Book Review: In My Father's House

After coming out to his wealthy Detroit family, Bentley L. Dean III moved to Miami and opened Picture Perfect -- one of the hottest African-American modeling agencies in South Beach. Times are tough, though -- both economically and on the romantic front. With companies slowing down, not many are in need of models; Bentley could ask his Father or Mother for a little financial help, but he worries that they aren't ready to forgive him for coming out. Things could be turning around, though, when he reluctantly agrees to allow some of his male models to be eye candy at an exclusive men-only party on Star Island.

As for a relationship, he called off his wedding to be with Warren, the man he loved, only to be dumped in turn after moving to Miami. At the party on Star Island, Bentley runs into Warren and hopes to re-ignite what they once had. But when one of Bentley's younger models named Jah falls head over heels for the host of the party, a movie mogul on the "down low" named Seth Sinclair, and he learns of some rough dealings that involved Sinclair's former boi, Bentley fears for Jah's safety and begins to question what exactly Warren's role in this whole scheme is.

E. Lynn Harris' In My Father's House took me into a different side of the gay world, that of the closeted, or "down low", black men. On the public side, they have families, well-paying jobs, the respect of the community; on the private side, they attend exclusive parties, hoping for a little action with a hot man or boi. At all times, they're on guard, doing whatever it takes to keep their secret lives a secret, damn the consequences. Throw Bentley L. Dean III into the mix, handsome and confident with his own sexuality, and the tensions simmer and boil over until someone makes a wrong move.

Bentley's inner struggles with regards to his family -- and more specifically, his father -- weave nicely into the tale. He came out to them in order to be true to himself and to his family, but now, isn't sure of his place. Do they still love me? Will they help me if I reach out to them? So many gay men and women deal with those questions, I found it comforting to follow a character dealing with those issues on a realistic level and not like a melodrama.

In My Father's House is definitely a beach read, something to sit with for a few hours, get caught up in the story and just have as much fun as you can. The intertwining stories -- finding work for the modeling agency; testing the waters of love after a bad breakup; the secret parties of high-powered closeted gay black men; Bentley's struggle with his relationship with his father -- made for a book that I couldn't put down once I started.


In My Father's House
by E. Lynn Harris
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 978-0-312-54191-0
hardcover, 297p.

Received book free from publisher, via LibraryThing.

Image from Fantastic Fiction.