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The Good Neighbor: A Novel
Jay Quinn, who memorably explored gay families in Back Where He Started (Alyson Books, 2005) directs his ever-sharpening eye over the enormous cultural shifts playing across the hedges in American society on two families in a manicured upscale suburban south-Florida neighborhood.
Austin Harden is downsized when the dot.com bubble bursts, earning less than his wife Meg, who recently made partner in her law firm. He is spending much of his time shuttling his two sons between school and soccer practice. Rory Fallon, whose partner Will has his career on the fast-track, feels increasingly stranded and isolated in their elegant and echoing home. Living next-door to each other, the two couples form a close friendship, particularly Austin and Rory, who share a growing sense of dislocation and the sense that their lives have gone off track and they aren't sure how or why.
The Good Neighbor explores concepts of success, masculinity, ambition, and sexuality in a way that shines a new light on how we define ourselves by them, while allowing them to define us. As the relationships among the four adults evolve, and take on surprisingly complex emotional and sexual overtones, the placid suburban facade cracks open to reveal something more primal and urgent.
Austin Harden is downsized when the dot.com bubble bursts, earning less than his wife Meg, who recently made partner in her law firm. He is spending much of his time shuttling his two sons between school and soccer practice. Rory Fallon, whose partner Will has his career on the fast-track, feels increasingly stranded and isolated in their elegant and echoing home. Living next-door to each other, the two couples form a close friendship, particularly Austin and Rory, who share a growing sense of dislocation and the sense that their lives have gone off track and they aren't sure how or why.
The Good Neighbor explores concepts of success, masculinity, ambition, and sexuality in a way that shines a new light on how we define ourselves by them, while allowing them to define us. As the relationships among the four adults evolve, and take on surprisingly complex emotional and sexual overtones, the placid suburban facade cracks open to reveal something more primal and urgent.
Hardcover
First published June 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 8, 2015
Another excellent book by Jay Quinn.
Jay Quinn is one of my favourite authors. He writes beautiful stories about life in all its ups and downs, with gay characters at the centre of his stories. Jay never forgets that gay people have families and friends and these aspects of life are woven into his stories so that what we see is a depiction of real life. We see realistic stories and situations that we could find ourselves in irrespective of our sexuality.
The author shows us that indeed there is more to life than our sexuality or our gender. He reminds us that life happens to all of us.
In this story life happens to two sets of neighbours. Rory and Bruno are a couple and they have been together for more than 20 years. They have had their ups and downs and separation but life for them is together with each other. They live in an expensive new residential development and the last house is yet to be sold but when it is sold the new neighbours move in.
Austin and Meg are the new neighbours. They have two children and Meg has an overwhelming job. Austin is dealing with a break in his career and finding himself working in something that isn't his true calling. At the same time Meg is speeding along in her career.
Meg and Austin get to meet Rory and Bruno, and Austin realises that they all knew each other in passing back in college.
What soon becomes apparent is the deep love and passion that Rory and Bruno have for each other. This shows Austin what is missing from his own life and he yearns for the lost intimacy he once had with Meg. Austin is in a bad place and feeling vulnerable. He was forced out of his job because of his integrity and now he works from home in a job he dislikes and which doesn't really pay well. He has kind of lost his place as the breadwinner and leader of the family and it hits him hard. His wife doesn't really see or understand what he is going through. And that is hardly surprising because she is very much caught up in her own life.
Meg is overwhelmed in her job, neglecting herself, her children and her husband. She also has the temerity to look down her nose at the gay couple next door. Alas like so many of us she cannot see her own lack and fails to deal with her own problems not realising that her neighbours have an enduring and deep love for each other despite the difficulties in their past.
I found her irritating to say the least. Work life balance lady!! Work life balance!! Especially when you have young kids. I did not like this woman. She looked at everything through the lens of her work. Her job was a problem and she knew it because it was demanding and competitive but she couldn't see how it was distorting her life and eroding her family life.
The book shows how Meg isn't honest about what the job takes out of her. Unlike many of us who grit our teeth at work but who are very aware of the difficulties of the work place, she doesn't really see that her professional world is corrosive.
She becomes hard and insensitive. She has no time for her husband and looks on him as less than a 'real man' because he is down on his luck and needs her. She looks down on more untidy mums who don't have careers and her children are wary of her. Nothing is good enough for her.
But she likes Bruno next door because he is macho and successful even if he is gay.
Meh!
This is the first Jay Quinn book in which I have come across a woman I don't like. All the others have been ok, sometimes flawed but very human. Not Meg. And I disliked her.
