In 2003 Ford entered a new phase of his career with the release of his first novel for adults. Published by Kensington Books, "Last Summer" centered around the character of Joshua Felling, who escapes to Provincetown for a few days of reflection after discovering that his lover is having an affair and then finds himself caught up in the lives of the people he meets there. The book was an immediate hit, earning rave reviews and comparisons to Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. Publishers Weekly described the book as a "brimful first novel about life, love and self-discovery" and praised the "crisp prose and snappy, contemporary dialogue," while Entertainment Weekly lauded Ford's prose, calling it a "winner" and "addictive." This new book was a huge favorite with fans, and won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Romance Novel.