“I was terrified of what might happen if I shut my eyes.”
– Matt Forney, Life During Peacetime
I generally hate erotic literature, or, as I like to call it, porn in a book. When women write it, it reads like a goofy Mad Lid of sexual euphemisms. When men write it, it reads like a low budget skin flick written by a guy who typically authors instructional manuals for vehicle maintenance. Erotic literature, more often than not, is unsexy and poorly written.*
When I learned that Matt Forney’s newest work, Life During Peacetime, was a sex story, involving a blog groupie none the less, I scoffed. Based off my past experiences with “erotic” literature, I was prepared to endure the worst: a novelization of “I Just Had Sex.” Fortunately I was dead wrong.
Life During Peacetime isn’t as much a sex story as it is a story with sex in it. It’s a memory. A slice in time. There’s humor, drama, conflict, and some genuine emotion. While there is a decent amount of fornication, the book has a lot more going on.
Initially the plot seems pretty straightforward, a groupie spends the weekend at Matt Forney’s house. Yet, as the action progresses, the plot begins to thicken. Matt’s groupie is a little bit different than what you might expect, she’s a mash-up of batsh*t craziness and small town innocence. As Matt puts it:
“You flew all the way to New York to lose your virginity to me and you think that’ll make you look crazy?”
If you’re looking for a quick and enjoyable read, I encourage you to check out Life During Peacetime
* I like to flip through romance novels while waiting in line at the supermarket. Sue me.