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The FuBar #2
Making Magic
Sweet, helpful, sympathetic – both in and out of drag Stephen Walsh (aka Helena Montana) plays Disney princess to his best friend Bunny’s snarling Ursula, the Blanche to his Baby Jane.
But like so many Disney princesses, Stephen has dark origins. Violent drunks, thieves, liars, cheats – he’s had them all and had his heart broken so many times that he’s decided it’s easier to remain single, even if some days the loneliness is unbearable.
Then one day he walks into the local magic store and meets the owner’s nephew. Newly arrived from San Francisco, Hu Chen is shy, thoughtful and a perfect gentleman, so different from Stephen’s usual type that the attraction between them catches both of them by surprise.
As their flirtation blooms into a hot summer fling, Stephen is forced to confront his painful past, and face the frightening possibility that it has left him too broken to learn how to love a good man.
This full length novel (80,000 words) can be read as a standalone or as a sequel to All That Drag.
But like so many Disney princesses, Stephen has dark origins. Violent drunks, thieves, liars, cheats – he’s had them all and had his heart broken so many times that he’s decided it’s easier to remain single, even if some days the loneliness is unbearable.
Then one day he walks into the local magic store and meets the owner’s nephew. Newly arrived from San Francisco, Hu Chen is shy, thoughtful and a perfect gentleman, so different from Stephen’s usual type that the attraction between them catches both of them by surprise.
As their flirtation blooms into a hot summer fling, Stephen is forced to confront his painful past, and face the frightening possibility that it has left him too broken to learn how to love a good man.
This full length novel (80,000 words) can be read as a standalone or as a sequel to All That Drag.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2018
9 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Jess Whitecroft
24 books129 followersJess Whitecroft was born and educated in the UK, where she was once voted 'Most Likely To Think That Writing A Romantic Comedy About Bigfoot Is A Good Idea'.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 3, 2018
I had a friend ask me what I thought of this book, I status updated it today but I finished it last night. I told them it was a hard one to judge as Adam and Ryan - All That Drag - hold a special place on my reading shelf. I omitted heart, that sounds corny, but it's true. They have a special place in my world.
Stephen Walsh, a drag queen who lives and works at FuBar, has been a magician's assistant in his time, and like everything he's involved with and does he knows the history behind it well. Hu Chen has just moved to Pittsburgh to live with his Aunt Li above her magic shop that is full of clutter. She's a hoarder. Hu loves his aunt because she's the rebel of his Chinese-American family but the hoarding's getting harder to handle. Helena Montana, aka Stephen when not in drag, has promised another queen, Venus Envy, that she will make a clamshell for a photo shoot Venus is having, even though Venus is a total user and a bitch, but Stephen/ Helena is kind. Mind you, Bunny hussles the situation to make it work to their advantage too.
So Stephen ends up at Aunt Li's magic shop a fair few times looking for some specific things needed for the clamshell photoshoot. Stephen and Hu hit if off over a shared love of magic and shared creep factor over Gentleman Tim, a mannequin Aunt Li keeps in the store. They also bond over incorrect cultural rep in Breakfast at Tiffany's and a screenplay bastardising of Capote's book.
Hu ends up basically assimilated by FuBar and falling for Stephen, in spite of the fears that a straight boy, which Hu isn't, he's bi, is falling for his female persona. Stephen has always had the worst taste in men. Hu couldn't possibly be as lovely as he seems given previous boyfriend's horrendous track records.
For the first time in his life he was in love with a good man, and it had somehow collided with the realization that the bad ones had left him so fucked up he might not be fit for love at all.
Hu has a lot of guilt and sorrow in the background he has to fully recover from, but he's wide-eyed and happy about this new world of drag and FuBar that is opening up to him. He's a revelation to Stephen because he's rather quiet, boring - Hu's own words - and he's often, even more to Stephen's delight, old school with his romantic and sexual phrasing and word choices. They work as friends and they work even better as lovers.
"The first night he stayed over, he asked me if I’d let him take my make-up off. Turn me back into a boy. He said he wanted to unwrap me, like I was a gift.”
I also adore Justin, with his sporty and pierced little dick, who was in the middle of an Adam and Ryan sandwich for a lot of All That Drag. He's genuinely guileless and so proudly gay, and horny - a lot - although still getting plenty, and blissfully happy. Nothing phases him. He was expanded on in this book and I hope he keeps on keeping on.
