social media. Not because he’s gorgeous (although he is) or funny (again, big tick) but because his writing and media always have a kindness and empathy behind them.
Basically, Myers is one of those people you want to be when you grow up (Shit. As always nowadays, there’s a good chance I’m older than him).
I was hesitant the novel mightn’t match these expectations. Many a time you think you like an artist online and they churn out crappy drivel in their writing. Or you love their work then find them on socials and they’re a TERFy Drivel-Mongerer (cough Jane Harris, Graham Linehan, She Who Will Not Be Named and others).
I needn’t have worried. This was a treat, Jake is a well rounded lovable character. We watch him make mistakes, alienate his loved ones and on his journey to find himself lose parts of his life. But we never fail to root for him, and his oddball family.
Trick is a wonderful creation, a lovely rebuttal to the notion that YouTubers are shallow trashy types.
Hannah is the friend we always want in our lives.
Amelia is better written than any other ‘long suffering girlfriend’ in a coming out tale whose tenure you think is limited. The temptation in a narrative where the protagonist ‘finds themselves’ is to give this character a sudden unlikeable trait in order for us to move them out of our heads and concentrate on the journey. But Myers stays with Amelia and follows her story as the person left behind, and shows how there are often no bad guys in self discovery stories.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wince pretty hard at an incident with a bike. A treat.
The bisexual representation is extremely well done.
I’m thrilled this was so good, and can continue to enjoy The Guyliner. If anything, having met Jake, a little more than before. I don’t want to say he’s the gay equivalent of Marian Keyes (TOTAL GODDESS), but....
December 31, 2021
Unfortunately not as captivating as his previous book which is what prompted this read. The characters lacked depth as little effort is spent building their stories. The main character was rather unlikeable as a human being but afforded himself the graces to make several judgements of all those around him, particularly his brother, the other 'Magnificent Son'.
Little attention is paid to developing Trick's character (the brother) and portrays him and his friends as the young, carefree fluid youth who have it easy. This is later addressed but the approach felt half-hearted and a little late in the book. I respect the attempt to present a coming of age story from the often lesser represented bisexual experience, but Jakes perception of everyone around him is disappointing and borders insulting. He looks down on his family for how boisterous and common they appear, his gay friend is cast in the typical flamboyant, camp and shallow role while the other gays are raving party goers who enjoy casual encounters and are unable to commit to monogamous relationships. His straight friends are overly supported to the exclusion of his ex-girlfriend, essentially shutting her out.
In its attempt to represent a bisexual perspective, it alienates everything that is different and presents a pompous main character Jake, who actively detaches himself from the people around him who care the most. Not least his very supportive female best friend. The journey to discovery can feel lonely for any LGBT person but in this case, Jake's personality appears to be the biggest cause of his isolation, rather than his sexuality. If this is an intentional lesson fine, but it is rather unfortunate for other bi-sexual readers who may be looking for relatable, or likeable characters with which they can identify.
Little attention is paid to developing Trick's character (the brother) and portrays him and his friends as the young, carefree fluid youth who have it easy. This is later addressed but the approach felt half-hearted and a little late in the book. I respect the attempt to present a coming of age story from the often lesser represented bisexual experience, but Jakes perception of everyone around him is disappointing and borders insulting. He looks down on his family for how boisterous and common they appear, his gay friend is cast in the typical flamboyant, camp and shallow role while the other gays are raving party goers who enjoy casual encounters and are unable to commit to monogamous relationships. His straight friends are overly supported to the exclusion of his ex-girlfriend, essentially shutting her out.
In its attempt to represent a bisexual perspective, it alienates everything that is different and presents a pompous main character Jake, who actively detaches himself from the people around him who care the most. Not least his very supportive female best friend. The journey to discovery can feel lonely for any LGBT person but in this case, Jake's personality appears to be the biggest cause of his isolation, rather than his sexuality. If this is an intentional lesson fine, but it is rather unfortunate for other bi-sexual readers who may be looking for relatable, or likeable characters with which they can identify.
December 14, 2020
This book was a really refreshing perspective for me, as it’s not one we normally see. Jake, as an adult has made some questionable decisions and is now questioning his entire relationship circle with his friends and family. While everything looks put together on the outside, he’s totally lost on the inside. This doesn’t make it easy on the relationship with his brother, who has had the total opposite experience.
Personally I LOVE it when characters, especially main ones just make bad decisions sometimes and this book is full of that. Jake is new in not only the dating scene but the gay dating scene and finds he has to defend his bisexuality, when he hardly even knows what he’s defending yet, which is just such a good concept in a book. Also, just bisexuality in books? Love it. We need more of it! I did get lost with some of the side characters at times, but honestly it didn’t take away from the story for me.
