This week ABC has been promoting a somewhat scandalous storyline on “The Bachelorette,” in which two of the contestants confess to having fallen in love with each other. Imagine my surprise at seeing the plot of my 2014 book Husband Material playing out on the small screen.
Here’s what didn’t surprise me: that people found the idea of two straight guys, especially the hotties they cast on shows like “The Bachelorette,” getting handsy in the shower. I thought it was hot, which is why I wrote a novel about it. But it’s nice to know that other people shared my interest.
What did surprise me, though, is that ABC is using this storyline as a promo for this week’s episode. There are commercials teasing it, and the show’s Facebook page links to cheeky articles with titles like “Brokeback Bachelors.” Sure there are a cranky few who scold the network for turning a family show into something prurient (I’m not kidding–people have actually written this and then unironically clicked “Comment”), but by and large, in this ever-more-equal society, the reaction among viewers is that this bachelors-in-love thing is pretty hot.
I agree.
When I wrote Husband Material, I wanted to explore what it would take for a straight guy to fall in love with another man while the whole country watched their every move. It was great fun figuring out how Riley and Asher would find their way to each other. At least they have the help of producer Kaitlyn (the irony–this season’s bachelorette has the same name!) who tries to clear the way for them.
Some people think that the two bachelors on “The Bachelorette” made up this love story just to push people’s buttons and get attention. Which makes me wonder: have these guys been reading my book too?