He's the One

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully addictive!
Review: Finished it in one sitting as the story is addictive and both a comfort and a joy to read. I am delighted that the characters from "It had to be you", Mr Beck's previous effort, are featured in this story, implying that "He's the One" is a sort of sequel to "It had to be you". It is wonderful to find out more about Daniel and his relationship with Blaine, Jeremy and Martin. Adam the protagonist in "He is the One" is great but not as captivating as Daniel (the protagonist in "It had to be you"). Daniel's vulnerability, sensitivity and sadness as well as his struggle to find himself makes him a more beautiful character than Adam, who seems to have the easier life. Still Adam' strive to gain Jeremy's love is fun to read. However I have one complaint. I do not see the relevance of introducing Blythe, a "poor" girl with a rich gay father into the story. Every time the story turns to Blythe and her plight, I found myself hurrying through the words. I wish Mr Beck has concentrated more on the relationship development between Adam and Jeremy, Jeremy's struggles to find himself and the domestic bliss of Daniel and Blaine. The story is colourful and laced with a touch of sadness. Daniel's and Martin's final acceptance of Ken's death and the burial of Ken is especially touching. A wonderful follow-up to "It had to be you" and I look forward to more from Mr Beck.

Rating:
Summary: FLUFF WITH A CONSCIENCE
Review: Having read IT HAD TO BE YOU and absolutely adoring it, I was thrilled to find author Timothy James Beck's latest offering, HE'S THE ONE. Needless to say, I bought the book and devoured it. Discovering this latest novel to be a sequel to IT HAD TO BE YOU only increased my delight in reading it. Beck's ongoing narrative about this group of Manhatanites, originally from Eau Claire Wisconsin, and their adventures in the Big Apple, is sweet, poignant, and thoroughly entertaining. In its own imaginative way, this story deals with many pertinent issues currently addressing the gay community; such as forgiving former tormentors, latent coming out, the search for commitment, and the devastating aftermath of losing a loved one to AIDS. The characters here are real and believable. People I, for one, would love to call friends. The bottom line however, is that HE'S THE ONE is a love story with an incredibly beautiful heart. It is my understanding that this novel was written by committee, Timothy James Beck being a compilation of all the participating party's names. Frankly, I don't care if it was written by a room full of chimps the result is wonderfully distracting and completely satisfying.

Rating:
Summary: sinister and hilarious
Review: i can not surmise into words how good the book is. timothy james beck has a gift of being bitchy yet funny and endearing. after reading it had to be you, i anticipatedly waited for this one (the paperback it had to be you has the first chapter of he's the one). he has a gift with words, hinting the exact, if not precise vocabulary. hell, he made me look at my lexicon from time to time. the witty banters of the characters made me laugh just as hard as his first novel.

what i liked about beck was the continuity of the characters. here we still read about blaine, daniel, sheila, josh and gang at club chaos. but still managed to to set this book on its own. you need not to read the first novel to love this one.

he's the one was a delightful read. i recommend it to anyone who still belive that love conquers all despite the cynicism in this world.

Rating:
Summary: I Want More ...please...
Review: I loved the characters in 'It Had To Be You' and could not wait to read more about them. So I picked up 'He's The One' as soon as it became available. As I suspected I thoroughly enjoyed following this group of friends through another phase of their lives. I can't wait for the author's next book.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable bit of love for the gay folk
Review: I quite enjoyed this story. For one, I'm really basking in tales that are of gay characters, but in another, I just flat-out enjoyed reading about these folk. The supporting characters are very evocative, and a solid cast of very believable individuals, each with a breath and life of their own.

There's one passage in the book, however, that really stuck home for me - one of the characters discusses with another what the two saddest words in the english language are. The first, and somewhat pithy answer, is "What party?" The second answer has so much force of emotion behind it that it was the social equivalent of a punch to the stomach. I'd honestly managed to forget (repress?) the phrase and situation that it referred to, and seeing it on the page brought back some really terrible moments. Kudos to the author for the inclusion of such a topic in such a deft way.

The book has more moments of humour than it has social commentary, and the ride is a joyful one. When self-made-successful hunk arrives in New York looking for Mr. Right, he has his eyes set on someone right away. Will he chase that person down, or maybe learn that Mr. Right isn't all that it's cracked up to be? The delight is in the telling, and I have to admit, the ending wasn't where I thought it would go.

