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That's What Friends Are For
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26"By turns hilarious, tender, and devastating, Rouse’s novel explores what it means to be the sandwich generation of gays today — caught between those who paved the way for equality, those who are too young to credit them, and a world that seems increasingly hostile." —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
In this poignant and hilarious story inspired by TV’s beloved The Golden Girls, bestselling author Wade Rouse celebrates love, aging, finding your people, and the art of impeccably timed one-liners.
Theodore Copeland has created a fabulous life in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, where he shares a fabulous pink mid-century home with three fabulous Barry, a former actor still clinging to his youth, his hair, and the memory of the dream role that killed his career; Ron, an uprooted Christian from the Midwest with a big heart but no one to give it to; Sid, who, after coming out late in life, has never found love. Teddy is the caustic, unspoken leader of “The Golden Gays”—the foursome’s monthly drag tribute to The Golden Girls. Despite their foibles and bickering, they have turned their golden years into a golden era.
But the harmony of their desert enclave becomes a carousel of emotional baggage when Teddy’s estranged sister, Trudy, shows up on their doorstep, her dramatic teenage granddaughter in tow. While Teddy keeps Trudy at arm’s length, she manages to wheedle her way into the lives of the Golden Gays, until the real reason for her visit is revealed and the secrets they’ve all been keeping from each other unravel faster than a hastily stitched hemline.
A novel that gives thanks to “old” friends, That's What Friends Are For proves that while family may be the tie that binds, it’s the chosen family that truly keeps us together.
In this poignant and hilarious story inspired by TV’s beloved The Golden Girls, bestselling author Wade Rouse celebrates love, aging, finding your people, and the art of impeccably timed one-liners.
Theodore Copeland has created a fabulous life in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, where he shares a fabulous pink mid-century home with three fabulous Barry, a former actor still clinging to his youth, his hair, and the memory of the dream role that killed his career; Ron, an uprooted Christian from the Midwest with a big heart but no one to give it to; Sid, who, after coming out late in life, has never found love. Teddy is the caustic, unspoken leader of “The Golden Gays”—the foursome’s monthly drag tribute to The Golden Girls. Despite their foibles and bickering, they have turned their golden years into a golden era.
But the harmony of their desert enclave becomes a carousel of emotional baggage when Teddy’s estranged sister, Trudy, shows up on their doorstep, her dramatic teenage granddaughter in tow. While Teddy keeps Trudy at arm’s length, she manages to wheedle her way into the lives of the Golden Gays, until the real reason for her visit is revealed and the secrets they’ve all been keeping from each other unravel faster than a hastily stitched hemline.
A novel that gives thanks to “old” friends, That's What Friends Are For proves that while family may be the tie that binds, it’s the chosen family that truly keeps us together.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 3, 2026
13 people are currently reading
19452 people want to read
About the author
Wade Rouse
15 books269 followersWADE ROUSE is the critically acclaimed author ofthe memoirs America’s Boy, Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler, and At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream and editor of the upcoming humorous dog anthology I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship!He is a humor columnist for Metrosource magazine. Rouse lives outside Saugatuck, Michigan, with his partner, Gary, and their mutts, Marge and Mabel.
(source: Amazon)
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 10, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! It made me smile and laugh, cry and rage... it gave me all the feelings. Not only am I an absolute rabid fan for all things Golden Girls (still one of the best shows ever) but the story and the characters themselves were wonderful and heartbreaking. 5 big stars!
January 10, 2026
5⭐️
This book healed something in me…
I don’t know if I have the words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. As a gay man, reading this just felt as though I was hanging with four of my best friends. There’s biting wit and shade, mixed with love and tenderness. The only thing that made this better was reading about my local Palm Springs area!
Regardless of which main characters you identify with most, I think that each offers a unique and poignant look at humanity and the necessity of community and togetherness. Whether it’s finding your career, dealing with difficult family members, navigating new love, or even learning how to just be there for someone; each of these characters offer a refreshing and honest example that I think anyone can learn from.
I’m immensely grateful and overjoyed to have been able to read this book, and I cannot wait to have a physical copy for my personal library.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Wade Rouse for this eARC!
This book healed something in me…
I don’t know if I have the words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. As a gay man, reading this just felt as though I was hanging with four of my best friends. There’s biting wit and shade, mixed with love and tenderness. The only thing that made this better was reading about my local Palm Springs area!
Regardless of which main characters you identify with most, I think that each offers a unique and poignant look at humanity and the necessity of community and togetherness. Whether it’s finding your career, dealing with difficult family members, navigating new love, or even learning how to just be there for someone; each of these characters offer a refreshing and honest example that I think anyone can learn from.
I’m immensely grateful and overjoyed to have been able to read this book, and I cannot wait to have a physical copy for my personal library.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Wade Rouse for this eARC!
January 25, 2026
Picture it:
Palm Springs, 2026.
Four gay men ranging from their 60’s to early 80’s share an iconic pink home together that was once owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Fun fact about me: The Golden Girls is my all-time favorite TV show.
I own the DVDs that even came in a case that looks like Sophia’s purse and since I no longer have a DVD player I own the series digitally.
In fact, my mom probably knew for sure that I was gay when in middle school I’d come home and watch reruns of The Golden Girls on Lifetime every afternoon.
So when I saw that a book was coming out that’s based on The Golden Girls, but with gay men as the characters (who also happen to perform episodes of the show in drag), I knew I had to read this!
I think that Wade Rouse had so much creativity in creating this novel.
And his notes at the end were as poignant as the book itself.
It touched on so many different things: internalized trauma, found family, reconnecting with family members we were born with and realizing that we didn’t always know the whole story.
Therapy isn’t cheap, but now I better see why I do it.
There were parts of this book that made me laugh out loud, and parts where I’d suddenly realize that a couple of tears were running down my face.
Although this is fiction, it reminded me a lot of The Old Gays Guide To The Good Life, I suppose because it had four gay men “of a certain age” (as they refer to themselves) from Palm Springs dispensing wisdom of life.
There were also some parts that reminded me of Disco Witches Of Fire Island.
I also don't think that you need to be gay of a huge Golden Girls fan to enjoy this.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing and especially Wade Rouse for providing me with an ARC to review!
This book had already been on my radar and I was stoked when I found out that I was getting an ARC!
Palm Springs, 2026.
