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The Best American Short Stories 2025
A collection of the year’s best short stories, selected by celebrated bestselling author Celeste Ng, author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere, and series editor Nicole Lamy.
The Best American series, launched in 1915, is the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction and nonfiction, and it is the most respected—and most popular—of its kind.
Celeste Ng—Puschcart Prize winner and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere—selects twenty stories out of thousands that represent the best examples of the form published this year.
The Best American series, launched in 1915, is the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction and nonfiction, and it is the most respected—and most popular—of its kind.
Celeste Ng—Puschcart Prize winner and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere—selects twenty stories out of thousands that represent the best examples of the form published this year.
384 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2025
365 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
About the author
Celeste Ng
18 books93k followersCeleste Ng is the author of three novels, Everything I Never Told You, Little Fires Everywhere, and Our Missing Hearts.
Her first novel, Everything I Never Told You (2014), was a New York Times bestseller, a
New York Times Notable Book of 2014, Amazon’s #1 Best Book of 2014, and named a best book of the year by over a dozen publications. Everything I Never Told You was also the winner of the Massachusetts Book Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and the ALA’s Alex Award. It has been translated into over thirty languages and is being adapted for the screen.
Her second novel, Little Fires Everywhere (2017) was a #1 New York Times bestseller, a #1 Indie Next bestseller, and Amazon's Best Fiction Book of 2017. It was named a best book of the year by over 25 publications, the winner of the Ohioana Award and the Goodreads Readers Choice Award 2017 in Fiction, and spent over a year on the New York Times bestseller list.
Little Fires Everywhere has been published abroad in more than 30 languages and has been adapted as a limited series on Hulu, starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.
Her third novel, Our Missing Hearts, will be published on October 4, 2022.
Celeste grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Shaker Heights, Ohio. She graduated from Harvard University and earned an MFA from the University of Michigan (now the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan). Her fiction and essays have appeared in the
New York Times, The Guardian, and many other publications, and she is a recipient of the Pushcart Prize, a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Guggenheim Fellowship, among other honors.
Her first novel, Everything I Never Told You (2014), was a New York Times bestseller, a
New York Times Notable Book of 2014, Amazon’s #1 Best Book of 2014, and named a best book of the year by over a dozen publications. Everything I Never Told You was also the winner of the Massachusetts Book Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and the ALA’s Alex Award. It has been translated into over thirty languages and is being adapted for the screen.
Her second novel, Little Fires Everywhere (2017) was a #1 New York Times bestseller, a #1 Indie Next bestseller, and Amazon's Best Fiction Book of 2017. It was named a best book of the year by over 25 publications, the winner of the Ohioana Award and the Goodreads Readers Choice Award 2017 in Fiction, and spent over a year on the New York Times bestseller list.
Little Fires Everywhere has been published abroad in more than 30 languages and has been adapted as a limited series on Hulu, starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.
Her third novel, Our Missing Hearts, will be published on October 4, 2022.
Celeste grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Shaker Heights, Ohio. She graduated from Harvard University and earned an MFA from the University of Michigan (now the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan). Her fiction and essays have appeared in the
New York Times, The Guardian, and many other publications, and she is a recipient of the Pushcart Prize, a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Guggenheim Fellowship, among other honors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
December 3, 2025
a process of reading a story and going “yeah but I bet the next one won’t be as good as that” and being wrong 20 times in a row
November 24, 2025
The BASS series is one of my favorite compilations of short stories. This year Celeste Ng is the guest editor with Nicole A. Lamy as the series editor. Along with the stories, I enjoy reading the editors' Foreword and Introduction, as well as the story authors' notes in the back.
I had higher hopes for this year's selections. Out of the twenty stories, twelve were pretty good, a couple of them were creepy or cringy and the rest were meh. It is always difficult to rate this as a book because the stories vary
These were my favorites:
What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do for Me? By Emma Binder was sad. It is hard to come home when you are not the same person who left.
Abject Naturalism by Sarah Braunstein - The author admits she had so many situations she didn’t know how to end it. It shows.
A single mother fears for her daughter out in the world. When the girl comes home with a telescope that an elderly neighbor gave her, at first she is mistrustful but then envisions him as their savior.
Maritza and Carmen by Lyn Di Iorio - A woman swept away by Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico has no memory of it. She runs a café with a guy she lives with. When there is a picture of her in a newspaper, she finds out that she has a daughter. This brings back memories of her relationship with her own mother rather than her daughter. After they meet, her mate is surprised that she chooses her current life rather than going back to her old life.
Time of the Preacher by Bret Anthony Johnston - A divorced guy gets called by his ex-wife to help her find a loose snake in the rental unit she manages. He wonders if this is a ploy by her to see him. She tells him she is concerned about him because COVID is rampant and he is alone. He takes an old recliner from the place that was left behind, not knowing that that is where the snake is hiding. Like a fable.
Underwater by Hannah Kingsley-Ma -
A woman marries into a family that is much closer to each other than she is used to, especially her husband and his sister. There is a tension between the two. When they vacation together, she accidentally throws a stick for the family dog who chases it over a waterfall. Not a good way to ingratiate yourself with a family who already has its doubts about you. LOL
Drapetomania by William Lohier - Good story but scary.
The Clean-Out by Yasmin Adele Majeed – A good story about a mother/daughter relationship.
Seven Stories About Tammy – by Elizabeth McCracken – Tammy is always the topic of conjecture in a family, especially about her age.
Till It and Keep It by Carrie R. Moore – I’m not usually a fan of dystopian stories but this was very good but very scary and sad.
Angelo by Andrew Porter – Tragic love
Aishwarya Rai by Sanjana Thakur – This one was pretty good.
A woman unhappy with her real mother rents out mothers from an agency in a quest to find the perfect one. She is also obsessed with an actress. When she finds herself on a photo shoot assignment with the actress, she draws attention to herself. The actress banishes her. In the end the woman calls her real mother to have her comfort her.
An Early Departure by Jessica Treadway - A woman who sees herself as a favorite aunt to her niece and nephew considers herself like a mother to them. When the nephew gets into trouble in school, the niece calls her to bail him out. When she refuses, she is persona non grata. Not the favorite anymore.
I had higher hopes for this year's selections. Out of the twenty stories, twelve were pretty good, a couple of them were creepy or cringy and the rest were meh. It is always difficult to rate this as a book because the stories vary
These were my favorites:
What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do for Me? By Emma Binder was sad. It is hard to come home when you are not the same person who left.
Abject Naturalism by Sarah Braunstein - The author admits she had so many situations she didn’t know how to end it. It shows.
A single mother fears for her daughter out in the world. When the girl comes home with a telescope that an elderly neighbor gave her, at first she is mistrustful but then envisions him as their savior.
Maritza and Carmen by Lyn Di Iorio - A woman swept away by Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico has no memory of it. She runs a café with a guy she lives with. When there is a picture of her in a newspaper, she finds out that she has a daughter. This brings back memories of her relationship with her own mother rather than her daughter. After they meet, her mate is surprised that she chooses her current life rather than going back to her old life.
Time of the Preacher by Bret Anthony Johnston - A divorced guy gets called by his ex-wife to help her find a loose snake in the rental unit she manages. He wonders if this is a ploy by her to see him. She tells him she is concerned about him because COVID is rampant and he is alone. He takes an old recliner from the place that was left behind, not knowing that that is where the snake is hiding. Like a fable.
