On the bookshelves, there’s a growing library of what it means to be gay and an increasingly rich tapestry of tales about the trans experience. But what if you exist in that hazy, uncharted territory where these identities overlap? It seemed there wasn’t a guidebook for the longest time.

Then came Harry Nicholas with A Trans Man Walks Into A Gay Bar. Freshly single after a five-year relationship, Harry found himself thrust into the daunting world of singlehood. But this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill breakup blues. Harry was navigating life as a transmasculine, newly out gay man. The breakup felt right, but the aftermath was nothing short of terrifying. How do you step into the shoes of a gay man when you’re still figuring out what it means to be a man? Would the gay community welcome him with open arms or turn a cold shoulder? And then there was the question of gay sex—what would that even be like? Most pressing of all: Was love still within reach?

In this raw, intimate, and unflinchingly honest account, Harry pulls back the curtain on his journey through the vibrant, often bewildering world of contemporary gay culture. From swiping through Grindr and stumbling into gay bars to the steamy haze of saunas and the heart-stopping possibility of love, Harry’s story is a fearless exploration of identity, desire, and self-discovery. It’s a brave, uplifting journey that shines a light on the joy found in becoming who you truly are.

Critics have largely praised A Trans Man Walks Into A Gay Bar for its unfiltered look at the challenges and triumphs of navigating gay culture as a transmasculine man. The book has been lauded for its raw honesty, unique perspective, and its contribution to LGBTQ+ literature. Reviewers appreciate Nicholas’s ability to handle complex issues with sensitivity, offering a narrative that fills a significant gap in representation. While some note that the book may not delve as deeply into certain aspects as one might hope, reviewers widely recognise it as a vital and uplifting addition to contemporary queer literature.