That's What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse coming March 3, 2026

 

I was never really a Golden Girls viewer. I have probably seen a few episodes, but nothing has really stuck in my memory. It came out when I was in college and far too jaded for television! But I know the basic gist and I do intend to watch it someday. If this is your first day with the internet, it was a show from the 80s where 4 post-menopausal ladies lived together in Florida to save on rent and hilarity ensued. 

Rouse's delightful novel has the same plot except it's gay men of a certain age in Palm Springs. Both the original recipe girls and this new rendition have hysterical laughs and some surprising depth and sweetness.

Our fellas are Teddy (the acerbic Dorothy stand-in who is facing his own mortality and crabbiness), Barry (the slutty Blanche stand-in who is trying to add meaning to his life by banging young guys until someone from his past makes an appearance), Ron (the sweet Rose stand-in who is taking care of everyone while ignoring his own needs) and Sid (the older Sophia stand-in who is finding his first love ever so late in life). 

They share a house and perform in a Golden Girls tribute show that has made them Palm-Springs-famous. Each of them has a come-to-Jesus storyline that is both funny and meaningful. There isn't a lot that is new here. There is a strong Gunkle vibe which is a big compliment considering how much I loved that book! But the four perspectives, and the well drawn secondary characters made this a delightful read. The history of Palm Springs and the influence of both Hollywood and gay culture is practically a character itself.  

My only complaint is that Rouse seems to keep most of the fellas at arms length until nearly 3/4 of the way through the book when their different struggles become more clear. It makes sense in the big picture - he explains how a certain amount of artifice was necessary for self-preservation for gay men in the 1900s (yikes!)  but I would have liked to have loved them the whole way through and they are charming enough that I think I could have. 

Still, it is a delightful story of love, found family, healing and survival.