Naturally Tan
Tan France
Genre: Memoir / Essay Collection
Published: May 14, 2019
Rating: 
In this heartfelt, funny, touching memoir, Tan France, star of Netflix’s smash-hit QUEER EYE, tells his origin story for the first time. With his trademark wit, humor, and radical compassion, Tan reveals what it was like to grow up gay in a traditional Muslim family, as one of the few people of color in Doncaster, England. He illuminates his winding journey of coming of age, finding his voice (and style!), and how he finally came out to his family at the age of 34, revealing that he was happily married to the love of his life–a Mormon cowboy from Salt Lake City.
In Tan’s own words, “The book is meant to spread joy, personal acceptance, and most of all understanding. Each of us is living our own private journey, and the more we know about each other, the healthier and happier the world will be.”
This was a book that I was truly looking forward to this Summer. I adore the Queer Eye show and all of the members of the Fab 5. They never fail to cheer me up and give me all the feels while watching that delightful show. Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy for review.
To start, I hesitate to call this a memoir, as to me that generally means there will be detailed personal information and or stories. Naturally Tan, while a memoir, is truly an essay collection with a central theme. The flow of the book is choppy at best, but frankly that wasn’t what I was here for as a reader.
If you are looking for a scandalous, tell-all book about Tan then you will be sorely disappointed. If you are wondering what it would be like to have a tea and a chat with this handsome Brit and learn a bit of his struggles growing up, his professional background and how he came to be on Queer Eye, then this will be your jam. Tan remains reserved when writing about himself and personal thoughts and I truly admire that. I loved how he explains to the reader how he felt out of place when they started filming QE. Like him, I cringe and feel embarrassed for people when they are expressive in public, but I don’t have the excuse of being British or of the South Asian community. Just social anxiety, yo! *This may not apply in the moment if I’ve had wine but you better believe that it will keep me up that night and several nights after.
The “intermission” chapters are generally fashion or life advice and never failed to make me laugh. I’m now going to try to make an effort to step up my accessory game… which will mean donning more than just my wedding ring like I’ve been doing for the past year and a half.
It is usually tough to pick one highlight, and this book is no exception, and yet what stood out the most for me is his profound love and respect for his partner, Rob. I absolutely loved how clear that was in the tone of his writing and it made me tear up a number of times.
If you are on the fence about this book, I think it may be worth picking up the audiobook. I know I will be, as I think that is often the best way to read memoirs. Tone and emphasis make such a difference. I dearly wish I could go to his signing in the DC area because I think he would be a delightful person to meet. I won’t be, even the thought of actually going through with it gives me anxiety but I will admire him from afar and recommend the hell out of this book.
My mom read this and told me all about his fashion tips – especially the ones about jeans. I wonder if she was trying to give me a hint.
That is so funny! The struggle to find the perfect jeans is real!