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The Business of Lovers: A Novel
All is fair in love and lust in New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey’s tale of two brothers, four women, and the business of desire.
Unlike their younger brother, André, whose star as a comedian is rising, neither Dwayne nor Brick Duquesne is having luck with his career—and they’re unluckier still in love. Former child star Dwayne has just been fired from his latest acting role and barely has enough money to get by after paying child support to his spiteful former lover, while Brick struggles to return to his uninspiring white-collar job after suffering the dual blows of a health emergency and a nasty breakup with the woman he still loves.
Neither brother is looking to get entangled with a woman anytime soon, but love—and lust—has a way of twisting the best-laid plans. When Dwayne tries to reconnect with his teenage son, he finds himself fighting to separate his animosity from his attraction for his son’s mother, Frenchie. And Brick’s latest source of income—chauffeur and bodyguard to three smart, independent women temporarily working as escorts in order to get back on their feet—opens a world of possibility in both love and money. Penny, Christiana, and Mocha Latte know plenty of female johns who would pay top dollar for a few hours with a man like Brick . . . if he can let go of his past, embrace his unconventional new family, and allow strangers to become lovers.
Eric Jerome Dickey paints a powerful portrait of the family we have, the families we create, and every sexy moment in between.
Unlike their younger brother, André, whose star as a comedian is rising, neither Dwayne nor Brick Duquesne is having luck with his career—and they’re unluckier still in love. Former child star Dwayne has just been fired from his latest acting role and barely has enough money to get by after paying child support to his spiteful former lover, while Brick struggles to return to his uninspiring white-collar job after suffering the dual blows of a health emergency and a nasty breakup with the woman he still loves.
Neither brother is looking to get entangled with a woman anytime soon, but love—and lust—has a way of twisting the best-laid plans. When Dwayne tries to reconnect with his teenage son, he finds himself fighting to separate his animosity from his attraction for his son’s mother, Frenchie. And Brick’s latest source of income—chauffeur and bodyguard to three smart, independent women temporarily working as escorts in order to get back on their feet—opens a world of possibility in both love and money. Penny, Christiana, and Mocha Latte know plenty of female johns who would pay top dollar for a few hours with a man like Brick . . . if he can let go of his past, embrace his unconventional new family, and allow strangers to become lovers.
Eric Jerome Dickey paints a powerful portrait of the family we have, the families we create, and every sexy moment in between.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2020
433 people are currently reading
2354 people want to read
About the author
Eric Jerome Dickey
60 books3,652 followersEric Jerome Dickey was born in Memphis, Tennessee and attended the University of Memphis (the former Memphis State), where he earned his degree in Computer System Technology. In 1983, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in engineering.
After landing a job in the aerospace industry as a software developer, Eric Jerome Dickey's artistic talents surfaced, inspiring him to become an actor and a stand-up comedian. Yet Eric quickly found out that writing was something he could do and do well. From creative writing classes to avidly consuming the works of his favorite authors, Eric Jerome Dickey began to shape a writing career of his own. Having written several scripts for his personal comedy act, he started writing poetry and short stories. "The film work gave me insight into character development, the acting classes helped me understand motivation...All of it goes hand in hand," Eric explains. He joined the IBWA (International Black Writers and Artists), participated in their development workshops, and became a recipient of the IBWA SEED Scholarship to attend UCLA's Creative Writing classes. In 1994 his first published short story, "Thirteen," appeared in the IBWA's River Crossing: Voices of the Diaspora-An Anthology of the International Black Experience. A second short story, "Days Gone By," was published in the magazine A Place to Enter.
With those successes behind him, Eric Jerome Dickey decided to fine-tune some of his earlier work and developed a screenplay called "Cappuccino." "Cappuccino" was directed and produced by Craig Ross, Jr. and appeared in coffee houses around the Los Angeles area. In February 1998, "Cappuccino" made its local debut during the Pan African Film Festival at the Magic Johnson Theater in Los Angeles.
Short stories, though, didn't seem to fulfill Eric Jerome Dickey's creative yearnings. Eric says, "I'd set out to do a ten-page story and it would go on for three hundred pages." So Eric kept writing and reading and sending out query letters for his novels for almost three years until he finally got an agent. "Then a door opened," Eric says. "And I put my foot in before they could close it." And that door has remained opened, as Eric Jerome Dickey's novels have placed him on the map as one of the best writers of contemporary urban fiction.
Eric Jerome Dickey's book signing tours for Sister, Sister; Friends and Lovers; Milk in My Coffee; Cheaters; and Liar's Game took him from coast to coast and helped propel each of these novels to #1 on the "Blackboard Bestsellers List." Cheaters was named "Blackboard Book of the Year" in 2000. In June 2000, Eric Jerome Dickey celebrated the French publication of Milk in My Coffee (Cafe Noisette) by embarking on a book tour to Paris. Soon after, Milk in My Coffee became a bestseller in France. Eric Jerome Dickey's novels, Chasing Destiny, Liar's Game, Between Lovers, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, Drive Me Crazy, Genevieve, Naughty or Nice, Sleeping with Strangers, Waking with Enemies, and Pleasure have all earned him the success of a spot on The New York Times bestseller list. Liar's Game, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, and Genevieve have also given Dickey the added distinction of being nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 2006, he was honored with the awards for Best Contemporary Fiction and Author of the Year (Male) at the 2006 African American Literary Award Show. In 2008, Eric was nominated for Storyteller of the Year at the 1st annual ESSENCE Literary Awards. In January 2001, Eric Jerome Dickey was a contributor to New American Library's anthology Got To Be Real: Four Original Love Stories, also a Blackboard Bestseller. He also had a story entitled “Fish Sanwich” appear in the anthology Mothers and Sons. In June 2002, Dickey contributed to Black Silk: A Collection of African American Erotica (Warner Books) as well as to Riots Beneath the Baobab (published by Inte
After landing a job in the aerospace industry as a software developer, Eric Jerome Dickey's artistic talents surfaced, inspiring him to become an actor and a stand-up comedian. Yet Eric quickly found out that writing was something he could do and do well. From creative writing classes to avidly consuming the works of his favorite authors, Eric Jerome Dickey began to shape a writing career of his own. Having written several scripts for his personal comedy act, he started writing poetry and short stories. "The film work gave me insight into character development, the acting classes helped me understand motivation...All of it goes hand in hand," Eric explains. He joined the IBWA (International Black Writers and Artists), participated in their development workshops, and became a recipient of the IBWA SEED Scholarship to attend UCLA's Creative Writing classes. In 1994 his first published short story, "Thirteen," appeared in the IBWA's River Crossing: Voices of the Diaspora-An Anthology of the International Black Experience. A second short story, "Days Gone By," was published in the magazine A Place to Enter.
