An Old Man's Darling

What could possibly go right when a 21-year-old Jewish/agnostic erstwhile hippie chick college dropout and a 55-year-old staid, unhappily married businessman/Episcopal priest fall in love?Plenty, it turns out.An Old Man's Darling is the story of a love affair, parenthood, and a marriage; a 20-year chronicle of the unlikeliest of relationships.Yes, there is a power differential (and everything that goes along with that) AND the pair love each other truly, deeply, and yes, a little madly, too.This is a story for anyone who's ever observed mismatched lovers and wondered what in the world they could possibly see in one another; for anyone who's ever had a crush on an older man (or woman) and wondered how the fantasy might turn out; and for anyone who understands that sometimes love is just crazy, and that there's no one-size-fits-all explanation of what attracts one human being to another.With today's perspective, and the benefits of both age and hindsight, Shepherd revisits her past, asking tough questions, of herself and about romantic love, religious roots, judgement from others, and feminism, in what becomes a powerful, engrossing and unforgettable read about an improbable love.

"The prose is unflinchingly honest, effectively exploring the roles of body image and self-esteem, religion, and generational differences: 'Looking back, it all swirls together-objectification/sexual attraction/passion/obsession/possession/desire/intimacy/love-like the tendrils of a sweet pea. If you try to separate them, you are in danger of killing the flower.' It's a thoughtful and multidimensional examination of love, power, and self that doesn't shy away from asking difficult questions. A nuanced and open account of an unconventional relationship."-Kirkus Reviews

"Gripping...a moving, emotional ride." -Sari Botton, author of And You May Find Yourself and editor of Oldster Magazine

"Insightful, tender and generous...A tribute and a confession wrapped in a love story." -Blair Glaser, author of This Incredible Longing

"Searingly honest and deeply moving...A testament to the mantra that 'age is just a number, ' until it becomes much, much more."

-Nina B. Lichtenstein, author of Body: My Life in Parts

Author: Deborah K. Shepherd
Publisher: Heliotrope Books LLC
Published: 05/12/2026
Pages: 292
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.87lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.66d
ISBN: 9781956474831


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2026

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