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Jayne and the Average North Dakotan
You can take the boy out of North Dakota, but only a drag queen can finish the makeover.
When Randy Larson, a 32-year-old gay accountant who’s never been outside North Dakota, moves to Washington, DC, he struggles to find his way. A six-foot, nine-inch, sensational Jayne Mansfield drag queen takes him under her colorful wing for lessons in shopping, first dates, hosting brunch, furnishing an apartment, and living in the gay community. Is Randy ready for life and love in the Nation’s Capital?
Chandler Myer’s debut novel, Jayne and the Average North Dakotan, is an unconventional coming-of-age and coming-out story filled with humor and humanity. Randy and Jayne, an odd couple with a unique relationship, will have you cheering the underdog and wishing for your own drag fairy godmother.
When Randy Larson, a 32-year-old gay accountant who’s never been outside North Dakota, moves to Washington, DC, he struggles to find his way. A six-foot, nine-inch, sensational Jayne Mansfield drag queen takes him under her colorful wing for lessons in shopping, first dates, hosting brunch, furnishing an apartment, and living in the gay community. Is Randy ready for life and love in the Nation’s Capital?
Chandler Myer’s debut novel, Jayne and the Average North Dakotan, is an unconventional coming-of-age and coming-out story filled with humor and humanity. Randy and Jayne, an odd couple with a unique relationship, will have you cheering the underdog and wishing for your own drag fairy godmother.
332 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2023
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Chandler Myer
1 book4 followersChandler Myer published his first novel, Jayne and the Average North Dakotan, at age 57, following a 35-year career as a professional musician. The book is based on his short story, “That Night I Ran the High Heel Race,” published in the Medium publication Prism & Pen. He has been published in Bear Creek Gazette and Medium publications Rainbow, An Idea, and Atheism101.
Myer was born in Bryan, Ohio, and now lives in Philadelphia with his husband of more than a quarter century. He loves to walk, travel, and make friends with every dog he sees.
Myer was born in Bryan, Ohio, and now lives in Philadelphia with his husband of more than a quarter century. He loves to walk, travel, and make friends with every dog he sees.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 1, 2024
Ooh, I loved this book from just reading the title, and doncha know it's a pretty great read! It does thoroughly answer Randy Larson's burning question: "How did I end up hungover in a green taffeta gown with a gargantuan Jayne Mansfield drag queen mothering me? That's a complicated story. You see, I was destinated to live the life of an average North Dakotan. Then, everything changed."
32-year-old Randy grew up in Minot, North Dakota ("Why not Minot?") and after the death of his parents (who basically raised him as a middle-aged man reading the Minot Times and eating dinner at 5:00 pm), Randy decides to move to an interesting big city with a gay community (and a subway ... "I've never been on a subway, but I know it's a glamorous way famous and sophisticated people get around"), which turns out to be Washington DC.
Randy dreams of having a fairy godmother to teach him all the things he needs to know about being gay ("she would also explain how a "thruple" works) and after a disastrous showing at the 17th Street High Heel Drag Race, finally meets 6'9" Jayne Mansfield, who introduces him to the Brothel (Joan, Bette, Bette, Marilyn, Cher and Lea DeLaria), moves into his miniscule apartment, teaches him how to drink massive quantities of vodka, badgers him to buy clothes other than Toughskins, and that's just the first day.
What follows is a glorious melange of kissing some pretty strange frogs until Randy finds his Prince Charming (or as Jayne says "Prince Pretty Pants"). It's a hysterical, heartwarming, weird and strange story, with every character beautifully fleshed out. Randy goes from a sweet, doughy closeted nerd to, well .... a better dressed doughy nerd with a better decorated apartment, a lot more confidence, and self-esteem. Randy has grown up into a feisty, self-sufficient adult and you cheer for him every step of the way. 5 stars.
I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
32-year-old Randy grew up in Minot, North Dakota ("Why not Minot?") and after the death of his parents (who basically raised him as a middle-aged man reading the Minot Times and eating dinner at 5:00 pm), Randy decides to move to an interesting big city with a gay community (and a subway ... "I've never been on a subway, but I know it's a glamorous way famous and sophisticated people get around"), which turns out to be Washington DC.
Randy dreams of having a fairy godmother to teach him all the things he needs to know about being gay ("she would also explain how a "thruple" works) and after a disastrous showing at the 17th Street High Heel Drag Race, finally meets 6'9" Jayne Mansfield, who introduces him to the Brothel (Joan, Bette, Bette, Marilyn, Cher and Lea DeLaria), moves into his miniscule apartment, teaches him how to drink massive quantities of vodka, badgers him to buy clothes other than Toughskins, and that's just the first day.
What follows is a glorious melange of kissing some pretty strange frogs until Randy finds his Prince Charming (or as Jayne says "Prince Pretty Pants"). It's a hysterical, heartwarming, weird and strange story, with every character beautifully fleshed out. Randy goes from a sweet, doughy closeted nerd to, well .... a better dressed doughy nerd with a better decorated apartment, a lot more confidence, and self-esteem. Randy has grown up into a feisty, self-sufficient adult and you cheer for him every step of the way. 5 stars.
I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2023
Truly enjoyable read, a well-balanced combination of hilarity, witticism, sarcasm, wisdom, care, and warmth in this lovely coming of age tale. One of the rare books that made me burst out laughing hysterically.
June 20, 2023
A Delightful Read
What's not to like in this charming novel? A naive young man from the Midwest learns to take a chance and move to a big city and find his place in the world. His misadventures along the way are hilarious. He is rescued by a fierce, over-the-top drag queen, Jayne Mansfield, who takes him under her red sequined wing, moves in, and guides him, kicking and screaming, into a life he could never have imagined was possible. The novel is at turns funny, tender, and moving, and the characters are memorable. I loved it!
What's not to like in this charming novel? A naive young man from the Midwest learns to take a chance and move to a big city and find his place in the world. His misadventures along the way are hilarious. He is rescued by a fierce, over-the-top drag queen, Jayne Mansfield, who takes him under her red sequined wing, moves in, and guides him, kicking and screaming, into a life he could never have imagined was possible. The novel is at turns funny, tender, and moving, and the characters are memorable. I loved it!
May 17, 2023
Coming of age came a little late for Randy Larsen, but Myer shows just how fun, witty, and diverting late-blooming can be. In some ways, I am a little jealous of Randy. Myer's prose is immediately epigrammatic, humorous, and enjoyable. It's a heart-warming tale drizzled with the gloss of fairy-tale goodness, but there is deep meaning in both the progression of the story, and the growth of the characters. I'm especially fond of Myer's grasp for believable dialogue. If you'd like to laugh out loud and smile at the journey of fun, memorable characters, give Jayne and the Average North Dakotan a read.
January 25, 2023
Randy’s quest to find himself isn’t unlike the rest of us trying to find ourselves at an early age, only Randy is 32. This is a skilfully written wonderful coming of age story told from an awkward but so relatable main character. I laughed out loud more than once as Myers writes with wit any author would love to have. Such a great story. Very well written and an absolute pleasure to read! I highly recommend.
February 9, 2023
A really great read. Wit, sarcasm, hilarity ensue as the boy leaves the sheltered environment of North Dakota to discover his true gay self in DC. Guided by a vicious and funny Jayne, a drag queen extraordinaire Randy experiences the fun, the fright, the highs and lows of joining a new world. Combing good old fashioned gay raunch with day to day life. A truly enjoyable book - the first by the author who I hope will keep on writing!
January 12, 2023
In Jayne and the Average North Dakotan, Myer takes the reader on a fairy tale journey through a significant time in the life of Randy Larson, searching to find his true self and live his best life. Charming, witty, and entertaining. The humor will keep you turning the pages. Relatable characters and great descriptions with visual references keep the reader invested and immersed in the story.
January 22, 2023
Sweet and funny. Randy’s coming out story is so relatable.
February 16, 2023
Jayne and the Average North Dakotan by Chandler Myer tells a story of queer self-acceptance outside the stereotypical framework of young teens just figuring themselves out. Randy, our 33-year-old protagonist, has been aware of who he is from a young age. Still, between his family’s expectations and religious upbringing, he had long ago put to bed any thought of being open about his identity. That is until his dying mother pulls him aside and gives him one simple piece of advice- “Move to the city.” This starts him on a journey that will lead him to incredible new experiences as a tall, elegant drag queen named Jayne comes into his life. With Jayne’s help, Randy comes to a better understanding of love, of what it means to be a true friend, and of himself.
This coming-of-age story is packed to the brim with fun, quirky characters, each with a unique voice all their own, that are sure to stick with readers. In addition, it’s written with a degree of self-aware humor. The comedy definitely falls into a more raunchy category.
While the book is mainly comedy, and a laugh-out-loud one, it has its more heartfelt moments mixed in. I found the relationship between Jayne and Randy to be especially compelling, as for a majority of the book Jayne herself is a bit of a mystery. By the end, I felt everything had been wrapped up satisfyingly. While Jayne and the other members of the queer community Randy meets in the city had a lot of depth, some of Randy’s friends from back home came off as a bit stereotypical- a choice that felt intentional, providing readers with a jarring experience in places.
Jayne and the Average North Dakotan is a rousing coming-of-age novel with humor and heartwarming friendships. Filled with acerbically witty dialogue and insightful commentaries on gay culture, this captivating story is a must-read for anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted romp with LGBTQ+ themes.
This coming-of-age story is packed to the brim with fun, quirky characters, each with a unique voice all their own, that are sure to stick with readers. In addition, it’s written with a degree of self-aware humor. The comedy definitely falls into a more raunchy category.
While the book is mainly comedy, and a laugh-out-loud one, it has its more heartfelt moments mixed in. I found the relationship between Jayne and Randy to be especially compelling, as for a majority of the book Jayne herself is a bit of a mystery. By the end, I felt everything had been wrapped up satisfyingly. While Jayne and the other members of the queer community Randy meets in the city had a lot of depth, some of Randy’s friends from back home came off as a bit stereotypical- a choice that felt intentional, providing readers with a jarring experience in places.
Jayne and the Average North Dakotan is a rousing coming-of-age novel with humor and heartwarming friendships. Filled with acerbically witty dialogue and insightful commentaries on gay culture, this captivating story is a must-read for anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted romp with LGBTQ+ themes.
April 18, 2023
A sort of rom com with a pinch of fairy tale where the fairy godmother is a drag queen and a North Dakotan gay accountant is a sort of Cinderella.
There's a lot of humour but there's also inclusivity and a coming of age story.
I loved the style of writing and the good storytelling.
A compelling story that I strongly recommend
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
There's a lot of humour but there's also inclusivity and a coming of age story.
I loved the style of writing and the good storytelling.
A compelling story that I strongly recommend
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Read
May 8, 2023Dnf
January 22, 2023
From Independent Book Review:
Equal parts sweet and sarcastic, a hilarious story of the growing pains that come with discovering your true self Jayne and the Average North Dakotan is the story of thirty-something Randy, a buttoned-up accountant embarking on the biggest adventure of his life: leaving his small town and moving to Washington D.C. in search of community.
Randy was raised by older parents who simply integrated him into their lives. He happily followed their ways and is used to a quiet routine of microwaved food, tv, and work. But he knows he wants more from life, so one day he takes a step into another world, and before he knows it, he is swept up in a whirlwind of drag queens, drama, drinks, and debauchery.
His foul-mouthed guide in this new world is Jayne Mansfield, a toweringly tall, exquisitely coiffed drag queen he meets at a bar. Jayne barges into his life, appoints herself his “fairy godmother,” and refuses to leave until she feels her work is complete —her work being setting Randy up in his new life in Washington’s gay community. Jayne’s method is a highly abrasive form of tough love, and she quickly breaks down all of Randy’s carefully constructed walls. Jayne is merciless in her mission to help Randy find himself—often despite himself.
