Fun and Fabulous

Since Gay Liberation took off, it is fashionable to write Very Serious Books about the gay experience. That said, most queer men are possessed of a sense of humor, particularly about the hard-partying subset of the culture. Below are some novels, some frothier than others, about being young and dumb and full of fun. 

Tommy's Tale by Alan Cumming is about Tommy, naturally, who realizes he may want more out of life than sex and chemically-altered partying. He may, in fact, want to settle down and be a father. Cumming buoys this navel-gazing with hilarious descriptions and sardonic humor.

David Stukas' Wearing Black to the White Party finds odd couple Mark and Robert and their friend, Monette, trying to solve a mystery involving a rivalry between two circuit parties. While it may seem a bit late in the season for a beach read, this is good, effervescent fun.

Philip and his writing partner, Clair, get invited out to Hollywood by Philip's less-than-upstanding ex, Gilbert, to write a star vehicle in Joe Keenan's My Lucky Star. Things deteriorate from there, with salacious videos, inadvertent plagiarism, and a closeted action star with a family to make the ancient Greeks blanch. Much fun for the All About Eve set.

In Paul Burston's Shameless, dumped, decorous Martin joins his friends John and Caroline on the party scene and things spiral appallingly, comedically downward, drawing in their coworkers and family members. Never fear, it all works out in the end as the three friends realize that hedonism has its limits.

Honestly, We Meant Well, opines Grant Ginder's protagonist, a female classics professor with both an errant son and husband. What to do but pack the family off to Greece for a month, where said son and husband continue to rack up demerits in this heartfelt comedy about how life doesn't always turn out the way you planned.

Have more novels of the love that shouts its name along with its drink order? Tell us in the comments.