That’s What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse @authorwaderouse @danielhenningla @jojofro1 @artbrown_vo @georgenewbern @harlequinbooks #ThatsWhatFriendsAreFor

the setup…
Meet the cast members of The Golden Gays, a drag tribute to The Golden Girls television series. Theodore (Teddy) Copeland owns a vintage clothing store and is the flamboyant member of the group; Barry is an aging actor who actually was in the series pilot but his role was cut and his career never gained traction; Ron is a successful interior designer and the son of a preacher who, along with his church, rejected him but he’s still faithful and is the caretaker; and Sid who is a lawyer and was married for 35 years before coming out as a gay man. These four older men are gay and the best of friends, family, who share a pink mid century home in Palm Springs. When Teddy’s estranged sister Trudy suddenly shows up with her teenage granddaughter, life shifts for all of them in unexpected ways.

the heart of the story…
I expected lots of humorous moments but was unprepared for its lushness. Each character is richly layers, all very different from one another but fiercely loyal to their chosen family. Still, all have secrets they have yet to share and somehow Trudy is the catalyst that shakes things loose. Palm Springs is the fifth character, entwined into the souls of these men.

the narration…
Thank goodness there are separate performers for each of these men. Daniel Henning, Joel Leslie, Art Brown & George Newbern gave wonderful voices to their characters and the storytelling was seamless and divine.

the bottom line…
It’s said that everyone wears a mask, designed to cover the secrets and pain that lies beneath and that perfectly fits these four characters. They turn to humor and drag to rise above the years of pain experienced because of society’s rejection of them as gay men. It manifests itself distinctly for each of them and I was immersed in their stories. Palm Spring’s history and how intricately it’s tied to the gay community was fascinating to learn. I loved everything.

Book Info

• Release Date: March 3, 2026
• Narrators: Daniel Henning, Joel Leslie, Art Brown & George Newbern
• Audio Length: 10 hours, 34 minutes
• Publisher: Harlequin Audio

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(Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)