Four gay men ranging from their 60’s to early 80’s share an iconic pink home together that was once owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Fun fact about me: The Golden Girls is my all-time favorite TV show.
I own the DVDs that even came in a case that looks like Sophia’s purse and since I no longer have a DVD player I own the series digitally.
In fact, my mom probably knew for sure that I was gay when in middle school I’d come home and watch reruns of The Golden Girls on Lifetime every afternoon.
So when I saw that a book was coming out that’s based on The Golden Girls, but with gay men as the characters (who also happen to perform episodes of the show in drag), I knew I had to read this!
I think that Wade Rouse had so much creativity in creating this novel.
And his notes at the end were as poignant as the book itself.
It touched on so many different things: internalized trauma, found family, reconnecting with family members we were born with and realizing that we didn’t always know the whole story.
Therapy isn’t cheap, but now I better see why I do it.
There were parts of this book that made me laugh out loud, and parts where I’d suddenly realize that a couple of tears were running down my face.
Although this is fiction, it reminded me a lot of The Old Gays Guide To The Good Life, I suppose because it had four gay men “of a certain age” (as they refer to themselves) from Palm Springs dispensing wisdom of life.
There were also some parts that reminded me of Disco Witches Of Fire Island.
I also don't think that you need to be gay of a huge Golden Girls fan to enjoy this.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing and especially Wade Rouse for providing me with an ARC to review!
This book had already been on my radar and I was stoked when I found out that I was getting an ARC!
November 3, 2025
That’s What Friends Are For is everything I never knew I needed in my life. Wade Rouse has written a heartfelt love letter to the LGBTQ+ community and to fans of one of television’s most beloved sitcoms of all time, The Golden Girls.
At its heart are four men in the twilight of their lives who share a glorious Palm Springs estate. Together, they perform as the characters we know and love Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia in The Golden Gays; a hilarious stage homage to the show that shaped generations. What begins as a witty, laugh-out-loud romp soon deepens into something far more tender. Each of the men is facing a personal crossroads in their life, wrestling with secrets and struggles that test their friendship and sense of self.
Rouse masterfully blends humor and heart, crafting a story that’s as poignant and meaningful as it is hilariously funny. The result is both a celebration and a dissection of issues with aging, identity crises, and the enduring power of friendship. It’s both heartbreaking and hopeful yet raw.
Simply put, Wade Rouse has written the best book of his career; a moving tribute that will linger with readers for years to come in my opinion.
At its heart are four men in the twilight of their lives who share a glorious Palm Springs estate. Together, they perform as the characters we know and love Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia in The Golden Gays; a hilarious stage homage to the show that shaped generations. What begins as a witty, laugh-out-loud romp soon deepens into something far more tender. Each of the men is facing a personal crossroads in their life, wrestling with secrets and struggles that test their friendship and sense of self.
Rouse masterfully blends humor and heart, crafting a story that’s as poignant and meaningful as it is hilariously funny. The result is both a celebration and a dissection of issues with aging, identity crises, and the enduring power of friendship. It’s both heartbreaking and hopeful yet raw.
Simply put, Wade Rouse has written the best book of his career; a moving tribute that will linger with readers for years to come in my opinion.
November 11, 2025
Thank you for being a friend Teddy, Sid, Ron, and Barry! Rouse's newest brings the nostalgia to modern day Palm Springs and leaves you laughing and crying. Sometimes simultaneously! Four older gay men are living together in a home in Palm Springs and doing drag performances of old Golden Girls episodes on stage. But they each are struggling with something that they don't want to share with each other yet. With plenty of wit, heart, and Golden Girls references,That's What Friends are For is exactly the story we need.
November 22, 2025
Ron, Teddy, Barry, and Sid live in a pink house and perform a gender swapped Golden Girls play. I think the main reason I enjoyed this so much is the humorous tinge added to even the most serious of moments. Each man is 80 years old or close, and moved to Palm Springs to be welcomed into an LGBTQ community. One has a best friend that is so funny, her comments lit up my eyes when I came across them on the page. Each character really redefines "found family" to me- this book is quintessential for any GG fan, because it is both so well written and such a lovely tribute to not only the actors and characters, but to anyone who felt seen when this show aired in 1985 and flipped political realness on it's head. Thank you so much to Wade Rouse and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read and review this eARC! All opinions are my own.
December 11, 2025
As the author writes in his note to readers, “This book is about community, be it the family you are born into or the one you create. It’s about friends you have known for a lifetime and those you meet who feel as if you’ve known them forever. It is for those who feel ostracized and overlooked, those diminished by society, those whose voices and words are dismissed, and those deemed unlovable due to age, shame, and sexuality. “. But above all, this is a powerful, evocative and emotional novel that tells the story of four amazing men, each with flaws. The friendship will be tested, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, and with honesty and with lies. Passions will ebb and flow, but as a reader, I found myself rooting for them to truly find their way home and to each other, despite the difficult challenges life seemed to throw at them. Teddy, Barry, Sid, and Ron are four aging gay men living in Palm Springs. They come to the desert from very different backgrounds, law, retail, show business and religion, but they are drawn to each other and a mutual love for the sitcom The Golden Girls, which they remake as a production called The Golden Gays, and from whose characters they take strength and solace from. As the book progresses, we see that each of these men is harboring a secret. These secrets will bring up parts of each of their lives they had buried and test their will to move forward in a positive direction. There were times while reading this book I laughed and I cried. And while the men are gay, and the women in the sitcom are old, this is a book anyone can relate to. I hope it brings about an awareness that no matter what our sexual orientation, religion, marital status or gender, we all are one people, and human kindness, decency and respect should be extended towards all. Wade Rouse has proven to be a gifted wordsmith in his previous novels using the pen name Viola Shipman. With this novel, written using his given name, he has exceeded the high bar set with his earlier books. It is a book that left me with hope for a better future, something that is much-needed in the world we live in today. Do not miss this one. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to write an honest review.
