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This Can't Wait
Adam Arthur has built his life on telling love stories. In the final moments before a surgery from which there is no guarantee of waking up, Adam’s mind is filled with the stories of an array of individuals: each one unique, each one connected.
A jaded woman tires of pretending her way toward a perfect match; a wife who, after years of contentment, suspects her husband of unfaithfulness; a young mother wonders at what juncture her life took the wrong track; two lovers find their fate in one another, even if it requires more than one lifetime to fulfill that destiny. These tales and more intertwine in Adam’s memory as he considers the rippling effect of choices made and chances taken.
Told with romantic mystery, urgency, and hope, Luke P. Narlee’s collection of stories captures brief, significant moments in his characters´ lives. These 13 narratives of the heart remind us there are things in life that just can´t wait.
“Luke P. Narlee scores again with this wonderful collection of stories. His relationship dialogue, that is masterfully written in his two full length novels, comes through in “This Can't Wait,” a connected collection of love, romance, and destiny woven into lives that cross countries and time. A delightful, heartwarming read.”-N.M McGregor, author of the Montana Series
A jaded woman tires of pretending her way toward a perfect match; a wife who, after years of contentment, suspects her husband of unfaithfulness; a young mother wonders at what juncture her life took the wrong track; two lovers find their fate in one another, even if it requires more than one lifetime to fulfill that destiny. These tales and more intertwine in Adam’s memory as he considers the rippling effect of choices made and chances taken.
Told with romantic mystery, urgency, and hope, Luke P. Narlee’s collection of stories captures brief, significant moments in his characters´ lives. These 13 narratives of the heart remind us there are things in life that just can´t wait.
“Luke P. Narlee scores again with this wonderful collection of stories. His relationship dialogue, that is masterfully written in his two full length novels, comes through in “This Can't Wait,” a connected collection of love, romance, and destiny woven into lives that cross countries and time. A delightful, heartwarming read.”-N.M McGregor, author of the Montana Series
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
317 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 2018
23 people are currently reading
1534 people want to read
About the author
Luke P. Narlee
3 books161 followersLuke P. Narlee is an American independent author from Baltimore, Maryland whose stories tend to focus on love, relationships, and the human condition; regardless of the genre. His first novel, Guest Bed, is a story about the daily struggles and joys of adulthood, marriage, and raising children with someone, while also serving as an entertaining mystery, full of suspense, twists and romance. His second novel, The Appointment: Lost & Found (Book one) is the start of a dystopian trilogy, which deals with a controlling government and a world that is slowly forgetting how to show emotion, and how sometimes we have to look back at the life experiences that have changed us in the past, in order to become who we need to be today. His latest book, This Can't Wait, works as both a novel and a collection of short stories. It captures a series of touching, heartfelt moments in several characters lives, and what they learn from not only how it affects them, but how it affects those around them.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 27, 2023
After enjoying Luke Narlee’s first two books, I couldn’t wait to get to his third, This Can’t Wait. I went straight to Amazon and bought my copy. What a unique read!
The book begins with Adam Arthur, an 82-year-old man who must undergo surgery to remove a tumor from his brain. The surgery is a risk for his life and another outcome may be losing his sight. Although he’s not necessarily afraid to die, he isn’t sure about how he’ll be able to live without ever seeing the world again. As he awaits surgery, he meets a nurse by chance who takes an interest in him. Adam happens to be one of her favorite authors and she’s read all of his books. They seem to connect fairly quickly and as she comforts him before surgery they chat about life and relationships as Adam reflects on the love of his life.
“I guess it has been a while since I revisited that memory. Sometimes, I’m afraid it will hurt too much. But it would be nice to think about it again. Especially if I were to, well, not make it through today. You know, to be honest, I always planned on writing our story.” His eyes took on a faraway look. “I told her I would…I just never…”
What follows is a series of stories about love, taking chances, trust, and friendship which all connect in one way or another. Each character seems to assimilate something by the end of each story. At first it was hard to connect every story; it was like a pile of puzzle pieces in my brain that I couldn’t quite assemble. Once the story came together in the end, I was able to connect most of the stories. I’ve never read a book like this, and it was refreshing. Not all of the stories pulled me in, but there were a few that had me on the edge of my seat. For a few I had to draw my own conclusions. One I found quite terrifying.
