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We Could be Heroes
Trouble
What does it take to be a good mother? A good neighbor? Straight answers are hard to find in this keenly observed short story by New York Times bestselling author Janelle Brown.
Polly’s fourth-grade daughter has been spending a lot of time with her classmate Sylvie—maybe too much. Sylvie’s clothes are a little…flashy…and her phone (a ten-year-old with a phone!) doesn’t seem to have any parental controls. It seems that Sylvie’s mother, with her vape pens and her too-high heels, may not be making good choices. As Polly tries to exert a positive influence, she discovers just how little anyone can tell about a family from the outside.
Janelle Brown’s Trouble is part of We Could Be Heroes, a darkly inquisitive collection of short stories that examines heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences. Read or listen to each in a single sitting.
Polly’s fourth-grade daughter has been spending a lot of time with her classmate Sylvie—maybe too much. Sylvie’s clothes are a little…flashy…and her phone (a ten-year-old with a phone!) doesn’t seem to have any parental controls. It seems that Sylvie’s mother, with her vape pens and her too-high heels, may not be making good choices. As Polly tries to exert a positive influence, she discovers just how little anyone can tell about a family from the outside.
Janelle Brown’s Trouble is part of We Could Be Heroes, a darkly inquisitive collection of short stories that examines heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences. Read or listen to each in a single sitting.
Audible Audio
Published February 7, 2023
557 people are currently reading
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About the author
Janelle Brown
9 books3,366 followersWelcome to my home on Goodreads.
A little about me: I'm the New York Times bestselling author of the novels PRETTY THINGS, WATCH ME DISAPPEAR, ALL WE EVER WANTED WAS EVERYTHING, THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE, I'LL BE YOU and the upcoming WHAT KIND OF PARADISE. My books have been New York Times bestsellers and published in a dozen countries around the world. My books tend to be page-turners with dysfunctional family relationships at their hearts; domestic dramas crossed with literary suspense. I'm also very much a California writer, and my books are set across the state.
I'm always happy to answer questions here, but you can also find me on Instagram and Twitter -- and if you visit http://www.janellebrown.com you can also sign up for my newsletter.
I've known I wanted to be a novelist ever since I was in first grade, when my teacher looked at the whimsical little books I liked to make (and the pile of books I checked out of the school library every week) and said that I could be an author when I grew up. I took her suggestion to heart.
It took me several decades to get to novel-writing, though. I first started off as an essayist and journalist, writing for Wired and Salon in San Francisco, during the dotcom boom years. In the 1990’s, I was also the editor and co-founder of Maxi, an irreverent (and now, long-gone) women's pop culture magazine. My writing has also appeared in Vogue, The New York Times, Elle, Wired, Self, The Los Angeles Times, and numerous other publications.
I've spent the fifteen years working on my novels, writing the occasional essay, and living in Los Angeles with my husband and two children.
A little about me: I'm the New York Times bestselling author of the novels PRETTY THINGS, WATCH ME DISAPPEAR, ALL WE EVER WANTED WAS EVERYTHING, THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE, I'LL BE YOU and the upcoming WHAT KIND OF PARADISE. My books have been New York Times bestsellers and published in a dozen countries around the world. My books tend to be page-turners with dysfunctional family relationships at their hearts; domestic dramas crossed with literary suspense. I'm also very much a California writer, and my books are set across the state.
I'm always happy to answer questions here, but you can also find me on Instagram and Twitter -- and if you visit http://www.janellebrown.com you can also sign up for my newsletter.
I've known I wanted to be a novelist ever since I was in first grade, when my teacher looked at the whimsical little books I liked to make (and the pile of books I checked out of the school library every week) and said that I could be an author when I grew up. I took her suggestion to heart.
It took me several decades to get to novel-writing, though. I first started off as an essayist and journalist, writing for Wired and Salon in San Francisco, during the dotcom boom years. In the 1990’s, I was also the editor and co-founder of Maxi, an irreverent (and now, long-gone) women's pop culture magazine. My writing has also appeared in Vogue, The New York Times, Elle, Wired, Self, The Los Angeles Times, and numerous other publications.
