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The Midnight Man
Stanley is almost fifty. He hates his job, has an overbearing mother, and is in a failed relationship. Then he meets Asher, the man of his dreams, literally in his dreams.
Asher is young, captivating, and confident about his future—everything Stanley is not. So, Asher gives Stan a gift. The chance to be an extra five years younger each time they meet.
Some of their adventures are whimsical. A few are challenging. Others are totally surreal. All are designed to bring Stan closer to the moment his joyful childhood turned to tears.
But when they fall in love, Stan knows he can’t live in Asher’s dreamworld. Yet he is haunted by Asher’s invitation to “slip into eternal sleep.”
*Winner of the 2021 Gay Scribe Award in the Fantasy Category
*First Place in the LGBT Catergory of the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice Awards
Asher is young, captivating, and confident about his future—everything Stanley is not. So, Asher gives Stan a gift. The chance to be an extra five years younger each time they meet.
Some of their adventures are whimsical. A few are challenging. Others are totally surreal. All are designed to bring Stan closer to the moment his joyful childhood turned to tears.
But when they fall in love, Stan knows he can’t live in Asher’s dreamworld. Yet he is haunted by Asher’s invitation to “slip into eternal sleep.”
*Winner of the 2021 Gay Scribe Award in the Fantasy Category
*First Place in the LGBT Catergory of the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice Awards
ebook
First published August 30, 2022
9 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Klehr
21 books150 followersKevin lives with his husband, Warren, in their humble apartment (affectionately named Sabrina), in Australia’s own ‘Emerald City,’ Sydney.
His tall tales explore unrequited love in the theatre district of the Afterlife, romance between a dreamer and a realist, and a dystopian city addicted to social media.
His first novel, Drama Queens with Love Scenes, spawned a secondary character named Guy. Many readers argue that Guy, the insecure gay angel, is the star of the Actors and Angels book series. His popularity surprised the author. The third in this series, Drama Queens and Devilish Schemes, scored a Rainbow Award (judged by fans of queer fiction) for Best Gay Alternative Universe/Reality novel.
His novel, The Midnight Man, scored first place in the LGBT category of the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice Awards, as well as winning the Fantasy category of the 2021 Gay Scribe Awards.
So, with his fictional guardian angel guiding him, Kevin hopes to bring more whimsical tales of love, life and friendship to his readers.
His tall tales explore unrequited love in the theatre district of the Afterlife, romance between a dreamer and a realist, and a dystopian city addicted to social media.
His first novel, Drama Queens with Love Scenes, spawned a secondary character named Guy. Many readers argue that Guy, the insecure gay angel, is the star of the Actors and Angels book series. His popularity surprised the author. The third in this series, Drama Queens and Devilish Schemes, scored a Rainbow Award (judged by fans of queer fiction) for Best Gay Alternative Universe/Reality novel.
His novel, The Midnight Man, scored first place in the LGBT category of the Paranormal Romance Guild's Reviewer's Choice Awards, as well as winning the Fantasy category of the 2021 Gay Scribe Awards.
So, with his fictional guardian angel guiding him, Kevin hopes to bring more whimsical tales of love, life and friendship to his readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 22, 2021
Stanley is about to turn fifty when he gets a second chance to relearn the lessons that he missed in his life. Every night, when sleep takes over, he wakes up in his dream to join Asher, a young man with a mysterious mission, on a journey that takes them both back to the years that have passed and together they observe the Stanleys who have lived through them.
Stan, who thinks he’s too old for the passion and intensity of young love, suddenly believes in all the possibilities. The kind of life he always dreamed of is now in his reach and the hunger for that life, something he seems to have lost somewhere in his twenties, returns and brings him new realizations and awareness.
The changes that follow the visits from Asher, the Midnightman, are so potent that even Francesco, Stanley’s cheating partner, starts to rethink the path their relationship has taken and while Franky realizes he might still love Stan the same way he had years ago, Stan falls deeper in love with the idea of living a different life where he can experience all the things that he’s still passionate about.
The story was intriguing with beautiful messages of hope, love and second chances, but it wasn't an easy book to read. It starts a bit vague, maybe too slow to grab the full attention of the readers. I had too many questions and not enough answers that I could find in the dream world of Stan and Asher where half of the plot happens.
The fantasy aspect of the book, which once is described as “surreal absurdism” later on in the book, doesn’t have enough world building around it. I wished to know more about all the elements of it. The whys and hows of the midnight men are mostly ignored for the sake of exploring the deeper relationship between Asher and Stanley and I think the book has suffered from this lack of attention to the realm of Midnight men.
The first half of the book takes a bit of effort to go through. There’s a lot to grasp and not enough focus on what is the main message of the story. (but don't give up reading! soldier on!) Once you get used to the flexible POV and hit the halfway mark, suddenly the story picks up and it’s like reading a different book. it becomes less complicated and finally, characters find their footings and their fate becomes important to the readers.
This is a story that stayed in my mind for a while and made me want to sift through its messages. Maybe this one quote from book could summarize my conclusions at the end.
“Make every experience count because each will in the end. Make sure they guide you and land you safely to the other end of your life.”
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Stan, who thinks he’s too old for the passion and intensity of young love, suddenly believes in all the possibilities. The kind of life he always dreamed of is now in his reach and the hunger for that life, something he seems to have lost somewhere in his twenties, returns and brings him new realizations and awareness.
The changes that follow the visits from Asher, the Midnightman, are so potent that even Francesco, Stanley’s cheating partner, starts to rethink the path their relationship has taken and while Franky realizes he might still love Stan the same way he had years ago, Stan falls deeper in love with the idea of living a different life where he can experience all the things that he’s still passionate about.