Even though the stories were short, I connected with most of the characters, especially Adam and Aurora. This book definitely makes you think about the decisions we make in life and how there may not be second chances. It’s interesting, emotional, and thought-provoking; in fact, I was thinking about the book all evening after finishing it. It’s written well with strong dialogue—no surprise to me because I’ve enjoyed Luke Narlee’s writing in his previous books. It’s always something to look forward to!
4.5****
The book begins with Adam Arthur, an 82-year-old man who must undergo surgery to remove a tumor from his brain. The surgery is a risk for his life and another outcome may be losing his sight. Although he’s not necessarily afraid to die, he isn’t sure about how he’ll be able to live without ever seeing the world again. As he awaits surgery, he meets a nurse by chance who takes an interest in him. Adam happens to be one of her favorite authors and she’s read all of his books. They seem to connect fairly quickly and as she comforts him before surgery they chat about life and relationships as Adam reflects on the love of his life.
“I guess it has been a while since I revisited that memory. Sometimes, I’m afraid it will hurt too much. But it would be nice to think about it again. Especially if I were to, well, not make it through today. You know, to be honest, I always planned on writing our story.” His eyes took on a faraway look. “I told her I would…I just never…”
What follows is a series of stories about love, taking chances, trust, and friendship which all connect in one way or another. Each character seems to assimilate something by the end of each story. At first it was hard to connect every story; it was like a pile of puzzle pieces in my brain that I couldn’t quite assemble. Once the story came together in the end, I was able to connect most of the stories. I’ve never read a book like this, and it was refreshing. Not all of the stories pulled me in, but there were a few that had me on the edge of my seat. For a few I had to draw my own conclusions. One I found quite terrifying.
Even though the stories were short, I connected with most of the characters, especially Adam and Aurora. This book definitely makes you think about the decisions we make in life and how there may not be second chances. It’s interesting, emotional, and thought-provoking; in fact, I was thinking about the book all evening after finishing it. It’s written well with strong dialogue—no surprise to me because I’ve enjoyed Luke Narlee’s writing in his previous books. It’s always something to look forward to!
4.5****
November 2, 2018
I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars.
"Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary."
—Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society
This quote kept racing through my head while reading Luke Narlee's newest book, This Can't Wait . This is a book about about chance, about taking control of a moment, because you never know when you'll get another one like it.
But mostly, this simply yet beautifully told book is about love—what it's like when it first arrives, what it's like when it's gone, and how desperate so many of us are to find it, in its many different forms. It's not a unique message but it's one that is all too necessary to hear, especially in the chaos of the world around us.
Adam Arthur is an author. (How's that for a tongue-twister?) He tells love stories. And he should know of them, because he and his wife Hadley had the perfect one for many years. Now, as he nears the end of his life, he needs surgery he might not survive, or if he does, he might lose his sight. He's perfectly fine with dying, as he's ready to be reunited with Hadley again, although he worries about his daughter and granddaughter.
"In my opinion, we get more than one chance at living, but we don't always find our soulmate in each given lifetime. Or we do find them, but we don't realize their significance. This lifetime, I did. And I have no doubt that I will find Hadley again in my next life after I've moved on from this one."
The appearance of an unexpected stranger who happens to be one of Adam's biggest fans buoys his confidence as he heads into surgery. She encourages him to share the story of when he and Hadley first met, and tells him to think about all of his stories that remain untold. If he awakens from surgery unable to see, she volunteers to be his scribe, to ensure he at least has one last book in him.
The bulk of this novel are those stories, loosely connected in ways that may take you a few minutes to realize, but never gimmicky. From the story of the man who might have missed his one chance at true happiness during a fleeting bar encounter, to the woman who becomes so convinced her husband has been unfaithful (through flawed but understandable reasoning) that she can't be happy in the here and now, to the woman so tired of meeting Mr. Wrong that she's willing to pay for Mr. Right, but doesn't know what that will mean for her in the end, and my favorite, the story of a couple so destined for each other but it takes a number of lifetimes to get it right.
In a way, this book felt a little like one of those movies that is a compilation of different people's stories, although some of these follow characters through the years. Some of the stories resonated more for me than others, but I enjoyed all of them, and each touched my heart and made me think in some way. All too often we're told not to let chances slip us by, and this book, and these stories demonstrate the consequences of doing so, as well as the beauty that occurs when we seize those chances.
This is Narlee's third book. Each one is very different—his first book, Guest Bed , was a little bit of a romantic thriller, while The Appointment: Lost & Found was a book set in a disturbing vision of the future. With each book, Narlee's storytelling gets stronger, and with this book, he really has hit his stride.
