Young Mungo is a queer coming-of-age novel written by Scottish-American author Douglas Stuart. It is set to be published on 5th April 2022 by Grove Press and on 14th April by Picador. As a follow-up to the Booker Prize winner and New York Times bestseller Shuggie Bain, the novel shares a similar setting. Set in the post-Thatcher era, it explores the sectarianism and community conflict that defined the period. Akin to his debut, the author focuses on dysfunctional families while handling themes of alcoholism, toxic masculinity, and violence.
The story is set in 1990s Glasgow and follows two young boys from opposing religious sects as they fall in love. The pressures faced in the hyper-masculine society forces boys to exhibit borderline toxic traits to be considered men. The love between Mungo, a Protestant, and James, a Catholic, becomes a dangerous one taking into account the societal expectations, sectarian spirit, and culture of violence. For Mungo, he has to put on a façade especially with an elder brother who is a gang leader and against Catholicism. The social fabric is made up of ideologies that render them unsafe when they embrace their identity and feelings.
The novel handles the inner conflicts the characters have to endure in living up to expectations while wanting to express their true selves. Buzzfeed reviewed “Exploring themes of religious conflict, family tension, and the ever-present danger of attempting to live an authentic life, Stuart writes with the same power and economy of language he displayed in his debut. With characters that are exquisitely drawn and a story you won’t be able to put down, this love story goes far beyond the conventional romance.” It has been named as one of the most anticipated books of 2022 by major media outlets and magazines including Guardian, Time, and San Francisco Chronicle.