A story about friendship more than love, and about setting some pretty important priorities in life, there's a kind emotional honesty in this story. Though at a rare few times I got frustrated with the main character (It's hard to feel a lot of empathy sometimes, when the perfect-bod-perfect-job-jock-fantasy character is bemoaning his life a bit, especially when there's some ugly flashback moments of 'what he did in highschool to the local gay guy'), and annoyed at his single-mindedness in chasing a guy he barely knew anything about, the supporting cast at those times, and the minor mystery subplot, kept things going at a good clip.

By the end, you'll like (nearly) everyone involved, and want to read more. Imagine my joy at learning there was a book prior to this one, with some of the same characters! I can't wait.

'Nathan

Rating:
Summary: Cute
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Beck's first novel, so buying this one was an easy decision.

The story is solid (with the exception of the protagonist's "sudden" arrival in NYC - a bit confusing how he got there) and the characters are colorful. The author pulls characters from his first novel and develops them in more detail here, while introducing colorful new ones to add to the story. While the naming of some of the characters is a bit 80's soap opera (Blythe, Blaine, etc) they're all fully-developed and unique.

My only beef with the book is the cover - why cheapen the content of EVERY gay novel by insinuating you need a buttshot or a half-naked model on the cover? Made it interesting to take on the plane with me..

That aside, this is a charming story, mostly realistic, and just a fun book to read. I recommend it, and also recommend Mr Beck's first novel - It Had To Be You.

Rating:
Summary: "Fluff" is a GOOD thing
Review: I've read many reviews of different works where the reviewer refers to the book as a "fluff" piece ... as if that is a BAD thing. Personally, I don't think every book has to be a "War & Peace", and I read mostly to escape my daily grind, so I *like* "fluff" ... if it doesn't pretend to be something it is not, is written well, holds my interest, and makes me glad I read it. Such is the case with "He's The One," the second novel from newcomer Timothy James Beck.

"He's The One" introduces us to Adam, a non-stereotypical single gay man living in a small town in Wisconsin. Adam was a "jock" in high school, late to acknowledge his attraction to men, and comfortable (perhaps too comfortable) in his renovated-farmhouse-home-and-office working as a freelance web design consultant for businesses in the midWest. His parents are aware of his sexuality, and his mom - an avid PFLAG organizer - is worried that he hasn't met anyone, and doesn't seem to be trying.

An invitation to speak at a web convention in NYC brings Adam to the Big Apple, he meets a big new client there, so he decides to stay there for a while to get the client going, then return to his home. Adam quickly meets Blythe, a short, bohemian "starving artist," who becomes Adam's Rhoda to his Mary Richards (Think "Mary Tyler Moore Show", throwing her hat in the air as she is ready to take on the "big city" - The comparison is made in the liner notes, and is apt). It is at a trendy Chelsea gay S&M (Stand & Model) coffee shop with Blythe where Adam first spots Jeremy, a handsome man he is immediately obsessed with, but manages to repeatedly convince himself that it will never work out. Nevertheless, he discretely pursues (just skirting the fringes of "stalking") Jeremy through a private party with a controlling, rich alcoholic gay mogul who makes a pass at Adam, a drag bar where Adam is chastised by a "nun" for writing amateur porn on his laptop (Blythe ratted on him), a "personal enrichment" seminar given by a mysterious gay Native American (at which he rooms with Daniel, a former schoolmate from WI who he and the other jocks used to tease as a "fag"), and a "secret mission" in which he dresses in awful drag to get back some zip disks stolen from him. Along the way, Adam learns to be more honest about his feelings, not be afraid of going after what he wants, and not worry as much about what others think. Does he get the guy? Read it and find out.

This book actually incorporates about a half dozen characters from Beck's first novel, "It Had To Be You." However, this is NOT a sequel to the first book, and I don't believe not having read it will make this book any less enjoyable. The characters carried over are not the two main characters (Adam and Blythe), but do "carry on" their lives in a way that lends some degree of closure to those who liked the first book, as I did. I recommend them both.

Now, if I could just stop humming the theme to the Mary Tyler Moore show! :)

Rating:
Summary: Tackling Life in the Big City!
Review: In this, his second novel, author Timothy Beck very effectively combines humor and emotion when Adam Wilson willfully tackles life in the "Big City". Is it possible a well-adjusted gay-man, hunky Adam, from a small-town called Eau Claire, Wisconsin, can find true love, sex, good friends and happiness all in one place? Yes, this is a feel good book, but who cares, it's a lot of fun. Sometimes we need a break from all the stories of tragedy, death, suicide, and unhappiness. Beck knows how to weave a realistic, heartfelt story, with dependable characters.

