The Woman Upstairs & Short Story Compilation

De: Camryn Eyde

Narrado por: Lori Prince, Holly Fielding, Abby Craden, Katherine Lawrence

Ricci Velez is a fiercely independent woman that worked her way up from the poverty line to become a respected engineer and property developer. Mistaken as the little wifey by Tara Reeves, the new tenant at her Manhattan apartment building, Ricci wants to evict her before she even signs the lease. A slighted ex-tenant, a vandalized apartment, and an interfering best friend means that she’s forced to offer Tara a room in her own apartment. Can she survive having the secretive hard-nosed executive judging her in her own home? Worse still, can she survive her match-making mother shamelessly besotted by the temporary housemate?

©2015 Camryn Eyde (The Woman Upstairs); 2014 by Camryn Eyde (Taming the Boss); 2014 Camryn Eyde (Celebrity Pass); 2015 by Camryn Eyde (Insta-meet); 2015 by Camryn Eyde (She) (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Enthusiastic Must-Listen ("She"). Worth Getting!

** This review applies to the 5th short story, "SHE," performed by Abby Craden, in this audiobook compilation.

OMG, I forgot how funny Camryn Eyde is with her writing!! Her "Tricky" duology was one memorable, fun and hilarious read for me! I've read it numerous times and each time, I find myself LOL at the hilarious musings and the back-and-forths between the 2 MCs in my favourite scenes! Eyde writes neurotic comedy very well with her cutting remarks and comebacks laced with her signature sarcasm and dry humour that I really cherish!

Anyway, back to this short, "She" whose audiobook edition can only be found in Eyde's audiobook compilation, "The Woman Upstairs & Short Story Compilation." I decided to get it when I saw Craden, my favourite voice actor in audiobooks, listed as one of the performers in the 5-story compilation, not knowing which of the 5 stories was performed by her. Imagine my utterly pleasant surprise when it was "She" that she performed, because, coincidentally, that was the one story that I never read amongst the 5 that the compilation included!! Whaa?!?! So I dove in aurally without knowing what to expect as I didn't know anything about "She."

OMG. What a story!!! I mean, it's supposedly a short story. But how often do you read one that has a prologue, a body (main narrative), and an epilogue? AND...not only that, but one that comes full circle, motif style! I'm one of those oddballs who simply gravitates toward the aesthetics of crafting a story that is complete with a proper motif - coming full circle. Some may call this style old school, especially when you can rarely find this type of storytelling these days, not like this, not with a proper full circle motif that connects the beginning of the story with the end. But I simply call it a classic. It's only my most cherished favourite style of storytelling, be it in writing, audio or visual. Furthermore, something which I won't go into deets because it'll get technical... Eyde used another fave method of mine in storytelling - reverse chronology. That. Is. All.

Needless to say, when Craden started the epilogue, I immediately sensed the invisible motif thread flowing before my mind's eye connecting the prologue and I was completely awestruck. It was beautiful. It was like looking at a perfect aesthetic of an art piece. The motif of the prologue and epilogue circling the central narrative brought the entire story to a whole new level of depth and appreciation for me. What a gem. A rare one, I might add. Because I've come across some great motifs but this one is way up there on my list of favourites and a memorable one, at that, because they are few and far between. It's just like the story's cereus flower that only blooms once a year during full moon, in an arid environment.

For me, Eyde's UNreleased "She", is just that. A rare flower. My wishful thinking is that "She" turns into a full-fledged novel. But in its absence or impossibility, this short is jam-packed with everything you could ever need to have a complete and satisfying story. I'm still aghast at the notion that "She" was never released!! And you can only get this in a compilation!! Well, beggars can't be choosers. I'm just grateful that Eyde decided to include this story in the compilation.

"She." You know, as I was listening to it, I couldn't help thinking about Elvis Costello's song of the same title. Eyde never revealed the name of "She," the story's "She." Brodie's "She." And I absolutely LOVE this style because it just adds to the mystique, the rarity, the value of this "gem" with no name but holds such a level of affection for me. Just like Costello's classic, "She," Eyde's is also a song that sings to the tune of lyrical endearment for me...

"SHE pulled me to my feet
and I limped towards
that rare flowering plant that bloomed
right alongside my relationship.
SHE, like that flower,
was just as rare,
and just as beautiful.
SHE was my everything,
and that night,
as the petals opened in the moonlight,
I kissed her."
~ Camryn Eyde, "She"

SHE, Oh She...

I've since read it (it's in the book, "Short Story Compilation"). Perfectly crafted writing, brilliantly executed story. A rare style.

Craden's precision in interpreting Eyde's voice in telling her story, portraying her MCs (et al) with heart (and fab humour!) only elevates and brings to life, the beauty and aesthetic of her "night-blooming cereus (Hylocereus undatus)" aka "She."

Although "She" was written back in 2015 (!!) and performed in 2019 (!!), it is NOW forever etched on my list of ALL-TIME fave stories to read and listen to. I've since listened to this utterly brilliant song 3x already and I haven't had enough of it yet (and I will never because of its mere soothing acoustic vibrational resonance to my auditory sensory perception every time I listen to it).

An ENTHUSIASTIC MUST-LISTEN, guys! If you know Eyde's writing, it's hilarious, it's heartfelt, it's relatable. And, when it's voiced and brought to life by Craden's resonating performance, it's a no-brainer. LISTEN and ENJOY Eyde's SONG and Craden's VOCAL artistry.

Although "She" can only be found on the compilation audiobook, "The Woman Upstairs & Short Story Compilation," I believe it's worth it because the other stories which I'd read (yet to listen to them because of reasons...) are real fun! Plus, I thoroughly enjoy Eyde's writing and her style, so if you do, too, I'd say get it.

I thought I was going to die laughing

between Ricky and her new Tennant it was just a riot and it's what Ricky needed and they finally got together and Ricky was a bit different but kool

Wow

Different but pleasing. The stories at the end were very much surprising. Thanks for the surprises.

Loved the first story

this book actually have me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.

love this book and stories

I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a while. It was real and I loved that.

Excellent book from a talented author!

This is the second time reading this author and I continue to be impressed! Paired with excellent narration, the blood brought loads of laughs and sad, trying moments...all worth it!! Highly recommended!

wonder and HOT stories

a very nice mix of stories. some really really really hot sex scenes too... LOL

Wonderful Set of Love Stories

This was a really wonderful Set of short stories that showed differing types of FF love stories. Each one was so well written and the different narrators made for a very enjoyable listen. I will definitely be listening to this one again.

night flowers

loved it, but I don't really read short stories. This one has me rethinking that. off to my next adventure.

Great stories

I was pretty happy with all of em. Celebrity pass I had guessed within minutes of starting the story. Woman upstairs and she was my favorites. I will be looking for more of her work.