November 13, 2025
Teddy, Ron, Barry and Sid are gays ‘of a certain age’ - friends living together in a fabulous Palm Springs home and giving monthly theater performances as The Golden Gays, a Golden Girls spoof
They’ve made good lives for themselves, despite very harsh beginnings. And, even if things haven’t turned out the way they’d once dreamed, they have each other and that’s not nothing
Each of them has had a recent development in their lives though, and they’re at different turning points. Where things could get substantially better for them or …not
Like The Celebrants by Steven Rowley, I knew this one was going to break me almost from the start
It was emotional less for the reason I expected though, and for a half dozen other reasons instead (content warnings for abuse and assault, childhood and current. Directed at the MCs from others, not between them. They are good to each other, lack of chore chart respect aside)
Their collective survived traumas made this a tearjerker for me, but their support of each other and perseverance also made it so hopeful
And it feels like, for every sad moment, there’s balancing humor and quips that help lighten things
Plus, many of the tears were happy in the end!
More than anything this story shows the power of a found family through an entire life. Especially when the family they were born into was at best unsupportive, at worst - and too often - abusive
It also shows how it’s never too late for a fresh start, no matter how far along in life you are
Side note - The Pink House in is quite the showstopper, I suggest looking it up
I remember seeing it on the Zillow tv show, and the Zsa Zsa house is every bit as dramatic a home as these guys deserve!
Thank you to HTP/MIRA for the arc!
They’ve made good lives for themselves, despite very harsh beginnings. And, even if things haven’t turned out the way they’d once dreamed, they have each other and that’s not nothing
Each of them has had a recent development in their lives though, and they’re at different turning points. Where things could get substantially better for them or …not
Like The Celebrants by Steven Rowley, I knew this one was going to break me almost from the start
It was emotional less for the reason I expected though, and for a half dozen other reasons instead (content warnings for abuse and assault, childhood and current. Directed at the MCs from others, not between them. They are good to each other, lack of chore chart respect aside)
Their collective survived traumas made this a tearjerker for me, but their support of each other and perseverance also made it so hopeful
And it feels like, for every sad moment, there’s balancing humor and quips that help lighten things
Plus, many of the tears were happy in the end!
More than anything this story shows the power of a found family through an entire life. Especially when the family they were born into was at best unsupportive, at worst - and too often - abusive
It also shows how it’s never too late for a fresh start, no matter how far along in life you are
Side note - The Pink House in is quite the showstopper, I suggest looking it up
I remember seeing it on the Zillow tv show, and the Zsa Zsa house is every bit as dramatic a home as these guys deserve!
Thank you to HTP/MIRA for the arc!
December 7, 2025
More of this in your voice, sir!
A humorous but also a gravely serious reminder of wherever we are in life, and whoever we are in life, there were those before us that made it possible for us to stand on their shoulders to maintain our stride. Nothing should be taken for granted, whether it be dancing with the one you love, sipping coffee together, shopping together holding hands, or giving the rough side of your mouth to a very dear friend who needs to see the truth----because you love them. After all, that what friends are for.
Playing upon the great chemistry of The Golden Girls, Wade Rouse brings to our hearts another group of 'aging' adults who are unique, funny, supportive and very, very snarky. All living together in Palm Springs, these four men will have you wishing they were your neighbors.
November 24, 2025
“That’s What Friends Are For” by Wade Rouse is a story about lifelong friendships and the love of found family through an entire life. It revolves around 4 senior gay men living together in a fabulous house in Palm Springs. They are enjoying their lives now despite each one having had very traumatic and abusive events in their lives. Their support for each other had me tearing up and gave me hope.
This was a humorous and emotional novel that shows the true power of friendship and the continued fight for equality that still exists in the gay community today.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a humorous and emotional novel that shows the true power of friendship and the continued fight for equality that still exists in the gay community today.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2025
I loved this book so much, I was sad to finish it! I want to spend more time with the Golden Gays in Palm Springs! Wade Rouse is a wonderful writer; he tackles heavy subjects with warmth and humor. This is a fantastic novel with a satisfying ending. I highly recommend it! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for an ARC of That's What Friends Are For!
loved this book and loved these men! I've only seen a few episodes of the golden girls, but it really makes me want to watch the entire series then re-read this book once it's been published!
I loved Teddy's sass! The friendship these 4 men have is so sweet, and I'm so happy I got the read this book first!
loved this book and loved these men! I've only seen a few episodes of the golden girls, but it really makes me want to watch the entire series then re-read this book once it's been published!
I loved Teddy's sass! The friendship these 4 men have is so sweet, and I'm so happy I got the read this book first!
December 10, 2025
I was provided an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I thought it was going to be more lighthearted, like the Mid Century Modern show with Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer. Although the setting and concept were very similar, this was a much more thought provoking book than I was expecting. Despite it being completely different than what I thought it was going to be, I did enjoy the story and the characters were particularly endearing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
You know that feeling when you're sad to reach the end of your book, because it means saying goodbye to the characters? That's What Friends Are For is a funny, tender, compassionate story about four older gay men who share a home in the LGBT mecca of Palm Springs. It also touches on the history of the fight for LGBT rights and recognition as well as the losses of the AIDS crisis. Multiple POVs don't always work well, but I felt engaged with each of the characters, their struggles and their vantage points on aging, love, friends and family. If you also are a Golden Girls fan, you'll appreciate the ways the show is woven into the storyline. Highly recommend!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a wonderful time I had reading about all of these amazing characters that now feel like they are part of my family of friends. These four senior gay men living together in Palm Springs California 🌴 perform monthly in their production of "The Golden Gays" paying tribute to the show "The Golden Girls". You will meet Teddy (Dorothy), Sid (Sophia), Barry (Blanche), and Ron (Rose). They will take you into their past & into their now. Each one of them has a story to tell. You will be shocked, brought to tears, and experience moments of joy.
Teddy is going through a lot. His estranged older sister Trudy drops by along with her teenage granddaughter Ava. Teddy & Trudy family upbringing is heartbreaking 💔 & unbelievable. Ava is honest and true, and that's exactly what Teddy needs right now. Ava helps him with his health issues, and it will make you cry and laugh at the same time. A line that made me laugh, "But I already got my degree from WebMD." 😂 🤣 (I go to get my medical questions answered, like probably many do at this site.) What will Teddy do with the news that is given to him from his doctor?
Sid is the oldest of the seniors. He was previously married with children. He came out later in his life. The lady in the library parking lot is a jaw dropping part, and it had me at the edge of my seat, wow. This occurrence brings about Leo a reporter who surprises Sid. Will Sid now experiencing a love that is real?
