Cranford Comedian To Share Book Of Bad Love Stories This Month

CRANFORD, NJ — Alex Bernstein, a comedian and author who lives in Cranford, hopes to ruin Valentine's Day throughout New Jersey when he travels around reading from his newly published short story collection, "Miserable Love Stories: 25 Romantic Disasters That Are Worse Than Yours."

Bernstein says the collection of short fiction is "about uncomfortable road trips, horrific bridesmaids’ dresses, strange love at airports, awkward confessions, manic pixie dream girls, the bizarre state of future sex, why you should never ever mention Forrest Gump on a first date, and, of course, true, everlasting love."

Miserable Love Stories has been released by Skyhorse Publishing just in time for Valentine’s Day. The same company previously released another Berstein book, Miserable Holiday Stories.

During February, Bernstein will do book signings at the Town Bookstore in Westfield and Watchung Booksellers in Montclair. And on February 14 and 15, a 20-person cast from the Rising Curtain Theatre in Bloomfield, NJ will perform a selection of pieces from the book, called Miserable Love Stories Live! There will be one afternoon performance and two performances at 8 p.m.

Bernstein said Friday that while there may be some truth to the stories, they are largely fictional. And he hasn't gone on a bad date in a while.

"I’m very happily married and the book is dedicated to my wonderful wife, who has been a terrific sport about all this nonsense," he said. "Full disclosure: the section about 'Our Diet Adventure' is completely true."

The book, from Racehorse, a division of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., retails for $14.99 and can be found here.

For his first event, Bernstein will appear Saturday, Feb. 8 for a meet-and-greet from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Town Bookstore in Westfield.

He will also read and sign books from 7 to 9 p.m. at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair. And on February 14 and 15 he'll attend Miserable Love Stories Live! at the Rising Curtain Theatre in Bloomfield.

Bernstein's other work has appeared in McSweeney’s, The American Bystander, The Rumpus, The Big Jewel, NewPopLit, Corvus, BluePrintReview, Hobo Pancakes, the Legendary, MonkeyBicycle, Yankee Pot Roast, Swink, Litro, and Back Hair Advocate. Find out more about Bernstein and the events here.

He has lived in Cranford for 20 years. He has also has lived in Scotch Plains (briefly), New York City, Santa Monica, and Cincinnati, but, he said, "nothing touches Cranford!"