Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Ben Bennett treasures the cozy rhythm of his life: running his beloved bookstore, curling up with his sassy cat Ziggy, and putting up with his spirited sister Mal. He’s not exactly searching for love—despite the occasional swipe on Grindr—and he’s definitely not interested in anyone messing with his hard-won peace, even if he could use an extra set of hands around the shop. But everything changes the moment he crosses paths with Avery Fitzgerald, Mal’s new boyfriend's infuriatingly handsome, ridiculously wealthy friend. Avery’s a business developer with a knack for getting under Ben’s skin—and when he buys the building next door, Ben’s world starts to unravel in ways he never expected.

As much as Ben tries to resist, Avery keeps finding new ways to weave himself into Ben’s life, challenging everything he thought he knew about love, business, and himself. In this modern, queer twist on Pride and Prejudice, sparks fly and hearts collide in a story that’s as cozy as it is unpredictable—a perfect exploration of love in a world that doesn’t always make room for it. 

 

Book Review

This episodic novel begins with a clever comment, perhaps an axiom. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single gay man approaching the age of forty will be destined to wander through Grindr and pride parades, searching for desperate hookups, knowing that their dating days are essentially over.”

Aside: Movies, as a visual art, are easier to get into. Characters are memorable by one's eye – the woman with the excessive decolletage, the man with the hare lip. Reading can be more confusing, especially with lots of secondary characters. Hence, my favored edition of War and Peace, which categorizes and indexes the personae, much as a Russian telephone directory. Yet, a skilled author (as here) aptly conveys the brightness and quippery of the characters, all to the readers' satisfaction. Ben, the thirty-nine-year-old bookshop owner, and a gay man; Mallory, his single sister, an English professor and recently divorced; Charles Becket (Beck), a wealthy man who teaches college English much as a life’s lark; Nathan, the bookstore worker, who uses "they" and other current pronouns (i.e., “‘Good morning, Nathan!’ I yelled. ‘No, it isn’t!’ they yelled back.” And, “One of them turned on the faucet and began washing their hands.”); Kelly, both a professor and a real estate broker (interested in selling Ben’s bookstore); Avery Fitzgerald, a friend of Beck and quite rich, gorgeous; Ziggy, Ben's cat!

 

Mallory, who is quite influential on her brother Ben, is anxious to have him accompany her to a departmental reception, so she can meet Beck, the new British Lit professor. Expecting it to be boring, nonetheless there he meets Beck’s attractive friend, Avery. Ben’s character is broadcast by Mallory when she advises Kelly that “Ben will never give up the store. He’ll die before he sells it.”

It should be noted that the conversation at the reception is bright, but perhaps too piquant for anything less than cinema. Ben is so thrown by the entire repartee that he isn’t sure what has actually passed, giving Ben and Avery an acerbic start.

 

The presentation of plot in monthly increments allows varied confected “skits,” such as the siblings’ semi-annual birthday luncheon at the Cheesecake Factory. Another is set at a pool party at Beck’s lavish home, replete with bon mots. “There were more stylishly dressed people hanging around the pool than I knew in the world.” And “I could see myself in the reflection of his designer sunglasses. I attributed the sudden flush of heat on my neck to the overbearing summer and not the presence of such a gorgeous, sun-kissed man.” The language is stylistically effective. “He’s not a bad person just for being rich.” 

Avery is difficult to parse out. He seems personable one moment, then distant, if not cold, the next. He never reveals too much about himself but asks questions, much as an interviewer. As the "plot" is episodic, it may reasonable for Avery to be disclosed by bits and pieces – as here! “From the crease in his forehead to the way he absentmindedly reached up to push aside a loose strand of hair, every little piece of information felt essential to understanding the person behind the façade that Avery presented to the world. Ben watches Avery next door, where Avery is purchasing the commercial parcel adjacent to Ben's bookstore. 'You just bought it?' 'Correct.' 'To do what? Turn it into apartments?'” As Ben and Avery gain familiarity, Ben's underlying resistance adds color and tension, but reveals a lighter side to Avery. “‘If you’re trying to be charming about it, then yes. That’s what I do.’ He grinned.” There is a negativity in Ben’s conversation with Avery but unclear whether genuine or defensively reactive. “I’m a developer. I buy things and develop them. In the last ten years of my life in this store, in five seconds, Avery had walked in to tell me everything that was wrong with it—all because he thought he knew more about the' business than the one who created it.”

Here is a thumbnail to keep the readers current. (1) Avery is a land developer. (2) Ben resents the commercial, developmental aspects of Avery's work. (3) Nathan is convinced Avery wants sex! “'Long enough.' Nathan teased. 'He wants to fuck you.'” Voice of chorus? It was a regular fictional rite of passage for a gay to fall for a straight.

 

While it's obvious at a family gathering that drinking is even cheaper than therapy, it's noted that Ben and Mal's family is quite dysfunctional. Mother is unhappy with all her children – one gay, one divorcee, and a potential college drop-out. As to Ben, “‘He’s defying me and God in his life,' quote Mother.”

At a charity gathering Ben meets Avery's ex wife, Leah – which adds to the confusion of direction! Ben's temporary hopes of romance become more a fantasy (though the optimistic reader will expect all confusion – like a mist – to dissipate into happiness).

 

Eventually, Ben becomes enamored of Avery, with feelings beyond what he'd been willing to admit. Self-protectively, Ben still tries dating others. “‘I’m Episcopalian,' he said.” Ben's blind date – which also contributes mightily to the novel's feeling of being well-structured but episodic. Ben had hoped he would find a nice man who was either an incredibly good listener—or potentially hard of hearing.

 

In lieu of vivid sex, the clever interchanges are wonderful, particularly brother and sister. “'You know what he has up in his room for you.' 'What?' I asked, confused. 'His big lo’ dick,' she said, pointing down to her imaginary dick right as the bartender walked up.” But, while I loved Mallory, true as in many families, I didn’t always like her.

 

Another skit. Ben, Avery, Mal with Beck, and Leah (Avery's ex) make a ski trip – during which Ben and Avery chastely share a bed and discuss, at Avery's encouragement, Ben's past coming-out. Whether anticipatory or wishful, this seems a precursor to Avery choosing a course for himself. As childhoods of conditioning have resulted in many of us having ruined any chance at happiness, Ben and Mal make ideal protagonists – non-sexually coupled, familiar and involved. Their attachment offers the classic voice of theatricality.

 

The group’s week of skiing brings Ben and Avery closer romantically in an almost flirtatious dance. And as readers we are both knowing and nervously anticipatory – daring the author to fail us.

 

Enough! The story's preliminaries have been well parsed, introducing the characters and situation(s). Hopefully, my piquant comments are likely to persuade you that Pride is an ideal read for adults and great fun – so why would I spoil it by continuing with much more detail? Read on, directly!

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 272 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	04-February-2025
Price	$5.99 ebook, $16.95 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Pride-Novel-Samantha-Ryan-ebook/dp/B0DHF3X86C