No Shame by Tom Allen: A Camp, Hilarious and Deeply Relatable Memoir
- Daniel Hope
- Jan 10
- 3 min read
Perks of Starting This Blog? Revisiting Old Favourites
And what better way to kick things off than with No Shame by Tom Allen. A book that had me howling with laughter, nodding in agreement and wondering if Tom had somehow intercepted my childhood diaries.
Now, for context: I’m not usually a biography man. I love fiction, stories that take me to new worlds, dramatic plots and characters that stick with me long after I’ve finished the last page. Memoirs? Not my usual go to. But come on guys, it’s Tom Allen! There was no way I wasn’t reading this. And I’m so glad I did.
A Coming-of-Age Story, But Make It Camp
No Shame is a queer coming-of-age memoir like no other. Part comedy, part existential crisis, all wrapped up in the precise articulation of a man who was clearly born wearing a blazer and critiquing the wallpaper choices of others.
This isn’t just a collection of celebrity anecdotes or a tell-all about his rise to fame. This is a painfully funny yet painfully relatable account of growing up as a young, eccentric and highly-strung gay kid in suburban England. A boy who dreamed of throwing sophisticated dinner parties, found solace in John Lewis homeware departments and had an obsession with politeness so deep it could have earned him a peerage.
Queer, Awkward, Fabulous
Tom Allen perfectly captures what it’s like to be a young queer kid who is both wildly confident and cripplingly self conscious at the same time. He knows exactly who he is, but the world around him isn’t quite ready to accept it. He’s desperate to be sophisticated, poised, respected, yet life insists on making him spectacularly awkward. He wants to fit in, but not at the expense of sacrificing his love for theatrics, etiquette and good interior design.
For those of us who grew up feeling "a bit much," this book is like a warm, knowing hug from someone who truly gets it. And if you’ve ever harboured an embarrassing, all-consuming crush on a straight boy (haven’t we all?), there are chapters that will make you feel so seen you might need to close the book and take a lap around the room.
The Joy of the Audiobook (and the Paperback, Because I’m Extra Like That)
I started with the audiobook because let’s be honest no one tells a Tom Allen story better than Tom Allen himself. His narration is ten times funnier than just reading it on paper, mostly because you get the full exasperated sighs, clipped tones and dramatic pauses exactly as they were intended.
But because I am both a literary purist and an impatient reader, I flipped between audio and paperback, filling the time during my commute and then seamlessly carrying on when I got home. At some point, his voice permanently implanted itself in my head, so even when I was reading in silence, it was still narrated by Tom Allen. A full possession, but in the best way possible.
The Weight of ‘No Shame’
For all its wit and flamboyance, No Shame is also unexpectedly tender and deeply reflective.
It’s about that universal queer experience of feeling "other", of desperately wanting to fit in, yet knowing you never truly will. It’s about the fear of taking up too much space, of being too much, too dramatic, too camp. And it’s about growing into the person you were always meant to be, without apology or shame.
There’s something incredibly powerful about seeing a man who once struggled to embrace his queerness now standing centre stage, unapologetically himself. This book isn’t just a memoir, it’s a testament to self-acceptance and resilience. Awkward. Hilarious. Pinpointing ways we all find ourselves in the end.
Final Thoughts: Just Read It.
If you haven’t already picked up No Shame, do yourself a favour and get a copy, be it audio book or physical, and prepare to laugh, cringe and possibly cry (but in a classy, refined way, as Tom would insist).
This book perfectly captures the queer, awkward, fabulous, self-deprecating experience in a way that is rare and wonderful. And as someone who spent a good portion of their youth feeling a little too much, it was a joy to read a book that celebrates it. Get your copy on Amazon here.
So yes, Tom Allen, I see you. And I love you for it.
Have you read No Shame? Did you also fall deeply in love with your own cleverness as a child? Let’s discuss.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Queerly Yours,
Daniel
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