Review: 'Pride' an Artful, Teasing Queer Romance

Single folks are repeatedly reminded by their partnered or married friends that they will meet that special someone when they're not on the lookout for them. In Samantha Ryan's pleasant romance novel, "Pride," two men cross paths by happenstance and there's an instant attraction and chemistry, but even as they get to know each other better, their fundamental differences seem to cast doubt on any opportunity for a relationship.

Ben owns and runs a bookstore (a seemingly popular occupation in literature lately) and enjoys a mostly quiet life with his cat and his spunky sister, Mal, a college professor. When Mal invites Ben to a campus event to scope out an attractive new faculty member, Beck, he is also introduced to his equally handsome friend, Avery. Ben and Avery are both around 40, which is about the only thing they have in common, yet something between them just clicks, and from that moment on, Ben can't help but think about Avery incessantly.

Avery comes from a wealthy family and busies himself as a property developer. When he drops by Ben's store after visiting the building that's for sale next door, an adorable game of flirtation ensues, and the two become fast, albeit mismatched, friends. The more interested and attracted Ben is to Avery, the less he is convinced that Avery is gay. Ben's suspicions are somewhat confirmed when he joins Mal and Beck on vacation and he meets Beck's sister, who happens to be Avery's ex-wife. Yet when Ben's room reservation is unluckily (or fortuitously) lost, Avery insists Ben bunks with him.

Ben is an extremely likeable narrator, and his self-effacing candor is amusing and probably familiar to most of us. His relationship with his sister is especially endearing, and the visits with both his and Avery's family make for perhaps the two most entertaining events in the novel.

Considering this tale is told from Ben's point of view, I would have liked to have learned more about his past – he meets with his therapist only once, and the mention of his ex, Jack, is brief and vague – but it's obvious that while he is certainly open to the idea of something long term, it is particularly refreshing to meet a character from a gay romance novel who is content with his lot in life and happy on his own.

However cliché as the sexy, mysterious stranger, Avery's interplay with Ben is artful and realistic. Their terse, trite conversations are mired in sexual innuendo, and the amount of attention and affection Avery demonstrates toward Ben proves he is interested in more than just friendship, but whether he's ready to admit that to him (or more importantly, himself) makes his character's arc all the more intriguing.

The title is loosely borrowed from the classic "Pride and Prejudice," but while I recognize the similarities, Austen purists will likely be discouraged. The universal theme of pride and self-satisfaction is a more accurate description of the journey these men take together, and their unfolding story is a fun, delightful read.

"Pride" is available now from Rattling Good Yarns Press.