You Had Me at Happy Hour

In this charming contemporary from Janovsky (You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince), sommelier Julien Boire can’t help his attraction to Greg Harlow, the newly hired “muscular mixologist” at his aunt Augustine and uncle Martin’s bar and restaurant in Bethlehem, Pa. Though the men get off to a rocky start, quiet Julien soon becomes a “puzzle” Greg’s “dying to solve,” while Julien is jealous when he sees gregarious Greg give his phone number to a patron. After customers complain about Julien’s “spacey” service and Greg’s boundary-crossing flirtations, Martin insists the men host happy hours together, hoping to force them to cooperate and learn from each other. The scheme works: the men bond when Julien reveals his OCD and Greg explains his own anxiety disorder. They soon act on their mutual desires, forming a “sex pact” to indulge in casual but exclusive hook ups. As their relationship intensifies and the happy hours become a success, Greg feels he’s found a home in Bethlehem. Julien, however, is looking for a ticket out of town. With a “storm of bad timing” threatening their happiness, can the men make it work? Janovsky delivers a salient message about trust and, in the spicy scenes, extols the merits of sex toys. The result goes down as easily as a glass of Sangria. Agent: Samantha Fabien, Root Literary. (July)