Customer Reviews

It Had to Be You

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The love story is a neglected genre in gay fiction. And it's even rarer to read a gay love story that features believable characters and situations. The author of It Had To Be You must be congratulated for creating a story full of the quirky kind of incidents and complications which are so typical of real life. Truth is always stranger than fiction, but in this case, the fiction is enhanced by the addition of just the kind of strangeness readers can recognize from their own lives or the lives of people they know. Daniel, the main character, transcends the stereotype of the drag queen, becoming a living breathing human being. Blaine, the object of his often ambivalent desires, undergoes a series of transformations from nameless hunk to sensitive and vulnerable nice guy as his character is revealed more fully during the course of the novel. There are no cardboard cutouts here. Daniel's fellow drag artistes are nicely drawn, and so are the several female characters in the book. The somewhat meandering plot closely follows the contours of real experience and mirrors Daniel's all too believable confusion as he tries to change his life and find true love. There are no gratuitous laughs here, just chuckles of recognition. This is a sweet natured story, a little heavy on backstory and exposition, but always entertaining, and the characters are people you'd like to have as friends. I hope Mr. Beck is working on another novel. If he's not, he should be.

When I read "He's the One," by Timothy James Beck, there was a character introduced that I was dying to learn more about: Daniel Stephenson. He had a realistic past, I identified with him a lot more than the main protagonist of "He's the One," and moreover, he was just a wonderfully developed secondary character with some great stuff in his written past.

Now I know why.

Turns out that "It Had to be You," is the story of Daniel Stephenson, getting up to just about the point where he's in in "He's the One." This was great, even if I did already know the ending as I'd read them out of order. Daniel is an easy-to-identify-with character for me (no buff jock, just a slim guy; no massively successful job, just an entry level second-attempt-at-a-career). He's still hurt over the betrayal of his last boyfriend, still a little damaged over the revelation that yet another friend is slowly dying of AIDS, and just about ripe for falling head over heels with the hunky guy across the street. Basically, he's a knight in slightly tarnished and dented armor (or at least a sequined gown).

The trouble being that the guy across the street lives with a woman, seems about as straight as they come, and probably won't react well to Daniel's previous career as a female impersonator who mostly did Lady 2Di4, a Princess Diana tribute. Uh oh.

The wit is just as sharp in this one as in "He's the One," - and just as often nicely balanced with some poignancy that doesn't over-sweeten to saccharine levels. And I must say I am now a firm fan of all things Timothy James Beck. I really hope to see more books out of him.

'Nathan

Overall, Beck has created a main character who is easy to identify with. Daniel Stephenson, the main character is thrown obstacle after obstacle on his way to finding true love and a new career. I couldn't wait to see what would happen to him next and was continually surprised by the outcome. Most of the time, I found myself laughing outloud at Daniel's quirky reactions to these situations he's been dealt. There were a few time that I felt the back story was a little lengthy, but it didn't stand in the way of the overall enjoyment this novel provided. I can definitely say I look forward to Beck's future endeavors.

After reading He's the One by Timothy James Beck, I simply had to read the other two books by said author. It Had to Be You was the first book written about the identical group of friends. I enjoyed both books immensely, but probably would have enjoyed this one more if I had read it first. I already knew how it would conclude, because He's the One picks following the familiar characters approximately a year later.

Timothy James Beck is incredibly talented when creating characters the reader cares about. I feel as if I know this group of New Yorker's well enough to consider them friends of my own. The love story between Daniel and Blaine is as endearing as the relationships between both the group of gay friends and that of Daniel and Sheila.

However, if there was on thing I did not fully appreciate about the book, it had to be the cover. The photos of the two handsome men on the cover did not at all meet the visualizations I made of the characters as I was reading. I fell the publisher would have been better off to let us the readers picture in our mind the perfectly chiseled good looks of Blaine and the masculine beauty of Daniel.

Because the first two books in the series were so enjoyable, I will begin to read I'm your Man as soon as I post this. I simply can't wait to see what adventures happen to these individuals next.

It is great to actually look at the world through someone else's eyes. And this is what Timothy James Beck does. Daniel is a great protagonist and by the very first page, we are welcomed to see his world and step into his quite large high heels.

The novel is peppered with so many wonderful characters: the closeted love interest Blaine, the fresh-from-the-farm ingenue Sheila, the drag diva-in-training Martin and the dowager drag queen Ken. But it's not enough. You are left wanting more, needing them to live and breathe like Daniel does.

But it is a wonderful debut, reminding me of Rettenmund's Boy Culture as well as McLaughlin's Glamorpuss. I wonder what his second book, He's The One, has in store?

