Girlfriending: A Collection of Stories by Christopher T Werkman comprises twenty-six stories of varying lengths and styles, all of them about an aspect of relationships. The protagonists may be male or female, and almost any adult age. The only certainty is that from the first story to the last they are thought-provoking and entertaining. Girlfriending, the title story, is actually, and appropriately, number thirteen and it leads from what appears to be elderly Archie Descamp’s visits to his dead girlfriends’ graves to a dramatic surprise ending in a funeral parlour. The story immediately after it, Crapshoot, is the shortest, but Christopher T Werkman still contrives a satisfying completeness. The beauty of short stories is they fit so well into busy lives, and Girlfriending is a fine collection.

I enjoyed Girlfriending: A Collection of Stories because I couldn’t guess the end of any of the stories, and I had absolutely no idea what to expect of the next; they are all so different. My own personal favourite is Crashing. It grabs the reader with lines like: “Watching him move with that cycle was sexual. High compression porn.” And yet it is well grounded in Lacey’s experiences in Iraq; even the cause of her breakdown on active service links directly to her sympathy for a skunk that has sprayed her with its appallingly smelly defence liquid. Christopher T Werkman is a masterful writer of short stories and I recommend them to all readers. Favourites will vary, but enjoyment of them all is guaranteed.

A wide variety of romantic relationship tales comprise Girlfriending: A Collection of Stories, written by Christopher T. Werkman. This rich assortment of stories seems to encompass every socio-economic and educational class that exists in today’s modern world. The cast of characters encompasses returning veterans from the Iraqi conflicts, customers in rundown bars, and members of the local tennis club. The characters are varied and intriguing. Within a few short paragraphs, another scene is built and embellished with specific and realistic details. How the author represents both the male and female genders from tale to tale is layered with subtle, and not-so-subtle, aspects. The interactions between the genders are revealing and profound. The tone of each piece, as well as the voice of each character, covers a wide range of personalities. After each story, it feels as if the reader has met new people and become well acquainted with each one.

The author is a skillful writer as he moves from one work to the next, always captivating the reader. The qualities of being concise, but descriptive, pointed, but poignant, insightful and relatable are significant qualities found throughout his writings. Author Christopher T. Werkman demonstrates masterful writing styles in Girlfriending: A Collection of Stories. The reader will be engaged from the first story to the last, anticipating what the next tale will hold. In each of these stories, the reader wants to know what happens next. Many of these tales could be the seeds for interesting novels!

There are many wonderfully thought provoking short stories in here, encompassing many aspects of our lives, the people with whom we associate, and how we interact. My favorite aspect is almost always the ending. Sometimes it left me thinking, "Yeah, what a way to fit with the climax!" Other times I thought that was an interesting way to leave a story - I was almost reminded of themes of the remake of "Fantasy Island" in the late '90s -- the readers may not get what they expect, but get what they need.