With those successes behind him, Eric Jerome Dickey decided to fine-tune some of his earlier work and developed a screenplay called "Cappuccino." "Cappuccino" was directed and produced by Craig Ross, Jr. and appeared in coffee houses around the Los Angeles area. In February 1998, "Cappuccino" made its local debut during the Pan African Film Festival at the Magic Johnson Theater in Los Angeles.
Short stories, though, didn't seem to fulfill Eric Jerome Dickey's creative yearnings. Eric says, "I'd set out to do a ten-page story and it would go on for three hundred pages." So Eric kept writing and reading and sending out query letters for his novels for almost three years until he finally got an agent. "Then a door opened," Eric says. "And I put my foot in before they could close it." And that door has remained opened, as Eric Jerome Dickey's novels have placed him on the map as one of the best writers of contemporary urban fiction.
Eric Jerome Dickey's book signing tours for Sister, Sister; Friends and Lovers; Milk in My Coffee; Cheaters; and Liar's Game took him from coast to coast and helped propel each of these novels to #1 on the "Blackboard Bestsellers List." Cheaters was named "Blackboard Book of the Year" in 2000. In June 2000, Eric Jerome Dickey celebrated the French publication of Milk in My Coffee (Cafe Noisette) by embarking on a book tour to Paris. Soon after, Milk in My Coffee became a bestseller in France. Eric Jerome Dickey's novels, Chasing Destiny, Liar's Game, Between Lovers, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, Drive Me Crazy, Genevieve, Naughty or Nice, Sleeping with Strangers, Waking with Enemies, and Pleasure have all earned him the success of a spot on The New York Times bestseller list. Liar's Game, Thieves' Paradise, The Other Woman, and Genevieve have also given Dickey the added distinction of being nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 2006, he was honored with the awards for Best Contemporary Fiction and Author of the Year (Male) at the 2006 African American Literary Award Show. In 2008, Eric was nominated for Storyteller of the Year at the 1st annual ESSENCE Literary Awards. In January 2001, Eric Jerome Dickey was a contributor to New American Library's anthology Got To Be Real: Four Original Love Stories, also a Blackboard Bestseller. He also had a story entitled “Fish Sanwich” appear in the anthology Mothers and Sons. In June 2002, Dickey contributed to Black Silk: A Collection of African American Erotica (Warner Books) as well as to Riots Beneath the Baobab (published by Inte
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
May 13, 2020
There are some excellent points of cultural experiences in this novel. There are also bits of repetition. Overall, I feel this is longer than necessary. 4 of 10 stars
February 20, 2020
This is my favorite book this year. I've read several books this year and none of them captured me the way The Business of Lovers did. When you read the synopsis, you're introduced to Brick, Mocha Latte, Christina, and Penny; just to name a few. And you learn that Brick is a bodyguard and chauffeur to three beautiful escorts. We could stop there and come up with a multitude of possible scenarios for this story. I must confess; I was taken aback by this story. It is much deeper than escorts being guarded and driven around.
Dickey masterfully paints a beautiful portrait here. And he does it in his familiar POV style as we hear from each character in his/her own voice. The author takes on themes of love, family, betrayal, forgiveness, and touches on homelessness, gentrification, racism, and LGBTQ issues. He does this while also giving us a deep enough look into the background of each character so we know what makes them tick. I enjoyed every moment of this story and had a very difficult time focusing on anything else while I read it. Toward the end of The Business of Lovers, I hesitated to finish it because I didn't want it to end. I have not read a book this year that captivated me as much as this one did. I've become so mentally and emotionally tied to this story that I doubt I will be able to read anything else for a few days.
I suggest you pick this book up when it releases. You will be in for an enjoyable journey as Dickey tells this very memorable tale of Brick and his two families.
I received this Advanced Reading Copy of The Business of Lovers for free in exchange for an honest review.
Dickey masterfully paints a beautiful portrait here. And he does it in his familiar POV style as we hear from each character in his/her own voice. The author takes on themes of love, family, betrayal, forgiveness, and touches on homelessness, gentrification, racism, and LGBTQ issues. He does this while also giving us a deep enough look into the background of each character so we know what makes them tick. I enjoyed every moment of this story and had a very difficult time focusing on anything else while I read it. Toward the end of The Business of Lovers, I hesitated to finish it because I didn't want it to end. I have not read a book this year that captivated me as much as this one did. I've become so mentally and emotionally tied to this story that I doubt I will be able to read anything else for a few days.
I suggest you pick this book up when it releases. You will be in for an enjoyable journey as Dickey tells this very memorable tale of Brick and his two families.
I received this Advanced Reading Copy of The Business of Lovers for free in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2020
Story 4.5
Sexy Times 5 (lots of it and graphic)
Character development 4.5
Pacing 5
Complexity 5
This is a recommended read. EJD had a story to tell and I enjoy books about personal and psychological development. Lots to be unpacked within these characters.
I was given an ARC of this book from Dutton Books via Edelweiss
Sexy Times 5 (lots of it and graphic)
Character development 4.5
Pacing 5
Complexity 5
This is a recommended read. EJD had a story to tell and I enjoy books about personal and psychological development. Lots to be unpacked within these characters.
I was given an ARC of this book from Dutton Books via Edelweiss
August 13, 2020
Brick and Dwayne Duquesne aren't having the best of luck in life right now. While their little brother is finding success as a comedian, they're forced to take a new look at life and love.
