Overview

Contemporary Literary Fiction. Black Diaspora Fiction. Romance and Domestic Suspense. Scarlet Yearnings: Beyond First Glance is a genre-blending short story collection that explores what happens after attraction. Across twelve interconnected stories set in New York, Toronto, and Chicago, women from diverse cultures navigate second chances, fractured friendships, marriages under strain, and the private reckonings that follow desire. Spanning Ghana, Trinidad, and North America, these character-driven narratives examine love as choice, effort, and maintenance rather than fantasy. A lifelong friendship unravels under silence. A marriage built on carefully guarded secrets begins to crack. A surgeon determined to move slowly toward love must confront the cost of vulnerability. In one story, a man wakes on the morning of his death. In another, a woman learns to see herself with tenderness for the first time. While the stories share a lineage with Scarlet Yearnings: Stories of Love and Desire, this collection stands entirely on its own. Blending contemporary romance tropes with elements of speculative fiction and domestic suspense, Beyond First Glance offers emotionally grounded, discussion-worthy fiction for readers who value psychological depth and cultural specificity. This Collector's Edition features narrative cover art by Nick Low and includes exclusive author content, character profiles, and book discussion guides. For readers of intimate, character-driven collections that stay with you in conversation, memory, and reflection.

Full Product Details

9798999382962

Table of Contents

Reviews

NetGalley""A beautiful book exploring love beyond the exciting beginnings, capturing romantic, familial, and self-love with depth and honesty."" - Christy Matheson, author ""A beautiful journey through the many facets of love... deeper, more honest, and far beyond the typical romance."" - Melody Wright ""A few stories hit me straight in the chest... beautifully crafted, messy, and painfully real in the best way."" - Corina Sandu ""Thoughtful, reflective, and emotionally layered... asking not whether love happens, but what it takes to sustain it."" - The Novel Nomad ""A masterful collection... emotionally rich, sharp, and deeply authentic, capturing chosen family, integrity, and the courage to stay."" - Christine Edwards ""Amazing... moving from a giddy, intimate story to a detective setup, you get the best of both worlds in one collection."" - Scovia Odek

Author Information

Scarlet Ibis James is an award-winning author whose work explores love, longing, identity, and emotional truth across the Black and Caribbean diaspora. Born in Trinidad and Tobago and based in Harlem, her writing blends cultural specificity with universal human experience.

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