Underwater by Hannah Kingsley-Ma -
A woman marries into a family that is much closer to each other than she is used to, especially her husband and his sister. There is a tension between the two. When they vacation together, she accidentally throws a stick for the family dog who chases it over a waterfall. Not a good way to ingratiate yourself with a family who already has its doubts about you. LOL
Drapetomania by William Lohier - Good story but scary.
The Clean-Out by Yasmin Adele Majeed – A good story about a mother/daughter relationship.
Seven Stories About Tammy – by Elizabeth McCracken – Tammy is always the topic of conjecture in a family, especially about her age.
Till It and Keep It by Carrie R. Moore – I’m not usually a fan of dystopian stories but this was very good but very scary and sad.
Angelo by Andrew Porter – Tragic love
Aishwarya Rai by Sanjana Thakur – This one was pretty good.
A woman unhappy with her real mother rents out mothers from an agency in a quest to find the perfect one. She is also obsessed with an actress. When she finds herself on a photo shoot assignment with the actress, she draws attention to herself. The actress banishes her. In the end the woman calls her real mother to have her comfort her.
An Early Departure by Jessica Treadway - A woman who sees herself as a favorite aunt to her niece and nephew considers herself like a mother to them. When the nephew gets into trouble in school, the niece calls her to bail him out. When she refuses, she is persona non grata. Not the favorite anymore.
January 25, 2026
4.25 stars
The Best American Short Stories 2025 is edited by Celeste Ng and contains twenty short stories chosen by Ng from a larger pool of contenders selected by Nicole A. Lamy.
The majority of the stories are literary fiction, although a few have speculative premises. One theme that appears frequently within these stories is family relationships—particularly the relationship between parents and children. Perhaps this reflects Ng’s interests, as these themes appear frequently in her own work.
I really liked most of these stories. Although there were a few that didn’t quite work for me, I could understand why each story made it into a “best of” collection.
My favorite stories are “Abject Naturalism” by Sarah Braunstein and “Seven Stories about Tammy” by Elizabeth Cracken.
If you’re looking for a strong sampling of works from different writers, this is a great book to check out.
January 9, 2026
This worked well for me because I was looking for a break from longer novels, and it helped me ease into the new year. The star ratings below are based entirely on how much I enjoyed and/or connected with each story.
Dominion: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Take Me to Kirkland: ⭐️⭐️
What Would I Do for You, What Would You Do for Me?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Abject Naturalism: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unfathomably Deep: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (what did I just read????!!!!)
Maritza and Carmen: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gray, Cotton, White Lace Edges: DNF
Time of the Preacher: ⭐️⭐️
Underwater: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Drapetomania: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (wao!!)
The Clean-Out: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seven Stories About Tammy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Till It and Keep It: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angelo: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yellow Tulips: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Third Room: ... (too abstract for me, cannot rate)
The Masterclass: ⭐️⭐️⭐️(it was good, but too depressing for me)
What About This: DNF
Aishwarya Rai: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An Early Departure: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dominion: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Take Me to Kirkland: ⭐️⭐️
What Would I Do for You, What Would You Do for Me?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Abject Naturalism: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unfathomably Deep: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (what did I just read????!!!!)
Maritza and Carmen: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gray, Cotton, White Lace Edges: DNF
Time of the Preacher: ⭐️⭐️
Underwater: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Drapetomania: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (wao!!)
The Clean-Out: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seven Stories About Tammy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Till It and Keep It: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angelo: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yellow Tulips: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Third Room: ... (too abstract for me, cannot rate)
The Masterclass: ⭐️⭐️⭐️(it was good, but too depressing for me)
What About This: DNF
Aishwarya Rai: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An Early Departure: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 30, 2025
These were good.
January 6, 2026
favorites were what would i do for you, seven stories about tammy, angelo, and aishwarya rai. but overall i didn’t like this year’s anthology as much, too many stories about covid and navel-gazey mfa stories (stories about writers whose writing professors tell them not to write stories about writers). i guess my taste is different from celeste ng’s
December 30, 2025
Nice mix of short stories; some hit or miss, but most of them were quite enjoyable.
December 17, 2025
I look forward to this collection every year. Never disappoints.
January 9, 2026
I love writing drive-by reviews of my favorite stories in this annual series but it’s been months since I read this. But for the record, and for when I inevitably look back on this for new authors to read, the best from this strong collection include:
“Abject Naturalism” - Sarah Braunstein
“Gray, Cotten, White Lace Edges” - Isabelle Fang
“Underwater” - Hannah Kingsley-Ma
“Drapetomania” - William Lohier
“Seven Stories About Tammy” - Elizabeth McCracken*
“Third Room” - Julian Robles
“An Early Departure” - Jessica Treadway
*The best of the lot
“Abject Naturalism” - Sarah Braunstein
“Gray, Cotten, White Lace Edges” - Isabelle Fang
“Underwater” - Hannah Kingsley-Ma
“Drapetomania” - William Lohier
“Seven Stories About Tammy” - Elizabeth McCracken*
“Third Room” - Julian Robles
“An Early Departure” - Jessica Treadway
*The best of the lot
January 12, 2026
The stories oscillated between a few really solid and thought-provoking ones to amateur MFA writing (you know when contemporary fiction tries way too hard and it ends up being super random and unrealistic and the main character is insufferable in an obviously try-hard way idk). Honestly by the last few i was really struggling to get through. disappointed in celeste ng's selections given how much i like her books
However if you do read a few, here are my favs:
What Would I Do for You, What Would You Do for Me? - Cody, a trans man, returns to his conservative midwestern small town and saves a dude from drowning. the dude and the dude's friends invite Cody to a bar and Cody feels like they're going to hate crime him, but they don't end up hate criming him. this was so sad and a twinge hopeful. i really enjoyed this one because it seemed realistic while portraying a niche but important experience/perspective
Till It and Keep It - dystopian future where the american south is completely fucked up from climate change and 2 women who are each others' chosen "sisters" stumble upon a refuge farm situation as they're trying to make it to the north. one of them ends up falling in love with the owner of the farm and wanting to stay and the other one ends up leaving to continue the journey. what really moved me was the ending. the woman who stays knows they'll never see each other again but still holds the dream that she and her friend will still end up living together one day. echoes the sad reality of friends drifting apart as societal expectations and the nuclear family makes girl bestie commune fantasies impossible 3
Angelo - 2 closeted gay high schoolers who have dreams of being artists. dreams end up being crushed because poverty and reality. depressing af but a great story and characters and emotions invoked.
However if you do read a few, here are my favs:
What Would I Do for You, What Would You Do for Me? - Cody, a trans man, returns to his conservative midwestern small town and saves a dude from drowning. the dude and the dude's friends invite Cody to a bar and Cody feels like they're going to hate crime him, but they don't end up hate criming him. this was so sad and a twinge hopeful. i really enjoyed this one because it seemed realistic while portraying a niche but important experience/perspective
Till It and Keep It - dystopian future where the american south is completely fucked up from climate change and 2 women who are each others' chosen "sisters" stumble upon a refuge farm situation as they're trying to make it to the north. one of them ends up falling in love with the owner of the farm and wanting to stay and the other one ends up leaving to continue the journey. what really moved me was the ending. the woman who stays knows they'll never see each other again but still holds the dream that she and her friend will still end up living together one day. echoes the sad reality of friends drifting apart as societal expectations and the nuclear family makes girl bestie commune fantasies impossible 3
Angelo - 2 closeted gay high schoolers who have dreams of being artists. dreams end up being crushed because poverty and reality. depressing af but a great story and characters and emotions invoked.
