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Review

In Stewart Lewis's Relative Stranger, the two primary characters in this comic novel are Garret: A British gay man in his late-20’s, early 30’s, and “…very sexy….. sexy in ripped jeans, in couture, at 6 a.m., after drinking all night, after funerals.” The other character is a saucy, funny, pink-haired young lady named Lucy, fresh out of high school.

Garret cannot understand why he can’t find the right man (since he feels he’d be PERFECT in a relationship). Lucy has felt smothered after a 4 year stint in a boarding school and is ready to ditch her entire past and live. As fate would have it, the two share adjoining First Class seats on New York to Heathrow flight. Normally, Garret would have consumed a couple of glasses of champagne and an Ambien or two and slept the entire way, but Lucy decides this is her chance to finally meet a real gay man and also find out what living in New York is really like.

Lucy has never met a question she didn’t like and Garret is so taken aback by the brash and unlimited queries that he decides to actually humor her and answer most of her probing. Lucy: “So, are you a top or a bottom? My friend Cora’s brother’s a bottom and he says it doubles your pleasure, like the gum.” At first Garret is horrified by the question but then realizes “…that he was usually nervous around children, but this one seemed to be able to challenge him intellectually…”

Garret and Lucy begin a series of accidental run-ins, and with each encounter they realize their mutual enjoyment keeps growing. Garret is well established in the New York Theater scene and Lucy is nursing a budding talent in designing high-fashion hats. It soon becomes apparent that Garret’s grown-up (and somewhat stuffy) take on life and Lucy’s infections enthusiasm were very, very good for each other; eventually Garret takes her under his wing and moves her into his New York apartment.

The book is written in a fast, breezy style that keeps it fresh and energetic. One chapter is taken from Garet’s point of view, the next chapter is from Lucy’s outlook. There are satellite characters that add some drama to the plot: Garret has a “best friend” that harbors secret love fantasies; Lucy’s mother has a serious drinking problem and is not much use in the motherhood area. Garret discovers paternal feelings he never knew he had, as Lucy realizes that Garret is filling in nicely for the father she never had, or knew.

The major plot twist that occurs halfway through the book will probably be foreseen by most of the readers, but I still won’t give it way here. Yes, it’s a stretch and leap of faith, but by the time the author drops it in you are already hooked. This is one of those novels that you sincerely hope that everyone involves does the right thing and succeeds.

And yes, there are multiple happy endings involved, including a very adult-like decision that Lucy makes that ties up all of the loose ends. A very pleasurable book to read and one that remains smart and witty and even droll, but never, ever sinks to the level of schmaltz or overkill. A surprisingly fun and satisfying read.

 -- Douglas Halloran