My Busboy Kindle Edition

“The ship barreled under the blue expanse of the Coronado Bridge and tore right down the middle of the harbor like a grande dame sweeping into a ballroom.”That’s a beautiful image, and somehow a very gay way to describe it. Which is a good thing in my reckoning. That visual stuck with me all through the book, as John Inman authored away at this lovely, surprisingly compelling story of a young author struggling with fear of failure and an even younger Mexican-American busboy who becomes his prince charming.I will state up front that I have no sympathy whatsoever with 30-year-olds who feel that they’re old; and who fret about dating a man who’s only 21. I do this simply to tease Mr. Inman, because he must remember 30. For me, it felt like I was finally an adult. I did not feel old. Kids today, sheesh.But, carping aside, I grew to like Robert Johnny in spite of his irritating self-pity (OK, I will concede that getting cheated on and dumped must be horrible and damaging to one’s self-image). More importantly, I instantly loved Dario Martinez, the pre-med veterinary student at San Diego State who’s working his way through college as a busboy at Sombrero’s, a high-end Mexican restaurant. Dario is all sweet optimism to Robert’s pessimistic self-doubt. I’m sure Mr. Inman put himself into this character, as I do know what it’s like to be an author and to fret about one’s readership, or lack of it.I was more puzzled by Chaz Long, Robert’s longtime friend and would-be lover. He seemed to be such a needlessly grey cloud. In the end, however, I came to understand his importance to the narrative. There is a bigger story about fate and chance and luck and consequences wrapped up in this little romance. Looking back, I have to admire Inman’s deft weaving of his tale. Like a beautifully made damask napkin, you don’t see the intricate pattern until you study it at a certain angle.As always, Inman adheres to the rules of m/m, but he makes his men believable and varied in their makeup. I am one of those old gay men who believe in love lasting and in the modest heroism of everyday existence. I understand that friendship is just as complicated as love; and that the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune don’t always hit everyone with the same degree of injury. Life is unfair; appreciating what you have is a skill we all need to learn.

I probably overrated this one, but I blew through it after the opening page and didn't put it down until I finished. The protagonist, Robert, narrates this one and he is a bit smarky and desperately lonely at the same time.He can't abide his best friend Chaz' constant refrain to give him a chance at love.He is kind to his fans who walk up to him on the street to gush.He has a heart of gold for his old college chum Bucky who is now a drug-addled street bumAnd he has a writer's block that could be classified as a fatal migraine the way he deals with it.And then while having dinner to celebrate his 30th birthday with Chaz at their favorite Mexican joint, he looks up and spots the most beautiful butt in the world on a busboy, and in the back pocket is a copy of Robert's first book--which is dog-eared and according to Dario, the busboy in question, it's a book he's read about a dozen times.From there this book goes on two tracks. One is a wonderfully expressive and deeply emotional love story in which Robert is totally paranoid over the nine-year-difference in his and Dario's ages, but not so distressed as to avoid the continual sexual adventures between them. The second is much more insidious and frightening--Robert's stalker comes out of the woodwork with a violent couple of twists, enough so you are convinced you know who it is, but you are going to be wrong.The way it plays out is truly messy and cruel in many ways, but there is a wonderfully lovely twist at the end which could lead to a sequel, but not necessarily so because you will be happy, as I was and the characters in question were, at the end.

In this latest tale by the amazing John Inman we meet Robert, a struggling writer and recent dumpee who has a grouchy cat, a genuine stalker, and to top it all off has a friend who is in love with him. The problem is he doesn’t love him back. He’s still in love with the cheater who left him. Yeah. So when he spies a copy of his own careworn novel in the back pocket of a gorgeous, hot busboy, his prospects for the future take a turn in the right direction. He can’t take his eyes off of Dario, and it seems the feeling is mutual. Now if Dario can just survive his maniac ex-boyfriend…As expected, John Inman delivers a beautiful, delightful tale of attraction and love, coupled with danger and many laugh out loud moments. I found myself smiling through the entire book. I went through every emotion with Robert, I felt like I had slipped into his skin.I loved this story; I read it cover to cover three times. I think it might just be his best story yet. I should know, I’m his number one fan.

This is the John Inman I remember from the Belladonna Arms series! This was a wonderful book, funny, charming, suspenseful and I loved the characters. After the horrid Boys on the Mountain, I was afraid the author was too much into horror stories and I was very unsure about buying My Busboy, not knowing exactly what it was about. Sometimes the description offered for a book doesn't really let you know what's in it but this book was definitely worth reading. I will surely be reading it again.

I enjoyed this story of love. It's the first time I've read anything by this author and he's pretty good. The characters are well rounded and believable. I just wish so many writers of gay romance would not include such detailed sexual scenes, it rather cheapens the love making that is supposed to be taking place. Plus, if I wanted to read porn and get off, I'd read porn, not a romance novel!

This is my first time reading a book by John Inman and i am happy to say it wont be my last. The story is funny witty with just a hint of mystery, i wont go into detail but i will say that Robert and Dario are the sweetest couple and they are perfect for each other. It was a great read i highly recommend this book.

Gay fiction is a very mixed bag. Some good, much average and some downright awful. This is one of the good ones. It combines a romance with a who is doing it in a way which keeps you turning the pages. Read it and enjoy.