Meags's Reviews > Best Men

3.5 Stars

I liked it.

This debut had the sort of relevant, heartfelt, oftentimes snarky voice that I really relate to and enjoy in queer fiction of this kind.

Best Men is one of those stories that is told in a witty and entertaining way, but manages to make you think and feel on a deeper level than the initial laughs would suggest.

I really liked gay MC Max Moody, with his dry wit and cynical nature, and his endless inability to truly be the “gay best friend” icon his lifelong gal pal Paige wants/needs him to be in the socially chaotic lead-up to her big wedding.

I’ve seen a lot of reviewers not take kindly to Max, who always seems to be deemed the party pooper because he likes quiet and simple and loathes flashy and pretentious, but God, did I relate to this guy. His every single reaction to BFF Paige’s outlandish wedding events, one after another, and the pressure he felt to perform a certain role in her life, gave me sympathy anxiety and PTSD flashbacks to times in my life I was at the mercy of my own bridezilla.

My biggest issue with this entire story was Paige herself. I couldn’t stand her from the very first conversation to the last. And, tragically, she was heavily present in the entire book, because, obviously, the whole premise centred around Max’s involvement in her wedding. If you read this book and thought, "she’s just like my best friend!"... then it might be time to consider getting a new best friend (like I did with mine).

On the bright side, I enjoyed the writing and the pop culture references, and the very millennial nature of Max’s entire being (It’s me, hi! I’m the problem, it’s me!). I also liked that there was a romance element, between Max and a guy named Chasten—Paige’s soon-to-be new brother in-law—but I appreciated that it wasn’t solely about their relationship. This was Max’s story of growth and potential, first and foremost, but it was nice that he found a great guy along the way. *winning*

I definitely enjoyed the story enough that I decided to round up my rating. Plus, I’ve already added Karger’s next release to my over-flowing TBR, which speaks volumes to my satisfaction of this debut.

If you’re a fan of Steven Rowley or TJ Klune, you should consider checking this one out. <3