Boy from the Valleys

My unexpected journey

De: Luke Evans

Narrado por: Luke Evans

Brought to you by Penguin.

From his humble beginnings in a quaint Welsh mining village to the dazzling lights of Hollywood, much-loved star, Luke Evans takes us on a poignant and inspiring journey that spans from the heart of Wales to behind the scenes of the global stage.

Growing up in a small village in the Rhymney Valley, south Wales, Luke Evans’ early life was shaped by his Jehovah's Witness upbringing. While most children of his age spent their Saturday mornings watching Going Live on television, young Luke would dress in a suit and tie and join his parents to knock on doors to spread the word of his religion. From an early age, he felt different. This feeling of displacement was not limited to his faith, as he came to terms with his own sexuality, he also faced a difficult and uncertain path. In his poignant, tender and often humorous account, Luke shares his bold decision to leave home – and the religion – at seventeen to move to London where vibrant Soho scene captured his heart, invigorated his creative journey as an actor and opened a whole new world of opportunity.

In finding himself, Luke also discovered his passions of singing, acting and performing. Starring first on the West End stages in iconic productions like Miss Saigon, Avenue Q and Rent, he quickly captivated the hearts of audiences and caught the eye of Hollywood's elite, going on to secure roles in blockbuster films such as The Hobbit, Beauty and the Beast, Fast and Furious and Dracula Untold.

In this intimate memoir, Luke takes us behind the scenes of his career on the stage and screen. He writes beautifully of the relationship he now has with his family and the respect they all have for one another on their different paths. Luke's story is a powerful tale of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of finding a sense of belonging and identity, but mostly (and hopefully) a story of inspiration.

©2024 Luke Evans (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Inspiring, Fun & Authentic

A inspiring, funny and incredibly moving memoir. Raw & authentic with fun and unexpected insights. Thank you Luke Evans for sharing your story and journey. Loved it!

The reality of being a gay man and being brought up religious How it shapes and changes our lives. 10/10

I absolutely love this book. I have been so excited to hear a story so similar to mine. The difference was I was raised Christian and being closeted gay. The similarities in the story that I can relate to are uncanny. Brilliant book Luke. Thank you for sharing your deepest parts of your life with the world. Fantastic story telling, and a fantastic voice to listen to.

Inspirational and well read.

This is a well read inspirational book which handles challenging topics delicately and honestly. I hope that there will be a sequel in due course.

Like sitting with a friend and having a chat.

Listening to Luke narrate his story was as if I was listening to a good friend tell me stories about his life. The narration was so descriptive that I actually had real time reactions as I was listening.
I really didn’t want the book to end and loved it so much that I’m going to listen to it again.

Laugh, Cry, Repeat! Listen to This Now!

Luke Evans’ Boy from the Valleys is a beautiful and wonderful emotional rollercoaster that you won't want to end. From the very beginning it felt like Luke was right there sharing his story like a friend does over a cup of coffee.

I laughed, I cried, I cringed (in the best way), and I smiled until my cheeks hurt. By the end, I was rooting so hard for that boy from the valley and I know you will be too.

This isn’t just something to listen to, it’s an experience you’ll carry with you.
Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one!

Endearing and engaging

Such an enjoyable and encouraging listen. Hope to see him write more in the coming years.

Great book. I definitely recommend it!

I enjoyed the authenticity of the book and the amazing performance of the author-narrator. Congrats boy of the Valleys.

Inspirational Read

Hearing Luke narrating his memoir was an amazing experience. Through life's ups and downs. I enjoyed his openness to share his life with us. Luke is an inspiration for all.

Absolutely lovely

I’ve been a fan of Luke’s for a few years now! First if his acting, then thanks to beauty and the beast also his music. I wasn’t so sure what to expect of his book. I had a little part of me that was afraid of reading it or listening to it. What if after all these years of being invested in being this guy’s fan I read something… I don’t know, disappointing?!? But the idea of spending 8+ hours listening to his delicious voice inspired me to get the audio book and oh I am so glad I did. Luke’s story is lovely, and inspirational! His journey is so wonderful, with all its heartaches and happiness and wins and lessons make me admire him even more! Thank for sharing your story with us, Luke!

There is always hope

What an amazing story! Everyone has a story and this story kept me spellbound. This is not an LGBT or celebrity story, it's a very human story about a very human experience. I felt this story speaking to my own life, though very different from the author, the experiences of shame, hope, loss, struggle, family bonds, life and love resonate with anyone listening. Great narration by Mr Evans as well.