Review: 'Charlie, Rent Boy' by J.P. Barnaby
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 10, 2013
When Charlie, of 'Charlie, Rentboy' by J.P. Barnaby, strolls into his latest client's room, he's all business. But from his first glance at John, his customer, he senses that this encounter is going to be unlike any other. He can already feel the shift of his rules for self-preservation threatening to crumble and he's not entirely sure that he doesn't want them to.Charlie's logic for becoming a rentboy is economically sound, but also dangerous. Charlie tells us that he loves sex and usually enjoys his job, but it's still risky business. Charlie is a good man with a loving, supportive mother; he will do anything to keep her from being hurt. He desperately wants to finish college so he can have a decent life, but he has a false sense of security in his ability to keep his prostitution and his real life separate. Until he becomes involved with John, he never stops to consider how easily his world could fall apart. With the real threat of this happening, Charlie's feelings of regret, embarrassment, and sense of loss comes rushing at him faster than he can process it and he crumbles, fearing all will be lost.John is intriguing from the beginning, surely not Charlie's typical trick. He's charming, sweet, and a little shy. Instead of being put off by John's inexperience, Charlie finds it endearing. They evoke a myriad of feelings, which neither understands. There's a pervading feeling that there is a lot more to John that he's showing. Their relationship seems all too easy, especially since John wants Charlie to pretend to be his boyfriend, but, considering their business arrangement, both men enjoy the feeling more than they should; they find themselves confiding in each other far more than is necessary. As John's secrets unravel, things become emotionally and logistically complicated. There's a great deal of angst between John and Charlie and the situation quickly spirals out of control, neither man knowing exactly what to do with his feelings, but acknowledging that, regardless of how they became involved, they are in deeper than either of them had anticipated.The good prostitute/rich businessman scenario may remind you of the movie 'Pretty Woman', but believe me, that's where the similarity ends. Charlie and John are complex, multi-layered characters, both living a double life, fighting between what they want and what they need. John wants to be out of the closet and free from the responsibilities he's been forced to take on. He wants someone to love him for himself and not just the power and wealth that go along with his name. Charlie, whose real name is David, wants to graduate from college, get a decent job, and have the sacrifices his mother made for him worth something. He also wants someone to love him for himself. Even though they seem worlds apart status-wise, their hearts want the same thing.I recommend this story to those who enjoy a grittier, out of the ordinary love story with angst, intrigue, and, of course, steamy sex. Thanks, J.P., I truly enjoyed meeting John and David and following them on their complex, emotional journey. Originally published at Rainbow Book Review.