As Adam temporarily moves to New York to help one of his better clients, he becomes fast friends with Blythe, a painter, and with her help adjusts very quickly to living in the city. At a party, Adam catches a glimpse of Jeremy, the most beautiful man he has ever seen. Jeremy is not only very handsome and intelligent, but a television actor. The rest of the story continues with all sorts of funny and wild escapades, including a visit to a spiritual retreat, some stolen computer disks, drag queens, break-ins, and....Well, you'll just have to see what happens for yourself. However, its Adam's pursuit of Jeremy that is the main theme of the story as he tries to find out if "He's the One".

This is a book that not only gay readers will enjoy but anyone who has ever fallen in love at first sight, and did things they wouldn't normally do in pursuing that love. The characters in this story will feel like old friends, friends that we want to keep in touch with. Hopefully, there's a sequel coming?

Joe Hanssen

Rating:
Summary: Tackling Life in the Big City!
Review: In this, his second novel, author Timothy Beck very effectively combines humor and emotion when Adam Wilson willfully tackles life in the "Big City". Is it possible a well-adjusted gay-man, hunky Adam, from a small-town called Eau Claire, Wisconsin, can find true love, sex, good friends and happiness all in one place? Yes, this is a feel good book, but who cares, it's a lot of fun. Sometimes we need a break from all the stories of tragedy, death, suicide, and unhappiness. Beck knows how to weave a realistic, heartfelt story, with dependable characters.

As Adam temporarily moves to New York to help one of his better clients, he becomes fast friends with Blythe, a painter, and with her help adjusts very quickly to living in the city. At a party, Adam catches a glimpse of Jeremy, the most beautiful man he has ever seen. Jeremy is not only very handsome and intelligent, but a television actor. The rest of the story continues with all sorts of funny and wild escapades, including a visit to a spiritual retreat, some stolen computer disks, drag queens, break-ins, and....Well, you'll just have to see what happens for yourself. However, its Adam's pursuit of Jeremy that is the main theme of the story as he tries to find out if "He's the One".

This is a book that not only gay readers will enjoy but anyone who has ever fallen in love at first sight, and did things they wouldn't normally do in pursuing that love. The characters in this story will feel like old friends, friends that we want to keep in touch with. Hopefully, there's a sequel coming?

Joe Hanssen

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious, Sweet, and True
Review: Let me be honest with you. I bought this book solely for the cover, because I wanted another trashy gay novel to entertain me between the "serious" books I should be reading. [Sorry Mr. Beck.] For months, I had eyed the book with the jean-clad a- . . . er . . . buttocks on the front cover. But I resisted, as I didn't really want to receive any more disapproving glances from my boyfriend. Thank goodness he had a weak moment and bought it for me - I loved it!

Beck introduces us to Adam Wilson, who is every man's fantasy. Not only is he a genious with gorgeous good looks (I love a man in flannel and jeans!), but he's sweet and caring. More importantly, he's reached the point in his life where he just wants to meet someone special with whom he can share his life. After he realizes this fact, events soon take him from his comfortable Wisconsin home and plunk him down in Manhattan, where he clearly feels out of place. However, luck is smiling on Adam (as it always does in such stories). He meets some wonderful new friends of all different walks of life and patches up some old ones. Soon, he is surrounded by a new family away from home. The one thing he doesn't have is his true love. But again, luck comes his way as friends, associates, and even events seem to collaborate to bring him closer to finding "the One."

This isn't just a love story. There's mystery and intrigue. There are drag shows and terrible karaoke. There's art and drama. And TONS of humor throughout. At times I was laughing out loud at the antics of Adam and his friends. At other times, I could truly relate to Adam's concerns about his relationships and the difficulty in communicating his true feelings. Almost like looking into a mirror. To me, Beck really captured an emotional element that makes this tale not just a funny romance, but a lesson on the search for that missing something - or someone - in our lives.

Oh, I'll still call this a trashy novel (just to cause my boyfriend to cringe and my straight girlfriends to laugh), but you can bet this is going on my "Read Frequently" list. Hope you enjoy it as well!