I had to sleep on this review. I knew if I just went straight into writing it after finishing the book that I would sound like an uncontrollable hot mess who lacks the ability to express any sort of rational thought. This. BOOK! This book is solid gold, that's what it is.

The basic premise of the story is that "an elderly funeral home worker, struggling with the loss of his wife, finds an unnatural attraction to a corpse at work resembling his late bride in her younger years. A story of desperation, loneliness, and letting go." And while at 103 pages long, this tiny book is packed with SO much.

The grief and loneliness practically drip off the pages. You really start to feel for and connect with Emmett, our protagonist who has lost his wife of ~50 years. Reading about him and how he goes on with his daily routines as if she's still there or to honor her memory is undeniably heartbreaking. But life was getting to the point for Emmett to make him wonder, "What good are pearly whites if you've got no one to smile for?" *crying eternally*

Lutzke just performed some sort of dark magic on me, I just know it. The multitude of emotions that overcame me while I was invested in Emmett's story came as a huge surprise. And now here I am singing its praises. Everyone just needs to pick this one up and read it ASAP. "This isn't about sex. This is about hating yourself enough to go to extremes. It's about surviving, when all you want to do is wake up dead."

This story is tragic, poetic, and beautiful. This story is sad. This story is dark. "This isn't romance.
This is intimacy. This is coping. And this is needed." And this story is perfect. 5 stars! I just can't stop thinking about this one. This story will mesmerize you. Do it now!