The story was intriguing with beautiful messages of hope, love and second chances, but it wasn't an easy book to read. It starts a bit vague, maybe too slow to grab the full attention of the readers. I had too many questions and not enough answers that I could find in the dream world of Stan and Asher where half of the plot happens.
The fantasy aspect of the book, which once is described as “surreal absurdism” later on in the book, doesn’t have enough world building around it. I wished to know more about all the elements of it. The whys and hows of the midnight men are mostly ignored for the sake of exploring the deeper relationship between Asher and Stanley and I think the book has suffered from this lack of attention to the realm of Midnight men.
The first half of the book takes a bit of effort to go through. There’s a lot to grasp and not enough focus on what is the main message of the story. (but don't give up reading! soldier on!) Once you get used to the flexible POV and hit the halfway mark, suddenly the story picks up and it’s like reading a different book. it becomes less complicated and finally, characters find their footings and their fate becomes important to the readers.
This is a story that stayed in my mind for a while and made me want to sift through its messages. Maybe this one quote from book could summarize my conclusions at the end.
“Make every experience count because each will in the end. Make sure they guide you and land you safely to the other end of your life.”
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 1, 2021
Klehr has once again created a theatrical-styled world with unique characters. The author's use and choice of words are unlike anything else I've read. It's descriptive, yet dramatic and elevated. It reminds me so much of my early adult theater days.
The blurb truly describes this story to perfection - without giving anyway any delicious details. Stanley's current life status is in question, and he feels like he's failed. That is until he meets Asher in his dreams. We are never told exactly what type of beast Asher is, other than "A Midnight Man." Throughout the book my demon-possessed brain kept trying to figure out...okay, is this thing demonic, like an Incubus? Or is it angelic, and playing the role of guardian angel? I think Klehr did us all a service by keeping us guessing.
Although one of the tale's main concepts is cheating within a relationship, and I do know how many people do not like reading about this, the setup in the tale for this particular event was very realistic. Many couples in real life go through this. Some couples are open. It was an interesting avenue to see how the event was handled between Stanley and Francesco. Even more interesting when one of them is having an affair with a dream entity. Is that truly cheating?
The dream sequences were surreal - as they should have been - occasionally disjointed, again, kinda perfect, and allowed the reader to play around with picturing these story parts with a certain amount of fluidity...again, mimicking the dream state - after all, how many of us regularly have dreams where all the parts are cohesive and make sense? I don't mean to say that Klehr's writing is in any way confusing, so much as he's written bright spots into the novel where you know you're in a dream, and the atmosphere and environment are well reflective of the dreamscape.
I was also so pumped to have gay characters who were mature, and not playing "Daddy" roles. This was an exploration of an established couple's relationship decline. The men were easily identifiable as any members of the community I know around me. It was a brilliant change of pace from the usual young gays falling in love, or teen angst coming out arcs we so often see.
There's a big role here for self-actualization and empowerment. Two qualities that I think most of us struggle with our entire lives. Just when it would seem that we have our identities figured out, and become comfortable within our own skin, your life experience and age always seem to trip that up. Knowing who you are, at any point in life's journey will change. Because you change. I think, in the end, Klehr's story is about exactly this; discovering who we are, recognizing our pasts, discovering where our potential lies and learning what we need from ourselves and others to make us the most we can be - at different points in our lives.
This is an interesting story that led me down a contemplative path.
Kudos once again.
The blurb truly describes this story to perfection - without giving anyway any delicious details. Stanley's current life status is in question, and he feels like he's failed. That is until he meets Asher in his dreams. We are never told exactly what type of beast Asher is, other than "A Midnight Man." Throughout the book my demon-possessed brain kept trying to figure out...okay, is this thing demonic, like an Incubus? Or is it angelic, and playing the role of guardian angel? I think Klehr did us all a service by keeping us guessing.
Although one of the tale's main concepts is cheating within a relationship, and I do know how many people do not like reading about this, the setup in the tale for this particular event was very realistic. Many couples in real life go through this. Some couples are open. It was an interesting avenue to see how the event was handled between Stanley and Francesco. Even more interesting when one of them is having an affair with a dream entity. Is that truly cheating?
The dream sequences were surreal - as they should have been - occasionally disjointed, again, kinda perfect, and allowed the reader to play around with picturing these story parts with a certain amount of fluidity...again, mimicking the dream state - after all, how many of us regularly have dreams where all the parts are cohesive and make sense? I don't mean to say that Klehr's writing is in any way confusing, so much as he's written bright spots into the novel where you know you're in a dream, and the atmosphere and environment are well reflective of the dreamscape.
I was also so pumped to have gay characters who were mature, and not playing "Daddy" roles. This was an exploration of an established couple's relationship decline. The men were easily identifiable as any members of the community I know around me. It was a brilliant change of pace from the usual young gays falling in love, or teen angst coming out arcs we so often see.
There's a big role here for self-actualization and empowerment. Two qualities that I think most of us struggle with our entire lives. Just when it would seem that we have our identities figured out, and become comfortable within our own skin, your life experience and age always seem to trip that up. Knowing who you are, at any point in life's journey will change. Because you change. I think, in the end, Klehr's story is about exactly this; discovering who we are, recognizing our pasts, discovering where our potential lies and learning what we need from ourselves and others to make us the most we can be - at different points in our lives.
This is an interesting story that led me down a contemplative path.
Kudos once again.
September 21, 2021
Stanley isn’t as happy as he expected. He’s nearly fifty and lives with his partner Francesco. They spice up their sex life with thirds, mostly younger ones. He even suspects his partner is cheating. He needs something different.
