Scan barcode
A review by bookandcoffeeaddict
Storytime by K. Lynn
4.0
In his first attempt to get out of the house and move on with his life after the death of his partner a year ago, author James Murphy decides to volunteer for storytime at his local library. It’s not long before he develops a fascination with the children’s librarian, David, who just happens to be the spitting image of his dead lover. The fascination and attraction is mutual and the two start dating.
Storytime is well-written, but very short and not really in-depth. It’s pretty much just a little window into the very beginning of James’s attempt to jump back into the dating world with David. The two literally meet, flirt, go on two dates and then engage in a little bit of hanky panky.
I was a little uncomfortable as it seemed throughout the story that James viewed David as Paul 2.0 (Paul is his deceased partner). David looks exactly like Paul did when he and James first met 22 years ago. James and David go on their first date to the restaurant where James and Paul had their standing weekly date night (their second date is at the home James and Paul shared). Paul was James’s muse and now he can see David filling that role. And, lastly, James explicitly states that “no one had made him feel this way except Paul”. Now, I know there is going to be some overlap, but it kind of felt like there was some kind of transference going on – I would have loved to see that explored more.
Over all, the story felt a little incomplete to me, I would have really liked to maybe see David and James address some of the problems that arise when dating widower, but I understand that there just wasn’t time for that. Even though I wasn’t completely into this particular short story, I did enjoy the writing and would read the author again.
*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
Storytime is well-written, but very short and not really in-depth. It’s pretty much just a little window into the very beginning of James’s attempt to jump back into the dating world with David. The two literally meet, flirt, go on two dates and then engage in a little bit of hanky panky.
I was a little uncomfortable as it seemed throughout the story that James viewed David as Paul 2.0 (Paul is his deceased partner). David looks exactly like Paul did when he and James first met 22 years ago. James and David go on their first date to the restaurant where James and Paul had their standing weekly date night (their second date is at the home James and Paul shared). Paul was James’s muse and now he can see David filling that role. And, lastly, James explicitly states that “no one had made him feel this way except Paul”. Now, I know there is going to be some overlap, but it kind of felt like there was some kind of transference going on – I would have loved to see that explored more.
Over all, the story felt a little incomplete to me, I would have really liked to maybe see David and James address some of the problems that arise when dating widower, but I understand that there just wasn’t time for that. Even though I wasn’t completely into this particular short story, I did enjoy the writing and would read the author again.
*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.