I've spent the fifteen years working on my novels, writing the occasional essay, and living in Los Angeles with my husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
March 11, 2024
In a Nutshell: Not the kind of story I expected in a series titled “We Could Be Heroes”, and that itself shows how preconceived our notions are about certain topics. Fits the theme perfectly, if you look at it the right way. I enjoyed this! (I am an outlier on the positive side, for once! 🥳)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
This is the third standalone story in the 'We Could be Heroes’ series, described on Amazon as “a darkly inquisitive collection of short stories that examines heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences.”
Polly is one of those mums who seem to have everything right at home and school. A homemaker, PTA member, a wealthy husband, a huge house,.. Have you already started creating a picture in your mind of what kind of a person Polly is?
Good. Let’s add another character to the mix.
Katrina, Sylvia’s mother, is one of those mums who lives a flashy life regardless of what others think about her. Revealing flashy clothes, high heels, inappropriate behaviour, and bad language. With such a character, you can already guess what kind of a childhood Sylvia has with such a mother. Right?
Do you see why Polly felt like she had to be Sylvia’s ‘hero’? Isn’t it normal to want to save a child from abuse at home?
However, this story doesn’t fit into the series theme in the conventional way. It is a darker take on the idea of heroism, challenging you to question your stereotypical thinking, your judging of someone based on looks or language, your assumptions about those who either fit into or fit outside of societal conventions.
Though I could see where the tale was going, I still found it a compelling read. Within just 36 pages, the author provides just enough of character depth to help us understand their motivations without spoon-feeding too many details.
All in all, this was a fresh take on the ‘heroes’ idea, and quite unlike the other two stories I have read in this series. This is the lowest rated story of the series on Goodreads, but to me, it is the best story so far, which is saying a lot because the other two stories were also great.
Definitely recommended to those who understand these important words from the theme tagline: “heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences.”
4.25 stars.
This standalone story is a part of the “We Could Be Heroes” collection, and is currently available free to Amazon Prime subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
When Polly’s fourth-grader daughter Hannah decides that she wants to invite her new best friend, Katrina’s daughter Sylvia, over for a play date. Polly cannot refuse, despite her reservations about the kind of influence Sylvia will be. Polly is sure that either Sylvia is troubled OR she is trouble, primarily because of her upbringing. But when Polly hears Sylvia’s admissions about her struggles at home, Polly realises that she needs to take some action to save the child from her dismal life.
The story comes to us in Polly’s third person perspective.
This is the third standalone story in the 'We Could be Heroes’ series, described on Amazon as “a darkly inquisitive collection of short stories that examines heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences.”
Polly is one of those mums who seem to have everything right at home and school. A homemaker, PTA member, a wealthy husband, a huge house,.. Have you already started creating a picture in your mind of what kind of a person Polly is?
Good. Let’s add another character to the mix.
Katrina, Sylvia’s mother, is one of those mums who lives a flashy life regardless of what others think about her. Revealing flashy clothes, high heels, inappropriate behaviour, and bad language. With such a character, you can already guess what kind of a childhood Sylvia has with such a mother. Right?
Do you see why Polly felt like she had to be Sylvia’s ‘hero’? Isn’t it normal to want to save a child from abuse at home?
However, this story doesn’t fit into the series theme in the conventional way. It is a darker take on the idea of heroism, challenging you to question your stereotypical thinking, your judging of someone based on looks or language, your assumptions about those who either fit into or fit outside of societal conventions.
Though I could see where the tale was going, I still found it a compelling read. Within just 36 pages, the author provides just enough of character depth to help us understand their motivations without spoon-feeding too many details.
All in all, this was a fresh take on the ‘heroes’ idea, and quite unlike the other two stories I have read in this series. This is the lowest rated story of the series on Goodreads, but to me, it is the best story so far, which is saying a lot because the other two stories were also great.
Definitely recommended to those who understand these important words from the theme tagline: “heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences.”
4.25 stars.
This standalone story is a part of the “We Could Be Heroes” collection, and is currently available free to Amazon Prime subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
March 1, 2023
4-4.5⭐
Part 3 of 5 in the "We Could be Heroes" collection. They can be read in any order.