One night Stanley meets Asher, the Midnight Man, who’s quite the man of his dreams, literally of his very lively dreams. Asher is young and attractive. They talk, they evaluate life, there are many questions and many revelations. There’s nothing superficial between them. Something significant is taking place.
Stanley faces values of all ages, he’s learning, introspective, understanding.
Francesco isn’t happy anymore, he finds himself with someone else than Stanley. Stanley isn’t what Franky thought he would be.
Stanley his life with Asher is a new experience, a world full of metaphors to bring everything in perspective.
Stanley feels younger and younger every time he meets Asher.
Asher has a proposition for Stanley, like a dream, to stay with him forever.
“Come with me, Stanley,” Ash whispered. “Slip with me into eternal sleep.”
It’s getting complicating and weirder when Francesco enters the same realm where Stanley and Asher are. Facing a new Stanley, Francesco wants to win him back.
It’s a complicated story, alternating between different consciousness, the plot is quite intriguing. For the first half of the story, I wasn’t sure about the direction, the second half it got all much clearer.
While I enjoyed the story very, I missed some deeper emotional moments, those where my eyes get blurred or where I get goosebumps, the characters felt a bit at distance, out of reach.
The big picture of this story is about re-evaluating and even relive life, work at blockages who are stand in the way of happiness, find your footing and purpose in life.
The story was consistently written and intriguing, the ending quite suitable for such a journey.
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews
One night Stanley meets Asher, the Midnight Man, who’s quite the man of his dreams, literally of his very lively dreams. Asher is young and attractive. They talk, they evaluate life, there are many questions and many revelations. There’s nothing superficial between them. Something significant is taking place.
Stanley faces values of all ages, he’s learning, introspective, understanding.
Francesco isn’t happy anymore, he finds himself with someone else than Stanley. Stanley isn’t what Franky thought he would be.
Stanley his life with Asher is a new experience, a world full of metaphors to bring everything in perspective.
Stanley feels younger and younger every time he meets Asher.
Asher has a proposition for Stanley, like a dream, to stay with him forever.
“Come with me, Stanley,” Ash whispered. “Slip with me into eternal sleep.”
It’s getting complicating and weirder when Francesco enters the same realm where Stanley and Asher are. Facing a new Stanley, Francesco wants to win him back.
It’s a complicated story, alternating between different consciousness, the plot is quite intriguing. For the first half of the story, I wasn’t sure about the direction, the second half it got all much clearer.
While I enjoyed the story very, I missed some deeper emotional moments, those where my eyes get blurred or where I get goosebumps, the characters felt a bit at distance, out of reach.
The big picture of this story is about re-evaluating and even relive life, work at blockages who are stand in the way of happiness, find your footing and purpose in life.
The story was consistently written and intriguing, the ending quite suitable for such a journey.
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews
October 14, 2021
Okay, so I think I liked the book, yes I know that isn't really clear. Stanley is in a dead-end relationship pushing fifty living with a cheating partner. They have only been together for about 7 years & they are already at the cheating, not having the same feelings for each other stage. IMO they should have split. Please, I would have liked them to have been together way longer then only 7 years. And Stanley considering himself an "old man" at 50 was OTT, maybe because I'm over 50 & don't consider myself an "old lady" :). Anyway, one night in his dreams he meets Asher who is a Midnight Man. I wanted to know more about them as who/what they really are. That was not fleshed out nearly good enough. We have Asher taking Stanley on a journey of self discovery & realization that there is more that he wants out of life. The ending does leave you thinking that things can go either way & I would be happy with whichever way it does go. Can't say more than that as I don't want to give it away.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Review and this is my honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Review and this is my honest review.
October 22, 2021
I'm having a really difficult time rating/reviewing this one. On the one hand, I was immediately sucked in and could not put it down. The whole concept of the Midnight Man is so interesting, and while it could have been fleshed out more, it was still intriguing to read about. Additionally, this felt so real. It's weird saying that when there is an obvious fantasy twist, but the characters were real humans with real issues, instead of some perfect fictional ideal.
Even with all that, I'm still not sure how much I actually liked this. While the characters were definitely real, they also were real likable. I cannot think of a single character that I genuinely liked, and for me that makes it tough to really enjoy. Add in the cheating and the sharing, which sometimes, but rarely, works for me, and the ending I did not enjoy (very open-ended, so if that's your thing you might differ here), and I'm left feeling mostly conflicted about this whole book. I'd say it was good, but not necessarily likable, if that makes any sense at all.
Even with all that, I'm still not sure how much I actually liked this. While the characters were definitely real, they also were real likable. I cannot think of a single character that I genuinely liked, and for me that makes it tough to really enjoy. Add in the cheating and the sharing, which sometimes, but rarely, works for me, and the ending I did not enjoy (very open-ended, so if that's your thing you might differ here), and I'm left feeling mostly conflicted about this whole book. I'd say it was good, but not necessarily likable, if that makes any sense at all.
October 28, 2021
Kevin Klehr again deftly weaves his own brand of surrealism into the all too relatable ups and downs of a gay relationship. Despite its premise, The Midnight Man favours nuance over sensation, though it all comes served with Klehr's trademark theatricality. He keeps the stakes high for all his characters throughout the book, including the mythic titular love interest, engaging the reader on several unexpected wavelengths. Paying homage to the great dream narratives from Shakespeare to David Lynch, Klehr has created his own richly inviting trip into a subconscious where our true desires and frustrations can no longer hide.
October 21, 2021
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for a review copy of this book.
It took me a few days to figure out how I felt about this book and what I wanted to say. It is not a traditional romance book. It's about a man turning fifty and rediscovering himself and his life. This story was a bit confusing for me at times, the shift from the dream world to the waking world from chapter to chapter was abrupt for my linear loving brain. That didn't deter me from the book though.