Immediately after finishing this book, I bought the author’s previous book The Last Romeo, just because it was so well written and I most definitely plan on purchasing any more he puts out as well!
Personally I LOVE it when characters, especially main ones just make bad decisions sometimes and this book is full of that. Jake is new in not only the dating scene but the gay dating scene and finds he has to defend his bisexuality, when he hardly even knows what he’s defending yet, which is just such a good concept in a book. Also, just bisexuality in books? Love it. We need more of it! I did get lost with some of the side characters at times, but honestly it didn’t take away from the story for me.
Immediately after finishing this book, I bought the author’s previous book The Last Romeo, just because it was so well written and I most definitely plan on purchasing any more he puts out as well!
June 6, 2020
‘The Magnificent Sons’ is funny, moving and thought provoking.
I was excited to read this book and it didn’t let me down! There are so many things I loved about the novel: the flawed but vibrant characters, the humour, the dysfunctional family dynamic, the awkward moments...
I particularly enjoyed how the book flipped between different characters’ perspectives. It was really interesting and thought provoking to see a certain situation or conflict from each side. I also really loved that characters weren't sidelined after the main character was more or less finished with them - the consequences were played out with uncomfortable but necessary realism.
The only negative was that the main protagonist was slightly unlikeable, which made it hard to read in some places. However, this did add to the realism, perhaps making it more of a positive than a negative. I also think this made his character growth all the more profound, leading to a satisfying end.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read this book and it didn’t let me down! There are so many things I loved about the novel: the flawed but vibrant characters, the humour, the dysfunctional family dynamic, the awkward moments...
I particularly enjoyed how the book flipped between different characters’ perspectives. It was really interesting and thought provoking to see a certain situation or conflict from each side. I also really loved that characters weren't sidelined after the main character was more or less finished with them - the consequences were played out with uncomfortable but necessary realism.
The only negative was that the main protagonist was slightly unlikeable, which made it hard to read in some places. However, this did add to the realism, perhaps making it more of a positive than a negative. I also think this made his character growth all the more profound, leading to a satisfying end.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2020
A wonderfully engaging story about coming out, growing up, and connecting with yourself and those closest to you. As someone who is bi, I saw a lot of my own experiences echoed in the characters of this book, and it also helped me better understand that those who are growing up in “more enlightened” times don’t have an easier ride.
March 24, 2021
I picked up Justin Myers’s novel as it was recommended somewhere or other as a good option for those who enjoyed Exciting Times. From my perspective, this was a bad recommendation as I felt the two books had very little in common.
Exciting Times is a literary love story filled with warmth and wit, whose central character happens to be bisexual. The Magnificent Sons is a modern melodramatic Bildungsroman focussed on a bisexual man coming to terms with his sexuality. The very positive reviews for The Magnificent Sons speak to the fact that it is an accomplished work, but it’s really just not up my street, hence my lower star rating.
I was a little distracted by poor editing (the relocation of the Canadian National Tower to Seattle was one of the less forgivable errors) and some of the idioms were a little too wild for me (emotional pain that “hurts harder than Lego underfoot” or a character “retreating to their mental holodeck”). I had also expected more reflection on and development of the fraternal relationship given the title. But the real point is that I probably noticed these “flaws” because this book just wasn’t my kind of thing, rather than them being major issues. This sort of dialogue-driven sentimental story contained mostly within a small friendship group just doesn’t do it for me.
But, by all accounts, if this is the sort of thing you like, you’ll probably like it a lot, so please don’t let this put you off.
Exciting Times is a literary love story filled with warmth and wit, whose central character happens to be bisexual. The Magnificent Sons is a modern melodramatic Bildungsroman focussed on a bisexual man coming to terms with his sexuality. The very positive reviews for The Magnificent Sons speak to the fact that it is an accomplished work, but it’s really just not up my street, hence my lower star rating.
I was a little distracted by poor editing (the relocation of the Canadian National Tower to Seattle was one of the less forgivable errors) and some of the idioms were a little too wild for me (emotional pain that “hurts harder than Lego underfoot” or a character “retreating to their mental holodeck”). I had also expected more reflection on and development of the fraternal relationship given the title. But the real point is that I probably noticed these “flaws” because this book just wasn’t my kind of thing, rather than them being major issues. This sort of dialogue-driven sentimental story contained mostly within a small friendship group just doesn’t do it for me.
But, by all accounts, if this is the sort of thing you like, you’ll probably like it a lot, so please don’t let this put you off.
