I have mixed feelings about King. What I enjoyed - The protagonist, Jess, is well-realised, complex and flawed; I felt immersed in her inner world and I had some very emotional responses to her thoughts and actions. As a queer woman in a relationship with another woman, I found the relationship struggles and dynamics relatable, as well as the broader musings on queerness and acceptance. Jess's relationship with her dad and how she attempts to cope with his death is movingly written; having recently lost my own father, it was particularly emotional reading.

What I enjoyed less was the cheating storyline and how Jess dealt with it. I appreciate the realness of how messy the breakdown of a relationship is, but it just really jarred, especially the ending. I also found the whole Jess becoming an actor really cheesy and OTT, and although it's great that there's more diverse LGBTQ+ representation in King, some of the characters are a bit overdone.

I just finished this. I know it rook me a while. I'm not a quick reader, and this book was a struggle at times.
I saw this on Netgalley, it was available for free reading with no approval needed, I was drawn to the cover first, and I mean, anything that deals with historical and music icons will get me. So it was a bit of a no-brainer for me.
Turns out it was a lot more complex than a girl who performs as Elvis. It deals with the life of the King and how it all gets lost in the fame. It deals with queerness, with the world of Drag and performing. With identity and life crisis, With loss and rebirth.
It is a mammoth of a book. It is special and unique as far as my reading experience goes. This ARC needs formatting and editing, but it is definitely well researched and written.
It is emotional and thought provking.
It is definitely worth a read, if you are in any of the worlds it delves in or if you have an open and curious mind.
I'm glad I did it.

King is the story of Jess, an Elvis impersonator, wife, and mother. As a stay-at-home parent, Jess has foregone her hopes of a career in performance to raise her daughter while her wife Sarah’s continues to work. An opportunity rises and she finds herself touring Edinburgh doing what she loves best. Jess’s absence, combined with Sarah’s disinterest in Jess’s career, causes them to drift slowly apart. Jess comes to the realisation that she is not happy, but is uncertain why. A family tragedy causes her to re-evaluate her life. While Sarah is pressing her to have another baby, Jess, out of frustration agrees. But the road to pregnancy with all its ups and downs serves to push a greater divide between the two. When Jess’s big break comes and she realises she is not getting the support she needs from Sarah, she sets on a quest to find herself and identify what she really wants out of life.

Jess’s introspection throughout the book is written with such sensitivity and insight. The author has creatively tapped into her core being and takes the reader on a journey of exploration through all the emotions befitting the circumstances. As a reader, I felt Jess’s pain and sense of loss. I understood her confusion. And finally, when decisions were made, I felt her relief. Such great writing and insight for a debut novel.

King is a sexy honest, and touching story about Jess, who is an Elvis impersonator on a quest to find her true self. Though she mesmerises audiences on stage. Her personal life leaves her feeling unfulfilled.
Her wife presents her with a difficult choice.
So Jess heads to Memphis to figure out if she's a wife a mother a lover or is she the king of rock and roll.

Fowler does an amazing job blending themes of love, attraction, commitment, family, and Elvis. Her heartfelt portrayal of Jess’s struggles, along with a well-researched look into the world of performance and fandom, invites readers on a journey both on and off the stage. With a strong gay lead character, the story gives a real glimpse into everyday life, offering much-needed representation for the LGBTQI+ community. "King" is a fantastic novel that many will love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hatchling Press.

I have been wanting to read books about a Drag King for a while now, but this one unfortunately missed the mark for me. I don't know that this was necessarily the fault of the writer though - I enjoyed the writing and I loved the characters, but I am not an Elvis fan. I think if I had grown up with his music in the same way that Jess did it would have made for a much more enjoyable reading experience.

King is an impressive novel from Chloë Fowler. The ‘king’ of the title is, of course, Elvis Presley, whose face in close-up and youth adorns the front cover.

Jess is a queer Elvis impersonator. A lesbian with a wife, child, and a desire to perform and to be adored.

King starts at the Edinburgh Fringe, where Jess has sell-out shows as she slowly dresses as Elvis through her act.

When her family faces a crisis, will she make the right decisions in life? Fowler brings the close-knit world of the Fringe, a busy London, and even the nightlife in Memphis to life.

She imagines situations, people, and feelings. Creates a whole world in stage and screen worlds where the King is viewed through a queer prism and the eyes of the woman who mimics his quiff and wears replicas of his bejewelled rings.

Seen wholly through Jess’s eyes, other characters do take a back seat but they feel ring through several intimate conversations in person or detached ones across screens.

Sarah, her businesslike wife who wants Jess to MC a work event but can’t be wholly proud of her. Tiff, a journalist who offers an open door. Jak, a non-binary director who offers an escape.

And two sets of people who love Elvis, one at a British ‘Elvis Con’ in Birmingham, one in a bar Jess finds when she’s walking in Memphis. Which group will embrace her and let her find her path in life, signposted by the King himself?

I really enjoyed this book. It captures the loneliness of life away from home for a performer, and tips a hat to the reality of a domestic life that may be right for one but not another.

It demonstrates an understanding of emotional and physical imtimacy without taking that aspect too far, and in Jess’s Elvis imitation, recognises that he has a legacy that reaches into the depths of many varied lives.

This novel may appeal to open-minded Elvis fans as well as those who appreciate good fiction in the LGBTQ+ space.

****

Thank you Netgalley and Hatchling Press for a ARC copy of this book. This was a honest review.

Content Warning: Cheating in a relationship, sexism

It's one of those stories I'll always remember. Jess is a complex and dynamic character who impersonates Elvis. She is also queer. It hooked me right away because this story was so different in a good way. Her connection to Elvis through her dad was something I could relate to, which was heartwarming. Her ups and downs along the way. Finding yourself again was the theme of this story. Additionally, it lets you see how normal it is to re-discover yourself. While it was another dynamic she had to deal with, I wasn't a fan of the cheating relationship. Despite the fact that Jess did discover she had other skills in life, I felt the story was too long.

Honestly i got this because of the cover and title. Because i love books that centers around elvis but this one about a gay tribute artist was not for me i couldnt connect to anything about this book sadly i wont pick this back up.

This was a story about trying to find yourself again while trying not to hurt or upset everyone around you. Also it lets you see how normal it is to rediscover yourself and grow into a new you. I did want to climb through the book and shake Jess at times but it was her journey.