I've said before, I am an unabashed sap, one of those people who cries during emotionally provoking commercials. This Can't Wait didn't quite choke me up, but it did make me think, and made me realize again how much what we read provides us glimpses of the human heart in ways we might not have expected.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
"Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary."
—Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society
This quote kept racing through my head while reading Luke Narlee's newest book, This Can't Wait . This is a book about about chance, about taking control of a moment, because you never know when you'll get another one like it.
But mostly, this simply yet beautifully told book is about love—what it's like when it first arrives, what it's like when it's gone, and how desperate so many of us are to find it, in its many different forms. It's not a unique message but it's one that is all too necessary to hear, especially in the chaos of the world around us.
Adam Arthur is an author. (How's that for a tongue-twister?) He tells love stories. And he should know of them, because he and his wife Hadley had the perfect one for many years. Now, as he nears the end of his life, he needs surgery he might not survive, or if he does, he might lose his sight. He's perfectly fine with dying, as he's ready to be reunited with Hadley again, although he worries about his daughter and granddaughter.
"In my opinion, we get more than one chance at living, but we don't always find our soulmate in each given lifetime. Or we do find them, but we don't realize their significance. This lifetime, I did. And I have no doubt that I will find Hadley again in my next life after I've moved on from this one."
The appearance of an unexpected stranger who happens to be one of Adam's biggest fans buoys his confidence as he heads into surgery. She encourages him to share the story of when he and Hadley first met, and tells him to think about all of his stories that remain untold. If he awakens from surgery unable to see, she volunteers to be his scribe, to ensure he at least has one last book in him.
The bulk of this novel are those stories, loosely connected in ways that may take you a few minutes to realize, but never gimmicky. From the story of the man who might have missed his one chance at true happiness during a fleeting bar encounter, to the woman who becomes so convinced her husband has been unfaithful (through flawed but understandable reasoning) that she can't be happy in the here and now, to the woman so tired of meeting Mr. Wrong that she's willing to pay for Mr. Right, but doesn't know what that will mean for her in the end, and my favorite, the story of a couple so destined for each other but it takes a number of lifetimes to get it right.
In a way, this book felt a little like one of those movies that is a compilation of different people's stories, although some of these follow characters through the years. Some of the stories resonated more for me than others, but I enjoyed all of them, and each touched my heart and made me think in some way. All too often we're told not to let chances slip us by, and this book, and these stories demonstrate the consequences of doing so, as well as the beauty that occurs when we seize those chances.
This is Narlee's third book. Each one is very different—his first book, Guest Bed , was a little bit of a romantic thriller, while The Appointment: Lost & Found was a book set in a disturbing vision of the future. With each book, Narlee's storytelling gets stronger, and with this book, he really has hit his stride.
I've said before, I am an unabashed sap, one of those people who cries during emotionally provoking commercials. This Can't Wait didn't quite choke me up, but it did make me think, and made me realize again how much what we read provides us glimpses of the human heart in ways we might not have expected.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
October 18, 2018
I am not the right audience for this book.
I was incredibly charged with energy from Luke’s debut book, “The Guest Bed”. The writing was intelligent. His characters were multi-dimensional. There was tension, suspense, and fabulous thought provoking dialogue. Highly recommend THAT BOOK!
“This Can’t Wait” ‘wasn’t energizing- and didn’t capture my heart at all. The writing was inferior compared to his first book “The Guest Bed”. The beginning and ending were like a pair of bookends - they matched perfectly but fairly predictable - almost ‘flat’ senseless stories in between —-
I pretty much loathe the entire book. It was much too cheesy for me - too sugary sweet with dull dialogue.
This chick-lit romance novel felt corny. I was embarrassed in parts by the ‘writing’. I never would have published this book.
Luke Narlee is talented - I’ve witness his skill. Not ‘this’ book. I felt like the author might have been trying to write FOR A TYPE OF READER... rather than really write about something HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT. I haven’t the faintest idea what Luke’s purpose was in this story. He’s WAY MORE CAPABLE for complex dialogue for one thing.
Plus.....
I just can’t read books about a woman’s heart that skipped a beat - or Cologne that smelled heavenly- let alone instant love and soulmate connections.
From a white crisp Oxford shirt - to Molly a great Labrador - a pie in the oven- strong arms for comfort for a young lady to lean her body - there was so much cotton candy fluff throughout - I was beginning to get the shakes from sugar overdose.
Sorry..... 1 Star from me on this one.
