Cheaters

This is probably one of his best work! I’ve read “sister sister” and it was cool BUT this book is something else! Jerome kept me at the edge of my seat from Beginning to end. I connected with characters that didn’t even have a chapter! This was a great summer. Great book

Before reviewing this powerful novel, let me caution potential readers that this book contains very explicit sex and violence, extremely foul language, and explores the gamier side of the club and dating life. If such things offend you, consider another novel.The book's theme is that we are torn between wanting true love (to be loved for ourselves) and our desire to enjoy the maximum pleasure from the opposite sex. This theme is reinforced by childhood experiences, observing family and friends, and following our own emotions in social settings. The book goes on to raise the important question of how we move beyond that to get the mature love that we truly want. A major subtheme looks in a similar way at the nature of friendship. Is a friend someone who makes you feel like you're in charge, or someone you care about and who cares about you?The book develops primarily from the perspectives of Stephan Mitchell, a man who loves to keep a large number of women on the string, and Chante Ellis, who is in love with falling in love . . . and keeps finding herself with exploitive bums. Each of them comes to question their primary way of dating and relating to the opposite sex, their friends, and finding lasting companionship. The book also chronicles the experiences of their married and unmarried friends who struggle with variations on the same issues. It's like a jazz piece that contains many versions of the main melody reconstructed throughout on different instruments. The book's main appeal is that it holds out hope that we can improve ourselves, change our behavior, and acquire the love we want. In essence, we get the love we deserve except from our family. I found it very moving that Mr. Dickey chose some pretty pathetic hedonists as his characters. In the beginning, these are the anti-heroes, but they mature and move towards being loving adults.Now, all of this could come across in a very heavy, moralistic way. But Mr. Dickey has a light touch, and colors his points with careful exaggeration and humor to make the lessons easier to swallow. Stephen Mitchell's last visit to Toyomi's home in Palm Springs and Chante's last date with Michael are both excellent examples of this. The character development in the novel is outstanding. You will feel like you know each character quite well, probably better than their lovers and potential lovers do. Mr. Dickey has an astonishing ear for dialogue. You can feel yourself in almost every scene because the dialogue is so realistic.Having lived in San Bernardino while I was growing up, I especially enjoyed the many descriptions of the towns and freeways around the Inland Empire. I think I even picked up on a few better routes for avoiding traffic.Since the characters are Afro-Americans, some potential readers may want to arbitrarily assign this novel to some sub-genre concerning Afro-American culture. That would be a mistake. It would be like thinking of Romeo and Juliet as a soap opera. R

Let me tell you....this book is on the real! I saw myself, the person I was involved with, people I know, everyone is a mirror in this book. The games people play in relationships are so unnecessary, and this book brings some of those things to light. Along the way, you are brought to laughter when some of the predicaments Stephans' friends get him into, Chantes' girls drama and the parents of the two main characters. Eric Jerome Dickney is definitely an author to keep your interest.

Wow! I thought Friends and Lovers was his best book, but Cheaters is head and shoulders above it! EJD did an excellent job of taking me into the world of Stephan, Darnell, Chante, Tammy, Karen, and Jake. The were all funny, interesting characters who did some crazy (and oftentimes self-destructive) things in their quest for love (and sex - let's not forget the sex!) I love EJD's writing style, and he is at the top of his form in this book. I was engrossed in this book from page one, and pretty much ignored everything and everybody until I finished it. One thing I hate about EJD's books is that, they are so engrossing that you end up finishing them too quickly, and then you're wanting more! But, I haven't read Liar's Game yet, so I have something to look forward to.I'll just say about the outcome of the character's lives in Cheaters: I was VERY happy for how things turned out for Stephan and Chante; I was pleasantly surprised by how things turned out for Darnell (although that part was a bit dramatic and far-fetched); I hope everything worked out just fine for poor Tammy; and I hope Karen and Jake seek professional help RIGHT AWAY! And I like how EJD brings in characters from previous books - I think it's cute. I've been a fan since reading Milk in My Coffee last year (my first EJD book), but just in case you ever happen to read this review, I want to let you know you have a fan for life!

What can I really say besides "I loved this book"? Eric Jerome Dickey never ceases to amaze me. He has a natural talent to write not only believable books but he also makes you laugh in the process. Stephan's character and his problems with some of his women made the book literally a laugh-out-loud riot! I usually read during my train ride into work and back home and I'm sure I had stares several times as I could not stop laughing at some of the stuff Stephan went through. Darnell was also another character that I enjoyed thoroughly and although I'm sure one of his "major" decisions won't settle too well with some people who read the book, I was happy for him in the end. I really could go on and on but I'll just finish with these words...... Buy this book. You'll LOVE it!

Cheaters is the first book by Mr. Dickey which I've read. It's truly a SUPERB piece of work, and I literally can't wait to read everything he has written! Once I started reading this book, I would of never put it down, if it wasn't for those few hours of sleep I needed at night. Even with all the "cheating" going on, I found the main characters to be engaging, easy to relate to, and their situations mesmerizing. The detail in the erotic scenes captivated me; for the simple fact that Mr. Dickey kept it intense & HOTT! That was a refreshing change from other African-American fiction I've read which seemed to be, ummmmmm, devoid of sexual imagery. As if.......... Anyway, in closing, I would just like to thank Mr. Dickey for keeping it funky and also the enjoyable trip he took me on! PLEASE don't make us wait too long to see, CHEATERS, THE MOVIE!