WOWzer for 35 pages, this is amazing actually! 🙌 I think many readers will enjoy this mystery/suspense/psych thriller. Takes place in Los Angeles, it's a bit disturbing and could leave you wondering what you'll do in their shoes. Mother- daughter (4th grader). Go in blind since it's so short. I wish this was looonger!
🎧 read by January LaVoy 50m/ 36 pages
Free with Prime/KU/Audible
Part 3 of 5 in the "We Could be Heroes" collection. They can be read in any order.
WOWzer for 35 pages, this is amazing actually! 🙌 I think many readers will enjoy this mystery/suspense/psych thriller. Takes place in Los Angeles, it's a bit disturbing and could leave you wondering what you'll do in their shoes. Mother- daughter (4th grader). Go in blind since it's so short. I wish this was looonger!
🎧 read by January LaVoy 50m/ 36 pages
Free with Prime/KU/Audible
July 13, 2023
This is a dark short story about a troubled child who is troubled herself.
Polly tries to help her daughter's friend Sylvie, a girl that looks and behaves differently from other children in Hannah's class, only to find that situation is more complicated than it looks at first glance.
Polly tries to help her daughter's friend Sylvie, a girl that looks and behaves differently from other children in Hannah's class, only to find that situation is more complicated than it looks at first glance.
August 2, 2025
Mediocre. Not bad, but not very memorable either.
July 9, 2023
I'm usually pretty generous with ratings on Novellas because I find what authors capable of doing in such a small number of pages very impressive. This one, unfortunately, just wasn't for me. I think it may be a bit YA, which I usually enjoy but with appropriate character development and back stories. This one just didn't flow for me and I really didn't understand anything about what drove Sylvie or any of the characters. It needed to be a bit longer on this occasion I think.
February 25, 2023
My rating: 1⭐️ boring and did not lend itself to being this short!!!
This is another of the short (this one is VERY short) stories in the We Could be Heroes, Amazon Original series. I didn’t really enjoy this one. I think it had a lot of potential but in my opinion it was too short to get into anything juicy AND it didn’t really fit the We Could be Heroes theme… IMO!!
I wont get bogged down into the details of the story because it’s too short… but for being under 40 pages the fact that the C word is used twice I think thats a little overkill - even for me… I am in no way offended by bad language but it felt like a lot for how long this book was… I think that really was the big thing that stuck out for me and it really shouldn’t have been… because who cares.
Either way… this one was a loss but not a huge time spent here. I use these short stories as palate cleansers after a bad read… shame this one was also a let down. I think it could have been something if it was even a half length book but there was no time… it hasn’t really inspired me to seek out this author though so I’ll take the L and move on!!
This is another of the short (this one is VERY short) stories in the We Could be Heroes, Amazon Original series. I didn’t really enjoy this one. I think it had a lot of potential but in my opinion it was too short to get into anything juicy AND it didn’t really fit the We Could be Heroes theme… IMO!!
I wont get bogged down into the details of the story because it’s too short… but for being under 40 pages the fact that the C word is used twice I think thats a little overkill - even for me… I am in no way offended by bad language but it felt like a lot for how long this book was… I think that really was the big thing that stuck out for me and it really shouldn’t have been… because who cares.
Either way… this one was a loss but not a huge time spent here. I use these short stories as palate cleansers after a bad read… shame this one was also a let down. I think it could have been something if it was even a half length book but there was no time… it hasn’t really inspired me to seek out this author though so I’ll take the L and move on!!
February 11, 2023
Janelle Brown dazzles is this short story, perfect for fans who need a little getaway from reality. Adding her own short piece to the We Can Be Heroes collection, Brown takes the angle of the loving mother, Polly, who is keen to have her daughter, Hannah, enjoy her time in school. However, Polly soon realises that while she wants to protect Hannah, she cannot always choose her friends, something that ends up being a major struggle throughout. However,there is more to the story than a troubled young girl, as Brown leads up to a stunning revelation in this piece.
