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A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK · 

A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITOR'S CHOICE

 

A fierce and riveting queer coming-of-age story, following the personal and political awakening of a young gay Black man in 1980s NYC, from the television drama writer and producer of The Chi, Narcos, and Bel-Air.

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A 2023 

LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD 

FINALIST IN GAY FICTION

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Praise for
My Government Means to Kill Me

"MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" is a LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD finalist in GAY FICTION

"MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" has been named

one of the "100 NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2022" by THE NEW YORK TIMES

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER says that "MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" is 

one of "THE BEST BOOKS OF 2022"

The AMAZON BOOK REVIEWS EDITORS have picked "MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" as one of the "BEST DEBUTS OF 2022"
 

"MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" has been nominated for "BEST READ" in the 2023 QUEERTIES

"MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" is on

them's "OUR 23 FAVORITE LGBTQ+ BOOKS OF 2022" list

TATTERED COVER BOOK STORE has included "MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME"

on their list of "2022 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR - ADULT"

DEBUTIFUL says "MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" is one of the "BEST DEBUT BOOKS OF 2022"

 

QUEERTY says "MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" is

one of the "BEST LGBTQ BOOKS TO READ YOURSELF OR GIFT OTHERS" 

"MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" is a NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICE

 

"MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME" is an AMAZON BEST BOOK OF AUGUST 2022

“Extraordinary…shines a vivid light onto underappreciated aspects of our history through the life of a gay Black teenager…The book’s greatest charm lies in the sensitivity and subtlety of its narrative.”

- THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

"...beautifully portrays just how social activism has to be."

- THE WASHINGTON POST

"This book should charm its way onto lots of best books of the year lists."

- THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

“Delightful and fast-paced, a fascinating narrative of queer activism during the AIDS epidemic.”

- KIRKUS

"MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME provides a fascinating and nuanced history woven through an invigorating, sharp, and sexy tale."

- BUZZFEED


"An eloquent story of the struggle for gay liberation" 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"An episodic narrative about learning to navigate the world, this novel is both hilarious and angry."

THE BOSTON GLOBE

"Replete with cameos from historical figures, humor, heartbreak and lots of action, this novel has it all."

- SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES

“Newson’s debut is an audacious, vibrant Ragtime-esque ride through the sordid sanctuary of AIDS-era New York, a book about sex and activism and the power we have to liberate ourselves.”

- ELECTRIC LITERATURE

“Newson’s attention to historical details gives this moving novel a sense of urgency and immediacy.”

- BOOK RIOT

"From its use of footnotes to the historical figures that appear, the Bel Air co-showrunner's historical fiction debut delivers education and fun in equal measure."

- ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY 

"...brings humanity, life, and wit to the desperation and politics that besieged real lives during the height of the AIDS epidemic."

- THE DAILY BEAST

"...extremely thoughtful and clever on narrative, thematic, and formal levels, unfolding meaning in every possible place, MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME is a tour-de-force."

- LITERARY HUB

 “A fast-moving and riveting examination of what it means to build a life in the middle of a deadly epidemic.”

- ARLINGTON MAGAZINE


"Beautifully written, poignant, and exceptionally well-researched"

- DAILY HIVE


“MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME is not only a brilliant historical novel of those times, it is a bold statement of how someone who could have been an outcast doesn't settle for being left out.”

- DAILY KOS

Meet Rasheed Newson

Rasheed Newson is an author, a television drama writer, an executive producer, and a showrunner. My Government Means to Kill Me (in stores August 23, 2022) is his debut novel. Rasheed – along with his television writing partner, T.J. Brady – is also the showrunner of the drama series Bel-Air (premieres Feb. 2022 on Peacock).

TV Credits

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Showrunner & Executive Producer
2021

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