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The life of a small community college can be just as rife with scandal and politics as that of a large university. This is the premise of Gooding's novel. Martin Frey, or Marty, is an English professor who likes to avoid conflicts and keep the watercooler talk to inanities. He enjoys teaching classes and his aloof, quiet life. All that changes when he is asked at a party to keep Kayla Blaze, a young secretary barely half his age, busy because she is turning too many heads.
Unknown to Marty, Kayla has had her eye on him; he reminds her of a TV star she and her friend believe is hot. Kayla is not in the least bit shy nor inhibited, and the two quickly become lovers. Shortly after their tryst begins, the political climate at the college is swept by waves of political correctness, and even Marty can't stay on the sidelines permanently, especially considering his office romance with a much younger woman.
Gooding's writing is solid. He writes in long, winding sentences, which allow him to fully explore his main character's thoughts and motivations. His book falls well within a long line of college professor novels, although it doesn't have the wit and absurdism of Richard Russo's Straight Man nor the sophistication of John Williams' Stoner. However, the story keeps your attention. Overall, it's a good book. The narrative is engaging, not so political as to alienate readers, and the dedicated reader will want to see how things turn out for Marty.