November 18, 2023
This was a fun book. I liked getting the “life is always greener” kind of perspective from both of the brothers, who both thought the other had it way easier than them, even within their own family. It was interesting seeing this whole new world that opens up for Jake, though the biphobia was a lot at times. And I don’t feel we got quite enough of Trick to really get to know him. I know this was mostly from Jake’s POV, but considering the book is called The Magnificent Sons, plural, I was expecting to see more of him.
I was also hoping for a Jake-defending-Trick moment with Callum, since he slept with Trick when he was underage. Thought that was a missed bonding moment between them. The ending definitely felt a little rushed and the reconciliation not as well earned, but it was a good book nonetheless.
I was also hoping for a Jake-defending-Trick moment with Callum, since he slept with Trick when he was underage. Thought that was a missed bonding moment between them. The ending definitely felt a little rushed and the reconciliation not as well earned, but it was a good book nonetheless.
February 22, 2025
"Loves like a cold, really. No vaccine. Slightly different everytime. But fucks you all the same."
It was nothing groundbreaking but cute all the same! I slightly despised half the characters but in a very human way.
It was nothing groundbreaking but cute all the same! I slightly despised half the characters but in a very human way.
Read
January 8, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Bimisia
Internalised homomisia
Bimisia
Internalised homomisia
October 18, 2025
This was so good, like it was written for me 🫠
May 9, 2022
This book was a fantastic exploration of identity. I loved the portrayal of queerness through two seemingly polar opposite perspectives that turn out to not be so different at all.
February 27, 2020
I really enjoyed The Last Romeo, so lept at the chance to read The Magnificent Sons. I think there's a lack of really strongly, believably British, contemporary LGBT books, and I found both this and The Last Romeo really reflective of the world as I know it.
I wasn't disappointed - this story of two brothers, 10 years or so apart, and their respective journeys towards self-discovery is well written and pacey. If anything, I wish it had been a bit longer!
I related strongly to Jake's story in particular, and the struggle of coming out in your late twenties, with all the baggage that comes with that - that feeling that maybe you've not been honest, why didn't you tell them sooner etc. I think the book handles that delicately, whilst accepting that Jake is only human, and so he does make mistakes during the process that hurt others - his brother, Trick, and ex-girlfriend Amelia, mostly. You feel for Jake and his own insecurities and issues, but also acknowledge he isn't being as sensitive as maybe he should be.
Trick is a blast, and is believable when he could've become a caricature. The emotional highs and lows that come of his relationship with his brother really humanised him.
There were some things I felt weren't tied up that well - Jake's friendship with Callum, is an example - but overall it felt like a well polished second novel.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC!
I wasn't disappointed - this story of two brothers, 10 years or so apart, and their respective journeys towards self-discovery is well written and pacey. If anything, I wish it had been a bit longer!
I related strongly to Jake's story in particular, and the struggle of coming out in your late twenties, with all the baggage that comes with that - that feeling that maybe you've not been honest, why didn't you tell them sooner etc. I think the book handles that delicately, whilst accepting that Jake is only human, and so he does make mistakes during the process that hurt others - his brother, Trick, and ex-girlfriend Amelia, mostly. You feel for Jake and his own insecurities and issues, but also acknowledge he isn't being as sensitive as maybe he should be.
Trick is a blast, and is believable when he could've become a caricature. The emotional highs and lows that come of his relationship with his brother really humanised him.
There were some things I felt weren't tied up that well - Jake's friendship with Callum, is an example - but overall it felt like a well polished second novel.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC!
May 25, 2020
I really enjoyed Myers’ debut, The Last Romeo, so I was really looking forward to reading The Magnificent Sons and it didn’t disappoint in any way! The story follows Jake, who feels like an outsider in his family and carries a feeling of uncertainty in himself regarding his life and his sexuality. He decides he has to give himself the chance to be who he is meant to be which brings up multiple issues with the people he is closest to and a new twist in his relationship with his boisterous and complicated family.
I found The Magnificent Sons to be a really fun and insightful read. Jake is a character that is not perfect, he makes mistakes and says the wrong thing on plenty of occasions and is at times difficult to like, but this is what makes him feel real and like a rounded person trying to figure himself out. He is approaching his 30th birthday and I can totally relate to the stage he is at in life, being 28 myself, when it feels like everyone is pairing off, getting married and having kids. It is a difficult age! Jake has struggled with his attraction to men his entire life and his relationship with his family and particularly his, seemingly overconfident gay brother is strained to say the least. He feels like the odd one out around them and this causes him to isolate himself in a way. This is part of what he has to try to comprehend on the journey he is on in The Magnificent Sons and it’s one of the most emotional and moving parts of the story.
