Sadly this book was not for me. I loved the author’s last book because it was so original, but this reminded me very much of Yellowface. I also found all of the characters, including the protagonist entirely unpleasant. I’m afraid I gave up at the 50% mark. I didn’t have sufficient interest in the characters to carry on reading.

This is a fictitious novel about a gay author and and how he came to be famous. The structure of the book is a dual timeline, historical and current, with the former leading towards the latter. It is a story of how success is quite hollow and that despite good intentions it suits those who, like the lead character, are sociopathic and can justify any action in the name of the greater good.

Given the nature of the central character and many of those around him, there is little to be empathic about. That the character was gay is used as a device to highlight how marginalised people can act to rise above bigotry, but not every successful gay needs to be a bigot nor need to be successful to move beyond bigotry. As such the sexual orientation of the character is merely a device and one that was more widely used decades ago. As a sociopath he comes across to others, as well as himself, as being pleasant and well-meaning, but there is something clearly damaged inside. That he moves from success to success over the wreckage he leaves behind, there is always a hope that his past will come back to bite him. That the book is written in the form of a memoir also gives the reader hope that revelations will reach the light of day.

The book concludes as one stage in his life ends and he is free to move forwards again on the back of further success. It is difficult to judge if there was an implicit meaning here or that the author wished to leave things open.

This is a good read, it is clever and sharp and provides an intimate view of that group of authors, but this reader became more and more distanced from the central character and so I am afraid this book is not one for me.

Beautifully vicious, sharp and funny, Blackmore’s latest novel is a real treat. Set amongst the literary set of the mid 20th C gay scene, the main character is deplorable, egotistical, insecure and utterly compelling. The story weaves an immersive tale of ambition, desire and power, all delivered with delicious twists. Highly recommend.

Hugo Hunter is a complex being. He is a writer who fled his home country, and found himself along the ranks of acclaimed writers.
Set in the literary and gay scenes of New York and London, in Objects of Desire, Gore Vidal makes a cameo, the impact of AIDS becomes more pronounced, many literary names and books get their admiration or criticism, and life goes on.
Until the revelations, I found the plot and characterisation fascinating.
In my experience, even if Hugo Hunter had not done what he had done, I would have still enjoyed this book.
As for the writing, especially until Hugo travels, I thought I was reading a memoir! I had to go and double check the blurb to make sure this was not a memoir, I am not joking. It was so vivid, so sassy, so authentic that I would believe HH was a real person (knowing some but perhaps not enough information about Vidal added to that effect, but it is mainly down to Blackmore’s exquisite writing).
I have more to say on this novel, and will add them to my reviews on other platforms.
The bottom line is; this was a compelling and complex, witty and smart, subtle and meta novel with amazing commentary and locations.

Some in-jokes:
Have you loved him, Hugo Hunter?
They are inviting you to Iceland, Hugo.
This is your last chance, Hugo.

Neil Blackmore’s *Objects of Desire* is a sharp, darkly funny, and utterly compelling novel that dives into the mid-20th-century gay literary scene with biting wit and unflinching honesty. The book pulls back the curtain on the ambitions, betrayals, and egos of writers seeking both artistic greatness and personal validation. Blackmore’s prose is razor-sharp, making every scene crackle with tension and sardonic humor, while also exploring the deeper complexities of desire, power, and identity. What I loved most about this novel was how it balanced its acerbic tone with genuine emotional depth.

Hugo Hunter is a literary legend, a celebrated gay novelist who once moved among the greats—Truman Capote, James Baldwin, and Gore Vidal.

His masterpieces secured him a place in history, and for decades he basked in fame, excess and the company of New York’s cultural elite. But as the 1980s dawn and AIDS casts its long shadow, Hugo is out of money and out of time.

Then comes an offer too good to refuse: two million dollars for a memoir and a brand-new book.

There’s just one problem. Hugo Hunter is a fraud.

His two acclaimed novels? Stolen.

Now, faced with his greatest deception yet, he must find a way to produce a third. As he navigates the treacherous world of publishing, clinging to his legacy with a mix of desperation and audacity, the question looms—how far will he go to maintain the lie?

A wickedly sharp novel exploring:

📜The price of success – Fame, fraud and self-destruction in the literary world

📜A dazzling yet dangerous scene – The 20th-century cultural elite at its peak

📜Dark humour and gripping drama – A tale of ambition, betrayal and reinvention

Brilliantly vicious and utterly compelling, this is a razor-sharp satire on art, ego and the cost of genius. With a story that spans decades and a cast of unforgettable characters, it’s a must-read for fans of dark, intelligent fiction.