Johnny Demos knows he must leave behind his close-knit family and their small-town Greek restaurant if he wants to pursue his dream of becoming an actor in New York. With the passing of his Greek-immigrant grandfather, the weight of family responsibility looms heavier than ever.
Just as the future of the restaurant threatens to pull him back, a surprising family connection lands Johnny a dream role opposite his Hollywood idol—his one chance to break into the movies. But a sudden tragedy forces Johnny to confront a life-altering decision—one that will define who he truly is and what he values most.
American Gyro is a modern reimagining of the American Dream, once embodied by Johnny’s grandfather, and now left for Johnny to redefine on his own terms.
“In this warm, bighearted novel, Jim Zervanos offers us an irresistible coming-of-age story about the bonds of family, the pull of home, and the power of art. It’s humane and hopeful and just the book I needed right now—I expect many readers will feel the same way.”
—Elise Juska, author of Reunion
“Johnny Demos, with his show-biz name and movie-star looks, thinks New York is calling with his big break and he’ll never again have to see that ever-rotating cylinder of gyro meat in his family’s small-town Greek restaurant outside of Philadelphia. This good-hearted young man is about to learn that the gyro sandwich comes with a side of fries, dutiful obligation, self-doubt, an uncle’s mild sabotage, and a two-for-one special of frequently hilarious guilt—in this rollicking family tale by Jim Zervanos.”
—Wilton Barnhardt, author of Lookaway, Lookaway
“Jim Zervanos’s spin on the ingenue-with-a-dream story is funny and smart, full of unforgettable characters you can’t help but root for. Johnny Demos, the engaging hero of American Gyro is a sensitive dreamer, brimming with an unspoiled optimism for the future and a charming starstruck sense of awe about the movie world he enters. Zervanos’s portrait of this young man navigating his own desire to make it big while also staying faithful to his Greek family’s roots is warm and genuine, at times heartbreaking and always honest. Like the sandwich in its name, American Gyro is as satisfying as it gets.”
—John Fried, author of The MaRTin ChRoniCLes
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