Kissing You — Daniel Hayes

A beguiling collection of stories about men and women, compulsive and loquacious, searching for love in contemporary America

In Daniel Hayes's hilarious debut collection, people disclose too much and risk embarrassment (and more) as they search for partners, love, and sex. Continually stumbling upon obstacles of their own making, they battle freakish obsessions and deep fears-secrets both real and imagined. After a difficult breakup, one woman has visions-not of God or a new boyfriend, but of Bob Hope gently wagging his finger, inviting her to take it in her mouth. A man, intent upon finding the right girl, doesn't understand why stalking has to be such an ugly word. Another woman learns that her fiancé has as much substance as the filling of the Hostess Twinkie in which he presents her engagement ring. And in the title story, one gay man tempts another with false bravado and tall tales of pet iguanas.
Outlandish, romantic, and sexy, the stories in Kissing You are compulsively entertaining. Daniel Hayes provocatively narrows the uncomfortable space between people and lets readers witness the intriguing consequences.