Anyway moving on....
So Rory and Bruno have a deep enduring love for each other but it hasn't come that easy. Bruno is quite domineering and controlling and jealous of anyone who looks at Rory whether they are male or female. Rory is part of his safe world and belongs to him. He likes change and progress for himself but he wants to keep Rory under his thumb and controlled. He loves Rory deeply but he is stifling and an ass. He is also selfish and sneakily unfaithful.
Rory is like Austin. He isn't a doormat but has given so much of himself to Bruno through love and career sacrifice. He has given up his own dreams and talents because he loves so hard. But he too has dreams and aspirations.
So both Rory and Austin with their unfulfilled aspirations become unlikely friends and share life's problems with each other. Both of them acting as a buffer against their more selfish spouses.
This is a story of how deep love can also harbour deep selfishness. It is a story that reminds us we should not take love for granted. It is something that needs to be treasured, nurtured and valued. There is no HEA without hard work, love, sacrifice and awareness. If one person carries all the load in the relationship then it has the potential to eat away at all that is good.
And it was such a lovely story, told in the gentle, beautiful way Jay Quinn tells all his stories.
Jay Quinn is one of my favourite authors. He writes beautiful stories about life in all its ups and downs, with gay characters at the centre of his stories. Jay never forgets that gay people have families and friends and these aspects of life are woven into his stories so that what we see is a depiction of real life. We see realistic stories and situations that we could find ourselves in irrespective of our sexuality.
The author shows us that indeed there is more to life than our sexuality or our gender. He reminds us that life happens to all of us.
In this story life happens to two sets of neighbours. Rory and Bruno are a couple and they have been together for more than 20 years. They have had their ups and downs and separation but life for them is together with each other. They live in an expensive new residential development and the last house is yet to be sold but when it is sold the new neighbours move in.
Austin and Meg are the new neighbours. They have two children and Meg has an overwhelming job. Austin is dealing with a break in his career and finding himself working in something that isn't his true calling. At the same time Meg is speeding along in her career.
Meg and Austin get to meet Rory and Bruno, and Austin realises that they all knew each other in passing back in college.
What soon becomes apparent is the deep love and passion that Rory and Bruno have for each other. This shows Austin what is missing from his own life and he yearns for the lost intimacy he once had with Meg. Austin is in a bad place and feeling vulnerable. He was forced out of his job because of his integrity and now he works from home in a job he dislikes and which doesn't really pay well. He has kind of lost his place as the breadwinner and leader of the family and it hits him hard. His wife doesn't really see or understand what he is going through. And that is hardly surprising because she is very much caught up in her own life.
Meg is overwhelmed in her job, neglecting herself, her children and her husband. She also has the temerity to look down her nose at the gay couple next door. Alas like so many of us she cannot see her own lack and fails to deal with her own problems not realising that her neighbours have an enduring and deep love for each other despite the difficulties in their past.
I found her irritating to say the least. Work life balance lady!! Work life balance!! Especially when you have young kids. I did not like this woman. She looked at everything through the lens of her work. Her job was a problem and she knew it because it was demanding and competitive but she couldn't see how it was distorting her life and eroding her family life.
The book shows how Meg isn't honest about what the job takes out of her. Unlike many of us who grit our teeth at work but who are very aware of the difficulties of the work place, she doesn't really see that her professional world is corrosive.
She becomes hard and insensitive. She has no time for her husband and looks on him as less than a 'real man' because he is down on his luck and needs her. She looks down on more untidy mums who don't have careers and her children are wary of her. Nothing is good enough for her.
But she likes Bruno next door because he is macho and successful even if he is gay.
Meh!
This is the first Jay Quinn book in which I have come across a woman I don't like. All the others have been ok, sometimes flawed but very human. Not Meg. And I disliked her.
Anyway moving on....
So Rory and Bruno have a deep enduring love for each other but it hasn't come that easy. Bruno is quite domineering and controlling and jealous of anyone who looks at Rory whether they are male or female. Rory is part of his safe world and belongs to him. He likes change and progress for himself but he wants to keep Rory under his thumb and controlled. He loves Rory deeply but he is stifling and an ass. He is also selfish and sneakily unfaithful.
Rory is like Austin. He isn't a doormat but has given so much of himself to Bruno through love and career sacrifice. He has given up his own dreams and talents because he loves so hard. But he too has dreams and aspirations.
So both Rory and Austin with their unfulfilled aspirations become unlikely friends and share life's problems with each other. Both of them acting as a buffer against their more selfish spouses.
