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That's What Friends Are For
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Expected 3 Mar 26In this poignant and hilarious story inspired by TV’s beloved The Golden Girls, bestselling author Wade Rouse celebrates love, aging, finding your people, and the art of impeccably timed one-liners.
Theodore Copeland has created a fabulous life in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, where he shares a fabulous pink mid-century home with three fabulous friends: Barry, a former actor still clinging to his youth, his hair, and the memory of the dream role that killed his career; Ron, an uprooted Christian from the Midwest with a big heart but no one to give it to; Sid, who, after coming out late in life, has never found love. Teddy is the caustic, unspoken leader of “The Golden Gays”—the foursome’s monthly drag tribute to The Golden Girls. Despite their foibles and bickering, they have turned their golden years into a golden era.
But the harmony of their desert enclave becomes a carousel of emotional baggage when Teddy’s estranged sister, Trudy, shows up on their doorstep, her dramatic teenage granddaughter in tow. While Teddy keeps Trudy at arm’s length, she manages to wheedle her way into the lives of the Golden Gays, until the real reason for her visit is revealed and the secrets they’ve all been keeping from each other unravel faster than a hastily stitched hemline.
A novel that gives thanks to “old” friends, That's What Friends Are For proves that while family may be the tie that binds, it’s the chosen family that truly keeps us together.
Theodore Copeland has created a fabulous life in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, where he shares a fabulous pink mid-century home with three fabulous friends: Barry, a former actor still clinging to his youth, his hair, and the memory of the dream role that killed his career; Ron, an uprooted Christian from the Midwest with a big heart but no one to give it to; Sid, who, after coming out late in life, has never found love. Teddy is the caustic, unspoken leader of “The Golden Gays”—the foursome’s monthly drag tribute to The Golden Girls. Despite their foibles and bickering, they have turned their golden years into a golden era.
But the harmony of their desert enclave becomes a carousel of emotional baggage when Teddy’s estranged sister, Trudy, shows up on their doorstep, her dramatic teenage granddaughter in tow. While Teddy keeps Trudy at arm’s length, she manages to wheedle her way into the lives of the Golden Gays, until the real reason for her visit is revealed and the secrets they’ve all been keeping from each other unravel faster than a hastily stitched hemline.
A novel that gives thanks to “old” friends, That's What Friends Are For proves that while family may be the tie that binds, it’s the chosen family that truly keeps us together.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 3, 2026
20547 people want to read
About the author
Wade Rouse
10 books284 followersWADE ROUSE is the critically acclaimed author ofthe memoirs America’s Boy, Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler, and At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream and editor of the upcoming humorous dog anthology I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship!He is a humor columnist for Metrosource magazine. Rouse lives outside Saugatuck, Michigan, with his partner, Gary, and their mutts, Marge and Mabel.
(source: Amazon)
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
January 25, 2026
Picture it:
Palm Springs, 2026.
Four gay men ranging from their 60’s to early 80’s share an iconic pink home together that was once owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Fun fact about me: The Golden Girls is my all-time favorite TV show.
I own the DVDs that even came in a case that looks like Sophia’s purse and since I no longer have a DVD player I own the series digitally.
In fact, my mom probably knew for sure that I was gay when in middle school I’d come home and watch reruns of The Golden Girls on Lifetime every afternoon.
So when I saw that a book was coming out that’s based on The Golden Girls, but with gay men as the characters (who also happen to perform episodes of the show in drag), I knew I had to read this!
I think that Wade Rouse had so much creativity in creating this novel.
And his notes at the end were as poignant as the book itself.
It touched on so many different things: internalized trauma, found family, reconnecting with family members we were born with and realizing that we didn’t always know the whole story.
Therapy isn’t cheap, but now I better see why I do it.
There were parts of this book that made me laugh out loud, and parts where I’d suddenly realize that a couple of tears were running down my face.
Although this is fiction, it reminded me a lot of The Old Gays Guide To The Good Life, I suppose because it had four gay men “of a certain age” (as they refer to themselves) from Palm Springs dispensing wisdom of life.
There were also some parts that reminded me of Disco Witches Of Fire Island.
I also don't think that you need to be gay of a huge Golden Girls fan to enjoy this.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing and especially Wade Rouse for providing me with an ARC to review!
This book had already been on my radar and I was stoked when I found out that I was getting an ARC!
Palm Springs, 2026.
Four gay men ranging from their 60’s to early 80’s share an iconic pink home together that was once owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Fun fact about me: The Golden Girls is my all-time favorite TV show.
I own the DVDs that even came in a case that looks like Sophia’s purse and since I no longer have a DVD player I own the series digitally.
In fact, my mom probably knew for sure that I was gay when in middle school I’d come home and watch reruns of The Golden Girls on Lifetime every afternoon.
So when I saw that a book was coming out that’s based on The Golden Girls, but with gay men as the characters (who also happen to perform episodes of the show in drag), I knew I had to read this!
I think that Wade Rouse had so much creativity in creating this novel.
And his notes at the end were as poignant as the book itself.
It touched on so many different things: internalized trauma, found family, reconnecting with family members we were born with and realizing that we didn’t always know the whole story.
Therapy isn’t cheap, but now I better see why I do it.
There were parts of this book that made me laugh out loud, and parts where I’d suddenly realize that a couple of tears were running down my face.
Although this is fiction, it reminded me a lot of The Old Gays Guide To The Good Life, I suppose because it had four gay men “of a certain age” (as they refer to themselves) from Palm Springs dispensing wisdom of life.
There were also some parts that reminded me of Disco Witches Of Fire Island.
I also don't think that you need to be gay of a huge Golden Girls fan to enjoy this.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing and especially Wade Rouse for providing me with an ARC to review!
This book had already been on my radar and I was stoked when I found out that I was getting an ARC!
December 10, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! It made me smile and laugh, cry and rage... it gave me all the feelings. Not only am I an absolute rabid fan for all things Golden Girls (still one of the best shows ever) but the story and the characters themselves were wonderful and heartbreaking. 5 big stars!
January 10, 2026
5⭐️
This book healed something in me…
I don’t know if I have the words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. As a gay man, reading this just felt as though I was hanging with four of my best friends. There’s biting wit and shade, mixed with love and tenderness. The only thing that made this better was reading about my local Palm Springs area!
Regardless of which main characters you identify with most, I think that each offers a unique and poignant look at humanity and the necessity of community and togetherness. Whether it’s finding your career, dealing with difficult family members, navigating new love, or even learning how to just be there for someone; each of these characters offer a refreshing and honest example that I think anyone can learn from.
I’m immensely grateful and overjoyed to have been able to read this book, and I cannot wait to have a physical copy for my personal library.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Wade Rouse for this eARC!
This book healed something in me…
I don’t know if I have the words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. As a gay man, reading this just felt as though I was hanging with four of my best friends. There’s biting wit and shade, mixed with love and tenderness. The only thing that made this better was reading about my local Palm Springs area!
Regardless of which main characters you identify with most, I think that each offers a unique and poignant look at humanity and the necessity of community and togetherness. Whether it’s finding your career, dealing with difficult family members, navigating new love, or even learning how to just be there for someone; each of these characters offer a refreshing and honest example that I think anyone can learn from.
I’m immensely grateful and overjoyed to have been able to read this book, and I cannot wait to have a physical copy for my personal library.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Wade Rouse for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Picture it! PA, 2026! Courtney sees a Jodi Picoult blurb on a book with a premise promising gay octogenarians who dress in drag as the Golden Girls... she runs, not walks, to read it!
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 is a love letter to found family, Palm Springs, LGBTQ+, and the Golden Girls. Equal measures hilarious and heartfelt, Rouse deftly explores what it means to be in the sandwich generation of the gay community today.
Much like the GGs, Teddy, Barry, Ron & Sid reside in their pink home and navigate the ups and downs of life and aging together. They bicker and love one another with a fierce loyalty molded from surviving decades in a world that has not always been kind to them. Teddy cloaks his vulnerability with a sharp wittiness while Barry clutches at a youth passed. Ron continues to keep his heart open despite the world's attempts to close it, and Sid ponders if it's too late to find love after coming out later in life. Each felt deeply human, and my heart ached for them all.
Side characters further round out the ensemble. Patty provides doses of comic relief. Sid & Esther's bff banter gives Jack & Karen vibes. Teddy & Ava's snarky burgeoning intergenerational friendship filled my soul. I even rooted for Trudy's redemption.
Laced with impeccably timed one-liners and a deep-seated tenderness, 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 is a beautiful blend of humor, heartbreak and hope. It's message is as timely as ever. Lovers of the Guncle will find a new sparkle of joy in their hearts for these Golden Gays; I know I sure did. Don't sleep on this one, folks.
🎙️Daniel Henning, Joel Leslie, Art Brown & George Newbern give a voice to each of these leading men, fully bringing them to life in their performances.
✨ Thank you HTP Books and Harlequin Audio for my DRC & ALC!
[𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 3•3•2026]
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 is a love letter to found family, Palm Springs, LGBTQ+, and the Golden Girls. Equal measures hilarious and heartfelt, Rouse deftly explores what it means to be in the sandwich generation of the gay community today.
Much like the GGs, Teddy, Barry, Ron & Sid reside in their pink home and navigate the ups and downs of life and aging together. They bicker and love one another with a fierce loyalty molded from surviving decades in a world that has not always been kind to them. Teddy cloaks his vulnerability with a sharp wittiness while Barry clutches at a youth passed. Ron continues to keep his heart open despite the world's attempts to close it, and Sid ponders if it's too late to find love after coming out later in life. Each felt deeply human, and my heart ached for them all.
Side characters further round out the ensemble. Patty provides doses of comic relief. Sid & Esther's bff banter gives Jack & Karen vibes. Teddy & Ava's snarky burgeoning intergenerational friendship filled my soul. I even rooted for Trudy's redemption.
Laced with impeccably timed one-liners and a deep-seated tenderness, 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 is a beautiful blend of humor, heartbreak and hope. It's message is as timely as ever. Lovers of the Guncle will find a new sparkle of joy in their hearts for these Golden Gays; I know I sure did. Don't sleep on this one, folks.
🎙️Daniel Henning, Joel Leslie, Art Brown & George Newbern give a voice to each of these leading men, fully bringing them to life in their performances.
✨ Thank you HTP Books and Harlequin Audio for my DRC & ALC!
[𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 3•3•2026]
November 3, 2025
That’s What Friends Are For is everything I never knew I needed in my life. Wade Rouse has written a heartfelt love letter to the LGBTQ+ community and to fans of one of television’s most beloved sitcoms of all time, The Golden Girls.
At its heart are four men in the twilight of their lives who share a glorious Palm Springs estate. Together, they perform as the characters we know and love Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia in The Golden Gays; a hilarious stage homage to the show that shaped generations. What begins as a witty, laugh-out-loud romp soon deepens into something far more tender. Each of the men is facing a personal crossroads in their life, wrestling with secrets and struggles that test their friendship and sense of self.
Rouse masterfully blends humor and heart, crafting a story that’s as poignant and meaningful as it is hilariously funny. The result is both a celebration and a dissection of issues with aging, identity crises, and the enduring power of friendship. It’s both heartbreaking and hopeful yet raw.
Simply put, Wade Rouse has written the best book of his career; a moving tribute that will linger with readers for years to come in my opinion.
At its heart are four men in the twilight of their lives who share a glorious Palm Springs estate. Together, they perform as the characters we know and love Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia in The Golden Gays; a hilarious stage homage to the show that shaped generations. What begins as a witty, laugh-out-loud romp soon deepens into something far more tender. Each of the men is facing a personal crossroads in their life, wrestling with secrets and struggles that test their friendship and sense of self.
Rouse masterfully blends humor and heart, crafting a story that’s as poignant and meaningful as it is hilariously funny. The result is both a celebration and a dissection of issues with aging, identity crises, and the enduring power of friendship. It’s both heartbreaking and hopeful yet raw.
Simply put, Wade Rouse has written the best book of his career; a moving tribute that will linger with readers for years to come in my opinion.
November 11, 2025
Thank you for being a friend Teddy, Sid, Ron, and Barry! Rouse's newest brings the nostalgia to modern day Palm Springs and leaves you laughing and crying. Sometimes simultaneously! Four older gay men are living together in a home in Palm Springs and doing drag performances of old Golden Girls episodes on stage. But they each are struggling with something that they don't want to share with each other yet. With plenty of wit, heart, and Golden Girls references,That's What Friends are For is exactly the story we need.
November 22, 2025
Ron, Teddy, Barry, and Sid live in a pink house and perform a gender swapped Golden Girls play. I think the main reason I enjoyed this so much is the humorous tinge added to even the most serious of moments. Each man is 80 years old or close, and moved to Palm Springs to be welcomed into an LGBTQ community. One has a best friend that is so funny, her comments lit up my eyes when I came across them on the page. Each character really redefines "found family" to me- this book is quintessential for any GG fan, because it is both so well written and such a lovely tribute to not only the actors and characters, but to anyone who felt seen when this show aired in 1985 and flipped political realness on it's head. Thank you so much to Wade Rouse and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read and review this eARC! All opinions are my own.
December 11, 2025
As the author writes in his note to readers, “This book is about community, be it the family you are born into or the one you create. It’s about friends you have known for a lifetime and those you meet who feel as if you’ve known them forever. It is for those who feel ostracized and overlooked, those diminished by society, those whose voices and words are dismissed, and those deemed unlovable due to age, shame, and sexuality. “. But above all, this is a powerful, evocative and emotional novel that tells the story of four amazing men, each with flaws. The friendship will be tested, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, and with honesty and with lies. Passions will ebb and flow, but as a reader, I found myself rooting for them to truly find their way home and to each other, despite the difficult challenges life seemed to throw at them. Teddy, Barry, Sid, and Ron are four aging gay men living in Palm Springs. They come to the desert from very different backgrounds, law, retail, show business and religion, but they are drawn to each other and a mutual love for the sitcom The Golden Girls, which they remake as a production called The Golden Gays, and from whose characters they take strength and solace from. As the book progresses, we see that each of these men is harboring a secret. These secrets will bring up parts of each of their lives they had buried and test their will to move forward in a positive direction. There were times while reading this book I laughed and I cried. And while the men are gay, and the women in the sitcom are old, this is a book anyone can relate to. I hope it brings about an awareness that no matter what our sexual orientation, religion, marital status or gender, we all are one people, and human kindness, decency and respect should be extended towards all. Wade Rouse has proven to be a gifted wordsmith in his previous novels using the pen name Viola Shipman. With this novel, written using his given name, he has exceeded the high bar set with his earlier books. It is a book that left me with hope for a better future, something that is much-needed in the world we live in today. Do not miss this one. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to write an honest review.
November 13, 2025
Teddy, Ron, Barry and Sid are gays ‘of a certain age’ - friends living together in a fabulous Palm Springs home and giving monthly theater performances as The Golden Gays, a Golden Girls spoof
They’ve made good lives for themselves, despite very harsh beginnings. And, even if things haven’t turned out the way they’d once dreamed, they have each other and that’s not nothing
Each of them has had a recent development in their lives though, and they’re at different turning points. Where things could get substantially better for them or …not
Like The Celebrants by Steven Rowley, I knew this one was going to break me almost from the start
It was emotional less for the reason I expected though, and for a half dozen other reasons instead (content warnings for abuse and assault, childhood and current. Directed at the MCs from others, not between them. They are good to each other, lack of chore chart respect aside)
Their collective survived traumas made this a tearjerker for me, but their support of each other and perseverance also made it so hopeful
And it feels like, for every sad moment, there’s balancing humor and quips that help lighten things
Plus, many of the tears were happy in the end!
More than anything this story shows the power of a found family through an entire life. Especially when the family they were born into was at best unsupportive, at worst - and too often - abusive
It also shows how it’s never too late for a fresh start, no matter how far along in life you are
Side note - The Pink House in is quite the showstopper, I suggest looking it up
I remember seeing it on the Zillow tv show, and the Zsa Zsa house is every bit as dramatic a home as these guys deserve!
Thank you to HTP/MIRA for the arc!
They’ve made good lives for themselves, despite very harsh beginnings. And, even if things haven’t turned out the way they’d once dreamed, they have each other and that’s not nothing
Each of them has had a recent development in their lives though, and they’re at different turning points. Where things could get substantially better for them or …not
Like The Celebrants by Steven Rowley, I knew this one was going to break me almost from the start
It was emotional less for the reason I expected though, and for a half dozen other reasons instead (content warnings for abuse and assault, childhood and current. Directed at the MCs from others, not between them. They are good to each other, lack of chore chart respect aside)
Their collective survived traumas made this a tearjerker for me, but their support of each other and perseverance also made it so hopeful
And it feels like, for every sad moment, there’s balancing humor and quips that help lighten things
Plus, many of the tears were happy in the end!
More than anything this story shows the power of a found family through an entire life. Especially when the family they were born into was at best unsupportive, at worst - and too often - abusive
It also shows how it’s never too late for a fresh start, no matter how far along in life you are
Side note - The Pink House in is quite the showstopper, I suggest looking it up
I remember seeing it on the Zillow tv show, and the Zsa Zsa house is every bit as dramatic a home as these guys deserve!
Thank you to HTP/MIRA for the arc!
February 21, 2026
When your friend tells you there’s a book that combines the sharp wit of The Golden Girls with the charm of The Guncle, you don’t hesitate. You immediately get your hands, and in this case, your ears on that book.
THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR by Wade Rouse is a book that made me laugh through my tears. Simultaneously touching and hilarious, Rouse treats the reader to one of the most delightful found family novels in recent memory. The book centers around four gay men of a certain age who live and work together in Palm Springs. Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid each took different paths to the pink house formerly owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor. They’ve navigated discrimination, abuse, estrangement, and loss; and use humor to get past their trauma.
But life is not perfect in the desert. Each man still has unfulfilled dreams and unresolved issues. Intolerance and bias still rear their ugly heads—even in an LGBTQIA+ friendly community. Family fractures still hurt and the desire to be loved and accepted continues to be a throbbing ache. Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid are forced to face their demons with the aid of some truly unforgettable supporting characters. Old queens, new love interests, and an angsty teen enter the world of the Golden Gays when they are needed most.
I freaking loved this book. The characters are RICH; vulnerable, brave, funny, HUMAN. The banter is superb; reminiscent of the sitcom from which they draw inspiration. The found family trope is executed to perfection; including a charming Intergenerational relationship and a highly unusual “meet the parents” moment. This is a book that should be experienced without spoilers. Each character, each plot point, each line of dialogue deserved to be discovered and appreciated by the reader.
The audio version of THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR is sublime. Performances by Daniel Henning, Joel Leslie, Art Brown, and George Newbern are pitch perfect.
Please do not miss the personal note from the author. It is the cherry on the sundae and provides important perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley, HTP Books, and Harlequin Audio for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.
THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR by Wade Rouse is a book that made me laugh through my tears. Simultaneously touching and hilarious, Rouse treats the reader to one of the most delightful found family novels in recent memory. The book centers around four gay men of a certain age who live and work together in Palm Springs. Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid each took different paths to the pink house formerly owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor. They’ve navigated discrimination, abuse, estrangement, and loss; and use humor to get past their trauma.
But life is not perfect in the desert. Each man still has unfulfilled dreams and unresolved issues. Intolerance and bias still rear their ugly heads—even in an LGBTQIA+ friendly community. Family fractures still hurt and the desire to be loved and accepted continues to be a throbbing ache. Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid are forced to face their demons with the aid of some truly unforgettable supporting characters. Old queens, new love interests, and an angsty teen enter the world of the Golden Gays when they are needed most.
I freaking loved this book. The characters are RICH; vulnerable, brave, funny, HUMAN. The banter is superb; reminiscent of the sitcom from which they draw inspiration. The found family trope is executed to perfection; including a charming Intergenerational relationship and a highly unusual “meet the parents” moment. This is a book that should be experienced without spoilers. Each character, each plot point, each line of dialogue deserved to be discovered and appreciated by the reader.
The audio version of THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR is sublime. Performances by Daniel Henning, Joel Leslie, Art Brown, and George Newbern are pitch perfect.
Please do not miss the personal note from the author. It is the cherry on the sundae and provides important perspective.
Thank you to NetGalley, HTP Books, and Harlequin Audio for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.
February 6, 2026
This is a heartfelt, funny, and deeply moving tribute to friendship, chosen family, and the enduring cultural legacy of "The Golden Girls." Centered on four gay men in their golden years who share a Palm Springs home once owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor, the novel celebrates the bonds that sustain us when traditional family falls short.
Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid are not just roommates—they are each other’s lifelines. Their shared love of "The Golden Girls" culminates in a monthly drag show, "The Golden Gays," where each man embodies one of the iconic characters.
What makes the novel shine is how Rouse weaves these personas into the men’s real lives, using humor, vulnerability, and nostalgia to explore aging, loss, and resilience within the queer community.
Rouse’s prose is sharp and compassionate, balancing laugh-out-loud banter with moments of real emotional weight. While some backstories lean heavy, the novel’s greatest strength lies in its portrayal of friendship—the kind built on loyalty, honesty, and the freedom to bicker without breaking.
For fans of "The Golden Girls" and stories about queer chosen family, this novel is both a comfort read and a heartfelt reminder that friendship, like love, only deepens with time.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid are not just roommates—they are each other’s lifelines. Their shared love of "The Golden Girls" culminates in a monthly drag show, "The Golden Gays," where each man embodies one of the iconic characters.
What makes the novel shine is how Rouse weaves these personas into the men’s real lives, using humor, vulnerability, and nostalgia to explore aging, loss, and resilience within the queer community.
Rouse’s prose is sharp and compassionate, balancing laugh-out-loud banter with moments of real emotional weight. While some backstories lean heavy, the novel’s greatest strength lies in its portrayal of friendship—the kind built on loyalty, honesty, and the freedom to bicker without breaking.
For fans of "The Golden Girls" and stories about queer chosen family, this novel is both a comfort read and a heartfelt reminder that friendship, like love, only deepens with time.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
February 17, 2026
That's What Friends Are For follows "The Golden Gays," four older gay men, who dress in drag every Saturday and perform an episode of the Golden Girls. Each man is similar in many ways to the characters they portray.
Told in a script LIKE manor, we have our cold open, acts 1, 2, and 3, the finale, and the closing credits. Each part has chapters from the main 4's POV. Teddy, Barry, Sid, and Ron all have things going on in their lives and things that they, even as grown men, need to work through all while Teddy's estranged sister Trudy and granddaughter Ava show up unannounced. Will these men be able to work through the issues going on in their lives and regain the love and friendship they shared?
This story had some heartbreak, laughs, serious times, and a great ending, just like most sitcoms. The author really put a lot of thought into the many different plot points, and didn't leave anyone out. I really enjoyed this story, and I think many others will, too!
Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!
Told in a script LIKE manor, we have our cold open, acts 1, 2, and 3, the finale, and the closing credits. Each part has chapters from the main 4's POV. Teddy, Barry, Sid, and Ron all have things going on in their lives and things that they, even as grown men, need to work through all while Teddy's estranged sister Trudy and granddaughter Ava show up unannounced. Will these men be able to work through the issues going on in their lives and regain the love and friendship they shared?
This story had some heartbreak, laughs, serious times, and a great ending, just like most sitcoms. The author really put a lot of thought into the many different plot points, and didn't leave anyone out. I really enjoyed this story, and I think many others will, too!
Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!
December 7, 2025
More of this in your voice, sir!
A humorous but also a gravely serious reminder of wherever we are in life, and whoever we are in life, there were those before us that made it possible for us to stand on their shoulders to maintain our stride. Nothing should be taken for granted, whether it be dancing with the one you love, sipping coffee together, shopping together holding hands, or giving the rough side of your mouth to a very dear friend who needs to see the truth----because you love them. After all, that what friends are for.
Playing upon the great chemistry of The Golden Girls, Wade Rouse brings to our hearts another group of 'aging' adults who are unique, funny, supportive and very, very snarky. All living together in Palm Springs, these four men will have you wishing they were your neighbors.
November 24, 2025
“That’s What Friends Are For” by Wade Rouse is a story about lifelong friendships and the love of found family through an entire life. It revolves around 4 senior gay men living together in a fabulous house in Palm Springs. They are enjoying their lives now despite each one having had very traumatic and abusive events in their lives. Their support for each other had me tearing up and gave me hope.
This was a humorous and emotional novel that shows the true power of friendship and the continued fight for equality that still exists in the gay community today.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a humorous and emotional novel that shows the true power of friendship and the continued fight for equality that still exists in the gay community today.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2025
I loved this book so much, I was sad to finish it! I want to spend more time with the Golden Gays in Palm Springs! Wade Rouse is a wonderful writer; he tackles heavy subjects with warmth and humor. This is a fantastic novel with a satisfying ending. I highly recommend it! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for an ARC of That's What Friends Are For!
loved this book and loved these men! I've only seen a few episodes of the golden girls, but it really makes me want to watch the entire series then re-read this book once it's been published!
I loved Teddy's sass! The friendship these 4 men have is so sweet, and I'm so happy I got the read this book first!
loved this book and loved these men! I've only seen a few episodes of the golden girls, but it really makes me want to watch the entire series then re-read this book once it's been published!
I loved Teddy's sass! The friendship these 4 men have is so sweet, and I'm so happy I got the read this book first!
December 10, 2025
I was provided an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I thought it was going to be more lighthearted, like the Mid Century Modern show with Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer. Although the setting and concept were very similar, this was a much more thought provoking book than I was expecting. Despite it being completely different than what I thought it was going to be, I did enjoy the story and the characters were particularly endearing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
You know that feeling when you're sad to reach the end of your book, because it means saying goodbye to the characters? That's What Friends Are For is a funny, tender, compassionate story about four older gay men who share a home in the LGBT mecca of Palm Springs. It also touches on the history of the fight for LGBT rights and recognition as well as the losses of the AIDS crisis. Multiple POVs don't always work well, but I felt engaged with each of the characters, their struggles and their vantage points on aging, love, friends and family. If you also are a Golden Girls fan, you'll appreciate the ways the show is woven into the storyline. Highly recommend!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
February 1, 2026
If I could give this 4.5 stars, I would. I’m rounding up because I absolutely love all things Viola Shipman and Wade Rouse. This book was such a lovely combination of both. The beginning felt a bit like reading a Wade Rouse memoir of each of the 4 main characters, and then about 30% in - the storytelling of Viola Shipman kicked in and didn’t let go! I thought this was such a neat way to see both sides of Wade’s writing.
As an avid Golden Girls fan, I also loved all of the GG references. Like the GG, the Golden Gays in this novel are fiercely loyal to each other, despite the ways they also struggle to get along sometimes. They are all flawed, but that’s what makes them so relatable and lovable.
My missing half star is only because the beginning was a little slower than I would’ve liked. Perhaps that’s because, as a straight female in her 40s, it took me a little longer to connect with 4 gay men in 20-40 years older than me. But, that’s also one of the best things about reading - it gives us a chance to experience life through the character’s shoes, even when those shoes might never fit us.
Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read this novel ahead of publication!
As an avid Golden Girls fan, I also loved all of the GG references. Like the GG, the Golden Gays in this novel are fiercely loyal to each other, despite the ways they also struggle to get along sometimes. They are all flawed, but that’s what makes them so relatable and lovable.
My missing half star is only because the beginning was a little slower than I would’ve liked. Perhaps that’s because, as a straight female in her 40s, it took me a little longer to connect with 4 gay men in 20-40 years older than me. But, that’s also one of the best things about reading - it gives us a chance to experience life through the character’s shoes, even when those shoes might never fit us.
Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read this novel ahead of publication!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5
A beautiful story that had me feeling every emotion possible. I loved all of the characters for different reasons and the narrators did such an amazing job bringing them all to life. One of the best audiobooks I've listened to. This book really takes a plethora of traumatic events and topics that the LGBTQ+ community faces and reminds the reader why community is the thing that can pull you out of the darkest of situations.
Heartbreaking at times but ultimately ended up being a comforting book despite some of the more tragic storylines. No matter who you are I think you will find one character to enjoy within this book.
Thank you so much to The Hive and Netgalley for this audiobook all thoughts an opinions are my own.
A beautiful story that had me feeling every emotion possible. I loved all of the characters for different reasons and the narrators did such an amazing job bringing them all to life. One of the best audiobooks I've listened to. This book really takes a plethora of traumatic events and topics that the LGBTQ+ community faces and reminds the reader why community is the thing that can pull you out of the darkest of situations.
Heartbreaking at times but ultimately ended up being a comforting book despite some of the more tragic storylines. No matter who you are I think you will find one character to enjoy within this book.
Thank you so much to The Hive and Netgalley for this audiobook all thoughts an opinions are my own.
February 3, 2026
I was able to read an advanced reader copy of this book thanks to Netgalley.
I was excited to read this one because of the inspiration from the Golden Girls. I'm thrilled that I read this one because it was truly a warm hug and an inspiration of what found family can be, and how important it is to find your community.
These characters are flawed, but profoundly empathetic people. I was rooting for each of the Golden Gays all while wanting to give them each a giant hug at different moments in the book.
This one was hopeful, thoughtful, and memorable in all the best ways.
I was excited to read this one because of the inspiration from the Golden Girls. I'm thrilled that I read this one because it was truly a warm hug and an inspiration of what found family can be, and how important it is to find your community.
These characters are flawed, but profoundly empathetic people. I was rooting for each of the Golden Gays all while wanting to give them each a giant hug at different moments in the book.
This one was hopeful, thoughtful, and memorable in all the best ways.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Chaos, grief, laughter, and a whole lot of glitter crashed into my heart all at once when I opened That’s What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse, and I was absolutely unprepared for how personal this story would become.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
I experienced this book both by reading and listening, and I cannot overstate how powerful that combination was. The audiobook, narrated by Daniel Henning, Joel Leslie, Art Brown, and George Newbern, gives each of the Golden Gays their own voice, cadence, and emotional weight. Listening while reading unlocked memories I didn’t even realize I’d tucked away. Every chapter sent me back to Palm Springs, to visits with my Aunt Toni and her partner Juna. Those trips were full of laughter, sarcasm, fabulous homes, and the kind of chosen family love that felt both safe and electric. My aunt has been gone for over thirty years, but this book brought those moments flooding back in the most tender, unexpected way.
At its core, this is the story of Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid, four older gay men living together in a pink mid-century house, navigating aging, regret, resilience, and joy with impeccable comedic timing. They perform drag tributes as the Golden Gays, bicker like it’s a competitive sport, and love each other with the kind of loyalty forged by surviving decades that weren’t always kind. Teddy leads with sharp wit because it’s easier than vulnerability. Barry clings to youth and unrealized dreams. Ron’s heart is wide open even when the world doesn’t meet him halfway. Sid is still learning what love can look like after coming out later in life. Together, they feel achingly real.
When Teddy’s estranged sister Trudy shows up with her teenage granddaughter, the carefully balanced ecosystem of their home shifts. Old family wounds reopen, secrets surface, and the idea that aging brings peace gets quietly dismantled. What Wade Rouse does so beautifully is refuse to soften those moments too much. He lets them hurt. But he also lets humor, tenderness, and friendship stitch things back together.
One quote that lodged itself firmly in my heart was, “Growing older isn’t the end. It’s the moment you finally stop apologizing for wanting joy.” That line feels like the soul of this book. This isn’t a nostalgia piece pretending the past was perfect. It’s a love letter to survival, to found family, and to choosing happiness even when the road behind you was rough.
The dialogue sparkles, the emotional beats land, and the Palm Springs setting feels sun-warmed and lived in. There’s grief here, yes, but also hope, laughter, and the quiet reassurance that it’s never too late to be seen or to start again. I laughed, I cried, and I sat with my memories longer than I expected to.
This is easily a five star read for me. Not because it’s flashy, but because it’s honest, comforting, and brave. If you love found family stories, LGBTQ+ fiction centered on aging, or if The Golden Girls ever made you feel understood, this book will wrap you up and not let go. Have you ever read a book that felt like it reached back through time and gently took your hand?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#ThatsWhatFriendsAreFor #WadeRouse #GoldenGays #FoundFamily #LGBTQReads #PalmSpringsVibes #AudiobookReview #BookReview #ARCReview #NetGalley #MIRABooks #ChosenFamily #GoldenGirlsInspired
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
I experienced this book both by reading and listening, and I cannot overstate how powerful that combination was. The audiobook, narrated by Daniel Henning, Joel Leslie, Art Brown, and George Newbern, gives each of the Golden Gays their own voice, cadence, and emotional weight. Listening while reading unlocked memories I didn’t even realize I’d tucked away. Every chapter sent me back to Palm Springs, to visits with my Aunt Toni and her partner Juna. Those trips were full of laughter, sarcasm, fabulous homes, and the kind of chosen family love that felt both safe and electric. My aunt has been gone for over thirty years, but this book brought those moments flooding back in the most tender, unexpected way.
At its core, this is the story of Teddy, Barry, Ron, and Sid, four older gay men living together in a pink mid-century house, navigating aging, regret, resilience, and joy with impeccable comedic timing. They perform drag tributes as the Golden Gays, bicker like it’s a competitive sport, and love each other with the kind of loyalty forged by surviving decades that weren’t always kind. Teddy leads with sharp wit because it’s easier than vulnerability. Barry clings to youth and unrealized dreams. Ron’s heart is wide open even when the world doesn’t meet him halfway. Sid is still learning what love can look like after coming out later in life. Together, they feel achingly real.
When Teddy’s estranged sister Trudy shows up with her teenage granddaughter, the carefully balanced ecosystem of their home shifts. Old family wounds reopen, secrets surface, and the idea that aging brings peace gets quietly dismantled. What Wade Rouse does so beautifully is refuse to soften those moments too much. He lets them hurt. But he also lets humor, tenderness, and friendship stitch things back together.
One quote that lodged itself firmly in my heart was, “Growing older isn’t the end. It’s the moment you finally stop apologizing for wanting joy.” That line feels like the soul of this book. This isn’t a nostalgia piece pretending the past was perfect. It’s a love letter to survival, to found family, and to choosing happiness even when the road behind you was rough.
The dialogue sparkles, the emotional beats land, and the Palm Springs setting feels sun-warmed and lived in. There’s grief here, yes, but also hope, laughter, and the quiet reassurance that it’s never too late to be seen or to start again. I laughed, I cried, and I sat with my memories longer than I expected to.
This is easily a five star read for me. Not because it’s flashy, but because it’s honest, comforting, and brave. If you love found family stories, LGBTQ+ fiction centered on aging, or if The Golden Girls ever made you feel understood, this book will wrap you up and not let go. Have you ever read a book that felt like it reached back through time and gently took your hand?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#ThatsWhatFriendsAreFor #WadeRouse #GoldenGays #FoundFamily #LGBTQReads #PalmSpringsVibes #AudiobookReview #BookReview #ARCReview #NetGalley #MIRABooks #ChosenFamily #GoldenGirlsInspired
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
That's What Friends are For is Wade Rouse's first, but not really first book. For years we have been reading his wonderful, beautiful stories under the name Viola Shipman, an ohmage to his beloved grandmother. But this new book although very different from his past stories is in my opinion stronger, more powerful, so very funny but in keeping with Shipman's plots and characters has such heart and soul, love and strength and truly so much more. The story, inspired by a television show he watched with his grandmother and mother, The Golden Girls, incorporates the values and groundbreaking plots of the past show and wonderfully integrates them into current day dilemmas.
The story is about a group of gay men who found each other, live in Palm Springs, California, share a house named Zsa Zsa while each is trying to pursue their dreams, trying to leave their pasts behind and be there for each other. Sound familiar? They also monthly have a very popular drag queen show called The Golden Gays. But of course, each have come to the house of Zsa Zsa with terrible, sometimes horrific baggage.
Teddy loves his life with men and drink. He owns a consignment store and is the proud creator of The Golden Gays as that was his and his mother's favorite show to watch when she was dying. Having been exiled from his family at an early age for not being like them, his father tortured him and his sister Trudy basically bullied him and stopped talking to him, he is now living his truest life. Until an unfortunate situation occurs.
Barry was actually in the first episode of The Golden Girls. But then they dropped him. He has been chasing the dream ever since. With the help and push of his friends he will continue to audition until he becomes famous or until he dies. Then he actually meets someone who hurt him terribly years ago and he is offered a proposition.
Ron was a devoted Midwest Catholic who keeps his housemates in order. Making sure the house looks decent and everyone is well. He is the heart of Zsa Zsa. But he is still sensitive to and nervous about his lifestyle and tries to stay under the radar. Until someone challenges him.
Finally, there is Leo. Who came out late in life leaving a wife and children (and grandchildren). But Leo has yet to find love or a soulmate. It could possibly be his age, he is in his 80's, but he will never give up hope that he will somehow meet his one true love. Hopefully.
But when Teddy's sister Trudy and her teenage granddaughter Ava show up all bets are off as to what will happen to the friends and the impact this visit will have on all of them.
They fight, they love each other, they cry for each other, and they will stand by each other no matter what. That in a nutshell is exactly what friends are for, if you are lucky to have them. That's What Friends are For is filled with humor, drama, mystery, friendship, sensitivity and love, so much love, with so many lessons to be learned!
Thank you for being a friend to all of your readers Wade Rouse!
Thank you #NetGalley #MiraBooks #WadeRouse #That'sWhatFriendsareFor for the advanced copy.
The story is about a group of gay men who found each other, live in Palm Springs, California, share a house named Zsa Zsa while each is trying to pursue their dreams, trying to leave their pasts behind and be there for each other. Sound familiar? They also monthly have a very popular drag queen show called The Golden Gays. But of course, each have come to the house of Zsa Zsa with terrible, sometimes horrific baggage.
Teddy loves his life with men and drink. He owns a consignment store and is the proud creator of The Golden Gays as that was his and his mother's favorite show to watch when she was dying. Having been exiled from his family at an early age for not being like them, his father tortured him and his sister Trudy basically bullied him and stopped talking to him, he is now living his truest life. Until an unfortunate situation occurs.
Barry was actually in the first episode of The Golden Girls. But then they dropped him. He has been chasing the dream ever since. With the help and push of his friends he will continue to audition until he becomes famous or until he dies. Then he actually meets someone who hurt him terribly years ago and he is offered a proposition.
Ron was a devoted Midwest Catholic who keeps his housemates in order. Making sure the house looks decent and everyone is well. He is the heart of Zsa Zsa. But he is still sensitive to and nervous about his lifestyle and tries to stay under the radar. Until someone challenges him.
Finally, there is Leo. Who came out late in life leaving a wife and children (and grandchildren). But Leo has yet to find love or a soulmate. It could possibly be his age, he is in his 80's, but he will never give up hope that he will somehow meet his one true love. Hopefully.
But when Teddy's sister Trudy and her teenage granddaughter Ava show up all bets are off as to what will happen to the friends and the impact this visit will have on all of them.
They fight, they love each other, they cry for each other, and they will stand by each other no matter what. That in a nutshell is exactly what friends are for, if you are lucky to have them. That's What Friends are For is filled with humor, drama, mystery, friendship, sensitivity and love, so much love, with so many lessons to be learned!
Thank you for being a friend to all of your readers Wade Rouse!
Thank you #NetGalley #MiraBooks #WadeRouse #That'sWhatFriendsareFor for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was a kid when The Golden Girls first premiered. I remember watching it every so often when I was growing up. Recently I thought I should do a rewatch as an adult. Wade Rouse's big-hearted comfort novel, That's What Friends Are For, makes me want to do this rewatch even more! It's a delightful story about four older gay men living in a pink house in Palm Springs and coming to terms with struggles they have been facing.
I love this novel and highly encourage everyone to check it out when it releases in early March. It is a beautiful and rewarding tribute to friendship, aging, LGBTQ+ and The Golden Girls. The four main characters were so wonderful and I cared so much about them and what they were going through. They didn't have it easy with being gay back when it was much more taboo and frowned upon. In fact, one of them even married a woman and had a whole life with her before coming out much later on. Some were abused for showing their true personality when they were kids. Another man's career was affected after his role on The Golden Girls was cut before anyone would even remember who he was. While these are all fictional characters, they felt so real to me. Also, I appreciated the Jewish references in the story.
The supporting characters were great, as well. Esther was a hoot! Ava was really cool and I loved how supportive she was of people she just met. Leo was a sweetheart. Of course, we all gotta love Patty O'Furniture! There were some side characters who weren't so great and I admired how the men took them on.
I had a few minor concerns that did not take away from how great this novel was. It felt like some parts jumped ahead too fast and skipped over things. I was also confused as to how everyone met, as it seemed like they all had different versions. One part was too much information involving health and bodily functions. Finally, I would have liked Teddy and Trudy's big talk to be from Teddy's perspective instead of Ron's.
I didn't really have strong casting ideas in mind for this one. Leslie Jordan would have been good as either Sid or Ron, had he lived. I sort of pictured Victor Garber as Sid, but was back and forth on it. I also thought of Nathan Lane for Teddy, but mostly because he was on Mid-Century Modern and because his character on Only Murders... is named Teddy.
I highly recommend this sweet and heartwarming story. While there are some parts that may be difficult for some people to read, they're balanced out nicely by all the really wonderful moments throughout. While I love Viola Shipman, I hope Wade will continue to write more fiction under his own name.
(Trigger warnings below.)
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TW: Cancer, child abuse (physical and sexual, latter is off page), homophobia, death of spouse, suicidal ideation, nonconsensual sexual behavior, loss of career, death of parent
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a wonderful time I had reading about all of these amazing characters that now feel like they are part of my family of friends. These four senior gay men living together in Palm Springs California 🌴 perform monthly in their production of "The Golden Gays" paying tribute to the show "The Golden Girls". You will meet Teddy (Dorothy), Sid (Sophia), Barry (Blanche), and Ron (Rose). They will take you into their past & into their now. Each one of them has a story to tell. You will be shocked, brought to tears, and experience moments of joy.
Teddy is going through a lot. His estranged older sister Trudy drops by along with her teenage granddaughter Ava. Teddy & Trudy family upbringing is heartbreaking 💔 & unbelievable. Ava is honest and true, and that's exactly what Teddy needs right now. Ava helps him with his health issues, and it will make you cry and laugh at the same time. A line that made me laugh, "But I already got my degree from WebMD." 😂 🤣 (I go to get my medical questions answered, like probably many do at this site.) What will Teddy do with the news that is given to him from his doctor?
Sid is the oldest of the seniors. He was previously married with children. He came out later in his life. The lady in the library parking lot is a jaw dropping part, and it had me at the edge of my seat, wow. This occurrence brings about Leo a reporter who surprises Sid. Will Sid now experiencing a love that is real?
Barry the actor, is down on his luck in the show biz world. He played the part of Coco in the pilot episode, he was the gay housekeeper & cook in the Golden Girls show. His part got cut, and was replaced with the Sophia character. The Coco character is factual, and it was played by actor Charles Levin. I found this fascinating. Barry runs into his past lover Kyle, things didn't end well with them years ago. Barry will be brought to his knees to make his dreams come true. Will this encounter with his past be a nightmare or a dream?
Ron with his religious upbringing is always helping and caring for others. His desire to please, being a mom figure to all with his cooking & cleaning. He's not only great at interior design, but he's great at keeping things flowing and in order with this bunch. Ron needs to find what will make him happy. In his search to find himself he has to let go of his memories of his past and start anew. Will Ron help himself be the best Ron he can be?
I'm a huge fan of Wade Rouse and I've had the pleasure in reading his Viola Shipman books along with his memoirs. I loved them all. I highly recommend this 5 star ⭐ read. This beautiful book will be out March 3, 2026. Enjoy ❤️.
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the amazing author Wade Rouse for the e-book advance reader copy.
Teddy is going through a lot. His estranged older sister Trudy drops by along with her teenage granddaughter Ava. Teddy & Trudy family upbringing is heartbreaking 💔 & unbelievable. Ava is honest and true, and that's exactly what Teddy needs right now. Ava helps him with his health issues, and it will make you cry and laugh at the same time. A line that made me laugh, "But I already got my degree from WebMD." 😂 🤣 (I go to get my medical questions answered, like probably many do at this site.) What will Teddy do with the news that is given to him from his doctor?
Sid is the oldest of the seniors. He was previously married with children. He came out later in his life. The lady in the library parking lot is a jaw dropping part, and it had me at the edge of my seat, wow. This occurrence brings about Leo a reporter who surprises Sid. Will Sid now experiencing a love that is real?
Barry the actor, is down on his luck in the show biz world. He played the part of Coco in the pilot episode, he was the gay housekeeper & cook in the Golden Girls show. His part got cut, and was replaced with the Sophia character. The Coco character is factual, and it was played by actor Charles Levin. I found this fascinating. Barry runs into his past lover Kyle, things didn't end well with them years ago. Barry will be brought to his knees to make his dreams come true. Will this encounter with his past be a nightmare or a dream?
Ron with his religious upbringing is always helping and caring for others. His desire to please, being a mom figure to all with his cooking & cleaning. He's not only great at interior design, but he's great at keeping things flowing and in order with this bunch. Ron needs to find what will make him happy. In his search to find himself he has to let go of his memories of his past and start anew. Will Ron help himself be the best Ron he can be?
I'm a huge fan of Wade Rouse and I've had the pleasure in reading his Viola Shipman books along with his memoirs. I loved them all. I highly recommend this 5 star ⭐ read. This beautiful book will be out March 3, 2026. Enjoy ❤️.
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the amazing author Wade Rouse for the e-book advance reader copy.
February 22, 2026
That’s What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse is the kind of book that feels like it was written specifically for anyone who has ever believed their true family might be the one they built themselves 9preferably over cocktails in Palm Springs.)
I am not an elder gay man living in Palm Springs (tragically), but I have never related harder to a group of fictional “golden gays” in my life. The loving nod to The Golden Girls is so good! If you’ve ever dreamed of being Blanche with better lighting and more mid-century modern furniture, this book is for you.
Speaking of MCM, the design references? UUUGH Chef’s kiss. This story has me dying to visit. As a devoted lover of mid-century modern and an actual Bakelite collector, the Bakelite bracelet moment was so relatable, and tender. I felt seen. I felt validated. I briefly considered rearranging my living room.
The characters are what truly make this shine. Their friendships are messy, loyal, codependent in the way only decades-long friendships can be. They were full of inside jokes, old grudges, deep love, and the kind of brutal honesty that only comes from people who’ve earned the right. Each of the “golden gays” brings their own flavor of fabulous dysfunction, and watching them navigate aging, regret, second chances, and their complicated families was both hilarious and unexpectedly tender.
And oh, the snark. The banter is sharp without being cruel. I laughed out loud more than once, and then found myself with a tear at the corner of my eye in the next moment. Rouse balances humor and heartbreak beautifully.
This book has everything I love: found family, fraught but meaningful familial relationships, later-in-life reinvention, and friendships that I can only dream of having myself. It’s funny, it’s bittersweet, it’s a little dramatic (as it should be), and it’s ultimately such a joyful celebration of queer community and resilience.
I read the eARC as well as listened to the audiobook (ALC), and the narration was beautifully done. It was warm, expressive, and perfectly attuned to both the humor and the emotional beats. It truly elevated the experience. The full cast narrators brought he individual characters to life just as I imagined. It was easy to distinguish each characters voice, and I loved the way they each interpreted the others.
If you love stories about friendship, aging fabulously (or at least defiantly), Palm Springs glamour, and the idea that it is never too late to rewrite your story add this to your TBR list RIGHT NOW.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers, and Harlequin Audio for the ARC and ALC.
I am not an elder gay man living in Palm Springs (tragically), but I have never related harder to a group of fictional “golden gays” in my life. The loving nod to The Golden Girls is so good! If you’ve ever dreamed of being Blanche with better lighting and more mid-century modern furniture, this book is for you.
Speaking of MCM, the design references? UUUGH Chef’s kiss. This story has me dying to visit. As a devoted lover of mid-century modern and an actual Bakelite collector, the Bakelite bracelet moment was so relatable, and tender. I felt seen. I felt validated. I briefly considered rearranging my living room.
The characters are what truly make this shine. Their friendships are messy, loyal, codependent in the way only decades-long friendships can be. They were full of inside jokes, old grudges, deep love, and the kind of brutal honesty that only comes from people who’ve earned the right. Each of the “golden gays” brings their own flavor of fabulous dysfunction, and watching them navigate aging, regret, second chances, and their complicated families was both hilarious and unexpectedly tender.
And oh, the snark. The banter is sharp without being cruel. I laughed out loud more than once, and then found myself with a tear at the corner of my eye in the next moment. Rouse balances humor and heartbreak beautifully.
This book has everything I love: found family, fraught but meaningful familial relationships, later-in-life reinvention, and friendships that I can only dream of having myself. It’s funny, it’s bittersweet, it’s a little dramatic (as it should be), and it’s ultimately such a joyful celebration of queer community and resilience.
I read the eARC as well as listened to the audiobook (ALC), and the narration was beautifully done. It was warm, expressive, and perfectly attuned to both the humor and the emotional beats. It truly elevated the experience. The full cast narrators brought he individual characters to life just as I imagined. It was easy to distinguish each characters voice, and I loved the way they each interpreted the others.
If you love stories about friendship, aging fabulously (or at least defiantly), Palm Springs glamour, and the idea that it is never too late to rewrite your story add this to your TBR list RIGHT NOW.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers, and Harlequin Audio for the ARC and ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"We've learned to use humor as a way to laugh at the cruelty of the world. It lessens the pain. It gives us a way to make sense of life. It also brings people in when we want or keeps them at a distance. It's long been a gay man's secret weapon, sorta like mayonnaise is to straight people when they cook."
Litfic is not my favorite genre, but what an impactful book!. Every other page, I was either laughing or tearing up. The book chronicled the lived experience of four older gay men while they dealt with aging, heartbreak, health issues, battling demons from their past, and having prejudice directed their way. And they dealt with all of that while also supporting each other. Yeah, they may have had their disagreements about chores and liked to snipe at each other left and right, but in the end, they were each other's most steadfast relationship. While I wasn't invested in all four storylines equally, they all contained important lessons - especially when Trudy and her granddaughter came for a visit. I live in the Midwest and can 100% confirm that people do act that way about any relationships that aren't the ideal Christian family. So those parts in particular were tough for me to get through, but again, they were in there for a reason.
I hope people who need to read this will (for example, 95% of the people in my hometown). If they'd give it a chance, it may change some deeply ingrained prejudices and make people a lot less hateful. I will be doing my part in recommending this book to everyone - especially the audiobook. The four men did an amazing job. This was the first book that I listened to at less than 2x speed, simply because I was enjoying my time with the characters.
I am grateful to have received early access to the audiobook and plan to buy/borrow the ebook as soon as it comes out so I can highlight some passages. There were a ton of good quotes that I want to keep. This doesn't fit the topic of my review, but it was too beautiful a passage not to highlight here. I'll leave you with the words of the oldest Golden Gay, Sid, as he laments his aging body.
"A body pocked by landmines left by a lifetime of war. And yet, I have survived, to be here, right here, right now. Have I made it to this point so that finally, for once, I can see myself clearly? The sunlight glimmers. This same light, this same mountain that watches over us in the near distance, will still be here long after I am gone. Shouldn't I view myself, shouldn't we all view ourselves, as eternally majestic?"
Just beautiful.
Litfic is not my favorite genre, but what an impactful book!. Every other page, I was either laughing or tearing up. The book chronicled the lived experience of four older gay men while they dealt with aging, heartbreak, health issues, battling demons from their past, and having prejudice directed their way. And they dealt with all of that while also supporting each other. Yeah, they may have had their disagreements about chores and liked to snipe at each other left and right, but in the end, they were each other's most steadfast relationship. While I wasn't invested in all four storylines equally, they all contained important lessons - especially when Trudy and her granddaughter came for a visit. I live in the Midwest and can 100% confirm that people do act that way about any relationships that aren't the ideal Christian family. So those parts in particular were tough for me to get through, but again, they were in there for a reason.
I hope people who need to read this will (for example, 95% of the people in my hometown). If they'd give it a chance, it may change some deeply ingrained prejudices and make people a lot less hateful. I will be doing my part in recommending this book to everyone - especially the audiobook. The four men did an amazing job. This was the first book that I listened to at less than 2x speed, simply because I was enjoying my time with the characters.
I am grateful to have received early access to the audiobook and plan to buy/borrow the ebook as soon as it comes out so I can highlight some passages. There were a ton of good quotes that I want to keep. This doesn't fit the topic of my review, but it was too beautiful a passage not to highlight here. I'll leave you with the words of the oldest Golden Gay, Sid, as he laments his aging body.
"A body pocked by landmines left by a lifetime of war. And yet, I have survived, to be here, right here, right now. Have I made it to this point so that finally, for once, I can see myself clearly? The sunlight glimmers. This same light, this same mountain that watches over us in the near distance, will still be here long after I am gone. Shouldn't I view myself, shouldn't we all view ourselves, as eternally majestic?"
Just beautiful.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Such a sweet and heartfelt book about four older gay men living in one house in Palm Springs. It would be helpful to be familiar with the Golden Girls sitcom from the 80's and also the city of Palm Springs but the book is so clearly a labor of love and the four men so lovely that, even without that background, readers, particularly older gay readers, will find much to enjoy. The book is arranged in three acts and a finale.
The story does suggest comparisons with the recent TV sitcom, Mid-Century Modern, but I found the book far more engaging--these are characters you root for. Yes, there are the snappy one-liners but also alot of angst and sadness--mostly concerning difficult pasts that too many gay men have. The four men here take on the roles of the original Golden Girls in a monthly live performance of episodes from the sitcom. Teddy is Dorothy and he is dealing with a serious health issue and trying to cope with a sudden visit from his estranged sister and her precocious granddaughter Ron is the caretaker and feels under-appreciated in the house, Barry is based on the actor who played the out gay role of Coco in the original Golden Girls pilot who has been having considerably less success since then. Finally, Sid, the eldest, is doubting that a much younger man could find him attractive and loveable. All is wrapped up nicely at the end.
Given the author's love for the material and the message of the book, I feel a bit churlish finding fault with anything here--and there are really only two faults (apart from the typos which will get fixed before publication) and they are the preachiness--we get several lectures on gay history and the societal challenges gay men have faced (and still face)--we also get the message about how we can fix all this.. We also get a fair amount of Gay 101--I don't think the readers will need an explanation of Stonewall. Too often characters move out of real speech and into lecture mode. This stops the forward motion of the story and pulls us out of what is otherwise an engaging narrative. I would ask the author to just trust his readers more--even though some of them will be younger.
Overall though, this book was a fun, light read and would make a much better streaming series than the ill-fated Mid-Century Modern
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
The story does suggest comparisons with the recent TV sitcom, Mid-Century Modern, but I found the book far more engaging--these are characters you root for. Yes, there are the snappy one-liners but also alot of angst and sadness--mostly concerning difficult pasts that too many gay men have. The four men here take on the roles of the original Golden Girls in a monthly live performance of episodes from the sitcom. Teddy is Dorothy and he is dealing with a serious health issue and trying to cope with a sudden visit from his estranged sister and her precocious granddaughter Ron is the caretaker and feels under-appreciated in the house, Barry is based on the actor who played the out gay role of Coco in the original Golden Girls pilot who has been having considerably less success since then. Finally, Sid, the eldest, is doubting that a much younger man could find him attractive and loveable. All is wrapped up nicely at the end.
Given the author's love for the material and the message of the book, I feel a bit churlish finding fault with anything here--and there are really only two faults (apart from the typos which will get fixed before publication) and they are the preachiness--we get several lectures on gay history and the societal challenges gay men have faced (and still face)--we also get the message about how we can fix all this.. We also get a fair amount of Gay 101--I don't think the readers will need an explanation of Stonewall. Too often characters move out of real speech and into lecture mode. This stops the forward motion of the story and pulls us out of what is otherwise an engaging narrative. I would ask the author to just trust his readers more--even though some of them will be younger.
Overall though, this book was a fun, light read and would make a much better streaming series than the ill-fated Mid-Century Modern
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was never really a Golden Girls viewer. I have probably seen a few episodes, but nothing has really stuck in my memory. It came out when I was in college and far too jaded for television! But I know the basic gist and I do intend to watch it someday. If this is your first day with the internet, it was a show from the 80s where 4 post-menopausal ladies lived together in Florida to save on rent and hilarity ensued.
Rouse's delightful novel has the same plot except it's gay men of a certain age in Palm Springs. Both the original recipe girls and this new rendition have hysterical laughs and some surprising depth and sweetness.
Our fellas are Teddy (the acerbic Dorothy stand-in who is facing his own mortality and crabbiness), Barry (the slutty Blanche stand-in who is trying to add meaning to his life by banging young guys until someone from his past makes an appearance), Ron (the sweet Rose stand-in who is taking care of everyone while ignoring his own needs) and Sid (the older Sophia stand-in who is finding his first love ever so late in life).
They share a house and perform in a Golden Girls tribute show that has made them Palm-Springs-famous. Each of them has a come-to-Jesus storyline that is both funny and meaningful. There isn't a lot that is new here. There is a strong Gunkle vibe which is a big compliment considering how much I loved that book! But the four perspectives, and the well drawn secondary characters made this a delightful read. The history of Palm Springs and the influence of both Hollywood and gay culture is practically a character itself.
My only complaint is that Rouse seems to keep most of the fellas at arms length until nearly 3/4 of the way through the book when their different struggles become more clear. It makes sense in the big picture - he explains how a certain amount of artifice was necessary for self-preservation for gay men in the 1900s (yikes!) but I would have liked to have loved them the whole way through and they are charming enough that I think I could have.
Still, it is a delightful story of love, found family, healing and survival.
Rouse's delightful novel has the same plot except it's gay men of a certain age in Palm Springs. Both the original recipe girls and this new rendition have hysterical laughs and some surprising depth and sweetness.
Our fellas are Teddy (the acerbic Dorothy stand-in who is facing his own mortality and crabbiness), Barry (the slutty Blanche stand-in who is trying to add meaning to his life by banging young guys until someone from his past makes an appearance), Ron (the sweet Rose stand-in who is taking care of everyone while ignoring his own needs) and Sid (the older Sophia stand-in who is finding his first love ever so late in life).
They share a house and perform in a Golden Girls tribute show that has made them Palm-Springs-famous. Each of them has a come-to-Jesus storyline that is both funny and meaningful. There isn't a lot that is new here. There is a strong Gunkle vibe which is a big compliment considering how much I loved that book! But the four perspectives, and the well drawn secondary characters made this a delightful read. The history of Palm Springs and the influence of both Hollywood and gay culture is practically a character itself.
My only complaint is that Rouse seems to keep most of the fellas at arms length until nearly 3/4 of the way through the book when their different struggles become more clear. It makes sense in the big picture - he explains how a certain amount of artifice was necessary for self-preservation for gay men in the 1900s (yikes!) but I would have liked to have loved them the whole way through and they are charming enough that I think I could have.
Still, it is a delightful story of love, found family, healing and survival.
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