Barry the actor, is down on his luck in the show biz world. He played the part of Coco in the pilot episode, he was the gay housekeeper & cook in the Golden Girls show. His part got cut, and was replaced with the Sophia character. The Coco character is factual, and it was played by actor Charles Levin. I found this fascinating. Barry runs into his past lover Kyle, things didn't end well with them years ago. Barry will be brought to his knees to make his dreams come true. Will this encounter with his past be a nightmare or a dream?
Ron with his religious upbringing is always helping and caring for others. His desire to please, being a mom figure to all with his cooking & cleaning. He's not only great at interior design, but he's great at keeping things flowing and in order with this bunch. Ron needs to find what will make him happy. In his search to find himself he has to let go of his memories of his past and start anew. Will Ron help himself be the best Ron he can be?
I'm a huge fan of Wade Rouse and I've had the pleasure in reading his Viola Shipman books along with his memoirs. I loved them all. I highly recommend this 5 star ⭐ read. This beautiful book will be out March 3, 2026. Enjoy ❤️.
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the amazing author Wade Rouse for the e-book advance reader copy.
Teddy is going through a lot. His estranged older sister Trudy drops by along with her teenage granddaughter Ava. Teddy & Trudy family upbringing is heartbreaking 💔 & unbelievable. Ava is honest and true, and that's exactly what Teddy needs right now. Ava helps him with his health issues, and it will make you cry and laugh at the same time. A line that made me laugh, "But I already got my degree from WebMD." 😂 🤣 (I go to get my medical questions answered, like probably many do at this site.) What will Teddy do with the news that is given to him from his doctor?
Sid is the oldest of the seniors. He was previously married with children. He came out later in his life. The lady in the library parking lot is a jaw dropping part, and it had me at the edge of my seat, wow. This occurrence brings about Leo a reporter who surprises Sid. Will Sid now experiencing a love that is real?
Barry the actor, is down on his luck in the show biz world. He played the part of Coco in the pilot episode, he was the gay housekeeper & cook in the Golden Girls show. His part got cut, and was replaced with the Sophia character. The Coco character is factual, and it was played by actor Charles Levin. I found this fascinating. Barry runs into his past lover Kyle, things didn't end well with them years ago. Barry will be brought to his knees to make his dreams come true. Will this encounter with his past be a nightmare or a dream?
Ron with his religious upbringing is always helping and caring for others. His desire to please, being a mom figure to all with his cooking & cleaning. He's not only great at interior design, but he's great at keeping things flowing and in order with this bunch. Ron needs to find what will make him happy. In his search to find himself he has to let go of his memories of his past and start anew. Will Ron help himself be the best Ron he can be?
I'm a huge fan of Wade Rouse and I've had the pleasure in reading his Viola Shipman books along with his memoirs. I loved them all. I highly recommend this 5 star ⭐ read. This beautiful book will be out March 3, 2026. Enjoy ❤️.
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the amazing author Wade Rouse for the e-book advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was never really a Golden Girls viewer. I have probably seen a few episodes, but nothing has really stuck in my memory. It came out when I was in college and far too jaded for television! But I know the basic gist and I do intend to watch it someday. If this is your first day with the internet, it was a show from the 80s where 4 post-menopausal ladies lived together in Florida to save on rent and hilarity ensued.
Rouse's delightful novel has the same plot except it's gay men of a certain age in Palm Springs. Both the original recipe girls and this new rendition have hysterical laughs and some surprising depth and sweetness.
Our fellas are Teddy (the acerbic Dorothy stand-in who is facing his own mortality and crabbiness), Barry (the slutty Blanche stand-in who is trying to add meaning to his life by banging young guys until someone from his past makes an appearance), Ron (the sweet Rose stand-in who is taking care of everyone while ignoring his own needs) and Sid (the older Sophia stand-in who is finding his first love ever so late in life).
They share a house and perform in a Golden Girls tribute show that has made them Palm-Springs-famous. Each of them has a come-to-Jesus storyline that is both funny and meaningful. There isn't a lot that is new here. There is a strong Gunkle vibe which is a big compliment considering how much I loved that book! But the four perspectives, and the well drawn secondary characters made this a delightful read. The history of Palm Springs and the influence of both Hollywood and gay culture is practically a character itself.
My only complaint is that Rouse seems to keep most of the fellas at arms length until nearly 3/4 of the way through the book when their different struggles become more clear. It makes sense in the big picture - he explains how a certain amount of artifice was necessary for self-preservation for gay men in the 1900s (yikes!) but I would have liked to have loved them the whole way through and they are charming enough that I think I could have.
Still, it is a delightful story of love, found family, healing and survival.
Rouse's delightful novel has the same plot except it's gay men of a certain age in Palm Springs. Both the original recipe girls and this new rendition have hysterical laughs and some surprising depth and sweetness.
Our fellas are Teddy (the acerbic Dorothy stand-in who is facing his own mortality and crabbiness), Barry (the slutty Blanche stand-in who is trying to add meaning to his life by banging young guys until someone from his past makes an appearance), Ron (the sweet Rose stand-in who is taking care of everyone while ignoring his own needs) and Sid (the older Sophia stand-in who is finding his first love ever so late in life).
They share a house and perform in a Golden Girls tribute show that has made them Palm-Springs-famous. Each of them has a come-to-Jesus storyline that is both funny and meaningful. There isn't a lot that is new here. There is a strong Gunkle vibe which is a big compliment considering how much I loved that book! But the four perspectives, and the well drawn secondary characters made this a delightful read. The history of Palm Springs and the influence of both Hollywood and gay culture is practically a character itself.
My only complaint is that Rouse seems to keep most of the fellas at arms length until nearly 3/4 of the way through the book when their different struggles become more clear. It makes sense in the big picture - he explains how a certain amount of artifice was necessary for self-preservation for gay men in the 1900s (yikes!) but I would have liked to have loved them the whole way through and they are charming enough that I think I could have.
Still, it is a delightful story of love, found family, healing and survival.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
That’s What Friends Are For is a warm, emotional, and deeply human story about chosen family, aging, and the quiet bravery it takes to keep showing up for one another. It balances humor and heartbreak beautifully, creating a reading experience that feels both comforting and honest.
The heart of this book lies in its characters. Teddy, Barry, Sid, and Ron feel real in a way that makes you want to sit with them, laugh with them, and occasionally shake them. Their friendships are imperfect, layered with past regrets, unspoken fears, and long held insecurities, but that is exactly what makes them so compelling. The bond they share feels earned, not idealized, and watching it stretch and strain only deepens its authenticity.
