I have recently expressed my frustration about the increasing number of books which feature a bisexual or a Gay-4-You theme. One of my reasons is that so many of them handle the narrative by just popping up with "OMG let me try that" without adequate character development.
Then why did I love this book in which an early 20's ex-con who was always bisexual before being sent to prison but is now exclusively into men falls under the spell of his 42-year-old college professor whose only romantic experience ended when his much younger wife left him a year ago after only two years of marriage?
The answer is Felice Stevens, an author who takes you by brain and heart right into the brains and hearts of her characters unlike most authors in any genre. In this case you have a lower middle class tatted Brooklyn Latino named Justin Molina (on the cover) knowing from the first page he's in trouble when his poetry professor, the WASPish blond Foster Harding, shows up for the first day of class to which Justin's brain shouts out "Professor McHottie!"
After that things get a little more complicated but not so much as you ever lose the rhythm or the bumps in the ride as these two completely opposite individuals with deeply set confidence issues get to recognize something exceptional in each other so that they can teach, and reach, each other over a rather short period of time.
One of the great things about Ms. Stevens' books is her spot on inclusion of the little things about her characters' environments that anyone who lives in New York City or its surroundings recognize as genuine. In this case, although she never mentions it, the college is New York University and its location in lower Manhattan is a short distance from Foster's Greenwich Village townhouse on the exquisite Perry Street. And, though not identified by a neighborhood name, the street in Brooklyn where Justin lives in a cheap apartment close to his invalid mother whom he adores and supports in the best way he can--by loving her and working two and three jobs to help support her.
Perfect set-up for rich and poor, May to December, how can it go wrong? Oh, in many, many ways and Ms. Stevens tosses a lot of holes in their paths, some of which each man falls into, before the road starts to level out and reach up to the sky.
Along the way we are treated to a wide cross section of family and friends, all of whom are pretty nice people, who help each many overcome whatever disaster, manufactured or otherwise, that comes their way. Included among these characters are a couple of others that are most likely to appear in sequels, since this is the first of a series.
I will gobble them up as soon as each dish is served.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Shop this series
See full series- Kindle Price:$14.97By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Shop this series
There are 3 books in this series.
Kindle Price:
$14.97
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2019
Top reviews from other countries
- PattiReviewed in Australia on October 18, 2019
Age gap, professor/ student romance.
