"Because not only does he know and like me, he knows and likes all of me. Every part I've been scared to show the world."

I'm a fan of Karaoke even if the Filipino singing genes skipped me, and drag queens, RuPaul Drag Race  fan over here. But this book had so much more. This book was full of love from family, friends, and found family. I love the message of acceptance, self-love, and forgiveness and how it reminds you to surround yourself with people who love and accept you for you. We need more books like this to spread love, to spread awareness, and to encourage people to be brave and show the world their real beauty and share their talents. Karaoke and drag are more than make-up, dressing up, and singing songs. It allows an individual to feel good as they sing and share their truth as they perform.

I love that Karaoke Queen has just as colorful a cover as All The Right Notes.

I think Lim has done it again, a fabulous romance with serious undertones. The issues referenced were handled with intention and care. Self-reflection and realization are a difficult road to go down and I love a book that makes me look inward at myself when I'm done reading it.

Also the cast of side characters were so fun. The addition of them definitely made the story stronger.
The romance felt a bit low key, but still loved it so much!! <3

There are so many things I loved about this book! The Filipino joy and food and family felt so real and authentic in this book, just like in Dominic Lim's debut All the Right Notes. The banter between Rex and his family sounds so similar to things I'd overhear from family members and it was very heartwarming to read. I especially loved how Rex's mom and sister support and help Rex throughout the book with no hesitations.

The drag references and details felt very on point and like we were being given a behind the scenes look at what drag queens go through. It was fun to see all these details about drag queens and performing and I felt a genuine love and care for these details in the writing.

To me, this book often felt like a movie/sitcom in that there was so much chaos and hijinks happening at all times. I think in book form this got a little confusing and I do feel like some things didn't add much to the story, but would be fun to watch play out in a tv show/movie.

Overall, a cute and fun read!

Thank you to Forever for my #gifted copy as well as NetGalley access in exchange for my honest opinion.
What a FUN read! I learned more about karaoke and drag that I didn't know I didn't know, and it was so enjoyable. And I will now think of this book, in addition to Clueless, when I hear Celine Dion’s “All By Myself” 🎶
“Drag is more than just wigs and makeup. It's an escape from the restrictions that other people put on you. It's a way of telling the world what you feel inside, of sharing your truth.” This quote felt like a great piece to share to help potential readers see the beauty of this book. Beyond drag, the book has amazing representation of Filipino culture and food. It also champions not settling for someone who isn't ready to embrace all of you or wants to hide you/your relationship. Love that reminder!
If you've read the author's previous release, All the Right Notes, there is a fun crossover cameo - but both are standalones. If you are a fan of found family, this queer romance will make you smile. I can't recommend it enough!

Suchhh a fun and lovely read. I enjoyed the author’s first book as well, and now Dominic Lim is an auto buy author for me. The representation of Pilipinos and the queer community in the Bay Area was the cherry on top.

Karaoke Queen is an absolute delight! Dominic Lim’s latest book features characters who accept themselves, an incredible family, delicious Filipino food, and of course amazing drag queens.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Rex sees his ex Aaron managing a struggling queer karaoke bar in his Bay Area neighborhood, he’s shocked. But maybe this is his shot at a second chance? Soon, Rex is reviving his drag alter ego Regina Moon Dee to host karaoke nights to help save the bar, and the crowds take off. Only Aaron doesn’t know about Rex’s drag experience, and doesn’t seem receptive to it. Since Rex’s been burned before, he decides to keep Regina Moon Dee’s identity a secret, with the help of bar staff Paolo, his bestie Kat, and his mom and sister. This plan leads to some hilarious situations. But can Rex truly find love if he’s hiding a vital part of himself?

I love this book, and read it in a day! Rex’s struggle to reconcile all parts of himself are relatable, even if one isn’t a drag queen. It’s the unwavering support of his closest friends and most of his family that form the backbone of his journey. Even when his family relationships don’t go smoothly, they make sense for all the characters.

The romance here is a delight. I don’t want to give too much away, but I adore the way it plays out. And, the characters Paolo, Kat, Rex’s mom, sister Eva, and Tito Melboy are fantastic. I also like the fact that while this book embraces all the glamor of drag, it doesn’t shy away from its perils too.