The Golden Girls influence is woven in with care and love. The monthly drag tribute is joyful, witty, and meaningful, serving as both celebration and coping mechanism. It adds levity without undermining the emotional weight of the story, and it reinforces the theme that community can be built through shared rituals and chosen joy.
What truly elevates the novel is its emotional honesty. This is a story about getting older and realizing that some wounds do not simply disappear with time. Family relationships are complicated, especially when long buried truths surface. Teddy’s storyline in particular carries a lot of emotional weight, exploring grief, resentment, vulnerability, and the longing to be seen and understood. These moments are handled with sensitivity and restraint, allowing the impact to land naturally.
The pacing does slow at times, and there are moments where the introspection feels repetitive, which is ultimately why this lands at four stars rather than five for me. That said, the emotional payoff is worth it. The final sections bring the story together in a way that feels sincere and earned, emphasizing growth rather than perfection.
This is a book about friendship that endures. About love that shows up quietly. About finding your people and holding onto them, even when it is hard. It is funny, tender, and deeply affirming, and it left me with that rare feeling of having spent time with characters I will genuinely miss.
The heart of this book lies in its characters. Teddy, Barry, Sid, and Ron feel real in a way that makes you want to sit with them, laugh with them, and occasionally shake them. Their friendships are imperfect, layered with past regrets, unspoken fears, and long held insecurities, but that is exactly what makes them so compelling. The bond they share feels earned, not idealized, and watching it stretch and strain only deepens its authenticity.
The Golden Girls influence is woven in with care and love. The monthly drag tribute is joyful, witty, and meaningful, serving as both celebration and coping mechanism. It adds levity without undermining the emotional weight of the story, and it reinforces the theme that community can be built through shared rituals and chosen joy.
What truly elevates the novel is its emotional honesty. This is a story about getting older and realizing that some wounds do not simply disappear with time. Family relationships are complicated, especially when long buried truths surface. Teddy’s storyline in particular carries a lot of emotional weight, exploring grief, resentment, vulnerability, and the longing to be seen and understood. These moments are handled with sensitivity and restraint, allowing the impact to land naturally.
The pacing does slow at times, and there are moments where the introspection feels repetitive, which is ultimately why this lands at four stars rather than five for me. That said, the emotional payoff is worth it. The final sections bring the story together in a way that feels sincere and earned, emphasizing growth rather than perfection.
This is a book about friendship that endures. About love that shows up quietly. About finding your people and holding onto them, even when it is hard. It is funny, tender, and deeply affirming, and it left me with that rare feeling of having spent time with characters I will genuinely miss.
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December 13, 2025According to author Wade Rouse, That's What Friends Are For is the book he was born to write. After multiple books written under the pseudonym of Viola Shipman, this is the first novel to bear his real name.
Four older gay men--from 65 to 81 years of age--live together in Zsa Zsa Gabor's previous home in Palm Springs. Teddy owns a successful vintage clothing store. Barry is an actor who lost a promising part he played in the pilot of The Golden Girls and is a serial dater. Lawyer Sid was married for 35 years before coming out at age 60 and has never had a date with a man. And Ron is an interior designer who is still religious, even though his preacher father and his church have betrayed him. At a local community center, the four friends produce and act each month in a popular show they call The Golden Gays, a satire of The Golden GIrls, each playing the character that is most like him in real life.
The men alternate as chapter narrators, and I must admit I had trouble keeping them straight for the first half of the book. The characters mostly talk about their disappointments, poor treatment by others, and family dysfunctions, which I found somewhat repetitive. But the story speeds up in the second half of the book, as Teddy's long-estranged sister Trudy and her 17-year-old granddaughter Ava make an extended surprise visit to the pink house. Teddy's and Trudy's mutual hatred evolves over time, and secrets from both are revealed. The other men also experience character development and have adventures. The message of the book is that regardless of what you have experienced in life, you can get through it with friends who not only love you, but love you just as you are.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.
Four older gay men--from 65 to 81 years of age--live together in Zsa Zsa Gabor's previous home in Palm Springs. Teddy owns a successful vintage clothing store. Barry is an actor who lost a promising part he played in the pilot of The Golden Girls and is a serial dater. Lawyer Sid was married for 35 years before coming out at age 60 and has never had a date with a man. And Ron is an interior designer who is still religious, even though his preacher father and his church have betrayed him. At a local community center, the four friends produce and act each month in a popular show they call The Golden Gays, a satire of The Golden GIrls, each playing the character that is most like him in real life.
The men alternate as chapter narrators, and I must admit I had trouble keeping them straight for the first half of the book. The characters mostly talk about their disappointments, poor treatment by others, and family dysfunctions, which I found somewhat repetitive. But the story speeds up in the second half of the book, as Teddy's long-estranged sister Trudy and her 17-year-old granddaughter Ava make an extended surprise visit to the pink house. Teddy's and Trudy's mutual hatred evolves over time, and secrets from both are revealed. The other men also experience character development and have adventures. The message of the book is that regardless of what you have experienced in life, you can get through it with friends who not only love you, but love you just as you are.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The tagline for Wade Rouse’s upcoming novel, That’s What Friends Are For, hooked me right away: “In this poignant and hilarious story inspired by TV’s beloved The Golden Girls, bestselling author Wade Rouse celebrates love, aging, finding your people, and the art of impeccably timed one-liners.”
I instantly knew it would be a book I’d enjoy reading, and my gut instincts were not wrong! This is a lovely book that I could not put down, and I hope it gets the recognition and audience that it deserves.
Picture it, Palm Springs, 2025. Four gay men of a certain age live together as friends, roommates, castmates, and most importantly, found family. This book follows a short time in the lives of Barry, Ron, Sid, and Teddy, alternating through each man’s story and viewpoint. While they love, care for, and support one another, there are also some big secrets in the house. Each man is a truly unique character, and that’s reflected in The Golden Gays, a live stage show version of the The Golden Girls, that they produce and perform.
As you can imagine, the book is funny and filled with pop culture references. Teddy, for one, comes up with amazing one-liners. However, the book is not just humorous. It deals with serious issues of abuse, homophobia, illness, suicide, and more. It paints a detailed picture of the journey each of these four men had to take in order to survive.
