The Beauty of Sadness: a Novella

by Joshua Paul Greene

Jake Barnes is a seasonal wildland fire fighter, an avid reader, and a lover of old, simple things. He also lives in the only apartment with a balcony on Main Street. One day in the high summer, with his balcony doors open and an old jazz record playing, he hears a shriek from the street below. As he comes to the aid of four-year-old Nico, Jake meets the boy's mother, Chase. What follows is a star-crossed love story that seems doomed to end before it even really begins, until a near-death experience while working a fire in Canada draws into question some of Jake's long-held priorities and desires. This is a story of good chemistry and bad timing; of friendships that help us see what we are unable to see for ourselves; and of the quiet persistence of love against all odds. Concise, yet breathtakingly vivid, this short novel packs adventure, grief, loss, and beauty into a tale you won't soon forget.

128 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2024

About the author

J. P. Greene is an American novelist, poet, and short story writer. His perspectives on love and relationships, his palpable adoration of the wilderness, and his lyrical poetry and prose have captured the attention and affection of readers around the world.

He currently lives at the base of the beautiful Colorado mountains with his small band of nature-loving children.

Reviews

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently had the pleasure of reading ‘The Beauty Of Sadness’ by J.P. Green, and what a delightful novella it turned out to be! With just 113 pages, Green weaves a compelling love story that is both poignant and captivating. Despite the odds stacked against them from the outset, the protagonists’ love blossoms into something truly beautiful.

Green’s meticulous attention to detail is evident throughout the narrative, immersing readers in every moment. The book is a genuine page-turner, making it difficult to set aside once started. Personally, I found it particularly resonant as it echoed aspects of my own love story with my husband, making it all the more meaningful to me.

For those who appreciate a well-crafted romance filled with intricate descriptions and heartfelt emotions, I wholeheartedly recommend ‘The Beauty Of Sadness.’ It’s a must-read for romantic souls seeking a captivating love story.

[Francesco Mastrangelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just finished reading “The Beauty of Sadness” by J.P. Greene, and I had to hop on here to give my thoughts. An effortless read from beginning to end! I was so captivated by the story, I dared not even move a muscle and made my way through it all in one sitting. What can I say, I absolutely loved it! A pleasure and delight to read! Greene stays true to his style of writing with moments of poetic, philosophical, sensual, and comedic brilliance. The kind which linger in your head and leave you smiling for long after you put the book down. The depth and charm of his characters will win you over. There is romance, drama, playful banter, basically all the right ingredients to make you fall in love and keep you reading until the end. I expected nothing short of stunning, and boy did Greene deliver! A feel good story that can be picked up and cherished again and again!

[Catherine Cheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, wild, and romantic.
If you follow JP Greene on Instagram, this work is very consistent with his direct, honest, and real writing (and being) style. It's short, and yet packs so much imagery, emotion, and relationship dynamic in so few pages.
If you appreciate stories that paint vivid settings and evoke stark emotions with the fewest poignant prose and dialogue, this novella is for you.
Small town, mountains, nature, and cars...humans in their intersecting tumultuous states... _The Beauty of Sadness_ is a great example of how fiction fosters empathy and understanding. Can be read in one sitting, and then considered for days afterward. Emotional baggage, assumptions we take for granted, adapting to change and lack of control--highly engaging and stimulating!
Spice is mild in this novella.
Check out JP's poetry on Instagram for more spicy words.
Looking forward to following JP closely hereafter!

[Maria Rosenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give 6 stars, I would. This was a fantastic read from the first page to the last, and not only did it leave me aching for summer, it had me oooooh–ing and aaaaw-ing all the way through. Green has an incredible eye for the smallest yet most relatable details, and I've rarely seen such vivid and captivating writing.

Also: Chemistry is A THING in this novella! If you thought one couldn't establish a compelling, endearing and plausible relationship between two characters in only 113 pages, you thought wrong.

I'm going to read this again come summer, with the windows wide open to the breeze and a glass of wine next to me.

[Stefanie Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a Hemingway-like simplicity with depth way of words in this book. You can't help but love Jake and his love and yearning for the slow-paced, authentic life--and his love and yearning for Chase and her son, Nico. Without the need for crazy plots or equally crazy twists, somehow, you find yourself believing in love at first sight with Jake and Chase. It's a story that just allows you to savor the process of falling in love--along with the risks it asks you to take. It's a novella, but I wish time would stand still reading this book. This book has a permanent place in my backpack; you never know when you need to escape the fast-paced, crazy world we live in.

[Kia (kiastillreadsandwrites) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an eARC of this beautiful novella, and I loved it. It’s a quick read, but incredibly impactful. The writing itself is beautiful and the characters are so real and human in everything they do and say. There are moments so perfect it makes you ache to read them, and others you almost (but not quite) can’t stand to read because you don’t want to feel any pain. It’s a love story, and like all the best, it hurts and heals your heart to read it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a sad and nice short story.

[Sandy Peaches · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such beautiful, descriptive words to throw you right into the story as if you’re watching from the shadows. A wholesome little tale.

[Megan Kostowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a quick but captivating read; I could use similar words to describe Jake and Chase's connection. A whirlwind romance that has you hungry for every next word on the page, until you reach the end of this novella before even realizing it. I caught myself holding my breath several times, feeling the anticipation written into their "will they, won't they" story, invested in these characters lives in just tens of pages. Greene has a way of placing you right into this world with his vivid descriptions of absolutely everything, right down to the wooden buttons on Jake's shirt. The "perfectly perfect" mix of new love, old scars, and how the two can (and sometimes must) intertwine to create something beautiful unexpectedly.

[Nina Rosenquest · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and engaging read with beautiful imagery and warm characters who leave you wanting to know them better.