In the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus tells his young daughter Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” One of the things I love about reading novels is their ability to help me take this advice to heart. The new novel by Wade Rouse, That’s What Friends are For, follows the lives of four older gay men living in a shared home in Palm Springs, similar to the women in the 1980s sitcom “The Golden Girls.” In fact, fans of the show will recognize the main characters’ traits in Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid as they interact with each other and even put on a drag tribute to Dortothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia called “The Golden Gays.”
Told in three acts (literally—plus a “finale” and “closing credits”), That’s What Friends are For describes the highs, lows, and everyday concerns of gay men of a certain age. Tackling heavy topics of aging and health, sexual harassment, bullying, homophobia and prejudice, family hurts, and religious trauma while mixing in laughter and tender moments, this novel will appeal to readers of all ages who are willing to put the words of Atticus into action.
Author Wade Rouse is a master storyteller, known by many women’s fiction readers for his Viola Shipman novels. He’s spent years telling women’s stories in a voice that is incredibly authentic. Now with That’s What Friends are For, he provides a book to tell a new story, one that he says his editor believes he was meant to write. Please note, this novel has elements of both friendship and dating, and it contains some spicy scenes. If you’re sensitive to that, you can easily skip a page or two as needed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
A final note: I purchased the hardcover book and enjoyed hearing the author speak at a local bookstore, as well as listening to the fantastic audiobook version with a full cast. I highly recommend reading this book in any format.
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