Not only do I think this is a great book, but I also think it’s an important one. In a time where we are living with so much hate and bigotry, this is a special story where we can empathize with what these men have experienced. Rouse has crafted a beautiful tome about friendship, aging, survival, tolerance, and love.
By the way, many readers know Rouse through his pen name - Viola Shipman. This is his first novel written under his own moniker. That's What Friends Are For will be released in March 2026 by MIRA publishing. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC to review.
5 stars
#bookreviews #queerbooks #bookstagram #GoldenGirls #PalmSprings
I instantly knew it would be a book I’d enjoy reading, and my gut instincts were not wrong! This is a lovely book that I could not put down, and I hope it gets the recognition and audience that it deserves.
Picture it, Palm Springs, 2025. Four gay men of a certain age live together as friends, roommates, castmates, and most importantly, found family. This book follows a short time in the lives of Barry, Ron, Sid, and Teddy, alternating through each man’s story and viewpoint. While they love, care for, and support one another, there are also some big secrets in the house. Each man is a truly unique character, and that’s reflected in The Golden Gays, a live stage show version of the The Golden Girls, that they produce and perform.
As you can imagine, the book is funny and filled with pop culture references. Teddy, for one, comes up with amazing one-liners. However, the book is not just humorous. It deals with serious issues of abuse, homophobia, illness, suicide, and more. It paints a detailed picture of the journey each of these four men had to take in order to survive.
Not only do I think this is a great book, but I also think it’s an important one. In a time where we are living with so much hate and bigotry, this is a special story where we can empathize with what these men have experienced. Rouse has crafted a beautiful tome about friendship, aging, survival, tolerance, and love.
By the way, many readers know Rouse through his pen name - Viola Shipman. This is his first novel written under his own moniker. That's What Friends Are For will be released in March 2026 by MIRA publishing. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC to review.
5 stars
#bookreviews #queerbooks #bookstagram #GoldenGirls #PalmSprings
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
That’s What Friends Are For is far more than a tribute to a beloved sitcom; it is a profound exploration of queer survival and the radical act of aging with dignity. Set in Palm Springs in 2025, the story follows four elderly gay men who perform as "The Golden Gays." While their stage act is built on laughter and nostalgia, their reality is a complex tapestry of insecurity, socio-political pressure, and the enduring power of found family.
The book explores non-typical living arrangements as The "Golden Gays" living arrangement is a radical domestic choice. Their Palm Springs home is a fortress against a world that regards them as "past their prime."
It's a "complex story of friendship" involves long-standing grudges, the jealousy of successful performances, and the deep, silent fear of being the last one left alive in the house. It also examines the modern "culture wars," showing how these men—who just want to age in peace—become unwilling symbols in a polarized society.
That’s What Friends Are For is a testament to the fact that the "Golden Years" are often the hardest-won. By placing these four men in the crosshairs of 2025’s social climate, the book elevates the "Golden Girls" from a parody into a manifesto on queer resilience. It reminds the reader that while the world may see them as relics, they are actually pioneers, still performing, still laughing, and still fighting.
The book explores non-typical living arrangements as The "Golden Gays" living arrangement is a radical domestic choice. Their Palm Springs home is a fortress against a world that regards them as "past their prime."
It's a "complex story of friendship" involves long-standing grudges, the jealousy of successful performances, and the deep, silent fear of being the last one left alive in the house. It also examines the modern "culture wars," showing how these men—who just want to age in peace—become unwilling symbols in a polarized society.
That’s What Friends Are For is a testament to the fact that the "Golden Years" are often the hardest-won. By placing these four men in the crosshairs of 2025’s social climate, the book elevates the "Golden Girls" from a parody into a manifesto on queer resilience. It reminds the reader that while the world may see them as relics, they are actually pioneers, still performing, still laughing, and still fighting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of this upcoming novel. This book gave me all the feels! In that sense it was a 5, but the quality of the writing was just average, thus the compromise at 4. I advise other readers not to worry about the writing, or how implausible some of the plot points might sound, and just go along for the ride. What if the Golden Girls were reincarnated as four gay men in Palm Springs? If you loosely assign one of the Golden Girls to one of the Golden Gays (yes, the men even perform a tribute in drag each month called the Golden Gays), the book can practically write itself. And in no way do I mean to diminish the writer's talent with that statement, I could not write myself out of a paper bag, in fiction anyway. And just like the original Golden Girls, their stories intersect with some of the more difficult topics we grapple with today. But you will have to read the book yourself to find out what those are, I am not one to reveal the plot. Suffice it to say you will cry (if you are inclined that way), but it will be mixed with equal parts of sadness and relief, because things work out. If you enjoyed the many stolen 22 minutes with the Golden Girls, one or two or three times, you will feel right at home here. This book will be published on March 3, 2026 by Harlequin Trade Publishing.
January 8, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
This book—Wade Rouse’s first published under his own name—follows four older gay men known as the “Golden Gays” as they navigate life in Palm Springs while confronting change, loss, and their own mortality. What could have easily been a heavy or somber story instead unfolds with warmth, humor, and genuine charm.
Each of the four characters clearly embodies the spirit of a corresponding Golden Girls archetype, while still feeling fully realized and human. Together, they grapple with cancer, bigotry, family trauma, ageism, and the evolving meaning of love later in life. Their found-family dynamic is deeply endearing, and I came to love each of them—not despite their flaws, but because of them.
Rouse’s portrayal of the Palm Springs community is vivid and immersive. I could picture every street and setting he described and almost feel the desert sunshine while reading. The sense of place adds an extra layer of warmth and vitality to the story.
Though the novel is laugh-out-loud funny at times, it carries just as much heart. Watching these characters wrestle with fear, identity, and vulnerability—and ultimately recognize one another as the great loves of their lives—was both moving and affirming. By the end, I didn’t want to say goodbye.
Long live the Golden Gays.
This book—Wade Rouse’s first published under his own name—follows four older gay men known as the “Golden Gays” as they navigate life in Palm Springs while confronting change, loss, and their own mortality. What could have easily been a heavy or somber story instead unfolds with warmth, humor, and genuine charm.
Each of the four characters clearly embodies the spirit of a corresponding Golden Girls archetype, while still feeling fully realized and human. Together, they grapple with cancer, bigotry, family trauma, ageism, and the evolving meaning of love later in life. Their found-family dynamic is deeply endearing, and I came to love each of them—not despite their flaws, but because of them.