Timothy James Beck's "It Had To Be You" has to be my favorite gay novel published this year. Many apartment hunters know that real estate is all about location, location, location and many gay novels follow that same rule, getting bogged down in the details of the setting. When Daniel Stephenson, Beck's main character, "tossed the tiara" and got a life by relocating to a new apartment in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, I not only cheered him on, but wanted to move there myself when I finished the book. Beck does such an amazing job of describing the locations used in Manhattan that I often felt transported to the lobby of Club Chaos, the streets of Hell's Kitchen or a lively brunch with Daniel and his larger than life Aunt Jen. Not only is Daniel Stephenson an introspective and endearing main character, but like the aforementioned Aunt Jen, Beck surrounds him with a cast of enjoyable supporting characters. Paternal best friend Ken, jocular and scathing Martin, caustic club owning Andy, lesbian financial vegan Gretchen, youthful and vibrant Sheila and the enigmatic stud Blaine make up a realistic and fresh "family" for Daniel. And who wouldn't want to be Aunt Jen's favorite nephew? Beck's characters are not the cookie cutter-stereotypes usually found in gay novels. Being gay is not always equated with camp. Lesbians are not flannel wearing man-haters. And straight people are certainly not the enemy. People are people in Beck's book, which is why the characters remain realistic. It Had To Be You is a charming journey for any reader, straight or gay, male or female, as it explores the modern definition of family, the rollercoaster ride of love and shows us positive ways to deal with the idiosyncrasies of life. Timothy James Beck is on my top shelf, along with Joe Keenan, Felice Picano, Ethan Mordden, Matthew Rettenmund and Christian McLaughlin. And I hope Beck's career grows and blossoms like a flower in Daniel Stephenson's garden.

Timothy James Beck's first novel in the series of now three is an entertaining and heavily character-developed piece of gay fiction. The author (or authors I should say as TJB is actually a writing team of three) shows us the gay culture in NYC through the eyes of Daniel who evolves in to a more fully aware self-confident individual who I'm getting to like more and more. I actually read this book after He's the One, the second of the trilogy. It was interesting to read the back-story after you already know the characters. The story is told in a credible manner with the best theme being that of the development of the characters, yet again. This likely won't keep you up at night reading in to the early hours of the morning, but does make a good attempt at some light hearted humor and a story that makes gay readers feel good about themselves and sense the possibilities that surround us every day.

This was the most entertaining story I have read in ages! An excellent mix of lighthearted humor, touching drama, and a keen look into the modern gay world, told through the eyes of a very likeable and engaging character. The dialogue in this book cannot be surpassed...it flows as easily from the page into your heart as any conversation you might have with your dearest friends. Mr. Beck has given the reader a veritable "bag" of unforgettable characters, ranging from the eccentric to the down-to-earth, all woven into a very charming story that I found impossible to put down. I recommend this book to all people...however, I would add that it is a must-read for those in, or those touched by the gay community. The detailed and enveloping descriptions of gay life in the city, the drag scene, and the interwoven relationships between all of the characters...the extended "family" that so many gay people have come to rely on, is so accurate and heartwarming that I actually felt at-home within this wonderful story. My congratulations to Beck for an impressive and endearing tale that was an absolute pleasure to read.

I really love this book. I have a best friend who does drag and was thinking about giving it all up. This book made me understand what she was going through. PLUS I think everyone can feel like Daniel. We also all want a Blaine in our life. This is the first in a series I would suggest them to everyone.

This morning, one of my girl friends called to discuss plans for the day. When she asked what I was doing, I hesitantly admitted that I was reading one of my gay romance novels, as I was in a "happy romance mood." (YUCK!) But this book was so good, that I had to admit it.

This first novel by Beck takes us through life with Daniel Stephenson, a young man from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, who ran away to Manhattan to follow his dreams. When we first meet Daniel, he's working in his refuge, a small garden off his apartment in Hell's Kitchen. He is lamenting the lack of direction in his life. At the forefront of his worries is that fact that after Princess Diana's death, he walked (or more appropriately ran) away from his life as Princess 2Di4, a drag queen of his own creation based upon Diana's life. Additionally, he is not quite sure that he has moved on after breaking up with his ex, Jeremy. The only thing holding him together are his close friends, his garden, and . . . "Five thirty-three" - the guy he watches from afar.

As with Beck's second novel, this is more than a love story. It's amazing how often I found myself understanding the emotions Daniel was going through regarding his future. Should he keep performing as 2Di4, when his heart wasn't there? Would his friends reject him? Was this just one more thing his family would latch onto to make him uncomfortable? Was he ready for a real relationship after the problems in his past? All these questions and more have swirled in my head, as they probably have in others. So although I have no comprehension of his struggles giving up his act as 2Di4 (I'm just not the dress-up kind of guy), I readily relate to his worries and concerns about the future.

What makes this story even better is that Daniel's friends are also explored fairly well, so we're not just left with random names dropped throughout the story. Whether it be Daniel's old friends, Ken and Martin, who worked with him in the drag shows, or new ones like Sheila (an aspiring model) and Blaine (his new interest). They all add to Daniel's story, making us see him through their eyes and words as well. My only wish is that Beck would write stories about all of them as well, just so I can feed my desire to hear more about these men and women.

You know, after reading "He's the One," and writing an Amazon review, I received a note from Beck, suggesting that I convince my boyfriend to buy this for me as well. That message was prophetic. He and I stopped in a book store after our Valentine's Day special dinner, and he bought this book for me. I'm here to tell you it was a wonderful gift. I anxiously await Beck's next novel, "I'm Your Man" later this year, at which time I will get my special guy to buy it for me as well! (Shhh, don't tell.) Until then, I may have to reread these a time or two. Hope you'll do the same!