A Man and His Pride

Author: Luke Rutledge

Publisher: Penguin Australia 

Genre: Modern & Contemporary Fiction, General Fiction.

Year of release: 2023

Release date 31/01/23

Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟

TW: Death of a child, minor substance abuse, minor toxic relationship/abuse.
Synopsis 

Sometimes life can be hard – until the right person shows you the way.

Despite coming out years ago, twenty-six-year-old Sean Preston has never been one to shout his sexuality from the rooftops. When his relationship of three months comes to a humiliating end, he vows never to become emotionally attached again, falling into a cycle of hook-ups, booze and an unrelenting gym routine.

The rest of Sean’s life isn’t panning out how he hoped either. His job as an online troll moderator is testing his mental health, his best friend and former girlfriend still resents him for coming out, and even his own mother seems to blame him for a tragedy that tore their family apart. But it is his surprising connection with an eighty-seven-year-old nursing home resident that pushes his identity crisis to the brink. 

Then Sean meets naive but kind nurse William, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. William is shy and inexperienced when it comes to the gay dating scene, and Sean offers to show him the way – but it turns out William has a few unexpected life lessons to offer in return . . . and when it comes to forgiveness and self-love, Sean has a lot to learn. 

Set in Brisbane during Australia’s 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, A Man and His Pride is an exuberant and deeply moving story that celebrates some of the many ways to be gay and shows that finding your pride is a journey – one you cannot take alone.

Review 

Brisbane, Queensland 2017, Sean Preston came out years ago, however he’s never been one to shout his sexuality from the rooftops, he has been in a relationship for three months with Jake but one morning Jack decides to call things off Sean is left humiliated. As a result, he vows never to become emotionally attached in a romantic relationship again he succumbs to a cycle of hook-ups, alcohol and a relentless gym routine. 

Other aspects of Sean’s life aren’t turning out exactly as he hoped for at this stage in his life either, his job is putting a strain on his mental health, his best friend who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend who still holds a grudge for him coming out. 

Sean’s own mother is not supportive of her son’s lifestyle however she also holds him responsible for an event that tore their family apart. An unlikely person close to Sean forces him to confront his demons. Sean meets William is shy and overly trusting but kind and supportive nurse who has little confidence in the gay dating scene, Sean offers to help William navigate the scene and the pair soon spark up a friendship that surprises both men. 

Set in Brisbane during Australia’s 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, A Man and His Pride is an exuberant and deeply moving story that celebrates some of the many ways to be gay and shows that finding your pride is a journey you cannot take alone.

As an avid reader I am becoming drawn to novels that take the reader of self-discovery and self-acceptance A Man and His Pride offers this and celebrates newfound friendships. 

Upon finishing this book, I realised that I could become attached to Sean and William, it’s always nice to discover a character who admits they aren’t perfect and don’t claim to be but at the same time I felt as if I still wanted to support him on his journey to self-discovery and acceptance; author Luke Rutledge has done well to bring to life these characters to life. 

Watching William gain more self-confidence and Sean find his way onto the path of self-acceptance was such a wonderful feeling and it felt like something a reader was apart of making A Man and His Pride an outstanding debut novel, one I wish I was able to read much sooner, a hidden gem I’m glad I discovered. 

The minute you embark on this read you will find that the plot is in continuous motion making it a definite struggle to put down, I felt like the story doesn’t lose momentum from to finish it is also easy for the reader to not lose focus on the plot when reading not every book has this strength or ability. Hence my four-star-rating. 

I don’t usually read books with a male protagonist I find myself more so drawn to female protagonists and female authors in this particular genre so when the opportunity to read and review A Man and His Pride come up if I am honest I was a little hesitant, but I discovered I quite enjoyed this point of view and the author’s ability to weave a tale with moments of humour, as well as brutal honesty, makes this book one of the most interesting titles I’ve read this year so far. 

If I had to describe A Man and His Pride, I would say it’s about finding out who you are and allowing the right people inside your inner circle to help you heal old wounds, to grow and ultimately to love yourself as best as you can.

Subplots included in A Man and His Pride:

• Self-doubt
• Minor distorted Body image 
• Self-discovery 
• Self-acceptance 
• Same-sex relationships 
• Relationship breakdowns 
• Death of a child 
• Dysfunctional family 
• Homophobic comments/ terms 
• Substance abuse 
• Budding friendships 
• Divided family 
• Death of a friend

Tropes included in A Man and His Pride:

• Self-doubt
• Self-discovery  
• Self-acceptance 
• Same-sex relationships 
• Relationship breakdown 
• Dysfunctional family 
• Divided family 
• Budding friendships 
• Substance abuse
• Death of a child 
• Death of a friend 

The ending left this reading feeling hopeful for Sean and his friends. Perhaps even a little hopeful for Sean and his mother in the future. Upon finishing this novel, I remember feeling happy for the members in the LGBQT+ community.

I highly recommend this book to a mature audience and fans of the modern & contemporary fiction genre should investigate this title. 

With continued thanks to Penguin Books Australia for sending a copy of this book to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.