Karaoke Queen
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5.0 • 3 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Don't miss this "pure delight" (Christina Lauren) "full of love, music, community, food, and fashion" (Abby Jimenez), perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alison Cochrun.
For Rex Araneta, his college sweetheart Aaron Berry was always the one who got away. So when he finds out that Aaron is now living in the same town and needs help saving his karaoke bar, it’s Rex to the rescue. Or more like Regina Moon Dee, Rex’s internet-famous drag queen alter ego. Even if no one can know the identity of the man behind the makeup.
As Regina’s popularity grows, Rex’s ruse becomes more difficult to keep under wraps. It even becomes a family affair with his mom and sister helping to keep his secret. It’s dawning on Rex that he’s hidden this side of himself away for far too long . . . and perhaps his real shot at love is to reveal his true self. And be loved for all that he is.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Comedy and father-son conflict intersect in Lim's vivacious second novel (after All the Right Notes), a joyous celebration of drag, karaoke, and Filipino culture. Filipino American Rex Araneta has locked away his love for drag performance, karaoke, and women's fashion because of his father's disapproval and a traumatic past experience. Then Rex reconnects by chance with his white college boyfriend, Aaron Berry, the new manager of the Pink Unicorn, a historic Bay Area gay bar in financial peril. Hoping that saving the bar will win back Aaron's affection, Rex revives his once viral drag queen persona, Regina Moon Dee, and offers to emcee karaoke night to bring in customers. But when Rex, who's already insecure that no one could love both Rex and Regina, learns Aaron doesn't like drag or respect it as an art form, he's determined to keep Aaron from discovering that he's Regina. To maintain his cover, Rex ropes in the Pink Unicorn's cute, Filipino karaoke jockey, Paolo. Their elaborate web of deception gives way to a series of slapstick mishaps, especially when Rex teaches Paolo to impersonate Regina, but also tender moments arising when Rex least expects them. The result is a hilarious yet fervent tribute to the places and people that make being one's authentic self possible.
Customer Reviews
The best of Karaoke and drag
After reading and enjoying Dominic Lim’s All the Right Notes, I looked forward to Karaoke Queen. This heartfelt novel has a similar good-feel tone, though in addition we get to enjoy a fascinating adventure into the world of drag. But make no mistake about it, just below the expert makeup, glamorous dresses, and glitter are a host of significant issues: parental acceptance, being true to oneself, homophobia (and drag phobia), and the twists and turns of falling in love. Rex’s coming out as his drag persona, Regina Moon Dee, is the dominant issue here, and ironically, a much more complex story than his coming out as gay. Rex began performing from a young age. He took to dancing, singing, and dressing up much to his mother’s delight who at times seems a little over the top in her appreciation of Regina Moon Dee. Thankfully Rex’s father’s non-accpetance of drag is not because he’s the stereotypical villain, but rather someone who has complicated feelings due to his brother and a genuine concern about the safety of his son. As an adult, Rex learns that his college boyfriend, Aaron, the one that got away, is working at a karaoke bar. Rex decides to revive Regina to help keep the bar afloat though he does it secretly as he’s unsure of Aaron’s opinion of drag queens. The lovely Paolo is an employee of the bar and is supportive of Rex, giving us the setup for a love triangle that gets resolved as we might expect. Get ready for an emotional ride as the story reaches its climax. The bonus is that we also get a dive into Filipino culture and its food, all making this book a delight.