Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Sometimes family chooses you.
How does a man get to be forty without knowing whether he’s gay? That’s a question Vince Fierro is almost afraid to answer. If he is gay, it’ll be a problem for his big, fat Italian family. Still, after three failed marriages, he can’t help but wonder if he’s been playing for the wrong team.
There’s only one way to settle it, once and for all—head for Chicago’s Boystown bars, far from anyone who knows him. Naturally, he runs smack into someone from the neighborhood.
Between working two jobs, going to school, taking care of his grandmother, and dealing with his mother’s ongoing substance abuse, Trey Giles has little time for fun, let alone dating someone who swears he’s straight. Yet after one night of dancing cheek-to-cheek to the sultry strains of Coltrane, Trey finds himself wanting to help Vinnie figure things out—no promises, and no sex.
It seems like a simple plan, until their “no-sex” night turns into the best date of their lives and forges a connection that complicates everything.
I originally read this book when it first came out in 2103 and I was new to reading this genre. I really enjoyed it at that time. When I had the chance to review this on audio I was both excited and nervous. I wondered if this book would stand the test of time (and honestly many of my reads from then have not). I’m happy to report that I enjoyed it just as much. Honestly probably more because the narrator was excellent and really added to the story.
The story is told in alternating points of view. We hear from both Vince and Trey which was a bit weird at first because one is told first person pov and the other third. It took me a minute to get my head around that but once I got used to the change I was able to easily follow along.
Vince is almost 40 and kind of lost. He has a good job that he enjoys and a big, loving family but he’s just not happy and he’s failed every relationship he’s tried. A series of events lead him to Trey who is a younger guy he knows from the neighborhood. Sparks immediately fly and Vince is able to take baby steps towards dating a guy. His journey is a tough one and there were times I wanted to shake Vince, but mostly my heart ached for him. He’s so caught up in his fear and his overwhelming family and cultural expectations. At his core though he is a really good guy. He is kind and thoughtful and once he decides he’s committed to trying this thing with Trey he’s all in.
Trey I also loved as a MC. He’s in his mid twenties but he’s way more mature. Unfortunately his alcoholic mother has ensured he grew up way before his time. I really loved the plot line that Trey wants to wait to have sex. It wasn’t for religious reasons, just he wanted it to be special. I don’t think I’ve read that before in the m/m genre and I thought it was a lovely change.
I thought the authors did an excellent job showcasing what it’s like to live with an addict. Trey’s feelings were so honest and real and I thought they made a wise choice in not trying to pretty any of it up.
One of the highlights of this book for me was the narration. It was narrated by Colin Darcy who I had not listened to before. He did an excellent job. He really nailed all of the characters and his performance made the book even more emotional to me than when I read it. I had not listened to this narrator previously but will definitely seek out his work in the future.
This new cover was done by Kanaxa and I love it. It looks enough like the old cover to not be a jarring difference but at the same time it’s totally unique. The cover models match my perceptions of the MC’s perfectly and fit the feel of the plot really well.
Audiobook Details:
Audible Audio, 8 pages
Published June 5th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press (first published March 12th 2013)
Original TitleFamily Man
ASINB07DFT349S
Edition LanguageEnglish
CharactersVincent Fierro, Trey Giles settingIllinois (United States)
Sometimes family chooses you.