John McMillan is 24 and has it all. He lives in Sydney, Australia, has a wife and two sons, and is a successful car salesman. He’s even saving up for his own dealership. However, his perfect life begins to spiral downward when he discovers his wife cheating on him. The stress leads to a heart attack, resulting in a coma. When he wakes up, his life has changed, and not for the better. With no family or job, he ends up on the streets. What becomes of John McMillan? Can he find his way off the streets? Can he get his kids back? And what’s with this sudden physical interest in other men? He’s straight; he can’t be gay. Can he? Read Real Aussies by Jezbon to discover the answers to all these questions.

There’s so much to love about Real Aussies. It’s set in Sydney in the 1970s and 1980s. As I grew up there at that time, I was taken back to my childhood. This is life before the internet and mobile phones. John’s story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. He’s a character that we can all relate to, as he could be the guy you sit next to on the bus every day. While I loved this book, it’s not for everyone. Jezbon tackles issues like homophobia, gay bashing, rape, incest, homelessness, mental illnesses and prostitution. Every issue is relevant to the story and the setting, but may trigger some readers. Real Aussies is for every gay man or ally who wants to experience what it was like growing up in Sydney in those decades. Book two is promised, and I’ll be first in line to buy it. Read this with a box of tissues handy.

Real Aussies: John's Heartbreak by Jezbon is the first book in the Real Aussies series and follows John, a 24-year-old car salesman who is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to purchase the dealership where his career began, believing it will guarantee his family’s future and allow him to surpass his brother. Set in Sydney during the late 70s and early 80s, John navigates the fallout from rash decisions, including his wife’s self-destructive behavior and his unexpected attraction to his male nurse. Surrounded by the vibrant nightlife, music, and chaos of the era, he faces challenges with his identity and battles for custody of his sons. As his family life unravels, including a disastrous trip to Kiama, John finds himself struggling to regain control of his life and future.

Real Aussies: John's Heartbreak by Jezbon impresses with its sharp, authentic writing and a depth that I did not expect going in. We get a good sense of John from the start, but it is when he is smacked with a double-whammy betrayal that we see how, even when John is overwhelmed by a personal tsunami, his devotion as a father remains clear. I love the night scenes, especially the bar escapades that offer a vibrant shift in tone, giving texture to lively atmospheres with detailed descriptions of people, music, and the environment. But it’s when the narrative shifts to a more emotionally intense moment that the writing truly stands out, capturing the weight of fear, regret, and anger with a rawness that feels powerful. This is intelligent, witty, and piercing fiction. Very highly recommended.

Real Aussies: John’s Heartbreak by Jezbon follows John, a man whose life unravels after his wife Susan leaves him, taking their children, Michael and Jason. He discovers Susan’s infidelity, has a violent reaction, and they separate. Over time, John deals with the fallout from his life, including his heart attack, coma, and eventual homelessness. Chris, a supportive friend, helps John recover and search for his sons. The relationship progresses from friendship to something more, and John must decide on the life he wants to live moving forward, worried about the response and impact from those he loves. John continues his journey of acceptance and emotional healing against an era of violent attacks and the stigma and losses from AIDS, all with Chris by his side.

Real Aussies: John’s Heartbreak by Jezbon is a gut-wrenching, tender, and beautifully written ode to masculinity, vulnerability, and chosen family. Far more than a linear coming-out story, it is a complicated emotional journey wrapped in moments of aching realism, where love is messy, bravery is personal, and healing never comes easy. The writing is acerbic where it needs to be and soft when it counts, vacillating between fear and desire with remarkable sensitivity. The author does not sugar coat or brush aside the trauma of homophobia, the dangers of sex work, or the devastation of the AIDS crisis, but rounds it all out with hope and fierce loyalty between characters. Through John and Chris’s presence, readers are given an honest portrayal of what it means to be human, flawed, and trying. This novel lingers—raw, real, and ultimately redemptive.

Real Aussies: John's Heartbreak by Jezbon is an engaging novel with strong LGBTQ themes. Set in the colorful landscapes of late 1970s and early 1980s Sydney, the narrative follows John, a driven and ambitious twenty-four-year-old car salesman. John is about to secure his dream—the dealership that will transform his ordinary life into something extraordinary. But as he navigates through the tumultuous waters of ambition, a heartbreaking rift with his wife and unexpected feelings for his male nurse pull him into a whirlwind of confusion and desire. A trip to Kiama further complicates things for him. His life is quickly falling apart as he is drawn into a world of nightclubs, drag queens, and drugs. As John struggles with questions about his identity and sexuality, he must fight for the custody of his two children. Or will he lose his family in the quest to find himself?

Real Aussies is an emotional rollercoaster with lovable, fully drawn characters. John is depicted as ambitious, perhaps from the side of his dreams. But he is a broken man, deeply flawed, and dealing with multiple issues. He grabs readers' interest from the start, and they want to see the outcome of his struggles. Relationships are complex in this story, and the author offers a compelling portrait of John’s family dynamics. Jezbon writes in gorgeous prose, punctuating the vivid scenes with sparkling dialogue. The book explores family, sexuality, self-discovery, and a man’s struggle to redefine himself. This novel is well-paced, balanced, and deftly written. From the settings to the intense emotional conflict, from the memorable characters to the crisp prose, there is much to enjoy in this tale of heartbreak and self-discovery.