Max: A Gay Romance

Ian O. Lewis

Jul 2021 · The Balcony Boys Book 2 · Cruz Publishing

About this ebook

No one has ever told Max that happiness is an option.

Everyone that knows Max thinks he is a great guy. He takes care of his family, goes to church most Sundays, and puts the needs of everyone else above his own. Max has a group of friends who rely on him, and he’s always willing to pitch in when someone asks him for help. In fact, he structures his life to avoid thinking about himself at all. 

His family and friends are constantly badgering him to settle down. They point out that his siblings are all married, and some even have kids. But, whenever Max goes looking for love, his shyness kicks in, so he reluctantly accepts the fact that he’s a confirmed bachelor. 

All that changes when he meets Jude. He's a shy biology teacher Max finds crying on a rooftop, after he is dumped by his date at a party. They spend the rest of the evening together, and for the first time Max can recall, he feels optimistic about his future.

Unfortunately, what he desires and what his family and friends want are two different things. On the surface, they pick on him for not finding a mate. But, when he finally does meet the man of his dreams, will they be willing to let Max experience true happiness for the first time in his life?

At the corner of Robinson Street and Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia is an old apartment building filled with broken hearts and wistful dreams. Max is the second novel in the Balcony Boys series that features an eccentric landlady and a cast of wonderful characters. It can be read as a standalone novel. Oh, and you might see a character or three from the Boys of Oregon Hill series. Fans of Felice Stevens, Andrew Gray, and Parker Avrile.

Ratings and reviews

I liked Max by Ian O. Lewis. I liked Jude and Max. I felt terrible for Max that his family became homophobic once Max started putting his happiness above theirs. And Max's friends just wanted him to stay single and miserable with them. I liked how Jude made him feel and how happy he was with him. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Everyone should be able to find their own happiness, and Max feels like he's too old to fall in love until he meets Jude. In a world where most gay guys dress too fancy and couldn't care about someone else's feelings it warms my heart to see two people who are meant to be together realize that love is never too late and that the person inside is more important than looks. It's a shame that Max helped his family after his father's death, only to realize that they don't love him even after falling in love with another man. Amazing read that inspires me.

Max has always put family and friends first and then he meets Jude and everything changes. Max's family and friends aren't happy that Jude is in his life and Max can't figure out why. I really enjoyed this book.

About the author

Ian O. Lewis is a best-selling author of LGBTQ romance and fiction. He is from Richmond, Virginia, but currently lives south of the border in Guadalajara, Mexico.