I think that the thing I liked best about this book was an older man falling in love with himself and his life again. I loved watching Stanley rediscover his passion for the world and his life. While parts of Asher's behaviour as a Midnight Man rubbed me the wrong way in places, I really enjoyed the ending to the story and where it went in the end. It wasn't as fluffy and light as I had expected, but I think seeing an older man loving life again was well worth it.
It took me a few days to figure out how I felt about this book and what I wanted to say. It is not a traditional romance book. It's about a man turning fifty and rediscovering himself and his life. This story was a bit confusing for me at times, the shift from the dream world to the waking world from chapter to chapter was abrupt for my linear loving brain. That didn't deter me from the book though.
I think that the thing I liked best about this book was an older man falling in love with himself and his life again. I loved watching Stanley rediscover his passion for the world and his life. While parts of Asher's behaviour as a Midnight Man rubbed me the wrong way in places, I really enjoyed the ending to the story and where it went in the end. It wasn't as fluffy and light as I had expected, but I think seeing an older man loving life again was well worth it.
September 15, 2021
The blurb for "The Midnight Man" grabbed my interest. Stanley, on the cusp of his 50th birthday, has been in a relationship for seven years with his partner Francesco, and it is in its death throes.
Stanley has dreams - very vivid dreams about a young man - Asher - and each time they meet in dreams, Stanley is five years younger. He has the chance to disappear into a dream world with his perfect dream lover ... yet as he becomes younger and younger, he relives his happy memories with Francesco, looks objectively at times in his life that changed its course, and ponders why he is terrified of police officers and why he never continued a potentially successful career as a flautist.
I like many things the author has to say about age and second chances ...
Also, I found the author's writing style somewhat convoluted and the whole Midnight Man dream world too lightly fleshed out, and the resolution to why Stanley is afraid of cops was sort of shoe-horned into the story after teasing it for the entire book.
Personally, I liked the premise of this story but found the main characters very unlikeable and it was hard to root for a HEA for them. But again, this is my own personal opinion and your take on this story may be entirely different! 3 stars.
I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Stanley has dreams - very vivid dreams about a young man - Asher - and each time they meet in dreams, Stanley is five years younger. He has the chance to disappear into a dream world with his perfect dream lover ... yet as he becomes younger and younger, he relives his happy memories with Francesco, looks objectively at times in his life that changed its course, and ponders why he is terrified of police officers and why he never continued a potentially successful career as a flautist.
I like many things the author has to say about age and second chances ...
[...] if you don't play it right, age can be your nemesis. That thinking all your major achievements are a thing of the past can be your undoing. That what you know and what you've done have value, especially to those who haven't experienced what you have to share. [...] There's power in age, my son. It's not a death sentence. It's a blessing.,,, but what didn't work for me is the rather deplorable actions both Francesco and Stanley take - with each other and with their friends and acquaintances. Simply put, Francesco is a philandering jerk and Stanley is thoughtless and cruel more than once or twice.
Also, I found the author's writing style somewhat convoluted and the whole Midnight Man dream world too lightly fleshed out, and the resolution to why Stanley is afraid of cops was sort of shoe-horned into the story after teasing it for the entire book.
Personally, I liked the premise of this story but found the main characters very unlikeable and it was hard to root for a HEA for them. But again, this is my own personal opinion and your take on this story may be entirely different! 3 stars.
I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
October 4, 2021
One of the things I initially found frustrating about this novel is a thing I ultimately came to really appreciate about it, and that’s how difficult it can be to distinguish what’s going on and even whose perspective, voice, and agenda you’re following at any given moment. There’s an almost muddled, at times uncertain quality that ultimately fits beautifully with the shifting moods and subject matter of the story. I’m not sure how to describe the genre of this book, as that too feels a bit unmoored: there’s the quasi-paranormal dreamworld frame, the romantic history and shifting relationship between Frank, Stan, and Asher, and a world of interrelated themes and experiences that are all capable of sparking layers of reflection. My sense of the story this book is telling, like my sense of the identity and role of each of the characters, shifted dramatically over the course of the story, and I found that both disconcerting and rewarding. There’s a lot of food for thought in this book: about second chances, about knowing yourself, and which of your selves you want to be, about love in all its stages. I like that it requires a lot of thought, and to be honest, I don’t know if I’m done thinking about it yet-- I can definitely see how reading it again would bring to light things and ideas I might not have completely grasped the first time around. It’s not an easy read, but it is a really interesting one, in all the best ways.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an honest review.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an honest review.
August 24, 2021
Stanley is a bit lost. He's nearing 50 and in an unhappy relationship with no energy or desire to do anything about and doesn't really know what he wants in life.
He begins to have vivid dreams where he means a young man named Asher. Dream after dream Stanley and Asher talk, have adventures and fall in love and in each dream Stanley is younger and younger.
Asher is his Midnight Man. A dream guide sent to help their "project" find their way. He's no supposed to fall in love with his project, Stanley. That doesn't keep him from inviting Stanley to sleep eternally with him.
Stanley will have to choose if he can find something worth fighting for in his real life or if slipping into eternal sleep with Asher is what he most wants.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
He begins to have vivid dreams where he means a young man named Asher. Dream after dream Stanley and Asher talk, have adventures and fall in love and in each dream Stanley is younger and younger.
Asher is his Midnight Man. A dream guide sent to help their "project" find their way. He's no supposed to fall in love with his project, Stanley. That doesn't keep him from inviting Stanley to sleep eternally with him.
