Andrew & Joey: A Tale of Bali

In his impressive first novel, Jamie James vividly captures the essence of love in the twenty-first century as he tells of an affair in which neither partner is willing to hold on tightly -- or completely let go. "Andrew and Joey" is the story of a gay couple's romance and trial separation, which unfolds through a series of e-mails to each other and an assortment of colorful friends and family.What on earth can a hot-blooded Cajun choreographer and a perpetually unemployed, upper crust, all-American Asian possibly have in common? Absolutely nothing -- except a college alma mater, and fourteen tranquil years of gay marriage in an antique-filled Greenwich Village apartment. But that's about to come to an end now that rising star Joey Breaux has landed a sought-after grant to fund a year of study and dance in Bali-with his reluctant lover in tow.

As Andrew obliviously sets up housekeeping in Bali, Joey plunges into a whirlwind of dance and debauchery, convinced that Andrew will understand and overlook his indiscretions. The trouble is, Joey isn't quite ready to trade his new, young, uninhibited Indonesian lover for steadfast Andrew. Nor is Andrew willing to forgive the shattering betrayal.

The only solution seems to be to separate, figuring that sooner or later, they'll find their way back to each other. . .or find the courage to say goodbye.

From Bali to San Francisco to the New York apartment where it all began, Andrew and Joey pour their hearts out to far-flung confidantes -- even occasionally, to each other. As their electronic messages criss-cross the globe, the two men edge even closer to the surprising truth about the relationship they'd both taken for granted, assuming --perhaps foolishly, perhaps not -- that it would last forever.