I Am My Beloveds

A Novel

By: Jonathan Papernick

Narrated by: Jacob Dawes

Ben Seidel wasn't sure how serious they were when he and his wife, Shira, discussed having an open marriage. But when Shira announces that she is going on a date with Liz, any ambiguity evaporates. Suddenly, every day is new terrain for Ben, navigating between keeping things together with Shira and exploring new partners. And when one of those new partners begins to matter to him more than he ever anticipated, he discovers that the complexities of this new life are only just beginning.

Bracingly honest, refreshingly sexy, and deeply empathetic, I Am My Beloveds is the work of a superior storyteller, making real a lifestyle that might be as close as your own bedroom door.

©2021 Jonathan Papernick (P)2022 The Story Plant

Dinner with the Seidel’s +1+1

I am My Beloveds
The main characters in I am My Beloveds are a seemingly basic, modern day couple.
Noting to get excited about. Very plain, very, very basic and forgettable. Not to say
they are boring, but they come across as people you wouldn’t be able to pick out in
a lineup.

That is until they begin to communicate with each other. The magic happens when
Shira and Ben become one. These are people that you would want to share a drink
if not a meal with. As they open up, you realize how similar they are to yourself or the
partner laying next to you. They are comfortable, they are familiar and they are dealing

with problems and issues that you may or may not have had to deal with. Problems and
issues that you wouldn’t WANT to deal with. Yet, these are the problems and issues that
you’d definitely want to hear about as they play out.

The Seidel’s have been dealt with a crushing blow and have come back stronger together
only to break apart in an effort to reclaim their dreams of becoming a family. Both staid
and seemingly rote in their lifestyles and challenges, the diminutive and fiery character of
Shira fires the first shot here. Life with the Seidel’s becomes a tumultuous up and down
of jealousy, hunger, erotic shenanigans and compromise.

Like life, this story is not all ups and kinky rendezvous, but neither is it suited for kids. This
is an adult style tale of romance, love and exploration with much heartbreak and very
much of the unexpected.

What is better than having the Seidel’s as company? The women that they both meet.
I found myself living vicariously through both Shira and Ben as they navigate the
conversations and verbal jiu jitsu that one does when the game is afoot between two
newly acquainted strangers with love in their hearts and lust in their minds.

I am My Beloveds is a story that opens its arms to the reader. I find myself arguing
with characters points of view and becoming emotional and defensive with regards
to the situations and the characters involved.

A great story for a couple to enjoy on a road trip, almost perfect as an audio book
as far as subject matter goes. Lots to discuss in this story.

I like the reader but for the voicing of Ben at times when it feels overly contrived making his defensive
queries sound impotent and dunce like. A rare occurrence.

My own emotions ran as high as the characters'

I loved these characters. I loved them as people. That's why when they did stupid shit I wanted to yell at them.

This is a magnificent book. Tragedy propels this couple into uncharted waters in their relationship and neither can anticipate where their choices will lead them.

Everything about this book rings so true that you will find yourself drawn into the lives of these people and their hope and heartbreak will be your own.