The Magnificent Sons is made up of a cast of colourful and fascinating characters. I particularly liked Amelia, Jake’s girlfriend, who could easily have been a two-dimensional obstacle to him realising his own sense of self, but is actually a funny, smart and incredibly likeable character who was a firm favourite of mine throughout the book. This is a sharp and funny read but there is also a real emotional resonance to it. I cannot pretend to understand what it is like to grapple with the complexities of coming out as bisexual but there was a rawness and honesty to this book that I felt was sensitively manoeuvred and I was thoroughly moved by it at times. Overall, a snappy, witty and touching read.
I found The Magnificent Sons to be a really fun and insightful read. Jake is a character that is not perfect, he makes mistakes and says the wrong thing on plenty of occasions and is at times difficult to like, but this is what makes him feel real and like a rounded person trying to figure himself out. He is approaching his 30th birthday and I can totally relate to the stage he is at in life, being 28 myself, when it feels like everyone is pairing off, getting married and having kids. It is a difficult age! Jake has struggled with his attraction to men his entire life and his relationship with his family and particularly his, seemingly overconfident gay brother is strained to say the least. He feels like the odd one out around them and this causes him to isolate himself in a way. This is part of what he has to try to comprehend on the journey he is on in The Magnificent Sons and it’s one of the most emotional and moving parts of the story.
The Magnificent Sons is made up of a cast of colourful and fascinating characters. I particularly liked Amelia, Jake’s girlfriend, who could easily have been a two-dimensional obstacle to him realising his own sense of self, but is actually a funny, smart and incredibly likeable character who was a firm favourite of mine throughout the book. This is a sharp and funny read but there is also a real emotional resonance to it. I cannot pretend to understand what it is like to grapple with the complexities of coming out as bisexual but there was a rawness and honesty to this book that I felt was sensitively manoeuvred and I was thoroughly moved by it at times. Overall, a snappy, witty and touching read.
June 22, 2020
Jake is pushing thirty and is bisexual, but he doesn't know it yet. He is the quiet sensitive one in a family of show-offs, and he's never felt happy in his own skin. He loves his girlfriend, mostly. But he struggles with his same sex attraction and he knows he's not happy. It all kicks off when his younger brother Trick (short for Patrick) comes out extravagantly at his 17th birthday party, and Jake does not handle it well. There's a generation gap, and a personality gap, and that whole brother thing. Same sex adventures come his way (your girlfriend's brother's boyfriend in a toilet, really?) and suddenly it becomes urgent that Jake decides who he is and who he wants to sleep with.
His coming out, again and again, is done sensitively. His parents can't handle the bi thing. Words are said. Jake finds his tribe on the gay scene, but the 'fancying women too' aspect doesn't always help there either. He drifts apart from the people who love him, his straight friends, his best friend. His, I can only call it envy, towards his brother who seems to be having an easy time, causes upset and angst in his family.
This feels a true picture of a difficult situation. Coming out 'later' in life (the grand old age of 30), as a bisexual ('are you bi-first-gay-later?'), to people who think they know who you are, feels hard. This is marketed as lightweight commercial fiction, but it's not always easy to read, because Jake doesn't always act with the maturity you know he has. This feels real, too. The conflict between coming out when young ('we always knew') vs older, the generation gap (I was fascinated by the teenagers who just don't get the internalised homophobia that Jake clearly feels, because they've grown up in a different world, albeit only a decade apart), the additional stigma of bisexuality which places him uncertainly in both and neither camp (as it were), all say important things about sexuality and coming out. It challenges you, and is done very well.
I just hope Jake finds his happy ending.
His coming out, again and again, is done sensitively. His parents can't handle the bi thing. Words are said. Jake finds his tribe on the gay scene, but the 'fancying women too' aspect doesn't always help there either. He drifts apart from the people who love him, his straight friends, his best friend. His, I can only call it envy, towards his brother who seems to be having an easy time, causes upset and angst in his family.
This feels a true picture of a difficult situation. Coming out 'later' in life (the grand old age of 30), as a bisexual ('are you bi-first-gay-later?'), to people who think they know who you are, feels hard. This is marketed as lightweight commercial fiction, but it's not always easy to read, because Jake doesn't always act with the maturity you know he has. This feels real, too. The conflict between coming out when young ('we always knew') vs older, the generation gap (I was fascinated by the teenagers who just don't get the internalised homophobia that Jake clearly feels, because they've grown up in a different world, albeit only a decade apart), the additional stigma of bisexuality which places him uncertainly in both and neither camp (as it were), all say important things about sexuality and coming out. It challenges you, and is done very well.