Brick is an educated black man who climbed the corporate ladder until life knocked him off his feet. His pseudo-fiancee left him a broken man, dealing with one of life's greatest burdens and wondering if he'll ever find the kind of love he's been looking for. Dwayne was a child star who took his fame into adulthood, but his glory is fading. The baby mama drama he has had to deal with didn't help and when his ex starts making rumblings about new worries, he's left struggling and trying to figure out how to be the best dad he can be for his son when he himself didn't have the best example.
Told primarily from Brick's perspective, The Business of Lovers highlighted the lives, the loves, the strengths, the flaws, the triumphs, and the pitfalls that built these intriguing characters, creating a multi-faceted dynamic that I couldn't look away from. Whether it was compassion or understanding that pulled me in, it was the unique voice of the narrator that kept me there.
* Copy kindly provided by the publisher *
Brick is an educated black man who climbed the corporate ladder until life knocked him off his feet. His pseudo-fiancee left him a broken man, dealing with one of life's greatest burdens and wondering if he'll ever find the kind of love he's been looking for. Dwayne was a child star who took his fame into adulthood, but his glory is fading. The baby mama drama he has had to deal with didn't help and when his ex starts making rumblings about new worries, he's left struggling and trying to figure out how to be the best dad he can be for his son when he himself didn't have the best example.
Told primarily from Brick's perspective, The Business of Lovers highlighted the lives, the loves, the strengths, the flaws, the triumphs, and the pitfalls that built these intriguing characters, creating a multi-faceted dynamic that I couldn't look away from. Whether it was compassion or understanding that pulled me in, it was the unique voice of the narrator that kept me there.
* Copy kindly provided by the publisher *
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May 18, 2020I am not sure what to rate this yet. I read it in one day and had a hard time putting the book down, but I also didn't love the characters or plot?
April 30, 2020
This wasn’t the Dirty Girls Social Club, Queenie or even Addicted; in fact this book is very straightforward and it’s realism almost works against it’s favor. Perhaps I’m just used to reading fiction about POC that takes drastic swings (of the above titles one of them included a subplot where a woman slept with her ex-husband who killed her maid and caused her to miscarry) but this was so tame in comparison. Not boring, just tame in such a way that lends itself better to a visual media rather than a written one. Which is to say that I don’t need multiple descriptions of the same women and the lives they lead.
In a TV show, you’d show one scene of this group of women glammed up and going to their clients houses but not here. Here, EVERY SINGLE TIME one of these women is doing anything, Brick (our narrator) is describing how they look, how they must feel about it, how he feels about them. It’s as though somewhere in the middle of writing this Jerome Dickey actually wanted to write about the mental health and struggles of sex workers but forgot that this book is supposed to be light and sexy and fun.
Overall the tonal dissonance didn’t bother me too much but there were other small things that started to undermine some of my enjoyment. Mostly that the description and setup of the book makes it appear as though we’ll be switching narratives from Brick to Andre to Dwayne. Brick has a story about helping sex workers and , Andre has a story about being a rising comedian and Dwayne’s story is about dealing with what appears to be a vindictive ex and a pending child support case…or they would if this story didn’t focus 80% of it’s length on Brick.
Don’t get me wrong, out of all the brothers Brick definitely has the most interesting life going on but I would’ve preferred either not setting up the expectation of shifting perspectives or more time spent with Dwayne. That isn’t even mentioning Andre who doesn’t get his own chapter and really doesn’t serve any real purpose to the narrative in the long run.
But those things aside, did I enjoy this novel? Yes. In many ways I think it runs parallel to Walter Mosley’s Killing Johnny Fry, in the same way that Luster was a more arthouse version of Queenie.
I give it ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (and a half) out of five.
In a TV show, you’d show one scene of this group of women glammed up and going to their clients houses but not here. Here, EVERY SINGLE TIME one of these women is doing anything, Brick (our narrator) is describing how they look, how they must feel about it, how he feels about them. It’s as though somewhere in the middle of writing this Jerome Dickey actually wanted to write about the mental health and struggles of sex workers but forgot that this book is supposed to be light and sexy and fun.
Overall the tonal dissonance didn’t bother me too much but there were other small things that started to undermine some of my enjoyment. Mostly that the description and setup of the book makes it appear as though we’ll be switching narratives from Brick to Andre to Dwayne. Brick has a story about helping sex workers and , Andre has a story about being a rising comedian and Dwayne’s story is about dealing with what appears to be a vindictive ex and a pending child support case…or they would if this story didn’t focus 80% of it’s length on Brick.
Don’t get me wrong, out of all the brothers Brick definitely has the most interesting life going on but I would’ve preferred either not setting up the expectation of shifting perspectives or more time spent with Dwayne. That isn’t even mentioning Andre who doesn’t get his own chapter and really doesn’t serve any real purpose to the narrative in the long run.
But those things aside, did I enjoy this novel? Yes. In many ways I think it runs parallel to Walter Mosley’s Killing Johnny Fry, in the same way that Luster was a more arthouse version of Queenie.
I give it ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (and a half) out of five.
August 1, 2020
EJD brought the heat in this read. Brick started off helping his neighbor Penny and her friends, Christiana and Mocha Latte as a driver with their escort business and ended up being involved more than he intended. Filled with classic metaphors, drama and his unique style of storytelling, this is a sizzling read. Relationships between brothers, father and son, exes are covered, and somehow, it leads to a satisfying conclusion. This is not a tame read.
#Netgalley Thank you.
#Netgalley Thank you.
August 24, 2024
4 stars ⭐️ oh how I’ve missed Eric Jerome Dickey’s writing 🥰 he is one of my all time favorite authors so I truly didn’t feel the need to read the synopsis and went into this blind. Turns out, this is a unique approach to love and romance and belonging and loneliness and trust/mistrust and hurt and vulnerability and power and control and release….I could go on…all through the lens of sex work.
Now, don’t be scared off by that! It was actually really soft. EJD writes romance and spice in a way that I don’t even recognize it as spicy or sharp or crude or even “hot”. It always feels soft and poetic. Yes, even given the sex work undertone. Idk, call me cooky 🤷🏽♀️ maybe it’s because he does an impeccable job of giving all of the characters such depth. I really connected and understood all of them as they all had such layered stories and backgrounds. It was interesting to say the least. When it was all said and done, I was happy with the closure Brick got from his journey. Dwayne’s story left something to be desired to be honest because I feel like it wasn’t shown/explained enough.
