The Only Way Out Is Through the Window

by Christine Vartoughian

When you find yourself in a locked room, how do you escape? In one tale, a girl transforms into a gargoyle during a vacation in Paris. In another, a soul is imprisoned in an empty room, waiting to be born. A woman who appears to be disabled reveals that her only true disability lies elsewhere. Young lovers, disguised as sisters, witness the end of their lives amidst the destruction of an iconic city. With rapid and intense build-ups, these stories explore what we hold dear when we know we are about to lose it, how we maintain hope despite our circumstances, and how to navigate life even when we feel as if we are not truly living.

“This collection is a love letter to the misfits and the misunderstood. Christine’s writing is both brutal and beautiful. I was hooked.” —Elizabeth Passarella, author of Good Apple and It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway

“With sentences cut like fine jewels, the characters in Christine Vartoughian’s “The Only Way Out is Through the Window,” wrestle with doomed love, death, and even becoming a gargoyle. Open the window and escape with them in this must-read collection of stories that reflect the beauty in the world amongst the pain and stay with you forever.” —Lee Matthew Goldberg, acclaimed author ofThe Mentor and The Great Gimmelmans

Christine Vartoughian is an award-winning, Armenian-American writer and film director + producer whose work has shown at the Museum of the Moving Image and Lincoln Center. Her feature film about love and suicide, Living with the A Love Story, has been awarded the Audience Choice Award at The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and is available on Apple TV, Amazon, and Tubi. She is a member of Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, Film Fatales, SAG-AFTRA, and a founder of (Screen)Play Press, a publishing company for unproduced film scripts. She lives and people-watches in NYC’s East Village @christinewritesaboutyou

71 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2025

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine’s writing transports the reader into her character’s footsteps and lets you walk between entrapment, transformation, and the reach for freedom. There’s humor and heartbreak dancing between these stories, and you’ll be in for a spin. Can you escape yourself? Open your eyes, if you dare, or risk becoming a gargoyle.

[Alanna Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are the perfect mixture of beauty and darkness. Exactly my style and expectations!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on Goosebumps and Shakespeare. As a result, I present my first book.

[MoMo Book Diary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Only Way Out Is Through the Window by Christine Vartoughian is a beautifully written and thought-provoking short story collection that completely captivated me.

The very first story resonated deeply with me — it felt personal and almost reflective of what I’m currently going through. That immediate connection set the tone for the rest of the collection. While the book itself is under 100 pages, it carries a weight far beyond its length. These aren’t stories to rush; they invite you to slow down, sit with the emotions, and truly think about what’s being said between the lines, not just the words on the page.

I read it cover to cover and was impressed, but what really struck me is how I’ve since returned to individual stories on their own. Each time, I’ve found myself reflecting on the characters, their feelings, and the circumstances they’re in. This isn’t just a book to read once — it’s one that lingers and invites deeper contemplation.

If you enjoy short stories that explore human emotion, fleeting moments, and the quiet truths we often overlook, this is absolutely worth picking up.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hauntingly beautifully written book, that resonated deeply with my bruised but hopeful heart.