This is a story of how deep love can also harbour deep selfishness. It is a story that reminds us we should not take love for granted. It is something that needs to be treasured, nurtured and valued. There is no HEA without hard work, love, sacrifice and awareness. If one person carries all the load in the relationship then it has the potential to eat away at all that is good.
And it was such a lovely story, told in the gentle, beautiful way Jay Quinn tells all his stories.
December 23, 2024
When I acquired this book I discovered I had read it 15 or more years ago and a quick glance brought it all back and I can assure you that it is not the type of book I would imagine anyone wanting to read twice. Honestly I can't imagine why anyone would want to read it once - but then I did and according to the reviews there are many that like this book. I can't say that I dislike it - really it is too bland to inspire that sort of emotion - but then it is a novel of the suburbs - and the most bland and boring of suburbs at that. It would be to easy to make this as a rant against a world I don't like and left but which clearly is a world many people like - so let me be fair and say it is well written - in a bland sort of way; it will not challenge you, it is a bit of soap opera of the most ordinary and, again, banal sort. A gay couple in the suburbs have a new neighbor, a straight couple with two young kids, move in next door and stuff happens - it is all pretty predictable - like the only other Jay Quinn book I have read. If that brief summary intrigues or interests you then this book is probably for you - if you want more from your reading then you may not hate it, but you'll probably wonder why you are reading it.
But what really upsets me and really pisses me off, is that fifty years after Stonewall in the USA, even less time since gay men in the UK were being imprisoned for holding hands (don't fall into the lie that the 1967 decriminalisation of homosexual acts improved anything - prosecutions and ways of prosecuting and persecuting gay men actually increased after the act) gay men are rushing around to live the cliche of straight life, and get married in the churches that until a few years ago wouldn't have us darken their door steps. I am delighted for the rights won but I never thought it was to become just a variation of what was already there. Gay Liberation came out of the libertarianisms of the 1960's which was about freeing everyone from the conventions and ridiculous myths, prejudices and old ways of thinking and behaving. It had as much to do with freeing straights as gay or anyone else. I never thought it was to become just another couple in the suburbs with a mortgage and a credit card propping up the consumer dream sold by Hollywood and Disney. What it was supposed to be about was something different, something better, not the same old story again. Not the world of Jay Quinn - his world wasn't worth rioting or abandoning a closet for.
But what really upsets me and really pisses me off, is that fifty years after Stonewall in the USA, even less time since gay men in the UK were being imprisoned for holding hands (don't fall into the lie that the 1967 decriminalisation of homosexual acts improved anything - prosecutions and ways of prosecuting and persecuting gay men actually increased after the act) gay men are rushing around to live the cliche of straight life, and get married in the churches that until a few years ago wouldn't have us darken their door steps. I am delighted for the rights won but I never thought it was to become just a variation of what was already there. Gay Liberation came out of the libertarianisms of the 1960's which was about freeing everyone from the conventions and ridiculous myths, prejudices and old ways of thinking and behaving. It had as much to do with freeing straights as gay or anyone else. I never thought it was to become just another couple in the suburbs with a mortgage and a credit card propping up the consumer dream sold by Hollywood and Disney. What it was supposed to be about was something different, something better, not the same old story again. Not the world of Jay Quinn - his world wasn't worth rioting or abandoning a closet for.
February 1, 2013
The story was somehow relevant nowadays. Most especially to the young men involved in same sex relationships. I am not being judgemental but from what I know, it is very easy for them to jump into casual sex with anyone and claim to be in love with their respective boyfriends of partners. Though the delivery of the story was really good, I somehow felt emphatic to the characters. Most especially Austin. He was a good father and husband but circumstances happen once in a while that made him do things he was not really into. I am in love with this story. I treasure long-term relationships and I value fidelity like diamonds in my Momma's ring. Kudos, Jay Quinn. Thanks patrice for the book. ;)
August 10, 2016
Mediocre plot, less than stellar characters, underdeveloped, self indulgent, utterly predictable. The predictability I can handle, but the book was lacking any real depth. Bleh.
August 20, 2025
I bought into the idea that this book would explore concepts of gay male relationships. Instead, it turned out to present unrealistic characters playing parts like it was sixty or more years ago. I wish the characters were more credible to say nothing of the main female character. Yikes!
Oh well… I gave it a shot.
Oh well… I gave it a shot.
September 28, 2010
The Good Neighbor by Jay Quinn has the upshot of being set in a Floridian suburb, which is great because as a Floridian, I can speak to the Florida suburbs first hand – how the houses are almost always new, and almost always cookie-cutter; how everyone avoids lounging about outside where the Florida heat radiates off of the asphalt and the sidewalks (if you’re lucky enough to have a sidewalk – a surprising number of new neighborhoods don’t), and especially avoid being “neighborly”. The skies are almost always bluer than blue with an almost perfect 180 angle unobstructed view, and nothing in the world can feel more unearthly.
Choosing this as his setting, Quinn has certainly had some advantages, and when you consider the subject matter, it seems even more unreal. But, while it’s an interesting summer read, there’s not much takeaway value from this novel for me, except for a statement that one of my fiction teachers said that resonated within me while I was reading this: always have a good editor or two, she said, because once your submission hits the presses, that’s it. And she was right; all it took was one or two glaring typos in this novel to take me out of the storyline, and that’s why I can only give it 3 stars.
August 9, 2019
First, not my cup of tea ... I wanted a perspective on life through the lens of gay men, and I think gay men are sold short in this book, which also desperately needed a more thorough editor.
The two female characters in this book also come off laughably badly.
That said, if you don't mind a fair number of simple errors and you want some super-soft-core male gay/straight/bisexual titillation, you could probably do worse.
The two female characters in this book also come off laughably badly.
That said, if you don't mind a fair number of simple errors and you want some super-soft-core male gay/straight/bisexual titillation, you could probably do worse.
September 29, 2012
This is the easiest and one of the most relished book I've encountered so far. Little to no angst (!), mature characters, and a plot that has no complicated frills and whatnot. I could have read this in one sitting but of course life expects you to be at the beck of its call so there. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
June 15, 2019
I wanted to like this book more than I did, but once I was done reading it I felt let down. One of the main issues I have with this book is that you have to inherently believe in 1950's sitcom stereotypical male and female roles, and even apply those roles to a gay couple, to sympathize with the character's angst. And I do not, so I could never really buy into this story or the characters.
September 22, 2016
Absolutely awful!!! The writing is terrible, the characters are clichés. No one should be subjected to this book, ever.
June 4, 2017
This is literally a slice of life from 2 families: one a gay couple, the other a husband and wife and their 2 boys who move into the house directly next to the gay couple.
Both sets of neighbors are hesitant when it comes to meeting the other, but things happen that bring them close, but not in the usual way.
The book itself is longish, but it was so interesting that to me it went by quickly. It was really just going back and forth from house to house, but it was well written and kept my interest and made it so I wanted to know how all of the issues would be resolved.
It ended abruptly, but after I had a second to think about it, it made sense.
I won't say this was a fun read, but more of a story that made me think. I enjoyed it and will more than likely be reading it again in the future.
Both sets of neighbors are hesitant when it comes to meeting the other, but things happen that bring them close, but not in the usual way.
The book itself is longish, but it was so interesting that to me it went by quickly. It was really just going back and forth from house to house, but it was well written and kept my interest and made it so I wanted to know how all of the issues would be resolved.
It ended abruptly, but after I had a second to think about it, it made sense.
I won't say this was a fun read, but more of a story that made me think. I enjoyed it and will more than likely be reading it again in the future.
November 13, 2021
This book really got me in the neighbours one gay couple one married straight couple with two boystheir interactions their beliefs their traits. For most of the book I found three of the four of the main characters rerally annoying frustrating and deserving of a good bitch slapping and I mean good, The ending holds out hope without being to saccharine and left you hoping forr a brighter future. It may have a little happily ever after but too me there were still undercurrents well written and thoughtful a good bloody read.
December 14, 2023
Ugh. I really wanted to like this. Maybe I would have if I read this 15 years ago when it was first published. Maybe not. Juvenile characters, plot, and writing. Very predictable outcome and the women are not portrayed very well.
