Reviews

The Gay Best Friend by Nicolas DiDomizio

_kayreads_'s review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I finished it. 
 I am not sure why or the reason but I just didn’t like the story and the characters I didn’t connect with. It could have been the narrator but honestly, the plot was a good over all idea. 

amielreads's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

hannigrace's review

emotional funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jpwebbs's review

5.0

Oh my God, I ADORED this book. I saw another review where the reviewer said that DiDomizio's The Gay Best Friend is like an Emily Henry book, but gay. That sentence sums it up.
I don't know if I can even get my thoughts together, this book will stay with me and I can't wait to purchase it for my shelf.
Dom is the gay best friend of the groom (Patrick) and the bride (Kate). Nothing can go wrong...
He attends the bachelor party and gets put into a tough situation with multiple bros and their actions. Then with all the secrets he's trying to keep, he goes to the bride's bachelorette party. Even more secrets are revealed and second-hand embarrassment is entirely real.
While romance is a part of the plot, I believe that the other messages hold more weight. A person coming out. A person trying to maintain their life because of societal expectations. Miscommunication (and no, the miscommunication trope is NOT cringe or really a big part of this story.) I can't praise this book enough.
It's perfect.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

wendywbooksareawesome's review

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

lilcubana31's review

funny lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

1umbrella1's review

funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

beviltiska_romantike's review

4.0

Visų pirma, nesuprantu, kodėl man patinka skaityti knygas apie vestuves, kai pati jų niekada nenorėjau, apie jas nesvajojau ir saviškių nešvenčiau, bei visada visada žiūrėdama filmus ar skaitydama knygas vartau akis iš to "ypatingos dienos" sureikšminimo, tragedijos kūrimo dėl neįtikusios gėlių spalvos ar torto, ceremonijos repeticijos ar dar velniasžinko. Bet vat kažkodėl toliau žiūriu ir skaitau, o čia tokia "vestuvinė" knyga, kad vestuviškesnės ir būti negali, nes siužetą sudaro šie trys įvykiai: bernvakaris, mergvakaris ir tikrosios vestuvės.

Pagrindiniui veikėjui Domenic, kuris ką tik atšaukė savo ilgai planuotas vestuves, tenka dalyvauti savo geriausių draugų vestuvėse vyriausiuoju pabroliu ir padėti jas organizuojant. Suklausiau per dieną - kiek daug visko padariau, negalėjau atsitraukti, nes čia tokie emocijų kalneliai. Pykau ant draugų, kad naudojasi Domenic: viena, kad pašnipinėtų sužadėtinį, kitas, kad pridengtų jo "paskutinius pasispardymus", jaunikio draugai išvis paskutiniai šūdžiai, pykau ir ant pačio Domenic'o, kad toks "people pleaser" ir negali pasakyti "ne", ir mačiau jame daug savęs. Verkiau, kai jam skaudino širdį ir pykau, kad leidžia taip elgtis su savimi. Apimdavo svetimos gėdos jausmas, kai Domenic pakliūdavo į eilinę nejaukią situaciją, kai tekdavo meluoti ir išsisukinėti, ar kai alkoholiui atlaisvinus liežuvį prasprūsdavo visos saugotos paslaptys.

Romantinės linijos man buvo per mažai, ten liko per daug neišspręstų dalykų, kad patikėčiau laiminga pabaiga, dėl to knyga negaus 5*, bet draugystės aspektai nagrinėjami labai giliai ir iš įdomios perspektyvos. Beje, įgarsinta puikiai, nors įgarsintojas tik vienas.

hbaier94's review

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ninjapants's review

2.5

This was enjoyable if a bit a bit frustrating. I found Dom’s contribution to his own issues entirely believable, but watching him make the worst possible decision at every turn did wear a bit. I also appreciated that he acknowledged and made first steps to work on his but it made it seem like his friends were let off the hook way too easily. It should have been possible for Dom to realize that they had been better friends to him historically than his poor self-esteem had let him see without downplaying the fact that they were genuinely cruel over the summer. The author did strike a good balance with characters who had realistic, actually ugly or annoying flaws, but were still relatable and redeemable people. The romance felt pretty secondary to the friendships, which I’m a fan of. The resolution there seemed a bit too neat and easy, however.