Review: "Karaoke Queen" by Dominic Lim

Karaoke Queen by Dominic Lim
Published September 2024 via Forever
★★★

The last time Rex performed, it ended badly. He no longer does karaoke—and he no longer does drag. It's safer that way, and when he runs into the One Who Got Away, he knows that now more than ever he needs to keep his more flamboyant side under wraps...because that might be the only way to get the second chance he dreams of. Never mind that drag might be the best way to save the struggling bar where his ex works; never mind that Rex has never been happier than when he's cinched and tucked and wearing a fabulous dress and singing his heart out. He can keep things separate. But keeping things separate starts requiring more and more subterfuge...

I can't resist a drag queen story—or, I suppose I could, but why would I want to? In most of his life Rex is pretty confident in who he is: he has a job he likes and a family who support him (some to further degrees than others, but fundamentally they all do support him) and a thriving Filipino community around him. He knows that his drag style leans a bit tacky, with color combinations to put your eyes out (I think this is supposed to be his fatal flaw?), but at the end of the day he's pretty okay with that. But: he's also willing to lock the core of himself away in a box to please someone else, whether or not they've given any indication that they deserve the effort.

What I like about the love sort-of triangle: Aaron is not a bad guy. It's clear pretty early on—no spoilers here—that there's someone else who is a better fit for Rex, but Aaron, while as boring as unflavored, unsweetened oatmeal, is perfectly fine; he does not (okay, slight spoiler) at any point turn out to be a raging asshole. This is a really, really low bar for a not-the-right-one love interest in a romance novel, but it's rare nonetheless, so credit where it's due. But my gosh, I wish Rex weren't so ready to throw his authentic self under the bus, over and over again, to please someone else. Oh, also, this is what Rex describes as 'neither neat nor disorderly'? A distinct man-smell permeates the rooms, unwashed clothes and meat-heavy meals mixed with about-to-expire air freshener. From here, I can see into his bedroom. A single bargain-basement comforter hangs off the edge of his bed, clothes are heaped on the floor, and empty beer bottles lay strewn across the dresser. (loc. 1860*) This is not a criticism of the book, but Rex! Raise your standards! That is absolutely disorderly! 'Unwashed clothes' is not what you should be able to smell in someone's apartment! At least ask the boy to open a window, my god.

Okay, okay. Rant over. The whole book has something of a campy feel, with some wish fulfillment to it. Later in the book, Rex learns something about his actual love interest that makes him (to Rex and to Rex's family) an even bigger 'catch', and I sort of wish that part of things hadn't made it through the edits—it's clear to the reader that Rex was into the guy before he learned this piece of information, but I have to wonder what the love interest thinks about Rex's 'I'm into you too' coming so close on the heels of learning this info. (And not much later, Rex puts the love interest on the spot in public to ask him to help out, and like...my dude...maybe ask that privately?) Rex's mother, while over the top as all hell, is a great lot of fun, and it's nice to see books with so much family support—reminds me a little of I'll Have What He's Having, which I also read recently.

One to read for the camp and the rainbows. Too bad this one wasn't out in time for Pride, but there's never a bad time for a new drag-queen novel.

(The cover, though—it's eye-catching, right? But it also feels a little bit like the only reference the artist had for drag was RuPaul. Hmm.)

*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.