A first look at Stephen McCauley’s new novel: middle-aged sex, guncle energy & real estate size queens
old gay. And while you might not always feel lucky standing in front of a full-length mirror examining sagging buttocks or line-furrowed brow, author Stephen McCauley will likely tell you differently.
Since 1987’s The Object of My Affection (adapted into the 1998 film starring Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston), the best-selling author has lured readers with gay protagonists who muddle their way through relationships amid a shifting cultural landscape.
Throughout the decades, McCauley has drawn from his lived experiences to craft humorous queer narratives dappled with melancholy like sun spots on a balding forehead.It’s been 25 years since “The Object of My Affection”, based on the 1987 debut novel by Stephen McCauley, opened in theaters.McCauley’s latest book, You Only Call When You’re In Trouble (Henry Holt & Co., January 9, 2024), reveals a host of complex characters, the generational divide that comes with facing the final chapter of one’s career, and the questionable value of monogamy.Tom, a modestly successful architect, wonders if he can manage to stave off new incoming demands from his family long enough to get his masterpiece — a tiny house for an absurdly wealthy and equally difficult client — built.
Amid the professional tumult, his niece faces Title IX allegations that threaten her university job, his boyfriend bolts, and his eccentric sister opens a retreat center with a domineering business partner.
