Some books you pick up and immediately realise that this is going to hurt. And oh boy, was this expectation proven to be right in this case.
Tramps like us invites the reader to witness the journey of narrator Joe, who navigates through the US, various cities, a very formative decade (the 1980s) and his own drive to find a home among misfits. With glimpses of his past, the narrator eases the reader into his present and allows him to tag along on a wild ride through the entirety of the United States, making friends, falling in and out of love, finding home among the unexpected company and always, always finding the high side of life (pun, unfortunately, intended). He allows us, the readers, to bear witness to wonderful moments of companionship, heartbreak, the loneliness probably only few readers can relate to and twists and turns of a life lived not on a linear schedule.
Something that left me really impressed was the factual style of storytelling the narrator uses, yet never creates a distance to the reader. Even if there was not much of a descriptive style of writing, I noticed myself quickly falling in love with this band of societal outcasts, minorities and misfits. Through narrator Joe’s eyes, he painted with clear and precise strokes a picture of this family he found in various cities, with members adding to the bunch and some leaving to their own fates at some point.
This clear, concise storytelling was a stark contrast to an unreliable narrator under the influence of substances, heightened emotions and on the journey to find love, for others and himself, and companionship. It was fascinating, how easily I was dragged into this world that is so foreign to me in more than one sense and started to understand more and more with each chapter, what formed the narrator, his troubles and strengths as well.
This is a story of friendship, of celebrating the high life even if in darker places, of finding new people, of family that is not blood related, of heartbreak, of loneliness, of searching for substitutes, of friendship and companions for a while, of uprooting life, of never standing still, of depression, of life altering diseases and life ending pacts between the people who love each other in more than the romantic sense. This also is a story of utter tragedy. And of comedy, at points. This is a story of life fully lived.
I would love to talk about this book on and on, but I probably would just be reiterating the same few points over and over, which is why I truly recommend reading this yourself. I was not ready for the final chapter, and it did leave me sobbing.

What a fun romp through a tumultuous couple of decades this was. It was lewd, it was funny, some parts were serious and they were interspersed in a way that was easy to digest. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this outstanding book with new Foreword and Afterword.

4.5/5

This book feels like an important piece of queer literature. This story really puts you through emotionally. It also feels like you were listening to a friend tell you stories at a party, casual and matter of fact but also really interesting.

It’s about two best friends and their journey around America finding love, the feeling of home, lots of trouble and a family. Get ready to cry.

I will gladly pick up a copy of this new version of Tramps like us when it comes out in 2025.

Tramps like us is the story of Joe and his friend Ali as they navigate queer life in a small town, bigger ambitions in life, getting out into the world and finally tragedy. This book spanning the AIDS epidemic as it swept the country and in its toll- affecting Joe and his friends. Though stories like this have been told before, it served as a reminder of where we have been and how far we’ve come, and yet the work that remains to be done. I enjoyed this read and recommend to others interested in raw stories with lgbtq+ focused characters.

A matter-of-factly told story about growing up in the USA in the years just before and at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. What struck me most was, on the one hand, the style, which, while naturalistic, has a cumulative effect, so that at some point all the drugs, violence and death are described with the same calm attitude as the weather report. On the other hand, I was constantly amazed at how different the times were, when you could just get up and go, travel around, work wherever and somehow not only survive but actually enjoy life a little. Quite a different picture compared to today.

This book was an absolute emotional rollercoaster, and I just couldn’t put it down. I was so drawn into Joe’s journey as he grows up, leaves his small town, and builds a found family. It’s a powerful exploration of the ups and downs of adolescence, and the search for who you really are along the way.

What really spoke to me, though, was how the music of the time was woven throughout the story. There’s something so powerful about how music shapes our identities, and I loved how Joe connected his life to the songs and sounds around him.

The parts about the AIDS crisis were tough to read, but so important. I couldn’t help but reflect on the author’s afterword, where he mentioned how little the AIDS crisis is discussed nowadays—and that hit me hard. So many queer lives were lost, so many stories never told. This novel brings those stories to life in a way that feels both raw and necessary.

I truly loved this book. It’s destined to be a queer classic, one that will stick with me for a long, long time.

Tramps Like Us feels like a confessional, a celebration, and reflection, and a love letter all rolled into one. We follow Joe, our narrator, as he brings us through his life. From beginnings in the south, hitchhiking across the country, and his years in San Francisco. 

The novel is full of booze, drugs, sex, finding chosen family, immeasurable loss, and, at its core, hope and love - even in the midst of what will become the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Joe’s chosen family only grows with each passing page and some of these characters you come know and to love as if they could be your own friends. Westmoreland’s storytelling makes the reader an active participant alongside Joe and his friends as they dance in packed clubs, drive here there any everywhere, and comfort each other in hospital rooms.

The new forward and afterward further enrich the story told within the pages between them. The afterward made me cry just as much as the novel itself did (which is a lot)

I am so glad this is being republished! I hadn’t heard of this before perusing NetGalley and I fear it would be lost to the ages should this not happen. I cannot recommend this enough for anyone who reads gay literature. Tramps Like Us feels like it will be a classic cornerstone piece of gay literature among the likes of Giovanni’s Room and Stone Butch Blues.

Tramps Like Us is a raw, heartfelt journey through the 70s and 80s, capturing the chaotic search for identity, love, and belonging amidst a backdrop of hedonism and emerging crisis.

Joe Westmoreland’s *Tramps Like Us* is a compelling, heartwarming novel about a group of misfits. It captures the essence of what it means to be a found family. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, often laced with humor that provides moments of lightness amidst the novel's more serious undertones. This is a book that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, and it’s an unforgettable read. Highly recommended for anyone in search of a story that’s both poignant and uplifting.

I'm so happy TRAMPS LIKE US is getting reissued. This feels like a major queer text, and I'm glad others will finally discover it. Joe Westmoreland's small epic tracks Joe's escapades as he hops from city to city, trying to find the one that'll scratch that particular itch, settling eventually in San Francisco. Drugs, intimacy/love, the beginnings of the AIDS crisis. The novel is a kaleidoscope of 80s queer life.

Thanks to the publisher for the e-galley!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

When I started reading this I didn’t realize it had been out of print for two decades! Tramps Like Us is coming back to print in June 2025!

This is a true coming of age story. As you follow the main character, Joe, there’s lots of love, loss, and self discovery. I will say I was hoping for a happier ending but I suppose life doesn’t always give you happy endings. While this is a fictional story it often reads like a non-fiction.

This book is written almost as a stream of consciousness. It flits from scene to scene with no transition and sometimes no real destination. That took me a while to get into, but I think it really benefits the story. The characters are all written very bluntly and honestly in a way I enjoyed. They feel like real people in the real world.

#bookrecommendations #arcreview #trampslikeus #netgalley

this was a strong concept and worked well overall in this universe. I cared about what happened with Joe and the rest of the characters in this. The plot worked well overall and was glad everything worked with the genre. It had that feel that I was looking for and was glad I got to read this. Joe Westmoreland has a strong writing style and can't wait for more.