Gaysians

“I’ve been hunting for books like this my whole life; this story broke my heart and healed it.”
—Maia Kobabe, author of Gender Queer

From the acclaimed author of the young adult graphic novel Flamer comes a heartwarming adult debut following four gay Asians navigating love, identity, and friendship—a celebration of queer chosen family.

When AJ moves to Seattle in the early aughts, he’s ready to reinvent himself as a gay Asian man—but his dreams hit reality fast with no friends, no job, and an apartment so far out, “not even lesbians live there.” Then a spilled drink at a bar introduces him to K, a glamorous drag queen; John, a shy gamer; and Steven, a reckless flirt. AJ’s “Boy Luck Club” helps him find love, pride, and belonging—until a brutal attack tests everything they know about friendship and family. 

Meticulously observed and gorgeously illustrated, Gaysians is a fierce, funny, and tender story of queer resilience and self-discovery.

• Praise for Gaysians:
  
  “I've been hunting for books like this my whole life; this story broke my heart and healed it."
  Maia Kobabe, author of Genderqueer
• “Gaysians is a beautiful prism of queer Asian/Asian American experience, grounding and groundbreaking. You’ll feel seen, called out, held, beloved. I laughed, I cried, I healed a little or a lot—but I’ll never forget what this book showed me.”
   
  Alexander Chee, author of How to Write an Autobiographical Novel
• “A savory feast of heartbreak and joy that proves the old adage that the more specific something is, the more universal it can be. Life is in the details, and Mike Curato is a master at rendering them with life-affirming beauty.”
   
  Steven Rowley, author of The Guncle
• “This graphic novel is a call for empathy and understanding, through the laughter and tears.”
  Abraham Chang, author of 888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers
• Praise for Flamer:
  
  "This is a story that will be read and reread, and for some, it will be the defining book of their adolescence."
  Kirkus (starred review)
• "This book will save lives."
  Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of National Book Award Finalist Hey, Kiddo
• "Masterfully nuanced and stunningly told, this is visual storytelling at its finest."
  Booklist (starred review)
• “Mike Curato knows [boys] like Judy Blume knows a teenaged girl, and that's quite a bit.”
  NPR
• "An essential book that shows readers that they are never alone in their struggles."
  School Library Journal (starred review)