Polly likes being that ideal mother who is always helping out at her daughter’s school, serving on the fundraising committee, and making sure that everyone gets along. Polly notices that Hannah has a girl in class who does not appear to fit in alongside the others. Sylvie’s uniqueness extends to her mother, who refuses to engage with the other mothers. When Hannah and Sylvia begin having play dates, Polly notices that Sylvie is much different than anyone else her age. Her shirts are a little more forward in their messaging, her latest iPhone seems out of place, and she’s always bragging about her family’s wealth. When Polly tries to inquire, she’s stonewalled by Sylvie, who clams up when personal questions emerge. It is only after Polly sees Sylvie at school that she notices something is out of place and could speak to a larger issue. What is Polly to do? Can she fix this and make things perfect once more, or has Sylvie’s troubled life got to be one mission not worth taken on? Janelle Brown offers up an interesting take that is sure to get the reader thinking.
The story has a mix of everything in it, sure to appease many readers. Janelle Brown dives right in, with her narrative that keeps a clipped pace. She addresses some major issues and begins creating her core characters from the start, developing them so that the reader can feel connection before too long. As the story progresses, the reader learns more about the young Sylvie and her home life, which is nothing like what Polly has experienced, either as a child or a mother now. It’s some of the twists towards the end that really takes the reader and drives the story to its final reveal, leaving everyone to wonder how Polly will handle it. Told in a single chapter, there is little time to rest as the story speeds along and the reader is right there in the thick of things.
Kudos, Madam Brown, for an intriguing piece, easily devoured in a single sitting. I will have to look to see what else you’ve written that might interest me.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Polly likes being that ideal mother who is always helping out at her daughter’s school, serving on the fundraising committee, and making sure that everyone gets along. Polly notices that Hannah has a girl in class who does not appear to fit in alongside the others. Sylvie’s uniqueness extends to her mother, who refuses to engage with the other mothers. When Hannah and Sylvia begin having play dates, Polly notices that Sylvie is much different than anyone else her age. Her shirts are a little more forward in their messaging, her latest iPhone seems out of place, and she’s always bragging about her family’s wealth. When Polly tries to inquire, she’s stonewalled by Sylvie, who clams up when personal questions emerge. It is only after Polly sees Sylvie at school that she notices something is out of place and could speak to a larger issue. What is Polly to do? Can she fix this and make things perfect once more, or has Sylvie’s troubled life got to be one mission not worth taken on? Janelle Brown offers up an interesting take that is sure to get the reader thinking.
The story has a mix of everything in it, sure to appease many readers. Janelle Brown dives right in, with her narrative that keeps a clipped pace. She addresses some major issues and begins creating her core characters from the start, developing them so that the reader can feel connection before too long. As the story progresses, the reader learns more about the young Sylvie and her home life, which is nothing like what Polly has experienced, either as a child or a mother now. It’s some of the twists towards the end that really takes the reader and drives the story to its final reveal, leaving everyone to wonder how Polly will handle it. Told in a single chapter, there is little time to rest as the story speeds along and the reader is right there in the thick of things.
Kudos, Madam Brown, for an intriguing piece, easily devoured in a single sitting. I will have to look to see what else you’ve written that might interest me.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 4, 2025
Story 3.5 stars**
Audio 5 stars**
Narrator January LaVoy
Audio 5 stars**
Narrator January LaVoy
March 16, 2025
Ok so the story starts slowly. I understand you have to build the story and once it builds it takes off.. The book is a quick roller coaster of emotions.. Really enjoyed it
Would definitely read author again
Would definitely read author again
April 8, 2023
I really liked January Lavoy’s narration, she was super fantastic. But this story never drew me in and was too short to have any real substance.
December 14, 2024
3.25 stars
June 14, 2023
Oh my, for such a short story (36 pages), this novella took me in a roller coaster ride of emotions. Who knew a playdate could turn into a suspenseful tale? This is the second story I read from the We Could Be Heroes collection and one of my favorites, although the "hero" theme in this one has a bit of a twist.
August 7, 2024
Loved it!!
May 24, 2023
2.5*
Sadly i wasnt feeling much for this story. It was ok but a bit bland or lacking in places in my opinion.
Sadly i wasnt feeling much for this story. It was ok but a bit bland or lacking in places in my opinion.
October 6, 2024
Entertaining relationship listening 🎆😁😮🎶
This kindle novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book three of five
She is a little girl in school. She becomes friends with another girl. Then strange events start to happen? It all come to a closure months later.
I would recommend this series and various authors to readers of family and friends relationships mystery novels 🤔 2024 👒
This kindle novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book three of five
She is a little girl in school. She becomes friends with another girl. Then strange events start to happen? It all come to a closure months later.
I would recommend this series and various authors to readers of family and friends relationships mystery novels 🤔 2024 👒
July 28, 2024
If I wanted to be snarky, I would say the moral(s) of this story are: 1) lock up your valuables; and 2) expensive heirlooms should not be given to children, at least not until they are old enough and responsible enough to appreciate them.
I'm really not sure exactly how this story fits in with the "We Could Be Heroes" theme, unless you emphasize the could. The main character certainly tries to be a hero, to do the right thing, but without sufficient information, the right thing can go horribly wrong.
I'm really not sure exactly how this story fits in with the "We Could Be Heroes" theme, unless you emphasize the could. The main character certainly tries to be a hero, to do the right thing, but without sufficient information, the right thing can go horribly wrong.
September 3, 2023
Trouble indeed. Be careful of who you listen to.
July 23, 2024
Trouble by Janelle Brown
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)
This was my third book in the „We Could Be Heroes“-Collection and „Pigeon Tony's Last Stand“ is still the best story in the collection. This one however was the weakest of them all so far… nothing special, just some school kids and their families or some rich parents who trash talk other people behind their backs, without realising that nothing is how it seems… And this is (at least for me) pretty nonreflective and very much outdated… 🙁
„Polly’s fourth-grade daughter has been spending a lot of time with her classmate Sylvie—maybe too much. Sylvie’s clothes are a little…flashy…and her phone (a ten-year-old with a phone!) doesn’t seem to have any parental controls. It seems that Sylvie’s mother, with her vape pens and her too-high heels, may not be making good choices. As Polly tries to exert a positive influence, she discovers just how little anyone can tell about a family from the outside.“
The writing was very good and easy and comfortable. The audiobook and therefore the narrator were amazing. 🙂 But that was about it. Some „Karens“ who think they know everything about other families and who think it is their right (no excuse me, their duty!) to meddle with other peoples business… Unfortunately a fail for me. 🙁👎🏻
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)
This was my third book in the „We Could Be Heroes“-Collection and „Pigeon Tony's Last Stand“ is still the best story in the collection. This one however was the weakest of them all so far… nothing special, just some school kids and their families or some rich parents who trash talk other people behind their backs, without realising that nothing is how it seems… And this is (at least for me) pretty nonreflective and very much outdated… 🙁
„Polly’s fourth-grade daughter has been spending a lot of time with her classmate Sylvie—maybe too much. Sylvie’s clothes are a little…flashy…and her phone (a ten-year-old with a phone!) doesn’t seem to have any parental controls. It seems that Sylvie’s mother, with her vape pens and her too-high heels, may not be making good choices. As Polly tries to exert a positive influence, she discovers just how little anyone can tell about a family from the outside.“
The writing was very good and easy and comfortable. The audiobook and therefore the narrator were amazing. 🙂 But that was about it. Some „Karens“ who think they know everything about other families and who think it is their right (no excuse me, their duty!) to meddle with other peoples business… Unfortunately a fail for me. 🙁👎🏻
February 13, 2023
******SPOILER ALERT*****
3.5 stars
Sylvia is the female Chucky.
3.5 stars
Sylvia is the female Chucky.
March 10, 2024
A Well-written and Engaging Story!
"Trouble" is another book in the Amazon Original Book Series, "We Could Be Heroes". I listened to the audiobook version and found it well-written and engaging, even though it was somewhat predictable. Despite this, I was utterly immersed in the story from start to finish.
#Trouble #JanelleBrown #AmazonSeries #ShortStory #WeCouldBeHeros #Thriller #Friends #BookTok #BookToker #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #bookworm #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer
"Trouble" is another book in the Amazon Original Book Series, "We Could Be Heroes". I listened to the audiobook version and found it well-written and engaging, even though it was somewhat predictable. Despite this, I was utterly immersed in the story from start to finish.
#Trouble #JanelleBrown #AmazonSeries #ShortStory #WeCouldBeHeros #Thriller #Friends #BookTok #BookToker #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #bookworm #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer
August 31, 2024
Sylvie is just a kid. A kid with an iPhone. A kid that Polly's daughter admires and has befriended. A little girl with a troubled home.
My Thoughts
So well written. Polly is such a relatable mother. She is just trying to do right by her children. She is overwhelmed and stressed out. She worries if her friends really like her. She feels alone even when her husband is home. I saw so much of my own parental struggles in her.
Sylvie is the child we all want to help, but at the same time, the one who we secretly wish wasn't friends with our child. The one who teaches our kids bad habits but we blame their upbringing. We all know a kid like this.
This short story clearly shows how we seldom see the whole picture of other people's lives. Even when having the best of intentions, the choices we make for other peoples lives can have drastic effects.
My Thoughts
So well written. Polly is such a relatable mother. She is just trying to do right by her children. She is overwhelmed and stressed out. She worries if her friends really like her. She feels alone even when her husband is home. I saw so much of my own parental struggles in her.
Sylvie is the child we all want to help, but at the same time, the one who we secretly wish wasn't friends with our child. The one who teaches our kids bad habits but we blame their upbringing. We all know a kid like this.
This short story clearly shows how we seldom see the whole picture of other people's lives. Even when having the best of intentions, the choices we make for other peoples lives can have drastic effects.
February 7, 2023
This was a pretty good little tale that kept my attention. Nothing life-shattering, but I appreciated the story.
December 5, 2023
“You fancy moms, you think you know everything, with all your smug pity. Believe me, you know nothing.”
After this book, makes you think do you trust the kid or the mom? I'm surprised how in just 36 pages hit me when the twist came up.
The author got me thinking that Polly was doing what was best for little Sylvie. The stories and things she kept saying but then when talking to the mom makes you doubt and start thinking, who is telling the truth?
Things can be more complicated that what they look like. I really wasn’t expecting that ending… Manipulative cunt for sure.
After this book, makes you think do you trust the kid or the mom? I'm surprised how in just 36 pages hit me when the twist came up.
The author got me thinking that Polly was doing what was best for little Sylvie. The stories and things she kept saying but then when talking to the mom makes you doubt and start thinking, who is telling the truth?
Things can be more complicated that what they look like. I really wasn’t expecting that ending… Manipulative cunt for sure.
March 22, 2023
Book 3 in the Amazon’s “We Could be Heroes” collection. I’m really enjoying this series.
In this short story, Polly has to make a difficult choice as an adult and caring mother. Protect Sylvie from her terrible circumstances, or let it go? … sometimes appearances are deceiving.
In this short story, Polly has to make a difficult choice as an adult and caring mother. Protect Sylvie from her terrible circumstances, or let it go? … sometimes appearances are deceiving.
July 24, 2024
Manipulative c*nt 😳
December 10, 2024
Free on Audible as part of the We Could Be Heroes series.
Short but impactful. Anyone looking at a family situation from the outside cannot always know what is really going on, even with the best of intentions.
Short but impactful. Anyone looking at a family situation from the outside cannot always know what is really going on, even with the best of intentions.
April 18, 2023
This is a very short story from the "We Could Be Heroes" series.
Polly and her eight-year-old daughter, Hannah, have a very close and loving relationship. When Hannah requests a playdate with classmate, Sylvie, Polly begins to notice that there is something out of sorts with Sylvie's homelife. Polly wants to help in some way and hopefully make things better for Sylvie, but how? The sudden twists and turns toward the ending and the final reveal make for an eye-opening conclusion.
Polly and her eight-year-old daughter, Hannah, have a very close and loving relationship. When Hannah requests a playdate with classmate, Sylvie, Polly begins to notice that there is something out of sorts with Sylvie's homelife. Polly wants to help in some way and hopefully make things better for Sylvie, but how? The sudden twists and turns toward the ending and the final reveal make for an eye-opening conclusion.
February 22, 2024
Geez they giving 9 year olds iPhone 13s now.I just had the
nokia
that was popular in my hometown at the time. Wait - is that Finnish company still churning out phones or has it gone the way of Blackberry?
I digress. Yeah okay remind me to seriously reconsider having kids. Like hell no. I cannot even ...I just can't with this mess. For now I'm good just being that aunt.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
We open on that delicate balance between nosy bitchy surburban moms who's kids belong at that fancy schmancy school "discussing" the *gasp* scholarship 6 year old who dresses as inappropriately as her maybe stripper mama ... nobody knows for sure.
"Polly couldn’t help wondering if they ever gossiped about her—would they pity her awkward scar, her country-girl naivete, her utter lack of career distinction? She tries too hard, she’s just an imposter." (Gossip is a fickle temptress)
And then the insanity and chaos began.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Now I don't feel awful for taking an immediate visceral disliking to Sylvie at first and it made me realize that if I were a mom to a nine year old kid, you can bet your last dollar I'd keep my kid away from her. But my instincts are honed to rooting out sociopaths and nefarious people - benefit/downside of being raise where they roamed free and ran whole cities.
But manipulative little devil was not exactly what I was expecting.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
That playdate from HELL.
✔️Basic Bitch
✔️Megan Thee Stallone
✔️“We’re just having fun, Hannah’s Mom,” Sylvie being a little goblinshyte
✔️Prada Purse
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Sylvie can’t be trusted, I’m well aware. I’m going to get it out of her, the little liar, one way or another. She’ll learn her lesson. I promise.” (I always wonder about child-sociopaths, like does it start at age 5 or later?)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Small Town Girl, Big LA Spanish Colonial
■ Damned Covid Lockdowns. Almost triggered me.
■ Katrina vs Sylvie dynamic
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
I digress. Yeah okay remind me to seriously reconsider having kids. Like hell no. I cannot even ...I just can't with this mess. For now I'm good just being that aunt.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
We open on that delicate balance between nosy bitchy surburban moms who's kids belong at that fancy schmancy school "discussing" the *gasp* scholarship 6 year old who dresses as inappropriately as her maybe stripper mama ... nobody knows for sure.
"Polly couldn’t help wondering if they ever gossiped about her—would they pity her awkward scar, her country-girl naivete, her utter lack of career distinction? She tries too hard, she’s just an imposter." (Gossip is a fickle temptress)
And then the insanity and chaos began.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Now I don't feel awful for taking an immediate visceral disliking to Sylvie at first and it made me realize that if I were a mom to a nine year old kid, you can bet your last dollar I'd keep my kid away from her. But my instincts are honed to rooting out sociopaths and nefarious people - benefit/downside of being raise where they roamed free and ran whole cities.
But manipulative little devil was not exactly what I was expecting.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
That playdate from HELL.
✔️Basic Bitch
✔️Megan Thee Stallone
✔️“We’re just having fun, Hannah’s Mom,” Sylvie being a little goblinshyte
✔️Prada Purse
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Sylvie can’t be trusted, I’m well aware. I’m going to get it out of her, the little liar, one way or another. She’ll learn her lesson. I promise.” (I always wonder about child-sociopaths, like does it start at age 5 or later?)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Small Town Girl, Big LA Spanish Colonial
■ Damned Covid Lockdowns. Almost triggered me.
■ Katrina vs Sylvie dynamic
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
February 13, 2023
Trouble by Janelle Brown
We Could Be Heroes #3
35-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Short Stories, Domestic Thrillers, Family Life
Featuring: Mothers, Private School, Los Angeles, California, Playdates
Rating as a movie: R
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thoughts: I was just beginning to think I had the wrong idea about this series and then the end surprised me, so I'm back to uncertainty.
Recommend to others?: Maybe. This was pretty good to me, but it took a while to get to the punchline.
We Could Be Heroes #3
35-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Short Stories, Domestic Thrillers, Family Life
Featuring: Mothers, Private School, Los Angeles, California, Playdates
Rating as a movie: R
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thoughts: I was just beginning to think I had the wrong idea about this series and then the end surprised me, so I'm back to uncertainty.
Recommend to others?: Maybe. This was pretty good to me, but it took a while to get to the punchline.
May 9, 2024
I honestly was not expecting much from this short story. Yet, in only 36 pages, Janelle Brown throws so many plot twists and introspective thoughts at you in such a way that makes this story amazing. The characters and plot are great and the overall message of the story is wonderful. I highly recommend this!
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