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Showmance: A Novel Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 106 ratings

"Showmance is ready for the big time....Beguelin crafts a story you never want to end.” —Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Celebrants

A down-on-his-luck Broadway playwright is marooned in rural Illinois in this sharply funny queer rom-com


Noah Adams’s career as a playwright is circling the drain, thanks to a scorching review of his first Broadway musical. So when a family emergency sends him back to his Podunk hometown of Plainview, Illinois, he figures he’ll hide out for a bit. But to Noah’s horror, his agent has secretly arranged for him to stage an amateur version of the career-ruining musical at the local community theater.

As if trying to work with a bunch of artless amateurs wasn’t enough, Noah runs into Luke, the jerk from his high school years, everywhere he goes. Luke somehow grew up to be beloved by everyone in town…and undeniably gorgeous. As rehearsals begin, Noah is surprised by his cast’s insights, the warmth of the town he’d dismissed, and the reality of what happened with Luke all those years ago. Just how much has Noah misjudged?

From the Publisher

A sharply funny queer rom-com from a tony award-nominated playwright. Showmance by Chad Beguelin.
A novel so charming it somehow bursts into song, says Andrew Sean Greer about SHOWMANCE
A story you never want to end. SHOWMANCE sings, says Steven Rowley about SHOWMANCE.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Showmance:

Showmance is the most fun you’ll have off-off-off Broadway! The zingers fly, the romance sizzles, and the dialogue sparkles like the best Dom Perignon. A novel so charming it somehow bursts into song. What more could you want? Patti Lupone? She’s in here too!”
Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Less and Less Is Lost

“No out of town tryouts needed here --
Showmance is ready for the big time. Stage of Fools, the show within the novel, might open and close in one night, but Beguelin crafts a story you never want to end. Showmance sings.”
Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Celebrants

“Peppered with witty one-liners and many musical theater references, this charming, zippy romance hits all the right notes.”
Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

“Truly entertaining...with well-drawn characters and bouncy dialogue... [the] chemistry leads to a happy ending that readers—especially those who catch all the musical references—will grin over.”
—BookPage

“A sweet, romantic and very funny page-turner.”
—Paul Wontorek

About the Author

Chad Beguelin is a six-time Tony Award nominee. His Broadway works include The Prom, Disney’s Aladdin, Elf and The Wedding Singer. Chad also co-wrote the screenplay for The Prom, currently available on Netflix. Chad is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Dramatic Writing Program. He currently lives in Bridgehampton with his husband Tom and their dog, Tucker.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CR9P5TND
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (October 1, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4143 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 106 ratings

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Chad Beguelin
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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
106 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book from start to finish. They found it a fun and heartwarming read with witty humor. The ending left them emotional.

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6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it an enjoyable, engaging read from start to finish. The story is well-crafted and the author's debut novel is appreciated.

"...I loved it from page one. Please do not let this be Chad Beguelin’s only book! Read it!" Read more

"A very enjoyable read!" Read more

"...Truly - must read." Read more

"I really enjoyed this novel. It’s definitely a fun read...." Read more

4 customers mention "Wit"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's wit and heartfelt writing. They find it funny and well-written.

"One of the funniest books I have ever read. I often see the term “laugh out loud funny,” and this book is definitely that! I loved it from page one...." Read more

"Very well written and sweet, enjoyed it." Read more

"...I read this novel in one sitting and thought it was wonderful. The humor was great, and the heartwarming moments made me tear up...." Read more

"Witty and heartfelt, couldn’t put it down..." Read more

3 customers mention "Heartwarming"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the heartwarming moments and humor in the book. They find it witty and heartfelt, with a perfect ending that makes them cry.

"I am still crying at the perfect ending. This morphed from a gay rom-com to a deep understanding of theater and family, and love...." Read more

"...The humor was great, and the heartwarming moments made me tear up. I really hope this author writes more books, I think he is incredibly talented!" Read more

"Witty and heartfelt, couldn’t put it down..." Read more

Witty and heartfelt, couldn’t put it down
5 out of 5 stars
Witty and heartfelt, couldn’t put it down
I really enjoyed this novel. It’s definitely a fun read. I’m not into theater but I found it interesting how the characters evolve along with the fictional musical. The fast paced dialog had me laughing and crying all the way to the end.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2025
    One of the funniest books I have ever read. I often see the term “laugh out loud funny,” and this book is definitely that! I loved it from page one. Please do not let this be Chad Beguelin’s only book! Read it!
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2024
    Very well written and sweet, enjoyed it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2025
    A very enjoyable read!
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    Showmance by Chad Beguelin

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5

    Things I loved:
    *Fallible memories
    *Different communication types
    *Navigating difficult parent relationships
    *Musical references
    *A surprise celebrity cameo
    *Nancy Kay Adams

    This book is a delightful little romcom with serious Sweet Home Alabama vibes. Noah is a down on his luck writer of musicals who visits home after his latest failed musical and father's heart attack. He reunites with his high school nemesis Luke and the local amateur theater company.

    I really loved Noah's growth in his relationship with his father. It's clear they both have very different communication types and misunderstood each other for a long time because of it. With Noah's extended stay at his childhood home, they are able to work through their differences and strengthen their relationship, and its absolutely beautiful to see.

    I loved the fallable memory aspect of this story, too. Noah remembers Luke as one of his biggest bullies in high school and acts accordingly as an adult. Luke remembers high school differently and is hurt by Noah's words and actions when he returns home. I would have loved to see Luke's perspective to be developed more, though.

    A couple of things kept me from giving this book a 4 star rating. The first is that a lot of things seemed a bit too convenient for Noah. When his heart is broken, he has friends who take care of everything. He has a new man lined up right away, and we don't really see any grieving (it mostly happens off page). On that note, I would have loved more development of Luke as a character. Though there were some beautifully intimate moments, their relationship started quickly and felt a bit rushed.

    This book definitely delivers on the comedy; between Noah being an overdramatic grown-up theater kid and his kooky mother, there's no shortage of laughs. If you are a fan of Linda Belcher, you will LOVE Nancy Kay. I loved Noah's dramatic declarations of love to his two female best friends and all the musical references sprinkled throughout the story. The theater group was also full of some huge personalities, and each one made an impact on reviving Noah's failed musical and giving him much needed perspective.

    What I loved about this story definitely outweighs any critiques I have. Any former theater kid is sure to love this little romp. And many will be thrilled with the celebrity cameo at the end!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2024
    I am still crying at the perfect ending. This morphed from a gay rom-com to a deep understanding of theater and family, and love. My brother asked me to call him when I finished. I guess I will have to apologize cause I talked to you all first. Truly - must read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2024
    Noah ends up back in his hometown putting on his failed Broadway show and licking his wounds while life continues to throw challenges his way.

    Usually, you don’t start a review with a negative, but to explain the positive I kind of have to go through the negative first. The blurb is slightly misleading as Noah isn’t “marooned” in his hometown. His agent? Is actually his boyfriend of two years that he is madly in love and lust with. I don’t know about you, but having someone be completely committed to their partner of two years suddenly “fall out of love” and “in love” with someone else in a month’s time…ummm yeah, doesn’t really work for me.

    I think the most difficult part is that Chase is a wonderful partner to Noah. They are truly together. Chase takes excellent care of Noah. Chad Beguelin does an excellent job of selling us this fantastic relationship. I’m not going to say that there isn't a hint or two that Chase could stray, but when they break up Chase tells Noah exactly why. None of that makes what happens justified, BUT you can see the whys of it.

    Now, the quick romance of Luke and Noah doesn’t really make sense on Noah’s part. Luke’s part of the romance makes complete sense, but Noah has never had any romantic feelings for Luke. He actually hates him and for good reason. There are also other landmines regarding Luke and Noah’s own family that hit the pause button on romance.

    What really sells me on this book is everything else. Beguelin brings texture and depth to the secondary cast in Noah’s friends from NYC and Plainview. His language is the same, no matter who he is hanging with and I speak it fluently. (chuckle) I also adore the family dysfunction storyline. It runs parallel to the growth of the musical and to Noah’s own ideas. The musical’s cast is a highlight that cannot be ignored. I don’t even know who to single out because everyone brings value.

    The author ties it all up nicely and then extends it to a true “happily-ever-after”. I think I would have preferred it if they did an epilogue three years in the future with Luke and Noah finally committing. Rushing the romance doesn’t do love justice. Showmance should have focused on one romance and not given such care to the first one if the goal is to write a romance.

    Showmance has lots of humor. I adore Kiara, Melissa, and Nancy Kay. I must also confess that I love my crock pot too Nancy Kay.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
    Fresh off a Broadway catastrophe (sing a few bars of “Changing Lives” from the Prom, why don’t you?), Noah Adams returns to his hometown in the middle of nowhere, Illinois, to lick his wounds and try to put himself back together. His career as a playwright in peril, he ponders his next move only to discover that his agent has arranged for him to put on a local version of the very musical that sank him. His failure on display is one thing, but to make matters worse, he keeps running into the town’s good ole boy and Noah’s former bully, Luke. Luke is handsome and opinionated and Noah finds himself not only re-thinking Plainview, and his oldschool projections of Luke, but possibly himself as well.

    Funny and undeniably charming, Showmance is a sweet, easy read primed for a Hallmark adaptation. I personally am a softie for a small town of quirky characters so this was really perfect for me. Noah’s character was at times frustrating, and some of the storylines felt like they could have been developed deeper, but it’s always nice to read something feel-good. Like going to the theater, it’s a slice of escapism and really all about belonging. They say that life is a stage, and sometimes the best moments happen unexpectedly… So take a deep breath, and get out there.

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