“Justin, did you hear that?”
“Hmm?” Justin wandered over.
“Miss Helena will be entertaining a gentleman caller this evening,” said Bunny. “So whatever plans you have for piss play, gangbangs, bukkake parties or Tijuana donkey shows, either shelve that shit or do it very, very quietly, okay? We do not want the nice man to think we’re a depraved nest of weird sexual deviants.”
In absolute sincerity, this book had me either laughing my tits off or teary. It has some stealthily emotional moments. They really got to me. There's such a sad backstory to both Stephen/Miss Helena's life and to Hu's that I found myself on a knife's edge waiting for something to fuck it up, RuPaul's words intended, along with being swept up in the sweetness of their relationship.
This book has a lot going for it -
Two lonely MCs who are inherently nice people in spite of setbacks and hurt, who both have some issues not really dealt with that need to come out. Especially Stephen and Stephen as Helena.
There is so much laughter and Bunny is a scene stealer when she's on page, which is often as she and Helena are besties. More, they're drag family with all the drama and moments and drinking and drugs and fun and love. And heart. Lots of heart. Along with unswerving and deep loyalty and understanding of one another.
There are several arcs going on and all of them are interesting and build over the period of the book.
There is a deeply romantic element to the book, I don't recall reading I love you, once it's said, quite so often as I did in this book. But it suits everything.
There's a build to sex in the book between the MCs as both are unsure about elements I don't wish to elaborate on here. But there is also a good eroticism as well. Jess Whitecroft knows how to write good sex.
He didn’t even have to fall. Hu just gave. Just lifted up his thighs, arched his ass and offered his beautiful, wonderful, amazing self as a gift. Fully sheathed now, Stephen caught his breath, almost overwhelmed with emotion and desire.
There are a lot of status updates attached to this review because I went a bit overboard, check them out if the premise interests you. I do recommend that you read All That Drag before Making Magic but you don't absolutely need to to still enjoy it.
I loved this book. It's another winner in the FuBar series, I was a little worried that no one and nothing could work after Adam and Ryan. I shouldn't have worried. Another great read by this author who is well and truly cemented as an absolutely-must-read for me.
Slightly different blog review
Stephen Walsh, a drag queen who lives and works at FuBar, has been a magician's assistant in his time, and like everything he's involved with and does he knows the history behind it well. Hu Chen has just moved to Pittsburgh to live with his Aunt Li above her magic shop that is full of clutter. She's a hoarder. Hu loves his aunt because she's the rebel of his Chinese-American family but the hoarding's getting harder to handle. Helena Montana, aka Stephen when not in drag, has promised another queen, Venus Envy, that she will make a clamshell for a photo shoot Venus is having, even though Venus is a total user and a bitch, but Stephen/ Helena is kind. Mind you, Bunny hussles the situation to make it work to their advantage too.
So Stephen ends up at Aunt Li's magic shop a fair few times looking for some specific things needed for the clamshell photoshoot. Stephen and Hu hit if off over a shared love of magic and shared creep factor over Gentleman Tim, a mannequin Aunt Li keeps in the store. They also bond over incorrect cultural rep in Breakfast at Tiffany's and a screenplay bastardising of Capote's book.
Hu ends up basically assimilated by FuBar and falling for Stephen, in spite of the fears that a straight boy, which Hu isn't, he's bi, is falling for his female persona. Stephen has always had the worst taste in men. Hu couldn't possibly be as lovely as he seems given previous boyfriend's horrendous track records.
For the first time in his life he was in love with a good man, and it had somehow collided with the realization that the bad ones had left him so fucked up he might not be fit for love at all.
Hu has a lot of guilt and sorrow in the background he has to fully recover from, but he's wide-eyed and happy about this new world of drag and FuBar that is opening up to him. He's a revelation to Stephen because he's rather quiet, boring - Hu's own words - and he's often, even more to Stephen's delight, old school with his romantic and sexual phrasing and word choices. They work as friends and they work even better as lovers.
"The first night he stayed over, he asked me if I’d let him take my make-up off. Turn me back into a boy. He said he wanted to unwrap me, like I was a gift.”
