Holden Sheppard: 'Yeah the Boys' - Brisbane Square Library

Award-winning Western Australian author Holden Sheppard returns to the world of his bestselling debut Invisible Boys with Yeah the Boys: a bold, propulsive new novel about male friendship, masculinity, modern gay life and the first gay male AFL player. Unapologetic and unforgettable, this latest release is Sheppard at the height of his powers.

Seven years after escaping their rural hometown, Charlie, Zeke and Hammer are back – older, a bit more jaded and no longer the boys we once knew.

Charlie’s punk dreams are faltering in Perth, until the opening of a new gay bar by his mentors offers him a shot at purpose – and a fight he may not be ready for.

Zeke is untethered from the conservative expectations of his strict Italian parents, but unsure what freedom really means. Joining a gay footy team might be the mistake his friends think it is – or the belonging he’s always craved.

Hammer appears to have it all: AFL fame, money and status. But he’s still closeted – and when he publicly rails against Pride initiatives, the backlash ignites a firestorm that throws all three men’s lives into chaos.

Raw, brash and fiercely tender, Yeah the Boys is the story of three young men finding their way back to each other – and discovering their own complicated ways of becoming men.

This new novel is the rebellious older brother to Invisible Boys, moving decisively into adult terrain. The characters are now in their mid-twenties, navigating sex, money, drugs, fame, politics and the messy realities of city life. It is Holden Sheppard’s most provocative and hard-edged book yet.

Yeah the Boys arrives in response to overwhelming reader demand, with audiences repeatedly asking what became of Charlie, Zeke and Hammer in the years since Invisible Boys. This novel answers that question, and then some.

About the author

A growing literary force, born in Geraldton, Western Australia, Holden Sheppard is one of Australia’s most compelling contemporary voices. His debut novel Invisible Boys (2019) became an Australian bestseller and a modern gay classic, winning multiple accolades including the WA Premier’s Prize for an Emerging Writer and the Hungerford Award. In 2025, it was adapted into a ten-episode television series on Stan Australia. His subsequent novels, The Brink (2022) and King of Dirt (2025), further cemented his reputation, winning major awards and earning widespread critical acclaim. A forthright media commentator on topics ranging from generative AI to modern gay identity, Sheppard continues to expand his national profile.

Holden will be joined in conversation with journalist and editor of The Star Observer, Michael James.

Books will be available for purchase, or bring your copy from home to be signed. Book signing will be from 7-7.30pm.

Presented as part of the Lord Mayor’s Writers in Residence series.

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Host or Publisher Brisbane City Council