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The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen
by
Valerie Z. Lewis (Goodreads Author)
A comedy about a bisexual mechanic turned model who aims to get the man of his dreams and save the world as soon as he finishes smoking this joint.
ebook, 208 pages
Published
April 11th 2011
by Valerie Z. Lewis
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Mar 20, 2012
MandyM
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
m-m-romance,
free-online
This is the strangely poignant, very funny, and ultimately uplifting love story of Doug, a simple-minded and big-hearted male model and Stephen, the aloof and hostile object of his affections. Stephen is bitter and depressed about the disappointing way his life has turned out. He has succeeded in rebuffing any overtures of friendship until Doug gets a job at his workplace and decides that Stephen is the man for him.
This book takes all the serious issues of sexuality, acceptance, friendship, succ...more
This book takes all the serious issues of sexuality, acceptance, friendship, succ...more
20 likes · like · see review
view all 7 comments
My review in one word: Hilarious!
So there's the plot. Doug works at a gay magazine. Doug decides that he is gay for Stephen. Doug sets out to get Stephen. There is also some stuff going on with an investigation into an evil multi-national, but they could have spent the entire book watching the grass grow and I still would have read it. Because it's HILARIOUS.
Doug is sweet, dumb, and I was in love with him the moment he picked up a button off the floor and put it in his mouth. Because, you know...more
So there's the plot. Doug works at a gay magazine. Doug decides that he is gay for Stephen. Doug sets out to get Stephen. There is also some stuff going on with an investigation into an evil multi-national, but they could have spent the entire book watching the grass grow and I still would have read it. Because it's HILARIOUS.
Doug is sweet, dumb, and I was in love with him the moment he picked up a button off the floor and put it in his mouth. Because, you know...more
4.5 stars
The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen is a PG romance about a Forrest Gump-esq male model who falls in love and lust with a smart, bitter man while working at a gay magazine in NYC. The male model, Doug, has never been with a guy before but without thinking or analyzing his desires, realizes that he has the hots for Stephen and lunges right in.
Doug is simple-minded, sweet, and inexplicably hilarious. The book had me laughing out loud in parts, and 100% kept my interest. This is not y...more
The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen is a PG romance about a Forrest Gump-esq male model who falls in love and lust with a smart, bitter man while working at a gay magazine in NYC. The male model, Doug, has never been with a guy before but without thinking or analyzing his desires, realizes that he has the hots for Stephen and lunges right in.
Doug is simple-minded, sweet, and inexplicably hilarious. The book had me laughing out loud in parts, and 100% kept my interest. This is not y...more
6 likes · like · see review
3.5-4 stars. Think of the most extreme opposites attract story you know of. Then dial it up a notch. That's what this story ended up being.
It's not that Doug, the male model main character, is not the brightest crayon in the box; rather, it's like Doug is the BLACK crayon. Seriously. Now try pairing him up with Stephen, the uber-intellectual (and he's so uber-aware of that fact) editor at the magazine at which Doug somehow and miraculously landed a job (hint: Doug has to model clothes - usually...more
It's not that Doug, the male model main character, is not the brightest crayon in the box; rather, it's like Doug is the BLACK crayon. Seriously. Now try pairing him up with Stephen, the uber-intellectual (and he's so uber-aware of that fact) editor at the magazine at which Doug somehow and miraculously landed a job (hint: Doug has to model clothes - usually...more
6 likes · like · see review
The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen is a comedic journey of a ...ummm.... Intelligence-challenged model and a brainiac writer, who slowly transition from a love-hate (as in, one loves, one hates) relationship to a love-love romance. It is written in a very down-to-earth voice that makes the reader feel like someone is telling them the origins of their relationship. It has gotten a lot of great reviews, and I can certainly understand why - the style or tone of writing is original, there aren'...more
3 likes · like · see review
3.25 A humerous story that many times had me chuckling to myself in amusement or rolling my eyes in a wtf? reaction.
Doug is a truly too-dumb-to-live Midwestern boy whom Serendipity smiles upon. He realizes that since he's working for a gay magazine, he must be gay - and decides that he's in love with Stephen, even if Stephen is evil and Doug is afraid of him (at least at the beginning).
Stephen has settled into being a bitter and dissatisfied man. Doug's inept approaches are at first annoying to...more
Doug is a truly too-dumb-to-live Midwestern boy whom Serendipity smiles upon. He realizes that since he's working for a gay magazine, he must be gay - and decides that he's in love with Stephen, even if Stephen is evil and Doug is afraid of him (at least at the beginning).
Stephen has settled into being a bitter and dissatisfied man. Doug's inept approaches are at first annoying to...more
I enjoyed this quirky, funny story more than I thought I would.
Doug is like a goofy puppy. He can be annoying, but he's so sweet and cute that a person just has to pet him. Stephen is grumpy and standoffish, and it takes someone as sweet and clueless as Doug to really break through his shell.
Much of the humor in the story hinges on the fact that Doug isn't very bright. He definitely doesn't think like the rest of us, but I think there's just a different type of intelligence there He was a mecha...more
Doug is like a goofy puppy. He can be annoying, but he's so sweet and cute that a person just has to pet him. Stephen is grumpy and standoffish, and it takes someone as sweet and clueless as Doug to really break through his shell.
Much of the humor in the story hinges on the fact that Doug isn't very bright. He definitely doesn't think like the rest of us, but I think there's just a different type of intelligence there He was a mecha...more
1 like · like · see review
I don't know if I have ever laughed so hard while reading a book as I did with this one. It started at 1 or 2% (on my Kindle) with Doug's conversation with his mother on the phone and it continued throughout the entire story. I could never write a review that could do this book justice. I literally laughed the entire time I was reading it. It was brilliant. Doug is so simple. No book smarts at all. Naive. Totally clueless. He was perfect. Stephen is such an ass. After reading some of the other r...more
This is a quirky, random, funny book with rather endearing, if not offbeat characters. Therefore I enjoyed the writing immensely.
Doug is thicker than a 2 inch T-bone, he's pretty, models, and makes Derek Zoolander seem like Einstein in comparison (sorry Doug, much love to you though). In Doug’s defence, he does do justice to the axiom that thinking is overrated. He also sees the silver lining around things, sees the good in people, even ‘long-suffering Stephen.’ Oddly, he also listens, and at th...more
Doug is thicker than a 2 inch T-bone, he's pretty, models, and makes Derek Zoolander seem like Einstein in comparison (sorry Doug, much love to you though). In Doug’s defence, he does do justice to the axiom that thinking is overrated. He also sees the silver lining around things, sees the good in people, even ‘long-suffering Stephen.’ Oddly, he also listens, and at th...more
Apr 21, 2012
Ami
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Ami by:
MandyM
Shelves:
mm-free,
mm-contemporary
I must thank MandyM for this one. This story is one enjoyable journey. Doug and Stephen are a case of opposite attract.
I love how endearing and determined Doug is, when he decides that the grouchy Stephen is the love of his life. Doug is not really smart. He's a male model, he can't write to save his life, but he has such a positive outlook about life and people in general. He makes friends with a weed dealer and homeless guy. Doug is a simple man, but in his simplicity, he can even get under S...more
I love how endearing and determined Doug is, when he decides that the grouchy Stephen is the love of his life. Doug is not really smart. He's a male model, he can't write to save his life, but he has such a positive outlook about life and people in general. He makes friends with a weed dealer and homeless guy. Doug is a simple man, but in his simplicity, he can even get under S...more
4 likes · like · see review
May 01, 2013
Chuck
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kindle-lending-library,
favorites
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
It's funny how my reaction to this book sort of mirrored Stephen's reaction to Doug. In the beginning all I could think was that there's a difference between funny and ridiculous and this book was the latter. Most of the jokes seemed dumb, a few laughs but more in the 'broken clock is right twice a day' way.
But as the story went on, its charms became more obvious and I found myself laughing out loud more and more. Until finally, like Stephen, I had completely lost sight of what I supposedly hate...more
But as the story went on, its charms became more obvious and I found myself laughing out loud more and more. Until finally, like Stephen, I had completely lost sight of what I supposedly hate...more
Feb 01, 2013
Katharina
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary,
humour
The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen is fun story about a pretty simple-minded ex-mechanic/now-model-slash-fashion-columnist who cannot write and a writer who has basically everything he wants but is still bitter and miserable about because life isn't exactly the way he always imagined it to be. Both work for the same magazine and while Stephen, the writer, hates Dough at first sight, it's not meant personally since he simply hates everyone. Doug on the other hand, formerly straight, falls in...more
Jul 11, 2011
Arthur
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
like-having-a-warm-chocolate
Like reading a bisexual male model version of Forrest Gump. That's the feeling you'd get when you're reading this story.
Douglas is a male model with big heart but limited understanding of how the world surrounding him works. He used to be a mechanic in Indiana, but he moved to New York, became a part-time model, and was hired to be 'model in residence' by The Flame, a gay magazine. Since the beginning, Doug had been attracted to Stephen, the senior editor. He even professed his love to him. But...more
Douglas is a male model with big heart but limited understanding of how the world surrounding him works. He used to be a mechanic in Indiana, but he moved to New York, became a part-time model, and was hired to be 'model in residence' by The Flame, a gay magazine. Since the beginning, Doug had been attracted to Stephen, the senior editor. He even professed his love to him. But...more
8 likes · like · see review
Mar 19, 2012
Veronica / V
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
simple-child-like-mc
What a fantastic book, I loved Dough he was the most adorable, funny, cute MC.
This story will make you laugh out loud, you will have the time of your life reading this wonderful story.
In some parts, also I cried, I feel so sorry for Dough sometimes, specially when Stephen mocked him, and treated him badly,he was so cruel specially when he mentioned how stupid Dough was .
I really hated Stephen and I wished Dough would find someone to love him for who he was , such a lovely person.
I was crying wh...more
This story will make you laugh out loud, you will have the time of your life reading this wonderful story.
In some parts, also I cried, I feel so sorry for Dough sometimes, specially when Stephen mocked him, and treated him badly,he was so cruel specially when he mentioned how stupid Dough was .
I really hated Stephen and I wished Dough would find someone to love him for who he was , such a lovely person.
I was crying wh...more
1 like · like · see review
This is a solid 3.5 stars for me. There were things I liked and things I didn't, and some things I like and didn't like at the same time.
Doug is cute and sweet and hilarious at times. He is also seemingly dumb as a brick, made out as a brainless model with good looks being his only real skill, though perhaps this is due, in part, to smoking weed daily for most of his adult life. I had a difficult time seeing any real depth to his character. He was so flighty all the time, but every once in a wh...more
Doug is cute and sweet and hilarious at times. He is also seemingly dumb as a brick, made out as a brainless model with good looks being his only real skill, though perhaps this is due, in part, to smoking weed daily for most of his adult life. I had a difficult time seeing any real depth to his character. He was so flighty all the time, but every once in a wh...more
1 like · like · see review
Apr 08, 2012
Bubbles Hunty
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Bubbles Hunty by:
Isa K.
This was super funny. That's the only reason I finished it.
I hated all the flash backs they seemed pretty pointless and where mostly just Doug remembering lots and lots of sex with girls. It was disappointing the mf sex was more described a d 30 times more numerous than the brief glimpses of anything gay. I won't even classify this as mm.
The ending was it just kind of ends, but honestly if there is more I wouldn't care enough to go read it.
Hated the drug use. This book is very drug detailed and...more
I hated all the flash backs they seemed pretty pointless and where mostly just Doug remembering lots and lots of sex with girls. It was disappointing the mf sex was more described a d 30 times more numerous than the brief glimpses of anything gay. I won't even classify this as mm.
The ending was it just kind of ends, but honestly if there is more I wouldn't care enough to go read it.
Hated the drug use. This book is very drug detailed and...more
A lovely story with an adorable main character, Doug. Someone in another review compared him to Forrest Gump and I think that's spot on. He really sounds and acts like him. Doug is not smart, one could say he's an idiot, but he has a big heart and some of the things he says and does are touching. The relationship with Stephen is fun, because Stephen seems to really dislike Doug and be annoyed by him. But Doug loves Stephen so he doesn't let his dislike of him stops him: he insinuates in Stephen'...more
The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephan was an odd book. I paid 99 cents for it on Amazon so I wasn't sure what I was getting but I am pleasantly suprised. I genuinely enjoyed the story.
There are two main character, Doug and Stephan. Doug is in love with Stephan but thinks he's a bit evil and Stephan hates Doug and tells him repeatedly.
Doug is an idiot. Literally. He has no common sense, he doesn't understand half the english vocabulary and he lives a very simple life. BUT...Doug is also very...more
There are two main character, Doug and Stephan. Doug is in love with Stephan but thinks he's a bit evil and Stephan hates Doug and tells him repeatedly.
Doug is an idiot. Literally. He has no common sense, he doesn't understand half the english vocabulary and he lives a very simple life. BUT...Doug is also very...more
Sep 29, 2012
Tiya Rosa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Tiya by:
Audrey
This is really funny. Like, seriously hilarious. I was shaking with laughter and if I had just focused on that, I would have enjoyed this more than I did. I was expecting at least a bit of romance, though, and it was disappointing mostly due to the royal asshole slash douchebag that was Stephen. I understood the rude comebacks and appreciated how funny they were, but I was hoping for a bit of kindness towards Doug somewhere at least later in the story and I don't think Stephen delivered. He's al...more
The first half of this book had me in tears - tears of laughter. It was truly hilarious; or possibly I have an obscure sense of humour... Whatever, I loved the first half of this book!
The second half was still pretty good, with some very entertaining 'Dougisms', but it had to concentrate on closing the storyline, so the focus shifted.
If someone had suggested that I would seriously enjoy reading a book with one very stupid MC and one very grumpy egotistical MC as a potential romantic pairing, I w...more
The second half was still pretty good, with some very entertaining 'Dougisms', but it had to concentrate on closing the storyline, so the focus shifted.
If someone had suggested that I would seriously enjoy reading a book with one very stupid MC and one very grumpy egotistical MC as a potential romantic pairing, I w...more
1 like · like · see review
This story was absolutely adorable. I loved Stephen, but Doug stole the show. His confusion was a little over the top and I felt sorry for him many times during the book, but he was such a great guy, so sweet and loving. The way he loved Stephen was a joy to read about. Stephen was a jerk through most of the book, with a few very sweet moments thrown in, and I thought I would end up hating him after the first few pages. Stephen's issues were explained and I almost found the way he was endearing....more
Epic is probably overstating things a bit. For that matter, love story is overstating things by a large margin, but that's irony for you, and The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen is full of it.
Doug Bruce is...special, which is a really PC way of saying he's a bit wrong-headed, but once you meet his mother, it begins to make a lot more sense. Plus, he's from Indiana, which goes a long way in explaining his lack of...sophistication. Sh, I'm a Hoosier, so I can make fun if I want to.
Doug's som...more
Doug Bruce is...special, which is a really PC way of saying he's a bit wrong-headed, but once you meet his mother, it begins to make a lot more sense. Plus, he's from Indiana, which goes a long way in explaining his lack of...sophistication. Sh, I'm a Hoosier, so I can make fun if I want to.
Doug's som...more
Very funny, sweet and unique. This wonderful free read. By Valerie Z. Lewis has two very quirky and potentially irritating main characters. Doug is a gorgeous and not-very bright model, and Stephen is a smart, surly, self involved writer. Their love story is extremely one sided for much of the novel, as Doug decides that he loves Stephen, and Stephen realizes that he absolutely hates Doug. But Doug is persistant, and perhaps not as dumb as Stephen thinks.msome truly hilarious dialogue that made...more
Sometimes books come along right when you need them to. This book came along for me right after I went on the trauma-coaster that is Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane, and if I ever needed a laugh, it was after reading that book.
And it’s terrifically funny. (I still laugh about the pudding dinner.) Doug is like a big goofy puppy, dumb as a box of hammers but so genuine that you can’t help but like the guy. Stephen is a bit over the top with his misanthropy, but it’s satire so it works and besides, it’...more
And it’s terrifically funny. (I still laugh about the pudding dinner.) Doug is like a big goofy puppy, dumb as a box of hammers but so genuine that you can’t help but like the guy. Stephen is a bit over the top with his misanthropy, but it’s satire so it works and besides, it’...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I've been side-eyeing this book for a while, because stories where there is a significant intelligence imbalance in a relationship have the potential to squick me out big time. But if they're written juuust right, it can be very enjoyable. Happily, this book was. Which is a strange thing to think, because Stephen mocks Doug constantly through most of the book, and you'd think that might bother me. But Stephen is a hateful little misanthrope who mocks everyone and everything, so in a way he was j...more
4,5 stars (because lack of love making, i want more than a kiss!)
The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen really is EPIC! No, not in the way that they gone through decades of war to get together or they have to sail across the universe to find their lover. It just...this.. simple minded (or a lot of people said "dumbass"), smoking weed but surprisingly have a lot of killer line: Doug, try to conquers that: bitter-uptight-OCD, Stephen.
It's a long read but I really really enjoyed it! The book is hi...more
The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen really is EPIC! No, not in the way that they gone through decades of war to get together or they have to sail across the universe to find their lover. It just...this.. simple minded (or a lot of people said "dumbass"), smoking weed but surprisingly have a lot of killer line: Doug, try to conquers that: bitter-uptight-OCD, Stephen.
It's a long read but I really really enjoyed it! The book is hi...more
this was a quirky, fun, lighthearted read. it was written well, a few typos.
and its not for everyone...some may think too quirky but i think we all could use a good quirky book every once in a while..
oh and we could all use a Doug in our lives. i really want to hang out with him on a roof for a few hours LOL!
and it had burst out loud moments and some that were a bit too "out there" for me but i think that's the point of the whole book. let's not take "this life" too seriously!
the ending leaves...more
and its not for everyone...some may think too quirky but i think we all could use a good quirky book every once in a while..
oh and we could all use a Doug in our lives. i really want to hang out with him on a roof for a few hours LOL!
and it had burst out loud moments and some that were a bit too "out there" for me but i think that's the point of the whole book. let's not take "this life" too seriously!
the ending leaves...more
1 like · like · see review
Wonderfully, wonderfully perfect....until what felt like a slap-dash ending. I reached the final page on my Kindle thinking...wait. There HAS to be more, right? That couldn't be the end, RIGHT?!?!?! But alas it was, and it unfortunately bummed me out. What could have been an awesome HEA with fireworks bursting in the sky instead turned out to be a...uh. Wait. That's it? It felt very HFN, which I suppose is okay, but it didn't fit with the rest of the book. However, Doug is a character not to be...more
4 likes · like · see review
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Hi. Thank you for taking the time to read my shit. I hope you like it, but if you don't that's okay too. I have a list of all my publications at valerielewis.net. I also put The Epic Love Story of Doug and Stephen there for free in a few different formats.
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“See, I thought gay sex would be all different and weird, but it was just like having sex with a woman, except way hotter. I guess you can't believe stuff you see on the Internet, because you know, the hot gay sex I had last night was totally awesome, and nobody like, put their entire hand in my butt."
Doug stood and walked over to Stephen, who was shoving a bagel into a Ziploc bag. "Anyway, hold on, here he is," Doug said into the phone, and then held it out towards him. "It's your mom.”
—
4 people liked it
Doug stood and walked over to Stephen, who was shoving a bagel into a Ziploc bag. "Anyway, hold on, here he is," Doug said into the phone, and then held it out towards him. "It's your mom.”
“And this song,” Doug said as the CD advanced to the next track, “Makes me think about how Stephen’s love completes my soul.” Rapid-fire drumming led into lyrics describing the satisfaction one felt when pointing a Glock at a filthy puta.”
—
2 people liked it
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