A review by merissak
Don't Tell Me the Truth about Love by Dan Rhodes

5.0

Made up of seven stories, each carefully crafted and beautifully written, i was left in awe upon completing each chapter. And this glorious book provided 7 rounds of those feeling.

A bit of context - i’ve been devouring this book on a campsite on the beach, enjoyed with a (few) cup of coffee(s) in the morning until i finished the final lines around a bonfire ; all the while with the sound of waves accompanying each sentence i read. It is perfectly complementary of the setting, and ties up the moments nicely.

This is a beautiful gift from Rhodes, it’s the first of his artwork that i’ve tried. His gift of storytelling and the plot twists/endings are just incredible - for most bits, i didn’t see the coming at all.

His stories are super original : an ambitious architect who found that his youth betrayed him; a guy who faced unrequited love with a celloist deciding he will change himself into a cello to be stroked and loved by her; an old witchlike (but also nymphlike) one-eyed lover who insisted her young lover should have an eyeball removed to match hers; neighbour love rivalry; a beautiful young girl who loves the landfill; an enchanting painting of the perfect most beautiful woman that killed by means of her beauty; and the extent of a wife’s insecurity in her craving for the husband’s love.

Each of them was told in a way that i’ve not had a story told to me before. Simply incredible. Rarely do i rate a book a 5, but this for sure deserves the high rating!