My Best Man

Rating:
Summary: Sometimes entertaining, but only moderately good
Review: Harry comes from a wealthy family back in Kansas. He gave all the associated priviliges and family approval, so he could live the life he wanted. The only problem is that that life he got wasn't always perfect: a down-and-out flight attendant who often cannot afford his rent or keep his VW running. Still, he makes do, and keeps seeking the man of his dreams. But all the while, he keeps remembering that all his troubles would be solved if he'd only find the perfect lady to marry before his next birthday.

The reader will follow Harry and his best friend Amity Stone through a whirlwind of different problems and crises, interspersed with some heartfelt good times shared between two great friends. Could she be the one to solve his financial troubles, and walk down the aisle? Maybe . . . until Harry runs into an amazing man he quickly begins to love.

There's just something about this story that doesn't feel right. Perhaps it's simply the fact that Harry would seriously consider denying his heart for the sake of money and the approval of his family. Perhaps it's the casual discussions of drugs and meaningless sex. Perhaps it's the fact that I'm too much of a romantic and shudder to think this could happen to me or mine. Whatever the reason, I did not find this book exciting or an outstanding read. You can do better.

Rating:
Summary: Really, Really Awful
Review: I am shocked at the number of readers who have given this such high marks. This is really a piece of ****. That plot is paper-thin, the characters are shallow, stereotypical losers, and the book if full of that isn't-writing-a-gay-novel-such-a-lark attitude. I mean, I don't expect everything to be great literature and I enjoy fluff as much as the next person, but the preliferation of this type of novel scares me. By "this type" I mean bad imitations of already fluffy fiction. Anyone who has ever watched a bad sitcom and soap opera could write a book just like this. Please notice: I did not say that writing ability was required.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: I came across this book at a clearance sale at a local bookstore and purchased it on impulse. What a payoff! Several of my friends are or were flight attendants for various airlines, mostly based in the South. A native Southerner myself, the descriptions and behaviors of the central characters are dead-on. Harry's treatment during his first visit to the bar in Dallas is painfully accurate. Anyone who has lived in the South for a great deal of time--particularly in one of our urban areas--knows an Amity Stone, the good-time girl with a shady past who may or may not be all that she seems, but who you still want to have a couple of cocktails with.

The plot itself is not incredibly complicated, and the ending a bit contrived, but that's okay. This story is character-driven, and I found myself unwittingly casting a movie-version of the book inside my head. When the book ended, I was sorry to have to say goodbye to the characters I'd gotten to know and love.

Rating:
Summary: Great fun and quite touching!
Review: I enjoyed this delightful novel very much. The main characters seem real and take you on quite a bumby ride. However in the end we know that true love will prevail. Anyone can enjoy this story and will probable see a little of themselves in it. I would love to see a sequel with Harry and Nicolo getting Amity out of trouble again. Thank you Andy Schell for this well told tale.

Rating:
Summary: A geuninely entertaining read
Review: I found this book on the shelf, and knew right away that it was the kind of mindless entertainment I was craving. This book will never win major awards for accomplishments in literature, but it's certainly not poorly written, and it's a ton of fun. And really, one look at the cover and you know exactly what you're getting. ;-)

The story, while occasionally a bit uneven, is appealing enough to keep you reading. And while the casual drug use and unsafe sex are kind of appalling in today's climate (despite its 1984 setting, this book reads like a very modern story), you find yourself cheering on the protagonist, self-destructive behavior and all.

I do like to read the odd intellectually uplifting book, but as a rule all I want from a book is to be kept interested and entertained. A happy ending is also a bonus. This book delivers on all counts. It's fairly predictable. It's more than fairly trashy. But you know what? Who cares? If you're looking for a fun, feel-good gay romance, I definitely recommend "My Best Man."

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST NOVEL EVER.
Review: I really enjoyed this novel SO MUCH and i think its the best i have ever read.i really think its so funny and yet romantic at the same time.i give this book 5 stars!

Rating:
Summary: My Best Man....My Best Fluff
Review: If you are looking for serious character development and deep thought-provoking plots and themes, then this is probably not the book for you. However, if you come home from a hard day at work and just don't want to turn on the television; you'd rather read some light, fun, laugh-out-loud soap opera-like comedy. Then, Andy Schell's first novel, My Best Man, is the book for you. So many other reviewers have demanded stronger supporting characters and detail from Schell, but maybe they have overlooked the different kinds of reading that are out there. There are lots of great gay authors out there who give you drama, theme, history, detail, etc. But there are also great authors, like Schell, who have done an excellent job of keeping those pages turning with what makes us laugh. And we all like to laugh from time to time. So, looking for a light read for the beach or some "fluff" after a rough day at the office? Schell's book is top of the list. Need drama, plot, or book club discussions? Try Oprah!

Rating:
Summary: Written to be funny and miserably failing
Review: Quite disappointing. I bought this book solely on the basis of his stellar short story, The Outline of a Torso in the anthology, Summer Share. It's still an interesting read with a well-written protagonist and love interest. But it dwells too much on Harry's relationship with Amity, that I find his interactions with Nicolo wanting. He becomes too drab at times, too straight-laced in others, compared to the zany machinations of would-be gold digger Amity.

I was expecting a romance but what I got was more of a story of friendship. Maybe, that was my failing. But it is still a satisfying tale and worthy of your time.

Rating:
Summary: Not worth it...
Review: This was a ridiculously contrived book. The characters are caricatures that do not have the depth of a puddle. The plot devices are so staged they are laughable -- which are the only laughs I got from this book.

Rating:
Summary: Now THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT -- for ANYONE!
Review: You can't say this is "gay fiction" or "Latino fiction." It's simply ENTERTAINING fiction whose screwball-comedy premise will make ANYONE laugh, cry and feel, be they male or female, gay or hetero, Latino or Anglo. I am a woman who is very, very hetero, and I thought this book was excellent! The plot was amusing and the characters were very appealing. I just kind of wished the author delved a little deeper into Harry's dealings, as it were, with Nicolo, the handsome Latino who captures Harry's heart, since I love anything to do with romantic love (of any stripe)
Also, everyone says this book is "fluff." Yes, it's kinda lighthearted, but it's not that fluffy. It's a mesage on love versus material gain and social standing. Will our hero Harry opt for a life of ease and respect with a platonic "prop" wife? Or will he tell his family to "sit on it" and go off into the sunset with his handsome, caramel-skinned caballero? I'm not telling! You'll just have to read this book to find out!
I wish I could give this book TEN stars.
I also wish Andy S. woud do a sequel.
MY BEST MAN would make a great movie. Ben Affleck as Harry, Drew Barrymore as Amity, and Ricky Martin as the luscious Nicolo.