Naturally Tan

I really loved this book! It was an easy read which takes us into the personal life of Tan France. He's very friendly and cheerful, with each chapter representing a male fashion. It's a very thoughtful memoir that is honest about race, perception, bullying, love, marriage, an fashion. I love him on Queer Eye and follow him on Instagram so I found his story delightful. The insights into Tan's life are fabulous. I like reading how he started his businesses, how the cast was picked and about his marriage to Rob.

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

A thoughtful memoir that is honest about race and perception and bullying and love and marriage and fashion. A delightful read. If you love him on Queer Eye and love his Instagram, you'll adore this. Check out his interview with Jonathan Van Ness on JVN's Getting Curious podcast; they dovetail nicely.

I absolutely adore the Fab5 so I was so happy to receive an ARC for this book.

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<i>My resting state is that I'm a dweeb. I don't drink, I don't dance, and no one would ever accuse me of being cool. I get nervous in crowds and just want to skulk off into a corner until I can slip away without anyone noticing I'm gone.</i>

(That paragraph has got to be one of the most relatable things I have ever read.)

Almost every chapter is titled after an article of clothing or accessory such as tuxedo, leather jacket, cowboy boots and floral shirt. My absolute favorite chapters were Jeans, Sweatpants, and Ode to a One-Piece.

<i>When it comes to denim, as with anything in life, you have to be willing to compromise.</i>

I loved all the insight into Tan's life that this book provides. I loved hearing how he started his businesses, how the cast was picked and about his marriage with Rob. This book also touches on issues such as racism that Tan and his family experienced while growing up.

There were some parts in the book I found repetitive so I knocked it down to four stars but I must say I was impressed with this read. I devoured it in one day and that is saying something because I'm not a memoir kind of gal normally.

My feelings about this read summed up in one gif:

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Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this book that I have reviewed honestly. <3

(Posted to my Goodreads account.)

Naturally Tan is a biographical book written by Tan France, of Netflix's Queer Eye fame.
The book covers a lot of ground, from growing up in South Yorkshire to his current life.
While this book was a quick and easy read that made me laugh a lot, it also had moments that made me think deeper and really reevaluate things.
I recommend Naturally Tan to anyone and everyone.
5 Stars.

What an entertaining read! I actually didn’t know much about Tan prior to reading this, but I am an instant fan. His writing is hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. Though this is a celebrity memoir, Tan comes across as very down to earth. His experiences are authentic and very unique. I love how he directly addresses the reader; it really works with his writing style. As a bonus, I learned quite a bit about fashion. Definitely recommend!

When I first heard Tan France was writing a book, I was so excited. I get almost all of my books from the library, so I almost never actually buy books. But when I heard Tan was writing a book, I immediately knew it would be one of the few books I do buy.

Fast forward several months and I was browsing NetGalley because I wanted to start reviewing more ARCs. I was in the biography section and almost jumped out of my chair when I saw this book on there.

I immediately requested it, but figured that for such a high-profile celebrity memoir, I would get rejected. I’ve only ever requested a few books on NetGalley and didn’t end up reading or reviewing any of them, so I imagine my stats don’t look great to publishers. So when I got an email saying I was approved, I was so shocked and excited. I almost immediately started reading and was hooked from the beginning.

I am such a big fan of Tan, so maybe I’m a little biased, but I do think this is one of my favorite celebrity memoirs in recent years.

He starts the book out talking about growing up in England as a South Asian boy and how his experiences shaped him. He talks about the racism that he constantly dealt with growing up, and how being gay also impacted his childhood, especially growing up in a religion that doesn’t support that lifestyle.

He also describes his journey into the world of fashion, starting with how he got interested in it in the first place. It was interesting to hear how he started his clothing business and the sheer amount of hard work and dedication that went into making it a success.

Throughout the book, he talks about all sorts of things – from the many jobs he’s had to his marriage to being on Queer Eye.

I loved his story about meeting his husband, Rob, and their first date. Get ready for some cute stories because there are plenty. After reading this book, I look up to their relationship so much. They are so supportive of each other and always championing for one another.

In between each chapter, he offers advice to the reader. It’s mostly fashion advice, which I appreciated even though I tend not to care too much about fashion. Reading this book actually made me want to put more of an effort into my appearance. He also gives life advice, such as dos and don’ts for first dates and how to not be a terrible employee.

If you’re coming to this book just for Queer Eye stories, you’ll have to wait until halfway through the book before he even mentions the show, and even then I would say thoughts on the show make up less than a quarter of the book.

I really loved the story of how he was cast on Queer Eye because it was so not what I would have expected. I also loved how he talks about meeting Jonathan, Karamo, Bobby, and Antoni and how their friendship has grown since they met.

As much as I love Queer Eye, I do appreciate that the book isn’t just all stories from set. I loved learning more about Tan himself and what he is like as a person.

He gets deeply personal and honest in this book. He talks about how grateful he is for everything he has, but also talks about how fame has affected him and some of the less glamorous things that go along with being on a hit TV show. He emphasizes how lucky he feels about where his life is now, but doesn’t shy away for honestly talking about things.

He also talks about some of the insecurities that he’s always had, and how some of them have been exacerbated by being in the public eye.

So many celebrity memoirs are just full of little anecdotes from that person’s life with no weight or meaning attached to them, but Tan really goes deep in this one.

You’ll learn a lot more about Tan France in this book than you ever will in an interview, so I’d definitely recommend it to any fans of Tan, Queer Eye, or literally just anyone at all.

I know that I’ll definitely give this a reread once it comes out so that I can listen to the audiobook, which Tan is narrating.

