On The Beach at Poi PU — Don March

This book is On the Beach at Poi Pu, a twisted, sexually bent tale based around four couples and the Ironman Triathlon on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Ironman Triathlon draws three related couples together. Kate and Josh, Kate's participation in the Ironman brings them all to the Big Island. Kate is focused on training, her whole life is training, and Josh is focused on being casual, computers, video games, good drink and good food. Mike and Tammy they live behind a facade of a perfect marriage, Mike is Kate's brother and Mike is a repressed gay and the stress of keeping up that perfect facade has placed Tammy on the brink of emotional collapse. Dan and Allie, Allie is Kate and Mike's aunt, she hungers for the good life always comparing her life to others and everyone's grass is greener. Dan prefers the simple life and despite money problems he makes the trip because Allie demands it. Mallory and Karol, Kate and Mike's parents didn't make the trip, Mallory's health the reason. Mallory is demanding and domineering. Karol is subservient and he is also a repressed gay. We throw in Lisa, Kate's lesbian trainer and Mike's best friend and boss Bob who seems to be gay and isn't. In Hawaii, the three couples' marriages are pushed to the point of disintegration before, during and after the Ironman. One couple is drawn closer, one completely disintegrates, one realizes they are better apart and two new couples emerge on the beach at Poi Pu. Some people might call it a romance novel, some call it escapism; I call it a nice little twisted fantasy.