The Family Man

A diverse group of characters comes together in this light and humorous story, which is delightfully read. Jonathan Davis deftly portrays a cultured and successful middle-aged gay man, his flamboyant partner, his elderly Jewish mother (who is prone to Yiddish phrases), his scheming ex-wife, his overly dramatic stepdaughter, and her monotone boyfriend. Davis masterfully delivers the characters' witty repartee and the elegant descriptions of the magazine-perfect New York City brownstone with basement maisonette. Secondary characters, such as the proprietors of the local ethnic eateries and specialty shops, also come to life. This is a fun-filled romp in the big city. E.V.B. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Starred review from February 9, 2009
A divorced gay man's vanquished paternalism returns when he reconnects with his long-lost stepdaughter in Lipman's hilarious and moving 10th novel. Set in New York, the book opens with Henry Archer phoning his ex-wife, Denise, to offer condolences over the death of her husband, the man Denise divorced then-closeted Henry for. Upon visiting Denise, Henry notices photos of now grown stepdaughter Thalia, a charming wannabe actress he recognizes from the hair salon in his neighborhood, and determines to reenter her life. What ensues is a heartwarming reconnection as Henry and Thalia relearn what it means to be a father and daughter, respectively. When Thalia is hired by a PR firm to play the role of real-life girlfriend to a struggling actor, Henry's fatherly instinct and legal background compel him to ask Thalia to move in with him and to serve as her attorney. During the process of managing Thalia's career, Henry also grows closer to Denise, meets a handsome man and rediscovers the joy of family. The plot alone will suck in readers, but Lipman's knack for creating lovable and multifaceted characters is the real draw.