FICTION

HEY, JOE by Ben Neihart (Simon & Schuster: $21; 200 pp.). First novels are often character-driven, coming-of-age stories that sink or swim depending on the ability of the protagonist to carry the book. Ben Neihart’s “Hey, Joe” has Joe Keith, a thoroughly likable realistic main character who could hold up many novels without breaking a sweat. The only problem is he can’t quite shoulder his own.

Joe is a 16-year-old New Orleans kid who is cheerfully gay and profoundly sexual. Every human touch brings with it intense sensation, regardless of whether he is actually a participant. As Joe watches some light physical affection between two of his friends “His brain waves bounced against his skull in a kind of dazzling mix of generosity and lonesomeness. Kiss her, he said to himself. Kiss her. Kiss me. Somebody.”

The novel chronicles one night in Joe’s life as he hangs around with various friends and has his first intimate sexual experience. A silly subplot, which is perhaps designed to provide excitement, only makes this hip, raunchy novel seem contrived. It might have been more effective to supply Joe with a higher level of conflict and cut the pyrotechnics altogether. Still, the book is full of promise and fun.