Stanley will have to choose if he can find something worth fighting for in his real life or if slipping into eternal sleep with Asher is what he most wants.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
October 6, 2021
Ok…this story was so good. I read MM fiction while I’m in grad school to escape and come down from stress. I enjoy it but don’t see a lot of fiction that really makes me stop and go back and read something again. Kevin Klehr…this was phenomenal. It didn’t end how I thought it would. It showed our human complexity so well…I would read this again. I felt for Stanley so much and understood his decisions for better or worse. I will be looking up Kevin’s other books. The first half or so is a bit slow but necessary and worth it. You won’t regret reading this.
Read
August 29, 2021DNF at 20%.
I got an ARC for this and when I request for this book, I didn’t know that I would be super uncomfortable with the theme. I thought I would be able to stomach the cheating part and some of the dark stuffs. It’s not for me, I guess. But I would try to read this again if I found myself lacking books to read. And I just want to say that I’m happy that there’s also representation on older gay guys. It’s a refreshing concept.
I got an ARC for this and when I request for this book, I didn’t know that I would be super uncomfortable with the theme. I thought I would be able to stomach the cheating part and some of the dark stuffs. It’s not for me, I guess. But I would try to read this again if I found myself lacking books to read. And I just want to say that I’m happy that there’s also representation on older gay guys. It’s a refreshing concept.
October 12, 2021
An unique tale of introspection through experiences, finding one's true self and that it's never too late to find what your heart truly wants
The story does take a bit to get into but Stanley's confused soul and his yearning to find something more, touches your reader heart. The author's words weave together a beautiful bond between Stanley and his midnight man, one that's always giving and eye-opening to Stanley.
The theme of absurdism and that take on reality/imagined reality was refreshing to read.
Though the story did leave me wanting for more at times, it was refreshingly unique and well written.
The story does take a bit to get into but Stanley's confused soul and his yearning to find something more, touches your reader heart. The author's words weave together a beautiful bond between Stanley and his midnight man, one that's always giving and eye-opening to Stanley.
The theme of absurdism and that take on reality/imagined reality was refreshing to read.
Though the story did leave me wanting for more at times, it was refreshingly unique and well written.
September 6, 2021
This is not really a romance story in the conventional sense because it’s more about a man falling back in love with who he is. This is all told in a magical way with Asher, a “Midnight Man” coming into the life of Stanley through his dreams. We see scenes from Stanley’s real life, where he is nearly fifty and feeling all of those years hard. I remember that time and Kevin Klehr has captured that feeling of “is this all my life is” perfectly. The other scenes we see are Stanley, who becomes five years younger with every dream, and Asher in various situations from the realistic to the absurd in the way dreams are. We never really know if all of this is happening for real or is all of this is a construct of Stanley’s depressed mind. Is it fantasy? Is it mental illness brought on by trauma? Does it matter? Not in the slightest because this is just a delightful book that you can throw yourself into and enjoy the journey.
When I was younger I had a drama teacher who said that one of the criteria that we should judge any performance by was do you come out of it saying “Well where shall we go for dinner?”. In other words did it just entertain you or did it make you think as well. Is it going to stick with you?
This book is one of those latter ones. It definitely entertained me, but I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
I highly recommend this book.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review
When I was younger I had a drama teacher who said that one of the criteria that we should judge any performance by was do you come out of it saying “Well where shall we go for dinner?”. In other words did it just entertain you or did it make you think as well. Is it going to stick with you?
This book is one of those latter ones. It definitely entertained me, but I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
I highly recommend this book.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review
October 30, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Great characters and storyline. It drew me in and kept me reading from beginning to end.
September 3, 2021
One of the more intriguing reads I've had this year.
Stanley is approaching fifty, and finds himself adrift and unmoored as he and his partner have grown apart. Stanley starts having some very vivid dreams involving a young man named Asher. The two grow close in a number of encounters that range from the mundane to the surreal, all of which push Stanley into facing some facets of himself and making some decisions on how to get back on track in his life, including his broken relationship.
There are some lovely moments in this book as Stanley finds his passion for life once more. The interactions with Asher are well drawn as are the ones with Francesco, Stanley's lover. The relationship with Francesco is at times uncomfortable as the two find themselves assessing whether or not to continue their relationship. And the relationship of Stanley with his mother is beautifully depicted - at first the mother may come off as overbearing, but you find she has her reasons.
The only drawback for me with the book was the ending. If Klehr had cut out the last few pages of the book I would have been a lot happier as a reader. I thought the last conversation between Stanley and Asher would have been a good place to leave the story. As it is, there's a coda or epilogue of sorts, that drove me somewhat crazy as something happens that didn't make a lot of sense to me in the context of the book. It's a good example of what I feel is a flaw with magic realism in stories - authors at times take it just a bit too far and take the reader out of the story. In this case the incident at hand would cause a lot of ramifications outside the story and just didn't make logical sense to me. Think of how the ending of "Lost" lost some people with some people loving it and others disliking it- this is one of those endings. Oh, well, I suppose we can't have it all.
There's a beautiful quote in the book from Stanley's mother. "Everyone in life leaves an impression," she says. "It may be a bruise. It may be a smile. It may be discomfort, like when you have a cold. And it doesn't matter how long they've been in hour life, they still leave an impression." I think this is a good way to think about books, how they leave impressions on the reader and ripple in their thoughts. And this book has done that for me. So if you're in the mood for something a bit different, this may be the read for you.
Stanley is approaching fifty, and finds himself adrift and unmoored as he and his partner have grown apart. Stanley starts having some very vivid dreams involving a young man named Asher. The two grow close in a number of encounters that range from the mundane to the surreal, all of which push Stanley into facing some facets of himself and making some decisions on how to get back on track in his life, including his broken relationship.
