When a Reader Sees What You Meant to Say
There are moments in a writer’s life that feel like exhaling after holding your breath for years. Reading Denise Longrie’s review of Comings and Goings was one of those moments.
“The story is not a romance, but rather an enjoyable, insightful journey into empathy and the importance of human connection.”
In that single sentence, Denise captured what I most hoped this story would communicate. Jim and Kelly’s conversation—quiet, non-performative, and deeply human—isn’t about flirtation or clever repartee. It’s about being seen. About recognition amid loneliness. And Denise saw that.
She saw Jim’s discomfort, his tepid beer, his sense of invisibility. She noticed Kelly’s confidence—not as bravado, but as an invitation. She appreciated how music threads through their moment, not just as time-stamp nostalgia, but as emotional texture. Denise didn’t just read the story—she inhabited it.
Denise Longrie, in her review of Comings and Goings
The story is not a romance, but rather an enjoyable, insightful journey into empathy and the importance of human connection.
“Kelly listens and does not push, mock, or judge (other than to call Budweiser ‘horse piss.’)”
A line like that makes me smile—not because it’s colorful, but because it speaks to the kind of sharp tenderness Kelly embodies. Denise understood that nuance. She understood what college often feels like: first-time-away emptiness paired with fleeting chances for real connection. She got it.
To have a reader reflect a story back to you in such clear and thoughtful terms is a gift. I’m grateful, moved, and encouraged. Denise’s review isn’t just kind—it’s illuminating. For any artist wondering whether their work will be understood, this kind of engagement is everything.
Thank you, Denise. You saw Jim. You saw Kelly. And you saw the heart of what I was trying to say.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
Comments
2 responses to “On Writing and Storytelling: When a Reviewer Truly ‘Gets’ My Story: Denise Longrie Reviews ‘Comings and Goings’”
WOW, Alex. I’m pretty much overwhelmed, but I’m glad the review struck a chord.
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I’m grateful and appreciative for every review, but I’m over the moon when I get a writeup from someone who understands my characters and situations clearly.
I especially like how you explain that Comings and Goings is not a romance. That is crucial to a reader’s understanding of Jim Garraty’s larger arc, not just for this story but in the wider world of the Garratyverse. Thanks for that!
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