January 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Best American Short Stories 2025.
Short stories are a hard sell, I get it.
Every once in awhile I do enjoy reading them; they're just a mouthful and you don't have to commit to a longer book if you don't like the story.
On the other hand, it's hard to find a short story you like.
In all these collections, I enjoy the stories for the writing and diversity and the sense of place but no one story resonated.
I did like how the author mentions in the preface how it was difficult to pick out a short story from all the ones she had to choose from.
How do you choose and on what basis?
The selection is based on the individual's personal experiences, likes, dislikes, interests and biases.
It made me wonder what stories Ms. Ng left out.
Short stories are a hard sell, I get it.
Every once in awhile I do enjoy reading them; they're just a mouthful and you don't have to commit to a longer book if you don't like the story.
On the other hand, it's hard to find a short story you like.
In all these collections, I enjoy the stories for the writing and diversity and the sense of place but no one story resonated.
I did like how the author mentions in the preface how it was difficult to pick out a short story from all the ones she had to choose from.
How do you choose and on what basis?
The selection is based on the individual's personal experiences, likes, dislikes, interests and biases.
It made me wonder what stories Ms. Ng left out.
February 7, 2026
This book has really made me a fan of the short stories genre! I look forward to reading future year editions.
I think the first 9 stories and the last 4 stories felt super strong to me. I was starting to lose interest in the middle.
My favorite story, surprisingly, was “Gray, Cotton, White Lace Edges”. I think the concept of a long-term friendship ending out of the blue that you didn’t expect to end got me, and the concept felt very original. It was also just edgy enough that I was intrigued and impressed.
I also really loved the Masterclass story. It resonated me as a former pianist and current try-hard, the concept of wanting someone’s approval so bad who you know you will never get, and reflecting as you’re older that adults that are harsh to children are just jealous and unhappy with themselves.
Overall, highly recommend especially if you are in a reading funk!
I think the first 9 stories and the last 4 stories felt super strong to me. I was starting to lose interest in the middle.
My favorite story, surprisingly, was “Gray, Cotton, White Lace Edges”. I think the concept of a long-term friendship ending out of the blue that you didn’t expect to end got me, and the concept felt very original. It was also just edgy enough that I was intrigued and impressed.
I also really loved the Masterclass story. It resonated me as a former pianist and current try-hard, the concept of wanting someone’s approval so bad who you know you will never get, and reflecting as you’re older that adults that are harsh to children are just jealous and unhappy with themselves.
Overall, highly recommend especially if you are in a reading funk!
Read
January 23, 2026Some bangers in here and also some that made me think if this can make it into best American I can do anything …
December 3, 2025
I liked this collection but didn't love it. Some of the stories I thought were good, but most felt a bit forgettable to me.
January 29, 2026
Dominion: Interesting look into an individual's justifications, and how easily one can ignore obvious ideas.
Take Me to Kirkland: We often believe we will always have the opportunity to forgive and make up with those in our life, and maybe it is more important to have them. Also, a bit of a take on obsessive/proprietary nature of young female friendships.
What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me?: Tension lingers just under the surface of this, thin as ice thematically. Cody goes to the bar but the entire experience hinges on Kevin either not noticing or not saying anything, which impacts Cody's ability to simply exist as a man at the bar.
AN: Small acts of kindness can span larger results, and connection between strangers/individuals is still possible in our world today.
UD: Oh my god... Not at all what the story makes you expect, and the ending makes you NEED to go back and reread the entire story again
M&C: Is it possible to reconcile the different versions of yourself? You from years ago compared to now, you as a child compared to now, you ten minutes ago compared to now
GCWLE: A look into reality television, a look into how one keeps track of themselves, a question of racial fetishization, and a look at how people grow up.
TotP: First one I didn’t really connect with
Underwater: Can we ever really know another person? Also: everyone's family is messed up in their own way.
Drapetomania: Ng suggests not googling the meaning of the word until after reading the story and if you don’t already know the definition I second that.
TCO: Generational curses can shift and change, each generation does not owe the next or the previous an explanation of their choices.
SSOT: This manages to fully flesh out an entire family of characters in one short story. Also... How old is Tammy?!
TI&KI: What to do when those closest to you shave different thoughts and desires regarding what to do next?
Angelo: Some endings are simply a change, not a true ending or a start of something new, but a shifting of the meaning.
YT: Ehh. Felt like it tried to cram too much in and nothing was developed.
3R: Isolation, other than that damn this was a weird one.
TM: Not everyone is going to achieve the highest honors, and for some people, the reach for achieving never stops, no matter what accolades have been achieved.
AR: There is no one ‘right’ way to mother a daughter or daughter a mother. We are all trying our best.
AED: Actions have consequences, and eventually everyone must face theirs. We cannot cover for the others in our lives in perpetuity.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Take Me to Kirkland: We often believe we will always have the opportunity to forgive and make up with those in our life, and maybe it is more important to have them. Also, a bit of a take on obsessive/proprietary nature of young female friendships.
What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me?: Tension lingers just under the surface of this, thin as ice thematically. Cody goes to the bar but the entire experience hinges on Kevin either not noticing or not saying anything, which impacts Cody's ability to simply exist as a man at the bar.
AN: Small acts of kindness can span larger results, and connection between strangers/individuals is still possible in our world today.
UD: Oh my god... Not at all what the story makes you expect, and the ending makes you NEED to go back and reread the entire story again
M&C: Is it possible to reconcile the different versions of yourself? You from years ago compared to now, you as a child compared to now, you ten minutes ago compared to now
GCWLE: A look into reality television, a look into how one keeps track of themselves, a question of racial fetishization, and a look at how people grow up.
TotP: First one I didn’t really connect with
Underwater: Can we ever really know another person? Also: everyone's family is messed up in their own way.
Drapetomania: Ng suggests not googling the meaning of the word until after reading the story and if you don’t already know the definition I second that.
TCO: Generational curses can shift and change, each generation does not owe the next or the previous an explanation of their choices.
SSOT: This manages to fully flesh out an entire family of characters in one short story. Also... How old is Tammy?!
TI&KI: What to do when those closest to you shave different thoughts and desires regarding what to do next?
Angelo: Some endings are simply a change, not a true ending or a start of something new, but a shifting of the meaning.
YT: Ehh. Felt like it tried to cram too much in and nothing was developed.
3R: Isolation, other than that damn this was a weird one.
TM: Not everyone is going to achieve the highest honors, and for some people, the reach for achieving never stops, no matter what accolades have been achieved.
AR: There is no one ‘right’ way to mother a daughter or daughter a mother. We are all trying our best.
AED: Actions have consequences, and eventually everyone must face theirs. We cannot cover for the others in our lives in perpetuity.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
February 11, 2026
A new year and a new chapter for Best American Short Stories! Heidi Pitlor’s tenure has ended, and Nicole A. Lamy has taken up the reigns.
Alas, I think we’re starting on a little bit of a downer note. :/ 2025 isn’t my favorite edition of BASS. But I’m in this for the long haul, and will be back next year!
Meanwhile, Lamy introduces herself by sharing her credentials: from an 8th grade project featuring a BASS story, to getting sand in her copy of Little Women (intense beach reading), to frequenting bookstores for authors she found this year. I will say, I added two books to my TBR based on two of these short stories. So we’re of a kind!
Our guest editor, Celeste Ng, steps in with an ironic edge. She has to write the intro, and she admits she never reads BASS intros. And yet, what is an intro besides a place to talk about her personal taste in short stories? It’s almost a defensive argument for her curation process. Maybe that’s a little unfair. I liked her take on why the stories spoke to her. But I can’t help but notice most literary fiction writers being drawn to science fiction, then diminishing the genre in their analysis of the stories. (Eg, her analysis of “Till It and Keep It” by Carrie R. Moore is that it “transcends the ‘cli-fi’ genre by weaving a nuanced story about sisterhood…etc.” If you’re not gonna get anything out of reading about speculative environmental issues, why not just stick to realism??)
Granted, I found myself more ornery than usual this year, highlighting stories that stuck to my preferred styles and topics, yet still nitpicking at them, too. Here are the seven stories that particularly struck some sort of chord.
“Dominion” by Lauren Acampora (The New England Review.) A retired oil magnate invites his granddaughter’s elementary school class to his vanity menagerie. When (albeit mild) tragedy strikes, we get a look into his internal defensiveness, and even a desire to do good. It’s a little on the nose, and I kinda wish we got the POV of his more sympathetic wife, who was nevertheless part of this endeavor. It’s probably my fave story of the collection, and I added the novel where this character appears to my TBR.
“What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me?” by Emma Binder (Michigan Quarterly Review). Granted, this story largely jumped out to me because I’ve read it before! Thanks to my on-and-off subscription to Journal of the Month, they sent me the issue of Michigan Quarterly Review where this story first appeared. I reviewed it on BookTube and now I feel like I’m in with the in crowd. :P Anywho, this story is about a trans man coming home for the first time to his small, rural town. I think what I appreciate most right now is the juxtaposition of Cody’s family life, and the action of the story where he saves the guy on the ice. Because the ensuing bar scene was so tense that I wouldn’t grasp onto why he feels such affinity for his hometown. But the first part adds that texture.
“Gray, Cotton, White Lace Edges” by Isabelle Fang (McSweeney’s). This is a two-fisted story, one about an Asian woman who sells her panties online and one about an Asian woman in a “mail order bride” reality TV scenario (granted mostly from the POV of the first Asian woman.) The beginning was a little clunky, but both stories are about the melding of the real and not real in relationships. Both are about Asian American women who are eroticized by older white men. The panties story, since its longer and the main POV, allows for more nuance about what the characters are up to. The reality tv story invites more broad insight into the allure of transgression.
“The Clean-Out” by Yasmin Adele Majeed (Narrative). A Filipino-American family addresses old wounds while cleaning out the house belonging to their husband/stepfather/step-grandfather. I liked the complicated tension between the mother and grandmother, and the way the house was its own repository of family history. I thought the bird’s fate hinted at the human entrapment. I do wish the daughter POV had more of a personality—some of the passivity came from the fact that she was talking from the future.
“Seven Stories About Tammy” by Elizabeth McCracken (Zoetrope.) These seven sub-stories are a culmination of a WASPY family’s relationship to an enigmatic, opinionated in-law. They chronicle the family’s first meeting with the in-law, all the way up to her death. Some of the younger brother’s sections jumped too much in time for me, making me want a sweeping family novel instead. But overall, McCracken nailed the short story that feels like a novel, and it’s likely my second favorite in the collection.
“Angelo” by Andrew Porter (Ploughshares.) Two guys are sexually involved as they navigate a perilous young adulthood, but then one of them marries a woman, leaving the other pining for him. I liked the bittersweet grief about how love and dreams can be lost due to broken families and lack of commitment. But I didn’t get the full sense that the young men started out this story in high school. It felt a little more like the go-nowhere, drug-addled, small town-living haze of young adulthood.
“An Early Departure” by Jessica Treadway (Five Points). To be honest, this is largely a “mirror” story for me, given the focus on a spinster aunt’s relationship with her sister’s children. I’ve often claimed I would defend my niece and nephew, even if they robbed a bank. But what would it really be like if one of them asked me for a short cut to get them out of trouble? Would I be depressed to disappoint them? Yes. Would I feel jilted if they tried to butter me up? Yes. I arch my eyebrow a little, in this instance, that the nephew’s university didn’t alert his parents to the situation. (Maybe cos he’s technically an adult?) Still, the story is forthcoming in a collection by the author coming out this year, so I added it to my TBR. Third fave. :p
Alas, I think we’re starting on a little bit of a downer note. :/ 2025 isn’t my favorite edition of BASS. But I’m in this for the long haul, and will be back next year!
Meanwhile, Lamy introduces herself by sharing her credentials: from an 8th grade project featuring a BASS story, to getting sand in her copy of Little Women (intense beach reading), to frequenting bookstores for authors she found this year. I will say, I added two books to my TBR based on two of these short stories. So we’re of a kind!
Our guest editor, Celeste Ng, steps in with an ironic edge. She has to write the intro, and she admits she never reads BASS intros. And yet, what is an intro besides a place to talk about her personal taste in short stories? It’s almost a defensive argument for her curation process. Maybe that’s a little unfair. I liked her take on why the stories spoke to her. But I can’t help but notice most literary fiction writers being drawn to science fiction, then diminishing the genre in their analysis of the stories. (Eg, her analysis of “Till It and Keep It” by Carrie R. Moore is that it “transcends the ‘cli-fi’ genre by weaving a nuanced story about sisterhood…etc.” If you’re not gonna get anything out of reading about speculative environmental issues, why not just stick to realism??)
Granted, I found myself more ornery than usual this year, highlighting stories that stuck to my preferred styles and topics, yet still nitpicking at them, too. Here are the seven stories that particularly struck some sort of chord.
“Dominion” by Lauren Acampora (The New England Review.) A retired oil magnate invites his granddaughter’s elementary school class to his vanity menagerie. When (albeit mild) tragedy strikes, we get a look into his internal defensiveness, and even a desire to do good. It’s a little on the nose, and I kinda wish we got the POV of his more sympathetic wife, who was nevertheless part of this endeavor. It’s probably my fave story of the collection, and I added the novel where this character appears to my TBR.
“What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me?” by Emma Binder (Michigan Quarterly Review). Granted, this story largely jumped out to me because I’ve read it before! Thanks to my on-and-off subscription to Journal of the Month, they sent me the issue of Michigan Quarterly Review where this story first appeared. I reviewed it on BookTube and now I feel like I’m in with the in crowd. :P Anywho, this story is about a trans man coming home for the first time to his small, rural town. I think what I appreciate most right now is the juxtaposition of Cody’s family life, and the action of the story where he saves the guy on the ice. Because the ensuing bar scene was so tense that I wouldn’t grasp onto why he feels such affinity for his hometown. But the first part adds that texture.
“Gray, Cotton, White Lace Edges” by Isabelle Fang (McSweeney’s). This is a two-fisted story, one about an Asian woman who sells her panties online and one about an Asian woman in a “mail order bride” reality TV scenario (granted mostly from the POV of the first Asian woman.) The beginning was a little clunky, but both stories are about the melding of the real and not real in relationships. Both are about Asian American women who are eroticized by older white men. The panties story, since its longer and the main POV, allows for more nuance about what the characters are up to. The reality tv story invites more broad insight into the allure of transgression.
“The Clean-Out” by Yasmin Adele Majeed (Narrative). A Filipino-American family addresses old wounds while cleaning out the house belonging to their husband/stepfather/step-grandfather. I liked the complicated tension between the mother and grandmother, and the way the house was its own repository of family history. I thought the bird’s fate hinted at the human entrapment. I do wish the daughter POV had more of a personality—some of the passivity came from the fact that she was talking from the future.
