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Gorgeous
Todd Mosley—athletic, handsome, unfailingly kind—returns to Washington, DC after almost a decade to confront his father, who’s currently serving a life sentence. Instantly, Todd falls under the spell of Linc, a stylish and charming photographer who wants to include him in a photo series on Black male beauty. The attraction is mutual and their passion unyielding, but as they grow closer, a bitter ex and wounds from the past threaten to disrupt it all. William Kendall is the full package—successful, sophisticated, and fine, but his ambition has put the brakes on romance. When he decides to focus on himself instead of his career, his life is upended by the return of his first love, who is married to someone else and wants William to rebuild their dream home. As William finds himself performing a new juggling act, Todd discovers his personal demons have an unlikely source right at home. From boozy Downtown art exhibits to vineyard weddings in the Blue Ridge foothills, two friends explore new romances while trying to escape painful pasts and protect their darkest secrets.
- GenresLGBT
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2017
22 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Renaldo Christopher
2 books11 followersRenaldo Christopher is a native of Washington, DC. Although he has occasionally maintained a blog and freelanced for online publications, his main interest has always been stories chronicling love and friendship between Black Men. Guilty is his upcoming second full-length novel.
RC has moonlighted as a bartender for seven years and makes a mean Sidecar.
RC has moonlighted as a bartender for seven years and makes a mean Sidecar.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 6, 2017
Over the years, I harbored the thought (very often) "where were the literary works that would fill the void left by the death of the beloved E. Lynn Harris?". And in this novel, 'Gorgeous', my question was answered.
A masterful work that spins a tale of a circle of friends loving & living in L. A. & D. C., whose ambitions drive them, whose secrets fuel those ambitions, and whose truths bring light to the need for healing. 'Gorgeous' seeks to show you how far any of us will go to "make it" - and when we get there, we often realize how much further we have to go; if any further at all.
What makes 'Gorgeous' stand out is that it tells a tale of gay men making their way through the world. It doesn't lean heavily into archetypes or stereotypes - instead, the author, Renaldo Christopher, leans into presenting multi-dimensional, multi-faceted, layered men. He presents a story that leaps off the pages with imagery painted by labored details & specifics, and a story that sticks with you wondering "what are we all doing? And what does it all mean?"
A literary ride through the lens of humor, passion, sex, love, heartbreak, family, success, & failures - Mr. Renaldo Christopher presents a work that I believe fills a void. 'Gorgeous', in my humble opinion, dares to tell the story of gay Black men that has been largely absent from the literary world for the better part of the last decade. You'll pick this up, & not want to put it down. And you'll get to the very last page, wondering about each & every single character; because they were written to stay with you.
I'm most certain that 'Gorgeous' is the beginning of a series that we all deserve, that has some awesome characters, and is written by a great writer.
I was GLAD to read this book!!!!!
A masterful work that spins a tale of a circle of friends loving & living in L. A. & D. C., whose ambitions drive them, whose secrets fuel those ambitions, and whose truths bring light to the need for healing. 'Gorgeous' seeks to show you how far any of us will go to "make it" - and when we get there, we often realize how much further we have to go; if any further at all.
What makes 'Gorgeous' stand out is that it tells a tale of gay men making their way through the world. It doesn't lean heavily into archetypes or stereotypes - instead, the author, Renaldo Christopher, leans into presenting multi-dimensional, multi-faceted, layered men. He presents a story that leaps off the pages with imagery painted by labored details & specifics, and a story that sticks with you wondering "what are we all doing? And what does it all mean?"
A literary ride through the lens of humor, passion, sex, love, heartbreak, family, success, & failures - Mr. Renaldo Christopher presents a work that I believe fills a void. 'Gorgeous', in my humble opinion, dares to tell the story of gay Black men that has been largely absent from the literary world for the better part of the last decade. You'll pick this up, & not want to put it down. And you'll get to the very last page, wondering about each & every single character; because they were written to stay with you.
I'm most certain that 'Gorgeous' is the beginning of a series that we all deserve, that has some awesome characters, and is written by a great writer.
I was GLAD to read this book!!!!!
