The Queen & the Homo Jock King: NULL (At First Sight) Paperback – February 29, 2016

This review appeared on the day of release on Prism Book Alliance. [...]Note the five-star rating. I admit that TJ Klune’s books just do something to me. So, in spite of flaws, that I admit exist, I can’t lower my love for his writing. There is such creativity, such flamboyant use of words and images, such expert telegraphing of emotions. The Queen and the Homo Jock King is technically the sequel to Tell Me It’s Real, but it really isn’t necessary to have read that book. Here is a paragraph lifted from my own comments on the earlier book: “’Tell Me It’s Real’ offers the expected (and, I suspect, from his fans, looked-for) overthinking with the additional ingredients of marvelously fast pacing and unexpected, offbeat humor. I guess it’s easier to embrace frustrating characters when they make you laugh.” Ok, so ditto for this book.The Queen of the title is Sanford Stewart, mild-mannered, thirty-one-year-old insurance claims adjuster. His fierce alter-ego is Helena Handbasket, reigning queen of Jack It, the only real gay dance bar in Tucson, Arizona. The Homo Jock King is Sandy’s arch-nemesis, Darren Mayne, illegitimate son of the evil Republican mayor of Tucson and half-brother of Sandy’s best friend’s boyfriend.Did you follow all that?No matter. You’ll figure it out.Equal parts farce, rom-com, and sit-com, Klune’s latest is laugh-out-loud funny and emotionally satisfying. There is not a great deal of actual sex in the book, but an enormous amount of sex-related talk, often involving both Sandy and Darren’s friends and family. The sex-talk is hilarious, and the climactic sex scene is shattering.Klune has broken all sorts of unwritten taboos in the m/m world with his books. His last book, How to be a Normal Person, is possibly the first asexual romance (and, yes, it works). Without being ham-fisted, Klune zeroes in on the difference between transvestites and transsexuals and non-binary gender; he rejects slut-shaming and kink-shaming and any kind of thoughtless judging of others. He celebrates both the joys and the awkwardness of safe gay sex, while poking fun at the self-admitted absurdity of gay clubs and drag performances. He also raises up drag queens as the heroes they are, because the jewel in this book’s crown is Sandy/Helena. Never have I understood a drag queen so completely, because Klune makes us become Sandy, and to see the world through his (stubborn, blinkered, wounded) eyes.The supporting cast in this substantial book is large and brilliantly drawn. Very rarely does Klune slip into archetypes, but gives us richly three-dimensional people that we don’t have to like, but at least are forced to understand.And, yes, the tone of the book is extremely like the tone of the fantasy/paranormal goof The Lightning-Struck Heart, which I also loved. Klune sounds like Klune when he’s in his comic mode (his non-comic mode is rather different, if equally complex). It’s sort of the way that, in a Woody Allen movie, everybody talks like Woody Allen. Star power. The Master’s Voice. Whatever.My only complaint, and this holds true for MOST m/m writers today (Harper Fox and the other Brit writers being exceptions): the inability to correctly use “and me” rather than “and I.” So frustrating. It is a simple grammatical rule that seems to have been forgotten by all but mainstream publishing house editors in this world. And I hate mainstream publishing house editors.But that’s small potatoes. TJ Klune is my gay writer crush. I confess it is totally age-inappropriate, but I have no shame.

3.75 starsThis is TJ Klune at his funniest! This book had me bursting out laughing and then taking snapshots of the kindle screen and sending it to my friends!A very unconventional love story, I think the only other drag queen romance I've ever read was Painted Faces by LH Cosway and that was verrryyy different from this one.Other than really loving it, I had some issues with it. For one, I was dying for the romance between Sandy and Darren and what we got with this book was a book about Sandy and everyone BUT Darren which was a tad disappointing. I wanted to see more of the two of them together. And sometimes it was a bit over the top with shenanigans that completely wiped out the plot of the book. Hence why I am giving this 3.75 stars and not a higher rating...But still a very solid and funny book. Klune is an excellent writer and I am excited to read more by him in the near future.

