Beyond the French Tuck
If you're expecting a book that's just 200 pages of fashion tips, you're looking at the wrong guy. Naturally Tan is a memoir about the intersection of identities that shouldn't, on paper, fit together but do. You've got a gay South Asian man from South Yorkshire, England, who marries a Mormon cowboy from Salt Lake City. That's the kind of story that reminds you the world is a lot bigger and more interesting than the algorithm suggests.
Tan writes with the same voice he uses on screen—direct, kind, and slightly cheeky. He doesn't shy away from the fact that his childhood was tough, but he doesn't wallow in it either. He uses his experience to advocate for what he calls 'radical compassion.' It's a great concept for kids to encounter: the idea that you can be your authentic self while still respecting where you came from, even if where you came from doesn't quite know what to do with you yet.
"The book is meant to spread joy, personal acceptance, and most of all understanding."
For parents, this is a great 'do it with them' book if you have a teen interested in media, fashion, or social justice. It’s an easy read that sparks actually interesting conversations about how we see ourselves versus how the world sees us. And yes, you will probably walk away wanting to burn your bootcut jeans.