I love this book, and if you are a fan of queer romances that are tons of fun, but don’t avoid real world struggles, Karaoke Queen is a must read. Rex’s journey is a relatable one, and it’s a joy to watch him find his HEA.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 sparkly stars!

Karaoke Queen by Dominic Lim is a delightfully captivating novel of self-discovery and love.

Rex Arenata has known who he is since he was a young child. His mom and younger sister, Eva, always encouraged his more flamboyant side. But because of fear and other circumstances, Rex has tried to play it straight for a long time. But that changes when he discovers his former boyfriend Aaron Berry now lives in town. When he learns the bar where Aaron works is in danger of closing down, Rex decides it is time to set his drag queen alter ego, Regina Moon Dee, free in order to save the bar.

Rex is an absolutely fantastic character who sometimes does not see what is right in front of him. He is very focused on rekindling his relationship with Aaron but Rex is dismayed when he realizes that Aaron is not exactly a fan of drag queens. But once his decision to help Aaron is made, he comes up with a zany plan to make sure his ex does not know Rex is also Regina. But will Rex come to realize this attention on Aaron might cause him overlook the person who sees him for who he is?

Karaoke Queen is an entertaining novel with a wonderful storyline and characters. Rex grows and evolves as he becomes more self-aware and ready to put his needs before others’ expectations. The rest of the characters are diverse and likeable (his mom and BFF Kat are sooo funny). Rex’s soul searching is low-key as is the romantic aspect of the storyline. Dominic Lim brings this outstanding novel to a very heartfelt and uplifting conclusion.

This was a heartfelt love letter to drag queen culture, a second chance romance, and a messy queer coming out story that has Filipino American Rex Araneta trying to help his college sweetheart, Aaron, save his drag karaoke bar by taking his secret, internet famous drag persona, Regina Moon Dee, into the light of day only to find himself having to hide his alter ego from his father and falling for a new man along the way.

I loved the messy but relatable family drama in this book that was FANTASTIC on audio narrated by RuPaul's Drag race runner up, Manila Luzon, a famous Filipino American drag queen whose voice lends an extra authenticity to this story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book is perfect for fans of the tv show and anyone who enjoys authors like Alexis Hall or books like Dragged to the wedding by Andrew Grey.

Karaoke Queen by Dominic Lim
Contemporary M-M romance. Diverse, own voices, closed door.
Rex Araneta was a performer from a young age. Singing, dancing, make-up and dressing up. Finding all the colors and variations of women’s clothing was a revelation but male family members convinced Rex it was a passion to be hidden at the back of the closet.
Now, as an adult, Rex finds his college sweetheart working at a karaoke bar close to work. The bars is a bit run down and needs a boost and before he even realizes what he saying, Rex is volunteering to bring in friends, and make a drag Queen event a regular thing at the bar. Or rather, his alter ego, Regina Moon Dee will perform. Rex is a little rusty but he’s got good friends and plenty of support from his mother, sister, and friends. Including Paola who will help Rex in any way possible.
Rex starts off trying to impress the old boyfriend, but it soon turns more introspective as Rex realizes the dressing and performing is for himself and something he needs.

Self analysis and self awareness can be painful and difficult. It’s included in this story and caused a few tears for me but the angst was actually relatively low. The budding romance was low key and the ultimately happy was included for the full cast which made it quite touching.
An entertaining and uplifting coming out (drag queen performing) romance.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

This book was such a joy to read with Rex on a chance meeting reconnects with his college boyfriend, Aaron, and agrees to help save a struggling gay bar to help win him back.

Rex decides to bring back his drag persona, Regina Moon Dee back for karaoke night to bring business. I enjoyed the back story to Rex's journey to wanting to be a drag queen and how supportive his mom was. All of the supporting characters including Rex's sister and friends added so much depth to the story.

I enjoyed Paolo's story as well and his growth in the family business.

After reading this, I just want to eat some Filipino food and go karaoke with my friends.

Thank you @readforeverpub and the author for a copy of the book.