Brick is the main character who finds himself in the lifestyle of sex work with three lady friends Penny, Christiana, and Mocha Latte (also escorts). Dwayne, his brother, is an out of work artist (tv shows, movies, theatre) who is having it out with his 15-year-old’s mom, Frenchie (THE WORST…though she softens along the way, I guess 😒). His story is maybe 20% of the book. André is their other brother. He makes up maybe 3% of the story and I found it odd that he was even mentioned because we learned so little about him. After reading the acknowledgments, I learned that EJD originally gave André his own perspective as well but ultimately ended up cutting it for sake of the book’s longevity.
All in all, this book gave me exactly the vibe I was looking for. I will recommend any of EJD’s books so long as I have breath in my body. This was an excellent read.
Now, don’t be scared off by that! It was actually really soft. EJD writes romance and spice in a way that I don’t even recognize it as spicy or sharp or crude or even “hot”. It always feels soft and poetic. Yes, even given the sex work undertone. Idk, call me cooky 🤷🏽♀️ maybe it’s because he does an impeccable job of giving all of the characters such depth. I really connected and understood all of them as they all had such layered stories and backgrounds. It was interesting to say the least. When it was all said and done, I was happy with the closure Brick got from his journey. Dwayne’s story left something to be desired to be honest because I feel like it wasn’t shown/explained enough.
Brick is the main character who finds himself in the lifestyle of sex work with three lady friends Penny, Christiana, and Mocha Latte (also escorts). Dwayne, his brother, is an out of work artist (tv shows, movies, theatre) who is having it out with his 15-year-old’s mom, Frenchie (THE WORST…though she softens along the way, I guess 😒). His story is maybe 20% of the book. André is their other brother. He makes up maybe 3% of the story and I found it odd that he was even mentioned because we learned so little about him. After reading the acknowledgments, I learned that EJD originally gave André his own perspective as well but ultimately ended up cutting it for sake of the book’s longevity.
All in all, this book gave me exactly the vibe I was looking for. I will recommend any of EJD’s books so long as I have breath in my body. This was an excellent read.
April 8, 2020
In retrospect, I perhaps should have waited to read this but I am often too eager to read an EJD to wait, so... here we are.
I find Dickey's writing to be decadent and entertaining, though he often goes deep and long, particularly on the sex scenes. That said, the story overall is engaging, and he hints at something in his author's note that tells me that we might see these people return in another novel.
I once told someone that EJD is one of the few male writers that write women well. That fact remains true, however, the women in this novel, while they felt real, didn't go very deep. Maybe Frenchie, but we just got a little dip into her psyche. I enjoyed reading the brotherhood, how the stores weave between each other and manage to dovetail at the end.
In all, a pretty good read. I am hard-pressed to be hypercritical about a Dickey novel. Might give it a re-read when my mind isn't occupied by enduring a historical event and trying to escape from it.
I find Dickey's writing to be decadent and entertaining, though he often goes deep and long, particularly on the sex scenes. That said, the story overall is engaging, and he hints at something in his author's note that tells me that we might see these people return in another novel.
I once told someone that EJD is one of the few male writers that write women well. That fact remains true, however, the women in this novel, while they felt real, didn't go very deep. Maybe Frenchie, but we just got a little dip into her psyche. I enjoyed reading the brotherhood, how the stores weave between each other and manage to dovetail at the end.
In all, a pretty good read. I am hard-pressed to be hypercritical about a Dickey novel. Might give it a re-read when my mind isn't occupied by enduring a historical event and trying to escape from it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2024
2.5 (rounding up bc im a nice person) ehh… some parts of this i really liked. most parts of this i disliked. the plot of this felt like a never-ending run-on sentence. you can tell this book is written by a man (derogatory). the “three levels deep” thing really ground my gears and by the time it was mentioned for the third time i almost wanted to stop reading.
April 3, 2020
I wait on new Eric Jerome Dickey releases like clockwork. Every April, I can count on a page-turning, sexy fictional novel that shows a colorful portrait of hard-to-forget characters. In The Business of Lovers, we meet two (2) brothers and three (3) women.
Allow me to introduce them. Dwayne Duquesne is hard on times. The formal child star has just been fired from his latest acting role and is broke after paying child support. He returns home to check on his teenaged son and to hopefully make amends with the spiteful mother of his son. Brick Duquesne is taking a break from the corporate world. He put his job on hold after a health emergency and nasty breakup with a woman he still loves. Brick spends his days playing security and chauffeur to escorts. His neighbor, Penny, is a college student in debt. Mocha Latte is a former engineer looking for real love. Christiana is a Cuban refugee playing pimp. It is not long before the trio convinces Brick to become an escort himself. Let the story sexily begin!
The title is perfect. Dickey pens a page-turner about the family we are born to, the family we choose and the business of lovers. It is oh so unconventional but it flows like a classic EJD novel. Signature clipped sentences. Characters searching for life's purpose while loving on one another. Emotional turmoil and internal debates on morality. Relationships based on lust and less trust. Cash only professions. And an unforgettable cast with alternating points of view. All elements of a good book!
So why not a solid 5⭐️ rating? Through some of the engaging dialogue between the characters, a few interesting things were mentioned that could have been expanded upon. It would've given a deeper look into the psyche of Dwayne and Brick. More background on Penny, Christiana and Mocha Latte would have been appreciated to fully understand why they chose sex work. Sure it was mentioned in a paragraph or two, but more character development could have added layers to the story.
Hopefully this prompts the author to revisit these folks in the near future. Maybe they can cross paths with other Dickey universe characters like Gideon, Margaux, Destiny or Ken Swift. Just the thought excites me! (If none of these names sound familiar, my dear bookheart, you have some reading to catch up on.)
Before I go, let me have my chance to shine. Thank you for the acknowledgment. You are welcome, EJD, for my being a loyal reader because without my help, you'd be sitting in a cubicle from 9-5pm unhappy, battling all the characters' voices in your head with co-workers that disregard your previous emails and wishing you were traveling around this great world writing for readers' pleasure. You too are the best of the best!
Happy Early Pub Day, Eric Jerome Dickey! The Business of Lovers will be available Tuesday, April 21.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.
