Rating: 4.25 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Rex Araneta is a gay Filipino man in his late 20s who has buttoned up his once fabulous drag side. As a kid, his conservative father thought Rex was overacting, though his mom and sister loved Rex’s singing and femme aspirations. His uncle/drag mother, Tito Melboy, saw Rex’s raw talent and envisioned a bright future for them in the San Fran drag scene. But a really bad homophobic altercation led to Rex giving up drag, moving to Indiana for college, and then coming back to Oakland to work as an executive assistant. Rex’s dad really wants him to pursue law school, but Rex has zero interest. He hasn’t sung a song or dusted off his drag gear in nearly a decade.
While out with his bestie at a gay bar karaoke night, Rex meets Paolo, a fellow Filipino who’s running the stage — poorly. Rex runs out when Paolo attempts to get him on stage, but he later returns to the bar to retrieve his abandoned debit card. And that’s when he reconnects with Aaron, the ex he most missed when leaving Indiana to return home. Aaron’s now out, bartending and managing a gay bar, and Rex harbors some hope to rekindle that lost flame. In doing so, he promises to help Aaron and the bar owner get more customers into the bar to save it from bankruptcy.
This is a cute story about being true queer people out in the world. Rex hiding his drag side has affected his relationships and self-image. As Regina Moon Dee, he was fearless and funny, while his day-to-day life is very repressed, in manner and dress. Part of the gimmick to entice more bar patrons includes the return of Regina to the stage. Aaron doesn’t actually find drag appealing, however, so Rex decides to keep that side hidden. Rex begs Paolo for some assistance at keeping up the ruse that he and Regina are two different people–which works for a while. That said, Paolo’s only helping Rex out so he can spend more time around him. Their budding friendship (and more) is vital to Rex’s journey to love his whole self.
Don’t expect a lot of steam, but do expect a witty and well-paced story. There’s so much Filipino culture and heart, I wished for a glossary and recipe list. Paolo is a great foil to Rex because he sees a bigger picture, and yet has his own blind spots when it comes to family expectations. There’s a lot of joy, a lot of drag, and a boatload of karaoke on the way to the supremely happy ending. I found myself smiling and giggling as I experienced Rex and Paolo’s misadventures. It was really neat how the flashbacks informed the present, allowing redemption and recognition for Rex.
If you enjoy drag, karaoke, or unapologetically fabulous Filipinos, you’ll want to read this book.
