Sanford Stewart sure doesn't. In fact, he pretty much believes in the exact opposite, thanks to the Homo Jock King. It seems Darren Mayne lives for nothing more than to create chaos in Sandy’s perfectly ordered life, just for the hell of it. Sandy despises him, and nothing will ever change his mind.
Or so he tells himself.
It's not until the owner of Jack It—the club where Sandy performs as drag queen Helena Handbasket—comes to him with a desperate proposition that Sandy realizes he might have to put his feelings about Darren aside. Because Jack It will close unless someone can convince Andrew Taylor, the mayor of Tucson, to keep it open.
Someone like Darren, the mayor’s illegitimate son.
The foolproof plan is this: seduce Darren and push him to convince his father to renew Jack It’s contract with the city.
Simple, right?
Wrong.
I let this book make me its bitch and I loved every minute of it. You have to read Tell Me It’s Real to appreciate the sequel, no doubt. Sandy/Helena is too big for one book and knowing his backstory through Tell Me It’s Real makes him that much more amazing. Helena is all the things that Sandy is not but wants to be. Helena is bold and fearless where Sandy is shy and sweet. And, thank sweet baby jeebus, he has that special brand of manic that makes me love this authors characters. But, Sandy is more than Helena and to get the full scope of his character, you need both books. I loved reading about Paul, Vincent and Paul’s family again, I missed them. And, Charlie. Oh Charlie, I’m so glad I got more of his story. The Most Awkward Brunch was most awkwardly amazing. If you’ve read other books by TJ Klune, you know there is no better writer of awkwardly fucked up and hilarious family situations than him. No one, don’t even try.
I can’t give enough snortles and love to Sandy’s meltdowns. They are epic and insane and the ‘logic’ stream they follow amuses me greatly. Plus, they are cathartic to Sandy so we all win. But, as much as I love them, I love the fierce protective streak that Sandy has, he usually channels Helena at that point, but that is one trait that Sandy and Helena have in common. We saw it a lot between Paul and Sandy in Tell Me It’s Real, but I got an even stronger sense of it in The Queen. Sandy will cut a bitch if they mess with his family. As much as Sandy may have had an irritatingly incessant boner for Darren even with the lingering hate, as the story progressed, and they two of them worked together to save Jack It, that protective bubble expanded to include Darren and it was just damned sweet. That was when I totally bought into Sandy’s true feels for Darren. Lust for a hot homo jock king is one thing, wanting to protect him is another level all-together.
The plan of deception and shenanigans that Sandy and Darren have to save Jack It gets more involved and convoluted as the story progresses. Just like no one can write and awkward family gathering like TJ Klune, no one can write shenanigans like he can either. Every progression of the story added to the what-the-fuckery and it was hilarious to read. As fun as the story arc itself is to read, it’s the conversations and the rambling inner monologues that are the gold here. BUT, there was more than just the fun, there were serious feels that this author is so good at sneaking in on us readers. He really got me good a couple of times in this one. Good on you TJ Klune, you had me snickering, snorting in a most unladylike manner, swooning and heart rendered all within a page or two. It was an amazingly fun ride and I was ready to read again right after I finished. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the audio version to come out to relive ALL the moments again.
For more info and purchase links, head over to Dreamspinner Press.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
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