August 26, 2017
3.5 stars. An impressive debut novel. Gorgeous was very well written and an exciting plot. There are a lot of characters and the flighty part of me got lost a bit throughout. All in all, I would recommend this book and look forward to what Mr. Christopher has coming next.
April 15, 2017
‘Hurting you is my biggest regret. You’re a good man.’
Washington, DC author Renaldo Christopher began his entry into writing on the Internet as "nova " occasionally maintaining a blog at novaslim.com and freelancing for other online publications. His comments on his blog lead into his own debut novel GORGEOUS in a pointed comment on the sate of ‘art’ in the media, the television series ‘Secrets and Lies’ in particular. ‘One of the trashiest shows to air in 2016 was ‘Secrets and Lies’, which entered its second season with a new murder mystery and a mostly new cast… Even Shonda Rhimes dramas with their shocking twists and speed-of-light pacing season their narratives with more noble aims, exploring sexual politics, racial identity and other weighty themes that inspire your favorite thinkpiecers. Shows that are straight-up trash allow the audience to forget the important and mostly awful things happening in the world by not commenting on them. They exist in a universe where those things just don’t happen but multiple extramarital affairs and extortion are par for the course… Can bad media rot your brain? Maybe, if there’s no balance in your consumption, but it’s not the responsibility of that media to manage the guilt over your intake. It is not in charge of your identity. This was a long way to say it’s okay to think of GORGEOUS as trash. Even if you walked away having gained insight into how urbane Black gay men reckon with their own emotional growth and perceptions of adulthood, at its core it’s melodrama, plot twists and beautiful people with enviable sex lives.’
So why included that in a review of a debut novel? Because it gives ample evidence that we are encountering a bright and articulate writer in Renaldo Christopher. His prose is raw at times, as the situation requires, and eloquent at other times. Bt never does he let the motivation for each f his characters stray form the personality he has so carefully draw. This is a gay romance but it is more. It has steamy erotica but never forced.
In many ways Renaldo’s summary from his website outlines where the novel is going – ‘Todd Mosley—athletic, handsome, unfailingly kind—returns to Washington, DC after almost a decade to confront his father, who’s currently serving a life sentence. Instantly, Todd falls under the spell of Linc, a stylish and charming photographer who wants to include him in a photo series on Black male beauty. The attraction is mutual and their passion unyielding, but as they grow closer, a bitter ex and wounds from the past threaten to disrupt it all. William Kendall is the full package—successful, sophisticated, and fine, but his ambition has put the brakes on romance. When he decides to focus on himself instead of his career, his life is upended by the return of his first love, who is married to someone else and wants William to rebuild their dream home. As William finds himself performing a new juggling act, Todd discovers his personal demons have an unlikely source right at home. From boozy Downtown art exhibits to vineyard weddings in the Blue Ridge foothills, two friends explore new romances while trying to escape painful pasts and protect their darkest secrets.’
Renaldo Christopher is definitely a writer to watch – he is balanced, exciting to read, dabbles in eccentricities and foibles of the group about which he writes, but he never lets the readers down with an unfinished thought. Watch him grow.
Washington, DC author Renaldo Christopher began his entry into writing on the Internet as "nova " occasionally maintaining a blog at novaslim.com and freelancing for other online publications. His comments on his blog lead into his own debut novel GORGEOUS in a pointed comment on the sate of ‘art’ in the media, the television series ‘Secrets and Lies’ in particular. ‘One of the trashiest shows to air in 2016 was ‘Secrets and Lies’, which entered its second season with a new murder mystery and a mostly new cast… Even Shonda Rhimes dramas with their shocking twists and speed-of-light pacing season their narratives with more noble aims, exploring sexual politics, racial identity and other weighty themes that inspire your favorite thinkpiecers. Shows that are straight-up trash allow the audience to forget the important and mostly awful things happening in the world by not commenting on them. They exist in a universe where those things just don’t happen but multiple extramarital affairs and extortion are par for the course… Can bad media rot your brain? Maybe, if there’s no balance in your consumption, but it’s not the responsibility of that media to manage the guilt over your intake. It is not in charge of your identity. This was a long way to say it’s okay to think of GORGEOUS as trash. Even if you walked away having gained insight into how urbane Black gay men reckon with their own emotional growth and perceptions of adulthood, at its core it’s melodrama, plot twists and beautiful people with enviable sex lives.’
So why included that in a review of a debut novel? Because it gives ample evidence that we are encountering a bright and articulate writer in Renaldo Christopher. His prose is raw at times, as the situation requires, and eloquent at other times. Bt never does he let the motivation for each f his characters stray form the personality he has so carefully draw. This is a gay romance but it is more. It has steamy erotica but never forced.
In many ways Renaldo’s summary from his website outlines where the novel is going – ‘Todd Mosley—athletic, handsome, unfailingly kind—returns to Washington, DC after almost a decade to confront his father, who’s currently serving a life sentence. Instantly, Todd falls under the spell of Linc, a stylish and charming photographer who wants to include him in a photo series on Black male beauty. The attraction is mutual and their passion unyielding, but as they grow closer, a bitter ex and wounds from the past threaten to disrupt it all. William Kendall is the full package—successful, sophisticated, and fine, but his ambition has put the brakes on romance. When he decides to focus on himself instead of his career, his life is upended by the return of his first love, who is married to someone else and wants William to rebuild their dream home. As William finds himself performing a new juggling act, Todd discovers his personal demons have an unlikely source right at home. From boozy Downtown art exhibits to vineyard weddings in the Blue Ridge foothills, two friends explore new romances while trying to escape painful pasts and protect their darkest secrets.’
Renaldo Christopher is definitely a writer to watch – he is balanced, exciting to read, dabbles in eccentricities and foibles of the group about which he writes, but he never lets the readers down with an unfinished thought. Watch him grow.
January 7, 2018
I don't have time to read. Rather, I don't *make* time to read.
Trying a new author is such a roll of the dice, too. You never really know whether somebody has the chops, especially when you're talking black LGBT fiction. The vast majority is self-published, and although that allows for greater creative freedom and control (a must when the writer knows his audience better than any agent or major publishing house could ever know them), there is still a huge learning curve for many, from editing to cover design to promotion, and more.
But really, I didn't have the time. When I finally made time, it was worth it. Oh, how it was worth it!
Renaldo Christopher introduces to us a tribe of gay black men in Washington, DC, who are friends, friendly, and frenemies. This tribe spans socioeconomic backgrounds, sizes, ages, and styles. Blowing into town after a lengthy absence is Todd, who has been through some things and is trying to be a better man. Although this book opens like so many other novels in the genre, with the introduction of a core group, Renaldo quickly expands that world almost exponentially. It's as though the core characters are their own solar systems, and the novel comes together to show us the whole galaxy--and it is beautiful.
There are a lot of twists and turns in the final third of the book. I literally could not put my kindle down until I was done. My jaw dropped many times.
I also really liked one of the characters. In lieu of spoilers, I will just say it's been a long time since a character in a novel made me laugh out loud.
My main criticism of the book is that there are a lot of characters, and at times it's hard to keep them and their relationships straight. However, and again toward the end of the book, Renaldo shows you why he has introduced so many characters. 95% percent of them have a very specific purpose, and every character counts.
That one criticism was not enough to take any star rating away from this wonderful debut novel. It has drama without being melodramatic; is smart and conscious without being preachy; and above all, expertly tells the story.
Trying a new author is such a roll of the dice, too. You never really know whether somebody has the chops, especially when you're talking black LGBT fiction. The vast majority is self-published, and although that allows for greater creative freedom and control (a must when the writer knows his audience better than any agent or major publishing house could ever know them), there is still a huge learning curve for many, from editing to cover design to promotion, and more.
But really, I didn't have the time. When I finally made time, it was worth it. Oh, how it was worth it!
Renaldo Christopher introduces to us a tribe of gay black men in Washington, DC, who are friends, friendly, and frenemies. This tribe spans socioeconomic backgrounds, sizes, ages, and styles. Blowing into town after a lengthy absence is Todd, who has been through some things and is trying to be a better man. Although this book opens like so many other novels in the genre, with the introduction of a core group, Renaldo quickly expands that world almost exponentially. It's as though the core characters are their own solar systems, and the novel comes together to show us the whole galaxy--and it is beautiful.
There are a lot of twists and turns in the final third of the book. I literally could not put my kindle down until I was done. My jaw dropped many times.
I also really liked one of the characters. In lieu of spoilers, I will just say it's been a long time since a character in a novel made me laugh out loud.
My main criticism of the book is that there are a lot of characters, and at times it's hard to keep them and their relationships straight. However, and again toward the end of the book, Renaldo shows you why he has introduced so many characters. 95% percent of them have a very specific purpose, and every character counts.
That one criticism was not enough to take any star rating away from this wonderful debut novel. It has drama without being melodramatic; is smart and conscious without being preachy; and above all, expertly tells the story.
September 3, 2017
Really impressive for a debut indie writer. If you're looking for scandalous, entertaining, high drama, this is the book for you.
Todd returns to DC from LA to finally have a sit down with his incarcerated father, who he hopes will shed some light on the issues he's faced lately. When he arrives in DC, he takes advantage of the hospitality of his older friend and mentor, William, and moves in while he works up the courage to confront his father. William is an accomplished architect who has recently decided to put his career on the back burner and invest most of his time in self-care. Through William, we're introduced to his friends, Julian, the cocky and spoiled owner of a thriving fitness center; and Linc, a suave bohemian photographer, known to be an unrelenting heart breaker.
The reader is thrust into their DC world of friendships, new relationships, lost love, broken trust, amazing sex, jealousy, self discovery, and world shattering secrets. Initially, the various characters were a bit confusing, but the drama was so good that I easily worked though it.
I'm glad this was my first foray into fiction centered on gay male relationships. Renaldo Christopher is a talented writer (I've felt this way since his music and pop culture blogs year ago), and his keen sense of humor and knack for engaging dialogue won me over quickly. Gorgeous was very eye opening but there was also an underlying comfort in reading the common issues of love, loyalty, and honesty that stretch across gender and orientation.
I am impatiently waiting for whatever else Renaldo Christopher he has in store.
Todd returns to DC from LA to finally have a sit down with his incarcerated father, who he hopes will shed some light on the issues he's faced lately. When he arrives in DC, he takes advantage of the hospitality of his older friend and mentor, William, and moves in while he works up the courage to confront his father. William is an accomplished architect who has recently decided to put his career on the back burner and invest most of his time in self-care. Through William, we're introduced to his friends, Julian, the cocky and spoiled owner of a thriving fitness center; and Linc, a suave bohemian photographer, known to be an unrelenting heart breaker.
The reader is thrust into their DC world of friendships, new relationships, lost love, broken trust, amazing sex, jealousy, self discovery, and world shattering secrets. Initially, the various characters were a bit confusing, but the drama was so good that I easily worked though it.
I'm glad this was my first foray into fiction centered on gay male relationships. Renaldo Christopher is a talented writer (I've felt this way since his music and pop culture blogs year ago), and his keen sense of humor and knack for engaging dialogue won me over quickly. Gorgeous was very eye opening but there was also an underlying comfort in reading the common issues of love, loyalty, and honesty that stretch across gender and orientation.
I am impatiently waiting for whatever else Renaldo Christopher he has in store.
March 31, 2017
It took a while for me to keep up with all the characters, but once I did the book really got going. The author was so thoughtful and intentional with how he described DC. The city was a major character in this book and the story benefitted from that. Strong debut!
February 7, 2017
A very entertaining debut!
January 8, 2018
An excellent first novel by a budding author that demonstrates a mastery of plot, pacing, and character development. Great read. Looking forward to the next book.
June 23, 2019
Amazing
I liked the character and I also believe that people can learn a lot from him😁😁😁especially when it comes to being humble. Hope there's a part 2
I liked the character and I also believe that people can learn a lot from him😁😁😁especially when it comes to being humble. Hope there's a part 2
January 12, 2021
Ayos naman pero di ko siya thing
Di ko siya matapos kasi masyadong maingay yung linya nila (para sa akin) At medyo nawala yung interes ko after reading the first chapter. So, yeah.
Di ko siya matapos kasi masyadong maingay yung linya nila (para sa akin) At medyo nawala yung interes ko after reading the first chapter. So, yeah.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews