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Gulliver Takes Manhattan
Gulliver Takes Manhattan (first published as Gulliver Travels) is the tale of twenty-something Gulliver Leverenz, who abandons sunny L.A. for a fresh start in New York. He’s leaving behind his family, his friends—and one bastard ex-boyfriend who can’t take a hint. With no money, job, or direction, Gully gratefully accepts an invitation to crash with his former fraternity brother Todd. As luck would have it, Todd lives in Hell’s Kitchen, New York’s hottest “gayborhood,” and is a rising star in the gay nightlife scene, complete with a crew of incredibly hot friends. Not long after, Gully snags a job with a talent agent and even finds himself a new boyfriend. There’s just one Gulliver knows this budding relationship could get him in a lot of trouble. And inevitably, it does just that. Gulliver’s streak of good fortune soon takes a turn for the miserable as his choices unleash an onslaught of catastrophes that leaves him in a tragic and seemingly hopeless situation beneath the skyscrapers. But Gully’s tougher than he realizes and is determined to prove, for once and for all, that he has what it takes to make it in New York. By turns exciting, sad, and hysterically funny, Gulliver Takes Manhattan is a refreshingly candid tale of one man’s quest to stake a place for himself in the greatest city in the world.
427 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
25 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Justin Luke Zirilli
13 books52 followersJustin Luke is author of Gulliver Takes Manhattan and its sequel, Gulliver Takes Five.
His newest novella, "Gianni," is now available exclusively on the Kindle.
He has also penned "Time and Time Again," based on the TV Series "The Vampire Diaries. It is also available exclusively on the Kindle as a part of their Kindle Worlds program.
He is also the Co-Director and Head Promoter of the New York-Based gay nightlife events company, BoiParty.com. Together with his partner, Alan Picus, they throw weekly dance parties around New York City.
Justin is also a social media consultant and addict. He has helped countless companies and individuals take advantage of Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and Podcasts to get out into the world, and grab attention by the throat.
He is also the creator of Gorgeous, Gay and Twenty-Something, a private international Facebook group now comprised of over 7,700 members.
When not being a nerd and/or writing, Justin spends his time in Hell’s Kitchen, usually playing Playstation and watching 30 Rock with his boyfriend, Joe.
His newest novella, "Gianni," is now available exclusively on the Kindle.
He has also penned "Time and Time Again," based on the TV Series "The Vampire Diaries. It is also available exclusively on the Kindle as a part of their Kindle Worlds program.
He is also the Co-Director and Head Promoter of the New York-Based gay nightlife events company, BoiParty.com. Together with his partner, Alan Picus, they throw weekly dance parties around New York City.
Justin is also a social media consultant and addict. He has helped countless companies and individuals take advantage of Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and Podcasts to get out into the world, and grab attention by the throat.
He is also the creator of Gorgeous, Gay and Twenty-Something, a private international Facebook group now comprised of over 7,700 members.
When not being a nerd and/or writing, Justin spends his time in Hell’s Kitchen, usually playing Playstation and watching 30 Rock with his boyfriend, Joe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 21, 2017
Audible
FUN.PURE.
Great in all its manifestation, but ingenious as an AUDIO-BOOK, thanks to fantastic Cole Ferguson.
Gulliver Leverenz will drive you nuts, but his adventure in the city that never sleeps is spectacular, his conquest of NYC is addictive, funny, witty, sexy, entertaining, and...compassionate.
An author's love declaration for the greatest city in the world!
This book is a crazy mixture of Queer As Folk and a gay Version of Sex & The City.
June 1, 2013
I had to get past the bad formatting (essentially, there wasn't any) and the sloppy editing (quite a feat, since I'm an editor), but once I was sucked into the story, I couldn't stop reading.
This is just plain fun; Gulliver's adventures are amusing and witty as we experience NYC's gay nightlife through the eyes of a newly transplanted LA native.