I really wanted to get this ARC read by the end of release day, which is today. I managed it right under the line and I'm so glad I did! I love and respect the art of drag and enjoyed the author's debut novel, so I was so excited to hear about this one and it did not disappoint. Rex is Filipino and though he started exploring his feminine side in secret as a kid (with the support of his mom and sister) and was a baby drag queen later in his teen years hosting karaoke (with his Tito, aka Beaucoup Buko) he didn't feel safe and knew his dad didn't approve. After suppressing that side of himself for years, an encounter with an ex at a gay bar brings forth Regina Moon Dee again, but still keeping it secret from his dad and said ex that he is the queen. Meanwhile, the cute KJ, Paolo, helps him and sparks fly. This was part queer romance, part family drama, part love letter to Filipino food and culture, part self-acceptance journey, and part commentary on what it means to be a drag queen and how that is still sometimes received negatively or even dangerously. It took me a bit to get into it but I think that was more my mood reader brain fighting against the deadline I imposed on myself because once I buckled down I really enjoyed it! Thanks for the arc, Forever Pub!

Karaoke Queen by Dominic Lim is a beautifully written queer romantic comedy that explores why it's important to love all parts of ourselves. This novel is incredibly well written and the character development is multifaceted and quite brilliant. Having been involved with the LGBTQ IA community for over half of my life I resonated with this book in so many ways.

Rex, a gay Filipino man and retired drag queen has gone to college and returned to California for a job and to be close to family. He is out one night at a local drag bar which was clearly not doing well when he is recognized as his former self, drag queen Regina Moon Dee. In fear he hurriedly leaves the bar. When he returns the next day, he runs into his former love interest Aaron who now owns the bar. Aaron asks Rex for help and Rex agrees. The best way to help? Regina! Regina, the beautiful and successful drag queen holds so many memories both good and bad for Rex so this is a big deal for him.

As an avid reader of both queer novels and romantic comedies this novel is a wonderful mixture of both and is done in the most beautiful way! I will be reading everything that Dominic Lim writes! A new favorite author for sure!

Rex Araneta is a gay Filipino man in his late 20s who has buttoned up his once fabulous drag side. As a kid, his conservative father thought Rex was overacting, though his mom and sister loved Rex’s singing and femme aspirations. His uncle/drag mother, Tito Melboy, saw Rex’s raw talent and envisioned a bright future for them in the San Fran drag scene. But a really bad homophobic altercation led to Rex giving up drag, moving to Indiana for college, and then coming back to Oakland to work as an executive assistant. Rex’s dad really wants him to pursue law school, but Rex has zero interest. He hasn’t sung a song or dusted off his drag gear in nearly a decade.

While out with his bestie at a gay bar karaoke night, Rex meets Paolo, a fellow Filipino who’s running the stage — poorly. Rex runs out when Paolo attempts to get him on stage, but he later returns to the bar to retrieve his abandoned debit card. And that’s when he reconnects with Aaron, the ex he most missed when leaving Indiana to return home. Aaron’s now out, bartending and managing a gay bar, and Rex harbors some hope to rekindle that lost flame. In doing so, he promises to help Aaron and the bar owner get more customers into the bar to save it from bankruptcy.

This is a cute story about being true queer people out in the world. Rex hiding his drag side has affected his relationships and self-image. As Regina Moon Dee, he was fearless and funny, while his day-to-day life is very repressed, in manner and dress. Part of the gimmick to entice more bar patrons includes the return of Regina to the stage. Aaron doesn’t actually find drag appealing, however, so Rex decides to keep that side hidden. Rex begs Paolo for some assistance at keeping up the ruse that he and Regina are two different people–which works for a while. That said, Paolo’s only helping Rex out so he can spend more time around him. Their budding friendship (and more) is vital to Rex’s journey to love his whole self.

Don’t expect a lot of steam, but do expect a witty and well-paced story. There’s so much Filipino culture and heart, I wished for a glossary and recipe list. Paolo is a great foil to Rex because he sees a bigger picture, and yet has his own blind spots when it comes to family expectations. There’s a lot of joy, a lot of drag, and a boatload of karaoke on the way to the supremely happy ending. I found myself smiling and giggling as I experienced Rex and Paolo’s misadventures. It was really neat how the flashbacks informed the present, allowing redemption and recognition for Rex.

If you enjoy drag, karaoke, or unapologetically fabulous Filipinos, you’ll want to read this book.

This book was a warm hug of queer joy! I enjoyed Dominic Lim’s first book and had been looking forward to this since it was announced, and I am pleased to say that it did not disappoint. There was clearly a lot research that went into this book, from the detailed description of the trials and tribulations of doing drag (including the infamous tuck) to the references to RuPaul’s Drag Race, the cultural touchstone for many drag fans. Also, the book oozed love for Filipino culture, particularly in the detailed food descriptions, which were mouthwatering! I particularly enjoyed the focus on the importance of familial love, both in the Filipino blood family context and in the queer found family culture.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book for all fans of queer stories, particularly those with an interest in drag, music, or both.

A fun entertaining romantic comedy that showcases why it's important to love all parts of ourselves.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have not read Lim's debut novel yet, but after this, I will be adding it to my list.

While the plots are different, I really got vibes of Mrs. Doubtfire from this book. In the sense that the main character is hiding his identity while in drag. It works on paper, but if this were a film or tv show, I am not sure it would be as believable. I loved the main character being a person of color, and the Filipino culture is so present throughout the novel that it was very refreshing to see and I wanted more!

This is my first "drag" book and I wasn't sure what to expect, but I loved it. This was also one of those rare books where I was deeply invested in the side characters and several of them are worthy of their own spin-off where they deserve all the focus.

My only issue with this novel was the use of some of the flashbacks and use of "Two Hours Earlier", this is a trope that I loathe. I also had issues with the main character's love interest. They just didn't feel right to me. But the writing style, plot, and character development is absolutely amazing!

I was fortunate to get an e-ARc of Karaoke Queen and absolutely loved it! This book is funny, emotional, and sweet. It also taught me a lot about drag and the community. I loved the focus on family, whether blood or found, and the importance of being true to yourself. I enjoyed all the characters and what they brought to the story, they each had their own unique voice. I will definitely be on the lookout for books by Dominic Lim because this was an absolute delight!

Karaoke Queen by Dominic Lim was a wonderful and well written story.
This was a fun, enjoyable read and I cannot wait to see more from this amazing author.

I really enjoyed this cute, quick, low-steam read. I read it poolside and it was a great beach/vacay read! I loved all the details of drag culture, as well as Filipino heritage. Lim's writing is accessible, easy to read, and very personal. You really get inside the main character's head and understand his thoughts and motivations. Even when he makes choices that maybe *you* wouldn't make, it makes sense why *he* does those things.

We got:
**Great found family, and great bio family too. I feel like often in queer books it's ONLY found family, and I understand and appreciate why that is sometimes the case, but it was nice to see Rex figuring out how to communicate and get to his HEA with bio family too.
**Being your true authentic self and finding someone to love ALL of you, not just parts
**Amazing food rep!
**Lighthearted comedy, laugh out loud moments, impossible impersonations, and general shenanigans
**Lots of love and lots of heart
**Intersectional rep
**Male characters who aren't all burly 8 pack alpha-hole never have I felt a feeling types; I appreciate the diversity in the male characters!

Trigger warnings for {SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER] hate crime & violence. [END SPOILER]

The only thing I wasn't a fan of, and what kept it from being a 5 star read for me, was some time jumps that I felt were a bit jarring and unnecessary. We would get like almost a "this season on...* highlight where a chapter would open with a paragraph or two about some high stakes situation the character was currently in and then there would be like a "three hours earlier" or something and take you back to the main story. I felt this device was distracting and for me personally it didn't really work.

However, I still greatly enjoyed the book, just like I enjoyed Lim's previous book, All The Right Notes. If All The Right Notes was a hit for you, I bet you'll love this one too!

Karaoke Queen was an excellent read. I was a little unsure at the start how I would feel about the whole double identity thing and keeping secrets but it was done really well and I loved the story. The romance was good too. I’m a huge fan of drag so I felt confident I would love this, I’ll be getting a copy for my shelves!

E-ARC generously provided by Forever in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

4.5 stars. Jubilant in the queer Filipino joy that it celebrates and thoughtful in its exploration of what it means to have an intersectional identity, Karaoke Queen is a soaring high note of a romcom that struck me in a personal place I wasn't quite expecting.