Patrick returns from a tour of duty to find his son very different. Peter is dressing in girl’s clothes, and his hair is too long, and he’s obsessed with drag queens. None of that sits well with Patrick. Patrick then meets the drag queen Ann Moore, and starts to hang out with them. Andrew is one of River City’s best drag queens. As Ann Moore, he dazzles adults and children alike. When one of … one of those children’s fathers wants to find out more about what his son is enjoying, Andrew is happy to guide him. It doesn’t hurt that Patrick is ridiculously hot. Hot and straight though.
The friendship that forms is unlikely, and even more unlikely, Patrick and Andrew find themselves faced with a chemistry they cannot deny.
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I’m just so taken by this story. It is one that should be part of everyone’s learning experience.
Patrick on leave from the service returns home to get in touch with a son he hasn’t really seen for awhile. His ex-wife has been raising Peter and what he gets faced with makes him want to place blame on her for the way his son is presenting himself. Patrick is just a little homophobic when it comes to his son’s dressing and actions. It is when he is faced with Andrew that his feelings about the appearance and actions make him uncomfortable and yet thoughtful. The characters in this story are so likable. His ex-wife, Christy is a dream. She has the insight to know her son. She has the faith that what Peter is going through will work itself out. She also is very open minded. Patrick is a good guy with a old fashioned set of values. It takes circumstances to make him examine his thinking. Andrew is charming. He has his own hang-ups but he is also the mediator who seems to have the answers most of the time. If he could resolve his feelings for Ann. Peter is a joy. He is who he is. A eleven year old boy finding his way in the world. I thought it was funny how Patrick was worried about Peter and in fact should have been more concerned about his feelings. I really enjoyed this story. Again, I feel more people should read it just to place themselves in this situation and think about what they would do. I can’t wait to start on the next book in this series.
What I Think: I couldn’t stop laughing at the beginning of this tale and the road ahead of Patrick. Being a pseudo parent has given me lots of amazing experiences but none more shocking than the changes that occur as children grow. Oh, Patrick won’t know his right from his left anymore and I’m here to laugh him through it!
It was also quite nice to see someone struggle with the whole pronouns (he, she, them) issue in such a straight forward manner, without it being creepy or offensive. At the point where a pan is being eyed as Patrick tries to imagine what pansexual means, I lost another battle with mirth. Labels were put through the grill in this thing and I loved it!
And when they began to fall against all their good intentions, I dug myself deeper into my blankets (thank the goddess for flu days and the tales that make us grateful for them) and let the tale wash over me. It’s fascinating being on the outside and watching the mental and emotional process as Patrick finds out he just may be more fluid than he ever thought, mentally, emotionally and physically.
The conversations they have are as hilarious as they are real and sobering. Andrew is definitely made of steel because the fact that he sticks around as Patrick goes through his journey makes him stronger than I will ever be. I just couldn’t wait for Patrick’s ‘come to Mama’ moment but these conversations gave me life. Usually, I don’t enjoy romances with kids in them but Peter is just so amazing and easy-going that you can’t but love him especially as he’s a very important part of the turn that brings his father to this point. The lovemaking was as surprising as the recounting of it was hilarious and it added another facet of real-life awkwardness that made this tale so real.
But I was afraid some pain lay in-store because it had all been too sweet so far but as I always say, the greatest battles are fought within us. Once we can accept, a lot of things pretty much fall into place.
Verdict? A charming, honest to life and hilarious coming-out tale that belongs on your comfort shelf!
What a great read. This is my favorite book of 2020, so far .
‘A Fluid State’ was an original read, different to anything I read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story has some pages that will annoy you maybe even anger, some that will make you cry, some that make your heart swell and others that will make your eyes pop. It definitely is a novel that is a lot of fun to read.
This it the love story of Patrick and Andrew, although it doesn’t start that way. Patrick is on 3 months leave from the army and has returned home. In the time he has been away his son has changed greatly and a friendship he forms with a library story time reading drag queen helps him to understand what is happening with Peter but he also learns a lot of new things about his self.
