Gay Club!

Gay Club is the latest novel from author Simon James Green, set in High School and featuring a rainbow cast of LGBTQ+ characters, a student election and a whole lot of drama!

There's a vacancy for the post of president of the LGBTQ+ Club at Greenacre Academy and Barney is confident of success - as three of its four members are voting for him. But his opposition - the popular Bronte, has other plans, not least because there is a chance of the group becoming Rainbow Youth Global Ambassadors. She'll stop at nothing to be president of the group now – starting with getting the head teacher to allow all the school a vote on the president of the LGBTQ+ society!

As the election battle lines are re-drawn between Bronte and Barney, both candidates' publicity machines go into overdrive to gain votes, but just how far are they willing to go to do this? Publicity stunts, set ups, fake news, politics, fake dates, confrontations and calamities are just the start! And when the election provides a result neither of the saw coming, working together may be the only way to get what they want. Or is it?

I haven't laughed out loud reading a novel in long time but Gay Club certainly made me!   It's full of Green's trademark wit and humour. With its well-observed high school situations and dramas (that many young people will be able to relate to), and more plot twists and turns than a 60's dance craze, this book rolls along at great pace pulling the reader instantly into the lives of the characters. All the main characters fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella and are incredibly diverse and different people! There's geeky Barney, one of the in crowd Bronte, straight talking Maya and my favourite, suave George – cool as the preverbal cucumber, unflinching, observant, an attitude as sharp as his dress sense and un-questioningly supportive of his friends.

Friendship is at the heart of this novel with all its ups and downs and all the characters find this tested to extremes at different points in the novel, ready to offer praise or the uncomfortable truth when needed. And the importance of honesty and speaking from the heart are the most powerful lessons Barney and his friends learn as the novel progresses.

While humour runs through the story the novel deals with several serious issues young people in school face today such as bullying, the impact of social media on teenagers, fake news and shaming. Green also doesn't shy away from sharing the realities of life for LGBTQ+ students at school, as for some this remains a far from positive experience.

Gay Club is full of humour, friendship, plot twists, romance, scandals, set-ups and scrapes - with a touch of espionage thrown in too! It's a great novel which will have you laughing, crying, reflecting and cheering your way through it!

432 Pages / Reviewed by Stephen Leitch 

Suggested Reading Age 14+