I don’t normally love short stories or novelettes (whatever this is technically considered), and I didn’t even really know what this was about when I started it, but this was SO GOOD, and I loved it!

Seriously, the writing was fantastic, kind of beautiful and eloquent but also funny here and there. And it all flowed seamlessly.

The audiobook narration by Tim Gilbert was equally fantastic, so natural-sounding with all the right emotion, and for me as an American, listening to a British narrator was much better than trying and failing to imagine a decent accent in my head. It gave the story an authenticity that it wouldn’t have quite had if I had read it the normal way.

The characterization for all the characters was so good that I felt like I knew each character within mere minutes of meeting them. I liked both David and Lowry, and I immediately felt for David. He was down-to-earth and real, and he brought a grounded-ness to the story, even when things got weird.

There was an air of creepy, surreal supernaturalness to the story for a bit (that eventually became clearer and not-so-creepy), but also a sweet romance, and also a heavier aspect about David’s troubled youth and how it still haunted him.

The sex scene was a bit odd, but safe and consensual and sexy, and I loved how David was realistic about it and wanted to make it good for Lowry.

I would’ve liked some closure in the ending. A lot was left hanging, and I’d like to know if these characters get a happy ending or not. But I suppose that’s sometimes the nature of short stories.

Overall, this sucked me in, and I loved the writing, the characters, and the story!

*I’ve read this story multiple times. This review was written after my 1st read.*

*Rating: 4.5 Stars // 1st Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*
*Rating: 4.5 Stars // 2nd Read Date: 2021 // Format: Audiobook*