5 stars
Heat Level: 4
Wow, just beautiful, endearing, poignant and just plain lovable!
I was hooked from the start with this one and really appreciated Rob’s approach to Patrick’s attraction and discovery. It was done so organically, honestly and with such heart that I could feel the reality of this attraction and while it was a confusing time for the character, he was able, to be honest with what he was feeling which I have found rare in so many sexual discovery stories. I loved that Patrick embraced his feelings and talked it out, he acknowledged that he was confused but that, that was okay. I feel this was a very mature way to approach such feelings and really enjoyed the whole journey!!
The attraction and spark between Patrick and Andrew just flies off the page and will give you all the feels too. I loved that they did have the initial back and forth of questioning everything and that, of course, Andrew was falling for the “straight guy”, but once they were able to finally admit they liked each other, their spark grew to more. Andrew was wonderful as Andrew and fabulous as Ann. I loved the support and understanding Andrew was able to help Patrick with, where Peter was concerned and Peter was just such an endearingly lovable boy. The whole cast of this book was fabulous and I was truly touched by this story and loved Patrick’s sexual exploration and Andrewsexualism LOL. These two are perfect together and I just loved this whole journey I wanted more!
This was my first read of Rob’s and loved his writing style, wit and passion for his characters I’ll definitely be reading more from him!! Highly recommended read!!
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I would rate this 4 stars.
In the beginning, Patrick is seeing his son Peter for the first time in two years after coming home from Afghanistan. Patrick’s ex-wife Christy really drop kicks Patrick into the deep end, and expects him to adapt and act appropriately without any frame of previous reference for how to deal with his new gender bending, vegetarian, 11 year old son who loves Saturday morning Drag Queen Storytelling at the local library. Of course, the idea that Patrick’s ex is a POC, that he acknowledges the issue for his son, was the only thing that made me give him the benefit of the doubt. Then, it switches to Andrew’s POV: he is lonely and having trouble dating. At first most of his personality is funny and snarky asides, which come from his drag persona Ann. When they meet while Andrew is out of drag, Patrick realizes maybe it’s a good idea to get to know who his son spends time with. If this keeps him from looking like a bigot, then all the better.
Being inside Patrick’s head and listening to what is coming out of his mouth at the beginning is cringeworthy. All anyone has is what they are taught until they know better, then they need to do better, and he does. Patrick’s most important consideration seems to be for Peter be happy, but Peter is still figuring things out and the effects of bullying are difficult to read. I’m not a huge fan of babies or kids in books, but Peter is a huge part of why this all works rather than just an excuse for Andrew and Patrick to get together. I like that Patrick likes Andrew, and isn’t just attracted to Ann. Although that can be hot too when written right, the author is clear that Patrick isn’t ever pretending Andrew is Ann or fetishizing Ann in any way. In many ways Andrew is too good to be true: always patient, kind, understanding, good with kids, and good natured in general.
The timeframe is a bit too short to believe the 180 Patrick does from the beginning of the book to the end because there’s nothing gradual about this, but I remember seeing an episode of a show called Faking It on Channel 4 in the UK in 2002. It was about people who have a complete career change in four weeks and a heterosexual ex-navy officer learns to be a drag queen. Not that Patrick goes that far (lol), but that someone really can learn to have empathy, respect, and integrate into a new way a thinking, a new community, if they make the effort.
As for the bi for you and first time tropes, Patrick reads demisexual to me, having only been in two prior relationships, one of which was his wife. This is a heartwarming story of a father who discovers who he is and what he wants for himself later in life. While it has all the feels and hot love scenes, it’s because I wanted the fairytale, rather than it was entirely realistically fleshed out–it’s an easy read with surprisingly low angst. But, sometimes life does slot into place just like it ought to and those times are magical whether real or on the page.
The cover design is by Alexandria Corza. I think it’s striking, but it doesn’t show the family aspect of the story.