Misfits

January 5, 2015
Fabulously successful restaurateur Tom is swept off his feet by Jake, a fragile, masculine beauty who’s a terribly clumsy waiter. The two share an intense sexual connection, and soon they’re sharing secrets as well: Jake explains that he has Tourette syndrome, and Tom reveals that he’s in an open relationship with his partner, Cass. When Tom hires Jake to work on a new restaurant project, Jake and Cass unexpectedly hit it off. Leigh’s absorbing story pivots on the palpable tensions among the three men as the apex of the romantic triangle keeps shifting, especially when Jake moves in—and into bed—with Tom and Cass. Leigh makes salient points about the challenges and joys of threesomes, and how sex changes relationships. There are numerous tastefully erotic passages, but the book is more smart than smutty. Jake’s tics are incorporated well, even if they are sometimes gimmicky signals. Unfortu­nately, the story suffers when a character is blindsided by a “big dark secret” that comes out of nowhere. It’s meant to provide a dramatic last-act catalyst, but this otherwise fine book would have been better off just staying on its course.

March 1, 2015
Despite his open relationship with Cass, restaurateur Tom isn't looking for another man in his life until he meets Jake. Beautiful, young, and troubled, Jake is more than happy to share Tom's bed for the night. Tom and Cass, who have been together for almost 10 years, are both drawn to Jake for different reasons: Cass because Jake reminds him of himself, and Tom because he wants to fix what is broken in Jake. While working on developing a new restaurant, Tom gives Jake a job that ensures that the two will be spending plenty of time together. The heat these two generate is incredible, and when Cass' defenses are finally broken down and he joins in, it is off the charts. Although Leigh doesn't bring the story to a happily-ever-after conclusion, he does offer a happy-for-now ending within this committed triad. And Leigh doesn't shy away from the idea of the titular misfits. Cass has an arrest record a mile long, and Jake battles Tourette's syndrome, which Leigh depicts with tremendous respect and humor.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)