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Happy Endings Sleepover
Johnnie is a 20-year-old American kid who moves to Denmark to attend school. He meets Sander, age fifteen, at a party one night and the two become fast friends. But Johnnie has a secret, and it has nothing to do with his burgeoning sexuality. Johnnie works for the CIA in field transportation, infiltrating agents and exfiltrating valuable assets all over Europe. But complications arise when Sander learns of Johnnie’s career at a time when secrecy is paramount to the success of a life or death mission. Cade Jay Hathaway’s Happy Endings Sleepover is a taut thriller with a young, gay eroticism that makes it an irresistible page turner.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2015
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36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 3, 2015
Any kind of erotic novel--straight, gay, or otherwise--is usually a turnoff to me. First, the plots are usually very mundane, and the sex scenes oftentimes play like badly written Penthouse Forum letters. None of this is true in the case of Cade Jay Hathaway's "Happy Endings Sleepover".
The story is mostly written in a first person autobiographical style. This occurs in the scenes that the book's voice--Johnnie Allen--appears in. The other primary character is the young man Johnnie pines for, a boy named Sander. Johnnie has arrived in Denmark ostensibly to attend college, but in fact he's an American government employee who has been posted to the little country as a transportation specialist for the CIA. His job will be to infiltrate and exfiltrate American spies to and from various European assignments.
Johnnie's friend, Sander accompanies him on an assignment where everything that can go wrong does go wrong. So how does a spy novel become gay erotica? In the hands of an excellent writer, that's how.
Hathaway deftly crosses between the workaday and the personal lives of his characters in such a way that we never once question the motives or the veracity of their actions. All facets of a person's life are well drawn, and the author switches out the story's voice based on how each character can best deliver on a particular event.
For example, we have settled in to Johnnie's telling of the tale when suddenly a chapter opens with Sander's viewpoint. This is not a new conceit; an excellent example being Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl". But in Flynn's book, while we cut between specific story parts and timelines, the tale is told mostly in the third person. In "Happy Endings Sleepover" there are large portions of the story told in third person as well. This can be a tall order for a writer, because readers can balk when such gears are shifted too often and without warning. But in Hathaway's hands it works.
As far as the erotic scenes--and there is no shortage of those peppered throughout the story--they exhibit an intense passion and real love, something usually lacking in novels of this genre. The love that the two main characters share is very organic and, well, sweet. The characters are innocent and pure in their feelings for one another, while at the same time they definitely know how to rock a mattress.
Another positive is Hathaway's breezy ability to insert the reader into the locale. It's as if he culls the geography from personal experience. I would have no doubt believing that he has walked every street and visited every location described in the book. But it's done matter-of-fact; Hathaway never beats us over the head with superfluous minutiae meant to show the reader what a smart boy he is. Rather, it all sounds very much like a friend relating a personal experience to another. This serves the characters, which in the end serves the story.
Here is where I get to say that this is Hathaway's first novel. I find this hard to believe because his style reflects not only that of a very experienced writer; he has crafted a story that appears beyond his years--Cade Jay Hathaway is only 24.
The social context in "Happy Endings Sleepover" is important at a time when many American politicians are doing whatever they can to turn back the clock concerning gay issues. To see how Denmark deals with the question of same sex marriage, family attitudes towards gay people, and even the church's views on the subject compared to the USA gives deep pause.
Lastly, and perhaps most important, "Happy Endings Sleepover" is a reassuring and kindhearted statement to any young man or boy who finds himself struggling with what it means to be gay. It is a book that says you are not alone, that you will find the love you seek, and that you deserve it.
I do not intend for this review to sound like an uncritical love letter, but the very real fact is that I can find little to counter the many positives found throughout "Happy Endings Sleepover". I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it is a title that I will heartily recommend to any potential reader--straight, gay, or otherwise.
"Happy Endings Sleepover" by Cade Jay Hathaway is available in trade paperback or on kindle.Happy Endings Sleepover
The story is mostly written in a first person autobiographical style. This occurs in the scenes that the book's voice--Johnnie Allen--appears in. The other primary character is the young man Johnnie pines for, a boy named Sander. Johnnie has arrived in Denmark ostensibly to attend college, but in fact he's an American government employee who has been posted to the little country as a transportation specialist for the CIA. His job will be to infiltrate and exfiltrate American spies to and from various European assignments.
Johnnie's friend, Sander accompanies him on an assignment where everything that can go wrong does go wrong. So how does a spy novel become gay erotica? In the hands of an excellent writer, that's how.
Hathaway deftly crosses between the workaday and the personal lives of his characters in such a way that we never once question the motives or the veracity of their actions. All facets of a person's life are well drawn, and the author switches out the story's voice based on how each character can best deliver on a particular event.
For example, we have settled in to Johnnie's telling of the tale when suddenly a chapter opens with Sander's viewpoint. This is not a new conceit; an excellent example being Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl". But in Flynn's book, while we cut between specific story parts and timelines, the tale is told mostly in the third person. In "Happy Endings Sleepover" there are large portions of the story told in third person as well. This can be a tall order for a writer, because readers can balk when such gears are shifted too often and without warning. But in Hathaway's hands it works.
