The Deal [Paperback]

As soon as I read the publisher's summary of "The Deal," I knew I'd like it, since I am admittedly a sucker for light "chatty" books in which diverse gay/lesbian/straight folks interact and get along. And I was not disappointed.

"The Deal" tells the story of a group of longtime friends in their late 20's/early 30's, all living in the Montrose area of Houston TX, during the year 2000. The main character/narrator is Aaron, an openly gay English literature teacher who gets along well with his closeknit parents and sisters. His roommate is Patrick, a straight-but-not-narrow owner of a local bar, who has a girlfriend, Vivian, who is in lawschool. There's also Alexander, a gay musician who is somewhat private, and Miranda, a lesbian who makes her own line of jewelry. Last but not least, there's Heath, who was in a relationship with Aaron when they were younger, and recently re-entered their clique after moving back to Houston.

After realizing that their frequent dinners and nights out were often bogged down by the single members whining about failed relationships, the friends make "The Deal" to refrain from talking about their relationships except for at one monthly "Love Sucks" gathering, where they were free to vent as much as they want. Alexander and Miranda, the chief "whiners" of the group, also have until the following New Year's Eve to find a relationship, or forever lose the right to whine about lost loves to their friends. What's more, if both are successful in finding love this year, then Aaron (a self-proclaimed loner) must find a relationship the following year, or suffer the same fate.

You can't but help identifying with this colorful group of characters, sharing their joys and disappointments, and wanting them all to find someone to love. We root for Miranda in her efforts to get Joey, the female drummer of Alex's new rock group, to go out with her, and for Aaron and Heath to get over the hurt feelings of the past and give a relationship another try. When Alex meets a guy at the gym he starts to date, but complains that the guy doesn't want him to call him at home, or to be out anywhere where others are likely to see him, and isn't available on holidays, you are ready to yell "He's married, you idiot!" even before one of his friends clues him in on that. And you feel the professional quandry Aaron finds himself in, when an (untrue) rumor starts that he was dating one of his male students. There's colorful additional characters as well, both straight and gay, and you soon wonder "Why can't my friends be that great?"

A extremely enjoyable, light read, definitely in the genre of previous novels by Timothy James Beck ("He's the One," "It Had to Be You"), the pen name of a writing group that includes the authors of this book. Much recommended!

At the start of a New Year, Aaron Fisher makes 'The Deal' with his closest but frustratingly single friends: none of them will discuss their single-hoods and attempts to pair up with The One except once a month during the 'Love Sucks' meetings.

Starting from this unique (to me) premise, co-authors Timothy J. Lambert and Becky Cochrane (part of the famous 'Timothy James Beck' writers) brisky shove, push, and sometimes downright slap Aaron and his friends (always humorously) through renewed love, frustrating careers, new loves, and finally (of course) finding The One.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Having been reared on a plethora of how terrible life can be for those who are different (the Front Runner, while a great book, is not usually described as funny), it was refreshing to read a book whose characters mess up their lives like any characters populating Jackie Collins novels (but usually cuter).

There's no heavily profound message in the Deal (unless realizing one's faults by being honest is 'heavy'.) Or hot and heavy sex. But if I wanted the former, I'd read War and Peace again or the latest Maxim issue. As for the latter, I have plenty of DVDs for my HDTV thank you very much.

I purchased The Deal to be entertained and I got five stars instead. This is not easy. Out of the eight thousand books (hardbacks alone) I have, I've only given such a rating to four. My litmus test? If I can't put a book down until the next morning, it's a winner.

I will start by saying that it has been quite awhile since a book really touched my heart. The Deal seems at first to be a lighthearted and witty tale of friendship and love. While this much is true, I soon found out that the book is much more than that. I would venture to say that it is an incomparably accurate portrayal of friendships in the new millennium. Without making it seem like the main topic of the story, Cochrane and Lambert weave a charming story of the intricate and sometimes very complicated threads that tie us to our friends.

I believe that many of us have come to rely on our friends as much as we do our families, if not more so. However, the subject has remained largely unexplored in print and on the screen. Friendships are usually reduced to lunch meetings or pajama parties, never really delving into the importance of your "chosen family." As a gay man, I have found that I am able to connect with my friends in ways that I cannot with my family. This makes them intensely important to me. I truly believe that they know me better than I know myself, and that their influence makes me a better person.

The Deal also explores another type of friendship that we see more and more of these days. The open-minded and very special straight friends of gay people. I personally have several straight friends who mean the world to me. They understand without being gay themselves. They see me for who I am and love me, and would be there for me and stick up for me every bit as much as my gay friends would.

The story draws you into the journey of a group of friends over the course of one year. It is a journey, for two of them anyway, to find "The One"...a meaningful and true relationship before the year ends. During the 12 months, the reader is taken through love, desire, rejection, loneliness, and fulfillment by all of the characters, in ways that only authors with a keen understanding of human nature could do justice to. It is clever, funny, and genuinely touching, and I believe that anyone who reads it will agree.

It is an unparalleled relief to finally see this very meaningful and special interaction between friends so eloquently put down in print. The story is charming, and the characters are unforgettable, and as realistic as the friends to whom you will recommend this book. I strongly urge anyone who knows the value of friendship and love to read it. You will not regret it.