I was incredibly charged with energy from Luke’s debut book, “The Guest Bed”. The writing was intelligent. His characters were multi-dimensional. There was tension, suspense, and fabulous thought provoking dialogue. Highly recommend THAT BOOK!
“This Can’t Wait” ‘wasn’t energizing- and didn’t capture my heart at all. The writing was inferior compared to his first book “The Guest Bed”. The beginning and ending were like a pair of bookends - they matched perfectly but fairly predictable - almost ‘flat’ senseless stories in between —-
I pretty much loathe the entire book. It was much too cheesy for me - too sugary sweet with dull dialogue.
This chick-lit romance novel felt corny. I was embarrassed in parts by the ‘writing’. I never would have published this book.
Luke Narlee is talented - I’ve witness his skill. Not ‘this’ book. I felt like the author might have been trying to write FOR A TYPE OF READER... rather than really write about something HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT. I haven’t the faintest idea what Luke’s purpose was in this story. He’s WAY MORE CAPABLE for complex dialogue for one thing.
Plus.....
I just can’t read books about a woman’s heart that skipped a beat - or Cologne that smelled heavenly- let alone instant love and soulmate connections.
From a white crisp Oxford shirt - to Molly a great Labrador - a pie in the oven- strong arms for comfort for a young lady to lean her body - there was so much cotton candy fluff throughout - I was beginning to get the shakes from sugar overdose.
Sorry..... 1 Star from me on this one.
October 28, 2018
I loved Luke Narlee’s debut novel, The Guest Bed, so when I found out he has just published a book of short stories, I jumped to download a copy and moved it to the top of my to-read list.
This Can’t Wait is a collection of partially interconnected stories that I found highly enjoyable. Each story is character-driven. Most of the tales involve people with some kind of relationship difficulty trying their best to make the right decisions. In many instances the characters find things are not as bleak or hopeless as first thought and that there are still good people in the world.
The writing is clean and uncluttered. The protagonists are for the most part relatable and likeable. I loved the way Mr. Narlee weaves the lives of several of the characters into multiple stories. At times the believability meter tops the normal range, but I found it easy to overlook that for these shorts. Some of the stories are thought provoking, others are heartwarming; almost all are poignant.
I highly recommend this collection of short stories to anyone looking for an easy, yet emotive read revolving around little life moments and relationships.
This Can’t Wait is a collection of partially interconnected stories that I found highly enjoyable. Each story is character-driven. Most of the tales involve people with some kind of relationship difficulty trying their best to make the right decisions. In many instances the characters find things are not as bleak or hopeless as first thought and that there are still good people in the world.
The writing is clean and uncluttered. The protagonists are for the most part relatable and likeable. I loved the way Mr. Narlee weaves the lives of several of the characters into multiple stories. At times the believability meter tops the normal range, but I found it easy to overlook that for these shorts. Some of the stories are thought provoking, others are heartwarming; almost all are poignant.
I highly recommend this collection of short stories to anyone looking for an easy, yet emotive read revolving around little life moments and relationships.
October 19, 2018
Luke P. Narlee is one of my favourite authors, I read his first two books and couldn't wait for more. His style of writing is inviting to the reader and makes you feel like you are a special guest in his literary world.
This Can't Wait is a wonderful collection of short stories that has something for everyone. Each story has a poignant moment where the reader is left going, "this is so cool."
If you are looking for a book with wonderful tendrils of connection and love in all of its forms, then check out this wonderful collection by Luke
This Can't Wait is a wonderful collection of short stories that has something for everyone. Each story has a poignant moment where the reader is left going, "this is so cool."
If you are looking for a book with wonderful tendrils of connection and love in all of its forms, then check out this wonderful collection by Luke
November 9, 2018
I really enjoyed this novel. It is tenderly written and every line pulses with emotion. The separate storylines were cleverly interwoven. The characters were very well developed for the word count devoted to each. I found it touching and reading it restored my faith in humanity a little. It presents quite an idealistic view of the world and I found that inspiring and uplifting. Old fashioned romance seems to have died out sometimes, but this book was filled with it. It is peppered with brilliant observations about human nature. I hadn't read any of Luke Narlee's novels before but would certainly read more and would recommend this one.
November 8, 2018
The thread and theme of these stories will speak to your heart. I wasn't sure what to expect from a romance novel by a male author, as narrow-minded as that sounds, but I really enjoyed this book!
