ðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk tˈaɪmz kˈɔːld ðə nˈɑːvəl "ðə mˈoʊst mˈuːvɪŋ, mˌɑːnjuːmˈɛntəl lˈʌv stˈoːɹi ˈɛvɚ ɹˈɪʔn̩ ɐbˌaʊt ɡˈeɪ lˈaɪf."
The New York Times called the novel "the most moving, monumental love story ever written about gay life."