LiteraryMarie
Allow me to introduce them. Dwayne Duquesne is hard on times. The formal child star has just been fired from his latest acting role and is broke after paying child support. He returns home to check on his teenaged son and to hopefully make amends with the spiteful mother of his son. Brick Duquesne is taking a break from the corporate world. He put his job on hold after a health emergency and nasty breakup with a woman he still loves. Brick spends his days playing security and chauffeur to escorts. His neighbor, Penny, is a college student in debt. Mocha Latte is a former engineer looking for real love. Christiana is a Cuban refugee playing pimp. It is not long before the trio convinces Brick to become an escort himself. Let the story sexily begin!
The title is perfect. Dickey pens a page-turner about the family we are born to, the family we choose and the business of lovers. It is oh so unconventional but it flows like a classic EJD novel. Signature clipped sentences. Characters searching for life's purpose while loving on one another. Emotional turmoil and internal debates on morality. Relationships based on lust and less trust. Cash only professions. And an unforgettable cast with alternating points of view. All elements of a good book!
So why not a solid 5⭐️ rating? Through some of the engaging dialogue between the characters, a few interesting things were mentioned that could have been expanded upon. It would've given a deeper look into the psyche of Dwayne and Brick. More background on Penny, Christiana and Mocha Latte would have been appreciated to fully understand why they chose sex work. Sure it was mentioned in a paragraph or two, but more character development could have added layers to the story.
Hopefully this prompts the author to revisit these folks in the near future. Maybe they can cross paths with other Dickey universe characters like Gideon, Margaux, Destiny or Ken Swift. Just the thought excites me! (If none of these names sound familiar, my dear bookheart, you have some reading to catch up on.)
Before I go, let me have my chance to shine. Thank you for the acknowledgment. You are welcome, EJD, for my being a loyal reader because without my help, you'd be sitting in a cubicle from 9-5pm unhappy, battling all the characters' voices in your head with co-workers that disregard your previous emails and wishing you were traveling around this great world writing for readers' pleasure. You too are the best of the best!
Happy Early Pub Day, Eric Jerome Dickey! The Business of Lovers will be available Tuesday, April 21.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.
LiteraryMarie
July 6, 2020
Meh....
Not sure if EJD has lost his touch, or I've outgrown him. Book wasn't the page-turner I've grown to love by this author. Stuck through it as a bedtime read...proved effective for causing drowsiness, and took FOREVER for me to drudge through. Not his best work.
Storyline- weak. While it's been fun in the past to follow different POVs, I got the feeling that END would switch to a new character when he ran out of story. Characters were not well developed at all, so this made it difficult to get invested in the overall story.
Flow- When all else fails, throw in a sex scene. At least that's what seemed to be the strategy here. The sex placements were random, and weren't much fun to read. Became repetitive... "...three leve!s deep." ( eye roll)- ok, we get it.
I've way more good experiences with EJD than bad, so I'll continue checking his stuff out. But, this wasn't great. Sorry, not sorry.
Not sure if EJD has lost his touch, or I've outgrown him. Book wasn't the page-turner I've grown to love by this author. Stuck through it as a bedtime read...proved effective for causing drowsiness, and took FOREVER for me to drudge through. Not his best work.
Storyline- weak. While it's been fun in the past to follow different POVs, I got the feeling that END would switch to a new character when he ran out of story. Characters were not well developed at all, so this made it difficult to get invested in the overall story.
Flow- When all else fails, throw in a sex scene. At least that's what seemed to be the strategy here. The sex placements were random, and weren't much fun to read. Became repetitive... "...three leve!s deep." ( eye roll)- ok, we get it.
I've way more good experiences with EJD than bad, so I'll continue checking his stuff out. But, this wasn't great. Sorry, not sorry.
April 6, 2021
I don't know if I just want a certain type of book from EJD since reading the Gideon Series and Wanted Woman books (I LOVED THOSE BOOKS), but I just found myself feeling hohum about this book and many of his later books. One I started and couldn't even finish. I'd even started this book before and decided to put it down. I never do that! I have always found myself wanting more or so totally engaged by the story I couldn't put the book away. There was about 5 times that I thought, ok it's ending. I would have been ok with that, but this drug on and on. I also thought this book was more about one of the brothers and not the others. IDK.
EJD is one of my favorite authors and I am so sad that he is gone. I hate that I didn't love this book.
EJD is one of my favorite authors and I am so sad that he is gone. I hate that I didn't love this book.
April 16, 2021
Three hundred & eighty-seven pages of nonsense!!
March 8, 2021
Both Dwayne and Brick aren't having luck with their careers, or their love lives. Dwayne really wants to see his teenage son, but he is having trouble separating his feelings of love for his son, with the negative feelings he has for his son's mother. Brick has recently had his heart broken, and he's dealt with some serious health issues. He's looking to forget and let go, and will try anything to just live in the moment.
An interesting look at family dynamics and the families we make for ourselves. A good book, that I may not have picked up initially.
An interesting look at family dynamics and the families we make for ourselves. A good book, that I may not have picked up initially.
April 4, 2025
So Brick is a pimp with three tricks? Or security to the tricks? No he is the driver. Has an ex-girlfriend who was turned out, by her friend and left Brick in love and alone. The story takes place in LA and the women are trying to convince Brick to become a trick himself.
Dwayne, Brick’s brother, who is a single father who is concerned about his son. He was a child star, and currently a struggling unemployed actor, and his baby momma is trying to take him for everything he got, which seems like goose eggs.
There is a third brother Andre who is a successful comedian and ladies man
Dickey is funny, straight to the point, honest writing
Reactions:
Dwayne is broke, don’t have a pot to piss inner a window to throw it out of broke. So broke that he is using groupies for a bed, hot shower, and sex therapy…a hot ass mess
Dwayne’s baby momma, Frenchie, who was married to another when he gave her that baby is apparently broke too! She has his son living in a run apartment with no water or gas! Like where is the money going girl??!! According to her, her accountant stole all her fund and skipped town to reside on an untouchable island…Damn
Senorita, Mocha Latte, and Penny all trying to Brick to sell his body. All these women have stories of being professional women or educated women, and basically forced into this escort life, but all seem to enjoy the benefits or at least the money! Brick has now slept with all three women, given them all this “three level orgasm” (huh?) that they truly believe would be a marketable experience.