Rouse’s portrayal of the Palm Springs community is vivid and immersive. I could picture every street and setting he described and almost feel the desert sunshine while reading. The sense of place adds an extra layer of warmth and vitality to the story.
Though the novel is laugh-out-loud funny at times, it carries just as much heart. Watching these characters wrestle with fear, identity, and vulnerability—and ultimately recognize one another as the great loves of their lives—was both moving and affirming. By the end, I didn’t want to say goodbye.
Long live the Golden Gays.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
That’s What Friends Are FOR
By: Wade Rouse
Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Did you grow up watching The Golden Girls in 1980’s? Do you still laugh over reruns of it today? It is a true delight that still holds up to the comedy/drama standard it set 40 years ago.
Wade Rouse brings us this same comedy/drama standard with his That’s What Friends Are FOR. The journey of four gay men, as they navigate their golden years, sharing a home in iconic Palm Spring offers belly-laughs, soulful reflection, and even tears. Each man has his own struggle to overcome and just like The Golden Girls; it is their bond of friendship that makes this story so special. We can’t choose our family, but we can choose the friends we call “family.”
The Golden Gays: Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid honor Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sofia with their monthly community theater productions of the famous TV show featuring their own special SPIN and over-the-top wigs.
That’s What Friends are FOR honors the standard set by The Golden Girls by exploring the joys and angst of aging through its smart storyline that tackles gay relationships, secret cancer, closeted heartbreak, career lost and found, and toxic family drama.
I loved the four main characters and the connection I felt towards them. I wish they were my neighbors-What fun we would have! I also loved the iconic location of Palms Springs described to a Tee. Wade and his husband have long had a second home there and it was a pleasure to experience it throughout this story.
Wade is well-known to us all through his fabulous novels written under his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman. I am so thrilled that Wade chose to present this story to us under his name. He is a truly gifted writer, and his real name should be celebrated as much as his pseudonym. I am honored to have read this book in advance and can’t wait to mail copies to my friends. Thank you, Wade for introducing us to the Golden Gays. I hope we will have future updates on their lives as they unfold.
4.5 Stars! Available 3/3/26
Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing have provided me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
By: Wade Rouse
Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Did you grow up watching The Golden Girls in 1980’s? Do you still laugh over reruns of it today? It is a true delight that still holds up to the comedy/drama standard it set 40 years ago.
Wade Rouse brings us this same comedy/drama standard with his That’s What Friends Are FOR. The journey of four gay men, as they navigate their golden years, sharing a home in iconic Palm Spring offers belly-laughs, soulful reflection, and even tears. Each man has his own struggle to overcome and just like The Golden Girls; it is their bond of friendship that makes this story so special. We can’t choose our family, but we can choose the friends we call “family.”
The Golden Gays: Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid honor Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sofia with their monthly community theater productions of the famous TV show featuring their own special SPIN and over-the-top wigs.
That’s What Friends are FOR honors the standard set by The Golden Girls by exploring the joys and angst of aging through its smart storyline that tackles gay relationships, secret cancer, closeted heartbreak, career lost and found, and toxic family drama.
I loved the four main characters and the connection I felt towards them. I wish they were my neighbors-What fun we would have! I also loved the iconic location of Palms Springs described to a Tee. Wade and his husband have long had a second home there and it was a pleasure to experience it throughout this story.
Wade is well-known to us all through his fabulous novels written under his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman. I am so thrilled that Wade chose to present this story to us under his name. He is a truly gifted writer, and his real name should be celebrated as much as his pseudonym. I am honored to have read this book in advance and can’t wait to mail copies to my friends. Thank you, Wade for introducing us to the Golden Gays. I hope we will have future updates on their lives as they unfold.
4.5 Stars! Available 3/3/26
Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing have provided me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an uncorrected pre-publication proof. I received no compensation for this review.
(4.5 stars rounded down, largely because there are several things that need to be corrected in the proof that made the story occasionally hard to follow)
As a Jewish lesbian of a certain age, who grew up in SoCal and remembers watching The Golden Girls before it was in reruns, I read the description of this book and thought, "Oh, this is definitely for me." After reading a couple of chapters I wasn't so sure, because there's a lot of exposition for those who are unfamiliar with queer or Jewish culture. But then the story found its footing and took off.
Under all the one-liners, this is a very tender book - dealing with aging in a culture that values youth; navigating chosen family and the trauma of family of origin; and celebrating the richness of intergenerational friendship. Old age is definitely not for sissies, and our four narrators finally rise to the occasion of going for every last drop of joy that they can, while being true to themselves and each other.
Along the way, I know I've hung out with Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid - and I really want to be Esther when I grow up!
(4.5 stars rounded down, largely because there are several things that need to be corrected in the proof that made the story occasionally hard to follow)
As a Jewish lesbian of a certain age, who grew up in SoCal and remembers watching The Golden Girls before it was in reruns, I read the description of this book and thought, "Oh, this is definitely for me." After reading a couple of chapters I wasn't so sure, because there's a lot of exposition for those who are unfamiliar with queer or Jewish culture. But then the story found its footing and took off.
Under all the one-liners, this is a very tender book - dealing with aging in a culture that values youth; navigating chosen family and the trauma of family of origin; and celebrating the richness of intergenerational friendship. Old age is definitely not for sissies, and our four narrators finally rise to the occasion of going for every last drop of joy that they can, while being true to themselves and each other.
Along the way, I know I've hung out with Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid - and I really want to be Esther when I grow up!
November 27, 2025
Thanks MIRA and Netgalley for the eARC, these opinions are my own. As a huge Golden Girls fan I absolutely loved this! Four friends, Teddy, Sid, Ron, and Barry live in Palm Springs, they found each other later in life and have become each others found family. They call themselves the Golden Gays and once a month the do a drag tribute to the Golden Girls. Though the bicker they’ve turned their golden years into their golden era. Their peace is shattered when Teddy’s estranged sister Trudy shows up with her granddaughter. Teddy tries to keep her at arms length but she somehow makes her way into the lives of the Golden Gays. Eventually the reason for her visit comes to light along with the secrets that the Golden Gays keep from each other. Will Trudy’s visit unravel their lives? Or is their bond strong enough to withstand anything? Hilarious and full of heart! Plus a ton of throwbacks to the Golden Girls that if you’re a fan of the show you will absolutely adore! Wade Rouse had me in all my feels with this one, plenty of laughing, crying, and wonderful memories of one of my all time favorite shows!
