Boys Come First

By: Aaron Foley

Narrated by: Jelani Alladin

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

This hilarious, touching debut novel by Aaron Foley, author of How to Live in Detroit Without Being a Jackass, follows three Black gay millennial men looking for love, friendship, and professional success in the Motor City.

Suddenly jobless and single after a devastating layoff and a breakup with his cheating ex, advertising copywriter Dominick Gibson flees his life in Hell's Kitchen to try to get back on track in his hometown of Detroit. He’s got one objective—exit the shallow dating pool ASAP and get married by 35—and the deadline’s approaching fast.

Meanwhile, Dom's best friend, Troy Clements, an idealistic teacher who never left Michigan, finds himself at odds with all the men in his life: a troubled boyfriend he's desperate to hold onto, a perpetually dissatisfied father, and his other friend, Remy Patton. Remy, a rags-to-riches real estate agent known as “Mr. Detroit”, has his own problems—namely choosing between making it work with a long-distance lover or settling for a local Mr. Right Now who’s not quite Mr. Right. And when a high-stakes real estate deal threatens to blow up his friendship with Troy, the three men have to figure out how to navigate the pitfalls of friendship and a city that seems to be changing overnight.

Full of unforgettable characters, Boys Come First is about the trials and tribulations of real friendship, but also about the highlights and hiccups—late nights at the wine bar, awkward Grindr hookups, workplace microaggressions, situationships, frenemies, family drama, and of course, the group chat—that define Black, gay, millennial life in today’s Detroit.

©2022 Aaron Foley (P)2022 Audible, Inc.

Loved the Book!

The book was very representative of my own experiences with love and friendship. It definitely made me appreciate the connections, relationships, and bonds that I have with my own close friends and how much of a role they play in our own personal story.

Enjoyment

I really enjoyed this book, it made me feel like I was getting sex in the city, the way I needed it.

Simple and Easy

Great read! Simplicity at its finest. Definitely allows you to visualize every moment of the book.

Chefs Kiss

Amazing book I didn’t know I needed! Can we get a TV show or movie?

Best Book For Black Queer Millennials

Listening to this was like a rollercoaster of emotions. The author put microscope on the black gay Millennial. Each situation the characters went through were very realistic and true to our everyday lives.

A Gay Waiting to Exhale

I loved the performance of the reader. But sometimes it was hard to figure out who was talking when all the boys were in the same scene. And in the beginning I admit I kept forgetting who was who so I had to keep looking at the book info LOL. It def gave waiting to exhale vibes which I ain't mad at. And I do appreciate the gentrification message but it did feel like it over shadowed some of the stories. Or maybe that was the real story?

A Must Read!!!

Being. Black Queer man from the Midwest, this novel spoke to me on multiple levels. The writing style was fresh and really too tule to tell the nuanced stories of modern 30 something’s navigating life and love. It’s a must read

Wonderful story for Black Gay Men

Foley's book is the right combination of real life experience, Black gay popular culture, Detroit love, and humor, brilliantly narrated by Jelani Alladin. I highly recommend!

Heartfelt, Earnest, Necessary

There are only a handful of stories that have made me see myself in such a beautiful and honest light. Boys Come First is a love letter to all the ways that Black, queer men become while we are still becoming. It is a story of love, community, care, loss, and communicates the necessity that is friendship. It is a refreshing take on the experience of being an adult and existing at the intersection of Blackness and queerness in 2022. It is funny and endearing and honest and true. This beautifully told story is the story of so many. You will care about each character and each page will leave you wanting more.

This book is beautiful. Well done.

Amazing!!

Reminded me of my own friendships and life experiences. I need a sequel like today or maybe an tv show