Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, bsc

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting books by indie authors I genuinely enjoyed reading. Indie stories often take bigger risks, feel more honest, and don’t sand down the sharp edges—and that’s exactly what makes them worth your time. Consider this a small celebration of bold voices, fresh ideas, and books that deserve a little more spotlight.

Some dates ghost you. Others forget your birthday. This one almost ends your life, which really feels like an overreaction for a first impression.

Breathless: A Red Flag Dating Club Short Story by Andrea Cumbo is a sharp, darkly funny reminder that chemistry means nothing if basic survival is at risk. The premise hooks you instantly: a man who checks all the right boxes—bookish, cute, intelligent—until one deeply inconvenient event makes it clear he belongs nowhere near a second date. Or a human being. Or sharp objects.

Cumbo doesn’t waste time. This is a fast, punchy short story that skewers modern dating with surgical precision and a raised eyebrow. The humor lands because it’s grounded in something painfully familiar: the way we excuse red flags when attraction clouds judgment. Here, the metaphor simply stops pretending to be subtle.

The Red Flag Dating Club concept shines. It’s cathartic, witty, and just uncomfortable enough to make you laugh while mentally reviewing your own dating history like a crime scene investigator.

If you enjoy short stories with bite, dark humor, and the quiet satisfaction of watching terrible men get crossed decisively off the list, Breathless delivers. Quickly. Efficiently. Without mercy.