Gulliver is a sweetheart, all sharp elbows and surprising naivety, winning my heart and admiration as he tries to beat Manhattan into submission. The last half of the book is a freight train you cannot get off; just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Not a romance, this is unvarnished life at it's best. Kudos to the author for staying true to his characters and the story.
This is just plain fun; Gulliver's adventures are amusing and witty as we experience NYC's gay nightlife through the eyes of a newly transplanted LA native.
Gulliver is a sweetheart, all sharp elbows and surprising naivety, winning my heart and admiration as he tries to beat Manhattan into submission. The last half of the book is a freight train you cannot get off; just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Not a romance, this is unvarnished life at it's best. Kudos to the author for staying true to his characters and the story.
June 21, 2012
This is one of the best gay-boy-takes-on-the-big-apple novels I've read in a long, long time. I haven't come across a main character that has such a penchant for hopping from cringe-worthy situation to cringe-worthy situation like Gulliver since reading the first Shopoholic book some years back. You'll constantly find yourself groaning and going "Oh no he didn't !"
I hope the author will continue this tale and flesh out the story of Todd, his best friend. I found myself wanting to know more about him and secretly wishing that Gulliver would end up with him.
Well done, Justin Luke Zirilli.
I hope the author will continue this tale and flesh out the story of Todd, his best friend. I found myself wanting to know more about him and secretly wishing that Gulliver would end up with him.
Well done, Justin Luke Zirilli.
November 3, 2015
Gay Boy attempts to conquer Gay New York
Lisamarie in her review wrote "The author's description of New York is so keen on all the details you see in the noisy, busy, crazy city. He truly makes you root for Gulliver, even though you really wonder why is that he gets himself into so much unnecessary trouble, but that's what makes the story exciting."
I agree with Lisamarie. Next read the sequel Gulliver Takes Five
Lisamarie in her review wrote "The author's description of New York is so keen on all the details you see in the noisy, busy, crazy city. He truly makes you root for Gulliver, even though you really wonder why is that he gets himself into so much unnecessary trouble, but that's what makes the story exciting."
I agree with Lisamarie. Next read the sequel Gulliver Takes Five
July 22, 2012
This book is good. It is for those who yearn for a good replacement for Queer As Folk. This feels like Queer As Folk meets Sex & The City, in New York. Delicious, entertaining and fast-paced.
March 2, 2018
If I was just rating the narrator, this would be 5 stars without a doubt. Cole Ferguson was superb...he MADE the story for me. Unfortunately, the story itself I got bored of, and tbh, it doesn't do gay guys any favours at all. You know, the straight man's belief that gay men will apparently have sex wherever, whenever and with whomever?? Well, that in spades....all Gully and the rest of his posse seemed to do was get drunk and have sex, usually at the same time and with no real mention of any protection.
Admittedly, this story is set around 5 years or so ago, so the problem of AIDS doesn't rear it's ugly head thankfully...although STD's and HIV are still prevalent of course. Justin Luke Zirilli may be gay, and possibly have lived the life that Gully led in this story OR it may be a complete fabrication and plucked from his own overactive imagination, but I for one, would like to think that young gay guys have more commonsense these days. 3.5 stars for the story.
August 16, 2012
How can anyone not have loved this book?? It's one of those books that makes you giddy while you're reading it, and then you want to share how great it is with everyone you know. I didn't have any expectations of this book. I got to borrow it for free from Amazon prime. I hadn't heard anything about it. But it is well worth it's selling price.
I'm not usually the type of reviewer that gives any sort of a book summary, but since there are not a lot of reviews on here (which I cannot understand AT ALL), I'll give you a run down. Gulliver leaves his home in L.A. to run away from a cheating ex-boyfriend and runs to New York, to move in with his best college friend (whom I love -- Todd! *swoon*) And essentially it's a story of the things he does to survive when he gets there. His work, his friends, his love interests, and his mistakes. That's one of the things that I loved about this book. Gulliver is a bit of a selfish brat. But he has a good heart, and he works hard, and it's hard not to root for him. But his imperfections are what make this book interesting. There's no HEA. There's a (maybe) HFN, but that's beside the point. The supporting characters are fantastic, and Gulliver's journey is fun and interesting and sometimes tragic and sad, but always compelling. I read it in one sitting.
Above all, Zirilli is a really good writer. He knows how to create characters, and construct a plot that is continually moving forward in new and interesting ways. It's unique. Different. And having read many, many books of it's kind, this is a wonderful thing.
I'm not usually the type of reviewer that gives any sort of a book summary, but since there are not a lot of reviews on here (which I cannot understand AT ALL), I'll give you a run down. Gulliver leaves his home in L.A. to run away from a cheating ex-boyfriend and runs to New York, to move in with his best college friend (whom I love -- Todd! *swoon*) And essentially it's a story of the things he does to survive when he gets there. His work, his friends, his love interests, and his mistakes. That's one of the things that I loved about this book. Gulliver is a bit of a selfish brat. But he has a good heart, and he works hard, and it's hard not to root for him. But his imperfections are what make this book interesting. There's no HEA. There's a (maybe) HFN, but that's beside the point. The supporting characters are fantastic, and Gulliver's journey is fun and interesting and sometimes tragic and sad, but always compelling. I read it in one sitting.
Above all, Zirilli is a really good writer. He knows how to create characters, and construct a plot that is continually moving forward in new and interesting ways. It's unique. Different. And having read many, many books of it's kind, this is a wonderful thing.
June 13, 2012
If you can't tell by the summary, Gulliver Takes Manhattan is a popcorn novel. A rather addictive popcorn novel - I started reading one chapter on a break and finished the entire novel. Zirilli's writing may not be sophisticated, but it's more than competent, especially considering that Gulliver Takes Manhattan is a debut novel.
Gully can be a frustrating character, since he doesn't always make the best decisions. But his point of view is absorbing, so at least you understand his motivation when he does something utterly bone headed. Ultimately, you want things to turn out alright for him because being somewhat selfish isn't a major crime. (There are a few people in the novel who could use a comeuppance, but mostly the characters get happy endings.)
Unlike most novels focused on being young and good-looking in the big city, there's no drug use, which is surprising but refreshing. There's plenty of drinking - including several incidences where Gully loses time due to the drinking. But the general view of most of the characters seems to be that your partying shouldn't affect your job, since it pays for the partying.
There's a pretty colorful background cast. Some of them I liked, some not so much. None of them really bugged me in the story because Gulliver is always moving on. If you're looking for a fun, quick read, then I'd strongly recommend Gulliver Takes Manhattan.
Gully can be a frustrating character, since he doesn't always make the best decisions. But his point of view is absorbing, so at least you understand his motivation when he does something utterly bone headed. Ultimately, you want things to turn out alright for him because being somewhat selfish isn't a major crime. (There are a few people in the novel who could use a comeuppance, but mostly the characters get happy endings.)
Unlike most novels focused on being young and good-looking in the big city, there's no drug use, which is surprising but refreshing. There's plenty of drinking - including several incidences where Gully loses time due to the drinking. But the general view of most of the characters seems to be that your partying shouldn't affect your job, since it pays for the partying.
There's a pretty colorful background cast. Some of them I liked, some not so much. None of them really bugged me in the story because Gulliver is always moving on. If you're looking for a fun, quick read, then I'd strongly recommend Gulliver Takes Manhattan.
June 8, 2013
I wanted to try something new. Basically it's like they said in earlier reviews, it's basically Sex and the City meets Queer as Folk. I really liked Gulliver. He truly travels through a lot of rough patches, nonetheless, he has made it his goal to beat New York, at least for a while. The author's description of New York is so keen on all the details you see in the noisy, busy, crazy city. He truly makes you root for Gulliver, even though you really wonder why is that he gets himself into so much unnecessary trouble, but that's what makes the story exciting. And I also want to add how much I admired Todd's relationship with Gulliver, they are true bros.
July 13, 2013
Dear Gulliver,
The drama could have sooo been avoided. But hey, I enjoy drama from time to time and I certainly got it here. Living vicariously through Gulliver was certainly stressful at times but highly entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and didn't stop reading till I was finished. Onto the sequel!
The drama could have sooo been avoided. But hey, I enjoy drama from time to time and I certainly got it here. Living vicariously through Gulliver was certainly stressful at times but highly entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and didn't stop reading till I was finished. Onto the sequel!
July 5, 2012
Definately not the norm of what I read. If you take it on, keep an open mind!
March 27, 2013
seriously, the best damn book !! Maybe just my humble opinion , but it was by far the most entertaining thing I came across
Want to read
August 1, 2013Price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US! 8/1/13 :)
June 28, 2014
One of the most entertaining gay novels since a long time. Absolutely recommended. Witty, engrossing and recognizable. If you like Queer as Folk, this is your gay Sex and the City.
November 15, 2018
A fun break from reality. Thanks Lena.
July 9, 2023
Book 1 - Gulliver Takes Manhattan - 4 stars - 7/8/23
Book 2 - Gulliver Takes Five - 4 stars - 7/9/23
Book 2 - Gulliver Takes Five - 4 stars - 7/9/23
October 29, 2012
Entertaining and well-written, but at times I disliked the main character
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 9/10
PROS:
- All of the central characters seemed lifelike to me: the dialogue is realistically catty and lacks the wit and perfection that some authors are prone to, and Gulliver and every one of his friends/acquaintances/one-night-stands come across as really nice at some times and really jerky at others.
- The story takes you on a whirlwind ride through New York City--and not just the trendy parts or the parts you see as a tourist who’s there for a week. Gulliver lives in and travels to and parties through various areas in and around New York, and he describes the good, the bad, and the ugly details about each and every one of them.
- Zirilli’s writing style is heavy in metaphor and allusion, but not the subtle, “literary” type that students are forced to study in English literature classes. The writing here is sardonic, and Gulliver’s caustic comments and descriptions made me laugh on numerous occasions.
CONS:
- I didn’t always like Gulliver, so at times I had to force myself to continue reading about him. He’s petty and self-absorbed, so much so that I found myself a couple of times cheering for his adversaries rather than for him.
- The story is written in present tense, and as is often the case with such books, things get a bit muddled sometimes when past occurrences and flashbacks are being related.
Overall comments: I liked this overall, and I found it uncommonly funny. But if you’re not a fan of sexual escapades related in a flippant manner, you should probably stay away from this one. I’d guess that at least 50% of it concerns Gulliver’s conquests in the bedroom--and in back alleys, back rooms, and back…whatevers. Here’s how one character puts it near the end of the book: “That’s certainly not how I remember the story of Gulliver’s Travels. When I read it as a kid, there were fewer three-ways.”
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 9/10
PROS:
- All of the central characters seemed lifelike to me: the dialogue is realistically catty and lacks the wit and perfection that some authors are prone to, and Gulliver and every one of his friends/acquaintances/one-night-stands come across as really nice at some times and really jerky at others.
- The story takes you on a whirlwind ride through New York City--and not just the trendy parts or the parts you see as a tourist who’s there for a week. Gulliver lives in and travels to and parties through various areas in and around New York, and he describes the good, the bad, and the ugly details about each and every one of them.
- Zirilli’s writing style is heavy in metaphor and allusion, but not the subtle, “literary” type that students are forced to study in English literature classes. The writing here is sardonic, and Gulliver’s caustic comments and descriptions made me laugh on numerous occasions.
CONS:
- I didn’t always like Gulliver, so at times I had to force myself to continue reading about him. He’s petty and self-absorbed, so much so that I found myself a couple of times cheering for his adversaries rather than for him.
- The story is written in present tense, and as is often the case with such books, things get a bit muddled sometimes when past occurrences and flashbacks are being related.
Overall comments: I liked this overall, and I found it uncommonly funny. But if you’re not a fan of sexual escapades related in a flippant manner, you should probably stay away from this one. I’d guess that at least 50% of it concerns Gulliver’s conquests in the bedroom--and in back alleys, back rooms, and back…whatevers. Here’s how one character puts it near the end of the book: “That’s certainly not how I remember the story of Gulliver’s Travels. When I read it as a kid, there were fewer three-ways.”
December 16, 2013
Gulliver Takes Manhattan was super entertaining and one of those stories that just seems to be enhanced by the narrator (in this case Cole Ferguson).
I listened to this audio book over a week during my daily commute and actually looked forward to getting in my car each morning so that I could listen to the next installment of Gulliver's adventures.
Gulliver is running away from his life in LA,escaping the city where his two-timing, now ex-boyfriend lives. He moves to the other side of the country to share an apartment in New York with his college friend Todd. Todd is a party organiser in the gay nightclub scene with all the right connections and his friendship ensures that Gulliver has access to all the best parties and lots of free drinks!
The story follows Gulliver's party life, his flings, his relationships with Todd's group of friends. There is time spent with Gulliver and his new job and the complexities that result from him falling for one of his clients. There are weekends away, one night stands and fights. Gulliver goes from on top of the world one minutes, to desperately sad and alone the next. He moves from coffee shop employee, to talent scout to . It's certainly not short on action!
According to his bio, Justin Luke Zirilli is Head Promoter of a New York-Based gay nightlife events company, so he must know his stuff and this certainly comes through in the story!
I highly recommend this audio book - great story, wonderful characters and good pace. It ends with a happy-for-now but there is a sequel that I am looking forward to reading.
4.5 stars
I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
I listened to this audio book over a week during my daily commute and actually looked forward to getting in my car each morning so that I could listen to the next installment of Gulliver's adventures.
Gulliver is running away from his life in LA,escaping the city where his two-timing, now ex-boyfriend lives. He moves to the other side of the country to share an apartment in New York with his college friend Todd. Todd is a party organiser in the gay nightclub scene with all the right connections and his friendship ensures that Gulliver has access to all the best parties and lots of free drinks!
The story follows Gulliver's party life, his flings, his relationships with Todd's group of friends. There is time spent with Gulliver and his new job and the complexities that result from him falling for one of his clients. There are weekends away, one night stands and fights. Gulliver goes from on top of the world one minutes, to desperately sad and alone the next. He moves from coffee shop employee, to talent scout to . It's certainly not short on action!
According to his bio, Justin Luke Zirilli is Head Promoter of a New York-Based gay nightlife events company, so he must know his stuff and this certainly comes through in the story!
I highly recommend this audio book - great story, wonderful characters and good pace. It ends with a happy-for-now but there is a sequel that I am looking forward to reading.
4.5 stars
I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
July 25, 2017
4 stars
A fun little book about trying to make it big in The Big Apple. If a breezy, uncomplicated romp about cute boys, drama queens, drunken hookups and crazy ex-boyfriends sounds like something you'd enjoy, this one ticks all the boxes. It's kind of like Sex and the City but with more sex and alcohol, if that's even possible.
Gulliver reminds me a little of Gillybran Brown from the Fun With Dick and Shane series, only without being as much of a brat. Gulliver's heart is in the right place but he tends to make impulsive decisions that only lead to trouble. But despite that, he always seems to land on his feet.
My only problem with this book is Braeden, a psychopath whose behaviour is constantly enabled by his friends. His character is pretty dark and, unfortunately, he doesn't get his just desserts for doing some shitty things. I really would have liked to see him get some help because he really needs it.
Other than that, this was a surprisingly enjoyable book that I picked up on a whim and ended up really liking :)
A fun little book about trying to make it big in The Big Apple. If a breezy, uncomplicated romp about cute boys, drama queens, drunken hookups and crazy ex-boyfriends sounds like something you'd enjoy, this one ticks all the boxes. It's kind of like Sex and the City but with more sex and alcohol, if that's even possible.