I just hope Jake finds his happy ending.
May 27, 2020
Justin Myers has written a tremendous story about two brothers dealing with their sexuality in very different ways.
Jake is the eldest child of the D’Arcy family. When was born his parents were not very well off. They lived in a small house and he went to a state school. His youngest brother, Trick, is 12 years younger, didn’t experience the same financial hardship, he has always lived in the bigger house in the better area and attended fee paying school. Does this make Trick’s life easier?
Trick is outgoing and flamboyant. Jake is much quieter and introspective. Whereas Trick is happy with his sexuality, Jake has always struggled with this. When Trick announces he is gay at his 17th birthday party, no-one is suprised. When Jake announces he is bisexual soon after this, everyone is shocked and finds it difficult to come to terms with.
Will the brothers be able to resolve their differences? Will they be able to see the world from the other ones point of view? Will their feud break up the D’Arcy family?
Such a great book, so well written, insightful and covering such sensitive topics so very well.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jake is the eldest child of the D’Arcy family. When was born his parents were not very well off. They lived in a small house and he went to a state school. His youngest brother, Trick, is 12 years younger, didn’t experience the same financial hardship, he has always lived in the bigger house in the better area and attended fee paying school. Does this make Trick’s life easier?
Trick is outgoing and flamboyant. Jake is much quieter and introspective. Whereas Trick is happy with his sexuality, Jake has always struggled with this. When Trick announces he is gay at his 17th birthday party, no-one is suprised. When Jake announces he is bisexual soon after this, everyone is shocked and finds it difficult to come to terms with.
Will the brothers be able to resolve their differences? Will they be able to see the world from the other ones point of view? Will their feud break up the D’Arcy family?
Such a great book, so well written, insightful and covering such sensitive topics so very well.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2023
This book had a really good outline, and I really wanted to enjoy it more than I did. I think the main issues I had with it, started with the main characters being pretty unlikeable - so I didn't connect with them at all. In addition, there were so many ancillary characters who dip in and out and I kept getting confused on who was who, who was related/connected to who, who was in or out of favour.
Finally, everything seemed disjointed, one minute Jake's at his flat, then with Amelia somewhere, then at his parents, then cut to Trick at his parents and suddenly Jake is at work, then at a club with Callum - but without proper transition, it felt quite jolty.
Ultimately, I was totally fatigued by 60% through and I cannot bring myself to spend any more time trying to finish. I really really wanted to like this more than I did.
Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Finally, everything seemed disjointed, one minute Jake's at his flat, then with Amelia somewhere, then at his parents, then cut to Trick at his parents and suddenly Jake is at work, then at a club with Callum - but without proper transition, it felt quite jolty.
Ultimately, I was totally fatigued by 60% through and I cannot bring myself to spend any more time trying to finish. I really really wanted to like this more than I did.
Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2024
The depiction of bisexuality felt very true to life , the push back from within and without the community, from denial to people just not getting bisexuality as a concept.
I liked how it dealt with coming out 'late' [i.e your late twenties] and how that changes relationships with people from before whilst trying to figure yourself out, and perhaps not having the vocabulary for it and the collateral damage caused , and my heart ached in recognition of Jake's Fear of being seen. I also liked the exploration of different perspectives, especially Amelia, although I found the POV hopping mid-chapter could be a little confusing and found myself re-reading the odd paragraph.
The character playlists provided at the back were a nice treat and a look into their personalities too.
Not my usual sort of thing, but then again so few of the book club reads are, which is the point for someone like me who generally only reads genre fiction (!)
I liked how it dealt with coming out 'late' [i.e your late twenties] and how that changes relationships with people from before whilst trying to figure yourself out, and perhaps not having the vocabulary for it and the collateral damage caused , and my heart ached in recognition of Jake's Fear of being seen. I also liked the exploration of different perspectives, especially Amelia, although I found the POV hopping mid-chapter could be a little confusing and found myself re-reading the odd paragraph.
The character playlists provided at the back were a nice treat and a look into their personalities too.
Not my usual sort of thing, but then again so few of the book club reads are, which is the point for someone like me who generally only reads genre fiction (!)
January 1, 2022
a very fun, quick, and enjoyable read. fast moving but still well developed characters. engaging narrative about coming out as bi in a contemporary world.
myers is a great writer with a keen ear for dialogue and understanding what his characters are thinking and doing.
myers is a great writer with a keen ear for dialogue and understanding what his characters are thinking and doing.
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