“Seven Stories About Tammy” by Elizabeth McCracken (Zoetrope.) These seven sub-stories are a culmination of a WASPY family’s relationship to an enigmatic, opinionated in-law. They chronicle the family’s first meeting with the in-law, all the way up to her death. Some of the younger brother’s sections jumped too much in time for me, making me want a sweeping family novel instead. But overall, McCracken nailed the short story that feels like a novel, and it’s likely my second favorite in the collection.
“Angelo” by Andrew Porter (Ploughshares.) Two guys are sexually involved as they navigate a perilous young adulthood, but then one of them marries a woman, leaving the other pining for him. I liked the bittersweet grief about how love and dreams can be lost due to broken families and lack of commitment. But I didn’t get the full sense that the young men started out this story in high school. It felt a little more like the go-nowhere, drug-addled, small town-living haze of young adulthood.
“An Early Departure” by Jessica Treadway (Five Points). To be honest, this is largely a “mirror” story for me, given the focus on a spinster aunt’s relationship with her sister’s children. I’ve often claimed I would defend my niece and nephew, even if they robbed a bank. But what would it really be like if one of them asked me for a short cut to get them out of trouble? Would I be depressed to disappoint them? Yes. Would I feel jilted if they tried to butter me up? Yes. I arch my eyebrow a little, in this instance, that the nephew’s university didn’t alert his parents to the situation. (Maybe cos he’s technically an adult?) Still, the story is forthcoming in a collection by the author coming out this year, so I added it to my TBR. Third fave. :p
February 12, 2026
I confess that I didn't read all of these, but my top five were:
*Take Me to Kirkland, Sarah Anderson
*What Would I Do for You, What Would You Do for Me?, Emma Binder (also loved their story Roy in the 2024 O. Henry Prize compilation)
*Abject Naturalism, Sarah Braunstein (that last sentence!)
*Seven Stories About Tammy, Elizabeth McCracken
*An Early Departure, Jessica Treadway (now that's the kind of ending I'm talking about!)
Honorable mention: Time of the Preacher, Bret Anthony Johnston
*Take Me to Kirkland, Sarah Anderson
*What Would I Do for You, What Would You Do for Me?, Emma Binder (also loved their story Roy in the 2024 O. Henry Prize compilation)
*Abject Naturalism, Sarah Braunstein (that last sentence!)
*Seven Stories About Tammy, Elizabeth McCracken
*An Early Departure, Jessica Treadway (now that's the kind of ending I'm talking about!)
Honorable mention: Time of the Preacher, Bret Anthony Johnston
October 16, 2025
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙟𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙡. 𝙃𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙖𝙧. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮. 𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨.
The stories in this 2025 collection, edited by Celest Ng had me hooked with the first, Dominion, taking off with a roar. Roy has left the corporate world behind to spend his days as a farmer, in his private zoo, tending to his beloved wild animals. He’d love to forgo black tie evenings he and his wife frequent to remain in the Zen state his animals provide. With his grandchild Piper attending public school for “diversity”, he has a brilliant idea. They will host the students for a field trip to their Eden! What child wouldn’t glow at the triumph of providing such an experience to their peers? How will it all turn out? In Take Me To Kirkland, Sarah Anderson writes about the shifting sands of friendship, the empty space when someone is gone, the mysterious allure of Kirkland and oddball teachers. What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me? Cody is back in Wisconsin, his return home after being kicked out by his father after graduation. He is there to help while his father goes through chemo but leaving behind the world that fills him with optimism to return where he no longer fits is a challenge. Underwater introduces Sam, a wife that is jealous of her husband and his twin sister’s relationship. Drapetomania, a strange affliction, causes people to run until they collapse, but so long as only certain people are affected, others find ways to make use of it. A young woman dreads the arrival of her mother and grandmother as they come together at a beach house in The Clean Out. After the death her Lola’s white husband, she wonders who will take care of their big family now. It is the nasty cockatoo that causes the most upheaval though. Seven Stories About Tammy by Elizabeth McCracken is a gem. When Morris brings home his first girlfriend named Tammy, she is not the youthful girl full of sunshine that the Harkins imagined but instead a woman whose age they cannot quite pin down. Abject Naturalism is gorgeous, I adore Amalie “call me Nancy,” I could read a whole novel about this mother and daughter. Unfathomably Deep, a Gynecological Teaching Assistant’s story unfolds as she explains how she fell for a doctor who probed her body, and her heart straight into the river. I could not have guessed the ending if I tried. There are other stories within, all of them unique. Naturally, there is meaning thrumming beneath the tales, but the reader is always meant to discover that for themselves. Yes, read it!
Publication Date: October 21, 2025
Mariner Books
𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙟𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙡. 𝙃𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙖𝙧. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮. 𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨.
The stories in this 2025 collection, edited by Celest Ng had me hooked with the first, Dominion, taking off with a roar. Roy has left the corporate world behind to spend his days as a farmer, in his private zoo, tending to his beloved wild animals. He’d love to forgo black tie evenings he and his wife frequent to remain in the Zen state his animals provide. With his grandchild Piper attending public school for “diversity”, he has a brilliant idea. They will host the students for a field trip to their Eden! What child wouldn’t glow at the triumph of providing such an experience to their peers? How will it all turn out? In Take Me To Kirkland, Sarah Anderson writes about the shifting sands of friendship, the empty space when someone is gone, the mysterious allure of Kirkland and oddball teachers. What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me? Cody is back in Wisconsin, his return home after being kicked out by his father after graduation. He is there to help while his father goes through chemo but leaving behind the world that fills him with optimism to return where he no longer fits is a challenge. Underwater introduces Sam, a wife that is jealous of her husband and his twin sister’s relationship. Drapetomania, a strange affliction, causes people to run until they collapse, but so long as only certain people are affected, others find ways to make use of it. A young woman dreads the arrival of her mother and grandmother as they come together at a beach house in The Clean Out. After the death her Lola’s white husband, she wonders who will take care of their big family now. It is the nasty cockatoo that causes the most upheaval though. Seven Stories About Tammy by Elizabeth McCracken is a gem. When Morris brings home his first girlfriend named Tammy, she is not the youthful girl full of sunshine that the Harkins imagined but instead a woman whose age they cannot quite pin down. Abject Naturalism is gorgeous, I adore Amalie “call me Nancy,” I could read a whole novel about this mother and daughter. Unfathomably Deep, a Gynecological Teaching Assistant’s story unfolds as she explains how she fell for a doctor who probed her body, and her heart straight into the river. I could not have guessed the ending if I tried. There are other stories within, all of them unique. Naturally, there is meaning thrumming beneath the tales, but the reader is always meant to discover that for themselves. Yes, read it!
Publication Date: October 21, 2025
Mariner Books
November 8, 2025
A solid collection. The first five stories led me to believe it might be an exceptionally good year, but the rest of the stories cooled after that. Ng chose a wide variety of stories, which I appreciate. There is an element of "things that go bump in the night" in many of the selections....even if the thing is emotional and not physical.
As always, I grade these on a tough scale. In a collection on their own, they likely would be rated higher.
Dominion - Lauren Acampora - 5: Wonderfully written. Such a vivid painting of someone selfish and without empathy.
Take Me to Kirkland - Sarah Anderson - 4: I love the narration, the capturing of suburban bliss over worthless Costco items.
What Would I Do for You, What Would You Do for Me? - Emma Binder - 4: I didn’t quite click with her writing, but the story and storytelling are excellent.
Abject Naturalism - Sarah Braunstein - 4: Love the story. Strong character development.
Unfathomably Deep - Sophie Madeline Dess - 4: WTF in a good way. Great kicker. Unique setting.
Maritza and Carmen - Lyn Di Iorio - 3: Very average.
Gray, Cotton, White Lace Edges - Isabelle Fang - 4.5: A masterclass of juggling characters. So much going on in such a short space.
Time of the Preacher - Bret Anthony Johnston - 3.5: Solid, but doesn’t stand out.
Underwater - Hannah Kingsley-Ma - 3.5: Really close to being great, but doesn’t quite get there.
Drapetomania - William Lohler - 4: An incredible premise, but the execution could have been better.
The Clean-Out - Yasmin Adele Majeed - 3.5: I had a little trouble with the narrative, but enjoyed the story.
Seven Stories About Tammy - Elizabeth McCracken - 3: Didn’t do anything for me. Missed any deeper levels.
Till It and Keep It - Carrie Moore - 3: The first half showed so much promise, but the second half never went anywhere.
Angelo - Andrew Porter - 4: Beautiful and haunting.
Yellow Tulips - Nathan Curtis Roberts - 3.5: Enjoyable, but very straightforward.
Third Room - Julian Robles - 4: Trippy and bizarre in a fun way.
The Masterclass - William Pei Shih - 3.5: Well written, but nothing I hadn’t read before.
What About This - Justin Taylor - 2.5: A miss for me.
Aishwarya Rai - Sanjana Thakur - 4: A fun concept well executed.
An Early Departure - Jessica Treadway - 3: Close, but misses the mark.
As always, I grade these on a tough scale. In a collection on their own, they likely would be rated higher.
Dominion - Lauren Acampora - 5: Wonderfully written. Such a vivid painting of someone selfish and without empathy.
Take Me to Kirkland - Sarah Anderson - 4: I love the narration, the capturing of suburban bliss over worthless Costco items.
What Would I Do for You, What Would You Do for Me? - Emma Binder - 4: I didn’t quite click with her writing, but the story and storytelling are excellent.
Abject Naturalism - Sarah Braunstein - 4: Love the story. Strong character development.
Unfathomably Deep - Sophie Madeline Dess - 4: WTF in a good way. Great kicker. Unique setting.
Maritza and Carmen - Lyn Di Iorio - 3: Very average.
Gray, Cotton, White Lace Edges - Isabelle Fang - 4.5: A masterclass of juggling characters. So much going on in such a short space.
Time of the Preacher - Bret Anthony Johnston - 3.5: Solid, but doesn’t stand out.
Underwater - Hannah Kingsley-Ma - 3.5: Really close to being great, but doesn’t quite get there.
Drapetomania - William Lohler - 4: An incredible premise, but the execution could have been better.
The Clean-Out - Yasmin Adele Majeed - 3.5: I had a little trouble with the narrative, but enjoyed the story.
Seven Stories About Tammy - Elizabeth McCracken - 3: Didn’t do anything for me. Missed any deeper levels.
Till It and Keep It - Carrie Moore - 3: The first half showed so much promise, but the second half never went anywhere.
Angelo - Andrew Porter - 4: Beautiful and haunting.
Yellow Tulips - Nathan Curtis Roberts - 3.5: Enjoyable, but very straightforward.
Third Room - Julian Robles - 4: Trippy and bizarre in a fun way.
The Masterclass - William Pei Shih - 3.5: Well written, but nothing I hadn’t read before.
What About This - Justin Taylor - 2.5: A miss for me.
Aishwarya Rai - Sanjana Thakur - 4: A fun concept well executed.
An Early Departure - Jessica Treadway - 3: Close, but misses the mark.
December 31, 2025
For over 35 years I've looked forward to reading the new edition of The Best American Short Stories. It introduces me to new authors and encourages me to explore genres that I normally avoid (i.e. dystopian, magical realism) As always, there are stories that I loved, stories I couldn't finish, stories that I finished but left me cold. Some favorites"
"What Would I do for You, What Would you do for Me" is about a young gay person who returns from New England to the rural hometown in Northern Michigan to help care for an ailing dad. That same dad had kicked him out of the home years earlier. The story of adjustment to the hometown is gripping.
"Abject Naturalism " is told by a single mother who has given up on her writing career. She met the father of her child in graduate school. He made it clear that he had no room in his life for them and she watched form afar as he became famous and successful. But what I liked about the story is that she was mainly happy, was a great mom, and open to an unexpected friendship
I liked "Till It and Keep It" even though it was a dystopian story, a genre I normally can't stand. But this story about two sisters on their way to Maine to escape flooding and climate change that is devastating the country resonated with me, perhaps because the focus was on the characters and the dystopian setting was, well, a setting. The sisters stop in a seeming oasis in Arkansas where a man whose orchard and farming practices seem to work. The sisters have different reactions to this and the ending plot twist seems to sum up the differences
"An Early Departure" is told by a childless Aunt whose niece invites her to visit in New York City. The Aunt initially feels special as the niece asks her not to tell her mom and the Aunt spends much time on the trip reminiscing about her fun times and closeness with her niece. But once in New York she gradually realizes the purpose of the visit which tests the integrity of both
"What Would I do for You, What Would you do for Me" is about a young gay person who returns from New England to the rural hometown in Northern Michigan to help care for an ailing dad. That same dad had kicked him out of the home years earlier. The story of adjustment to the hometown is gripping.
"Abject Naturalism " is told by a single mother who has given up on her writing career. She met the father of her child in graduate school. He made it clear that he had no room in his life for them and she watched form afar as he became famous and successful. But what I liked about the story is that she was mainly happy, was a great mom, and open to an unexpected friendship
I liked "Till It and Keep It" even though it was a dystopian story, a genre I normally can't stand. But this story about two sisters on their way to Maine to escape flooding and climate change that is devastating the country resonated with me, perhaps because the focus was on the characters and the dystopian setting was, well, a setting. The sisters stop in a seeming oasis in Arkansas where a man whose orchard and farming practices seem to work. The sisters have different reactions to this and the ending plot twist seems to sum up the differences
"An Early Departure" is told by a childless Aunt whose niece invites her to visit in New York City. The Aunt initially feels special as the niece asks her not to tell her mom and the Aunt spends much time on the trip reminiscing about her fun times and closeness with her niece. But once in New York she gradually realizes the purpose of the visit which tests the integrity of both
January 26, 2026
Somewhere between four and five stars. I'm a huge fan of Celeste Ng's writing, and was excited to see that she the editor for this year.
It's a great collection of stories. I found them diverse, yet all tonally appealing, which isn't always the case for every collection.
I liked some stories more than others. I love flawed characters, until their flawed in a way that's a personal pet peeve to me! When you're reading a story, you're essentially spending time with a character, and I didn't really enjoy spending time with a character who was introduced by kicking a dog and who was sexually jealous of her husband's sister. It was still an interesting story, but just not interesting enough to countermand my annoyance.
Some stories made me think about the fact that certain misdeeds are artistically venerated, because a woman committing those acts makes them transgressive. Like abandoning or killing their children, for example.
I have complicated feelings about that, because I don't want my agency as a woman to come at the expense of the agency or dignity of children, and disagree that children - who have less agency than anyone in society - are in and of themselves an oppressive force. But I also know that depicting an act in art is not the same as condoning that act in reality.
I could say more about this, but the fact that these themes provoke thought is in and of itself a good thing. Many stories exist to ask questions as much as they exist to answer them.