As far as the erotic scenes--and there is no shortage of those peppered throughout the story--they exhibit an intense passion and real love, something usually lacking in novels of this genre. The love that the two main characters share is very organic and, well, sweet. The characters are innocent and pure in their feelings for one another, while at the same time they definitely know how to rock a mattress.
Another positive is Hathaway's breezy ability to insert the reader into the locale. It's as if he culls the geography from personal experience. I would have no doubt believing that he has walked every street and visited every location described in the book. But it's done matter-of-fact; Hathaway never beats us over the head with superfluous minutiae meant to show the reader what a smart boy he is. Rather, it all sounds very much like a friend relating a personal experience to another. This serves the characters, which in the end serves the story.
Here is where I get to say that this is Hathaway's first novel. I find this hard to believe because his style reflects not only that of a very experienced writer; he has crafted a story that appears beyond his years--Cade Jay Hathaway is only 24.
The social context in "Happy Endings Sleepover" is important at a time when many American politicians are doing whatever they can to turn back the clock concerning gay issues. To see how Denmark deals with the question of same sex marriage, family attitudes towards gay people, and even the church's views on the subject compared to the USA gives deep pause.
Lastly, and perhaps most important, "Happy Endings Sleepover" is a reassuring and kindhearted statement to any young man or boy who finds himself struggling with what it means to be gay. It is a book that says you are not alone, that you will find the love you seek, and that you deserve it.
I do not intend for this review to sound like an uncritical love letter, but the very real fact is that I can find little to counter the many positives found throughout "Happy Endings Sleepover". I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it is a title that I will heartily recommend to any potential reader--straight, gay, or otherwise.
"Happy Endings Sleepover" by Cade Jay Hathaway is available in trade paperback or on kindle.Happy Endings Sleepover
December 15, 2019
Surprised by excellent descriptions
I discovered this book while surfing Prime movies. Thought I would read the book first, since the film was highly rated. Great story, and a genre (spy novels) I usually shy away from. Straight readers might find it too graphic, as gay sex is described. That said, the mystery and story line make it a page turner. I usually have to skim through descriptions of graphic heterosexual sex😎 if you are offended by sex in literature, skip this one!
I discovered this book while surfing Prime movies. Thought I would read the book first, since the film was highly rated. Great story, and a genre (spy novels) I usually shy away from. Straight readers might find it too graphic, as gay sex is described. That said, the mystery and story line make it a page turner. I usually have to skim through descriptions of graphic heterosexual sex😎 if you are offended by sex in literature, skip this one!
November 15, 2019
Awesome book. So different than the usual gay themed novel. A really good story and I just absolutely fell in love with the characters. I'm currently reading all the books in the series. Cade Jay Hathaway is the writer and he's one of the best I've ever read. Unusual in a really bold way. Also, a movie just came out of this book. It's at amazon prime if you want to see it. I really enjoyed that too.
April 18, 2018
Johnnie Bond on the case
I found this book to be a fun read. The adventure of the Cherry-Poppin assignment. A bit too much sex on the page, but that’s my taste...prefer the fade to black. Johnnie and Sander sure love their “alone time” time. 3.75 for little brothers.
I found this book to be a fun read. The adventure of the Cherry-Poppin assignment. A bit too much sex on the page, but that’s my taste...prefer the fade to black. Johnnie and Sander sure love their “alone time” time. 3.75 for little brothers.
November 17, 2019
Loved it
March 19, 2020
Slow build up with satisfying ending
I originally heard of this book because of the movie that is based off it. When the book popped onto my “you might like list” I recognized the title.
The story starts off with how Johnny becomes a cia operative. It goes through his time at his post waiting for his first assignment. Once he gets it the action gets going.
The story has a good mix of the espionage and him falling for a friend he makes that lives local to him. They have a sweet we they/won’t they relationship.
It is an enjoyable story and my only negative comment would be in the beginning each chapter jumps from character to character, and initially it isn’t clear whose the voice.
I recommend checking out this book, and plan to read his other books.
I originally heard of this book because of the movie that is based off it. When the book popped onto my “you might like list” I recognized the title.
The story starts off with how Johnny becomes a cia operative. It goes through his time at his post waiting for his first assignment. Once he gets it the action gets going.
The story has a good mix of the espionage and him falling for a friend he makes that lives local to him. They have a sweet we they/won’t they relationship.
It is an enjoyable story and my only negative comment would be in the beginning each chapter jumps from character to character, and initially it isn’t clear whose the voice.
I recommend checking out this book, and plan to read his other books.
May 15, 2020
Interesting
A unique way of writing. I wasn’t sure I would like it, but quickly decided I did like it. Interesting having two chapters identical but told from a different perspective by different protagonists. Overall, cute and fun. Sexy.
A unique way of writing. I wasn’t sure I would like it, but quickly decided I did like it. Interesting having two chapters identical but told from a different perspective by different protagonists. Overall, cute and fun. Sexy.
February 24, 2020
Worst book ever who wrote it a five year old and now there is a movie wow not for me
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews