MY OWN KIND OF PERSON

A teenage comedian aspires to open for his idol while deciphering his sexuality and sense of self in Manley’s debut.

Sean O’Brien, an anxious Irish American 17-year-old, performs stand-up at a local club in his Long Island suburb. When Sean’s attempted first time with his girlfriend doesn’t go to plan, the nerdy Homecoming Court Jester escapes into comedy, hoping to forget about the awkwardness of what transpired. Sean sources material from his best friends: Italian American Tony Zitolo and Ecuadorian American Andi Lucero, who’s nonbinary. When he learns that his favorite comic, Joe Johnson, will be hosting a competition to find an amateur to open his next show, he’s determined to craft a new routine that will earn him this spot. But this suddenly feels harder now that he’d rather tell authentic stories instead of surface-level jokes; Sean has met Elijah Summers, a gay Black ballet dancer who challenges him to examine himself and consider the stories he wants to tell. This coming-of-age novel explores shifting relationships and the search for one’s authentic voice against a backdrop of mental health awareness. Intimate scenes include healthy conversations about consent and anatomical names for body parts. Some of the relationships possess toxic qualities, and the novel could act as a useful conversation starter. The characters have redeeming qualities and realistic flaws, the plot develops swiftly, and the balance between dialogue and inner reflections is strong.

Tactfully and engagingly examines emotional crises through a lens of humor.