Joon Oluchi Lee’s novel Tricyclist follows Howie Song, a gay dancer nearing thirty in early-2000s San Francisco, as he navigates a turbulent quarter-life crisis. Howie’s relationships with friends, lovers, and his nightlife begin to unravel amid his self-destructive behavior. The novel is explicit in its depiction of Howie’s sexual encounters and fashion obsessions, using these details to illustrate his struggle to find deeper self-awareness beyond external identities and materialism. Howie’s love of high-end brands, like Balenciaga, and his detailed attention to clothing underscore his attempts to hold onto youth and identity, even as age and mortality loom. The story balances raunchy, cringe-worthy moments with humor and poignancy, particularly in scenes such as a pet cat’s funeral where Howie confronts vulnerability. His friends provide blunt honesty, challenging his harmful choices and urging him toward growth. A subplot involves Howie modeling nude at a wealthy man’s fundraiser, highlighting the contrast between his chaotic life and the affluent circles he inhabits. Ultimately, Tricyclist chronicles Howie’s difficult but necessary journey toward self-acceptance.