There are some lovely moments in this book as Stanley finds his passion for life once more. The interactions with Asher are well drawn as are the ones with Francesco, Stanley's lover. The relationship with Francesco is at times uncomfortable as the two find themselves assessing whether or not to continue their relationship. And the relationship of Stanley with his mother is beautifully depicted - at first the mother may come off as overbearing, but you find she has her reasons.
The only drawback for me with the book was the ending. If Klehr had cut out the last few pages of the book I would have been a lot happier as a reader. I thought the last conversation between Stanley and Asher would have been a good place to leave the story. As it is, there's a coda or epilogue of sorts, that drove me somewhat crazy as something happens that didn't make a lot of sense to me in the context of the book. It's a good example of what I feel is a flaw with magic realism in stories - authors at times take it just a bit too far and take the reader out of the story. In this case the incident at hand would cause a lot of ramifications outside the story and just didn't make logical sense to me. Think of how the ending of "Lost" lost some people with some people loving it and others disliking it- this is one of those endings. Oh, well, I suppose we can't have it all.
There's a beautiful quote in the book from Stanley's mother. "Everyone in life leaves an impression," she says. "It may be a bruise. It may be a smile. It may be discomfort, like when you have a cold. And it doesn't matter how long they've been in hour life, they still leave an impression." I think this is a good way to think about books, how they leave impressions on the reader and ripple in their thoughts. And this book has done that for me. So if you're in the mood for something a bit different, this may be the read for you.
October 26, 2021
This book was not really my cup of tea. That is not to say that it was undrinkable, that I'd spit said tea out, but I wouldn't want to spend every day drinking said tea, or stop time so that I could continue drinking this tea.
While I know I wouldn't read this book again, I didn't avoid reading it. I was invested in the characters and outcome. The writing style is artistic and a bit trippy. Because much of the book takes place in dreams, on an alternate plane of existence, this makes sense. The point of view bounces all over the place, almost as if there is an invisible bouncing ball hitting different people in rooms, so that at any given moment, you find out what other people are thinking, feeling, how they are viewing what is going on around them. It took a little bit for me to get used to, as there's no warning most of the time - perspective might change within a paragraph, or maybe only once or twice in a chapter, if that. But I kind of appreciated the style too, found it clever, if almost too clever. I like multi-POV books, as I appreciate all types of POV written books, and all tenses, as long as the over all writing and story can pull me in.
The characters are not necessarily loveable, and the main characters are possibly not even likeable to some. Everyone is fallible, highly flawed. I think the best way to go into this book is to just let yourself roll with it, with no expectations of how the characters will act, how they will turn out, what their outcomes will be.
I think some people could really enjoy this book - I'm not sorry I read it, but I'm glad it wasn't epic in length and that I can now move on.
While I know I wouldn't read this book again, I didn't avoid reading it. I was invested in the characters and outcome. The writing style is artistic and a bit trippy. Because much of the book takes place in dreams, on an alternate plane of existence, this makes sense. The point of view bounces all over the place, almost as if there is an invisible bouncing ball hitting different people in rooms, so that at any given moment, you find out what other people are thinking, feeling, how they are viewing what is going on around them. It took a little bit for me to get used to, as there's no warning most of the time - perspective might change within a paragraph, or maybe only once or twice in a chapter, if that. But I kind of appreciated the style too, found it clever, if almost too clever. I like multi-POV books, as I appreciate all types of POV written books, and all tenses, as long as the over all writing and story can pull me in.
The characters are not necessarily loveable, and the main characters are possibly not even likeable to some. Everyone is fallible, highly flawed. I think the best way to go into this book is to just let yourself roll with it, with no expectations of how the characters will act, how they will turn out, what their outcomes will be.
I think some people could really enjoy this book - I'm not sorry I read it, but I'm glad it wasn't epic in length and that I can now move on.
August 30, 2021
REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Midnight Man by Kevin Klehr is the story of Stanley, a man on the verge of turning fifty who is coming to terms with the reality that his life is less than he had hoped. His seven year relationship with his partner, Francesco, is crumbling when Asher appears and becomes the literal man of Stanley‘a dreams. Through Asher, he learns how to love again and to conquer the demons that snuffed his spirit many years earlier. When faced with losing Stanley, Francesco suddenly begins to reevaluate and appreciate what he has and has been neglecting. Can Francesco win back Stanley’s heart, or will Asher’s love be enough to lure Stanley into “eternal sleep”?⠀
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The first half of this book was a bit slow going, and on a few occasions I was even tempted to DNF it. But since this was an ARC I was determined to push through. I was just not seeing a clear picture of where the story was going and I was not finding the characters to be all that likable. But at about the half way point the fog began to lift and the characters began to take on more depth and relatability and the story had a direction. The dreamworld was interesting but would have been more powerful with additional world building. All in all, it was an intriguing story of love and second chances. ⠀
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The first half of this book was a bit slow going, and on a few occasions I was even tempted to DNF it. But since this was an ARC I was determined to push through. I was just not seeing a clear picture of where the story was going and I was not finding the characters to be all that likable. But at about the half way point the fog began to lift and the characters began to take on more depth and relatability and the story had a direction. The dreamworld was interesting but would have been more powerful with additional world building. All in all, it was an intriguing story of love and second chances. ⠀
January 20, 2022
A lesson for life
Stanley was unhappy in life but he didn't talk about it. Francesco was also unhappy and he filled it with men. Then Stanley met his Midnight Man, Asher, in a dream. They fell in love and Stanley had the chance to stay with Asher for eternity in dreams. Someone else tried and it became a nightmare that the mortal could ever wake from. Maybe Stanley and Asher could do better.
