Trying to be someone else never works. No matter how hard you try. And it’s even harder when you’re trying to pass someone else off as a person they fundamentally aren’t. But imagine having to do this to a nation of adoring fans who notice even the slightest discrepancy in their heroes’ mannerisms. It’s a tall order, but when everything’s on the line, sometimes you’ve just got to bite the bullet.
The Problem with Perfect introduces us to Ethan, a TV producer who spends his days working with the illustrious Chase Myles, an obnoxious, self-centred queer personality. Chasing a promotion, Ethan is horrified when Chase disappears abroad just weeks before the famous Pride broadcast that will leave him without a promotion and likely without a job. But there’s a chance as Chase has a twin brother Beau, physically identical but with a glowing personality. As Chase decides to risk it all by passing Beau off as Chase, Ethan notices a connection he never felt before, which could derail his entire plan.
A queer love story in New York between a busy guy and the brother of his fake boyfriend and TV personality? And here’s me wondering why it’s not been done before! But for the first time this story has been told, I’m very glad that Stover has told it because he has done a fantastic job. From the very first page to the closing epilogue, I was hooked on every word, every character development and every hilarious twist and turn in the story of Ethan’s woes throughout. I got through the book very quickly given its 300-page length because I simply couldn’t put it down.
I enjoyed the structure of this book, with 36 relatively short chapters which made it easy to dip in and out and take breaks which I always appreciate in a book, and I think this served its characters very well. It made the book accessible and very clear to see the progression of each individual in every chapter, which is sometimes more difficult to ascertain in longer, more drawn-out chapter styles. It also progressed relatively swiftly, allowing a lot of ground to be covered in the book, which given the complexities of these relationships was definitely a positive.
I also love the representation in this book! Gay men, Bi+ people, Trans+ people, people of colour, people with disabilities and more all sprinkled in not to tick boxes, but to show just how deeply these communities can be connected and the intersectionality between them. To be able to see so many of your own communities meaningfully represented in this way is a rarity and a testament to the time and care that has been taken to craft such a fine addition to the queer literature of the world.
The story was very enjoyable and much funnier than I had imagined it would be, tackling almost every eventuality you could imagine facing if you had to pass a man off as someone else. They weren’t treated as story beats but used for genuine development that came together for our cadre of characters very smoothly (for us at least!) and seeing the lengths to which Ethan is forced to go to in the mild hope that he may be able to get away with his scheme makes for page-turning developments and a pay off at the end that is worth every page proceeding it.
It also makes important arguments about self-care, interpersonal relationships, pinkwashing, LGBTQ+ rights and relationships without them feeling forced. Subtle ways of sliding these conversations in, when the world is filled with constant high-energy debate about issues that aren’t debatable, is very much appreciated and handled with the care and attention they warrant. I could imagine more than a few people’s opinions being altered after reading this story.
The Problem with Perfect is a fun, easy-to-read adventure into the chaotic world of TV production when literally everything is going awry. From the story to the representation, you can feel the care and attention Stover has dedicated to this book and it makes for really enjoyable reading. It’s a satisfying story that would be matched perfectly with a sunny picnic in the park.
Rating: ★★★★☆
The Problem with Perfect (ISBN: 978-1-80436-329-4) was published in 2023. A copy is available to borrow from the LGBTQ+ Lending Library in the LGBTQ+ Lounge
