My Wife, The Worm: Not Your Average Romance

by Matt Shaw

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," they say. Until my wife passed away from cancer, i never really believed this saying. I thought it was made up by someone who had an ugly partner. A way of making themselves feel better about being married to a dog. But when my wife came back to me, reincarnated as a worm, I realised there was some truth to the saying after all. This is our story.

A bizarro romance from the twisted mind behind UniPorn, Fisting Rex and Nugget.

Genres: Horror, Romance, Fiction

28 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2023

About the author

Biography

MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.


Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.

Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a very strange story. Sweet in its own unique way, but also very sad. Themes like grief and acceptance are tough to balance but this did it well. Like who would have thought a man loving a worm would work? Well, it’s a lot deeper than that, but the general premise remains. Matt Shaw continues to amaze me with his creativity. This would have been a much more impactful experience if we got some additional time with our lead characters. However, still good as is. Does anybody remember Earthworm Jim? Yeah, been awhile. Fun game. Wonder why he isn’t a thing anymore? Oh well…

[Urtė Caspo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taip, aš šūdus skaitau, bet šitas literatūrinis mėšlas buvo ne tik gerai parašytas, bet ir originalus. Badykit mane šakėm, užmėtykit akmenimis, bet vyro ir jo mirusios žmonos, kuri po reinkarnacijos tapo slieku meilės istorija buvo geresnė už Džeko ir Rouzės bei jų skęstančios geldos.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This came up on kindle unlimited and since it’s Matt you would think, this is going to be a wild ride. It was a wild ride and nothing like I’ve seen before. What an endearing story about a worm.

I’m sorry in advance for feeding my lizard worms. I’m going to tell him all about this book.

[Unfortunate Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really had to live react to this book in the group chat because I could not have ever expected where this was going.

This was…dark? Mans wife dies of cancer, comes back as a worm…is EATEN BY A BIRD, comes back as a spider and he crushes her. With thoughts of inappropriate worm usage someplace in there.

But like also, it was written pretty well? I don’t know o need to regroup.

[John The Crippledgimp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright I went into this blind cuz it showed up on my kindle and I was like alright I'll dig into this thinking that it is Matt Shaw so I thought that "Not Your Average Romance" probably meant that some fucked up shit was gonna happen. But I was surprised because what I got was a very weird, emotionally heartfelt read about would you love me if. Well played Matt Shaw well played.

[Biblio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excuse me what 😭😭 why was this so cute and heartwarming and silly and sweet?! This made me tear up. I’m laughing at myself because why did I love this so much. Such a sweet silly tale of reincarnation and loving one no matter the forms they may take. This was precious. I will be asking my husband extra if he would love me still if I was a worm extra for this author.

[baraa]

“would you love me if I was a worm? 🥺🥺” HELL NO GET AWAY FROM ME

[clumsyplankton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a few Matt shaw books and this isn’t like a lot of them. I do find it funny cause it explores that question of ‘would you still love me if I was a worm’ which is something even I ask at times 😂

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bizarre. Absolutely bizarre and wild.

A rollercoaster from start to finish. I experienced every emotion possible while reading this short novel.

That ending!?? I'm sorry sir what? Why was it so brutal?

Please, everyone just take 15 minutes of your day to read this.

[April Wheeler]

DNF. like I don't want serious and this was a little too serious in the beginning.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘So if your partner came back to life as a worm, you’d what? You would leave them out in the dirt? You know, I actually feel sorry for you. For all of you. The fact I loved my wife so much I could love her in this form too… That’s real love.’

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Wife, the Worm
Matt Shaw

This little story answers the age old question asked by girlfriends everywhere: Would you love me if I was a worm? In this man’s case, yes, he would still love his wife. When I saw a friend review this I had to pick it up and I was not disappointed. Surprisingly sweet with more than a touch of weird this is worth the 20ish minutes it takes to read. What I wasn’t expecting was to cry by the end of it.

‘I don’t want anyone else. Whatever shape you take… No matter what… I would always want you to come home to me.’

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet story that explores the age old question “would you love me if I was a ____?” This story begins with a man having a dinner date with his wife who’d been reincarnated in the body of a worm. There’s some theorizing regarding how reincarnation works and more about how intimacy between a man and a worm would work. It is both heartbreaking and totally weird. I loved this.

[stephreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

not your average romance

This was cute, completely different and not what I was expecting. My heart actually hurt, not once, not twice, but 3 times. I just can’t imagine. Was a nice, quick read to keep my wheels turning.

[Brianna Bello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen, I’ve read some bizarre books in my life. This one is definitely top 5 bizarre. Main character needs help. I think he was having a psychotic break. He had to have been having a psychotic break. He HAD TO. And the ending of this book? I’m just saying. WEIRD. Good short story BUT SO WEIRD.

[ladybreww · Rating 3 out of 5]

dark and bizarre

Well. Cant say that's what I was expecting but I don't really know what I was expecting picking up a worm romance.

I will say it was heavier than it sounded and has some great dark humor. But what the actual f was that 😂

[Ace✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

What the fuck did I just read. Will I read this ever again? Probably not. But it was enjoyable. Definitely don't think I'll be asking my boyfriend again if he'd still love me if I was a worm. 💀

[The_5ft_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww, this book! A really touching would you love me if story.

[HattieB · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpectedly emotional read about love, loss and how people are judged by others.

[Sherij · Rating 3 out of 5]

So odd....that is all.

[Megs 📚 · Rating 1 out of 5]

what

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I'm giving this four stars, but it earned them.

[Mara Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immaculate. I am thoroughly entertained.

[alyssa . · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever read and I loved every second of it.

[Brycee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t expect this to be sad 😭

[Samantha Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

The answer is yes: he would still love you if you were a worm😭

[LADY BUGG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why was this the cutest weirdest thing Ive ever read!

[Ashley Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun!

[Sharon Leung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost for words

I honestly don't know how Mr Shaw comes up with such stories but this one truly has me at a loss for words. I'm actually struggling on how to describe it. The only word that comes to mind is twisted. A tale of a worm that is wife to a man. The gentleman in my mind clearly depressed and finding it difficult to cope? You are going to have to read for yourselves.. It is a great read and you can't put it down. It grabs your attention and astounds you, that you can't help reading. That's why I gave it 5 stars as it definitely made an impact..

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am in actual emotional distress

[Panda · Rating 1 out of 5]

my review is this low only because im so mad i cried. over a worm. and a spider. the worm death was so preventable. first of all, he had NO chill and got them kicked out to the outside table. Then he just..... leaves her worm self alone? but anyway, i cried a lot while reading this and i hate that i did.