Boy Culture by Matthew Rettenmund

Sometimes, you pick up a book from the shelves at Audreys because there's hot boys on the cover. Sometimes, you're disapponted (Hunk House). Sometimes you're not. Luckily for me (and you, if you go read it), Boy Culture is one of those hot boys on the cover books that is also a good read. (Apparently its also a movie directed by Q. Allan Brocka (the brilliant mind behind Rick and Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World)(When I get around to watching it, expect a movie review too).

It's the story of X, the anonymous hustler narrator, who takes us on a journey of love and sex and friendship. He shares a New York apartment (yes, I am well aware I have an obsession with New York GLBT novels - there's just so many amazing ones!) with two guys. One is Andrew, dreamy, but just coming out. The other is Joe, who although seventeen, is out and wild and knows what he wants. X is in love with Andrew. Joe is in love with X. It's your typical love triangle, complicated by X's many tricks, most prominently Gregory.

What follows is a simple story of a relationship really. As Andrew and X navigate the waters of turning friends and roommates into something more, they deal with X's career, Andrew's ex, Joe's crush, and the other pitfalls of life. Matthew Rettenmund's love of Madonna (he is the author of the Encyclopedia Madonnica, a must-have for any true Madge fan) shines through at times, maybe too much so, but for the most part, he creates a very real situation between two very sympathetic characters. Will Andrew and X hook up? If they do, will X quit hooking? Will Joe land X? You'll have to read (or apparently watch) it to find out, but I highly recommend it. From coming out to simply cumming, it's a relatable tale of love, lust, and loneliness, and the friendships that surpass them all.

This has been a bobert review.