Most of us know of Tan France from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, but he is so much more than that tv show. This book was one of the easiest memoirs that I have ever read. It is well written, honest and tan is very open about his life growing up and his life as an adult.

I love Tan and was excited to read this book. It was charming and witty. He is funny and deep and all the things a memoir should be. This book made me love Tan even more. I highly recommend this to Queer eye fans as well as people who enjoy a good memoir.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin Press for allowing me to read Naturally Tan. I love Tan France so much. I love all the guys from Queer Eye. That show makes me cry, every single time. I really enjoyed reading about how Tan grew up and how hard it was to live as a secret gay man. Tan is hilarious and knows his way around clothes. I love how much he loves his husband and how all the men are becoming positive role models for the LGBTQ community. This made me smile.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely memoir! Although I read this book, I could hear Tan's voice the entire time as if he was speaking directly to me. The conversational tone throughout the story fits the theme extremely well. The first chapter was a bit rough as it started off reading a bit immature (and this is my only gripe with this book). In hindsight though, it helped to make this book feel special as I could see with every chapter how the author grew as a writer. Indeed, Tan France grew in the story and his writing skills improved along the way. I think this would make for a great audiobook; read by him of course.

Tan wrote a very personal book and I felt honored in a way that he let me into his world. I learned about his childhood. I learned about his marriage. And I learned about his businesses. All from a place of his own insecurities and struggles. I admire that he let us, the reader, be part of this. I could relate to many of his anxieties, dreams, and ambitions alike; and it made me somehow not feel alone with things.

This book has a nice flow and evolution of events. It starts off with Tan's childhood in England. Here, he makes an immediate impact by discussing his struggles as a kid in an England that isn't quite as a progressive and a happy melting pot nation as I had believed. In fact, it caught me off guard that he experienced so many racist undertones in his day to day life. Despite that and despite his family's conservative beliefs and religion, he was able to explore many of his interests early on and credits that fact to his success today. He then moves on to meeting the love of his life and now-husband. Their relationship and story are inspiring. He freely discusses their differences and how they work through them. And of course, he then transitions to his endeavors in the fashion industry and his clothing businesses, which ultimately led him to the show Queer Eye where most of us know him from. Throughout this journey, he reveals a lot about himself in a way that is easy and fresh.

This is a quick read, but not because it's fluff but because once you start you can't put the book down.

P.S.: I delight in the fact that the title of this book has several meanings. Well done!

Tan France is a the style expert of the fab 5 on queer eye. The Queer Eye show has become one of my go to feel good shows! I’ve rewatched it a lot. I love the positivity, the boys, the heroes. I also love all the fashion tips! We all rock the French tuck quite often!

Going into this book I had high expectations and this book definitely met them. You absolutely could hear Tan’s voice though out the book. His sense of humour comes though and even though it’s not fully of juicy details like some memoirs it’s full of great stories, a little background and some great advice for life! Also I’m not a huge memoir reader and this was such an easy read that I didn’t struggle at all!

*3.5 stars*

I'm a fan of Tan France, and I find him to be charming, funny, but a bit aloof. His book feels the same way.

Naturally Tan was an easy, enjoyable read that actually felt like Tan wrote it instead of the book being fully reworked by a ghostwriter. It had his voice and cadence, and I loved that about it.

Tan's upbringing, love life, and religion aren't new to anyone who watches his show, but we learn a bit more about the details in his book. I liked the anecdotal details about his childhood and family, and I loved his very firm commitment and love for his husband, but if you are expecting a lot of very personal details, you will won't really find them here. Tan stays a bit guarded while telling his story, and any details about his religion, further details about his romance, and many of the juicier tidbits aren't in the book. Though I learned more about Tan than I knew perviously, it didn't quite satisfy me.

On the flip side, while I liked that the book felt like Tan wrote it himself, it's also very apparent that Tan isn't a writer. It doesn't have a polished feel, and the books seems a bit choppier and more scattered than I would like.

I think if you are a fan of Queer Eye or Tan France, you will enjoy this book. It's a light, easy read, and it made me smile and learn a bit more about fashion, so I'll call it a win.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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I was late to the Queer Eye game. It’s on season three and I only just started binging it a week or so ago. As I was watching and falling in love with the cast I had a lightbulb moment where I remembered seeing Tan France’s gorgeous face on NetGalley. I basically halted all I was doing and got on to NetGalley. Of course, it’s being published by one of my FAVORITE publishers and I immediately requested to read an ARC of it.

There are so many, many things to love about Tan France, where do I even start?

Okay, I’ll start here. He’s humorous and relatable. He talks about finding a comfortable place between self-deprecating and confidence and I think he’s found it. While he’s telling you his story he’s aware of his flaws and weaknesses and pokes fun at himself but it still comes across that he loves the person he is. Lead by example.

His is one of the first celebrity memoirs I have read where the celebrity honestly says how cool being a celebrity is. France talks about the reality of his new celebrity status. He fully acknowledges that some of the things that suck, still sound pretty glamorous and that he’s blessed. A far cry from some of the “poor me” celeb memoirs I’ve read. Of course, don’t get me wrong, I fully think that the lack of privacy that celebrities are granted must be awful, I just also think it should go hand in hand with acknowledgement that they’ve also got some sweet, sweet perks.

France’s same witty, sarcastic attitude on the show shines through in his book. I could hear his voice in my head the whole way through. I love that he gave insight into so many different aspects of his life. From his childhood and family and racism they encountered, to the difficulties he faced feeling like he had to fit a certain “male/masculine” mold. He discussed fashion industry, specifically the garment industry and how his passion began. I was so intrigued by the processes he described on how to get a line of clothing produced! He has an eye for style, this is obvious, but he also has a passion for making sure people have the clothes they want. It’s a combination of what looks good and what a person feels most comfortable in and that, my friends, is having a caring heart. He genuinely wants people to be happy, I love that.