For Brick’s first solo escort experience, he literally stops the woman’s heart with his level three orgasm…(yikes!) He eventually leaves the life, with a bag of money.
Brick and his brothers have no shortage of women and intimacy, but all seem to find a happy ending. This was a wild story about prostitution and I honestly am never ready for Mr. Dickey and his messy novels.
Dwayne, Brick’s brother, who is a single father who is concerned about his son. He was a child star, and currently a struggling unemployed actor, and his baby momma is trying to take him for everything he got, which seems like goose eggs.
There is a third brother Andre who is a successful comedian and ladies man
Dickey is funny, straight to the point, honest writing
Reactions:
Dwayne is broke, don’t have a pot to piss inner a window to throw it out of broke. So broke that he is using groupies for a bed, hot shower, and sex therapy…a hot ass mess
Dwayne’s baby momma, Frenchie, who was married to another when he gave her that baby is apparently broke too! She has his son living in a run apartment with no water or gas! Like where is the money going girl??!! According to her, her accountant stole all her fund and skipped town to reside on an untouchable island…Damn
Senorita, Mocha Latte, and Penny all trying to Brick to sell his body. All these women have stories of being professional women or educated women, and basically forced into this escort life, but all seem to enjoy the benefits or at least the money! Brick has now slept with all three women, given them all this “three level orgasm” (huh?) that they truly believe would be a marketable experience.
For Brick’s first solo escort experience, he literally stops the woman’s heart with his level three orgasm…(yikes!) He eventually leaves the life, with a bag of money.
Brick and his brothers have no shortage of women and intimacy, but all seem to find a happy ending. This was a wild story about prostitution and I honestly am never ready for Mr. Dickey and his messy novels.
April 2, 2025
4 🌟
This book was so good 😭 SUPER unhinged story but it was good nonetheless. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it in the beginning but Mr. Dickey did his big one. Now I have to read more books by him
This book was so good 😭 SUPER unhinged story but it was good nonetheless. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it in the beginning but Mr. Dickey did his big one. Now I have to read more books by him
May 24, 2020
Thank you Dutton book and netgalley for the gifted copy of The Business of Lovers - I wanted to like this book a whole lot but there was just nothing grabbing my attention about this book. I even resorted to the audiobook and found my mind wandering while reading. The writing felt disjointed and the storyline was lacking quite a bit.
I wasn't a fan of any of the character's stories and felt myself wanting to DNF more than I wanted to read it.
I know there are some hardcore EJD fans out there and I considered myself one was well, but this just did nothing for me. I read this one as a bookclub pick and we all felt the same.
I wasn't a fan of any of the character's stories and felt myself wanting to DNF more than I wanted to read it.
I know there are some hardcore EJD fans out there and I considered myself one was well, but this just did nothing for me. I read this one as a bookclub pick and we all felt the same.
March 26, 2022
This was NOT my favorite EJD book. In fact, I had put it down so long ago, and added it to my DNF list, that I had forgotten about it. I ran across a review on it, and decided to listen to it again. The problem with the book is it took sooo long to get going. But once it got going, it kept going. Twists and turns for sure. I'm glad that I picked it back up. I just couldn't go more than 3 stars because of how the beginning dragged out.
August 29, 2020
This is the seventh and the last book in Beautiful By Design's (BBD) 'Choose your favorite book' cycle. The Business of Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey was his latest literary work that was selected by Linda (me). While this was not part of my 'favorite book not read' library, Eric Jerome Dickey (EJD) is definitely one of my favorite authors. The book I initially wanted to read was part of a series and that was not BBD's theme this time. We rated this book 3 out of 5 stars. Again, this book club meeting was held virtually so many thanks to my BBD ladies and Skype for allowing us to continue to meet during these trying times and giving us a brief escape from the harsh reality of the world today.
Collectively, BBD agreed that EJD is a literary genius. Anyone over the age of 25 and an avid reader have hopefully read something by him. Through the use of his writing, EJD took us on a fictional journey around the world while educating us on everything from chess to sex, people in the Bible and tying it all back to the characters in the book. He indulged us with periodic emotions of laughter and pain, anger and lust. He created thought provoking moments throughout the book that made us reflect on our own lives and how we see it. He showed us the level three depths of his worldliness to stimulate the mind. The love between two main characters was purely magical how he wrote. We think through his writing, we understood what the business of lovers is. This is what makes his works so good.
However, this was not the ‘normal’ style of his writing for BBD. Some areas of the book dragged on too long and became too much because it provided no value added to the event taking place. There was an excessive use of abbreviations and different languages throughout the book. While it may have given something extra for his vast ‘versed’ readers, it made it difficult for the more seasoned reader to stay focused on the storyline because we had to keep referring to google and a dictionary. Additionally, we felt as if the book was rushed because he touched on a lot of recent events (BLM, politics, TV series Insecure, and Nipsy) as well as age old issues like racism, poverty, broken families, and homelessness and tried to make that fit with his original desire to write a story about brothers. There were some parts in the story that could have been expounded on or left out all together.
Overall, we will continue to read other literary works by EJD. This just wasn’t one of his best according to BBD opinion.
Collectively, BBD agreed that EJD is a literary genius. Anyone over the age of 25 and an avid reader have hopefully read something by him. Through the use of his writing, EJD took us on a fictional journey around the world while educating us on everything from chess to sex, people in the Bible and tying it all back to the characters in the book. He indulged us with periodic emotions of laughter and pain, anger and lust. He created thought provoking moments throughout the book that made us reflect on our own lives and how we see it. He showed us the level three depths of his worldliness to stimulate the mind. The love between two main characters was purely magical how he wrote. We think through his writing, we understood what the business of lovers is. This is what makes his works so good.