Meanwhile, Francesco sensed Stanley pulling away and he didn't like it, especially since Stanley had begun to take control of his life for the first time in a long time. Can they make it work again before Stanley decides to enter into eternal slumber?
This story is of a middle-aged man who allowed his life to slip into something he didn't like. Rather than stand up for himself he went along with a life he realized he didn't like very much. The lesson here is to hang onto your love. If the relationship isn't working, and there's no communication, then move on.
Is there a happily ever after? I'd say yes but it's not what you'd typically find in a romance novel. At the very least, Stanley is happy. It's his story so that's what counts the most.
Stanley was unhappy in life but he didn't talk about it. Francesco was also unhappy and he filled it with men. Then Stanley met his Midnight Man, Asher, in a dream. They fell in love and Stanley had the chance to stay with Asher for eternity in dreams. Someone else tried and it became a nightmare that the mortal could ever wake from. Maybe Stanley and Asher could do better.
Meanwhile, Francesco sensed Stanley pulling away and he didn't like it, especially since Stanley had begun to take control of his life for the first time in a long time. Can they make it work again before Stanley decides to enter into eternal slumber?
This story is of a middle-aged man who allowed his life to slip into something he didn't like. Rather than stand up for himself he went along with a life he realized he didn't like very much. The lesson here is to hang onto your love. If the relationship isn't working, and there's no communication, then move on.
Is there a happily ever after? I'd say yes but it's not what you'd typically find in a romance novel. At the very least, Stanley is happy. It's his story so that's what counts the most.
July 12, 2024
SEMI SPOILER
"The Midnight Man" by Kevin Kluher is a quirky book that had me hooked from the start. While I partially enjoyed this book, I couldn't help but feel that it could have had more flesh to it. The character dynamics, especially between Frank and Stan, kept me engaged throughout the story. However, I didn't like the fact that Frank only wanted an open relationship with Stan so he could cheat. Frank's behavior made me strongly dislike him, and I felt that Stan deserved better. The ending left me with mixed feelings. While I appreciated the open ending, I couldn't shake the feeling that Stan should have cut ties with Frank. The use of Stan's nickname, 'Dinky,' during Frank's betrayal was a breaking point for me. It's unfathomable to use your lover's nickname while being unfaithful. Despite my reservations, I found Asher's character to be the most compelling. His genuine feelings for Stan, despite knowing Stan's heart belonged elsewhere, tugged at my heartstrings. Overall, "The Midnight Man" is a thought-provoking read that delves into complex relationships and human emotions
"The Midnight Man" by Kevin Kluher is a quirky book that had me hooked from the start. While I partially enjoyed this book, I couldn't help but feel that it could have had more flesh to it. The character dynamics, especially between Frank and Stan, kept me engaged throughout the story. However, I didn't like the fact that Frank only wanted an open relationship with Stan so he could cheat. Frank's behavior made me strongly dislike him, and I felt that Stan deserved better. The ending left me with mixed feelings. While I appreciated the open ending, I couldn't shake the feeling that Stan should have cut ties with Frank. The use of Stan's nickname, 'Dinky,' during Frank's betrayal was a breaking point for me. It's unfathomable to use your lover's nickname while being unfaithful. Despite my reservations, I found Asher's character to be the most compelling. His genuine feelings for Stan, despite knowing Stan's heart belonged elsewhere, tugged at my heartstrings. Overall, "The Midnight Man" is a thought-provoking read that delves into complex relationships and human emotions
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
The Midnight Man by Kevin Klehr is a marvelously imagined drama. It features an established, aging couple whose love has attenuated over the years; it explores, with the help of a quasi-paranormal dream lover, how that couple addresses the unsavory realization that they have truly fallen out of love. First, I want to mention how much I admire the mechanics of Klehr’s storytelling. Initially, I struggled to adapt to having multiple narrative voices, in part because the demarcations between Stan, Frank, and Ash’s voices did not feel very clear cut. More abstractly, however, each of the character’s voices fleshes out their own motives and frames how they perceive the actions of others. I thought this narrative style ultimately made the story delightfully messy—much like the muddled feelings all three characters have.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
The Midnight Man by Kevin Klehr is a marvelously imagined drama. It features an established, aging couple whose love has attenuated over the years; it explores, with the help of a quasi-paranormal dream lover, how that couple addresses the unsavory realization that they have truly fallen out of love. First, I want to mention how much I admire the mechanics of Klehr’s storytelling. Initially, I struggled to adapt to having multiple narrative voices, in part because the demarcations between Stan, Frank, and Ash’s voices did not feel very clear cut. More abstractly, however, each of the character’s voices fleshes out their own motives and frames how they perceive the actions of others. I thought this narrative style ultimately made the story delightfully messy—much like the muddled feelings all three characters have.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
August 30, 2021
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Oh my.. dang the more you start reading of Stanley and Asher you grow to question so many thing, It's a change for sure as it has that gut-punch between sadness and joy of finding a new life.
Stanley it seems as he just goes with the flow now, the world or life has weighted him down without a direction to go. In reality of his mundane life of repeating questions from his mother and Francesco new adventurous life! Francesco turns a blind eye it feels until he desires something, for example, Umm, that was a cringe worthy, what was Franky thinking without even getting a nod from Either Tony or Graham. As a midnight man, Asher becomes more and more interested in the working of what makes Stanley tick. There is so many hidden meaning at the start of this moving book. Stanley Reality looses its meaning after the stroke from the midnight, when he met Asher.