Another thing that France makes abundantly clear is his love for his husband. The way he talks about their relationship and even just Rob France, his husband, in general is so loving. We all need to really cherish and care about our significant others a little more like Tan. There is a respect for his husband, he has pride in his husband, and he’s attracted to his husband. To me, fairy tales are best when they are based in reality. It’s realistic to me that two people can like each other so much.
If you’ve been completely taken by the Queer Eye show, you’ll love this book, but you don’t have to be a Queer Eye fan to enjoy France’s memoir.

This review is posted on Goodreads and Litsy as of 5/20/19. It will be published on my blog on May 27, 2019. When Amazon.com opens the reviews the review will also be posted there.

Loved the advanced copy. Thanks for sharing. I love the Netflix show so it was nice to learn more about him.

Fashion designer Tan France presents this collection of essays about his life leading up to now as the first openly gay, South Asian man on television, starring as a member of the Fab Five on the Netflix hit show, "Queer Eye." Interspersed between these charming stories are brief hints and tips and dos and don'ts for the reader on fashion, dating, and friendships.

I love the show Queer Eye and Tan is easily one of my favorite members of the Fab Five. I immensely enjoyed reading these stories and learning more about his childhood and early forays into the fashion industry, before securing a role as the fashion consultant on Queer Eye. I loved getting a behind-the-scenes look at the casting and plans that went into putting this show together. I did not hesitate to give this five stars.

Queer Eye is one of my favorite tv shows ever. It can make me smile, laugh, and feel good just watching it. Naturally, I also became obsessed with each and every one of the fab 5. I've heard about tan's book for a while and I was so excited to read this. I read this all in a day in Tan's cute little accent. that is equal parts sassy and lovable.

I absolutely adore the little bits about fashion but also loved that it went into more than just the fashion. The raw stories of what it is like growing up brown just broke my heart.

I loved this book and was genuinely sad when it came to an end. Highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of the show.

I was very lucky to receive the eARC of Naturally Tan from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review.

I love Queer Eye, and I was very intrigued about Tan’s book, especially as he is one of the few prominent South Asian figures, and the only openly gay South Asian (that I know of). I’m very passionate about brown representation, which will come as a surprise to no one, so I was curious to learn more about him and his upbringing.

The book starts off strong, as he details a moment of racism he experienced in his childhood, and one that he experienced often. This was one of the elements I appreciated the most - his ability to talk about race from a South Asian perspective, and the use of his platform to simply share what his perspective and life experience is and was. While reading, I experienced moments - much like when Priyanka Chopra mentioned in an interview that if she could, she would blush (I physically can’t blush because of my dark skin). It was a validation and a feeling of being seen that I hadn’t known I needed. There were many points in this book, and one in particular, that I remember putting the book down and thinking, wait, that wasn’t just me? I hadn’t known that my experiences and thoughts were something that other South Asians had faced. It had never crossed my mind that these experiences weren’t unique to me, because I didn’t (and still don’t) know where to look to see myself. Tan also discusses his experience as a brown and gay man far more than I had heard him speak in interviews before, including Jonathan Van Ness’ episode of Getting Curious - a great listen (and a great podcast!).

I also loved hearing about the behind-the-scenes of Queer Eye, because, if we’re being honest, that show has gotten me through the past year. Tan offered some insights about filming that I was eager to see - he talked about some of the hardships they had while filming, and other times he simply shared anecdotes describing his friendship with the rest of the Fab Five.

He also shared some hard moments of his life, which I appreciated: his mental health struggles, being overworked, money and fame, and his relationship with his husband. I think, particularly for public figures, it’s a reminder that you don’t actually know the people on your screen, but maybe, some experiences are universal.

At the end of each chapter, there were style tips, which was an ode to his talents and career that got him the book deal in the first place. If I’m going to be honest, I skimmed over these; they were interesting and fun, but I was more curious about his life than how to dress.

Overall, this was a fun read, and it made the airplane ride that I read it on a lot more enjoyable. My favorite aspect, unsurprisingly, is the way it tells the South Asian experience. It’s a small step, but much more than I would’ve ever imagined as a child. The book reads as if Tan is speaking to you one-on-one, and I think that if I hadn’t received an advanced copy, I would not have picked it up in print. Rather, I would’ve listened to the audiobook, because the tone very much reads in his voice.

I enjoyed the book for what it is. The writing itself isn’t groundbreaking - however, I appreciate the actual content and what he represents. It was a fun, easy read, and if you’re someone who is a fan of Queer Eye, someone who wants more South Asian/LGBTQ+ representation, or even if you simply just want an easy read, then I would recommend you pick it up.

Rating: 3.8/5

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Release Date: June 4, 2019

I enjoyed reading about Tan and his life. I will admit that I haven’t watched Queer Eye yet, but after reading Tan’s memoir it is now at the top of my “to watch” list. Tan talks about everything from growing up in England to fashion to being Pakistani to starting his company.
Tan is having a conversation with the reader, and because of that the stories he tells are accessible. He will occasionally interrupt himself, and it is very charming and sweet. He also includes some tips including a facemask recipe, a list of dos and don’ts for first dates, and an accessories guide. I loved his comments on the differences between the United States and Britain specifically the differences in language which can cause some amusing mistakes.
Overall, I really liked this book. You don’t have to watch the show to read his book, but reading it will make you want to watch the show.

Received an advance copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

First off: I love "Queer Eye."

