Love the One You're With

B-Boy Blues #5

by James Earl Hardy

Do men and monogamy mix? It's not a question Mitchell Little Bit Crawford gave much thought to until his beaufriend of almost two years, Raheim Pooquie Rivers, an All-American jeans model, heads to Hollywood to make his first feature film. As Mitchell soon discovers, the temptation to cheat is very real. In fact, it seems to be at his job, in his lawyer's office, at restaurants, the shopping mall, and in the recording studio. An ex even pops up hoping to pick up where they left -- and got -- off. While intrigued, Mitchell chalks all the attention up to "the married man" one is much more desirable when they're attached to someone else. But as he continues to run into bisexual musician Montgomery "Montee" Simms, the look but don't touch rule is put to the test. As he and Montee get closer, Mitchell's idealistic beliefs about commitment are challenged. Will he love the one he's with because he can't be with the one he loves?

Genres: Fiction, LGBT, Romance, Gay, Gay Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2002

About the author

James Earl Hardy is the author B-Boy Blues, which has been praised as the first gay hip hop love story. The novel was a 1995 Lambda Literary Award (Lammy) finalist for Best LGBT/Small Press Title and was prominently featured in Spike Lee's Get on the Bus. The book is required reading in contemporary African American fiction courses and gay & lesbian studies programs at colleges and universities across the globe.

Hardy has also written a stage adaptation of B-Boy Blues, which sold out when it debuted Off-Broadway, as well as a one-man show Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star (which is based on the life of adult film actor Tiger Tyson).

An honors graduate of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Mr. Hardy is also an entertainment feature writer and cultural critic whose byline has been appeared in many national magazines and newspapers. His work has earned him numerous grants and awards.

Reviews

[Missy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My book club chose this book to read something outside our normal boundaries. It was well written and very sexy, but there were sections that dragged on and on and on with far too much detail. I wanted to call the author and say "Yes, good for you, you know all kinds of motown songs and jazz standards. Gold star. You did not have to ruin your novel to prove it though." Also the book tried to balance casual beach reading with serious political reading and it was not a smooth blend.

[Isaac Davis Junior · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author and this was a great introduction book for me in the Black/African-American Gay Authors series. I definitely want to read more from this and other authors.

[Jendi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hardy, through his narrator Mitchell, is a funny and easy-going storyteller who vividly re-creates late-90s NYC life. I like an author who can introduce humor into sex scenes without making them any less hot. This is my first B-Boy Blues novel (picked up at a used bookstore), and I realize I'm reading them out of order, so perhaps Pooquie and Mitchell's romance is more three-dimensional in earlier books. Without the context, I'm afraid I found myself rooting for Montee to steal him away...

[Robin K · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important underrepresented genre, Black gay romance, but a solid three stars in terms of quality. Hot sex, but a bit preachy, too much expository about being bi (funnily enough this portion of the book may be responding to some suggestions that earlier books in the series were bi-phobic), and lots of song name dropping. And what about the overall message? Clearly it’s human to cheat on your significant other, but is Hardy trying to say it’s okay?

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, a bit inconsistent at times.

...And I'm very jealous of Mitchell

[Kiera Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book. I could not put it down. I'm a sophomore in high school but I love adult themed books. This lusty novel made me want to even tell my mom to read it. Ready to read another B-Boy novel.

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 3 out of 5]

He really has not grown as a writer and I kept getting bored with the story he told. It just meandered on and on.

[Katie Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series alot. But they are hard to come by and not exactly something the Nashville public library carries.

[Philip Esteem]

Loved it

[Ray Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

i miss the b boy blues books. this one is a must read

[Roger - president of NBR United - · Rating 4 out of 5]

you should read any book by this author he makes the story seem true to life with both good and bad things happening.

[Bruh · Rating 4 out of 5]

More from Hardy about the B-Boy Blues
characters.