I love all the complicated relationships that define these stories, they feel incredibly grounded and authentic, especially in terms of family dynamics. There's often a sense of real magic to the stories, despite the fact that all of them are literary fiction.
Overall, a very strong and thought-provoking collection that I'm glad I got a chance to read.
It's a great collection of stories. I found them diverse, yet all tonally appealing, which isn't always the case for every collection.
I liked some stories more than others. I love flawed characters, until their flawed in a way that's a personal pet peeve to me! When you're reading a story, you're essentially spending time with a character, and I didn't really enjoy spending time with a character who was introduced by kicking a dog and who was sexually jealous of her husband's sister. It was still an interesting story, but just not interesting enough to countermand my annoyance.
Some stories made me think about the fact that certain misdeeds are artistically venerated, because a woman committing those acts makes them transgressive. Like abandoning or killing their children, for example.
I have complicated feelings about that, because I don't want my agency as a woman to come at the expense of the agency or dignity of children, and disagree that children - who have less agency than anyone in society - are in and of themselves an oppressive force. But I also know that depicting an act in art is not the same as condoning that act in reality.
I could say more about this, but the fact that these themes provoke thought is in and of itself a good thing. Many stories exist to ask questions as much as they exist to answer them.
I love all the complicated relationships that define these stories, they feel incredibly grounded and authentic, especially in terms of family dynamics. There's often a sense of real magic to the stories, despite the fact that all of them are literary fiction.
Overall, a very strong and thought-provoking collection that I'm glad I got a chance to read.
December 5, 2025
This was a solid collection put together by this year’s editor Celeste Ng, and there were a handful of stories that really stood out to me. While a number of the stories turned out to be less than memorable, I very much enjoyed the reading experience and felt that an overall sense of tension, darkness, and things left unsaid tied the collection together. My three favorites came early on in the book, one right after the other, which left me wanting a little more as the collection went on, but I would recommend this anthology for these three stories alone.
“Take Me to Kirkland” - This strange and funny story had so much heart and really stuck with me and set the bar high as I continued to read the rest of the stories. I love a story about obsessive/toxic female friendship, and the Costco connection was clever.
“What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me?” - an atmospheric and tense piece that starts out with an ice fishing accident that becomes metaphorical for the danger a trans man faces while attempting to pass in his hometown.
“Abject Naturalism” - I felt like I recognized the author’s voice while reading this story, and I was delighted to discover the author is Sarah Braunstein, author of Bad Animals, which I absolutely adored. I hope to see a short story collection or another novel from Braunstein soon after reading this story about an aspiring writer who becomes a mother.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the opportunity to be an early reader of this title!
“Take Me to Kirkland” - This strange and funny story had so much heart and really stuck with me and set the bar high as I continued to read the rest of the stories. I love a story about obsessive/toxic female friendship, and the Costco connection was clever.
“What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me?” - an atmospheric and tense piece that starts out with an ice fishing accident that becomes metaphorical for the danger a trans man faces while attempting to pass in his hometown.
“Abject Naturalism” - I felt like I recognized the author’s voice while reading this story, and I was delighted to discover the author is Sarah Braunstein, author of Bad Animals, which I absolutely adored. I hope to see a short story collection or another novel from Braunstein soon after reading this story about an aspiring writer who becomes a mother.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the opportunity to be an early reader of this title!
December 18, 2025
I enjoyed this on the whole -- as I have with a lot of the past Short Story collections -- but found much fewer authors/stories from this specific collection that jumped out at me enough to note the authors and save (specifically only 2 for this collection: Drapetomania by William Lohier and Seven Stories About Tammy by Elizabeth McCracken). Still look forward to these every year and seeing the newest trends and voices in short fiction writing.
EDIT: after starting on my review for the Science Fiction and Fantasy collection for this year, I decided it makes sense to write out which stories I liked and what I liked about them, so doubling back to do that here:
Drapetomania by William Lohier - interesting this could have also fit in the SF&F collection so good on Ng for snagging it for this one; takes an interesting conceit -- a disease that makes you run yourself to death -- and turns it into a brilliant treatise on being a black American and how that fraught history informed things like the reaction to COVID
Seven Stories About Tammy by Elizabeth McCraken - this was a very funny and insightful story about a family and their reaction to an outsider who marries their first son/oldest brother, proceeding from the first time she is brought home and through several key family events; the stories are not necessarily told from the POV of different family members but as the stories unfold the complex family dynamics and personalities are slowly revealed in a super compelling and true to life way
EDIT: after starting on my review for the Science Fiction and Fantasy collection for this year, I decided it makes sense to write out which stories I liked and what I liked about them, so doubling back to do that here:
Drapetomania by William Lohier - interesting this could have also fit in the SF&F collection so good on Ng for snagging it for this one; takes an interesting conceit -- a disease that makes you run yourself to death -- and turns it into a brilliant treatise on being a black American and how that fraught history informed things like the reaction to COVID
Seven Stories About Tammy by Elizabeth McCraken - this was a very funny and insightful story about a family and their reaction to an outsider who marries their first son/oldest brother, proceeding from the first time she is brought home and through several key family events; the stories are not necessarily told from the POV of different family members but as the stories unfold the complex family dynamics and personalities are slowly revealed in a super compelling and true to life way
November 20, 2025
Trying to make a connection with another person or trying to make a connection with the general public is the theme that resonated with the most among these stories. My favorite story is "Abject Naturalism". This story is about how a friendly connection is formed between a young single mother and her elderly neighbor. The object that connects them together is a telescope meant for her young daughter. "The Clean-Out" is a story about the strained difficult relationship between an elderly woman and her daughter. The event that brings them together is the task of cleaning out a house of a deceased relative. "Maritza and Carmen" is about how a teenage girl and her mother try to reconnect in the wake of a hurricane in Puerto Rico.
Some of the stories involve people who try to connect with the public with their passionate pursuits. "Angelo" is about a teenage artist who tries to reach the people of San Antonio with his paintings. "Masterclass" is about a young musician who strives to touch people with his piano playing. "Dominion" is a story about a man who wants to connect to kids by opening his own private zoo. I admire people who have a passion for art, music and animals, so these three stories appealed to me very much.
Some of the stories involve people who try to connect with the public with their passionate pursuits. "Angelo" is about a teenage artist who tries to reach the people of San Antonio with his paintings. "Masterclass" is about a young musician who strives to touch people with his piano playing. "Dominion" is a story about a man who wants to connect to kids by opening his own private zoo. I admire people who have a passion for art, music and animals, so these three stories appealed to me very much.
December 30, 2025
𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑩𝑬𝑺𝑻 𝑨𝑴𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑪𝑨𝑵 𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑹𝑻 𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑺 𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝑵𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑵𝒊𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝑨. 𝑳𝒂𝒎𝒚 and I have been savoring each one thanks to @marinerbooks.
This collection is loaded with striking short stories that examine humanity in the mundane, bizarre, and hidden places of our psyches.
I have had these at work and at home, taking snippets on occasion and then just sitting with some of these as they sink in. I also may have one (or two) that felt a bit over my head. Fortunately, there was a helpful introduction by Celeste Ng that gave a sentence impact of hers, as well as a section at the end of Contributor's Notes which also helped give context to these tales. The final notes were at times as fascinating as the story, to see where the seeds originated.
I was going to try to give my top 3, but truly all of these will stick with me even if I don't highlight them here. Some for reasons of the compelling story, some for the emotional effect they gave me, and some for the breathtaking writing that felt so elevated it made me feel uplifted just reading it (Justin Taylor, you have a brilliant mind).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
If you are a short story fan, or just need a bit of beautiful literature that forces a level of contemplative pause, this is a great tome. It would also make a perfect gift!
This collection is loaded with striking short stories that examine humanity in the mundane, bizarre, and hidden places of our psyches.
I have had these at work and at home, taking snippets on occasion and then just sitting with some of these as they sink in. I also may have one (or two) that felt a bit over my head. Fortunately, there was a helpful introduction by Celeste Ng that gave a sentence impact of hers, as well as a section at the end of Contributor's Notes which also helped give context to these tales. The final notes were at times as fascinating as the story, to see where the seeds originated.
I was going to try to give my top 3, but truly all of these will stick with me even if I don't highlight them here. Some for reasons of the compelling story, some for the emotional effect they gave me, and some for the breathtaking writing that felt so elevated it made me feel uplifted just reading it (Justin Taylor, you have a brilliant mind).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
If you are a short story fan, or just need a bit of beautiful literature that forces a level of contemplative pause, this is a great tome. It would also make a perfect gift!
Currently reading
January 24, 2026One morning in late December 2025 I was reading my "Starting Point" article from The Boston Globe and it happened to be about how several stories in this collection were somehow tied to New England. I thought it was interesting but didn't think much of it until later that day, I visited my local bookstore and came across this very same book without looking for it. It felt like a sign so I kind of just decided to buy it on a whim. It's the first collection of short stories that I own.
I'll add reviews of each story as I come across them:
"Dominion" by Lauren Acampora (read January 2026)
4/5 ⭐
I was completely absorbed in the anti-hero here, a millionaire (billionaire?) retired oil executive. Through his actions we see how judgmental he is of others, especially those who are not as rich as him, and how much he and his wife genuinely think they're being gracious and generous to everyone else. He completely lacks self-awareness and blames people's less-than-generous perceptions of himself on them instead of his own actions. A really well-written character.
I'll add reviews of each story as I come across them:
"Dominion" by Lauren Acampora (read January 2026)
4/5 ⭐
I was completely absorbed in the anti-hero here, a millionaire (billionaire?) retired oil executive. Through his actions we see how judgmental he is of others, especially those who are not as rich as him, and how much he and his wife genuinely think they're being gracious and generous to everyone else. He completely lacks self-awareness and blames people's less-than-generous perceptions of himself on them instead of his own actions. A really well-written character.
December 4, 2025
It's quite a daunting task to assemble the "best" of any category but I was intrigued to see the types of stories that would capture the attention and interest of Celeste Ng (the 2025 guest editor) and Nicole Lamy. In any of these collections, I expect that some pieces will resonate more strongly with me than others and that there is likely something for everyone and that certainly happens in the 2025 collection. As expected, all the pieces were well-written with some different writing styles across the stories. There were some interesting characters and settingd, however most of these stories left me feeling a bit unsettled, uncomfortable or just down. It might be that this is a reflection of our times as Ng mentioned in the foreword - sometimes we're in dangerous or precarious situations that we can't control or that were caused by things completely outside of our control, sometimes our relationships with others (strangers or loved ones or family/friends) create those situations. I can imagine some of these stories would make for rich discussions for students or book clubs. For someone who might just want a solid read that will invoke a range of emotions, this might be a bit too stilted in a dark direction as it did for me. This is somewhere around a 3-3.5 of 5 for me.
Manny thanks to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the e-arc.
Manny thanks to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the e-arc.
December 21, 2025
This collection has opened a whole new literary world to me in the form of short story fiction. I am literally out here craving subscriptions to literary magazines (yes I started with the New Yorker but I am eyeing you, the Drift). The way these authors can create an entire story arc with fully fleshed out characters in a small fraction of what other authors struggle to do in hundreds of pages is so, so compelling. I have an itch under my skin to start writing again, but we will see.
My top stories from this collection:
Abject Naturalism (Sarah Braunstein)
Drapetomania (William Lohier)
Till It and Keep it (Carrie R Moore)
Angelo (Andrew Porter)
Third Room (Julian Robles)
Though don’t let my list lead you to believe the others aren’t also so good because they are. And yes, I have the 2024 collection sitting on my table waiting for me to start too.
My top stories from this collection:
Abject Naturalism (Sarah Braunstein)
Drapetomania (William Lohier)
Till It and Keep it (Carrie R Moore)
Angelo (Andrew Porter)
Third Room (Julian Robles)
Though don’t let my list lead you to believe the others aren’t also so good because they are. And yes, I have the 2024 collection sitting on my table waiting for me to start too.
January 9, 2026
Amazing:
What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me?, Emma Binder
Seven Stories About Tammy, Elizabeth McCracken
Abject Naturalism, Sarah Braunstein
The Masterclass, William Peh Shih
Dominion, Lauren Acampora
Aishwarya Rai, Sanjana Thakur
Great:
Yellow Tulips, Nathan Curtis Roberts
An Early Departure, Jessica Treadway
Grey, Cotton, White Lace Edges, Isabelle Fang
Third Room, Julian Robles
Good:
Till it and Keep It, Carrie R. Moore
Maritza and Carmen, Lyn Di Iorio
Time of the Preacher, Bret Anthony Johnston
Angelo, Andrew Porter
Take me to Kirkland, Sarah Anderson
Alright:
Drapetomania, William Lohier
Underwater, Hannah Kingsley-Ma
The Clean-Out, Yasmin Adele Majeed
Well, It's Not Like They Asked Me:
What About This, Justin Taylor
Unfathomly Deep, Sophie Madeline Dess
What Would I Do For You, What Would You Do For Me?, Emma Binder
Seven Stories About Tammy, Elizabeth McCracken
Abject Naturalism, Sarah Braunstein
The Masterclass, William Peh Shih
Dominion, Lauren Acampora
Aishwarya Rai, Sanjana Thakur
Great:
Yellow Tulips, Nathan Curtis Roberts
An Early Departure, Jessica Treadway
Grey, Cotton, White Lace Edges, Isabelle Fang
Third Room, Julian Robles
Good:
Till it and Keep It, Carrie R. Moore
Maritza and Carmen, Lyn Di Iorio
Time of the Preacher, Bret Anthony Johnston
Angelo, Andrew Porter
Take me to Kirkland, Sarah Anderson
Alright:
Drapetomania, William Lohier
Underwater, Hannah Kingsley-Ma
The Clean-Out, Yasmin Adele Majeed
Well, It's Not Like They Asked Me:
What About This, Justin Taylor
Unfathomly Deep, Sophie Madeline Dess
August 11, 2025
** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review **
This year’s volume is a showcase of voices that are both timely and timeless. The stories are arranged in a way that takes you on an emotional journey—beginning with intimate portraits of daily life and building toward broader explorations of culture and identity. Several standouts explore the small but pivotal moments that shape a person’s fate. I loved the variety here: some pieces felt like quiet meditations, others like electric jolts. The introduction sets the tone perfectly, making you eager for what’s ahead. It’s a collection I know I’ll revisit for both craft and insight.
This year’s volume is a showcase of voices that are both timely and timeless. The stories are arranged in a way that takes you on an emotional journey—beginning with intimate portraits of daily life and building toward broader explorations of culture and identity. Several standouts explore the small but pivotal moments that shape a person’s fate. I loved the variety here: some pieces felt like quiet meditations, others like electric jolts. The introduction sets the tone perfectly, making you eager for what’s ahead. It’s a collection I know I’ll revisit for both craft and insight.
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