I loved the first show when it came out, I loved the reboot and the new Fab 5. If you have not seen either, the idea is that five gay men of different expertises -- grooming, food, fashion, culture, design -- swoop into the life of a person who needs some help getting themselves together. In the first series it was exclusively schlubby guys, but in the reboot it's anyone who needs their help. They do not shame, although they gently joke. They strive to take what's great about each person and bring it out, with style. It's a delight to watch.

Tan France is the fashion guru. "Naturally Tan" is the story of how he grew up as an Asian Muslim gay in South Yorkshire, how he dove into his love of fashion to learn all he could about every aspect of it before starting several lines of clothing and how he managed his businesses to the point where he could sell them, retire young and spend the rest of his time with his husband. And then "Queer Eye" called...

Tan has an easy, direct style of speaking. He tends to be reserved on the show, but here he tells you what he thinks and what he's done, whether it's admirable or not. He curses a lot. A lot. He loves being right, even when it's not a good look. He talks about building his companies and running them out of his living room. He talks about racism, his hair, what gets DMed to him on Instagram, and his love for the French Tuck (sorry, ain't happening for me). He talks about the show, of course, and his love and admiration for the other stars. Tan had never been on camera before and had to be talked into it. He was certain, through the first calls and the auditions and even through the first couple of episodes, that he was wrong for the show and would completely ruin it. And it's all fun to read.

In between the personal stories he provides fashion tips, often tied to whatever he was just talking about. But it's the personal stories you'll want this for. He talks about his early romances, his heartbreaks, and his relationship with his husband (the good and the bad). He talks about the joys and responsibilities of representing an underrepresented minority on TV, and about the problems that come with suddenly becoming recognizable. (First celeb to know him by name? Jon Bon Jovi. Tan may have squealed.)

If you love the show you'll want this, but it stands on its own as a memoir of a man who wasn't expecting to become an inspiration.

Snarky and a bit sassy, this book reads exactly like Tan speaks. It’s part memoir and part advice column. While the book does give us peeks into who Tan was growing up and now is, it still felt a bit guarded, like he wasn’t fully committed to letting the reader in. As such I didn’t come away knowing too much more than I already did as a fan of a show. It was still a quick and enjoyable read but I would have liked more.

I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press!

This review is going up super late because we had a crazy weekend apartment hunting! Fingers crossed one works out for us. We also spent a rainy day at the movies for a double feature, which is something we’ve never done before! It was really fun but I was pretty mentally drained by the end of the day. On top of that, we made Hello Fresh for dinner AND watched this week’s Game of Thrones.

It was a weekend that went by way too fast but I have today and tomorrow off, which is really nice. I felt like I could enjoy Saturday and Sunday and then have Monday and Tuesday to catch up on the things have been pushed to the wayside.

I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of Tan France’s book, Naturally Tan. I love Queer Eye probably too much to be healthy, but I truly think it’s a show that can open minds and change lives.

I loved learning more about Tan. He has such an interesting life story, growing up in England in a Pakistani family. I also really loved his “coming out” story because he never realized at any point he was gay. He always new he was who he was, and didn’t realize there was anything “wrong” with it until family and society pointed it out to him.

When it comes to celebrity memoirs, I think you have to take the writing with a grain of salt. The structure of the book was more scattered than I would have liked, with stream of consciousness writing and a lot of repetition. But I did like reading about Tan; I think he has such a lovely presence and I truly connect with how he encourages people to take care of themselves through their clothing.

Presentation is important. We all feel better when we are showered, made up, and in clothes that make us feel good inside and out. The best part of this book is learning that Tan’s love for clothing and fashion comes from the truest, purest place and isn’t shallow in the slightest.

Naturally Tan is funny, sassy, endearing, and heart wrenching. If you love Queer Eye, you will love this book, especially since Tan includes adorable shout outs and stories of the other boys. My favorite chapter details how the show and cast came to be.

Overall, I’d give the structure and writing 3 stars, but the story and heart behind it a solid 5 stars. So we’ll round this one out to a 4 star read.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the eGalley to read and review Naturally Tan!

I'm a huge fan of Queer Eye so I was very excited to get Naturally Tan by Tan France.

In this memoir, France talks a lot about his experiences growing up Southeast Asian in England, the clothing company he founded in his early twenties, his husband, and finally landing his gig on Queer Eye.

It was funny and entertaining, but it seemed like certain topics were kind of breezed over. Overall it was a good read, 4/5 stars, but I was left wanting more.

*I received a copy of this ARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew from watching the Queer Eye that Tan is charming, stylish and knows how to dress himself and others, I didn't realize how strong a person he is. In his memoir Tan offers a lot of encouragement to young people who may be full of doubts about their self worth and who may be lacking in confidence. A very energetic person with a wicked sense of humour he writes engagingly, Tan's autobiography is a quick and a very enjoyable read with a bit of a self help manual thrown into it. He offers sensible advice on dressing and suggestions related to numerous specific garments to be worn or NOT (belts, cowboy boots etc.), as well as advice on dating, creating own business and marriage. The e-copy of the book offered by Netgalley I read, contained no illustrations or photographs other than simple graphics at each chapter's opening. I imagine that photographs would be a big asset to such book of which big portion is style advice. Definitely empowering to visible minorities and LGBTQ community it is a fun confidence building read.

Tan from South Yorkshire only wanted to retire after a grueling but successful few years of running his fashion labels. He was fraying at the seams from the tremendous pressure, and wanted to spend more time with his husband, maybe start a family. He never planned on being famous, never thought he would go on to being one of the most recognisable and loved faces in the TV-watching world.

When the world saw him on the first episode of the newly-zjooshed Queer Eye was also the first time he had ever been in front of the camera ever, but as we all know, three seasons in and Tan (together with the other four) have gotten their art down to an ... well, art.

