I've been a star trek fan for over a decade and when I saw this was available I immediately requested it. I really enjoyed it. I didn't know any of what he did before Star trek so that was fun to find out!

I must preface the review by saying I do not have any personal affiliations with any of the issues that come up here, I am not American and nor do I have any firm activism stances. I am also unfamiliar with George Takei’s acting except for some more recent guest appearances in the last decade. Despite this disconnect, I still found it a very inspiring read.

I initially wanted to read it because I was interested in the previous work. It seemed quite something to see the personal account of someone from one of US’s more visible actions and that someone went on to become someone big. This book certainly shows how much work he put in to get where he was. There’s also that humble acceptance that luck was on his side a couple of times, on top of hard work.

The entire book ( as is obvious from the cover) focuses on how hard it had been to stay in the closet and how it was for his own family relationships. The book is not just about the personal journey, however, the American political scenario is also shown from quite a long time ago. The idealistic young who go into politics probably don’t all get the opportunities that George ends up with and he is equally appreciative of those chances as of his acting roles.

Finally, I think fans of George Takei will adore this book. The art is brilliant and manages to convey a lot more than the dialogues, although they also sound very realistic, as if someone has been taping conversations from years ago just for this moment.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I enjoyed this graphic novel expanding on George Takei’s life. I did find a few parts to be a bit tedious, especially the running focused portion. I was also a bit put off by learning that George had his mom doing his laundry into his fifties claiming she was lonely rather than just spending time with her. That was a big yikes for me. I didn’t realize just how much George has accomplished in his life and all of his political activism. I was disappointed in his praise of Nancy Pelosi who is no friend to progress unlike George.

I am not a Star Trek fan and haven’t really watched any media George Takei has been involved in but I always knew he was a powerful voice in the LGBTQIA+ community. As I didn’t know much about his life it was really interesting to learn about his dedication to activism and equality for all humans. I learnt so much about American history because of this graphic memoir. George Takei is an absolute powerhouse of a human being and reading this memoir has given me a great respect and admiration for him. He’s inspired me to keep fighting for my identity.

What an incredible journey. I never grew up watching Star Trek but George Takei has always been on my radar. His story will touch so many and this book belongs in high school libraries around the world. A perfect example of a window or mirror memoir.

An incredibly important book. I love that George opened up about this aspect of his life in this format— the illustrations were so well done and I find that it fit the story so well. A unique book that everyone should read I think

Book 190 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Hats off to you Mr Takei.

Such an honest sharing - no holds barred that takeaway guts when one bares his soul like this to the world. I savoured each page and the illustration was amazing.

The research was well done too.

His first book was amazing and he hits it out of the park again with this one.

I received a complimentary copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This is such a brilliant graphic novel. We have already had the moving graphic novel which tells the story of George Takei being taken with his family to a US internment camp during the Second World War. This excellent graphic novel is the story of George Takei’s adult life and his coming out, career and activism.

His story is one of courage and great wisdom and it is also one of love for family, friends and partner and for life. It is this life for others that eventually leads him to become a gay rights campaigner. Reading through his memoir is like reading the history of gay rights in America.

I loved this book so much that I bought a hard copy for an LGBT friend of mine who is about to celebrate 60 years of life.

George Takei has travelled with grace and courage to be able to tell the story of his life to the world. It is well worth reading it. Excellent

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for no unbiased review.

I received the Digital Advanced Reader Copy from Netgall in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a must read for all of us teachers and students alike.
This book hurts and heals in a way I can’t describe.
Giving the current times it makes you remember how the world hasn’t changed much to the contrary, we are turning and turning in circles. Like a silly dog chasing its own tale.

I Have to admit that I had no idea who George Takei was, I was aware of the name but not didnt know anything about him. His life story is that one of an immigrant, having Japanese roots, giving the time and age and his education, makes his story really heartbreaking yet he’s truly inspirational.

Needless to say I love the book, and I found a new person to look up to.
Please read this book, make it a must have in all schools.

