Missing You in Belmar, NJ

It's the summer of 1987, and Jimmy Hanlon, a closeted bisexual in his late forties, is searching for a new sense of identity in his Jersey Shore hometown after a laryngectomy. In this first installment of a trilogy, Jimmy pins his hopes on a fresh start with a 33-year-old lifeguard. Together, they dive into the summer scene, mingling with the boardwalk's eclectic mix of locals and bar regulars. But when both men fall for the same attractive nurse, tensions rise, and the journey takes a challenging turn. Jimmy's path to redemption is marked by dreams, love—both familial and romantic—prejudice, and the struggle to balance accommodation with empathy. Ultimately, he learns that true victories lie in the small, courageous moments that help us rise above societal and personal biases.