Description

Self-styled "beautiful boy" Toby Ryerson dreams in stardust but lives in the dirt. Haunted by the specter of his mom's overdose, he itches for a life of fun and fabulosity far from the MAGA hats of his backwoods Adirondack town. The only problem: his older brother Jimmy's plans to polish him into a spotless "Disney gay" with college, career, and husband. Toby knows that Jimmy didn't sacrifice everything to raise him so that he can waste his life on men and partying like Mom did. But why can't Jimmy see that he is their mother's son?

When Toby outs the boy who broke his heart in a rage, the web of lies he's spun to manage Jimmy's expectations quickly unravels. A brutal beating leads to a campaign of cyberbullying, culminating in even greater disaster. Worse: Toby knows it's all his own fault. Enter Gabe, a sexy stranger from Mom's past who seduces Toby with the keys to the Big Apple. But when Toby's dreams of a fabulous life in the city quickly turn into a nightmare, will Jimmy's love be enough to save him, or will he end up just like Mom?

An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys is a gritty and harrowing queer coming-of-age novel as well as a love story between two mismatched brothers coping with the burden of secrets and a legacy of shame.

"If you're looking for a raw, unfiltered journey into the heart of a difficult and complex queer experience, An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys is a must-read. Rob Costello has crafted an unflinching coming-of-age story that dives headfirst into the chaos of self-discovery, loss, and redemption through Toby Ryerson: an imperfect, impulsive young man who is trying to survive when everything falls apart. An unforgettable debut novel." - Christopher Barzak, author of Stonewall Honor-winning novel, Wonders of the Invisible World