However, this was not the ‘normal’ style of his writing for BBD. Some areas of the book dragged on too long and became too much because it provided no value added to the event taking place. There was an excessive use of abbreviations and different languages throughout the book. While it may have given something extra for his vast ‘versed’ readers, it made it difficult for the more seasoned reader to stay focused on the storyline because we had to keep referring to google and a dictionary. Additionally, we felt as if the book was rushed because he touched on a lot of recent events (BLM, politics, TV series Insecure, and Nipsy) as well as age old issues like racism, poverty, broken families, and homelessness and tried to make that fit with his original desire to write a story about brothers. There were some parts in the story that could have been expounded on or left out all together.
Overall, we will continue to read other literary works by EJD. This just wasn’t one of his best according to BBD opinion.
June 22, 2020
A good, classic EJD novel...
I absolutely adored the main character, “Brick”.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to go three-levels deep?!
In that regard I too liked Mocha Latte from she and Brick’s first individual encounter.
This novel was steamy in more than one ways and a page-turner. There has to be more to their story. I’m hoping for a sequel.
Of course at the mention of a Gideon novel, I am just as excited.
I absolutely adored the main character, “Brick”.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to go three-levels deep?!
In that regard I too liked Mocha Latte from she and Brick’s first individual encounter.
This novel was steamy in more than one ways and a page-turner. There has to be more to their story. I’m hoping for a sequel.
Of course at the mention of a Gideon novel, I am just as excited.
May 9, 2020
I’m a long time reader of Eric Jerome Dickey’s work. Around 19 years ago, I picked up one of his titles and enjoyed the story enough to read all of his work. I preorder his books without reading the blurbs. I’ll probably do this until he stops writing books.
Over the last few years, I’ve struggled with his books that focus on relationships. I love the Gideon series and find those titles to be his best work, but when Dickey delves back into the extraordinary lives of ordinary people of color in LA, I lose interest. When it comes to books, I have a ridiculous rule. If I pick it up, I’m reading until the end. I had to make myself sit down and finish this story.
I didn’t find most of it interesting. In Dickey’s typical fashion, the characters are highly intelligent, easily weave ten dollars words into conversations, wax poetic about any and everything, are skilled lovers and are in amazing shape. Dickey also tosses in current events and politics. I don’t have an issue with most of this. The plot lacked substance. Some of the characters, particularly Andre, were underdeveloped. The end wrapped up rather neatly, but sometimes that happens in life.
I didn’t completely dislike the story. The end was actually touching. There’s a bit of self reflection, hope and my favorite-the coming together of family. I loved that. So while it took forever to get there, I did enjoy a portion of the book at the end. If you’re already a fan you’re going to read this anyway and if you aren’t go back to some of Dickey’s earlier stories and work your way to this title.
Over the last few years, I’ve struggled with his books that focus on relationships. I love the Gideon series and find those titles to be his best work, but when Dickey delves back into the extraordinary lives of ordinary people of color in LA, I lose interest. When it comes to books, I have a ridiculous rule. If I pick it up, I’m reading until the end. I had to make myself sit down and finish this story.
I didn’t find most of it interesting. In Dickey’s typical fashion, the characters are highly intelligent, easily weave ten dollars words into conversations, wax poetic about any and everything, are skilled lovers and are in amazing shape. Dickey also tosses in current events and politics. I don’t have an issue with most of this. The plot lacked substance. Some of the characters, particularly Andre, were underdeveloped. The end wrapped up rather neatly, but sometimes that happens in life.
I didn’t completely dislike the story. The end was actually touching. There’s a bit of self reflection, hope and my favorite-the coming together of family. I loved that. So while it took forever to get there, I did enjoy a portion of the book at the end. If you’re already a fan you’re going to read this anyway and if you aren’t go back to some of Dickey’s earlier stories and work your way to this title.
May 2, 2020
I always look forward to EJD books as he writes books I usually like to read. With that said, I really wanted to like this book, but something has been missing for me with the last three books he has written or, to be honest, it could be me putting EJD in a box, in my head and I only want him to write about Gideon a character I L O V E.
This story isn’t terrible; in fact, it has some engaging parts that I liked. The story delves into family issues and relationships, in particular, the good bad and very ugly. Tire slashing ugly.
I enjoyed the interaction between Brick Duquesne and his brother Dwayne as they both have serious business with lovers that followers of EJD will enjoy. Sex workers Penny, Christiana, and Mocha Latte are a big part of Brick’s life and moved the story forward.
If you have enjoyed the past three EJD books, you will also enjoy this one. I am waiting for EJD to write a good Gideon novel. Please. Thank you.
This story isn’t terrible; in fact, it has some engaging parts that I liked. The story delves into family issues and relationships, in particular, the good bad and very ugly. Tire slashing ugly.
I enjoyed the interaction between Brick Duquesne and his brother Dwayne as they both have serious business with lovers that followers of EJD will enjoy. Sex workers Penny, Christiana, and Mocha Latte are a big part of Brick’s life and moved the story forward.
If you have enjoyed the past three EJD books, you will also enjoy this one. I am waiting for EJD to write a good Gideon novel. Please. Thank you.
June 10, 2020
Just in time to escape for a minute from all the stress of what’s going on right now, Dickey’s, “Business of Lovers” delivers a well-written adventure full of life, love and lust. He never ceases to amaze me with his incredible writing skills, and ability to craft such believable, interesting characters you love and loathe.
July 31, 2020
A whopper
Thought it would be interesting to read this particular storyline from the POV of a man, written by a man. It was a real snooze fest. The character growth was pretty flat, and Andre the third brother, well I literally have no idea why he was written into the story (along with the dad). Lots of weird useless storylines.
Thought it would be interesting to read this particular storyline from the POV of a man, written by a man. It was a real snooze fest. The character growth was pretty flat, and Andre the third brother, well I literally have no idea why he was written into the story (along with the dad). Lots of weird useless storylines.
April 21, 2020
The Business of Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey is an entertaining novel that is quite thought-provoking.
Brick Duquesne is still getting over the painful break-up with his girlfriend six months earlier. A lot has happened in his personal life and currently, he is on leave of absence from his job. Brick is friends with his neighbor Penny and he is currently chauffeuring her around town. He is also playing the role of protector for her while she is meeting with clients. He unexpectedly steps in to help her friends Christiana and Mocha Latte and the quartet form a surprisingly close friendship. With his ex popping in and out of his life, will Brick finally recover from his broken heart?
