Books like The married man by Edmund White

Austin, an American furniture scholar living in Paris, feels his life drifting as he approaches fifty and faces a loveless existence. One day at a gym he befriends Julien, a younger French architect who is also married. Their accidental meeting turns into a deep romance that transcends the barriers of culture, age, and temperament. The pair experience the bohemian and sophisticated world of Paris through intimate suppers and salons, but their relationship is tested when Julien’s past resurfaces. Determined to preserve their health and happiness, the two men travel together, moving from the quiet squares of Venice to the sun‑lit streets of Key West, through the snowy landscape of Montreal, and into the rainy atmosphere of Providence. Their journey culminates in the harsh sands of the Sahara, where their love faces its ultimate test, forcing them to confront the true limits of devotion and desire.

First publish date: 2000