I also adore Justin, with his sporty and pierced little dick, who was in the middle of an Adam and Ryan sandwich for a lot of All That Drag. He's genuinely guileless and so proudly gay, and horny - a lot - although still getting plenty, and blissfully happy. Nothing phases him. He was expanded on in this book and I hope he keeps on keeping on.
“Justin, did you hear that?”
“Hmm?” Justin wandered over.
“Miss Helena will be entertaining a gentleman caller this evening,” said Bunny. “So whatever plans you have for piss play, gangbangs, bukkake parties or Tijuana donkey shows, either shelve that shit or do it very, very quietly, okay? We do not want the nice man to think we’re a depraved nest of weird sexual deviants.”
In absolute sincerity, this book had me either laughing my tits off or teary. It has some stealthily emotional moments. They really got to me. There's such a sad backstory to both Stephen/Miss Helena's life and to Hu's that I found myself on a knife's edge waiting for something to fuck it up, RuPaul's words intended, along with being swept up in the sweetness of their relationship.
This book has a lot going for it -
Two lonely MCs who are inherently nice people in spite of setbacks and hurt, who both have some issues not really dealt with that need to come out. Especially Stephen and Stephen as Helena.
There is so much laughter and Bunny is a scene stealer when she's on page, which is often as she and Helena are besties. More, they're drag family with all the drama and moments and drinking and drugs and fun and love. And heart. Lots of heart. Along with unswerving and deep loyalty and understanding of one another.
There are several arcs going on and all of them are interesting and build over the period of the book.
There is a deeply romantic element to the book, I don't recall reading I love you, once it's said, quite so often as I did in this book. But it suits everything.
There's a build to sex in the book between the MCs as both are unsure about elements I don't wish to elaborate on here. But there is also a good eroticism as well. Jess Whitecroft knows how to write good sex.
He didn’t even have to fall. Hu just gave. Just lifted up his thighs, arched his ass and offered his beautiful, wonderful, amazing self as a gift. Fully sheathed now, Stephen caught his breath, almost overwhelmed with emotion and desire.
There are a lot of status updates attached to this review because I went a bit overboard, check them out if the premise interests you. I do recommend that you read All That Drag before Making Magic but you don't absolutely need to to still enjoy it.
I loved this book. It's another winner in the FuBar series, I was a little worried that no one and nothing could work after Adam and Ryan. I shouldn't have worried. Another great read by this author who is well and truly cemented as an absolutely-must-read for me.
Slightly different blog review
June 14, 2018
This is a great romance. The characters are complex and realistic. The setting vivid. And the love story one of self love and of creating that sacred space between two people.
Hu moves in with his Aunt above her magic shop in Pittsburg to assist her and to start again after losing his wife. The tale is just steeped in magician geekdom which is part of what makes it special.
Just a few buildings over, is a Drag bar where Stephan lives and works and does drag. So, we get drag geekdom too as well as intense circle of friends.
A spark ignites between Hu (who has always been bi curious but fell in love with his wife young so has never been with a man) and Stephan who has had one truely awful relationship after another.
Hu and Stephan slowly share themselves with each other and since that is part of the beauty of the story I don't want to gossip about them.
Whitecroft's characters are quick witted so the book is funny but it explores human horrors and difficulties so you might cry as well as laugh.
This is a book to savor.
Hu moves in with his Aunt above her magic shop in Pittsburg to assist her and to start again after losing his wife. The tale is just steeped in magician geekdom which is part of what makes it special.
Just a few buildings over, is a Drag bar where Stephan lives and works and does drag. So, we get drag geekdom too as well as intense circle of friends.
A spark ignites between Hu (who has always been bi curious but fell in love with his wife young so has never been with a man) and Stephan who has had one truely awful relationship after another.
Hu and Stephan slowly share themselves with each other and since that is part of the beauty of the story I don't want to gossip about them.
Whitecroft's characters are quick witted so the book is funny but it explores human horrors and difficulties so you might cry as well as laugh.
This is a book to savor.
July 24, 2019
I hope to arrive to my death, late, in love, and a little drunk - Atticus
Making Magic is a difficult story to explain , besides saying is an emotional satisfying , sweet and sexy story. Yep, the three -S - ☺
This book is like an onion, when you peel away one, another is layered underneath.
Stephen aka as Helena and Hu are the heroes of this book but just like in book 1 , all the Fubar boys are present. They all together play an integral and important part in the plot and the overall arc in series.
Making Magic is a difficult story to explain , besides saying is an emotional satisfying , sweet and sexy story. Yep, the three -S - ☺
This book is like an onion, when you peel away one, another is layered underneath.
Stephen aka as Helena and Hu are the heroes of this book but just like in book 1 , all the Fubar boys are present. They all together play an integral and important part in the plot and the overall arc in series.
June 3, 2018
Loved being with the FuBar boys!
December 10, 2022
The first time I read this second installment of the FuBar series, I gave it 4 stars and said it didn't quite stack up against the first. Lately I've been working my way through all of Jess Whitecroft's books and, having come back to this one I find I underappreciated it before. Whitecroft must hold a patent on the killer combination of wit, characterization, poignancy, hot sex, and blistering takes on woo and right-wing politics. And she's so ... um, vers.
On first reading, I also expressed the hope for more about Justin in future installments, so I'm also here to tell you that if you're curious about him, by all means keep on going.
On first reading, I also expressed the hope for more about Justin in future installments, so I'm also here to tell you that if you're curious about him, by all means keep on going.
February 6, 2023
Ahhhhh 😭😭😭😭😭 This series! Jess Whitecroft!! You think it’s all fun and games and drag and sex and then it punches you RIGHT in the heartstrings!
June 18, 2025
I am not sure what to write here, except: Wow!
Definitely one of the best contemporary series I have read so far. I elaborated a little on the why in my review for the first book in the series
Aside of that I really have not much else to say that I could say within a couple of sentences, and I am not a big fan of long-winded reviews. I'll have a look if I can come up with something a little bit more profound and elaborate over the next couple of days/weeks/months.
If not, I just leave it at: Excellent book in an excellent series. Read!
Definitely one of the best contemporary series I have read so far. I elaborated a little on the why in my review for the first book in the series
Aside of that I really have not much else to say that I could say within a couple of sentences, and I am not a big fan of long-winded reviews. I'll have a look if I can come up with something a little bit more profound and elaborate over the next couple of days/weeks/months.
If not, I just leave it at: Excellent book in an excellent series. Read!
September 23, 2022
There've been a few of Whitecroft's books where the romance is between an out and proud gay person and a "straight" man and I don't know why but I'm really digging this angle but for all the wrong reasons. It's such a "gotcha" for conservative arguments about choosing to be gay.
But the gay was inside you all along!
Anyway, that's how this one appeared to go down and I'm here for it. I read Bunny and Helena as Crowley and Aziraphale and I've got a super soft spot for cinnamon rolls so I was excited to see a story about Helena/Stephen.
Stephen's past is really sad and relatable and I hate that. He mentions a boy from his past named Jon and I really want to know what happened to him and I wish he was in one of the installments but I checked and I don't think he is. So now he'll forever be lost and I hate that for him.
Anyway, I liked the plot and the romance was fast with the L word but it still felt nice and realistic.
The conflict was believable and the lovebirds worked their way through it. I'm curious about the next book.
But the gay was inside you all along!
Anyway, that's how this one appeared to go down and I'm here for it. I read Bunny and Helena as Crowley and Aziraphale and I've got a super soft spot for cinnamon rolls so I was excited to see a story about Helena/Stephen.
Stephen's past is really sad and relatable and I hate that. He mentions a boy from his past named Jon and I really want to know what happened to him and I wish he was in one of the installments but I checked and I don't think he is. So now he'll forever be lost and I hate that for him.
Anyway, I liked the plot and the romance was fast with the L word but it still felt nice and realistic.
The conflict was believable and the lovebirds worked their way through it. I'm curious about the next book.
January 14, 2022
I quite enjoyed the first book, but for me, everything came together in this second instalment of the series and is pure gold! Snarky, sharply witty and fiercely intelligent, the FuBar girls absolutely hold their own in this story.
The love story between Hu and Stephen was gorgeous. Two real, flawed people falling in love and bravely dealing with their own shadows and issues, which rang so true. All with the backdrop of the FuBar clan and their antics.
It was fun to see them from Hu's initial point of view; bitchy, superficial, hedonistic and with way too much glitter, as we know there is far more substance to them. The FuBar family is tight-knit, unconditionally loving and a safe, tolerant haven in a hostile, indifferent and often cruel world.
I loved the way their characters developed further in this book and can't wait for the next one.
The love story between Hu and Stephen was gorgeous. Two real, flawed people falling in love and bravely dealing with their own shadows and issues, which rang so true. All with the backdrop of the FuBar clan and their antics.
It was fun to see them from Hu's initial point of view; bitchy, superficial, hedonistic and with way too much glitter, as we know there is far more substance to them. The FuBar family is tight-knit, unconditionally loving and a safe, tolerant haven in a hostile, indifferent and often cruel world.
I loved the way their characters developed further in this book and can't wait for the next one.
January 26, 2025
Lovely. Feels more cohesive and complete than the previous, with a gentle, truly sweet romance at its core. Despite the sweetness, Stephen and Hu are shaded with dark, intense backstories and very real flaws, allowed to be messy in a way I'm coming to think of as one of Whitecroft's signatures. Another signature seems to be , which here mostly served to set up the details of the ending--the angst of it was glossed over in a way that made the high drama feel a little unnecessary.
That being said, I had a great time and can definitely see coming back to this book when I want something deeply, earnestly romantic (also: so hot).
That being said, I had a great time and can definitely see coming back to this book when I want something deeply, earnestly romantic (also: so hot).
July 23, 2023
This one was a bit of a rollercoaster...one moment things were calm and the next, it was drama-llama and overwrought emotions. I could handle the overwrought emotions, but it seemed like one thing after another kept happening towards the end & that was exhausting. So exhausting that I need a nap to clear my head. However, that's probably just me--I don't like too much drama!
I enjoyed Hu & Stephen's relationship though and I'd say this was my favorite of the series. I'm giving it 4-stars because I truly enjoyed Hu & Stephen as a couple.
I enjoyed Hu & Stephen's relationship though and I'd say this was my favorite of the series. I'm giving it 4-stars because I truly enjoyed Hu & Stephen as a couple.
December 10, 2018
Helena Montana/Stephen's story includes the same wonderful cast as the first book, but features this Disney princesses dark origin story. Include the love interest, Hu, a gorgeous Chinese geek with his own dark origin story, it's a recipe for tears and laughs. Such a good book, loved it.
August 4, 2024
Fubar’s Disney drag princess, Helena/Stephen finds his prince in Hu. Who would have thought that drag queens and magician tricks were a recipe for love. Their story was so romantic. Overall, the Fubar family of queens are crazy.
August 30, 2024
I did not read the first book in the series but this was so good!! Fun but emotionally complex and realistic. Hu and Stephen were great characters and eager to read the first book. Unique story that was well told!!
July 14, 2018
Very good
Loved this book, I adore drag and this is funny, seriously funny and yet so sweet great HEA can’t wait to read more
Loved this book, I adore drag and this is funny, seriously funny and yet so sweet great HEA can’t wait to read more
August 15, 2018
I laughed. I cried. I went all mushy inside. Did I write the saame thing for the previous book in this series? Might be. Jess Whitecroft does make magic indeed.
June 28, 2022
3.5
I preferred the first book. Here there is more drama, too much sex, and too many references I didn't catch.
I preferred the first book. Here there is more drama, too much sex, and too many references I didn't catch.
July 25, 2023
Second installment, the main characters and the story are a little quieter and more intense than book one, but still such a compulsive, touching and funny book!
May 14, 2024
Elides race, class, age.
Rushes conclusion and bi-ness.
Still quite affective.
3.5 rounded down.
Rushes conclusion and bi-ness.
Still quite affective.
3.5 rounded down.
August 27, 2024
This was a great follow up to All That Drag. I enjoyed getting a book from Stephen’s perspective, but I did not see all that pain comin at the end. Definitely worth my time to read.
September 1, 2024
Such a sweet and romantic story. Stephen wants his happily ever after, but he picks the wrong men over and over again and ends up with his heart broken. And then there is Hu. Stephen’s attraction to Hu is a unique thing, Hu is a genuinely nice man and he is a forever kind of man. Hu first sees Stephen as he is on a rooftop doing yoga and, while he does not understand it, Hu has an instant attraction. Both these guys have been through some tough stuff, but they are just incredible together.
Read
June 17, 2018DNF
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews