Men of the House

B-Boy Blues #7

by James Earl Hardy

Things are definitely "jood" (better than good) for 15-year-old Raheim Errol Rivers, III. A senior at Brooklyn Technical High School, he's on track to become salutatorian of his graduating class. He's juggling early admissions offers from Yale, Harvard, and MIT. He's dating an "older woman": 19-year-old New York University sophomore Maxine "Max" Edgewood. But the chocolate icing on his yellow layer cake is his father, Raheim Errol Rivers, Jr., and godfather, Mitchell Crawford, reuniting after four years. Errol is ecstatic when Raheim moves back in with he, Mitchell, and Mitchell's five-year-old daughter, Destiny. But he soon discovers that making room for another Rivers man in their home is easier said than done.

172 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2019

About the author

James Earl Hardy is the author B-Boy Blues, which has been praised as the first gay hip hop love story. The novel was a 1995 Lambda Literary Award (Lammy) finalist for Best LGBT/Small Press Title and was prominently featured in Spike Lee's Get on the Bus. The book is required reading in contemporary African American fiction courses and gay & lesbian studies programs at colleges and universities across the globe.

Hardy has also written a stage adaptation of B-Boy Blues, which sold out when it debuted Off-Broadway, as well as a one-man show Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star (which is based on the life of adult film actor Tiger Tyson).

An honors graduate of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Mr. Hardy is also an entertainment feature writer and cultural critic whose byline has been appeared in many national magazines and newspapers. His work has earned him numerous grants and awards.

Reviews

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Errol" (Raheim Errol Rivers III) stands in as the maturing millennial man of color b-bopping through the everyday life of a graduating high school senior. He has the swag,
the style, his crew, and as a bonus, an older girlfriend.
Together with his crew, Roe and Sid, Errol leads longtime (and new) fans of the series
through a wonderfully diverse world composed of various socio-economic, multicultural
characters including an out and proud gay teen who at least on the surface appears
widely accepted by his peers.
While engaging in socially conscious discussions with bits of pop culture which makes it
all go down smooth Errol and the rest of his ‘Candy Bar Crew” redefine the concepts of family,
brotherhood, and love. In turn, they teach readers, old and new that life and love are defined by those who
seek, obtain and nurture it as opposed to giving in to often unforgiving, unrelenting and impractical
societal views and pressures ill-suited to most any individual.
As a black SGL male who grew up shunning aspirations of fatherhood due to a
belief that I could never be an adequate father (figure) to heterosexual children
I am elated to see an illustration of what many same-sex, transgendered, etc.
persons are discovering and accomplishing around the world daily. The reality
of a family all their own on their terms.
The mutual loving and supportive blended family unit comprised of the fathers
Mitchell and Raheim (Errol II) as well as the children Errol (III) and Destiny
doesn't threaten traditional marriage and family it expands these concepts. This
depiction of family even debunks and indirectly instructs parents and children
on dealing with the inevitable questions and criticisms which are unfortunately
often directed at the children.
"Men of the House" reinforces and inspires my own current aspirations to be a husband and father but
more importantly the natural (if unconventional) function of this family unit more than adequately
illustrates what the series has always depicted between a same-sex union. Love is love.
In the specific case of the New York Times and Amazon Bestselling author's latest work; that love expands
beyond the sexual and romantic to encompass the nurturing and mutually respectful love between parents
and their children. Notably, there are no "step parents" nor any "adoptive children and siblings." There is
just family. As in any heterosexual case the relationships within a blended family can at times be
complicated, but the efforts are balanced by those invaluable instances in which it proves to be the most
wondrous and fulfilling experience.
This author who has often compared and modeled my own work after informative, instructional and
entertaining work such as "Men of the House" tips his hat off to Mr. James Earl Hardy, a writer whose
efforts continue to inspire and never disappoint. I emphatically recommend that you turn off the television,
put down what you're currently reading (including my own work) and pick up a copy of "Men of the
House" today!

Eddie S Pierce Jr.
Rainbow Room Publishing
Founder & Publisher

[Moten Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hardy held back, I think due to the age of the central character.

[Diane Rembert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a love story between two men, who are raising a family. Set in Harlem, this B-Boy Blues novel finds Errol and Destiny (15 and 8 respectively) being told that Mitchell (Destiny’s father) is allowing Rahiem (Errol’s father) to move back into the house with them.

I found the dynamics of this book to be quite interesting. The bond between Errol and Destiny is one I think many young girls wish they had...myself included. The relationship between Mitchell and Errol is downright CLASSIC, and heartwarming to experience.

Two things stood out to me and that is simply “Love is love” and cherish the relationship that you have with jood (no typo) people.

I applaud New York Times bestselling author @james.e.hardy.9 for the courage to educate the reader about unconventional love between two men who genuinely love not just themselves, but their family as well. I recommend this 💎💎💎💎 book, and look@forward to reading more in the series.

[Frederick Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted more.

[Laviesha McFadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blast from the past

James Earl Hardy where are you?! I miss your work. The B Boy series is a classic that can be read by all.

[Kevin L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

I enjoy reading another James Earl Hardy book. Lit Bit is my favourite character because he is not the stereotypical Black gay man.

[Ronald Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not going to lie I didn't thoroughly enjoy how this series ended. I felt like the focus being on the child limited the style of writing that the author typically does in this series. I also don't care for the plot of "is it wrong to date younger if they are mature acting" because yes its very much wrong but the book really wants you too be team no so badly. In its desire for you being team no it tries to educate you on maturity being a basis of how that relationship dynamic should work versus creating an interesting story. I think the series is fantastic but I just didn't fully enjoy this finale/entry into the universe.

[Lawrence White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!!

I was pleasantly surprised to see a new B-boy novel. Great to see the story continue. Can't wait for the next episode.