One Man Guy

Michael Barakiva

May 2014 · Sold by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

About this ebook

Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Why bother, when their home cooking is far superior to anything "these Americans" could come up with? Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and criticizing the menu, Alek's parents announce that he'll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades. Alek is sure this experience will be the perfect hellish end to his hellish freshmen year of high school. He never could've predicted that he'd meet someone like Ethan.
Ethan is everything Alek wishes he were: confident, free-spirited, and irreverent. When Ethan gets Alek to cut school and go to a Rufus Wainwright concert in New York City's Central Park, Alek embarks on his first adventure outside the confines of his suburban New Jersey existence. He can't believe a guy this cool wants to be his friend. And before long, it seems like Ethan wants to be more than friends. Alek has never thought about having a boyfriend—he's barely ever had a girlfriend—but maybe it's time to think again. Michael Barakiva's One Man Guy is a romantic, moving, laugh-out-loud-funny story about what happens when one person cracks open your world and helps you see everything—and, most of all, yourself--like you never have before.

Ratings and reviews

A gay romance ruined by stereo types that only exist in big cities so called gay communities the rest of us have male best friends NOT bloody annoying Becky types (males who have female best friends are effeminate males only) manly males whether Gay or Heties have male best friends NOT silly effeminate ones of any kind WE DON'T LIKE GOSSIPING we leave that to females and effeminate males! Alec and Ethan are not sissy boys so would never have female best friends ever so book ruined by adding that bloody annoying Becky THIS BOOK WILL APPEAL 2 FEMALES AND EFFEMINATE BOYS ONLY 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 5 STAR PUKE AWARD!

OH MY GOSH MY HEART, this book takes you on a wonderful journey of self actualization. So cleverly written and laid out, this book made you experience all of the emotions right along with the characters. Not only that but it expressed gay romance in a very progressive way, leaving out stereotypes and allowing for a very genuine and lovable relationship. This book kept me entranced and held me captive in the wonderful world Barakiva created. The best thing is this book leaves you with the feeling and will truly open your eyes. I would recommend this book in a heartbeat to anyone and everyone!

This is now the second day in a row I have read this book. And totally going to read it tomorrow! I love the humor and passion that is in Ethan and Alek's relationship. I love the fact that the author made them think not just do as most teenagers do. :-) 10/10 will most definitely read again!!!

About the author

Michael Barakiva is a theater director of Armenian/Israeli descent and a writer who lives in Manhattan with his husband. He is a graduate of Vassar College and the Juilliard School, an avid cook and board-game player, and a soccer player with the New York Ramblers.