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Banter Boys #1
Tackling The Issue
"Garrett O'Mahony would like to be your friend on Facebook."
One of the best rugby players Ireland has seen in years, a guy I happened to live with nearly a decade ago. But we were more than just roommates, weren't we Garrett?
Back then, Garrett was just another Irish guy pretending like he wasn't gay; back then, it was obvious that Garrett was just pretending.
I've changed since then. Ireland has changed since then.
Has Garrett changed since then too?
I guess there's only one way to find out?
~~~
Tackling The Issue is inspired by gay pornography, cinematography and magazines, especially those of the 90s and 00s. Part erotica and part M/M romance,the fictional novella features explicit gay sex, and also touches on the psychology, expectations and internalised homophobia of the LGBTQ community in Ireland, especially in the aftermath of the marriage referendum of 2015.
One of the best rugby players Ireland has seen in years, a guy I happened to live with nearly a decade ago. But we were more than just roommates, weren't we Garrett?
Back then, Garrett was just another Irish guy pretending like he wasn't gay; back then, it was obvious that Garrett was just pretending.
I've changed since then. Ireland has changed since then.
Has Garrett changed since then too?
I guess there's only one way to find out?
~~~
Tackling The Issue is inspired by gay pornography, cinematography and magazines, especially those of the 90s and 00s. Part erotica and part M/M romance,the fictional novella features explicit gay sex, and also touches on the psychology, expectations and internalised homophobia of the LGBTQ community in Ireland, especially in the aftermath of the marriage referendum of 2015.
99 pages, ebook
First published October 6, 2015
24 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Ken Mooney
13 books48 followersKen Mooney was born in Dublin in the middle of the 1980s; he still lives there. He holds an MA in English Studies from TCD, which he totally uses every day during his day-job...totally.
He's always been obsessed with stories, reading, writing and playing them; that explains the massive collection of books, comics, video games and discarded Word documents. His writing is a combination of all the things that he's passionate about, all the way through high-and-low-brow.
(Note from Ken: I don't log into Goodreads often, so best way to get in touch is via my website or Twitter.)
He's always been obsessed with stories, reading, writing and playing them; that explains the massive collection of books, comics, video games and discarded Word documents. His writing is a combination of all the things that he's passionate about, all the way through high-and-low-brow.
(Note from Ken: I don't log into Goodreads often, so best way to get in touch is via my website or Twitter.)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 28, 2015
I work with the public. If you are out there with me, working with the public, you are well aware that the world has its fair share of assholes.
When I open my kindle I want to escape. I yearn to shut out the crabby, grumpy, angry people. I don’t want to read about them.
Unless by chance this asshole redeems themselves…well, that’s a different story altogether.
But if the angry jerk is still an angry jerk at the end? I’m probably not going to be a happy camper.
Darren is a bitchy, whiny, bitter guy. He may have his reasons, but nevertheless, he’s not a joy to be around. And it’s even worse in his head. Sadly, this is where I was stuck for 98 pages. Before we get too far, I have another bone to pick. Overuse of words drive me crazy. Especially when it’s fuck. I’ve complained about this before, but here it is again. It’s a personal peeve, and I swear I’m not a total prude, but the repetition of fuck is a sure way to lose me as a reader. There are a lot of solid reasons to use incorporate fuck into a story but it can also be used a lazy filler. 312 times in 98 pages. That’s overkill and annoying in my reading preference list.
Back to Darren and his sour attitude.
Things begin in the present and then we alternate with flashbacks to the past. Darren is shocked when Garrett reaches out to him after several years of complete radio silence. They were roommates for a short period in college and the flashbacks return us to this time in the past. Garrett is a rugby player and a damn good one at that. During college Garrett is on the hunt for a new roomie and Darren is the lucky winner. Darren is gay. Garrett is not. Or maybe not. Errr, perhaps? They share a few moments of incomplete passion and everything shatters. I didn’t buy it. I didn’t buy the romance, the broken heart, or Garrett running off.
Things were also really inconsistent. First his dick is kinda small and then it’s the biggest dick he’s ever seen. Okay? Next Darren’s tending the wounds of his broken heart (for years!) and then he tells us that maybe Garrett broke his heart. What? There was a great deal of contradictory information that left my face puzzled with confusion.
Since I’m dishing it all out, I’ll also admit the sex was not my cuppa. Fuzzy bears don’t bother me, but licking sweat and diving nose first into a hairy armpit did not start any sexy fires for me. Totally cool if that’s your thing, it’s just not mine.
When it boils down to it, we are only given a few days, which span over eight years. It wasn’t enough. I’m sorry to say, I felt nothing but frustration with this Irishman and his 'tight end’.
I DID love the ‘Code’ at the intro…it was by far my favorite part of the book.
*2 bitchy-bitch-bitching stars*
When I open my kindle I want to escape. I yearn to shut out the crabby, grumpy, angry people. I don’t want to read about them.
Unless by chance this asshole redeems themselves…well, that’s a different story altogether.
But if the angry jerk is still an angry jerk at the end? I’m probably not going to be a happy camper.
Darren is a bitchy, whiny, bitter guy. He may have his reasons, but nevertheless, he’s not a joy to be around. And it’s even worse in his head. Sadly, this is where I was stuck for 98 pages. Before we get too far, I have another bone to pick. Overuse of words drive me crazy. Especially when it’s fuck. I’ve complained about this before, but here it is again. It’s a personal peeve, and I swear I’m not a total prude, but the repetition of fuck is a sure way to lose me as a reader. There are a lot of solid reasons to use incorporate fuck into a story but it can also be used a lazy filler. 312 times in 98 pages. That’s overkill and annoying in my reading preference list.
Back to Darren and his sour attitude.
Things begin in the present and then we alternate with flashbacks to the past. Darren is shocked when Garrett reaches out to him after several years of complete radio silence. They were roommates for a short period in college and the flashbacks return us to this time in the past. Garrett is a rugby player and a damn good one at that. During college Garrett is on the hunt for a new roomie and Darren is the lucky winner. Darren is gay. Garrett is not. Or maybe not. Errr, perhaps? They share a few moments of incomplete passion and everything shatters. I didn’t buy it. I didn’t buy the romance, the broken heart, or Garrett running off.
Things were also really inconsistent. First his dick is kinda small and then it’s the biggest dick he’s ever seen. Okay? Next Darren’s tending the wounds of his broken heart (for years!) and then he tells us that maybe Garrett broke his heart. What? There was a great deal of contradictory information that left my face puzzled with confusion.
Since I’m dishing it all out, I’ll also admit the sex was not my cuppa. Fuzzy bears don’t bother me, but licking sweat and diving nose first into a hairy armpit did not start any sexy fires for me. Totally cool if that’s your thing, it’s just not mine.
When it boils down to it, we are only given a few days, which span over eight years. It wasn’t enough. I’m sorry to say, I felt nothing but frustration with this Irishman and his 'tight end’.
I DID love the ‘Code’ at the intro…it was by far my favorite part of the book.
*2 bitchy-bitch-bitching stars*
August 13, 2016
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews with a copy provided by the author / publisher for an honest review. Rated 4.5 out of 5.0 Love Bytes)
Those of you who follow my posts know that I’m not usually one to read those six pack abs…perfect twenty somethings…books where everything is sweetness and light and everyone always has a HEA.
Well, once again I’m proving my point. I was intrigued when I read the blurb for Tackling the Issue. I’ve had a fondness for rugby since I attempted to play it as the token Yank on an RAF post rugby team in Cornwall years ago. I love stories with broken and confused characters, and I love stories which make some sort of statement. This one had all three.
I’m going to start by telling you that this book won’t be for everyone. If you are the type that loves the sort of book I was scrunching my nose up about at the top of this review, it wouldn’t be for you. It is slightly dark and very realistic to anyone who has lived the story. As a gay man, I’ve known men like Garrett, who were too afraid to come out, particularly when I was in the military, but also in other industries and jobs through the years. I’ve known a lot of ‘Garretts’. We gay men all have. A lot of us have also been in Darren’s position when men stopped in the middle and said they couldn’t do this…and then ran scared.
The core of this book, in my mind, is its portrayal of the internalized homophobia that many gay or bisexual men feel. Those of us over a certain age were never told that gay was “ok”. We were raised and pressured towards getting married, having 2.5 children, and the hell with what we really wanted. As Darren mentions late in the book when he is talking about his battle to come out and live as a gay man in Dublin, it hasn’t been easy.
