Naturally Tan

I have only discovered Queer Eye but love the show for the honesty and warmth the Fab 5 show everyone. This book is the same Tan's voice shines as he talks about his childhood, life before QE and now. It is honest and made me like him more for just being himself and how grounded he is.

I had never watched Queer Eye before reading this book but a few of my friends really like Tan so I thought I’d give it a go. I really enjoyed this and found it interesting and accessible. I had to pause midway through to start watching episodes of the show on Netflix and am now hooked! You don’t need to watch Queer Eye to “get” this book but it will definitely enhance your enjoyment of it.

Irrepressible Tan France has written a fun memoir that feels very honest and spontaneous. At times it feels like he is suffering from impister syndrome, and he cannot believe his luck. He has certainly come a long way from Doncaster to wildly successful businessman to part of the Fab Five. Tan is very frank, and can be a bit defensive, but it all adds to his charm. At the centre is a charming love story with his husband Rob.
Well worth a read.

firstly I just want to say thank you to Netgalley for giving me an early EARC of this book. which I love very much

If you don't know who Tan France is he is the fashion expert on the hit Netflix show Queer Eye an also one of my favourites from the Fab 5 so when I heard he was bringing out a memoir I was so happy.

this book was such a good book because of how down to earth Tan is as a person and u can just see that with what he writes down in the book. he isn't one person to keep hat he wants to say to himself, If he has got something on his mind he will say it which he says sometimes got him in trouble but overall is very good to be outspoken. he doesn't shy away from anything of how he is feeling if someones upset him he will tell them.

what I also loved was just hearing about his childhood and growing up and the many jobs he has between the ages of 16-17 to early 20's which was really funny and aswell just hearing about his relationship with his husband rob which was so sweet of how they met and it just shows u that not all long distance relationships are a disaster.

I really loved how he told us all about everything from him knowing he was always gay to the process of going through the auditions to become one of the fab 5 on Queer Eye which was very interesting the hear about. what made me laugh is how while your reading if u have watched the show u can just hear his voice and his tone while your reading.


for me I don't think there was really a fault to say because its bout someones life and I'm not going to comment anything bad if there was anyway.

if I was rating the book I would give it a 5/5 stars but because its a person life it isn't right to star them.

This is an entertaining read about Tan France's life. At the moment, I'd say it's probably mostly of interest to tv show Queer Eye fans, as so much of what he discusses is linked to the show, and the show affects the format too (after all, you don't get fashion tips in most autobiographies).

The majority of the chapters are set around themes of specific incidents in Tan's life. He starts off talking about being a young child and the horrific racism he experienced. This was all too easy for me to imagine, growing up as I did in a very white area in the 80s when racism (for those with privilege) was seen more as a joke than a problem.

You soon see that his innate personality (his desire for fashion and to be his true quirky self) was there right from the very beginning. It's funny but unsurprising when you find out he spent his first paycheck as a teen on a seamstress to make him custom clothes.

His voice, that we see on Queer Eye, is clearly present in the text. He comes across as forthright and honest in his writing style. Sometimes with autobiographies, you get writers who string together a few nice anecdotes but skip over anything you might actually want to read about. Naturally Tan largely avoids that. There's plenty of his life he doesn't share, sure, but you feel that he is being authentic with the excerpts he has chosen to talk about. Why else reveal that a comment from a girl at school years ago led him to using mouthwash multiple times a day even now? (And I like how he shows that one cruel comment can have a long-lasting effect on people).

Much of the book is taken up with how young Tan turned into business Tan, then living in America Tan, then Queer Eye Tan, and there are lots of interesting things going on there. I enjoyed finding out how they cast Queer Eye and how he likes the other cast members - even if there aren't many specific anecdotes about them outside of that.

On occasion, you might find he's a bit too certain on his assumptions - that the British don't know the word 'pawn' as in pawn shop, for example (I did - no pawn shops near me either, but I was aware of the concept). You might wonder why an autobiography has the aforementioned fashion tips scattered throughout. You might want to know more about his relationship with Queer Eye's Fab Five. But for now he gives us enough to make an entertaining book, and I was satisfied with that.

I only recently started watching Queer Eye, and Tan has always been my favourite partly because he comes from South Yorkshire where I live.
I enjoyed the format of the book with fashion tips and personal anecdotes alongside his honesty about his depression, and racism which celebrity is no barrier against it.
I understand he doesn't want the glare of publicity on his family or husband but I would've liked to learn more about coming out to his family and the role religion played in his and his husband's lives - maybe volume 2?
Also, just a personal peeve - how can he (or his editors) not know there are pawnbrokers /pawn shops all over the uk?! At least 20 of them in South Yorkshire!

Thank you to netgalley and Penguin Random house for an advance copy of this book.

“Brown people cannot run through an airport even if we are late for a flight.”

Tanweer ‘Tan’ France is one of the Fab Five from Netflix’s Queer Eye. He’s the fashion expert and is a Pakistani Muslim from Doncaster.

I’m not one to watch reality TV or makeover shows, so I didn’t expect to love Queer Eye, but I do and Tan is a huge part of that. The Fab 5 are wonderful, but seeing reserved British Yorkshire Desi Tan on screen absolutely makes it.

I also don’t really read memoirs, but when I got the chance for this ARC I snapped it up. I know Tan was from Doncaster so I was excited to find out about his life. He’s very relatable, with the conservative community, the restrictions, the friends and family.

This memoir is as I expected, a light look at his life with a few dips into detail. Tan is exactly like he is on the show, he’ll let you in a little way, then slam down the shutters when it’s enough. It’s really relatable for the Desi community and I’m not surprised.

“I remember thinking I always had to be polite, always be nice, always be kind. You can’t be another crazy brown person who’s upset; you have to show them you’re just like they are—bright, white, and smiley.”

Tan doesn’t shy away from touching on the outright racism, subtle micro aggressions and thoughtless but harmful words that he’s experienced in his life. He talks about being chased and beaten by bullies as a child to how people in America treat him badly because he’s Asian. He doesn’t pull his punches and it’s a better book for that.

He touches on his relationships, how he always knew he was gay, how that felt in his community, leading on to his marriage with Rob France in Salt Lake City. He doesn’t go into great detail but it’s clear they have a strong relationship. He’s very frank about the glossy side of his life but just as honest about the hardships of celebrity.

You know it’s Tan because he dips in and out of fashion and life advice all the time, commenting more than once that he does love to be right. In fact, the writing captures Tan’s voice incredibly well, you can hear him speaking. I burned through this and enjoyed every page and I can imagine most Queer Eye fans will as well.

I love the Queer Eye show and was intrigued to find out more about Tan. The beginning of the book feels like a heart to heart over a cup of tea. I was moved by his early childhood experiences, it was insightful to hear about his early struggles and how he made his own way through life. I loved hearing about how he came to be on the show and how it changed his life but not his outlook. There’s something for everyone, lots of style advice and personal opinions. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

A really interesting and insightful biography, from beginnings in the Uk to Hollywood life. This is entertaining and touching. A real look at Tan’s childhood, dealing with fear and ignorance. Real character and strength shine through, inspiring read.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Naturally Tan is a funny, sassy and touching memoir from Tan France, star of Netflix's Queer Eye, in which he tells his origin story alongside fashion guidance and general life advice.

As a gay, South Asian Brit - one of the few people of colour growing up South Yorkshire at the time - Tan has a perspective on life which isn't often shared in the media or in popular culture. Although there is, as you'd expect, some unpleasant (to put it mildly) racial abuse, Tan's natural charm and humour shines through the writing, which keeps some serious topics light without trivialising them at all.

I really loved the way this book is written. The style is super conversational, and it genuinely feels like Tan is speaking directly to the reader. His stories about growing up, trying out every job under the sun, and meeting the love of his life are interesting and well told, and I absolutely loved the inclusion of Public Service Announcements and 'Do's and Don'ts' about style and dating. Naturally Tan also has some really cute chapter illustrations which add a little touch of detail to really help make it a special book.

I knew next-to-nothing about Tan before picking up this book. I found him funny on Queer Eye, but I never would have said I was a fan. I am now.

Tan France has always been the most interesting of the Fab Five to me. Whether it's because he's also English or because he handles the clothes, which is the aspect of the makeover I generally find most interesting, he's the one I've generally wanted to see most of on the screen. So, when he released this book I was of course, eager to give it a read. And the book delivers on that one quality that truly defines any autobiography - it reads just the same as he comes across on television. Given his very warm and friendly nature, that makes for a very welcoming book. It's also a little scattered, feeling a little stream of thought at times, but then that energy also helps connect to the persona on the screen. So while I did find myself occasionally thinking the stories had wandered off a little, I also get the impression that's exactly what talking to Tan in person would be like at times, so it is more endearing than irritating.

Despite flitting around a little the book does basically take a fairly predictable path. Childhood, early adult life, the moment of fame, and of course life since. It's not rigid in that because life naturally has some overlapping events, and Tan's style means that it flows comfortably. And so far I've mentioned the most important qualities of this book. Welcoming and comfort. I think that's where an autobiography can go that bit further than a generic interview.

The book eschews standard chapter numbering, even titling, preferring instead simple headings, and a fun little mosaic of sketches, that reference something which has varying significance in the following pages. There are random lists of tips or pieces of advice scattered around with sub-headings. It makes the book a little mix of everything else you might expect. It's not a style guide, but it has some style tips. Tan's observations on his own relationships extend to a little advice on what he thinks works in general. You never quite know if the next few pages will talk about the value of representation on TV for young gay South Asians (and others, but there's a clear baseline perspective) or where the hem of a jacket should sit to make someone look taller. Saying it like that makes it sound like it should be a mess, but it's a joy. Never getting too heavy while dealing with bigger issues, and never too light while talking about T-shirts. Tan's natural and conversational style allows the book to be that diverse without feeling awkward.

If you like Queer Eye, it's worth a read. There are tidbits about the show and the dynamics, and the way it's become such a success. If you like Tan, it should be top of your shopping list because it delivers exactly what you'd expect. If you're just trying to figure out who Tan France is, this book tells you that in a nice easy to digest format. A good, simple, autobiography that delivers on expectations and promise. Frankly, it's the kind of book that if you're reading reviews for it you can be happy you're the right audience for the book, so stop reading this and start reading the book.

Naturally Tan is the memoir of Tan France and as a massive Queer Eye fan I was absolutely delighted to be accepted to read a copy!

This autobiography begins with Tan recounting his childhood as a gay, Pakistani boy growing up in South Yorkshire. As one of the few people of colour at his school, Tan experienced racism from an early age. The book describes how this has continued throughout his life, as he experiences racism in airports and whilst living in post-9/11 America. One of the great things about this book is that, along with being on a huge Netflix show, Tan uses his voice and platform to bring these issues to light and to talk particularly about the representation of British South Asians.

The book also covers how he got interested in fashion, working lots of jobs in his twenties before moving to America, meeting and falling in love with his husband Rob and what it was like to create his own business. The book is quite a breath of fresh air from usual celebrity memoirs, as it mixes autobiography with fashion advice and behind-the-scenes information on the Queer Eye show.

I loved this book, it made me laugh loads - particularly the sassy no-nonsense advice from Tan! The little fashion bits worked well being interwoven into the story, but it was also interesting to get an insight into his life and the show. A must read for Queer Eye fans, but also will be enjoyable for those who don't watch it.

