El libro tiene una segunda parte compuesta por un ensayo del mismo autor reflexionando sobre lo que para él significa su cumpleaños, su generación, los vínculos de una fecha y la importancia para él. Y siendo sincera, el libro no sería igual sin esta parte final de Murakami; el ensayo complementa muy bien el cuento y te deja pensando también sobre la importancia de envejecer. Pike is a man that was forced to grow up fast when he became a father at 19. Giving up on his dreams to support his new son was not something he ever gave a second thought about. This is clearly a man that wants a relationship with his son but due to circumstances, it's a struggle. I don't want to give too much away about the dynamics, but trust me when I tell you that you will understand. You'll even root for him.

Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas | Waterstones

Murakami Haruki turned 70 on 12 January 2019, and Penguin have issued this book in January 2019 to celebrate. It’s been 2 hours since I finished Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas and I don’t quite know what to do with myself. Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas blew me away! Once I read the synopsis for this book, I knew it would be one that I would drop everything to read. And I did. I stayed up till 4 am reading this book the night it landed on my kindle. I wanted to slow down and enjoy the story, but I had to know what would happen. I could not put it down. This book was straight up addicting and I loved every minute! You’ve always watched me, haven’t you? Always wanted to have your fun with me.” I falter, knowing what she says is true. I’ve wanted her since the first time I saw her. “It’s okay,” she whispers. “I always knew, and I always liked it. Keep watching me, Mr. Lawson.”Everything there is to know about Pike is just drool worthy delicious. I have read many romance novels where the male character is older, but nothing utterly compares to Pike and the struggles he has gone through. The emotional aspect of it all is one that has captivated my heart in every essence. No matter what it is, Jordan is also a strong heroine who has proven that anything is possible when working hard for it and having a mindset of determination. As a girly-girl with the love of pink and an admiration for outside landscaping decorations, Pike is an individual with an old soul but a young body. Nothing about her screams "innocent, the girl next door" kind of appeal. She has hooked everyone's mind with her maturity and way of standing up for herself. That's what attracts Pike in every essence, wanting to claim her, put her in her place and making her his; Something happened which left Cole and Jordan move into Cole’s father’s home and, well... you can just imagine how this goes. I was so excited when they moved in because draaaaaama. And there is definitely plenty of drama and angst. I simply adored the way the romance unraveled and developed between her and Pike. There was something so real and raw about it. It wasn't torrid, even though it was forbidden. You understand their attraction. You believe in it. You yearn for it. The tantalizingly slow build makes it even better. And that’s what I am. Her boyfriend’s father. Nothing more. But deep in my heart, the small ember growing bigger and bigger every day knows that’s a lie.

Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas | Goodreads Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas | Goodreads

I love both Pike and Jordan's thought process, both of them are similar in so many ways and I think that is the foremost reason why they molded together so perfectly. The main thing I love about Penelope Douglas’s book is that she doesn’t just write sex scenes for the sake of it. She doesn’t just write them to fill in the gaps, they are a big part of the story and have a meaning. I was so in love with this man's personality the minute he stared talking and stared doing stuff like putting a little candle on Jordan's donut because it's her birthday, doing dishes while talking on his phone or thinking about AC's temperature if is okay for Jordan(h) these little things tiny gestures always gets me.The kind of ‘present’ I have in mind is not something tangible, not something with a price tag. To put it simply”—he placed his hands on the desk and took one long, slow breath—”what I would like to do for a lovely young fairy such as you is to grant a wish you might have, to make your wish come true. Anything. Anything at all that you wish for—assuming that you do have such a wish.”