It’s a fantastically written graphic novel, the colouring and the precision on the wording is just on point!

A very well-done graphic novel. I will admit to knowing very little about George Takei's other than what I learned from "They Called us Enemy". This was super informative, and the illustrations were extremely well done. Throughout to book Takei's optimism and beliefs for a better more equal world ring throughout.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

wow, what a memoir and what a life lived.

this graphic memoir is intense and absolutely packed with info. I did really enjoy it but I had to spread out my reading over weeks. it's a lot. BUT, it's totally worth the read just be prepared for how much text there is.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This book tells about his life and goes a bit deeper than I thought. It tells about the darker parts that happened in America that George witnessed along with the memories times in his life.

George Takei writes books that need to be written. First with They Called Us Enemy, shining light on Japanese internment camps and now with It Rhymes with Takei with the importance of legalization of gay marriage.

This memoir got way deeper than I expected - and that's what I really enjoyed.
It's a powerful story, including dark moments like losing close ones to AIDS but it still evokes a sense of hope in the end.

Though I read it because I'm a huge Star Trek nerd, I'd also recommend it to people not interested in the franchise.

It's very well written and features great artwork.

In George Takei's second graphic memoir, he looks back on a long and illustrious career that was shadowed internally by a terror of being outed as gay. It's a quite thorough look at his life as a whole, from the fifties to the 2000s, covering his start as an actor, his involvement in politics, his activism for the Japanese-American population, and eventually, his gay activism. It's an often emotional story and a good story.
I liked the art and the story. I had no idea that George Takei was so varied in his career and activities. I also learned I have been saying Takei wrong the whole time.

This is a wonderfully written graphic memoir. I learned so much about George Takei. There is more mature content so not for my 8th graders, but overall, I enjoyed the book.

As a fan of Star Trek I know something about George Takei but not in a very deep way. This autobiography in a manga format let me learn so much more about his life as an actor and as an activist. I'm not a USA citizen so I also learned more about the recent history of this Country
I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to the author and publisher for making it available on NetGalley

Oh my, this was a fabulous book! I couldn't put it down.

This book shares George's journey to becoming an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. He shares his journey to acting, coming out of the closet, and advocacy. He doesn't shy away from the often-heartbreaking bigotry, including from someone he loves.

This is a book to re-read and savor. He is a wonderful writer and incredible human being. He has made a powerful, positive impact on the world, and is basically my favorite guncle (gay uncle) who's not actually related to me. I admire him even more after reading this book. I feel seen as someone who struggled coming out of the closet.

If this book doesn't win awards, I'll be shocked.

Read it. Read it again. Share it with everyone you know.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC!

I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved It Rhymes with Takei, George Takei’s deeply personal and powerful autobiographical graphic novel. Despite having never watched Star Trek or followed George’s acting or political career, I found this memoir both incredibly moving and profoundly inspiring.

This was my first real introduction to George Takei, and through this book, I gained so much insight into his life, from childhood to public figure. The memoir focuses on his journey as a closeted gay man, eventually coming out at the age of 68, and the impact that decision had not only on his personal life, but also on his advocacy and visibility as one of the most well known queer public figures in the world.

The storytelling was captivating, blending historical context with intimate reflections in a way that was both educational and emotionally resonant. I especially appreciated the vulnerability and strength shown throughout, from early experiences in the 1950s, to the grief of losing friends to AIDS, to the joy of finding lasting love with his husband Brad.

The illustrations paired beautifully with the narrative and helped bring each era and emotion to life. Whether you’re a longtime fan of George, a Star Trek enthusiast, or simply someone looking to read an honest and empowering story about identity, love, and queer history, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

George Takei is back with another fabulous graphic novel with his award-winning team. Takei shares stories of his life, and his decision to come out as gay at the age of sixty-eight. Told with Queer history and Takei's very personal coming out story with his long-time partner Brad, this is a beautiful and accessible story about speaking your truth and how we show up as our whole self in the world. How lucky we are to have such a bright light as Takei in this world!