December 3, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
Not too long ago I was lamenting the cancellation of the Hulu show "Mid-Century Modern." It was hilarious and heartwarming and people were calling it "The Golden Gays" owing to the Golden Girls similarities. While THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR is billed as a tribute to original Fab 4, you will love this book if you watched more MCM than GG, or even if you haven't seen either.
This is a delightful book in that it not only has characters you want to hug, it is a pastiche of the found family comedy. Each of the four principles - Teddy, Ron, Barry, and Sid - embody the personality of a specific Girl but they are their own people facing the same problems the Girls tackled in the 80s. Money, love, health, ageism.
I found FRIENDS also structured a bit like a sitcom in which each character has his own arc that entwined with the others throughout the pages. I will say I am partial to Sid's story above the others. Without spoiling it, I will say his is one of the finer age-gap romances I've read in a long time, and I am totally fan-casting Adam Driver as the Hot Jew. (He's played one before.)
In short - love it, read it.
Not too long ago I was lamenting the cancellation of the Hulu show "Mid-Century Modern." It was hilarious and heartwarming and people were calling it "The Golden Gays" owing to the Golden Girls similarities. While THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR is billed as a tribute to original Fab 4, you will love this book if you watched more MCM than GG, or even if you haven't seen either.
This is a delightful book in that it not only has characters you want to hug, it is a pastiche of the found family comedy. Each of the four principles - Teddy, Ron, Barry, and Sid - embody the personality of a specific Girl but they are their own people facing the same problems the Girls tackled in the 80s. Money, love, health, ageism.
I found FRIENDS also structured a bit like a sitcom in which each character has his own arc that entwined with the others throughout the pages. I will say I am partial to Sid's story above the others. Without spoiling it, I will say his is one of the finer age-gap romances I've read in a long time, and I am totally fan-casting Adam Driver as the Hot Jew. (He's played one before.)
In short - love it, read it.
November 29, 2025
5 stars
Fellow readers, "travel down the road and back again" with this homage to the Golden Girls.
Celebrating the original four characters of acerbic Dorothy, sage Sophia, kindhearted Rose, and racy Blanche, this book also introduces the reader to a whole set of wonderful characters of Teddy, Sid, Ron and Barry. All of whom share characteristics of the counterparts. Their backstories are each unique and some include references to seminal moments in LGBTQ history. The character of Ava and her individual interaction with each of the men (not just her great uncle Teddy) was done well.
Weaving in stories from past episodes that rabid GG fans will easily recognize, the author gifts the reader with not just a look back on one of the most popular sitcoms. It also provides a wonderful story that love has no age limits, creates found families, and that dreams can still evolve into reality regardless of one's age.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Fellow readers, "travel down the road and back again" with this homage to the Golden Girls.
Celebrating the original four characters of acerbic Dorothy, sage Sophia, kindhearted Rose, and racy Blanche, this book also introduces the reader to a whole set of wonderful characters of Teddy, Sid, Ron and Barry. All of whom share characteristics of the counterparts. Their backstories are each unique and some include references to seminal moments in LGBTQ history. The character of Ava and her individual interaction with each of the men (not just her great uncle Teddy) was done well.
Weaving in stories from past episodes that rabid GG fans will easily recognize, the author gifts the reader with not just a look back on one of the most popular sitcoms. It also provides a wonderful story that love has no age limits, creates found families, and that dreams can still evolve into reality regardless of one's age.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2025
The Golden Gays are here to stay! In this satirical novel loosely based on a gender swap of the Golden Girls, Teddy, Ron, Barry and Sid live their fabulous life in Palm Springs! Like many people, they've had their fair share of traumas that really help to develop these folks as characters. I got to be quite emotional while reading this and it takes a lot out of me to become emotional unless I'm really invested in the character(s).
I absolutely loved this book! It's something I hadn't read before and it was a nice change to what I would normally read. It's one of the best found family stories I've read and I would absolutely love to have a copy to add to my home library! I couldn't get enough of it! If you're a fan of the Golden Girls as much as I am, then this is the book for you!
I would love to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! It's something I hadn't read before and it was a nice change to what I would normally read. It's one of the best found family stories I've read and I would absolutely love to have a copy to add to my home library! I couldn't get enough of it! If you're a fan of the Golden Girls as much as I am, then this is the book for you!
I would love to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2025
I am obsessed with the "Golden Girls" so was excited to read "That's What Friends are For."
Similar to our beloved Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia, four men (Ron, Teddy, Barry, and Sid) live together in Palm Springs, California. They may be seniors, but they still have plenty of life left to live, Known as the "Golden Gays," the foursome are known for performing old Golden Girls episodes on stage. There is plenty of humor in this novel, but like the TV show this novel plays tribute to, "That's What Friends are For" tackle some tough subjects as well. Wade Rouse creates memorable characters and writes about them in a relatable and memorable way. You mean ""Golden Gays" isn't already streaming on Hulu?
Four out of five stars.
Thanks to Wade Rouse, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read and review this delightfully funny book.
Similar to our beloved Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia, four men (Ron, Teddy, Barry, and Sid) live together in Palm Springs, California. They may be seniors, but they still have plenty of life left to live, Known as the "Golden Gays," the foursome are known for performing old Golden Girls episodes on stage. There is plenty of humor in this novel, but like the TV show this novel plays tribute to, "That's What Friends are For" tackle some tough subjects as well. Wade Rouse creates memorable characters and writes about them in a relatable and memorable way. You mean ""Golden Gays" isn't already streaming on Hulu?
Four out of five stars.
Thanks to Wade Rouse, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read and review this delightfully funny book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is nothing like what I expected and is definitely a switch from the usual Viola Shipman/Wade Rouse books I’m used to. That said, this is a very well written book about a sensitive topic. The book is based on the premise of the popular 1980s show The Golden Girls. Four older women presented the struggles of aging like being diminished by society, worthless, ostracized and unlovable. Based on that premise this book is about four aging gay men sharing a home together in a large house in Palm Springs CA facing the same struggles as the four Golden Girls in their popular show. They are supportive of each other through abuse and traumatic events at different times in their lives, and enjoying life despite those events. The book is humorous, heartbreaking and eye opening. I received a copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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