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September 24, 2021"Only then did he pump a generous amount of lotion on his hand and smear it across his palms and reach for the exclamation point of his physical being." Page 182
November 30, 2012
I very much enjoyed this novel about two households in a upscale Florida community. Rory and Bruno are a longtime gay/bisexual couple who have had their share of ups and downs but are firmly committed to each other. Rory is basically a house-husband and contentedly plays the role of "wife" for Bruno, a financial analyst. Bruno is a big, muscular, aggressive guy and their relationship is very slightly tinged with dominance and submission. Meg and Austin are their new neighbors, a husband and wife who move next door with their two young sons. The novel explores perception of gay men, in particular with the character of Meg whose homophobia is gradually eased as she gets to know Rory and Bruno. Conflict occurs when Rory discovers that Bruno has cheated on him with a woman during a business trip to NYC. At the same time, Austin discovers that his friendship with Rory re-ignites his long-buried bisexual tendencies. Almost reluctantly, Rory has a few sexual encounters with his neighbor, mostly because Bruno's cheating has hurt him, or because Austin seems to need him so desperately. Rory's motivations for cheating are never clearly stated, and that's probably what makes him such a fascinating character. But Austin is too engaged with Rory, and the situation becomes dangerous. Unbeknownst to the cheating pair, both Bruno and Meg are aware of the infidelity. Bruno has been guilty of so many trespasses, he does not let on that he knows his boyfriend has cheated. Meg is considerably more unhappy about it, insisting that Austin get an STD test before he touches her again. However she eventually accepts that, despite his craving for sex with men, Austin truly does love her and their relationship weathers the storm. Bruno arranges to be transferred so that he and Rory must move, which they do every few years, seeming to enjoy this lifestyle. This allows the situation between Austin and Rory to cool down and presumably things are back to normal for everyone.
The only weak character in this whole book is Meg, who comes across as a bit shrewish. Because Austin was laid off for being a whistle-blower, and only marginally contributing to the family expenses with his freelance work selling medical equipment, she has had to act as head of the household. Money issues inevitably lead to conflict within couples, and it's very difficult for the one person who is supporting the entire house not to resent the other who is unable to contribute to expenses. When Austin orders a new suite of furniture for the boys' den, Meg and he squabble about it, and the author's sympathies lean towards Austin, although to me it does not seem unjust to criticize an unemployed husband for spending his wife's money on furniture from Pottery Barn. Meg is portrayed as rendering her husband impotent, but in my view, she is merely refusing to let him pretend that he is the main breadwinner. Happily, Austin is vindicated by getting his old job back.
Altogether this was a great read, revealing much about the inner lives of bisexual men and the gay and straight people who love them. I would love to see Jay Quinn write more novels featuring Rory and Bruno.
The only weak character in this whole book is Meg, who comes across as a bit shrewish. Because Austin was laid off for being a whistle-blower, and only marginally contributing to the family expenses with his freelance work selling medical equipment, she has had to act as head of the household. Money issues inevitably lead to conflict within couples, and it's very difficult for the one person who is supporting the entire house not to resent the other who is unable to contribute to expenses. When Austin orders a new suite of furniture for the boys' den, Meg and he squabble about it, and the author's sympathies lean towards Austin, although to me it does not seem unjust to criticize an unemployed husband for spending his wife's money on furniture from Pottery Barn. Meg is portrayed as rendering her husband impotent, but in my view, she is merely refusing to let him pretend that he is the main breadwinner. Happily, Austin is vindicated by getting his old job back.
Altogether this was a great read, revealing much about the inner lives of bisexual men and the gay and straight people who love them. I would love to see Jay Quinn write more novels featuring Rory and Bruno.
December 24, 2014
Overall a good book. Two of the characters are well developed, two of the characters are sort of one dimensional until much later. I found that annoying, so rated it as okay instead of great.
The author does take you on a metaphorical journey. Part of it is predictable, and part has somewhat unexpected twists.
Quinn is excellent in descriptions of places and male emotions, with this book I almost felt like I was 'on the set' in Florida.
Don't read this as your first novel by Jay Quinn.
Okay, but not exceptional.
The author does take you on a metaphorical journey. Part of it is predictable, and part has somewhat unexpected twists.
Quinn is excellent in descriptions of places and male emotions, with this book I almost felt like I was 'on the set' in Florida.
Don't read this as your first novel by Jay Quinn.
Okay, but not exceptional.
October 4, 2016
Set in an up-scale, suburban, planned community in Florida, this is a story of two couples -- one straight and the other gay. The dynamics of love and friendship they experience reflect their personal histories, class, and prejudices of each other. All the adults take steps toward learning the interplay of sex and love.
January 14, 2008
Another book for the beach. I read this in Provincetown.
August 1, 2008
An interesting book.
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June 9, 2010Gay Neighbors.... so far it seems there might be a straight bi curious neighbor who is hating his life.
September 8, 2012
Fun, light, gay novel
August 18, 2013
Soft core porn; super lame exploration of sexual identity. Embarrassing that I purchased this book
March 11, 2016
This novel hit a chord in me. I was upset that I had finished it. I just wanted it to go on for another 100 pages!!
June 29, 2015
Beautifully written. I wasn't entirely comfortable with something that happened near the end, but overall an excellent novel.
March 16, 2016
I can't deny that I've thought about neighbours in this manner. :)
November 24, 2014
Nicely done.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews