Neither James nor Gabe has ever had a real relationship. They might make a connection if they can get past their differences—and their fears.
At age fourteen, James Maron decided to prove he wasn’t gay despite vast evidence to the contrary. Now at thirty-two, he’s getting ready to send his son to college and wondering what he’s supposed to do next. Outside his son, his life consists of an IT job he hates and watching telenovelas with the women in his apartment building.
Gabriel Juarez is the CFO of a technology giant. He has looks, charm, fantastic wealth, a workaholic personality, and a string of boyfriends who only stick around because he’s too busy to tell them to leave.
A bad laptop/projector interface causes James and Gabe’s paths to cross. Friends, family, and coworkers jump to match Gabe with a nice guy, and James with anyone. But are they too different? Everyone will have to tread very carefully to keep things from ending before they start.
“So,” Dylan started as he scraped the last of the noodles from his plate. “Remember that conversation we were having about the new AP English teacher?”
“If you pull a piece of paper out of your pocket right now, I will never forgive you.”
Dylan grinned and pulled a tightly folded piece of paper from his pocket. “Saturday after next, if you want, you have a date.”
James was pretty sure teenagers were not supposed to be as hung-up on their father’s love life as Dylan was. “No. No, I do not.”
Dylan pushed over a printout from his school’s faculty webpage. There was a phone number handwritten at the bottom. “Thirty-five, no kids. He likes music.” Dylan had highlighted that line. “You like music, he likes music. He said he’d love to take you to see a band he likes.”
“Goddammit, Dylan! I do not need you setting me up with strangers.”
“He’s not a stranger, he’s the school’s AP English teacher, and I wouldn’t have to if you’d get out of the house once in a while. Seriously, Dad, I’m out of here in less than a year. I don’t want you moping around this place alone. I worry about you turning into a crazy old cat lady.”
Empty Nests is the story of two men so different from each other who are brought together by their loneliness, and who are struggling to find a way to be together in spite of their differences.
Gabriel is smart, hard working and a constant reason of worry for his friends who fear for his health and want to see him happy.
He’s really great and down to earth, even if his wealth is considerable and increasing every day.
James’s life has been filled with huge responsibilities and one sacrifice after another since he was fifteen. That was the age when he became a father.
Eighteen years later, he can honestly say that he’s done a damn good job of raising his son. Now, he’s starting to realize how much he had to give up in order to accomplish that.
When he meets Gabe, his life changes once more.
I liked this story. I honestly did.
It intrigued me from the beginning, maybe because Ada chose to focus on the characters and their relationship instead of the fact that one of them is filthy rich.
This definitely earned her some extra points.
We get to see Gabe the man, not the magnate even if, many times, he’s seated behind a desk.
And, unless you’re drowning in money, I think you’ll find it very easy to identify with James.
At one point or another in our lives, I think we’ve all struggled with not having enough money or with the fear that we’re not doing the right thing when it comes to raising our children.
He’s a simple guy with enough issues to make him lose hope of ever finding someone to share his life with.
The dynamic between James and his son was perfectly portrayed. Another point for the author. The easy banter and the comfortable friendship suits them perfectly.
And James’s shyness when it comes to intimacy with Gabe is so endearing.
Now, while there were a lot of things that made me love this book, there were some that grated on my nerves.
Like, skipping from one thing to another just like that.
This is one of my pet-peeves. Makes me lose focus and it makes it really hard to keep up with what’s going on.
All in all, it was a good read. An interesting story, great characters with whom I easily connected, and enough twists and turns to keep it from dragging.
I should warn you – it ends with a cliffhanger. If that doesn’t bother you, go for it.
Yes, I do recommend it and can’t wait to find out how the story ends.
Happy Reading!!
Ada Maria Soto is a born and raised Californian, Mexican-American/WASP, currently living as an expat in New Zealand. She got her Bachelor’s degree in Theater Directing at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, which she attended in a fit of stubbornness. She got a Master’s degree in Film and TV Producing from the University of Auckland in New Zealand which she applied to on a manic whim. Nine years later she’s still in Auckland with a partner, kid, and mortgage.
She has dysgraphia and phonological dyslexia which can lead to some interesting typos.
She is a sports fan dedicated to the Oakland A’s, San Jose Sharks, Auckland Blues, USA Eagles, New Zealand All Blacks, New Zealand Black Caps, and the Chennai Super Kings.