Gulliver reminds me a little of Gillybran Brown from the Fun With Dick and Shane series, only without being as much of a brat. Gulliver's heart is in the right place but he tends to make impulsive decisions that only lead to trouble. But despite that, he always seems to land on his feet.
My only problem with this book is Braeden, a psychopath whose behaviour is constantly enabled by his friends. His character is pretty dark and, unfortunately, he doesn't get his just desserts for doing some shitty things. I really would have liked to see him get some help because he really needs it.
Other than that, this was a surprisingly enjoyable book that I picked up on a whim and ended up really liking :)
May 7, 2013
I give this book between three and four stars, but closer to four. The author deserves some credit for writing explicitly and openly. This book made me feel old, but it was immensely entertaining. There is gads of sex in this book, but no romance. The story shocked me in several chapters, it is near silly in over-the-top erotic adventures happening. But, the author writes with humor and sincerity. The main protagonist has some serious character flaws and suffers for them; the evolution of his experience in New York is complex, not always believable, but entertaining. I enjoyed the story because it was so very different from other gay "romances"; this story is more a portrayal of sexual misadventures than a love story (actually, there is no love story, only a suggestion of romance at the end). So, a creative story that hits on several taboo topics. It is contemporary, young, and shameless (but somehow not pornographic, in my opinion).
August 3, 2017
I enjoyed this, it's not great literature but it's a light breezy read. It feels more like 3 stories linked together, especially in "Round 3" where the protagonist is thrust (sorry for the choice of word there lol) into a situation for which there was no foreshadowing, and seems to extricate himself from the situation just as easily. That isn't a criticism, just an observation: "Round 4" serves as an epilogue to just skip forward a bit and tie up some loose ends. It does feel a might shallow, since everyone in the book is described as a variation on physical perfection--but then, in this character's world, it may reflect the fact that he only notices people who fit that description and no one else is worth mentioning. I'll likely read the follow-up novel at some point, as it was enjoyable, I'll just save it for some point when I don't feel like being overly challenged.
June 9, 2016
I almost stopped reading this book twice when I saw Gulliver making some huge moral mistakes. As a protagonist, he is a little difficult to like since he keeps putting himself in bad situations. He is very selfish and narcissistic. He never considers how his choices affect those around him. Having said that, this author is very engaging with his writing. I felt immersed in club culture and money (for most of the book). The other characters are outrageous but entertaining. I wanted this to be a light summer read, which it was; however, I didn't expect to become so angry with the MC. When he's not busy hurting other people, I enjoyed coming along for the ride.
August 28, 2015
Despite a Islamaphobic remark and a couple of rape jokes, I enjoyed this book. It was well told, and each character was unique. Gulliver's BFF is the sweetest. I'd read a whole book series about him. Gulliver himself is a great character -- flawed but not without his strengths. He makes mistakes and owns up to him. He overreacts, but he's a good guy.
An enjoyable, light read.
An enjoyable, light read.
August 27, 2017
This is a very different kind of journey towards self-discovery and the mistakes we make by happenstance along the way. Gulliver is endearing in a curious, but naive kind of way, he has a moral compass that he rarely seems to utilize, yet I found myself rooting for his success.
May 2, 2012
This book eerily matches what I'm currently going through. Gulliver is a young gay guy that moves to NYC to kick start his life.
September 4, 2012
A fun romp through NYC's gay life
http://luhathoughts.blogspot.com/2012...
http://luhathoughts.blogspot.com/2012...
September 27, 2012
So addicted! I need more Gully! Where is "Gulliver Takes Five"?! Write Justin, write!!
November 4, 2012
3.5 stars really. Would have been 4 stars (maybe) but story is told in 1st person POV and present tense which I did not like.
February 12, 2013
Good read...definitely for mature audiences due to graphic sexual content. The only problem I had was that they never explained the Todd situation at the end.
June 1, 2014
Loved it! Makes me want to drop everything and move to Manhattan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews