Book Review: "Patient, Female" by Julie Schumacher

I first discovered Julie Schumacher when I read her absolutely hilarious book Dear Committee Members. In that book (and a few others afterward) she created a pompous college professor adrift and amidst bureaucracy.

Her latest book is a short story collection, and it really demonstrated the depth of her talent. While one story made me laugh out loud and a few others had flashes of sly humor, most of the stories had more of an emotional pull.

In “Passengers,” an overprotective mother worries about her daughter after an incident at school. “Hospital Bridge” is the story of a middle-school student who, after being forced into volunteering at a nursing home, starts gambling on bridge games with the residents. “How My Light is Spent” follows an instructor at a community college and her short story writing class.

Some of my favorite stories in the collection were “Slow Learner,” which told of a woman’s fascination at the connection between her autistic son and her dying mother; “Your Better Self,” about a couple who get gifted a trip to a wellness spa by their late neighbor; “Syllabus,” a hilarious story written as a syllabus; “Spin,” in which four friends play a game with real-life implications; and the title story, in which a professional patient runs into someone she used to know.

As with most collections, not every story is a home run. But Schumacher creates such vivid characters, and I know I’ll have a few of these stories running through my mind for a while.

Book Review: "My Dear You: Stories" by Rachel Khong

I was so excited to read Rachel Khong’s brand-new story collection. I really enjoyed her previous books, Goodbye, Vitamin and Real Americans, and couldn’t wait to see how her voice would work in a variety of stories.

This was a really intriguing collection. Many of the stories dealt with unique, almost futuristic topics, but also many dealt with relationships, love, marriage, dating, and family.

Of the 10 stories in the book, here are a few of my favorites. In the title story, a young woman dies on her honeymoon and goes to heaven, only to find her memories of her life start to disappear. “The Freshening” envisions a world where the U.S. government creates an injection which turns everyone a person sees into the same race, sex, and ethnicity.

“The Family O” is about a group of Asian women who have all dated the same man they met on a dating app, and he apparently fetishizes them. In “Tapetum Lucidum,” a woman and her husband adopt a cat who somehow conjures up the ghosts of their exes. And in “Serene,” a woman befriends a sex doll she hopes to sell in order to get breast implants.

Khong is such a talented writer. These stories evoked a range of emotions and were very thought-provoking. Some definitely packed a punch, and I’ll be thinking about them for a long while.

Book Review: "Lift Me Up" by Milly Johnson

For years, Tam did nearly everything to hold it all together at YorkMart, the grocery company where she worked. Most of her efforts went unseen or someone else took the credit, but better she stay out of the spotlight, right? Yet when her boss leaves she is temporarily promoted to the top spot, finally giving her the chance to prove herself.

She envisions the company’s board being so impressed that they offer her the job permanently. Instead, they bring in an outside expert named Jack, sending Tam back into her old role. She hears rumors that he’ll be bringing his own people in, and when Jack requests her presence at an important meeting with the board, she figures she’ll be given her farewell.

She winds up in the elevator with Jack. Somewhere between floors 13 and 14, the elevator gets stuck. Tam starts to panic, envisioning all the ways she will meet her end. To calm her down, Jack talks to her and gets her to let down her guard a bit. She figures that if he’s going to let her go anyway, does it matter what she says, if he asks for her advice?

But the thing is, Jack knows all the work she’s put in. He thinks she should have been hired permanently too. He thinks she’s exceptional. Which is something no one has ever told her—not her family, not her fiancé, no one. She’s just made herself smaller and smaller and taken the criticism or indifference.

In the acknowledgments of the book, Milly Johnson says that she often writes “…about women who are due a renaissance because there are too many who do not value themselves for all they do for others, for the wonderful selfless people they are.”

This book really captures that spirit, although Tam must endure a lot of criticism and indifference before she can see her worth. Is it really a choice between being vibrant and seen or nearly invisible and irrelevant?

This story will publish 5/1.

Book Review: "Everybody's Favorite Guy" by Katherine Center

Lily and Walker’s families were best friends, so they grew up together. When Lily’s father died, Walker and his parents did everything to help her and her mother deal with their grief.

That was back in high school. Walker was tall, handsome, athletic, popular—everything that Lily was not. But of course she had an enormous crush on him, and one night, it appeared that her feelings were reciprocated. The next morning, however, Walker humiliated Lily and preyed on her biggest insecurity.

Seven years later, the two families are traveling to a cabin in the Rockies where they used to vacation in order to spread the ashes of both Lily and Walker’s fathers. Thankfully, Walker won’t be able to join them. And then—surprise! He’s able to join them after all.

Expecting unseasonably warm weather, they’re surprised to find a snowstorm brewing, which delays their mothers’ arrival. So it’s just Walker and Lily in the cabin—and then the power goes out. Throw in a fire, rehashing old memories, and a bear wanting to join them, and it becomes a night to remember.

“I was just a delusional nerd standing in a freak spring snowstorm with the boy who’d never loved her.”

I love Katherine Center’s writing so much. This was sweet and emotional, and just so enjoyable. Honestly, my only criticism is that it was too short!

Book Review: "Brawler: Stories" by Lauren Groff

Lauren Groff is a hell of a writer. Each of her novels has been vastly different and compelling, and her short story collections always crackle with power. And Brawler, her third story collection, may be her best yet.

The nine stories in this collection all find a character, often a woman, at some kind of crossroads. In many cases, these women have suffered some kind of abuse or pain, or they feel compelled to do something horrible. The stories are set from the 1950s to the present, and all over the country.

Some of the stories took my breath away for one reason or another, but there wasn’t a weak one in the bunch. Among my favorites were “The Wind,” about a mother and her children trying to flee her abusive husband; “Between The Shadow and The Soul,” in which a long-married couple is tested after the wife retires; and “Such Small Islands,” which tells of a young girl left to the care of a sister she doesn’t remember—and the young girl doesn’t like to share.

More favorites included “Sunland,” about a young woman who has to care for her disabled brother; “Annunciation,” in which a young woman unintentionally causes a colleague to flee suddenly; and the title story, about a swimmer who has to care for her hypochondriac mother and likes to cause chaos.

At the end of the book, Groff shares a sentence or two about what inspired her to write each story, or the feelings she was trying to convey. It's a fascinating peek into her creative process. I really was wowed by this collection!

Book Review: "Head of Household" by Oliver Mundy

I saw the cover of this book before I had any idea what its title was or what it was about. (I’ll admit I thought this might be a coming-of-age or a YA novel, just from the socks.)

So many books are written about motherhood—the highs and the lows, the relationships mothers form with their children, etc. Head of Household is a collection of short stories about fatherhood and fathers in all phases of life and in all kinds of situations. I’m not a father, but I definitely found these stories moving and intriguing.

I didn’t feel like there was a weak story in the bunch. Considering that this is Oliver Munday’s debut, I’d say that bodes pretty well for his career!

Some of my favorite stories included “Vandal,” in which a father’s old graffiti habit starts tugging at him again; “Cabin Pressure,” where a grieving father is flying back home to his family after a tragedy (my favorite in the book); “New Motion,” about a new father who asks his estranged father to pick him, his wife, and their new baby from the hospital; and “Pizza Party,” in which a restaurateur feels the pressure of preparing a meal during which he’ll meet his daughter’s fiancée.

While one or two of the stories tilt a bit more on the outlandish side, the themes of the stories feel very universal. They touch on overprotectiveness, tension, feelings of inadequacy, difficult relationships, dating a woman who already has a child, and the relationships between a man and his own father.

Sometimes when I read short stories, they don’t feel complete. With this collection, while there were definitely stories I would have loved more of, they all felt complete. Definitely an enjoyable read!

Book Review: "This Is Not About Us" by Allegra Goodman

I’ve said it lots of times before, but I love family dysfunction in books. And Jewish family dysfunction? Yes, please. (Not that my family was dysfunctional…)

Helen and Sylvia are devastated by the impending death of their youngest sister, Jeanne. Even though they’re in their late 70s and early 80s, this loss will hurt. But both women have very definite opinions on everything, particularly Jeanne’s final wishes regarding burial versus cremation.

When Jeanne finally dies, Helen and Sylvia argue and say horrible things to each other. But the crushing blow involves their mother’s apple cake. This causes a rift that neither sister wants to repair.

“Was this just a brief skirmish, or the beginning of a thirty-year feud? In the Rubinstein family, it could go either way.”

This is more a collection of linked stories than a cohesive novel, although each story follows another member of the family—the children of the three sisters, an ex-wife, even a grandchild or two. The stories all happen within a set timeframe.

Honestly, much of this book struck a real chord for me. I’ve been a fan of Allegra Goodman’s since the mid- to late 1990s, and she’s so good at creating the quiet and the loud moments. I would’ve liked a little more about Helen and Sylvia, but they were a part of many of the stories in one way or another.

Book Review: "Leave It Up to Love" by Kristy Woodson Harvey

There’s something about the books that Kristy Woodson Harvey writes. Maybe it’s because they’re always set in sunny, idyllic locations, but they always seem to brighten up the day. I’m thankful to Amazon FirstReads for early access to this sweet and fun story.

All Lila has dreamed of is being a bestselling author. While sales of her first novel didn’t quite make a huge impact, she’s determined that one of her two new ideas may be her ticket to quitting her barista job and writing full-time.

She can’t believe that her book is published by the same company as her favorite author of all time, Elizabeth Lancaster. The “Queen of Regency Romance” is her idol, and even though she orders a coffee from Lila nearly every day, Lila has never let on that she knows who she is.

Ever since her husband died a few years ago, Elizabeth has had writer’s block. She cannot write a word. But her publisher’s patience is running out, so they’ve suggested she use a ghostwriter: Lila, whose style is very similar to hers. Elizabeth doesn’t want to depend on her barista, but it doesn’t seem she has a choice. (She doesn’t.)

This is a story about recovery, finding your confidence again, and taking a different path. At the same time, it’s a sweet love story and a story about finding every way possible to achieve your dreams. This was a nice appetizer to hold me over until Kristy’s next book comes out in May!!

The story will officially publish 3/1.

Book Review: "I Could Be Famous" by Sydney Rende

“Money. Fame. The high you get when a group of strangers screams your name with tears in their eyes. The ability to strut around L.A. like you really belong there (most people don’t), like you landed in the exact right spot.”

The quote above describes the characters that some of the stories in this enjoyable debut collection center around. In some cases they’re famous; in others, they’re infamous; and in others they’re either fame-adjacent or wanting to be famous. (The irony is not lost on me that I’m discussing this book on social media for my followers.)

There are 11 stories in this collection. The characters always made me a little bit nervous, wondering what disaster they might cause. But I really enjoyed nearly all of them.

Some of my favorite stories include: “Nothing Special,” about a young woman who becomes friends with a popular influencer yet realizes the life she covets isn’t all that great; “High School Junkie Girlfriend,” in which an aspiring young actress aims for authenticity before her audition for the role of said girlfriend; “The Actor Naked,” which deals with the ways the relationship between an actor and his assistant changes when she sees him naked; and “Monsters,” about a reality TV star who just wants to be loved, but can’t seem to pull it together when she’s not on camera.

I really was impressed with Sydney Rende’s storytelling abilities. All of the stories felt complete and I felt totally immersed in the mini-universes she created. Not all of the characters are sympathetic but they were all fascinating.

Book Review: "Famous Once" by Jane Green

This was one of the Amazon First Reads for January. Jane Green’s writing is so lush and evocative, and she always captures the time period of her work and the setting so effectively.

In the 1970s, Astrid Lane was one of the hottest models in the world. Everyone knew her face and her name, and she was often found in the company of the world’s most glamorous stars. When she fell for rockstar Callum Blake, it was a fairytale match, and Astrid was more than happy to step away from her career to raise the couple’s daughter, Zara.

But fame took its toll, and when Astrid and Callum’s marriage fell apart due to his infidelity, Astrid became addicted to drugs and alcohol, leaving young Zara to fend for herself.

Years later, Astrid lives a quiet life as a caterer, and has a somewhat-estranged relationship with Zara. But when a retrospective of 1970s music and fashion raises the profile of the stars of that time, Callum is back in the spotlight. His life is the subject of a podcast, but of particular interest is a tragedy that happened all those years ago.

Zara, who is a globetrotting reporter, wants to dig into the tragedy, even if it might unearth information that could damage her father. Astrid becomes a target of threats to keep any information she has a secret, which includes hours of audio recordings Callum made for her through the years. Zara and Astrid pore over these recordings and other memorabilia, and the truth is finally uncovered.

I thought this was a good story, but it was a little too short to feel complete. Everything was treated with a broad brush rather than detail, but I would love to see this expanded into a novel.

The story will be released 2/1/2026.

Book Review: "The One That Got Away" by Mike Gayle

When Reuben met Beth, he knew he’d found someone special, someone he wanted to spend his life with. But while Reuben fell head over heels in love with Beth, she declared she didn’t believe in love. That’s not a good foundation for a relationship, is it?

Six months ago, they broke up. Needless to say, Reuben is shocked to learn that Beth is getting married this coming weekend. Yep, his ex-girlfriend who didn’t believe in love is going to get married, to someone other than Reuben.

“This was not the way we were meant to end up; we were supposed to get our hard-earned, written-in-the-stars, course-of-true-love-never-did-run-smooth-but-comes-good-eventually happy ever after. What on earth went wrong?”

Reuben’s friends spring into action to protect him from losing his mind on the day of Beth’s wedding. They plan a whole host of wild activities, even renting a bright red Ferrari for the day. But then Reuben gets a call that will throw not only all of their plans, but also Reuben’s heart, into disarray.

This was a cute story about how you figure out whether a person is truly right for you. It alternates back and forth between the past and the present, illustrating the rise and fall of Reuben and Beth’s relationship.

I would have loved if this story were narrated by both Reuben and Beth instead of just Reuben. It would’ve added a bit more depth to see how similar and how far apart they were from each other. But this was still sweet.

It will publish 5/1/2025.

Book Review: "Two Women Walk Into a Bar" by Cheryl Strayed

Sounds like the setup to a joke, doesn’t it? But this story by Cheryl Strayed definitely packs an emotional punch.

Cheryl and her husband Brian get the news that Brian’s mother Joan is dying. It’s not unexpected news but obviously it’s still a blow, and it causes major upheaval in their lives. As they work on moving Joan into the assisted living facility in her community, Cheryl reflects on their relationship, nearly 20 years to the day that Cheryl first met Joan.

“Over the previous two decades, we’d come to love each other, but it was a particular, conditional sort of love, one based on circumstance and courtesy rather than connection and compatibility.”

Like many relationships between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, there was always a note of competition between the two, fighting for superiority in Brian’s life. Joan praised Cheryl, but always with qualifiers or slight condescension. (She once said, “You’re big, but you’re firm. Like sculpted butter.”) Joan was always a small reminder of Cheryl’s mother, who died of cancer when Cheryl was much younger.

This was beautifully told, full of humorous and poignant moments. Cheryl not only has to process her own emotions in the wake of Joan’s impending death, but also be sensitive to Brian’s grief, and help their two young children comprehend the loss of the only grandparent they’d ever known.

If you’ve recently experienced loss, this may be a bit triggering for you. But as always, I’m struck by Strayed’s storytelling ability, making you care about people you don’t know.

Book Review: "Show Don't Tell" by Curtis Sittenfeld

In 2005, I was working at a bookstore and one of my colleagues told me to read a book called Prep. It was excellent, despite my never having gone to a prep school, and that book launched my love of Curtis Sittenfeld’s storytelling.

Now, 20 years later, I’ve read all of her books, including her newest one, which is a collection of short stories. For me, as much as I love short stories, collections are often uneven, but this book was uniformly excellent. Sittenfeld’s writing is sharp and funny and emotional, and her stories are all so much more complex than they seem at first.

The story that has gotten the most attention is “Lost But Not Forgotten.” It follows Lee, the main character of Prep, as she attends her 30-year reunion. She also recalls an encounter with perhaps the school’s most famous alumnus. (It’s okay if you’ve never read or don’t remember Prep.)

So many of the other stories in the book really wowed me. In “The Richest Babysitter in the World,” a woman remembers working as a babysitter for a Jeff Bezos-like character on the cusp of Amazon’s creation. “White Women LOL” follows a suburban wife and mother whose social blunder (is she or isn’t she a racist) goes viral. “Creative Differences” is about a documentary crew’s travel to Wichita, Kansas, and the trouble that ensues when a subject feels misled.

Other stories I enjoyed were “The Marriage Clock,” about a filmmaker who meets the author of a relationship manual—and is surprised by her visit; “The Hug,” which takes place during the pandemic and deals with the underlying anxiety about encounters; and the title story, in which a woman remembers being in graduate school and waiting to find out if she won a prestigious fellowship.

This was one of the books I was eagerly anticipating this year, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. Sittenfeld is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I’ll continue to get excited when I learn she has a new book out!

Book Review: "The Bookstore Keepers" by Alice Hoffman

“…aloneness breeds loneliness, and loneliness will come between you and your beloved before you know it and drive you apart.”

I have been loving this series of stories Alice Hoffman has written! The first two stories, The Bookstore Sisters and The Bookstore Wedding, were packed with so much emotion and beauty, and the newest one is just as exceptional.

Sisters Isabel and Sophie run a bookstore together in their hometown of Brinkley’s Island, Maine. Both have weathered major upheavals in their lives and were apart for a number of years, only to find their way back to one another. And while their lives are intertwined, they each have carved out their own space.

One morning, Isabel’s husband Johnny awakens from a dream, crying. What he saw in the dream, and how it manifests itself in real life, has a significant impact on both him and Isabel. Sometimes, when the one you love is struggling, the best thing you can do for them is be a safe harbor when they need you.

Meanwhile, Sophie’s daughter Violet returns to the island after college, and everyone expects that she will take over the bookstore at some point. Yet she has dreams of her own, but how do you know if it’s the right time to live for yourself?

Hoffman’s writing is so beautifully poetic and full of heart. I love the way she creates a fully realized world in a short number of pages, and I’ve been carrying these characters in my heart. I always say that the mark of a good book is one that makes you wish you knew the characters in real life. That’s definitely the case here.

Book Review: "Eleven Numbers" by Lee Child

When I picked up this story by Lee Child, the last thing I expected was math. At least I didn’t have to solve any equations!

Nathan is a mathematician and a university professor. He’s well known in his field, but mathematicians aren’t quite celebrity material. So needless to say he’s tremendously surprised when he gets a call from the White House, telling him that his help is needed.

“He was a very able mathematician. But there were fifty others in the world just as good. Maybe a hundred. His publication history was competitive. He had contributed to all the important journals. But so had fifty others. Maybe a hundred. His debut had been his PhD thesis. Groundbreaking, really, but in a field no one was interested in. Nothing about him stood out.”

He is flown to a meeting at the National Security Agency—a meeting attended by a famous mathematician and the President of the United States, as well as two intelligence officers. When Nathan is shown a series of 11 equations, he determines that they are part of a computer security algorithm. The correct numerical sequence is a powerful tool: it controls access to Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

The person who created the algorithm is a famed Russian mathematician. The President and his security team want Nathan to meet this man to try and get feel for which of the 11 equations will allow them the access they need. So they get Nathan an invitation to attend a mathematics conference in Russia, and he should be able to meet the man. But nothing goes quite like expected.⁣

This was very different than anything else of Lee Child’s that I’ve read. There were more twists than I was expecting, but it was a little dry. Or maybe it’s my phobia about math…

Book Review: "Broken Threads" by Sagit Schwartz

I definitely fall prey to the whole #Bookstagrammademedoit concept, but never have I finished someone’s review of a book and immediately bought the book. At least until I read the review of Sagit Schwartz’s excellent short story, “Broken Threads.”

Clare has always dreamed of being a bestselling author but she can’t seem to land a deal. The longer it takes, the more resentful she becomes of those who do succeed, especially those she believes she has more talent than.

When Clare’s longtime job as a technical writer is eliminated because she can be replaced by AI, her desperation grows. She knows her historical fiction novel is excellent, but no agent will talk to her because she’s older and not photogenic. But with barely any money to cover rent, she’s willing to try anything.

Her last shot is approaching her neighbor, Amber, who has built a career as a successful influencer. Nearly everything Amber owns or wears has been given to her in exchange for mentions. Clare thinks having Amber promote the book will be a great idea, but Amber doesn’t think that effort will be successful. And then Amber suggests that she tell people she wrote the book, and in exchange, she’ll give Clare 50 percent of the profits.

Of course, when things seem too good to be true, they usually are. The book becomes a huge success but Clare starts suspecting that Amber is ripping her off. And then Amber winds up dead.

I devoured this in a very short time and I honestly could’ve read a full-length version of this. @sagitschwartz had me hooked from the very first word! This was a great story and so timely.

Book Review: "The Answer is No" by Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman is one of my favorite authors. The Beartown series just blew me away and I’ve loved so many of his books where the curmudgeon just needs to be loved and appreciated.

That being said, I tend to like Backman’s books when they’re more emotional and dramatic. The one book of his I struggled with was Normal People, because it felt very silly to me, almost farcical.

I had the same challenges with The Answer is No, Backman’s upcoming story. I appreciate the message he was trying to convey, but it just got too wacky for me.

Lucas is one of those people who keeps to himself. He would much rather spend time alone than have to deal with others. He doesn’t seek out relationships because they would force him to compromise or not get what he wants.

And then one day, his peace is shattered when three board members come to his door. Apparently someone in his building has left a frying pan next to the recycling room. That’s against the rules. But Lucas innocuously suggests how to solve the problem—and he doesn’t realize the wheels he has set in motion.

The story quickly slides into satire. It’s cute and I’m sure it may be a home run for others, but it wasn’t my thing. It will publish 12/1.

Book Review: "When We Were Friends" by Jane Green

“To think I may have found a best friend after a five-minute chat, an unlikely meeting in the bathroom of a bar.”

It’s funny how some friendships feel just like dating at the start. You meet someone, you like them, you hope they like you back. Quite often there’s that delicate dance at first, you don’t want to seem too eager.

Lucy is newly divorced, trying to reinvent herself, when she goes to a bar one night with a group of women with whom she has very little in common. She immediately feels out of place and wonders how soon she can go home.

A quick trip to the restroom brings her face to face with Elle. She’s younger and more vibrant, but Lucy recognizes a kindred spirit. After some conversation, they realize they have more in common than Lucy would have imagined, and they make plans for later in the week.

It’s not long before the two become inseparable. For Lucy, Elle fills a void that had existed for some time. She makes Lucy feel like she can conquer anything, and they’re even planning to work together. But after Lucy brings Elle to a party, things veer off-course, and Elle disappears. Lucy mourns the loss of this friend, until she runs into her again and realizes that as close as they were, she doesn’t know Elle at all.

I enjoy Jane Green’s writing, but this felt very incomplete for me. Having Elle’s perspective—although her motivations were quite clear—would have made this more interesting. But it definitely reinforced my belief that you can never truly know someone.

Book Review: "Rejection" by Tony Tulathimutte

Rejection is a fascinating, thought-provoking, and truly visceral story collection. It’s definitely not a book that inspires positivity for the most part, but it’s so well-written, you might not care.

The seven interconnected stories in Tony Tulathimutte’s collection all focus on a central theme: rejection. The characters have to face fears of loneliness, issues with their self-esteem, and, quite often, anger toward those they perceive to be responsible for rejecting them, as well as society.

The opening story, “The Feminist,” follows a man who so heartily supports the empowerment of women and their control of relationships, but it’s mostly so women will have sex with him. And that doesn’t happen. For a long, long time. (Lots and lots of friend zones.)

In “Pics,” a woman hooks up with a close friend of hers, and quickly discovers she feels like it was much more significant an event than he did. Her growing obsessiveness doesn’t help, and her continued spiraling makes her feel worse, which she takes out on everyone.

And in “Ahegao; or, The Ballad of Sexual Repression,” a young man comes out of the closet but can’t seem to find someone who wants a relationship. He soon discovers his fascination with a troubling sub-genre of porn.

These stories are very modern, with conversations conducted through various forms of social media at times, and they’re very much in step with the different sociological movements in our society. They’re dark and satirical, yet at times they pack a powerful punch.

My biggest struggle with the book is that none of the characters are particularly likable. It’s hard at times to read stories in which characters are complaining and ranting a lot. But Tulathimutte’s storytelling talent elevates the book.

Book Review: "The History of Sound" by Ben Shattuck

When short stories are done well, they can have as much power as a full-length novel. And sometimes, they make you long for more time with their characters but don’t leave you hanging. The History of Sound hits both of those targets.

What’s unique about this collection, however, is that elements of one story appear in another, so they’re essentially paired. Sometimes the pairing is more obvious and other times it’s more subtle, but this technique gives you a different perspective from a different timeframe.

There are absolutely beautiful stories in this collection. My favorite is the title story, where a music student meets a man in a bar just as WWI is heating up. The two fall in love, and spend a summer walking through the woods of Maine, collecting folk songs from various people. Their relationship is brief but has an immense effect on the musician, even years later. (This is being made into a movie with Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor.)

Some other stories that I know will stick with me include: “The Auk,” which follows a man dealing with his wife’s dementia in a very unique way; “August in the Forest,” about relationships and secrets we keep from those we love; and “Edwin Chase of Nantucket,” in which a young man’s life in 1796 is upended when his mother’s old boyfriend arrives with his new wife.

All of the stories take place in New England, and are set anywhere from the 1700s to the present. Ben Shattuck is definitely an immense talent, one whose career I’ll eagerly be following.