The hometown, the humiliation, the hopeful comeback, the crush that once was, the supportive secondary characters, this book has it all. Phillip doesn't plan on giving Rivers a chance to apologize, but he needs drama so they have to fake date and eventually break up, no problem.
The County Fair Queen by Lance Lansdale is a fun, slightly OTT romance that will make you laugh until you cry and have you questioning your life choices. It will also touch your heart in the most unexpected of ways, ways only this author seems to know.
From the blurb:
It's been fifteen years since former boyband member and wine vineyard heir Phillip Firecracker retreated from the spotlight. Since then, he's been happy enough living out the rest of his days as a recluse, with only his murderous tabby, and unpaid intern -slash- best (only) friend for companionship. When his former band members reunite without Phillip, publicly snubbing him, Phillip vows to upstage them. That's where Nostalgia Nation (America's #17 source for D-list reality TV) comes in.
When production for a seven-episode streaming series sends Phillip back to his hometown to grand marshal the annual Muscadine Madness fair, his career comeback takes a backseat. Now, his only goal is avoiding Mayor Rivers Rivera, the (alleged) man behind a homophobic prank that led to Phillip’s being crowned 2001’s Muscadine Queen. Unfortunately, with Rivers being mayor, number one local talk talk show host, organizer of this year’s fair, and Phillip’s one-man welcome wagon, that’s going to be a bit tricky.
With drama severely lacking, Phillip is given no choice. If he wants this show to be a success, he’s going to have to resort to something tried and true. Like a comeback, everyone loves a love story, even if it’s with the one man Phillip has no desire to associate with. When an old childhood flame begins to crackle, Phillip realizes he’s going to have to make a choice. His comeback, or his mayor.
The County Fair Queen is a single-POV, low-heat, slow burn. Heavy humor. Heavy heart. Slightly unhinged.
SNik's review:
Standalone. Adversarial to lovers. Slight second chance. Single dad. Fake relationship. Very slow burn. Single POV.
Returning to his hometown in hopes of having a slight revival of his former celebrity as a boyband member, Phillip can’t forget the humiliation at the last fair he attended there where he was crowned Muscadine Queen and formed his hatred for the boy he thought was involved. With his best friend/assistant and grumpy cat in tow Phillip struggles to navigate the pushy showrunner that wants drama and the return of the man that killed his long ago crush but now is the Mayor and inexplicably making heart eyes at Phillip.
This story was certainly entertaining, equal parts of scattered craziness that happens and endearing kooky characters. I enjoyed the interactions between Phillip and Rivers even if there isn’t much insight into Rivers’ continued interest in Phillip after not seeing him for 20 years (as we only get Phillip’s POV). Overall, there were funny parts, sweet parts, realistic and unrealistic scenes, and two guys that get an unplanned and certainly unexpected HEA.
Molly Otto's review:
The County Fair Queen is a fun, slightly over the top, and a bit silly in the over the top ridiculousness but in the best of ways. Lance Lansdale has gotten amazing at writing these OTT books and characters and making them fun without too overbearing.
While the single POV can be limiting as you want both sides of the story, I know why it was needed here. Phillip needed to be able to tell his story his way and I enjoyed that part.
While the entire story could seem a bit convoluted from the blurb, in the end, it all comes together to be about home and family and finding yourself along the way.
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