Stanley it seems as he just goes with the flow now, the world or life has weighted him down without a direction to go. In reality of his mundane life of repeating questions from his mother and Francesco new adventurous life! Francesco turns a blind eye it feels until he desires something, for example, Umm, that was a cringe worthy, what was Franky thinking without even getting a nod from Either Tony or Graham. As a midnight man, Asher becomes more and more interested in the working of what makes Stanley tick. There is so many hidden meaning at the start of this moving book. Stanley Reality looses its meaning after the stroke from the midnight, when he met Asher.
February 7, 2022
The midnight man is a fantasy fiction LGBTQ story about Stanley and how he does not feel happy with his partner at the age of fifty. After meeting Asher, things change, and he senses something special about him. Stanley feels that his world has a different perspective when he is with Asher, and the story, although complicated as it may seem, blossoms into a different dynamic of a tale.
As you begin to read the book, you enter a world where you may wonder why Stanley is living like this. But as you get to know his character and enter his life, you understand why. I predominantly enjoyed how the book was descriptive and mentioned a life worth living.
The author has a niche in writing this kind of material. It is easy to get lost in a dream world, but at the end of the day, you can still learn a lot from it.
I recommend this book to those who like to read gay fiction and enjoy romance.
As you begin to read the book, you enter a world where you may wonder why Stanley is living like this. But as you get to know his character and enter his life, you understand why. I predominantly enjoyed how the book was descriptive and mentioned a life worth living.
The author has a niche in writing this kind of material. It is easy to get lost in a dream world, but at the end of the day, you can still learn a lot from it.
I recommend this book to those who like to read gay fiction and enjoy romance.
September 1, 2021
This is a story about finding the person inside. Stanley and Frank have been together for 7 years and are on a plateau. Frank wants excitement and to feel like he did in his early years. Stanley is lost, depressed, he feels like life has past him, and he is losing his balance as he nears fifty. Asher is the Midnight man, the person to bring your life back into focus during your sleep. He shows Stanley things from his past, but is also falling in love with him. Unfortunately they exist on two different planes of reality. The whole concept of a plane of existence in the dream world is intriguing. I won’t give away the ending because it even surprised me, but let’s just say Stanley found himself. Totally recommend this book for people of any age.
October 6, 2021
Stanley and Francesco have lost each other somewhere along the way in their relationship. Trust and excitement have gone and neither feels he's gotten the man he thought he was going to get. One night, in a dream, Stanley meets Asher who sees him like Francesco doesn't anymore, and perhaps never did. Asher is the embodiment of that perfect person you want to find that will totally 'get' you without effort and make all your dreams come true. The question for Stanley, and later Francesco in this story, is can dreams come true, and if so, is it by magic or by commitment and work? You'll be asking yourself this question as well by the end of this story. An interesting and thought provoking work.
October 4, 2021
3 stars 🌟
I was very intrigued by this book however, I found it extremely hard to follow at times, slow in some parts and some of the characters infuriated me.... with all that being said, I enjoyed Asher and Stanley....I enjoyed the gift he offered to Stanley, I enjoyed their journey and adored the progression of their relationship ❤️ I could have done without Francesco, he was my least favorite part of the book and unfortunately he was a big part of the story 🙁..... thus my rating. I would recommend this read for fans of life evaluation and second chances fans...
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
I was very intrigued by this book however, I found it extremely hard to follow at times, slow in some parts and some of the characters infuriated me.... with all that being said, I enjoyed Asher and Stanley....I enjoyed the gift he offered to Stanley, I enjoyed their journey and adored the progression of their relationship ❤️ I could have done without Francesco, he was my least favorite part of the book and unfortunately he was a big part of the story 🙁..... thus my rating. I would recommend this read for fans of life evaluation and second chances fans...
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
October 28, 2021
This book was definitely a ride. This is a fantasy age gap, mind-bendingish romance that sort of lives up to the description. In the beginning, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it but it definitely became more interesting…. I really liked Asher. I like the concept the author was going for. I wish we got to know more about Midnight Men. Stanley was interesting I sometimes felt bad for him. Francesco, I just didn't like him, I literally felt no sympathy for him. I loved Stanley's mom! I liked that it was about an older man rediscovering himself. If you like fantasy mm you should check it out.
January 7, 2022
What would you do if you had the chance to go back and relive your life in your dreams, figure out where things went wrong? Maybe find that spark and love for life you’ve lost along the way? Stanley gets just that opportunity, and perhaps a little more than he expected when he first meets Asher in his dreams. There’s an underlying theme of second chances, and not just at looking back over your life. It started a little slow, but once the story gained momentum I didn’t want to put it down, even for a second. It’s one of those books that keeps you thinking even after you’ve closed it
April 9, 2023
I always like best books that not only manage to entertain me, but also make me feel things. And this book makes me feel melancholic. Is there a name for a coming-of-age story, that is about the main character growing old instead of up? Or maybe just coming of age, but the age in question is 50. It has the same happy-sadness of those stories, as Stan becomes who he is meant to be, leaving behind what he had or could have been. The characters feel very nuanced, lifelike even, contributing to the great atmosphere of the book.
October 20, 2024
I have listened to the Audible version of this book.
Interesting Story.
I was unsure about what to expect from this book and I must admit it took me way out of my comfort zone. However it was very well written and very thought provoking. The characters both on the normal and the spiritual plain were well developed and believable. I thought the twist at the end was very effective. Laurence Stirling Knott, a new narrator to me was very good with his enthusiastic and dramatic narration. Recommended listen.
Interesting Story.
I was unsure about what to expect from this book and I must admit it took me way out of my comfort zone. However it was very well written and very thought provoking. The characters both on the normal and the spiritual plain were well developed and believable. I thought the twist at the end was very effective. Laurence Stirling Knott, a new narrator to me was very good with his enthusiastic and dramatic narration. Recommended listen.
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