Between Boyfriends by Michael Salvatore
Dabbed as “summer reading”, something that usually is light and easily forgotten, Between Boyfriends was one of the most nice surprise I had lately; I can really imagine someone finding this book in 20 years or so, in some yard sale, with the cover full of wrinkles, since it came out directly in paperback, and having again the same surprise I had. Between Boyfriends is witty, romantic and shocking; it’s a full immersion in the most flaming and gayish gay life you can imagine, with characters coming out (pun very much intended) from the stereotype imaginary of gay culture.
Steven, the main character, is a gay soap opera screenwriter; his dearest friends are a pushy forty financial guru, a stock investor, a former ice-skating star and a go-go dancer. They all have emergency meetings in the local Starbucks, getting high on caffeine instead of alcohol. They exchange sex stories like you can exchange your daily routine with your mother on the phone, and they all seem happy and independent, but in reality, they are all searching for true love… ok, well, maybe the go-go dancer is not trying so hard, and the ice-skater would prefer to have won that bronze medal at Lillehammer, and the financial guru is happy to change boytoys like he changes boxers, but at least Steven and his best friend Flynn are sincere enough to admit that they want a long-lasting relationship, and it’s a pity that they are not for each other, since they would be perfect together.
Steven is so desperately searching for love that he falls in love at first sight for any gay man he meets on the street, saving changing his mind when he realizes that he is not Mr Right, but maybe only Mr Right Now. In any case, I really liked Steven, since I found a little of everyone in him: who has not spent a lot of money to buy a dress that makes you feel wonderful, only for having your daydreams broken when your hot date calls back to postpone/cancel the appointment? Right after you signed that expensive credit card receipt with no reimburse available? But Steven is so in love with love, that he is always able to find another daydream and another Mr Right, and even if it’s not yet the right one, at least he is enjoying the ride. Steven is not like that sad single gay men mourning the lack of a boyfriend in an empty apartment, he mourns with style, in a disco surrounded by friends and dancing along; and he is even able to go back home with an hot stud, since, even if he has not found Mr Right yet, who said he has to “sleep” alone in the meantime.
There is a lot of sex, but it’s always funny and light, profane but always with a laugh; it’s for sure gratuitous sex, as I said Steven is not waiting alone for Mr Right, but it was never awkward: Steven and his friends enjoy sex, and sex is something fun, only that with love is better. And if you like romance, there are at least two good love stories here, and one in blossom, the author has material for at least two other books (Flynn and Lindsay), and then if he wants to complete the circle of friends, Gus and Sebastian are other two very nice romance material.
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=16871
Amazon: Between Boyfriends
Amazon Kindle: Between Boyfriends
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle
Cover Art by Kristine Mills-Noble