Brick's actor brother Dwayne is also back in town after his teenage son Fela sends him worrying texts. Dwayne and Fela's mother, Frenchie, never married but Dwayne has always lived up to his responsibility to his son. With Frenchie not returning his texts, he convinces Brick to check up on Fela. Sworn to secrecy, Brick helps as much as he can but will he honor his promise not to tell Dwayne what is going on with Fela and Frenchie?
Penny, Christiana and Mocha Latte are vibrant young woman who never planned to become escorts. Penny is a college student whose ex left her with nothing but a pile of bills and ruined credit. When her friends find themselves in dire straits, she offers them a new career and a place to stay. Christiana is a Cuban refugee who is a highly educated professional who discovers she cannot work in her previous career in the US. She has gone through a multitude of low paying jobs in order to survive. She is a pragmatic woman with a practical outlook and she knows what she wants for herself. Mocha Latte is extremely uncomfortable working as an escort. Although she has a loving family, she does not want to ask them for help after losing her job as an engineer. She is uncertain what she wants further down the line, but she knows her current career is just temporary.
Brick is a wonderfully caring man who genuinely likes the women now in his life. He is a little frustrated with Dwayne but family is family so he does what he can to help his brother. Brick's unlikely friendships veer into the "friends with benefits" territory, and he also himself to be talked into briefly becoming an escort. But it is not in his nature to keep the proceeds from his unlikely career. Being an escort is at odds with his desire for a wife and family so he has a decision to make about his future. With Dwayne, Penny, Christiana and Mocha Latte making changes in their lives, what will Brick decide to do next?
The Business of Lovers is a funny, sexy and serious novel that features a diverse and appealing cast of characters. The storyline is interesting with plenty of depth and substance. The sex scenes are plentiful and explicitly detailed. With an unexpected plot twist, Eric Jerome Dickey brings this insightful novel to an absolutely heartwarming conclusion. A very enjoyable novel that I highly recommend.
Brick Duquesne is still getting over the painful break-up with his girlfriend six months earlier. A lot has happened in his personal life and currently, he is on leave of absence from his job. Brick is friends with his neighbor Penny and he is currently chauffeuring her around town. He is also playing the role of protector for her while she is meeting with clients. He unexpectedly steps in to help her friends Christiana and Mocha Latte and the quartet form a surprisingly close friendship. With his ex popping in and out of his life, will Brick finally recover from his broken heart?
Brick's actor brother Dwayne is also back in town after his teenage son Fela sends him worrying texts. Dwayne and Fela's mother, Frenchie, never married but Dwayne has always lived up to his responsibility to his son. With Frenchie not returning his texts, he convinces Brick to check up on Fela. Sworn to secrecy, Brick helps as much as he can but will he honor his promise not to tell Dwayne what is going on with Fela and Frenchie?
Penny, Christiana and Mocha Latte are vibrant young woman who never planned to become escorts. Penny is a college student whose ex left her with nothing but a pile of bills and ruined credit. When her friends find themselves in dire straits, she offers them a new career and a place to stay. Christiana is a Cuban refugee who is a highly educated professional who discovers she cannot work in her previous career in the US. She has gone through a multitude of low paying jobs in order to survive. She is a pragmatic woman with a practical outlook and she knows what she wants for herself. Mocha Latte is extremely uncomfortable working as an escort. Although she has a loving family, she does not want to ask them for help after losing her job as an engineer. She is uncertain what she wants further down the line, but she knows her current career is just temporary.
Brick is a wonderfully caring man who genuinely likes the women now in his life. He is a little frustrated with Dwayne but family is family so he does what he can to help his brother. Brick's unlikely friendships veer into the "friends with benefits" territory, and he also himself to be talked into briefly becoming an escort. But it is not in his nature to keep the proceeds from his unlikely career. Being an escort is at odds with his desire for a wife and family so he has a decision to make about his future. With Dwayne, Penny, Christiana and Mocha Latte making changes in their lives, what will Brick decide to do next?
The Business of Lovers is a funny, sexy and serious novel that features a diverse and appealing cast of characters. The storyline is interesting with plenty of depth and substance. The sex scenes are plentiful and explicitly detailed. With an unexpected plot twist, Eric Jerome Dickey brings this insightful novel to an absolutely heartwarming conclusion. A very enjoyable novel that I highly recommend.
March 30, 2020
This was classic Eric Jerome Dickey. A novel that tackles relationships in turmoil, and individuals who are searching for meaning in their lives or finding themselves.
The majority of the novel focuses on two brothers; Dwayne and Brick, and the issues they are facing in their relationships.
Dickey does a good job of making these characters relatable, by incorporating issues that are currently important to black men and women living in the L.A. including, gentrification, job uncertainty, family dysfunction etc.
I enjoyed reading this story, it was fast paced, with a nice balance of likeable and unlikeable characters, a plot that was not complicated and familiar tropes that did not read as gimmicky.
The majority of the novel focuses on two brothers; Dwayne and Brick, and the issues they are facing in their relationships.
Dickey does a good job of making these characters relatable, by incorporating issues that are currently important to black men and women living in the L.A. including, gentrification, job uncertainty, family dysfunction etc.
I enjoyed reading this story, it was fast paced, with a nice balance of likeable and unlikeable characters, a plot that was not complicated and familiar tropes that did not read as gimmicky.
July 4, 2025
This book has been on my shelf for years, and after EJD's passing I had refused to read it, knowing that it would be one of the last books that I would be able to read of his . This was a good read , easy to folllow, awesome character builds. In true EJD fashion , he didn't disappoint with the vocabulary !!! I love reading his books and using the dictionary to find out the meaning of so many words !!
November 30, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I saw that he passed sway from Clancy a few years ago and wanted to read something. I actually listened to the audiobook. It centers around three brothers, but mainly Brick who has been struggling and becomes a driver for escorts then becomes one himself there are nature themes in the book. I liked Brick. I liked how this wasn’t just about Dec work but how people are looking for connection and love but not always finding it.
April 14, 2025
I haven't read EJD in awhile and decided to check this one out from the public library for audiobook listen. Unfortunately, there were some good parts and some bad parts...but it was not what I was expecting. I did finish the book but did not interest me that much.
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