Description
Book Synopsis
''Sharp, bawdy, yet still deeply touching. It''s shockingly elegant, and elegantly shocking'' LENA DUNHAM
''A very funny novel about falling for a fantasy and finding love for one''s own self'' MELISSA BRODER, author of The Pisces
''Funny, horny, heartbreaking'' CAROLINE O''DONOGHUE, author of Promising Young Women
____________________Eliott is a TV writer with a perfect-penised boyfriend. He''s living the dream.
But behind the glossy veneer he''s been papering over cracks, and they''re starting to show. He''s creatively stifled, he''s drinking a little too often and his cerebral palsy makes him feel like gay Shrek.
When River walks in, Elliott''s life is turned upside down in the best way. River is funny, charming and makes him feel
seen. But maybe that''s part of the deal when you hire a sex worker.
Eliott is lost and he needs someone, anyone,
Trade ReviewJust By Looking At Him is a horny romp that
makes you think, laugh, and feel. Ryan O'Connell is
one of my favourite writers because he always finds the perfect balance between cutting and contemplative -- Monica Heisey, author of REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY
Funny, horny, heatbreaking. If you liked
Detransition Baby you might like this:
all anarchic queerness and great jokes -- Caroline O'Donoghue, author of PROMISING YOUNG WOMEN
A very funny novel about falling for a fantasy and finding love for one's own self . . . Ryan O'Connell explores the lessons that the vulnerable human body has to teach us, and he does so with
humor, heart and heat -- Melissa Broder, author of THE PISCES
I've loved Ryan O'Connell's voice in every iteration, but his turn to fiction is my favorite Ryan yet:
sharp, bawdy, yet still deeply touching. It's shockingly elegant, and elegantly shocking -- Lena Dunham, author of NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL
A novel about self-discovery following a character at
the intersection of queerness and disability, with
plenty of sex involved * Gay Times *
The writing is
dazzling, so funny and free, it's like making friends with someone new and exciting at a party and instantly becoming their best friend. Ceaselessly entertaining, no-filter comedy, scathing, sparkling and uplifting -- Justin Myers, author of THE LAST ROMEO
With his
singular voice and unforgettable wit, O'Connell movingly explores how
our messiest moments can lead to radical self-acceptance. Elliott's journey may be his own, but what he discovers about the absurdity of the human condition is universal -- Steven Rowley, author of LILY AND THE OCTOPUS
Filthy, funny and outrageous. This novel is full of painfully recognisable
characters who are impossible not to fall for. I loved it -- Laura Kay, author of THE SPLIT
A perfect summer beach read: very
funny but also with
important things to say about the intersections of disability and queer identity -- Andrew McMillan, author of PHYSICAL
Just By Looking At Him is a revelation - Ryan manages to
perfectly encapsulate the nuances of disability, while avoiding the air of self-pity that so often clouds disabled narratives crafted by able bodied people.
The book is consistently hilarious and relatable. I'm obsessed! -- Ione Gamble, author of POOR LITTLE SICK GIRLS
I'm breathless in admiration - it's
super sharp, staggeringly funny, hot as hell and stealthily moving. It's going to be a
mega-hit! -- Matt Cain, author of THE SECRET LIFE OF ALBERT ENTWISTLE