Honestly, I wasn't going to read this. I saw the title and was like 'nah, I'm good.' Then these guys showed up in The Art of Breathing and I decided to get over myself and check it out. So very glad I did.This book is FUN. Watching how Sandy changes as he dons his Helena Handbasket persona is entertaining, and I love his relationships with Paul, Vince, Charlie and Corey/Kori. There is a healthy dose of that ignoring/denying feelings thing that shows up in a number of TJ Klune's books, but it's handled in a somewhat different manner here, so the plot isn't as stale as it could have been.If you found yourself kind of 'meh' after Tell Me It's Real, I'd strongly suggest you go ahead and give this one a try. Paul and Vince are around a lot, but their characters are less grating and their relationship on steadier ground, and since the reader is looking through Sandy's eyes, you get a much smaller dose of Paul's anxieties.All of this PLUS a drag bachelor auction that has some...unexpected results.

Corny right but I’m so happy to have finished “The Queen & the Homo Jock King”! I lost count of the loud outbursts of laughter I had while reading this book and my face hurts so good from all of it.I love Sandy and Darren, their fighting, bickering hilarious dialogue as well as all the other cast of characters, Matty, Larry, Paul, Vince, Johnny Dept to name a few. The characters are well rounded, solidly written that I felt like I was right in the middle of some of the back and forth verbal battles. Amazing!I purchased this book and I am so glad that I did, because this will be a series that I will revisit again and again!

Audible ReviewOverall 5 out of 5 starsPerformance 5 out of 5 starsStory 5 out of 5 starsLoved Sandy and Darren!The Queen and the Homo Jock King was so fun, funny, sweet, sexy, and just all-around awesome! Although I really liked Paul and Vince's story in Tell Me It's Real, I have to say Sandy and Darren's story took me by surprise with how much I loved it. I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers aspect, the teasing, and the bantering back and forth. And there were some really touching parts as well, that just tugged at my heartstrings.Michael Lesley is such an incredible narrator. No matter how many characters in a story, he's able to give each one their own distinct voice. He did a fantastic job going back and forth between Sandy and Helena, especially in the scenes where they both made appearances. I'm just in awe of his talent.

I discovered TJ Klune when I went searching for audiobooks narrated by the wonderful Sean Crisden and found Bear, Otter and the Kid. That led me to Tell MeIl It's Real and thus to this book.I'm sort of in love with TJ.This book had me crying with laughter as well as giving me the feels. I even managed to get past an MC being called Darren (this is one thing I hate about American fiction...names like Darren, Brian and Kevin are considered suitable when in the UK, at least in my corner, these names are not good at all). Only TJ could entice me to read about a Darren!I'm now hoping TJ plans to write Kori/Corey's story as I'm in love with him and hope he gets his HEA.

Oh my goodness glitter balls on a faux disco stick... what did I just read? I tell you what I read... I read magic*Glassy eyes wide open*TJ Klune had to go there didn't he? I mean.. my full sized aortic pumps went into overdrive! One would think a story will go one way but then it goes the complete opposite that you end up screaming like a dolphin on happy drugs because TJ Klune carries special good juju up his sleeve.Helena/Sandy and Darren - It was an honor living your world. You both made me smile, you both given me laughing lines on my face, you made my heart beat fast, you both scared the living daylights out of me and most of all you gave me butterflies. What an incredible adventure and I look forward to many more!

I loved the first book and this second one did not disappoint. It's funny poignant sad and ridiculous. The characters jump from the page and sandy and vince are a brilliant couple. All the usual characters are still there you can't help but love Paul's family especially gran and the parrot. Brilliant read that leaves you feeling happy can really recommend this book/series.

I love how TJ Klune writes characters. I think that the main thing I love about his work. As the reader you end up caring so much about these people he creates, you just want to keep reading about them and what they get up to.

Yet another winner by TJ Klune. I giggled and laughed and wheezed and spluttered - his dialogue is acerbic, funny, sensitive and makes you part of the story.One of the main aspects to his writing is that he concentrates on the people - not the physical aspect of sex. It is the story telling of their hopes, feelings and dreams and the way he makes you feel as if you are living the story yourself that is so wonderful.Sandy / Helena is just fabulous! Paul is as adorable as in his first story and the Jock King has a heart for one man only - our hero / heroine (sorry Helena!)Read this story and your day will be happier - I love this guys work. More please!!.