On Writing and Storytelling: Pooja Gudka’s Insightful Amazon Review of ‘Comings and Goings’

💫 A Quiet Triumph: Pooja Gudka on Comings and Goings

Some reviews don’t just affirm a book’s worth—they illuminate its emotional core. Pooja Gudka’s recent five-star review of Comings and Goings is one such gift. Her words remind us why stories matter, especially those that honor the quiet dignity of connection.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved the book!
Reviewed in Canada on September 18, 2025
Verified Purchase

Alex Diaz-Granados has a real talent for creating characters that feel incredibly realistic. They don’t read like two-dimensional figures on paper—they feel like real people you can connect with.

Both Jim Garraty and Kelly Moore are easy to like and a joy to read about. Their chemistry is wonderful throughout the book. For the moment, at least, they are exactly what the other needs and yearns for.

We’ve read about Jim Garraty’s experiences during high school and after college. But this book focuses on his life right after finishing high school, as he moves to a new place for college. The feelings of loneliness, the whirlwind of change, and the search for identity—these are things many of us go through in that phase of life. Garraty’s character captures it perfectly.

At a party he wasn’t excited to attend, Jim meets Kelly Moore. They instantly feel a connection. As the summary says, it’s not love. And I’d say this book isn’t a romance, at least not to me. It’s more about human connection and meeting the right person at the right time.

Jim finds himself at Kelly’s place, and through deeper conversations, they begin to understand each other. What I found beautiful is how they allow one another to be their authentic selves. Neither feels pressured to be someone else. They connect exactly as they are. I especially appreciated how Kelly was patient with Jim—not leading him, but standing beside him through it all.

Like I said, this book isn’t about love or the kind of connection that makes you want to spend your life with someone. Of course, Jim and Kelly will remember the night they spent together. But they’ll think of it as finding what they needed in that moment to move forward with their lives.

I highly recommend reading Comings and Goings. It’s a fantastic book that I think most readers would enjoy. But I especially recommend reading the Reunion Duology first to fully understand the characters—particularly Jim Garraty.

---

Pooja’s review doesn’t just celebrate the book—it honors its emotional architecture. Her reflections on authenticity, timing, and the grace of being seen resonate deeply with the spirit of the Garratyverse. Thank you, Pooja, for reading with such care and for reminding us that not all connections are meant to last—but some are meant to heal.

If you’ve read Comings and Goings, I’d love to hear what stayed with you. And if you haven’t yet, maybe now’s the time to meet Jim and Kelly—just as they are.

---