Artwork by @peaches.obliously
“Since they met, he understands why Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun needed to dance in the street and kiss in the rain; he understands why Joanna Slayton would ruin her expensive gold dress by jumping from a yacht into the middle of the ocean to reach Dean Proffitt; and he understands the aching desire in Darcy’s chest when he tells Elizabeth she has ‘bewitched him, body and soul’.”
I Vote You, Mr. Mayor is an LGBTQ+ romance comedy that was written to appeal to a broad audience. Luke Cameron-MacIay is an optimistic but naïve young man eagerly starting out in his journalism career. His parents are big in the political sphere of New York City, and his mother has been Mayor for two terms. He tries forging his own path in his own career but finds himself wrapped up in a constant world of politics – more than he intended – when he meets his parents political rival, Duncan Thatcher. Duncan is an attractive, charming older man who opens Luke’s eyes to a part of his identity he has struggled with his whole life.
While he attempts to keep his crisis out of the public’s eye, he secretly continues to pursue Duncan behind his parents back. Throughout their illicit affair, it evokes questions: Could their fling derail the entire campaign? How can someone like Luke find the courage to love themselves enough to admit who they truly are? Is love enough to risk everything for?
Reviews
“It’s hard to describe the joy I felt while reading I Vote You, Mr. Mayor. This book captivated me from the very first page and the moment I dove into the world created by Isabella Renee, I was totally immersed and I couldn’t put it down, even staying up all night just to read on and I ended up completely finishing it within 24 hours. The plot is intricate and perfectly paced and the characters are so beautifully written. I deeply love both Duncan and Luke and they’re both so deep and well developed. Another remarkable aspect is the way that the difficult themes of abuse and internalized homophobia are dealt with. It’s handled with grace and it and leaves a lasting impact. I was certainly thinking about this book long after I finished it. Also the representation was just *chef’s kiss*. I am beyond overjoyed that I was able to read an early copy of this book. It was stunning and beautiful and all in all absolutely perfect. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I can’t wait to reread it as soon as possible!” – Linnea, Goodreads
“This book is wonderful. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed the humor woven throughout. It is such an enjoyable read with self discovery, representation, love, spice, friendship, and an intriguing game of cat and mouse between Luke and Duncan. Luke’s familial relationship will be very relatable one for many as you watch him navigate his potential happiness while simultaneously fearing the disappointment of his parents. Duncan is like a less sadistic Christian Grey which is way more my cup of tea as far as characters go. Their chemistry is undeniable and their journey is one many will enjoy witnessing as it unfolds from page to page. Without giving any spoilers, many of us have been one of these two characters to some degree and I hope you will support this gem.” – Kyle, Goodreads
“Oh my, I loved this book so much! ❤ Luke Cameron-Maclay is the son of the current mayor of New York City Carole Cameron-Maclay. Her term is ending and in a family power move she decides that her husband is going to run for mayor to keep the family in power. During all this Luke meets the handsome older opposing candidate, Duncan Thatcher. As all this tends to go they can’t stay away from each other. But how on earth can they make it work as political rivals?? This was such a good bingeable read. I stayed up late the night I got it and devoured the whole thing. The humor was so sharp and had me constantly laughing out loud. The near constant millennial centric references and insides jokes had me feeling so seen. There’s also a big emphasis here on therapy and talking ABOUT therapy. Every time someone would say they were in therapy they would get a different reaction. So much of this book felt like a love letter to the mental health journey (PLEASE read the author’s note at the beginning as this will make more sense). There are only a few scenes of Luke and his therapist but there was one in particular that I wish I had on my own. The book’s dedication to self-reflection and introspection while also living in a story that made me laugh and cry was really special.” – Devan, Instagram & Goodreads
Well written, charming and filled with love and passion. A true love story! Luke and Duncan captivated me as a reader, their story had me giggling and kicking my feet throughout! The Taylor Swift easter eggs were also very much appreciated 🙂 Another component i must praise the author for is the epilogue!!! Thank you for letting us see how Luke and Duncan grow through the years together as a married couple. 5 stars!! – Idrees, Goodreads
Where to begin? This beautiful book felt like a love letter to Isabella Renee’s own version of New York City – one she is intimately familiar with. I felt like a well-fed tourist, picking up pieces of her experiences along the pages. As a Casey McQuiston fan, I felt their familiar vibe in Isabella’s writing style, which is a huge bonus. Luke is the son of two political mavericks – one the current mayor of New York City and one the candidate to be the next mayor. In a nod to the current NYC situation (in my opinion), Luke’s parents are completely out of sync with New Yorkers and harbor damaging opinions on a myriad of subjects. Duncan is also a mayoral candidate – one that wants to move NYC forward with compassion for all residents. Luke, a recent journalism graduate, gets caught up covering the campaign. There’s an immediate attraction to Duncan, but Luke works very hard to suppress any and all thoughts of possibly being attracted to a man. It took me little while to root for Luke. He was a bit bratty and privileged in the beginning, but then as he evolved, it made perfect sense why he was that way in the beginning of the book. The internalized homophobia, the suppressed memories of his childhood, and how his parents talk about those they feel are “lesser than”, truly painted a picture of a college graduate who was never able to be his authentic self. Through an amazing friendship with Will and the mature, supportive nature of Duncan, Luke blossoms in this book and I was completely on Team Luke. The book ebbed and flowed flawlessly between the ridiculous silliness that is sometimes Luke and Will to the banter between Luke and Duncan, to the tension in Luke’s household, to the tender moments. The epilogue left me in tears. I love a great epilogue. On a non-serious note, any book that mentions Harrison Ford in a positive light (the sexiest man alive), gets 5 stars from me. 😉 – AEKR Reads, Instagram & Goodreads
A fun and romantic journey with Luke Cameron-McClay and Duncan Thatcher. Their chemistry is great. They’re sweet and tender and so in love and I adore their love. And I couldn’t go without mentioning Luke’s best friend, and my absolute favorite person, Will. I loved them from their introduction and through the rest of the book. They’re hilarious and honestly such a mood. This book will forever be special to me. And I love it dearly. – Sky, Goodreads
Isabella Renee 