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Author: James Gregor
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: August 20, 2019
Book Description: Exhausted by dead-end forays in the gay dating scene, surrounded constantly by friends but deeply lonely in New York City, and drifting into academic abyss, twenty-something graduate student Richard has plenty of sources of anxiety. But at the forefront is his crippling writer’s block, which threatens daily to derail his graduate funding and leave Richard poor, directionless, and desperately single.
Enter Anne: his brilliant classmate who offers to “help” Richard write his papers in exchange for his company, despite Richard’s fairly obvious sexual orientation. Still, he needs her help, and it doesn’t hurt that Anne has folded Richard into her abundant lifestyle. What begins as an initially transactional relationship blooms gradually into something more complex.
But then a one-swipe-stand with an attractive, successful lawyer named Blake becomes serious, and Richard suddenly finds himself unable to detach from Anne, entangled in her web of privilege, brilliance, and, oddly, her unabashed acceptance of Richard’s flaws. As the two relationships reach points of serious commitment, Richard soon finds himself on a romantic and existential collision course—one that brings about surprising revelations.
Going Dutch is an incisive portrait of relationships in an age of digital romantic abundance, but it’s also a heartfelt and humorous exploration of love and sexuality, and a poignant meditation on the things emotionally ravenous people seek from and do to each other. James Gregor announces himself with levity, and a fresh, exciting voice in his debut.
Rating: 2 Stars
Review: Unfortunately Going Dutch was not the book for me. This book surrounds the twenty-something dating crowd. This takes you on a tour of online dating, which I personally detest. The reference “going dutch” seemed to be the centerpiece, but wow this was completely absurd at times. I feel old writing this review, but this is simply something I just don’t care about at least not to this extent.
The story centers around a scholar Richard who is struggling with writing, who gets help from Anne to reignite his vision. The relationship becomes somewhat co-dependent and very misleading. Richard is gay and Anne is not and she loves or is obsessed with Richard. Richard dates online and meets Blake and they start a relationship. It leads to a very uncomfortable scene with all three.
I hate to write negative reviews, but this book was complete nonsense to me. I am sure there is a place for this book in the world, but not with this 40-something woman.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book for an honest review.
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