From Publishers Weekly
New Orleans native Brite has a number of horror novels to her credit and is a minor cult figure in goth kid circles (she is also the author of Courtney Love: The Real Story). Her latest novel is a rose-tinted gay coming-of-age story set on the mean streets of New Orleans' rundown Lower Ninth Ward. The son of hardworking blue-collar Catholic parents, 16-year-old Gary Stubbs is growing increasingly troubled by his sexual feelings for John Rickey, his best friend since childhood. Rickey, living with his divorced mom, takes the realization that he himself is gay in stride, but he is afraid his feelings are not reciprocated by Gary... Brite's novel is clumsy feel-good pulp, but its artless sweetness is a welcome respite from more jaded gay genre fiction.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
In a change of pace, cult horror author Brite (Exquisite Corpse) tells the story of Ricky and Gary, who as best friends coming of age in 1990 New Orleans discover a mutual attraction. Ricky, who aspires to become a chef, secures them both occasional jobs in a diner so that he can indulge his passion for cooking and they can spend time together. Life is complete until their parents discover their true relationship and try to separate them by sending Ricky to a culinary institute in New York. The ensuing hardships (will their relationship survive the separation?) are fairly predictable and frankly not very interesting. Brite offers an all too brief look at the cooking culture-the most interesting parts of the story have to do with the behind-the-scenes world of restaurants-but, unfortunately, these glimpses only scratch the surface. Of interest mainly to adolescent audiences and Brite fans, this book is recommended for large public libraries only.Caroline Mann, Univ. of Portland Lib., MECopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal