There are both not enough words, and too many to describe the debut novel by Daniel Hall; It Was a Riot.

I wrote my review several days after reading this emotional tale of Edward 'Eddy' Taylor whose adult life unfolds during some of the most tumultuous two decades, the eighties and nineties for a gay man living in the UK. With the backdrop of the miners' strike, Section 28 and the horrific crisis that was the spread of HIV and AIDs, we see Eddy desperately attempting to find and be his true self. From being a quiet child living in the shadow of a larger-than-life hooligan of a father shapes, to him wishing to achieve more in his youth as a Doctor? You as the reader walk alongside this gentle man who struggles with his identity in an era where being gay may not be illegal but the hatred from many was still entrenched in memory.

After all, it had only stopped being illegal in '67.

I cried several times during this book, as Hall's writing will pull you into this gritty time in British history, but there are also moments of levity, joy and true love for Eddy that cannot help but make you smile.

This story follows Eddy's life from childhood into being an adult, and is one that as I say? Draws on real moments in recent history. I was especially moved by the way Hall's writing of young men whose lives were cut short by AIDs. Each one comes to life from the page, and my heart breaks for each, and every one of them as if they were real.

Eddy gives his all for his loved ones, for right and wrong and at each page turn, I hoped to see him find happiness. To get the joy and contentment all deserve but this is a book that tells the truth of being a gay man during this time, and Eddy’s tale is a tragic one. I don't often spoil stories, however, I feel this is needed in this case. I think I cried for an hour afterwards, I wanted to pull each and every one of them from the page to the here and now, where there is medication for those suffering from HIV.

It Was a Riot is a must-read, a tragedy and an insight into a dark time in the UK. Eddy Turner deserved happiness, as did many and this book honours each and every AIDs victim who died too soon.

Breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreaking!

"It was a Riot" is a very realistic depiction of growing up as a gay man in the 1980s in Great Britain.
The main character Edward "Eddy" Turner struggles his whole life with not being accepted by his own father and constantly tries to make him proud. To me, this was very relatable and heartbreaking. All the characters were very authentic, which made one feel very connected to them.

What made me really happy while reading this book was that Daniel Hall has woven the tragic story of real-life activist Mark Ashton, who founded the association "Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners" during his lifetime, into his fictional novel in a wonderful way.

I would recommend "It was a Riot" to everyone, no matter if their queer or not. One can learn a lot by reading this coming-of-age novel so I think that it'll help straight people understand the feelings and struggles of queer people better, while the queers get to learn more about their history and celebrate the progress we and the people before us made. This is also the reason why I think, that Hall's book is the perfect read for pride month.

(Some movie and tv show recommendations that remind me a lot of this great book: "Pride" and "It's a Sin")

I really loved about three-quarters of this book.

Hall draws the reader in, so much so that I completely forgot that the protagonist was addressing a courtroom. I was engrossed in Eddy's first-person narrative. His upbringing against a background of toxic masculinity and his deep-seated desire for his dad's approval, are all beautifully crafted by Hall. Returning to the courtroom felt jarring - not a bad thing - but also increasingly unrealistic.

Well worth the read despite some clunky contrivances and some mawkishness in the final third. Hall is a writer to watch.

"It was a riot" by Daniel Hall unfolds with Eddy standing in court, baring his soul as he recounts his life story in an attempt to make sense of his actions. Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous 1980s, Eddy's journey is a tapestry of historical events and political landscapes that had me enthralled. Hall's meticulous research shines through, painting a vivid portrait of the era.

From Eddy's experiences serving in the Falklands war to his immersion in the vibrant 80s queer scene, the story is a compelling mix of personal growth and societal challenges. The iconic moments of solidarity between the queer community and the Miners, as well as the devastating impact of the Aids pandemic, shape Eddy's path profoundly. His evolution from trauma to triumph, becoming a doctor while his partner struggles as an unemployed miner, is both heartwarming and heart-rending.

Eddy's struggle with internalised homophobia adds layers of complexity to his character, leading to a spiralling journey that reaches a crucial juncture at a Poll Tax demonstration. As we witness his quest for self-acceptance, we're reminded of RuPaul's profound words: ‘if you cannot love yourself, how the hell can you love somebody else?'

The narrative captivated me from start to finish, with the fluid, and engaging writing style immersing me in Eddy's world. This book serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the queer community following the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967.

Eddy, a deeply flawed character like many others in the book, showcases Hall's remarkable understanding of character development. His struggles, shaped by his upbringing in a poverty-stricken London neighbourhood with a parent who equates violence with masculinity, resonate on a profoundly human level. The intricately plotted tale kept me guessing at every turn, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

While the court element initially seemed peripheral, Hall masterfully weaves it into Eddy's narrative, adding a layer of reflection and depth to the story. "It was a riot" brims with gut-wrenching moments that will leave you profoundly moved. It's a must-read that captures the resilient yet flawed essence of its characters with grace and authenticity.

Very grateful to Netgalley and the author for the advance review copy.

This is the story of Eddy Turner, who cannot be the son his violent father wants, but spends most of his life trying to impress him. It is a sad story.
The book starts with Eddy in court, and he tells his life story in mitigation of his offence. Eddy grows up during the 1980's and the book covers a lot of the history and politics of the era, which I found interesting.
The story had me gripped, and the writing style is easy to read.

Some often forget that Pride originated with the Stonewall Riots in 1969, and that pride marches have always been a protest against the state of society in how they treat us as queer folk - but also against inequality in general.
This book is a solid reminder of the struggles individuals have been through over the past seventy years, at least.
Eddy has so many all too familiar experiences, especially with his background coming from a poverty-riddled area of London, with a parent who had a masculinity problem, and Eddy himself having to fight for his freedom after an incident at a march.
Extremely well written with fantastic character development and a smooth to fast pace.

I can't recommend this book enough, it's truly beautiful and has some gutwrenching moments that will definitely make you sob.
If you're looking for a book to specific read during pride month, or a book to read any time of the year, I highly recommend this one.