ðə fɹˈʌnt ɹˈʌnɚ wʌzɐ kɹˈɪɾɪkəl ænd kəmˈɜːʃəl səksˈɛs əpˌɑːn ɪts ɹᵻlˈiːs, bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ ðə fˈɜːst bˈʊk ʌv kəntˈɛmpɚɹˌɛɹi ɡˈeɪ fˈɪkʃən tə ɹˈiːtʃ ðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk tˈaɪmz bˈɛst sˈɛlɚ lˈɪst.
The Front Runner was a critical and commercial success upon its release, becoming the first book of contemporary gay fiction to reach the New York Times Best Seller List.