Naturally Tan is an easy read and wonderful insight to Tan France's life before Queer Eye and how it changed his life after. He speaks about meeting his husband Rob and the steadfastness of their relationship through his fashion career and TV career, about his own experience of growing up as a gay South Asian kid in England, and how he feels the weight of responsibility of being brown and gay in the very public eye.

As a great fan of Queer Eye myself, anything these guys do are of interest to me and a memoir of Tan's life so far was too good to pass up. I was not disappointed. Tan reveals a lot about the casting process for the show, and how the existing cast already struck up a rapport before any of them were officially cast.

A fun, insightful read and fans, and a great filler while you're waiting for the next season.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

<b>I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</b>
I am going to be completely honest. I love Tan France. He is my favorite member of the Fab 5. There is no particular reason I love him more than the rest of the gang, but I've always had the feeling that his vibe matched my own. Although our stories and upbringing are completely different, after reading his story, he felt even more relateable to me. You can see how much of a hardworking perfectionist he really is and how he has had the same struggles and anxieties that everyone else has when starting a business, finding your way in life, and navigating relationships.

Something that I felt brought a lot of heart to the book is how much of an emphasis he puts on his marriage. You can just <i>tell</i> that he is head over heels for his husband, and I think their relationship story is so interesting. It doesn't make sense for a South Asian Muslim to marry a Mormon cowboy, but when you think about the cultures they both come from, it completely makes sense that they fit together.

This was such a fun, quick read, full of a hodgepodge of information about fashion, dating, self-help, the <i>Queer Eye</i> production, and Tan's life and background. Even if you aren't a fan of the Netflix show, I think Tan's story is interesting and well-worth reading.

Naturally Tan is a fun and breezy read. For fans of the Queer Eye reboot, you'll especially enjoy the behind-the-scenes tidbits about the show and France's fellow cast members. For those who don't watch QE, you'll still get an interesting glimpse into growing up South Asian and gay in England, and read about how tremendous it was for France to get cast in a now internationally-popular show. And with regards to fashion commentary, France does not hold back!

Tan France, one of the Fab Five from Netflix's Queer Eye talks about his life, from growing up and being picked on as a child, to coming out, to finding his niche as a stylist, to finding his husband. His story is inspiring and makes you feel like you really know who he is and all about him. The conversational writing style makes the reader feel like Tan is sitting in the room talking directly to you.

As an obsessed Queer Eye fan, I was incredibly excited to read Tan’s memoir. Naturally Tan is the perfect title for this book: Tan is unapologetically himself as he recounts his life and gives his honest opinion on topics like marriage, cowboy boots, partying, women’s swimwear and so on. Tan may be the famous fashion expert of the Fab Five, but this book shows that there is so much more to him than what you see on Queer Eye. It’s written in a stream-of-consciousness style, which makes for a quick and easy read (though it can get slightly repetitive in some spots.)

I think Queer Eye fans will enjoy this book most, but people who don’t watch the show can appreciate Tan’s perspectives on style, media representation, work, love, and being yourself.

I really enjoyed this book by Tan France! I loved watching Tan on "Queer Eye" but it was so fun to get a look into his life before the show and see a glimpse into how he got there. While this does talk a little about the show, it does not solely focus on that aspect of Tan's life. I enjoyed the honesty and vulnerable parts that Tan brings to the table throughout this book and I loved that he evened it out with a healthy dose of humor.

I totally recommend reading this with Tan's voice in your head because, well... I just think it's just 10 times more entertaining that way.

I adore Queer Eye and Tan therefor was so excited to read this book. Knowing just some of his background, Muslim being raised in England etc. I knew this would be full of interesting and insightful stories.

I do think watching or having some knowledge of Queer Eye will be beneficial before reading this, however it is not 100% needed. Overall a lovely book and was impressed with the writing.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy. This one will be out may 14th ✨🙌

The book could be cut in two parts ; the before and after Queer Eye. The before part was very informative, I liked reading about what Tan lived to become the person he is today. His career path was very different and inspiring and I actually learned management techniques I know will be helpful at work. The after part was total delight as to getting Queer Eye insights and feeling the pure joy that Tan feels about this experience. All throughout the books, recurrent themes were the struggle of being a brown person, the importance of representation and the everlasting love for his wonderful husband. These three things were eye opening, touching, they gave me goosebumps and brought me to the verge of tears.

It's important to address the writing style. It is a stream of consciousness type, which means it is very casual and friendly and that it goes from one place to another without feeling fully structured. At first I disliked it but then it grew on me. I could hear Tan voice in my head the full time, like he was casually talking to me, so it became more like a hang then like reading book. The audiobook read by him will probably be really great.

For a long while I thought the editors should have direct Tan's writing more. Even though this is a memoir, we get fashion advices, dating advices, management advices... So the book is an in between memoir and guidebook and remains a bit incomplete on both part (if you are reading this Tan, I'd be 100% on board for a fashion guide or a book about how you built and managed your companies though). Because of that, some of the advices felt unsolicited and pompous, but in the end, Tan's honesty and expertise came to the rescue to make me accept them as part of his quirky personality that reach to help people be their best selves. Writing a memoir so young means that Tan can't look at his life with a distance that would give it more dept, but it turns into a strength, as he talks about his feelings and insecurities in a way that allows the reader to relate and see an open, sensitive human being.

To conclude, it was not memorable, but I recommend this as a fun read for fans of Tan France and/or Queer Eye.

If you love Queer Eye, stop and read this. Tan France is my favorite on Queer Eye because for once, I see someone like me on TV. Is it biased? Probably. Do I care? Not really.

Naturally Tan is everything you expect and if you're in the same boat as Tan, not a heterosexual raised Muslim, it makes sense. For once, I can read a memoir and think, wow, I remember a situation just like that. It fits. It has a place in my heart becau Tan explains the situations in a way I would have never been able to put into words.

Bravo.

This writing is a bit cluttered and it skips back and forth, not always following a single strand of thoughts, but it works.

Take the time to appreciate his story. It doesn't have to be read in a single sitting, a chapter a day will have an impact, I promise.

The book is everything you’d want, if you’re a fan of Tan France and Queer Eye. He talks about his upbringing in England (including all the nasty bullying and racism he encountered), discovering his love for fashion, starting a fashion line, falling in love and maintaining a long distance relationship with the man who would later become his husband, and the wild and unexpected journey that lead to joining Queer Eye.


This book is funny, heartfelt, and all the things you’d want from Tan. I absolutely loved how he talked about his relationship and how they maintain their closeness. It is everything!! 💞 His personality shines through beautifully and I bet this book would be fantastic as an audio-book.

Highly recommend!

I love Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, but I didn’t know much about any of the hosts. I love Tan on screen, so was interested to read more about him. After reading Naturally Tan, (given to me for free in exchange for my honest review by NetGalley) I like him even more. He tells his story of growing up in England, his marriage, how Queer Eye came to be, through their Emmy wins. He has such a good sense of humor and had me laughing throughout.

Lets start with two points: 1) Tan France is lovely and 2) his memoir is both exactly what I expected yet completely different. That second point seems a bit odd but let me explain, I expected a condensed version of Tan's personality but I didn't expect (though really should have) how curated this memoir was, much like how he curates the rest of his life. Tan does things with purpose, that's how he got to where he is, some of that was impulsive but still had purpose.

I personally prefer a memoir to a biography. It is far more fascinating to read how someone views themselves than how others view the person. It's more real while also allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about someone who has shared so much about themselves.

His tone was light when the situation warranted it while not ignoring the more serious aspects of his childhood or his struggles with stress related mental health issues. Having not known anything about him previous to his time on Queer Eye this was a welcome window into how he became the person I've encountered through a television program.

The title really does tell you how this memoir will read. This book is, in fact, naturally Tan.

Forgive me for I have sinned! How have I never seen an episode of Netflix's hit "Queer Eye"? Well that is stopping right now, I can't wait to watch this show. Naturally Tan is a thought provoking, touching and at times hilarious memoir from one of the Queer Eye's gang Tan France. He gives us insight on what it was like to grow up as a minority in South Yorkshire England. .Being a darker skinned kid from South Asian and throw in the fact that he is gay had to very challenging for him. Tan tells his tale with brutal honesty and shows us how he learned to embrace himself and in doing so he meets the love of his life, his husband who is a Mormon Cowboy. You can't make this stuff up folks and I am so glad because it's a wonderful story. I admire his fierce connection to fashion but he never puts someone down even if they break one of his cardinal rules. A delight to read and again I intend to start binge watching his show. Awesome Read Mr. France!!!!

Naturally Tan was thoughtful, charming, witty, and transparent!

Being a fan of Queer Eye, I jumped at the chance to read this memoir! Despite being such a fan of the show, I never really knew much about Tan, as he is very reserved on the show. France opened up completely and I cannot even begin to say how much I appreciate that.

The look he gave us into his childhood, growing up South Asian in a predominately white area in the UK, helped me understand his seemingly reserved nature.

France's story was truly a roller-coaster of emotion. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more (very loudly in public places). His level of humor came as a complete shock to me. The blurb about blue hair had me quite literally laughing out loud, as I had blue hair up until the day I finished the book (I had my hair appointment scheduled well before I found out his opinions on blue hair, but it was a hilarious coincidence nonetheless).

The way Tan spoke about his relationship with his husband, Rob, made my heart melt. Their relationship seems so genuine and it was a breath of fresh air to read about.

I cannot give this book enough praise. I am not a fan of memoirs in the least, but I knew I had to read this one, and Tan France certainly did not disappoint!

Tan France is the style expert on Netflix’s Queer Eye and part of the Fab 5. I a huge fan of the show and like all 5 of the men, though I knew very little about Tan prior to reading this book.

Naturally Tan is part memoir and part advice. The advice is dispensed in a casual, friendly manner and includes numerous style-related tips, as well as a few regarding the management of relationships, and how to not let instant fame and wealth go to your head. Tan is playful, thoughtful, and maintains an upbeat, positive outlook on life.

I learned a lot about Tan through reading the book, for example, that he lives in Salt Lake City, he worked at numerous clothing retail operations + had his own fashion lines prior to the show, and, he met his husband while vacationing. His stories, much like the advice included in the book, are told in a friendly tone. There was an element of humor throughout Naturally Tan too.

I’m not sure I should admit this, but I fully relate to this statement Tan included: ”I’d love to be a better person but I just like being right.” ;)

It was wonderful to get an inside look into the life of one of the inspirational men of Queer Eye! Tan did a great job of communicating who he is and what he wants from life. His style tips sprinkled throughout were lovely and welcomed.

I am such a fan of Queer Eye and was so excited to read Tan's memoir! He gives an honest and deep look into his life before and after stardom. All of the hosts are really ordinary people, and they are truly so thankful for the amazing opportunities that they have been given. I can't wait to re-watch the show now that I feel like I know Tan much more personally!

This book was heartwarming and uplifting but also did this in a way that didn’t shy away from difficult discussions of religion, race, and social issues. I’m so glad I got to read an ARC of this and I love Tan and the cast of Queer Eye so much! 😍

The famous fashion guru from Netflix hit series Queer Eye, gives you a sneak peek into his British child hood with plenty of fashion tips along the way. France reveals how he felt growing up as a person of color in a small town in South Yorkshire, England. This delightfully funny memoir is insightful with comments towards the racism he dealt with growing up, but also laid back with fashion advice in between each chapter. If you love the show, you must read the book!

As a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy I shall give an honest review of Naturally Tan by Tan France. Coming into this memoir I was familiar with the phenomenon that has been Netflix’s rebooted Queer Eye reality television show. Since its premiere in 2017 the world has come to know the fab 5 individually as Antoni, Jonathan, Karamo, Bobby, and Tan. In this memoir the focus is then on the fashion guru of the group, Tan who is depicted assisting their hero of the week in their endeavor to present themselves in their possible best self. The memoir follows Tan’s meteoric rise to fame but explores what life was like being a young gay Pakistani boy in South England. The memoir reads like a Queer eye episode but the reader is reminded this is Tan’s experience and slowly the formula in which we have been engaged with becomes unfolded as we hear the tone in which Tan speaks as he shares his experiences among the many chapters.It is as if you could hear him speak on television or in an interview there is that British wit and humor we know and love but also a self that is reserved and slowly showing us his vulnerabilities as a South Asian Gay male. The ability to focus on these intersectional identities is what gives this memoir its flavor and above all its humanity for I was able to empathize with Tan on many levels. This memoir is for those who are fans of the show, fans of him , and those who need representation in their life. He is not to represent the many communities he comes from but adds insight into the role he has chosen to hold. That is representing who he is and being mindful from where he comes from one day at a time. Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

#book #books #booklover #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookaholic #bilbliophile #bookaddict #bookworm #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookish #Reading #greatbooks #igbooks #bookstography #booknerd #instabook #ilovebooks #booknerd #bookphoto #read #ilovereading

First of all...snaps for an amazing book title - GENIUS.
He said in an interview that someone else named the book but - GENIUS - love it.

I want to be honest - after reading this book I stopped reading altogether...because I had so many back episodes of Queer Eye to finish - I decided that binge watching all of the seasons of the new Queer Eye Reboot on Netflix was my top priority!

Tan France is an accomplished entrepreneur in the fashion and textiles industry. This book details his deep love and 10 year marriage with his husband Rob (swoon - what a great partnership) as well as his career successes and challenges through the years with his fashion lines that include Kingdom & State, as well as a modest swimwear line Shade...among other ventures. He was just preparing for retirement when the Queer Eye casting call came.

Tan writes frankly about his upbringing as a Muslim (raised in England...thus the amazing accent), bullies, his culture's preference for lighter skin colors, and of course...his insights on lifestyle choices and FASHION. Tan is clearly an expert in his field and doesn't try to compete for screen time on the show because when he has input to offer, he wants it to be meaningful and not necessarily silly or outlandish. He is very dedicated to helping people look their best and put their best foot forward...and I enjoyed this book!

I am a real fan of audiobooks when it comes to memoirs so I am definitely pre-ordering Naturally Tan the audiobook for the June 4, 2019 release date! Also to be published in 2019 is Antoni in the Kitchen (September 9) and a new book by Jonathan Van Ness (September 24). Karamo Brown's new book was just released in early March and well...I am starting it TOMORROW ---Celebrity memoir Audiobook for me... (I Love You Karamo!)

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

An autobiography that is not a typical “chronological” account, Tan professes to being a bounderied and private person, and I think that is evident throughout this book. It is described as “a collection of essays” on amazon; and I think that is the best description of it. As a Queer Eye fan, I really enjoyed hearing about how he got to be on the show and his experiences; and also his feelings about being gay, south Asian and being a role model on TV. If you like Tan on Queer Eye then you should enjoy this book!

Ever since the day the first season came onto Netflix I have been hooked onto Queer Eye. Each episode almost brings me to tears and I love watching the Fab 5 help show people how worthy and beautiful they are. I love each of the Fab 5 for different reasons but I have always been drawn to Tan for his calm energy, his care to find something that works for the people that he is working with, and for his respectfulness and care so I was very excited when I saw that he was writing a book.

This book really feels like it is Tan speaking and I love hearing about some of the crazy experiences that he has had in his life. He speaks in such a familiar tone throughout the book which makes it feel like he is sitting next to you telling his life story and it works very well. I like that his stories are interspersed with style tips and tricks (which some I agree with and others I don't).

I also loved hearing the stories about the beginning of Queer Eye, Tan's relationship and marriage to a ex-mormon cowboy, and gallivanting off to New York with his friends at 17.

This was such a fun and heartwarming memoir that I really enjoyed reading.

I loved this. I don't have much else to say so I'm going to repeat myself. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I loved this.

Tans witty wonderful writing make this a fabulous read. I am a huge queer eye fan so as far as I was concerned this was an absolute must read . Highly highly recommend. This book was graciously provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you love Tan on Queer Eye, you'll love this book. It's engaging and fast paced, although not exactly groundbreaking. Tan's voice comes through, and it includes a lot of fun behind-the-scenes stuff on Queer Eye casting and filming. You'll also pick up some of Tan's fashion do's and don'ts. Definitely an enjoyable read!

Amazing book. I am quite a fan of Tan's show, Queer Eye. I loved reading about his life and getting tips along the way. A quick, wonderful read!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! Non-fiction is rarely my genre of choice, and I don't read a lot of memoirs. I can count on one hand how many non-fiction books I've read in the past five years. But I saw the Fab 5 member Tan France had written something and I just had to read it. As a gay man, this new Queer Eye has been a revelation. I adore them all - the cast members, the "heroes" as they call them (meaning the people they're going to help), everything and everybody.

It was so interesting to get insight into who Tan is as a person - both before his time on the show, and after. And I love that he's pretty much exactly the same person as before, just more recognizable on the streets.

I won't say the writing is perfect. It wasn't. There's a lot of train-of-thought writing and incomplete sentences and sometimes even the paragraph splits don't seem just right... but it didn't matter, because it very honestly felt like I was sitting down and having a conversation with Tan, and just listening to him speak.

Highly recommended.

Queer Eye and the Fab5 are the world’s precious boys, and I was ecstatic to be able to get my grubby hands on Tan France’s memoir a whole three months early.

Tan is hysterical in this understated sort of way, and I think anyone who has ever seen the show has seen his reserved sort of personality. In this book though, he is finally the main character of his own life, and I think that shines through. It is great to be able to hear his stories of being a gay, South Asian man, and to see how this has affected him throughout his life. I really love the fact that the book wasn’t solely focused on Queer Eye, though there was definitely cute anecdotes for the fans.

Here, Tan has decided to step in the limelight. And while the other members of Fab5 are a great supporting cast, Tan really takes the reign.

My hope is that Tan’s stories continues to open the eyes of the more ignorant people who don’t understand minorities. His writing is so witty and amusing, and he has so much heart.

I don’t know if I could say more good things about this, but I loved it, I really did. I am not the biggest fan of celebrity memoirs, but I think this one really highlighted how great memoirs can be. I’d recommend this book to all sorts of people, especially fans of Queer Eye, but I don’t think you need to watch the show to enjoy the stories that Tan presents 😊

I didn’t know what the show Queer Eye was about until I saw everyone talking about it on twitter last year and then I decided to binge watch the two seasons ... wow was that an experience. I sobbed in almost every episode and fell in love with the Fab 5 and it’s been wonderful getting to know them better since then. It was also very surprising to see a gay South Asian person on such a mainstream popular show and he quickly became my favorite and I’ve really wanted to know more about Tan. So I was so so excited when I got approved for the advance copy of his memoir and I think it’s awesome that I’m able to review this today, the premier of Season 3.

Tan has always come across as the more reserved one among the Fab 5, so I definitely was expecting to get a better read on him through this book and I wasn’t let down. His narrative style is witty, sassy and charming and this is a memoir you won’t mind finishing in a single sitting. He is also quite self deprecating, pointing out his own flaws and owning them while also being very forthright about some of his own opinions. Peppered among the anecdotes from his life are some of his signature fashion tips and I definitely loved them. Some of his advise felt out of place within the context of the chapters (or the book) sometimes, but I think we can’t expect anything different from a designer/stylist.

Despite the lighthearted way he tries to convey his story, there are many things he dealt with which are painful and heartbreaking to read about. Especially the racism that he had to encounter for being one of the few people of color in a small town in England, and how the little things like walking back home from school were a lesson in survival were both unpleasant to read, but unsurprising because I think much has not changed since then in some places. His particular mention that brown people can’t run in airports (even when you are late for your flight) just hit me hard because that’s so true and unfair. There are many such observations that he makes about what brown people can or can’t do and it’s painful to realize that we have to keep all this things in mind just to live our lives peacefully. Though I live in the US now, I grew up in India among people who looked like me, so seeing myself represented in media or other aspects of life was never an issue. I realized the importance of it only after moving to a different country, so his issues about representation since childhood felt so much more profound and I think this is such a harsh reality for most of the people of color who live in the west. He is also quite forthcoming about a very painful episode in his life and I commend him for it, because it just goes on to show that just because someone is successful and making money doesn’t mean everything is great with their life. He is also pretty frank about the non glossy side of his celebrity life - the incessant travel, innumerable press junkets, being away from his husband and feeling lonely, the toll it takes to keep up appearances in public - while acknowledging how privileged he is.

I was actually surprised by the ease with which he seemed to have handled the fact that he was gay while also being Muslim and South Asian but I think it’s a testament to the strength of his convictions. He is also still very traditional in his mindset and that reflects in the relationship with his husband. It feels like a great love story and they seem to be wonderful supportive partners and I loved reading the parts where he kept gushing about his husband. Their first date and subsequent meetings are especially adorable and it really feels like they were meant to be together.

And there are so many things in the book that I found endearing because of the relatability. The conservative nature of the family while growing up, all the nosy family members, the ways we are restricted in terms of dressing up or making friends or going out and how we all learn to lie to do what we want to do - it was so reflective of my own life growing up that I found it very nostalgic. It’s also lovely to see him want to incorporate his culture within his style and I think his mehndi is a wonderful statement in that regard. He is also quite open about the rampant colorism in the South Asian community and our obsession with being fair (essentially white) and associating lighter skin with beauty and his journey about realizing the importance of respecting his own skin color felt so similar to mine. There are many such instances in this book where I thought ... “wow this is exactly what happened to me too” ... and that’s one of the main reasons I really enjoyed this one.

If you are a fan of the show Queer Eye, you should definitely check this out because you’ll love it. It definitely goes along with the theme of the show - finding your own path in life, accepting and understanding yourself and spreading joy around you. Tan’s witty writing style makes for a very fun read and you’ll definitely find something in this memoir that you can relate to. However, the blurb does mention about him coming out to his family and revealing the truth about his marriage - it is not included in this advance copy but I hope it’s a part of the final book. This was a lovely book to read and I definitely recommend to everyone. I promise it’ll make you smile.

A warm funny honest look at Tan Frances life.His life as a gay man in the world peoples perceptions of him .He shares with us his life his views in a warm funny friendly matter.A charming honest view of his world, #netgalley #st.martinspublishers.