Mr. Parlee is an exceptional observer of human behavior and a wholehearted lover of love. The stories had depth, realism, and romanticism in equal doses. This Can't Wait was a quick, fun read that was uplifting but not saccharine. There are real problems in marriage and relationships and that was reflected in here, but with a hopeful tone. Highly recommend!
Mr. Parlee is an exceptional observer of human behavior and a wholehearted lover of love. The stories had depth, realism, and romanticism in equal doses. This Can't Wait was a quick, fun read that was uplifting but not saccharine. There are real problems in marriage and relationships and that was reflected in here, but with a hopeful tone. Highly recommend!
November 9, 2018
This collection of intertwined short stories made me, at different times, giggle, gasp, tear up, stare in wonder, and exclaim, "a-HA!" Narlee has written palpable characters and has captured the essence of real-life relationship struggles and situations in these stories connected across time. It's an easy and enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it.
November 25, 2018
Couldn't put it down
Loved the suspense of these romantic stories that all seem to intertwine in the end! Couldn't stop reading it through day or night!
Loved the suspense of these romantic stories that all seem to intertwine in the end! Couldn't stop reading it through day or night!
February 8, 2022
Loved the eerie feeling in Daisy’s story and the Great Gatsby references. I hope to see more work like this story in the future
February 1, 2019
Amazing collection of the romantic stories!
I never read such unique, realistic and various collection of romantic short stories! Each story was different from another one and caught my attention. My favourite stories are The Moment, The Perfect Date, Show and Tell, Recess and Carrie Sue. I so enjoyed reading The Perfect Day among others maybe because I am a romantic person and believe in such dates. I would like to have such date in my life. Carrie Sue showed the true relationships and feelings what every woman feels when experience doubt about love of her husband. I liked it. Recess impressed me in a special way: this story was telling about love among children. This is why I felt so pleasant reading it.
Thank you for this book, it gave me so many positive emotions.
I just wonder only about one thing: are these stories real or fiction? They sounded so close to the reality. 👍
I never read such unique, realistic and various collection of romantic short stories! Each story was different from another one and caught my attention. My favourite stories are The Moment, The Perfect Date, Show and Tell, Recess and Carrie Sue. I so enjoyed reading The Perfect Day among others maybe because I am a romantic person and believe in such dates. I would like to have such date in my life. Carrie Sue showed the true relationships and feelings what every woman feels when experience doubt about love of her husband. I liked it. Recess impressed me in a special way: this story was telling about love among children. This is why I felt so pleasant reading it.
Thank you for this book, it gave me so many positive emotions.
I just wonder only about one thing: are these stories real or fiction? They sounded so close to the reality. 👍
April 4, 2019
This Can't Wait is a collection of interconnected short stories focusing on the power of love and relationships. I really enjoyed this. Each story was heartwarming and showed a different side of falling in love in a way that was unique. My favorite was the couple that continued to find each other in past and future lifetimes, each journey different but important to their overall story.
January 26, 2019
First, I would like to say that I believe this book deserves a 3.5/5 rating, not a simple 3.
Luke P. Narlee’s This Can’t Wait, is for the most part, very well-written. The individual stories (or parts) that make up the novel are, for the majority, very interesting and entertaining. Once again, Narlee writes a book that is thoughtful and worth a read.
While I did enjoy This Can’t Wait, I did find a couple of the stories and parts a bit hard to follow. Unfortunately, I felt that this had a negative effect on the flow of the book. However, in the end, I do think that this book deserves to be read and that many readers will find it enjoyable.
Luke P. Narlee’s This Can’t Wait, is for the most part, very well-written. The individual stories (or parts) that make up the novel are, for the majority, very interesting and entertaining. Once again, Narlee writes a book that is thoughtful and worth a read.
While I did enjoy This Can’t Wait, I did find a couple of the stories and parts a bit hard to follow. Unfortunately, I felt that this had a negative effect on the flow of the book. However, in the end, I do think that this book deserves to be read and that many readers will find it enjoyable.
December 13, 2018
What a satisfying read! The short stories in this collection intertwine as part of a larger, grander story. The characters and stories convey a gamut of relationships and experiences. They are beautiful. They feel beautiful. And they might work their way into your heart.
January 12, 2019
Amazing book
I loved how the characters reconnected throughout the different stories. Will and Azalea's was my favorite. Truly a heartwarming book that also led me to think about the relationships in my own life.
I loved how the characters reconnected throughout the different stories. Will and Azalea's was my favorite. Truly a heartwarming book that also led me to think about the relationships in my own life.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews