E. Lynn Harris's blend of rich, romanticย ย storytelling and controversial contemporary issues likeย ย race and bisexuality have found an enthusiastic andย ย diverse audience across America. Readers celebrateย ย the arrival in paperback of his second novel,ย ย Just As I Am, which picks up whereย ย Invisible Life left off,ย ย introducing Harris's appealing and authentic characters to aย ย new set of joys, conflicts, and choices. Raymond,ย ย a young black lawyer from the South, struggles toย ย come to terms with his sexuality and with the grimย ย reality of AIDS. Nicole, an aspiringย ย singer/actress, experiences frustration in both her career andย ย in her attempts to find a genuine loveย ย relationship. Both characters share an eclectic group ofย ย friends who challenge them, and the reader, to look atย ย themselves and the world around thern throughย ย different eyes. By portraying Nicole's and Raymond'sย ย joys, as well as their pain, Harris never ceases toย ย remind us that life, like love, is aboutย ย self-acceptance. In this vivid portrait of contemporaryย ย black life, with all its pressures and theย ย complications of bisexuality, AIDS, and racism, Harrisย ย confirms a faith in the power of love -- love of allย ย kinds -- to thrill and to heal, which will warm theย ย hearts of readers everywhere.