I really liked the characters of Garrett and Darren, and liked the way the story was written in the first person (Darren), with flashbacks to a traumatic event that occurred eight years previously.
I highly recommend this book…but to a specific market. It was written by a gay man, about gay men; about the homophobia in Ireland; about the internalized homophobia in many members of the gay community; and about the change in the laws in Ireland where gay marriage is now legal. I think it will be an interesting read for anyone who wants to read a story that deals with real life issues. I enjoyed it. My only slight negative comment is that I wish it had been longer. I would have loved a little more detail and character development, but that is only because I was wrapped up in their world and wanted to stay there a little longer!
Great job Mr. Mooney!
Those of you who follow my posts know that I’m not usually one to read those six pack abs…perfect twenty somethings…books where everything is sweetness and light and everyone always has a HEA.
Well, once again I’m proving my point. I was intrigued when I read the blurb for Tackling the Issue. I’ve had a fondness for rugby since I attempted to play it as the token Yank on an RAF post rugby team in Cornwall years ago. I love stories with broken and confused characters, and I love stories which make some sort of statement. This one had all three.
I’m going to start by telling you that this book won’t be for everyone. If you are the type that loves the sort of book I was scrunching my nose up about at the top of this review, it wouldn’t be for you. It is slightly dark and very realistic to anyone who has lived the story. As a gay man, I’ve known men like Garrett, who were too afraid to come out, particularly when I was in the military, but also in other industries and jobs through the years. I’ve known a lot of ‘Garretts’. We gay men all have. A lot of us have also been in Darren’s position when men stopped in the middle and said they couldn’t do this…and then ran scared.
The core of this book, in my mind, is its portrayal of the internalized homophobia that many gay or bisexual men feel. Those of us over a certain age were never told that gay was “ok”. We were raised and pressured towards getting married, having 2.5 children, and the hell with what we really wanted. As Darren mentions late in the book when he is talking about his battle to come out and live as a gay man in Dublin, it hasn’t been easy.
I really liked the characters of Garrett and Darren, and liked the way the story was written in the first person (Darren), with flashbacks to a traumatic event that occurred eight years previously.
I highly recommend this book…but to a specific market. It was written by a gay man, about gay men; about the homophobia in Ireland; about the internalized homophobia in many members of the gay community; and about the change in the laws in Ireland where gay marriage is now legal. I think it will be an interesting read for anyone who wants to read a story that deals with real life issues. I enjoyed it. My only slight negative comment is that I wish it had been longer. I would have loved a little more detail and character development, but that is only because I was wrapped up in their world and wanted to stay there a little longer!
Great job Mr. Mooney!
October 18, 2015
I really wanted to like this novel, but Darren's inner monologue was driving me crazy. It only had 2 settings perving on Garrett and being an ass. I think it was meant to be funny or witty...
The idea for the novel was great though not original. But really I love professional sportman. What bothered me also was the title, "tight end" is a football position, "tight head prop" is rugby. Also I have read other novels with Irish characters and love how those authors bring the dialect out in their work. However this was just plain.
At the end I hate Darren,
The idea for the novel was great though not original. But really I love professional sportman. What bothered me also was the title, "tight end" is a football position, "tight head prop" is rugby. Also I have read other novels with Irish characters and love how those authors bring the dialect out in their work. However this was just plain.
At the end I hate Darren,
September 15, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
This is a novella, set in Dublin, Ireland. I really wanted to know more about the city and country, but that wasn’t really the experience I got. Instead, the book is really focused on Darren’s mindset, his fears, and expectations. His history with Garrett is related via flashbacks, while his frustration with the lingering homophobia within Irish society is in real time. Darren often comes off sounding bitter, and I was engaged in his beliefs that passing a referendum allowing gay marriage doesn’t undo the stoic homophobic mindset, or remove bigoted persons from society. It’s Darren’s opinion that Garrett’s internalized homophobia prevented Garrett from living a good and honest life, one they could have shared.
That said, the story ends on a hopeful note after Garrett makes his case to a frustrated and cross Darren. Darren, who still struggles to connect to men and is out, but quiet about it. And, Darren, who still carries a lot of conflicted affection for Garrett. I could really feel that stoic Irish mindset in Darren’s narration, and that was the part that took me elsewhere, though I’ve certainly read similar self-loathing viewpoints in other books. I have a sympathy for characters who suffer in silence, and Darren fell into that category for me. I wanted him to get a happy ending, and he pretty much does, so that was good.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
This is a novella, set in Dublin, Ireland. I really wanted to know more about the city and country, but that wasn’t really the experience I got. Instead, the book is really focused on Darren’s mindset, his fears, and expectations. His history with Garrett is related via flashbacks, while his frustration with the lingering homophobia within Irish society is in real time. Darren often comes off sounding bitter, and I was engaged in his beliefs that passing a referendum allowing gay marriage doesn’t undo the stoic homophobic mindset, or remove bigoted persons from society. It’s Darren’s opinion that Garrett’s internalized homophobia prevented Garrett from living a good and honest life, one they could have shared.
That said, the story ends on a hopeful note after Garrett makes his case to a frustrated and cross Darren. Darren, who still struggles to connect to men and is out, but quiet about it. And, Darren, who still carries a lot of conflicted affection for Garrett. I could really feel that stoic Irish mindset in Darren’s narration, and that was the part that took me elsewhere, though I’ve certainly read similar self-loathing viewpoints in other books. I have a sympathy for characters who suffer in silence, and Darren fell into that category for me. I wanted him to get a happy ending, and he pretty much does, so that was good.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
October 14, 2015
2.75 Stars but compared to books I've given 3 Stars to I just couldn't round up.
October 18, 2015
3.5 stars
December 30, 2022
A book which focuses on gay men and the homophobia which has been seen over the years in Ireland (I appreciate that it has been seen in many places but this book focuses on Ireland) and how this has led to men to hide who they really are, even hiding it from themselves and not accepting that they are gay.
This book is written by a gay man who has accepted who he is but is able to write about the internal struggle many go through whilst also including sexual scenes in his work. He is a talented writer who understands his genre and the small markdown is purely to do with editing.
This book is written by a gay man who has accepted who he is but is able to write about the internal struggle many go through whilst also including sexual scenes in his work. He is a talented writer who understands his genre and the small markdown is purely to do with editing.
October 26, 2017
Eh...
Not sure it deserves more than that. Huge lead up to some long overdue sex. Maybe friends to lovers, but they weren't really friends to start with.
The worst part, the story is set in Ireland, but written in American English with nary an accent to behold. Totally hate that.
Not sure it deserves more than that. Huge lead up to some long overdue sex. Maybe friends to lovers, but they weren't really friends to start with.
The worst part, the story is set in Ireland, but written in American English with nary an accent to behold. Totally hate that.
August 14, 2017
I really want these guys to work things out.
Check out Dan's review, it sums things up much better than I can https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Check out Dan's review, it sums things up much better than I can https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
dnf-not-for-me
October 28, 2022TOD: 44% Darren is simply an unlikable character and his inner dialogue is irritating.
April 9, 2023
(1,5 stars) Should have been titled Irish Guilt, M/M Erotica instead.
added-it
June 23, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/23/2023)! 🎁
August 22, 2023
Really well done
This story about 2 men coming out in Ireland before gay rights were legalized is very moving.
And their eventual coupling is masterful.
This story about 2 men coming out in Ireland before gay rights were legalized is very moving.
And their eventual coupling is masterful.
August 10, 2016
2.5 stars. It started out promising, but really didn't deliver. Darren is a university student looking for a cheap place to stay when he finds a nicely situated apartment with a hot rugby-playing roommate, Garrett. Though they are different in personality and lifestyle, they develop a tentative friendship. Then there's an incident that severs that bond with bitter feelings, especially on Darren's side. Years later, Garrett contacts Darren via Facebook. My issues with the book include that I just didn't see the romance develop, and there was too much showing and not enough telling. Also, there were more than a few typos that threw me while reading. Also, while Darren is supposed to be a sympathetic character, he makes more than a few comments that are pretty ugly.
February 22, 2016
1.5 stars
March 27, 2016
1/? dramatic MM erotica.
June 12, 2016
I feel like it was too short and needed character development hence the 3 stars.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews