A First Review, A Quiet Smile
There’s something surreal about seeing your work reflected back through someone else’s eyes—especially when those eyes are kind.
Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen just received its first reader review, and I’ll admit, I’m still a little stunned. Not because someone read it (though that’s always a gift), but because of what they saw in it:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A beautiful story!
Another great book by Alex Diaz-Granados. The pacing is so good you will not stop reading till the end. The language is ever so lyrical. Every line is constructed in a way that reminds the reader of the great writers of the past: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, etc… You will not put this book down. The whole thing is one big quotable line, vivid descriptions and emotional moments that form a story you will think about for days. Alex writes with a finesse that will inspire you to read all his books. A great read, don’t miss it! I can’t wait to read what he writes next.
To be mentioned in the same breath as Hemingway or Fitzgerald is… well, let’s just say I’m grateful, if a bit bashful. I don’t write to chase comparisons—I write to explore the quiet spaces between people, the moments that don’t always make headlines but shape us all the same.
The whole thing is one big quotable line, vivid descriptions and emotional moments that form a story you will think about for days.
Amazon Customer Review
If you’re new to Comings and Goings, here’s what you’ll find between its pages:
Boston, 1984. A party Jim Garraty never wanted to attend. A girl who didn’t look away. A night stitched together by mixtapes, quiet courage, and the ache of choosing to stay.
Jim isn’t chasing romance—he’s just trying to outrun the noise. But when Kelly Moore enters the room with her drink, her Rachmaninoff references, and her uncanny ability to see without pressing, everything shifts.
Over cassette tapes and Heineken beer, conversations deepen, touch becomes language, and for the first time, intimacy feels less like performance and more like breath.
Comings and Goings is a quietly luminous companion to the Reunion Duology. It’s about music, memory, and the rare kindness of someone meeting you where you are—with patience, humor, and unexpected grace.
This isn’t a story about first love. It’s a story about the first time you didn’t have to explain yourself.
The Kindle edition is available now. The paperback arrives July 1.
If you’ve already read it, thank you for spending time with Jim and Kelly. And if you haven’t yet—maybe this is your sign.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
Comments
6 responses to “‘Comings and Goings’: A First Review, A Quiet Smile”
Congrats, Alex. Great review!
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Thanks, Paul!
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Congratulations! I don’t think reviews can get any better than that!
–Scott
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The enthusiasm is nice.
As a book reviewer, I would have taken a different approach. I was an entertainment reporter in high school and college (among many other beats), so my style is more informative than just an emotional reaction to the book.
(I sincerely hope you decide to read Comings and Goings, Scott!)
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I had to smile at your reply. Despite some unexpected life obligations recently, I’m nearing the end of Reunion: Coda. My experience with that story is what tickles me about your comment.
I’ve mentioned to you previously that my initial reaction was how real it felt. Specifically, though the setting and characters are different from my own existence, many of the thoughts and emotions are very relatable for me. It’s difficult for me to put my finger on, but many of the characters thoughts and actions feel authentically human.
Point being, mine is an emotional reaction. I can’t get away from it, and if I didn’t make it clear previously, I mean that in the best way. I honestly cannot recall the last time characters I was reading about felt like actual people and not ‘characters’. So kudos!
As a result of my emotional reaction, I’ll get to Comings and Goings 😉
–Scott
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And please forgive my typos! Replying on my phone never works for me, or the reader!
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