Naturally Tan was such a fun and insightful look into Tans life and his childhood and what shaped him into the person he is today. I really related to the parts about his upbringing and the many South Asian cultural references which he included in the book. I think this book is also a necessary and important for readers who want an insight into Tans life as a man of colour as well as his experiences being Muslim and part of the LGBT community. I also liked the parts where he talked about Queer Eye and his experience of how he was cast and his relationship with his co stars. Overall, it was a sweet, tongue in cheek and honest book and every page felt very real and honest.

Tan France is the fashion expert on Netflix show, Queer Eye. This is a fascinating look into his life story and the struggles he has faced with racism and depression, to finding love in an unlikely place.

I genuinely love each Fab 5 form 'Queer Eye' member equally. I love each of them for a different reason and I couldn't possibly choose between them at all. But with Tan, the reason is that I connect with him on a deeper level than the others. We're both British-Asian and with that we've both struggled to find that balance between culture and who we want to be in this contemporary world. I'm a girl all about representation. Tan speaks about this a lot in his book and I honestly couldn't relate more. I think it's one thing being Asian-American because although it may not seem like it, that's already a thing that's starting to climb up levels. I can relate to that stuff but to an extent. What I need is British-Asian representation, which at the moment is so underwhelming. Reading the issues that Tan faced with racism and just the way others treat people of colour resonated with me. I also completely got this struggle of identity with being too British for the Asian community or too Asian for the British community that you don't actually fit into any at all. I related to that a lot.

One thing that took me by surprise about this book was the brutal honesty. Tan is so, so candid about many things and actually, it's very insightful. From him calling out people from his past (yo, it made me think twice about all those people I've met in my life! I was shookth!) to the 'behind the scenes', non-glamorous parts of being famous, which I found really interesting. We always make it out like it's a very extravagant life being rich, famous and on a show that everyone loves so much. But Tan really brought it back down to Earth.

I'll admit, at first, I found it difficult to connect with the book because Tan is on the complete opposite spectrum to me when it comes to personality. Reading about his spontaneous past (the trip to New York!), I wouldn't have dared gone that far. But I loved it nonetheless. I'm always down for people using their authenticity to talk about not only their highs and achievements but the struggles they went through because believe it or not, everyone goes through it. Tan did it perfectly here .

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I love the Fab 5 and all things 'Queer Eye' so it was a given that I'd also love 'Naturally Tan'. It was very insightful and empowering for a British-Asian person like myself.

This is a insightful memoir of the life of Tanweer Wasim, otherwise more commonly known as Tan France, as one of the Fab Five of Queer Eye, a hit show on Netflix. It takes an easy, casual conversational approach that makes this a comfortable immersive reading experience as we learn of Tan's past and how he ended up on the much loved TV show in a non-linear narrative peppered with his fashion tips and advice. What makes this a fascinating read is that he is South Asian, gay and muslim, from a traditional and conservative family background, with a challenging childhood of growing up in Doncaster, Yorkshire, facing bullying and racism. He comes across as warm and humorous, a real personality, a fashion designer who worked his way through a myriad of jobs prior to his audition for Queer Eye. He relates falling in love with his husband, Rob, from Salt Lake City, a Mormon cowboy, giving us an endearing account of their relationship.

There are aspects off his life that Tan chooses to be less than forthcoming about, but that is his right and does not detract from the authenticity of who he is and the life he has lived. This is an entertaining, often humorous and thought provoking memoir in which Tan comes across as so very human, touching on important issues such as the experience of being a muslim gay man in our contemporary world. There was much that I could relate to, and Tan is open about who he is, his anxieties, dishing out life lessons such as the importance of being true to who and what you are, an important tenet of Queer Eye, a show that he gives us behind the scenes information about. Many thanks to Random House Ebury for an ARC.

Tan France is the incredible British Pakistani fashion designer from Queer Eye. Part of the #fab5 France has been thrust into the celebrity limelight almost overnight. This is his story how he found himself living in Salt Lake City married to his best friend and part of one of the largest feel good phenomenons of recent times.