This is Not a Lie

St Kilda, 1984: The heart of Melbourne's gritty music scene pulses with the promise of fame, fortune, and freedom. Joel Reed, a gifted guitarist with a passion for rock 'n' roll, has come to this bohemian beachside suburb to chase his dream. With an up-and-coming band and a loyal following, it seems like everything is falling into place. But beneath the surface, Joel's life is a façade - he's battling a heroin addiction and hiding his true self from the world. A closeted gay man in a city that celebrates machismo, Joel's existence is a dangerous balance of secrecy and survival.

When the band auditions for a new lead singer, Joel's world is shaken. Harry Engel, an eccentric and magnetic frontman, walks in and sweeps Joel off his feet. Torn between his feelings and the risk of destroying everything he's worked for, Joel remains silent, afraid of being exposed. But as the band rises to stardom, tragedy strikes - and Joel is forced to face the painful truth that the lies he's lived by are not enough to protect him.

For lovers of grunge lit/realist fiction.