A Dutiful Boy : A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography)

WINNER of the Polari First Book Prize 2021WINNER of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/BiographyA Dutiful Boy is Mohsin's personal journey from denial to acceptance: a revelatory memoir about the power of love, belonging, and living every part of your identity. Growing up in a devout Muslim household, it felt impossible for Mohsin to be gay. Unable to be open with his family, and with difficult conditions at school, he felt his opportunities closing around him. Despite the odds, Mohsin's perseverance led him to become the first person from his school to attend Oxford University, where new experiences and encounters helped him to discover who he truly wanted to be. Mohsin was confronted with the biggest decision he would ever make: to live the life that was expected of him or to live as his authentic self. A Guardian, GQ, and New Statesman Book of the Year'Genuinely inspiring... Beautifully written, dignified and ultimately redemptive, this challenging story abounds with light and love' Attitude | 'An Incredibly important read' Jyoti Patel

''A beautifully written, heartrending story of a young gay man''s journey, liberation and love. A real page-turner that sparks with humanity and hope''
Lord Michael Cashman


A coming of age memoir about growing up queer in a strict Muslim household.

Mohsin grew up in a poor pocket of east London, in a devout shia Muslim community. His family were close-knit and religiously conservative. From a young age, Mohsin felt different but in a home where being gay was inconceivable he also felt very alone.

Outside of home Mohsin went to a failing inner city school where gang violence was a fact of life. As he grew up life didn''t seem to offer teenage Mohsin any choices: he was disenfranchised from opportunity and isolated from his family as a closet gay Muslim.

But Mohsin had incredible drive and became the first person from his school to go to Oxford University. At university came the newfound freedom to become the man his parents never wanted him to be. But when he was confronted by his father and a witch doctor invited to ''cure'' him Mohsin had to make a difficult choice.

Mohsin''s story takes harrowing turns but it is full of life and humour, and, ultimately, it is an inspiring story about breaking through life''s barriers.


Praise for A Dutiful Boy

''A Dutiful Boy delivers an intimate account of the anguish of one man''s gay, Muslim, coming-of-age story, and reveals something important about us all in the process''
Afua Hirsch

''The moving personal story of a gay Muslim''s tribulations and triumphs at the interface of family, faith and freedom, told with great candour and eloquence''
Peter Tatchell

''I can''t recommend A Dutiful Boy enough, I couldn''t put it down. A journey of self discovery, longing, triumph and hope. I fell in love with Mohsin, I imagine you will too''
Suzi Ruffell