Jayne’s motives for helping are as mysterious as Jayne herself, and Randy begins to realize he never sees her out of drag. What she does all day and whether she has a job or apartment of her own are all questions that start to bother him as the weeks go on. The ease with which Randy accepts Jayne’s complete intrusions on his privacy is an intriguing character trait. It takes a while for Randy to work up the guts and emotion to confront Jayne on her behavior and get to the bottom of things.
A truly unpredictable and spectacular character, Jayne is a brilliant counterpoint to Randy’s stick-in-the-mud ways. Though their conversations at times feel like two people speaking different languages, they still come to a kind of understanding on a nonverbal level. As could be predicted from the title, the heart and soul of the book is Jayne and Randy’s relationship.
It is gratifying to watch Randy’s sometimes painfully slow progress in growing up and making a life for himself. There are many unfortunate and embarrassing moments, but also ones of triumph and self-fulfillment.
Some readers may wish we followed Randy on his journey a little further, as it seems this is only the beginning for him. Others may find this adds to the realism, as such changes can take years of conscious effort, and don’t necessarily fit into a tidy plot.
This book is highly recommended for readers who love camp, sarcasm, a good roasting–and of course drag. Though there are scenes containing sexual content, and others with frank descriptions of different bodily functions, the author’s deft handling of them mean they come off as more hilarious than cringy.
In the end, the story of Randy and Jayne is about getting help from unexpected places. It is about how hard it can be to break out of shells—and comfort zones—and look honestly at what to hold on to and to let go of. It’s also a story of watching what you wish for.
Equal parts sweet and sarcastic, a hilarious story of the growing pains that come with discovering your true self Jayne and the Average North Dakotan is the story of thirty-something Randy, a buttoned-up accountant embarking on the biggest adventure of his life: leaving his small town and moving to Washington D.C. in search of community.
Randy was raised by older parents who simply integrated him into their lives. He happily followed their ways and is used to a quiet routine of microwaved food, tv, and work. But he knows he wants more from life, so one day he takes a step into another world, and before he knows it, he is swept up in a whirlwind of drag queens, drama, drinks, and debauchery.
His foul-mouthed guide in this new world is Jayne Mansfield, a toweringly tall, exquisitely coiffed drag queen he meets at a bar. Jayne barges into his life, appoints herself his “fairy godmother,” and refuses to leave until she feels her work is complete —her work being setting Randy up in his new life in Washington’s gay community. Jayne’s method is a highly abrasive form of tough love, and she quickly breaks down all of Randy’s carefully constructed walls. Jayne is merciless in her mission to help Randy find himself—often despite himself.
Jayne’s motives for helping are as mysterious as Jayne herself, and Randy begins to realize he never sees her out of drag. What she does all day and whether she has a job or apartment of her own are all questions that start to bother him as the weeks go on. The ease with which Randy accepts Jayne’s complete intrusions on his privacy is an intriguing character trait. It takes a while for Randy to work up the guts and emotion to confront Jayne on her behavior and get to the bottom of things.
A truly unpredictable and spectacular character, Jayne is a brilliant counterpoint to Randy’s stick-in-the-mud ways. Though their conversations at times feel like two people speaking different languages, they still come to a kind of understanding on a nonverbal level. As could be predicted from the title, the heart and soul of the book is Jayne and Randy’s relationship.
It is gratifying to watch Randy’s sometimes painfully slow progress in growing up and making a life for himself. There are many unfortunate and embarrassing moments, but also ones of triumph and self-fulfillment.
Some readers may wish we followed Randy on his journey a little further, as it seems this is only the beginning for him. Others may find this adds to the realism, as such changes can take years of conscious effort, and don’t necessarily fit into a tidy plot.
This book is highly recommended for readers who love camp, sarcasm, a good roasting–and of course drag. Though there are scenes containing sexual content, and others with frank descriptions of different bodily functions, the author’s deft handling of them mean they come off as more hilarious than cringy.
In the end, the story of Randy and Jayne is about getting help from unexpected places. It is about how hard it can be to break out of shells—and comfort zones—and look honestly at what to hold on to and to let go of. It’s also a story of watching what you wish for.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews