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The Best American Short Stories 2024
A collection of the year’s best short stories, selected by celebrated bestselling author Lauren Groff, author of Matrix and The Vaster Wilds, and series editor Heidi Pitlor.
Lauren Groff—bestselling author, three-time National Book Award finalist, and “one of our finest living writers” (New York Times)—selects twenty stories out of thousands that represent the best examples of the form published in 2023.
Lauren Groff—bestselling author, three-time National Book Award finalist, and “one of our finest living writers” (New York Times)—selects twenty stories out of thousands that represent the best examples of the form published in 2023.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2024
504 people are currently reading
1002 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Groff
66 books7,276 followersLauren Groff was born in Cooperstown, N.Y. and grew up one block from the Baseball Hall of Fame. She graduated from Amherst College and has an MFA in fiction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Her short stories have appeared or are forthcoming in a number of journals, including The Atlantic Monthly, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, Hobart, and Five Points as well as in the anthologies Best American Short Stories 2007, Pushcart Prize XXXII, and Best New American Voices 2008.
She was awarded the Axton Fellowship in Fiction at the University of Louisville, and has had residencies and fellowships at Yaddo and the Vermont Studio Center.
She lives in Gainesville, Florida, with her husband, Clay, and her dog, Cooper.
Her short stories have appeared or are forthcoming in a number of journals, including The Atlantic Monthly, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, Hobart, and Five Points as well as in the anthologies Best American Short Stories 2007, Pushcart Prize XXXII, and Best New American Voices 2008.
She was awarded the Axton Fellowship in Fiction at the University of Louisville, and has had residencies and fellowships at Yaddo and the Vermont Studio Center.
She lives in Gainesville, Florida, with her husband, Clay, and her dog, Cooper.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 165 reviews
February 16, 2025
This interesting anthology of twenty short stories was selected after series editor Heidi Pitler and guest editor Lauren Groff read thousands of stories. Groff said that she "was looking for stories that sent blue lightning through my nerve endings. . . a little raw, a little dangerous, a little new."
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for the anthology.
1. The Magic Bangle - Shastri Akella
A gay man pretends to be a tourist in his hometown of Hyderabad in a magical story which includes a celebration of Holi. In a restaurant, a qawwali (Sufi music) plays the lyrics from the poet Mirza Ghalib: "Allow me, Imam, to drink in the mosque or show me to a corner where God isn't there." (He wants to be accepted or remain unseen by the community.) It was a colorful, atmospheric story. 4 stars.
2. Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico - Selena Gambreil Anderson
A collector of slave memorabilia takes an unemployed jeweler for a short trip in his new acquisition, a slave ship. He advises the younger man to search for something that would interest him and bring him the respect of the community. I really didn't get the point of the last scene. 3 stars.
3.Viola in Midwinter - Marie-Helene Bertino
A feminist vampire who is immortal is stuck forever at age forty-nine. The story has some good writing, but it's very strange with elements of horror and fantasy. 2.5 stars.
4. Blessed Deliverance - Jamel Brinkley
A group of high school seniors are starting to go their separate ways. They see a boy they used to hang out with volunteering at a rescue center for rabbits. The boy, nicknamed Head-ass, had never fit in, but he makes a loving connection to the rabbits. The narrator is seeing the boy in a new way. It shows the importance of seeing yourself and seeing others with fresh eyes. 4 stars.
5. Phenotype - Alexandra Chang
An undergrad experiences her first love with a grad student from Korea. They seem to accept each other the way they are, but they are missing any strong passion. It's a good coming-of-age story. 3 stars.
6. Evensong - Laurie Colwin
The narrator is a worrier and a list maker. Although she is a non-observant Jew, she finds calmness and serenity in the music and ritual when she attends Evensong at the Anglican seminary in her neighborhood. She is a woman who is trying to figure out what she wants in life. 4 stars.
7. The Happiest Day of Your Life - Katherine Damm
Wyatt and Nina attend the wedding of one of her ex-boyfriends. As Wyatt imbibes drink after drink, we find out about the couple's history. 4 stars.
8. The Bed and Breakfast - Molly Dektar
A man decides to move his wife and three children to Italy to renovate an old stone building. He has the dream of opening a bed and breakfast, but does not have the skills or the money to even make a few rooms habitable for his family. The story just fades away without a resolution. 3 stars.
9. Dorchester - Steven Duong
A poet writes about an anti-Asian hate crime during the pandemic. He also is in a submissive/dominant relationship. The story is about language, truth, authenticity, and control. It's different, but the story works. 4 stars.
10. Seeing Through Maps - Madeline ffitch (that's how she spells her name)
Unusual writing with lots of metaphors, telling about a strange relationship. The author says, "I write in a mosaic" in the author's note. 4 stars.
11. Democracy in America - Allegra Hyde
A speculative futuristic story about a person researching the culture of America. It includes the sale of youthful body parts. It's a frightening future in this imaginative tale where everyone has shallow values. 4 stars.
12. Engelong - Taisia Kitaiskaia
A strange story with lots of magical realism. There were too many creepy creatures for me, including ants marching like the pilgrims in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. 3 stars.
13. P's Parties - Jhumpa Lahiri
The narrator tells about five parties, four given by his wife's close friend and one gathering to remember her life. He meets L at the first party, and feels that they have made a connection, but she's probably just distraught because her son was not feeling well. He builds up their short encounter in his mind. The narrator seems to live more in his mind than in his real life. 5 stars.
14. Case Study - Daniel Mason
A medical student goes to a psychologist for therapy. Years later, the psychologist contacts him and asks him for permission to use his case study in a book that he is writing. The story has a great ending sentence. 4 stars.j
15. Just Another Family - Lori Ostlund
What is family, and how do people survive the experience of growing up in a dysfunctional family? Depressing, but well written. 4 stars.
16. Privilege - Jim Shepard
The tragic 1889 Johnstown Flood in Pennsylvania was caused by the collapse of a poorly constructed dam. Some of the richest men in America had made a Fish and Game Club, ignoring safety for their recreation. The story focuses on several survivors including a young woman who scrambled up a hill from a stopped railroad car, and a young civil engineer. 4 stars.
17. Baboons - Susan Shepherd
A drug addict, his girlfriend, and their daughters vacation in Kenya where he grew up. In the start of the story, the girlfriend is looking for him in a tent village of addicts in Roxbury, and is tired of being a rescuer. Just two weeks later, she's seeing a different side of him showing the wildlife to the kids and sleeping in a tent in the African bush. It seemed unrealistic to make such a quick transition. 2.5 stars.
18. Extinction - Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi
This is a surreal story written by a young woman who is dead. Before she died, she was doing research into the 1918 flu epidemic and the writings of Josep Pla. There are also mentions of Boccoccio and the plague. She had been communicating with Beatriz who she met in an internet Death Cafe. This brings Dante's Beatrice to mind. The story begins in the summer of 2019, perhaps a premonition of death during the pandemic. This was a weird story that didn't come together for me. 2 stars.
19. Mall of America - Suzanne Wang
An AI system interacts with the sales associates and the customers to encourage them to spend money at the mall. An older man who only speaks Mandarin is left at the mall when his daughter rushed home for an emergency. He develops an attachment with the AI device (programmed to talk in many languages), and sneaks into the mall after hours to talk to it in the arcade. The AI system had more empathy for the lonely old man than most of the humans. The story had elements of sadness and fun. 4 stars.
20. Valley of the Moon - Paul Yoon
Set in South Korea, a veteran of the war lives in the isolated Valley of the Moon. "The moon rises and falls and shatters. And then it builds itself back up again." Lovely literary fiction. 4 stars.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars for the anthology.
1. The Magic Bangle - Shastri Akella
A gay man pretends to be a tourist in his hometown of Hyderabad in a magical story which includes a celebration of Holi. In a restaurant, a qawwali (Sufi music) plays the lyrics from the poet Mirza Ghalib: "Allow me, Imam, to drink in the mosque or show me to a corner where God isn't there." (He wants to be accepted or remain unseen by the community.) It was a colorful, atmospheric story. 4 stars.
2. Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico - Selena Gambreil Anderson
A collector of slave memorabilia takes an unemployed jeweler for a short trip in his new acquisition, a slave ship. He advises the younger man to search for something that would interest him and bring him the respect of the community. I really didn't get the point of the last scene. 3 stars.
3.Viola in Midwinter - Marie-Helene Bertino
A feminist vampire who is immortal is stuck forever at age forty-nine. The story has some good writing, but it's very strange with elements of horror and fantasy. 2.5 stars.
4. Blessed Deliverance - Jamel Brinkley
A group of high school seniors are starting to go their separate ways. They see a boy they used to hang out with volunteering at a rescue center for rabbits. The boy, nicknamed Head-ass, had never fit in, but he makes a loving connection to the rabbits. The narrator is seeing the boy in a new way. It shows the importance of seeing yourself and seeing others with fresh eyes. 4 stars.
5. Phenotype - Alexandra Chang
An undergrad experiences her first love with a grad student from Korea. They seem to accept each other the way they are, but they are missing any strong passion. It's a good coming-of-age story. 3 stars.
6. Evensong - Laurie Colwin
The narrator is a worrier and a list maker. Although she is a non-observant Jew, she finds calmness and serenity in the music and ritual when she attends Evensong at the Anglican seminary in her neighborhood. She is a woman who is trying to figure out what she wants in life. 4 stars.
7. The Happiest Day of Your Life - Katherine Damm
Wyatt and Nina attend the wedding of one of her ex-boyfriends. As Wyatt imbibes drink after drink, we find out about the couple's history. 4 stars.
8. The Bed and Breakfast - Molly Dektar
A man decides to move his wife and three children to Italy to renovate an old stone building. He has the dream of opening a bed and breakfast, but does not have the skills or the money to even make a few rooms habitable for his family. The story just fades away without a resolution. 3 stars.
9. Dorchester - Steven Duong
A poet writes about an anti-Asian hate crime during the pandemic. He also is in a submissive/dominant relationship. The story is about language, truth, authenticity, and control. It's different, but the story works. 4 stars.
10. Seeing Through Maps - Madeline ffitch (that's how she spells her name)
Unusual writing with lots of metaphors, telling about a strange relationship. The author says, "I write in a mosaic" in the author's note. 4 stars.
11. Democracy in America - Allegra Hyde
A speculative futuristic story about a person researching the culture of America. It includes the sale of youthful body parts. It's a frightening future in this imaginative tale where everyone has shallow values. 4 stars.
12. Engelong - Taisia Kitaiskaia
A strange story with lots of magical realism. There were too many creepy creatures for me, including ants marching like the pilgrims in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. 3 stars.
13. P's Parties - Jhumpa Lahiri
The narrator tells about five parties, four given by his wife's close friend and one gathering to remember her life. He meets L at the first party, and feels that they have made a connection, but she's probably just distraught because her son was not feeling well. He builds up their short encounter in his mind. The narrator seems to live more in his mind than in his real life. 5 stars.
14. Case Study - Daniel Mason
A medical student goes to a psychologist for therapy. Years later, the psychologist contacts him and asks him for permission to use his case study in a book that he is writing. The story has a great ending sentence. 4 stars.j
15. Just Another Family - Lori Ostlund
What is family, and how do people survive the experience of growing up in a dysfunctional family? Depressing, but well written. 4 stars.
16. Privilege - Jim Shepard
The tragic 1889 Johnstown Flood in Pennsylvania was caused by the collapse of a poorly constructed dam. Some of the richest men in America had made a Fish and Game Club, ignoring safety for their recreation. The story focuses on several survivors including a young woman who scrambled up a hill from a stopped railroad car, and a young civil engineer. 4 stars.
17. Baboons - Susan Shepherd
A drug addict, his girlfriend, and their daughters vacation in Kenya where he grew up. In the start of the story, the girlfriend is looking for him in a tent village of addicts in Roxbury, and is tired of being a rescuer. Just two weeks later, she's seeing a different side of him showing the wildlife to the kids and sleeping in a tent in the African bush. It seemed unrealistic to make such a quick transition. 2.5 stars.
18. Extinction - Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi
This is a surreal story written by a young woman who is dead. Before she died, she was doing research into the 1918 flu epidemic and the writings of Josep Pla. There are also mentions of Boccoccio and the plague. She had been communicating with Beatriz who she met in an internet Death Cafe. This brings Dante's Beatrice to mind. The story begins in the summer of 2019, perhaps a premonition of death during the pandemic. This was a weird story that didn't come together for me. 2 stars.
19. Mall of America - Suzanne Wang
An AI system interacts with the sales associates and the customers to encourage them to spend money at the mall. An older man who only speaks Mandarin is left at the mall when his daughter rushed home for an emergency. He develops an attachment with the AI device (programmed to talk in many languages), and sneaks into the mall after hours to talk to it in the arcade. The AI system had more empathy for the lonely old man than most of the humans. The story had elements of sadness and fun. 4 stars.
20. Valley of the Moon - Paul Yoon
Set in South Korea, a veteran of the war lives in the isolated Valley of the Moon. "The moon rises and falls and shatters. And then it builds itself back up again." Lovely literary fiction. 4 stars.
July 25, 2025
This was a slog. I avoided the book altogether for days at a time. Considerable cruelty, which authors may have assumed was edgy, some errors, something else . . . The sense that I am not the intended reader?
Not liking these much, though they are not all bad stories—maybe not any that were actually bad—just not what I want to be reading just now, you know? The first one I liked was Colwin's story, but by the time I finished I had no memory of it at all. I found some of the stories interesting and thoughtful—surely I did?—when I wasn't annoyed. I was distracted rewriting bad sentences in several. And sometimes I was stopped cold by some irrational detail. Several stories were what people call "speculative" and that should have been more satisfying than it was. A lot of affluent white people, who too often complained that they couldn't afford to do something they clearly could afford to do.
Three stars? Two and a half? Maybe two. Another reviewer, David Curry, was less kind and more brave in his 1-star rating.: "Anyone who knows me knows I’m by no means a Pollyanna. But I can’t help feeling the lexicon of current literary criticism could use a term that indicates the exact opposite of sentimentality — a similarly forced, unearned negativity that’s every bit as unacceptable as sentimentality. Falseness is falseness, whether it’s sunshine or shadow."
Yes, I felt that while reading Groff's collection.
I will miss the series editor, Heidi Pitlor—this is her last—and very much appreciated her review of the history of the series since I have been buying and reading BASS since the early 1980s. I have shelves of them.
In her introduction, Groff went on and on about the problems with first person, but conceded she'd included stories in that POV, and most of these stories were in first person singular. She didn't advance much about the issues with first person singular, so I'm not sure what she meant to accomplish with that. She barely reviewed the books she actually selected.
At the back, some of the author notes went on and on.
My husband gifted me this collection and kept apologizing as I read terrible sentences aloud, but it wasn't his fault I found it disappointing.
Not liking these much, though they are not all bad stories—maybe not any that were actually bad—just not what I want to be reading just now, you know? The first one I liked was Colwin's story, but by the time I finished I had no memory of it at all. I found some of the stories interesting and thoughtful—surely I did?—when I wasn't annoyed. I was distracted rewriting bad sentences in several. And sometimes I was stopped cold by some irrational detail. Several stories were what people call "speculative" and that should have been more satisfying than it was. A lot of affluent white people, who too often complained that they couldn't afford to do something they clearly could afford to do.
Three stars? Two and a half? Maybe two. Another reviewer, David Curry, was less kind and more brave in his 1-star rating.: "Anyone who knows me knows I’m by no means a Pollyanna. But I can’t help feeling the lexicon of current literary criticism could use a term that indicates the exact opposite of sentimentality — a similarly forced, unearned negativity that’s every bit as unacceptable as sentimentality. Falseness is falseness, whether it’s sunshine or shadow."
Yes, I felt that while reading Groff's collection.
I will miss the series editor, Heidi Pitlor—this is her last—and very much appreciated her review of the history of the series since I have been buying and reading BASS since the early 1980s. I have shelves of them.
In her introduction, Groff went on and on about the problems with first person, but conceded she'd included stories in that POV, and most of these stories were in first person singular. She didn't advance much about the issues with first person singular, so I'm not sure what she meant to accomplish with that. She barely reviewed the books she actually selected.
At the back, some of the author notes went on and on.
My husband gifted me this collection and kept apologizing as I read terrible sentences aloud, but it wasn't his fault I found it disappointing.
August 17, 2024
I’m torn here. There were some short stories that I really liked, but there were more than a few others that I either actively disliked or wondered why they were included in a best of anthology.
I liked “The Best Short Stories 2024” more than this collection of American stories. Still, there are some stories in here that are worth your time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
I liked “The Best Short Stories 2024” more than this collection of American stories. Still, there are some stories in here that are worth your time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
December 2, 2024
Best American Short Stories 2024
I am a huge fan of short story analogies. I consider them the best way to obtain a snapshot of an author’s style and genre. I have found many new authors this way. I have read this particular collection for many years, edited by the fabulous Heidi Pietlor who will be greatly missed.
In addition to the authors, each annual guest editor can also give insight. I have had Lauren Groff on my radar for years, but I haven’t read any of her work. This year’s collection of 20 stories offers the fanciful, the reliable, the thought-provoking, the weird and one unfortunate case, the boring. As one small criticism, it might be beneficial to not reveal the publication of the story until the end of the collection. I found myself having inner expectations of a story in say the New Yorker as opposed to Electric Literature.
Here are my thoughts on each individual story.
The Magic Bangle - An interesting start to the collection. An average story that did hold my interest, but didn’t hit me as spectacular. Starting off with a fairy tale certainly sets the tone for the rest of the collection.
Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico - I feel like I did not “get” the story even though I read it twice. I cannot explain why it went over my head and I feel like I should apologize for that.
Viola in Midwinter - Another story that didn’t particularly resonate. It was at this point that I was becoming discouraged, but also determined to continue. I was thinking that perhaps Groff just wasn’t for me. But I was also sure there would be a gem waiting down the line.
Blessed Deliverance - This was a highly interesting story with my only criticism being I wasn’t completely settled with the resolution.
Phenotype - The first story that completely held my attention. Loved the dynamic between the two main characters. I made a note of the author, Alexandra Chang. I would read more of her work.
Evensong - A very relatable story in a weird way. As an agnostic, I found the portrayal
of religion to be thought-provoking. Instead of religion tearing us apart as it often does, it also brings different people together for non religious reasons. This one resonates with me.
The Happiest Day of Your Life - This seemed average and also a bit theatrical. It reminded me of something I might see on a soap opera.
The Bed and Breakfast - A readable story that is entertaining enough but doesn’t seem to go far enough. I wanted more.
Dorchester - This one highly interested me. Although I wouldn’t normally read something about this type of relationship, it still works. It reminds me slightly of the feeling I get after reading Bret Easton Ellis’ work.
Seeing through Maps - Most of this story is filled with quotable sentences because they are that good. Perfect to read during the holiday season. I also made a note of Madeline ffitch. My favorite quote (used only in this NG review) is “After the house burned we took the words apart and when we put them back together our relationship had changed.” My favorite writing of every story in the collection.
Democracy in America - WOW! This was the gem for which I was searching. The idea of monetizing one’s looks to prosper is not new, but this story provides an entirely new take. Not only did I notate Allegra Hyde by name, I searched her out on social media and thanked her for creating such a memorable story. This story alone makes reading the collection worthwhile.
Engeland - I appreciated the Chaucer reference. The repeated mentions of ants reminded me of Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”. Although I liked combining Chaucer and an almost Agatha Christie-esque story, I admit this one wasn’t for me.
P’s Parties - Who doesn’t love Jhumpa Lahiri? This was the first translated story ever included in these collections, and I see why the exception was made. This is the kind of story that I love. It calls Gatsby to mind. A story of the rich illustrating that life has no regard for money. The ending was sobering and of course Lahiri is on everyone’s list.
A Case Study - This is another anomalous story written clinically in only third person. There are also no names given to characters. It is a very clever story and I would read other works by the author. I don’t want to say too much else. The ending phrase is beautiful.
Just Another Family - My favorite story in the collection with a fantastically realistic opening line. Also a perfect story for this time of the year. I love dysfunctional family stories. This was so engrossing that I am following the author and will read anything she writes going forward.
Privilege - This story took me by surprise. I wasn’t even sure of the setting in place or time until explicitly stated, and once I caught on it improved. A story that could lean towards being morose but piqued my curiosity to research this event further. Certain parts are also very quotable.
Baboons - This was a miss for me. I felt as if I was reading two different stories depending on location. I also don’t like the resolution. Some people might even feel offended by the ending.
Extinction - Back to back depressing stories make this collection harder to get through. This one also didn’t interest me and I would avoid anything this author writes.
Mall of America - This story is timely, relevant and heartbreaking. I feel that stories relating to AI will become more and more prevalent as the issue becomes more and more contemporary. Drawing a protagonist this fully contributes to the ending sadness. There is also a touch of science fiction but that could be my impression.
Valley of the Moon - The story was entertaining enough but not the bang I wanted for an ending to this collection. Classification of this one is difficult as there are parts of many genres within, The highlight is the portrayal of the protagonist. But there is also an intentional distance.
All that being said, I am glad I read the collection. I look forward to reading the 2025 edition, although in the future I may pay closer attention to the guest editor.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
I am a huge fan of short story analogies. I consider them the best way to obtain a snapshot of an author’s style and genre. I have found many new authors this way. I have read this particular collection for many years, edited by the fabulous Heidi Pietlor who will be greatly missed.
In addition to the authors, each annual guest editor can also give insight. I have had Lauren Groff on my radar for years, but I haven’t read any of her work. This year’s collection of 20 stories offers the fanciful, the reliable, the thought-provoking, the weird and one unfortunate case, the boring. As one small criticism, it might be beneficial to not reveal the publication of the story until the end of the collection. I found myself having inner expectations of a story in say the New Yorker as opposed to Electric Literature.
Here are my thoughts on each individual story.
The Magic Bangle - An interesting start to the collection. An average story that did hold my interest, but didn’t hit me as spectacular. Starting off with a fairy tale certainly sets the tone for the rest of the collection.
Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico - I feel like I did not “get” the story even though I read it twice. I cannot explain why it went over my head and I feel like I should apologize for that.
Viola in Midwinter - Another story that didn’t particularly resonate. It was at this point that I was becoming discouraged, but also determined to continue. I was thinking that perhaps Groff just wasn’t for me. But I was also sure there would be a gem waiting down the line.
Blessed Deliverance - This was a highly interesting story with my only criticism being I wasn’t completely settled with the resolution.
Phenotype - The first story that completely held my attention. Loved the dynamic between the two main characters. I made a note of the author, Alexandra Chang. I would read more of her work.
Evensong - A very relatable story in a weird way. As an agnostic, I found the portrayal
of religion to be thought-provoking. Instead of religion tearing us apart as it often does, it also brings different people together for non religious reasons. This one resonates with me.
The Happiest Day of Your Life - This seemed average and also a bit theatrical. It reminded me of something I might see on a soap opera.
The Bed and Breakfast - A readable story that is entertaining enough but doesn’t seem to go far enough. I wanted more.
Dorchester - This one highly interested me. Although I wouldn’t normally read something about this type of relationship, it still works. It reminds me slightly of the feeling I get after reading Bret Easton Ellis’ work.
Seeing through Maps - Most of this story is filled with quotable sentences because they are that good. Perfect to read during the holiday season. I also made a note of Madeline ffitch. My favorite quote (used only in this NG review) is “After the house burned we took the words apart and when we put them back together our relationship had changed.” My favorite writing of every story in the collection.
Democracy in America - WOW! This was the gem for which I was searching. The idea of monetizing one’s looks to prosper is not new, but this story provides an entirely new take. Not only did I notate Allegra Hyde by name, I searched her out on social media and thanked her for creating such a memorable story. This story alone makes reading the collection worthwhile.
Engeland - I appreciated the Chaucer reference. The repeated mentions of ants reminded me of Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”. Although I liked combining Chaucer and an almost Agatha Christie-esque story, I admit this one wasn’t for me.
P’s Parties - Who doesn’t love Jhumpa Lahiri? This was the first translated story ever included in these collections, and I see why the exception was made. This is the kind of story that I love. It calls Gatsby to mind. A story of the rich illustrating that life has no regard for money. The ending was sobering and of course Lahiri is on everyone’s list.
A Case Study - This is another anomalous story written clinically in only third person. There are also no names given to characters. It is a very clever story and I would read other works by the author. I don’t want to say too much else. The ending phrase is beautiful.
Just Another Family - My favorite story in the collection with a fantastically realistic opening line. Also a perfect story for this time of the year. I love dysfunctional family stories. This was so engrossing that I am following the author and will read anything she writes going forward.
Privilege - This story took me by surprise. I wasn’t even sure of the setting in place or time until explicitly stated, and once I caught on it improved. A story that could lean towards being morose but piqued my curiosity to research this event further. Certain parts are also very quotable.
Baboons - This was a miss for me. I felt as if I was reading two different stories depending on location. I also don’t like the resolution. Some people might even feel offended by the ending.
Extinction - Back to back depressing stories make this collection harder to get through. This one also didn’t interest me and I would avoid anything this author writes.
Mall of America - This story is timely, relevant and heartbreaking. I feel that stories relating to AI will become more and more prevalent as the issue becomes more and more contemporary. Drawing a protagonist this fully contributes to the ending sadness. There is also a touch of science fiction but that could be my impression.
Valley of the Moon - The story was entertaining enough but not the bang I wanted for an ending to this collection. Classification of this one is difficult as there are parts of many genres within, The highlight is the portrayal of the protagonist. But there is also an intentional distance.
All that being said, I am glad I read the collection. I look forward to reading the 2025 edition, although in the future I may pay closer attention to the guest editor.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
February 8, 2026
Maybe I have been reading too many literary short stories in my sudden zeal for prize anthologies. This is the best explanation I can give for why I found this one middling, despite really liking both BASS and the O. Henry Prize anthologies from 2023—one edited by this guest editor, the other by this series editor. This is an accomplished anthology! I liked more than half of them! But I wanted to be blown away and wasn’t.
My overall impression of the anthology is of erudition; many of the stories would benefit from being dissected in class. The first third is pretty good, the middle third sagged hard for me, the final third was the strongest.
Demographic rundown: 14 of the 20 stories are by women and about half by authors of color. Four and a half are set outside the U.S. and BASS sees its first translated story, albeit just Jhumpa Lahiri writing in Italian.
Individual story reviews:
1. The Magic Bangle by Shastri Akella: I loved the atmosphere and sensory detail—such a strong sense of place. The story, about a Hyderabadi man seeking same-sex love despite his parents’ disapproval, is fine, but the author’s ostentatiously stopping short of telling us things a bit annoying.
2. Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico by Selena Gambrell Anderson: This is a complex, literary story pregnant with extravagant symbolism I’m not quite sure how to parse. Two men—a wealthy former rapper who collects slave memorabilia, and his daughter’s ne’er-do-well boyfriend—take a pleasure sail on the antique slave ship just acquired by the former, then crash it. In retrospect, though narrated by the younger man, it feels like the older one’s story. He’s trying to take control over his life, in which the black upper class looks down on him, by acquiring the instruments of his ancestors’ oppression, but given that he doesn’t mind the crash, perhaps collecting has become a trap rather than a liberation.
3. Viola in Midwinter by Marie-Helene Bertino: A magical realist story that I can appreciate in theory for its twist on the usual trope (the 100-year-old vampire is a middle-aged woman) but that was just okay for me. I also wasn’t clear on why she decided to turn: the implication is “to travel” but vampirism doesn’t particularly seem to facilitate that. Perhaps the gazing at the river indicates instead that she was fighting suicidal urges?
4. Blessed Deliverance by Jamel Brinkley: This author gets included in BASS all the time and is not really for me, although this is the best of the three I’ve read. Another complex, literary story, about a boy finding his own identity separate from a friend group that is drifting apart as high school graduation nears. A homeless man with a tendency to expose himself to kids and rescue animals set loose in the city are not elements I enjoy. I would say it’s about the push and pull between the individual and community, and the changeability of community.
5. Phenotype by Alexandra Chang: This one was fun, with a distinct voice. A college student finding her feet—though others don’t think she’s capable of much—in a relationship with a Korean grad student that does not seem aspirational from the outside. Whether he’s neurodivergent or just kind of a jerk is unclear. It’s weird and awkward and a bit TMI, but I appreciated the individuality.
6. Evensong by Laurie Colwin: A posthumous story written in the 90s, this does feel a little like a throwback to an earlier era. A beautifully written bit of domestic realism in which not a lot happens per se, but a woman realizes the importance to her of having a spiritual element in her life. The voice is rich with complex inner life, even (or especially) when it leads the reader to second-guess the narrator: why does she think the African couple would never cheat? My guess is that culturally-connected people seem complete to her in a way she doesn’t feel herself.
7. The Happiest Day of Your Life by Katherine Damm: I enjoyed this wedding story a lot simply because I liked the protagonist, a guy who approaches everything with a positive attitude. Probably in part because he’s drunk, but his trove of facts learned at other social events suggests a consistent curiosity about the world and other people. In the end we see the challenges in his own marriage, with a depressed wife whose entire social circle seems to consist of ex-boyfriends. Sometimes coming to terms with adult life is hard, especially if you don’t love people as much as Wyatt does.
8. The Bed and Breakfast by Molly Dektar: A story about an American family starting over in Italy (or, a story about a man using his entire family as ego props), as narrated by a child. I soured on it early when the narrator—upon having her long hair cut off by her father, not only over her repeated objections but in a particularly careless, ugly way—assures the reader that her tears were not meaningful but typical kid manipulative behavior. Also not sure where this family’s income was coming from (if it was all from savings, why didn’t they fix up the whole house immediately rather than having to do a little at a time?).
9. Dorchester by Steven Duong: A Vietnamese-American poet worries about authenticity after writing a viral poem about a local hate crime. I’m going against the grain on this one, which many readers have seen as brave for taking on performative art. To me it’s a story about an extremely online man who prioritizes “correct” feelings over useful actions, to the point he won’t even stand in solidarity with his own community because he’s too busy beating himself up for wanting recognition, like every artist ever. His desire for punishment also comes out in his BDSM relationship, which maybe needs its own story. Meanwhile, in to me the most inauthentic element of the story, he cuts contact with his mom after seeing a photo that causes him to jump to the conclusion that she lied about her immigration story. Which is such an online thing to do. He’ll feel dumb if it turns out that was a photo of her visiting with gifts for her family, or that she tells stories in the first person for cultural reasons with no intent to actually deceive. (The U.S. government certainly knows her real immigration year, as would her longtime friends and family, while the older brother knows what country is on his birth certificate.) This story is good for provoking discourse at least.
10. Seeing Through Maps by Madeline ffitch: This is another of those more complex and literary stories but didn’t vibe for me. It features a separated couple living off the grid in neighboring houses, and it was hard for me to fathom the narrator’s choices, particularly why she continued this lifestyle (that seems to have been initiated by her husband) even after leaving him. These characters are so strange that I think this would’ve worked better for me in the third person, providing more perspective, rather than a standard writerly first-person voice.
11. Democracy in America by Allegra Hyde: Is it unfair of me to call this the sort of sci fi story that only works for people who don’t read sci fi? That is how I felt about it. It’s a near-future world with a dystopian conceit that makes no sense—you can sell your youthful appearance, beauty and actual face, while your health and physical body remain intact—and features a self-deluding lesbian Alexis de Tocqueville who makes selfish decisions and then is sad about it, and criticizes America in uninteresting ways. There are better stories about American inequality in this very book.
12. Engelond by Taisia Kitaiskaia: This must be one of the stories about which Pitlor noted that she didn’t know whether they were brilliant or terrible. A gleefully weird story about a woman, isolated after the deaths of her parents, attempting a vacation on a very strange ranch, where the ants follow commands and the people give off murder mystery vibes. I’m not sure the mashup of genres entirely works, or that the protagonist will ever leave her sad bubble of loneliness and boredom again, but it was certainly different.
13. P's Parties by Jhumpa Lahiri: Yes, yes, the writing is good, as is the contrast between the family friend who lives life to the fullest and the narrator who is afraid to fully live. But ultimately this is a story about a middle-aged man (a writer, at that) contemplating adultery. Yawn.
14. Case Study by Daniel Mason: The effects on a man’s life of being asked by his former therapist for permission to include him in a book. This felt honest about the ways a relationship between a professional and the person they’re helping can be unbalanced, but didn’t stand out to me otherwise.
15. Just Another Family by Lori Ostlund: A strong novella about a woman’s complicated relationship with her dysfunctional family. It rings true to me and there’s a lot to think about: how to understand parents who sometimes failed badly but other times stepped up; how to be an adult with one’s parents and siblings, especially across ideological lines; how much to involve a partner in a dynamic like this and what it means for them to be excluded. I didn’t personally find the story funny but the family’s use of humor to diffuse discomfort rang true. Interesting that this seems to be set in the 90s, given that it’s a red state/blue state story with a lesbian protagonist; I wonder how it might be different today.
16. Privilege by Jim Shepard: A historical story about the devastating 1889 flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which killed over 2200 people when a poorly maintained dam belonging to a millionaires’ fishing club predictably failed. The story follows several people affected and I found it compelling reading, in addition to learning about a piece of history I didn’t know. I no longer read novels like this, but a short story is a great vehicle for a quick history lesson. Despite the title the writing felt to me like it took a neutral stance; I had to read the author’s note to see that he really did mean to comment on inequality. Perhaps he felt the story spoke for itself.
17. Baboons by Susan Shepherd: I liked this colorful family story a lot; the characters felt very real. It follows a woman dealing with the worst (occasional drug binges) and the best (great with kids and when out in nature) of her longtime boyfriend, plus the ups and downs of raising kids in a blended family. Has a strong character voice despite being in the third person.
18. Extinction by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi: This author was in BASS last year too and her stories are such a vibe. Bonkers, surreal, but electric. This one is about a young woman obsessed with death, visiting Spain and studying plague literature right before the onset of COVID-19. I appreciate the distinctive voice and unique worldview, so again I guess I liked it more than I didn’t.
19. Mall of America by Suzanne Wang: A strong, creative science fiction story (in BASS!) told by a shopping mall AI about an elderly immigrant with which it formed a bond. As with all sci fi, I assume the AI to be alive (the end indicates genuine feeling for the man). The themes are thought-provoking, dealing with the penetration of commercialism into every aspect of life—even while seeming to care for the man, the AI still measures his value in terms of his spending, while its primary job is stalking customers and exploiting their emotional states to get them to spend.
20. Valley of the Moon by Paul Yoon: A well-written story about the aftermath of the Korean War, following a man returning to his devastated home near the border, and then his former foster daughter as she makes her way in the city. I see the interpretation of this as being about cycles of destruction and renewal but am not entirely convinced about the renewal part: it’s pretty bleak; everyone in this story was born before the war; no one finds a partner or has a child or creates anything that will outlive them. It strikes me instead as a story of survival, with the woman forgetting at the end that renewal comes next (though for her country, we know it does): larger historical trends are perhaps not overly comforting for those living through them.
My overall impression of the anthology is of erudition; many of the stories would benefit from being dissected in class. The first third is pretty good, the middle third sagged hard for me, the final third was the strongest.
Demographic rundown: 14 of the 20 stories are by women and about half by authors of color. Four and a half are set outside the U.S. and BASS sees its first translated story, albeit just Jhumpa Lahiri writing in Italian.
Individual story reviews:
1. The Magic Bangle by Shastri Akella: I loved the atmosphere and sensory detail—such a strong sense of place. The story, about a Hyderabadi man seeking same-sex love despite his parents’ disapproval, is fine, but the author’s ostentatiously stopping short of telling us things a bit annoying.
2. Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico by Selena Gambrell Anderson: This is a complex, literary story pregnant with extravagant symbolism I’m not quite sure how to parse. Two men—a wealthy former rapper who collects slave memorabilia, and his daughter’s ne’er-do-well boyfriend—take a pleasure sail on the antique slave ship just acquired by the former, then crash it. In retrospect, though narrated by the younger man, it feels like the older one’s story. He’s trying to take control over his life, in which the black upper class looks down on him, by acquiring the instruments of his ancestors’ oppression, but given that he doesn’t mind the crash, perhaps collecting has become a trap rather than a liberation.
3. Viola in Midwinter by Marie-Helene Bertino: A magical realist story that I can appreciate in theory for its twist on the usual trope (the 100-year-old vampire is a middle-aged woman) but that was just okay for me. I also wasn’t clear on why she decided to turn: the implication is “to travel” but vampirism doesn’t particularly seem to facilitate that. Perhaps the gazing at the river indicates instead that she was fighting suicidal urges?
4. Blessed Deliverance by Jamel Brinkley: This author gets included in BASS all the time and is not really for me, although this is the best of the three I’ve read. Another complex, literary story, about a boy finding his own identity separate from a friend group that is drifting apart as high school graduation nears. A homeless man with a tendency to expose himself to kids and rescue animals set loose in the city are not elements I enjoy. I would say it’s about the push and pull between the individual and community, and the changeability of community.
5. Phenotype by Alexandra Chang: This one was fun, with a distinct voice. A college student finding her feet—though others don’t think she’s capable of much—in a relationship with a Korean grad student that does not seem aspirational from the outside. Whether he’s neurodivergent or just kind of a jerk is unclear. It’s weird and awkward and a bit TMI, but I appreciated the individuality.
6. Evensong by Laurie Colwin: A posthumous story written in the 90s, this does feel a little like a throwback to an earlier era. A beautifully written bit of domestic realism in which not a lot happens per se, but a woman realizes the importance to her of having a spiritual element in her life. The voice is rich with complex inner life, even (or especially) when it leads the reader to second-guess the narrator: why does she think the African couple would never cheat? My guess is that culturally-connected people seem complete to her in a way she doesn’t feel herself.
7. The Happiest Day of Your Life by Katherine Damm: I enjoyed this wedding story a lot simply because I liked the protagonist, a guy who approaches everything with a positive attitude. Probably in part because he’s drunk, but his trove of facts learned at other social events suggests a consistent curiosity about the world and other people. In the end we see the challenges in his own marriage, with a depressed wife whose entire social circle seems to consist of ex-boyfriends. Sometimes coming to terms with adult life is hard, especially if you don’t love people as much as Wyatt does.
8. The Bed and Breakfast by Molly Dektar: A story about an American family starting over in Italy (or, a story about a man using his entire family as ego props), as narrated by a child. I soured on it early when the narrator—upon having her long hair cut off by her father, not only over her repeated objections but in a particularly careless, ugly way—assures the reader that her tears were not meaningful but typical kid manipulative behavior. Also not sure where this family’s income was coming from (if it was all from savings, why didn’t they fix up the whole house immediately rather than having to do a little at a time?).
9. Dorchester by Steven Duong: A Vietnamese-American poet worries about authenticity after writing a viral poem about a local hate crime. I’m going against the grain on this one, which many readers have seen as brave for taking on performative art. To me it’s a story about an extremely online man who prioritizes “correct” feelings over useful actions, to the point he won’t even stand in solidarity with his own community because he’s too busy beating himself up for wanting recognition, like every artist ever. His desire for punishment also comes out in his BDSM relationship, which maybe needs its own story. Meanwhile, in to me the most inauthentic element of the story, he cuts contact with his mom after seeing a photo that causes him to jump to the conclusion that she lied about her immigration story. Which is such an online thing to do. He’ll feel dumb if it turns out that was a photo of her visiting with gifts for her family, or that she tells stories in the first person for cultural reasons with no intent to actually deceive. (The U.S. government certainly knows her real immigration year, as would her longtime friends and family, while the older brother knows what country is on his birth certificate.) This story is good for provoking discourse at least.
10. Seeing Through Maps by Madeline ffitch: This is another of those more complex and literary stories but didn’t vibe for me. It features a separated couple living off the grid in neighboring houses, and it was hard for me to fathom the narrator’s choices, particularly why she continued this lifestyle (that seems to have been initiated by her husband) even after leaving him. These characters are so strange that I think this would’ve worked better for me in the third person, providing more perspective, rather than a standard writerly first-person voice.
11. Democracy in America by Allegra Hyde: Is it unfair of me to call this the sort of sci fi story that only works for people who don’t read sci fi? That is how I felt about it. It’s a near-future world with a dystopian conceit that makes no sense—you can sell your youthful appearance, beauty and actual face, while your health and physical body remain intact—and features a self-deluding lesbian Alexis de Tocqueville who makes selfish decisions and then is sad about it, and criticizes America in uninteresting ways. There are better stories about American inequality in this very book.
12. Engelond by Taisia Kitaiskaia: This must be one of the stories about which Pitlor noted that she didn’t know whether they were brilliant or terrible. A gleefully weird story about a woman, isolated after the deaths of her parents, attempting a vacation on a very strange ranch, where the ants follow commands and the people give off murder mystery vibes. I’m not sure the mashup of genres entirely works, or that the protagonist will ever leave her sad bubble of loneliness and boredom again, but it was certainly different.
13. P's Parties by Jhumpa Lahiri: Yes, yes, the writing is good, as is the contrast between the family friend who lives life to the fullest and the narrator who is afraid to fully live. But ultimately this is a story about a middle-aged man (a writer, at that) contemplating adultery. Yawn.
14. Case Study by Daniel Mason: The effects on a man’s life of being asked by his former therapist for permission to include him in a book. This felt honest about the ways a relationship between a professional and the person they’re helping can be unbalanced, but didn’t stand out to me otherwise.
15. Just Another Family by Lori Ostlund: A strong novella about a woman’s complicated relationship with her dysfunctional family. It rings true to me and there’s a lot to think about: how to understand parents who sometimes failed badly but other times stepped up; how to be an adult with one’s parents and siblings, especially across ideological lines; how much to involve a partner in a dynamic like this and what it means for them to be excluded. I didn’t personally find the story funny but the family’s use of humor to diffuse discomfort rang true. Interesting that this seems to be set in the 90s, given that it’s a red state/blue state story with a lesbian protagonist; I wonder how it might be different today.
16. Privilege by Jim Shepard: A historical story about the devastating 1889 flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which killed over 2200 people when a poorly maintained dam belonging to a millionaires’ fishing club predictably failed. The story follows several people affected and I found it compelling reading, in addition to learning about a piece of history I didn’t know. I no longer read novels like this, but a short story is a great vehicle for a quick history lesson. Despite the title the writing felt to me like it took a neutral stance; I had to read the author’s note to see that he really did mean to comment on inequality. Perhaps he felt the story spoke for itself.
17. Baboons by Susan Shepherd: I liked this colorful family story a lot; the characters felt very real. It follows a woman dealing with the worst (occasional drug binges) and the best (great with kids and when out in nature) of her longtime boyfriend, plus the ups and downs of raising kids in a blended family. Has a strong character voice despite being in the third person.
18. Extinction by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi: This author was in BASS last year too and her stories are such a vibe. Bonkers, surreal, but electric. This one is about a young woman obsessed with death, visiting Spain and studying plague literature right before the onset of COVID-19. I appreciate the distinctive voice and unique worldview, so again I guess I liked it more than I didn’t.
19. Mall of America by Suzanne Wang: A strong, creative science fiction story (in BASS!) told by a shopping mall AI about an elderly immigrant with which it formed a bond. As with all sci fi, I assume the AI to be alive (the end indicates genuine feeling for the man). The themes are thought-provoking, dealing with the penetration of commercialism into every aspect of life—even while seeming to care for the man, the AI still measures his value in terms of his spending, while its primary job is stalking customers and exploiting their emotional states to get them to spend.
20. Valley of the Moon by Paul Yoon: A well-written story about the aftermath of the Korean War, following a man returning to his devastated home near the border, and then his former foster daughter as she makes her way in the city. I see the interpretation of this as being about cycles of destruction and renewal but am not entirely convinced about the renewal part: it’s pretty bleak; everyone in this story was born before the war; no one finds a partner or has a child or creates anything that will outlive them. It strikes me instead as a story of survival, with the woman forgetting at the end that renewal comes next (though for her country, we know it does): larger historical trends are perhaps not overly comforting for those living through them.
November 15, 2024
I don't envy the editors whose job it was to read thousands of stories published in 2023 to decide which 20 were "the best" published that year.
Each of these stories, some in familiar settings and some not, is its own world, whether set in the past, the future, or now, whether featuring surreal characters or the neighbors next-door. I was a rapt visitor in each world.
I would have been hard-pressed to pick a best of the best 20 stories until, near the end, I came to "Mall of America" by Suzanne Wong. The world she created with her two main characters, artificial intelligence and a Chinese immigrant grandfather, was mesmerizing. I'll never be able to answer the questions it raised for me, nor to forget it.
Each of these stories, some in familiar settings and some not, is its own world, whether set in the past, the future, or now, whether featuring surreal characters or the neighbors next-door. I was a rapt visitor in each world.
I would have been hard-pressed to pick a best of the best 20 stories until, near the end, I came to "Mall of America" by Suzanne Wong. The world she created with her two main characters, artificial intelligence and a Chinese immigrant grandfather, was mesmerizing. I'll never be able to answer the questions it raised for me, nor to forget it.
October 7, 2025
I'm proselytizing the short story form after this collection minus like three (??) stories. truly so good especially the stiries by ffitch, brinkley, wang, and ostlund!! me n groff;,,,girlies of the same tastes methinks.
January 29, 2025
one of the better BASS years imo… lauren groff has so many short stories in these i’m not surprised she can pick good ones tho
December 19, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up. RTC
December 22, 2025
YAY!!! Year 2 of short story book club with Chiara was even better than year 1 :) our average rating of these stories was 6.9. The faves were:
Blessed Deliverance
Evensong
The Happiest Day of Your Life
Dorchester
Mall of America
Valley of the Moon
Blessed Deliverance
Evensong
The Happiest Day of Your Life
Dorchester
Mall of America
Valley of the Moon
November 30, 2024
The Best American Short Stories 2024edited by Lauren croft is a mixed bag of entertainment. I usually cannot put the annual collection down but this year it was only OK. They do have some outstanding stories such as The privileged, seeing through Maps, the mall of America and last but definitely not least baboon the rest of the stories in my opinion is just OK, with a special shout out for seeing through Maps, I thought the author of that short story had such clever word play and had such a reliable narrative I would definitely read a novel written by that writer. But because these stories were picked by someone you may very well enjoy them and think they’re great. As we all know as readers not every story is for every reader and so like any book and book reviewer take it with a grain of salt. #NetGalley, #LaurenCroft, #TheBestAmericanShortStoriesOf2024,
January 20, 2025
my favorite stories among a lot of just fine stories:
“viola in midwinter” by marie helene bertino
“blessed deliverance” by jamel brinkley
“seeing through maps” by madeline ffitch
“viola in midwinter” by marie helene bertino
“blessed deliverance” by jamel brinkley
“seeing through maps” by madeline ffitch
November 19, 2024
Probably the strongest Best American collection of the decade so far? Terrific entries from Lori Ostlund, Jim Shepard, Suzanne Wang, and Molly Dektar, all of whose would easily be *the* standout story in most other anthologies. A great starting point for anyone who wants to read more of these!
April 26, 2025
This edition of BASS has a number of memorable, excellent stories, and I’m inspired to seek out some of the authors’ other publications.
My favorite stories are:
Evensong, Laurie Colwin (a story excavated posthumously from the past)
The Happiest Day of Your Life, Katherine Damm
Dorchester, Steven Duong
Seeing Through Maps, Madeline ffitch
P’s Parties, Jhumpa Lahiri
A Case Study, Daniel Mason
Just Another Family, Lori Ostlund
Baboons, Susan Shepherd
Valley of the Moon, Paul Yoon
It will be interesting to see who the new editor will be with the retirement of Heidi Pitlor.
My favorite stories are:
Evensong, Laurie Colwin (a story excavated posthumously from the past)
The Happiest Day of Your Life, Katherine Damm
Dorchester, Steven Duong
Seeing Through Maps, Madeline ffitch
P’s Parties, Jhumpa Lahiri
A Case Study, Daniel Mason
Just Another Family, Lori Ostlund
Baboons, Susan Shepherd
Valley of the Moon, Paul Yoon
It will be interesting to see who the new editor will be with the retirement of Heidi Pitlor.
February 17, 2025
Fantastic collection as always. I look forward to the Best American series every year. My favorite story from the 2024 edition was definitely P's Parties by Jhumpa Lahiri. Other stand outs for me include Mall of America by Suzanne Wang, Seeing Through Maps by Madeline Ffitch, and The Happiest Days of Your Life by Katherine Damm.
December 25, 2024
2024 Best American Short Stories
Guest Editor: Lauren Groff
Series Editor: Heidi Pitlor
This is my favorite annual compilation of short stories. Heidi Pitlor, the series editor, announced that this is her final year as she moves on to other ventures. In her foreword, Pitlor discusses the origins of this series and the series editors who preceded her, dating back to 1915. My personal collection of these books goes back to 1987, mostly acquired from used book sales or wherever I could find a copy. I think I first read one of the BASS editions in the early 2000s. Since then, I have strived each year to read a few until I caught up to the current year, which I have now accomplished. I still have a few from the late 1980s to early 1990s left to read.
The guest editors are all familiar authors. This edition features Lauren Groff, who has had several of her short stories included in previous BASS publications, as well as some novels, including "The Matrix," which I found very good. In her introduction, Groff talks about the hundreds, if not thousands, of stories she read for this collection and as a judge for the O. Henry Prize. She mentions her aversion to stories told in the first person because “90 percent of the stories” she read in the past few years were in the first person, which she finds “wildly overused.” That’s an interesting perspective. With this in mind, I was curious if that influenced her selections.
I was a little apprehensive about what Lauren and Heidi came up with because Heidi mentioned that her first pile of manuscripts came back from Lauren with a note saying she hoped for more stories that took “wild swings, risks, pushing against narrative expectations.” This put me on guard. Were the stories going to be too “out there” for me? It turned out my apprehension was groundless. I did not love all of the stories, but most of them gripped me and were a pleasure to read.
These were my favorites:
Privilege by Jim Shepard
Jim Shepard has had several stories in BASS publications. "Privilege" was based on a true historical catastrophe that took place in the 1890s in central and western Pennsylvania. Pulse-pounding is what comes to mind.
Baboons by Susan Shepard A woman, dealing with what is now a common dynamic of family life, has to shut down her emotions to keep the peace.
Viola in Midwinter by Marie-Helene Bertino A vampire story that I actually enjoyed!
Blessed Deliverance by Jamel Brinkley This was a wonderful concept, and I loved the narrative. I also liked the ending where the narrator becomes “I.”
Phenotype by Alexandra Chang I had mixed feelings about this story. It was kind of funny and kind of sad. I liked it because it was easy to read. The prose did not lose me by trying too hard.
Evensong by Laurie Colwin
Colwin died in 1993 at a young age. Her daughter, it seems, found the manuscript and had it published. A good, well-written domestic drama story.
The Bed and Breakfast by Molly Dektar A family moves to Italy to fix up and live in an old abandoned farmhouse with plans to eventually make it a bed and breakfast. I liked the descriptions of how the kids adjusted to and handled living in a foreign country under such awful conditions with no mention of being traumatized.
Seeing Through Maps by Madeline FFitch Unique point of view concept. The story seemed to be a metaphor for an abusive family situation where the woman continues to stay in the toxic relationship. I put Ffitch’s “Stay and Fight” on my TBR.
A Case Study by Daniel Mason You never know what impression you give to the outside world.
Just Another Family by Lori Ostlund This is an author I want to read more of. I love a story that tackles a serious topic but is told with humor.
Mall of America by Suzanne Wang Another story with a unique point of view. The story is told from the perspective of an AI used to guide people at a mall to spend their money. The AI is making a pitch to the mall executives as to why they should continue to use it. Wang used such a clever way to deliver the story.
Valley of the Moon by Paul Yoon This was a sad story. It takes place toward the end of the Korean War in the remote borderland between the South and the North. I wasn’t sure how much I liked the story initially, but it stayed with me, so I have included it in my favorites.
The remaining stories were ok with a couple that did not work for me. This is a good number of standouts.
Guest Editor: Lauren Groff
Series Editor: Heidi Pitlor
This is my favorite annual compilation of short stories. Heidi Pitlor, the series editor, announced that this is her final year as she moves on to other ventures. In her foreword, Pitlor discusses the origins of this series and the series editors who preceded her, dating back to 1915. My personal collection of these books goes back to 1987, mostly acquired from used book sales or wherever I could find a copy. I think I first read one of the BASS editions in the early 2000s. Since then, I have strived each year to read a few until I caught up to the current year, which I have now accomplished. I still have a few from the late 1980s to early 1990s left to read.
The guest editors are all familiar authors. This edition features Lauren Groff, who has had several of her short stories included in previous BASS publications, as well as some novels, including "The Matrix," which I found very good. In her introduction, Groff talks about the hundreds, if not thousands, of stories she read for this collection and as a judge for the O. Henry Prize. She mentions her aversion to stories told in the first person because “90 percent of the stories” she read in the past few years were in the first person, which she finds “wildly overused.” That’s an interesting perspective. With this in mind, I was curious if that influenced her selections.
I was a little apprehensive about what Lauren and Heidi came up with because Heidi mentioned that her first pile of manuscripts came back from Lauren with a note saying she hoped for more stories that took “wild swings, risks, pushing against narrative expectations.” This put me on guard. Were the stories going to be too “out there” for me? It turned out my apprehension was groundless. I did not love all of the stories, but most of them gripped me and were a pleasure to read.
These were my favorites:
Privilege by Jim Shepard
Jim Shepard has had several stories in BASS publications. "Privilege" was based on a true historical catastrophe that took place in the 1890s in central and western Pennsylvania. Pulse-pounding is what comes to mind.
Baboons by Susan Shepard A woman, dealing with what is now a common dynamic of family life, has to shut down her emotions to keep the peace.
Viola in Midwinter by Marie-Helene Bertino A vampire story that I actually enjoyed!
Blessed Deliverance by Jamel Brinkley This was a wonderful concept, and I loved the narrative. I also liked the ending where the narrator becomes “I.”
Phenotype by Alexandra Chang I had mixed feelings about this story. It was kind of funny and kind of sad. I liked it because it was easy to read. The prose did not lose me by trying too hard.
Evensong by Laurie Colwin
Colwin died in 1993 at a young age. Her daughter, it seems, found the manuscript and had it published. A good, well-written domestic drama story.
The Bed and Breakfast by Molly Dektar A family moves to Italy to fix up and live in an old abandoned farmhouse with plans to eventually make it a bed and breakfast. I liked the descriptions of how the kids adjusted to and handled living in a foreign country under such awful conditions with no mention of being traumatized.
Seeing Through Maps by Madeline FFitch Unique point of view concept. The story seemed to be a metaphor for an abusive family situation where the woman continues to stay in the toxic relationship. I put Ffitch’s “Stay and Fight” on my TBR.
A Case Study by Daniel Mason You never know what impression you give to the outside world.
Just Another Family by Lori Ostlund This is an author I want to read more of. I love a story that tackles a serious topic but is told with humor.
Mall of America by Suzanne Wang Another story with a unique point of view. The story is told from the perspective of an AI used to guide people at a mall to spend their money. The AI is making a pitch to the mall executives as to why they should continue to use it. Wang used such a clever way to deliver the story.
Valley of the Moon by Paul Yoon This was a sad story. It takes place toward the end of the Korean War in the remote borderland between the South and the North. I wasn’t sure how much I liked the story initially, but it stayed with me, so I have included it in my favorites.
The remaining stories were ok with a couple that did not work for me. This is a good number of standouts.
Read
December 21, 2025Favorite stories: Evensong and Mall of America
Had an amazing time reading these stories with Ellen again!!!!
Had an amazing time reading these stories with Ellen again!!!!
October 2, 2025
Every collection of the Best American Short Stories carries a tone and theme in its own. The 2024 edition is a diverse collection of lived experiences across place and time. Every orientation, gender, race, class, and circumstance is represented and explored. Guest Editor Lauren Groff has carved out an edition that stands out.
Every story offers powerful commentary on the shortfalls of modern life and struggling with one’s own lived experience. My favorite quote from the collection perfectly captures the the malaise of modernity. “America unfurled in every direction…Even the homeless pushed shopping carts here.” – Alexis, “Democracy in America.” For all the progress, the absurd remains.
Many of the stories offer a first person perspective which makes one wonder where memoir ends and fiction begins. I tired to select some favorite stories from the collection but the reading truly got better and better as you go along. This collection reaffirmed why the short story is my favorite form of story telling. Brief vignettes into the lives of others while still managing to say something profound.
Every story offers powerful commentary on the shortfalls of modern life and struggling with one’s own lived experience. My favorite quote from the collection perfectly captures the the malaise of modernity. “America unfurled in every direction…Even the homeless pushed shopping carts here.” – Alexis, “Democracy in America.” For all the progress, the absurd remains.
Many of the stories offer a first person perspective which makes one wonder where memoir ends and fiction begins. I tired to select some favorite stories from the collection but the reading truly got better and better as you go along. This collection reaffirmed why the short story is my favorite form of story telling. Brief vignettes into the lives of others while still managing to say something profound.
June 1, 2025
it feels unfair to rate an anthology. since i'm in a good mood today, the whole thing gets a perfect score. here are my succinct reviews of my 5/5 short stories featured in this collection:
"viola in midwinter": 5/5. riveting! spooky, sexy, dark, very atmospheric. need to reread asap!
"blessed deliverance": 5/5. I LOVE this shit! the writing here is so unique and multilayered. I've never read anything like it, super cool.
"evensong": 5/5. this narration is so important to me. something about the kind devotion to the layered beauty of religious tradition really hit home and was wonderfully executed. we really have no control!
"the case study": 5/5. really really really cool. beautifully introspective without being rambly or separated from the plot in any way. oh my god...i get it!!!!!!!!!!
"just another family": 5/5. i've never read anything that came as close to touching my soul as this did. there are stories that are good, great even, and then there are ones that are perfect for you. this is that one.
"privilege": 5/5. this is how you critique the interest of capital over the working class. equally thrilling, maddening, and truthful. thank you!
"mall of america": 5/5. it physically pains me to give this a 5/5, but it was too shocking and sickening to ignore. what a punch in the gut.
thank you bailee for gifting me this.
"viola in midwinter": 5/5. riveting! spooky, sexy, dark, very atmospheric. need to reread asap!
"blessed deliverance": 5/5. I LOVE this shit! the writing here is so unique and multilayered. I've never read anything like it, super cool.
"evensong": 5/5. this narration is so important to me. something about the kind devotion to the layered beauty of religious tradition really hit home and was wonderfully executed. we really have no control!
"the case study": 5/5. really really really cool. beautifully introspective without being rambly or separated from the plot in any way. oh my god...i get it!!!!!!!!!!
"just another family": 5/5. i've never read anything that came as close to touching my soul as this did. there are stories that are good, great even, and then there are ones that are perfect for you. this is that one.
"privilege": 5/5. this is how you critique the interest of capital over the working class. equally thrilling, maddening, and truthful. thank you!
"mall of america": 5/5. it physically pains me to give this a 5/5, but it was too shocking and sickening to ignore. what a punch in the gut.
thank you bailee for gifting me this.
December 22, 2024
I like this annual compilation of the best American short stories. I try to read it on years when the editor selecting the stories is someone I admire. Enter Lauren Groff, whose novel “Arcadia” tugged at my heartstrings. Surely I could trust her to do the job right.
Funny enough two of my favorite authors have stories that made the cut (20 are selected from more than a thousand.) Laurie Colwin’s “Evensong” and Jhumpa Lahiri’s “P’s Parties” get my vote for the best of the best.
Funny enough two of my favorite authors have stories that made the cut (20 are selected from more than a thousand.) Laurie Colwin’s “Evensong” and Jhumpa Lahiri’s “P’s Parties” get my vote for the best of the best.
October 19, 2024
I love a short story anthology. I read the stories one at a time, here and there when I have short snippets of time.
My favorites from this collection include:
The Happiest Days of Your Life
Dorchester
Seeing through Maps
Mall of America
This is the last edition that Heidi Pitlor, the series editor, will edit, so the introduction was largely about Heidi's departure.
My favorites from this collection include:
The Happiest Days of Your Life
Dorchester
Seeing through Maps
Mall of America
This is the last edition that Heidi Pitlor, the series editor, will edit, so the introduction was largely about Heidi's departure.
December 24, 2024
Hit or miss, like all short story collections, but this contains some of the best individual stories I've ever read.
March 1, 2025
It was a huge disappointment. I was looking forward to snuggling up with a bunch wonderful short stories, but was just saddened that this was the best the year offered. Just skip this edition.
March 19, 2025
So many bangers in here. A few that I wasn’t obsessed with, but a cool thing to read for class. Normally I kind of avoid short stories so it was cool to work on that!
August 3, 2025
The guest editor of this year's edition was shooting for something "a little raw, a little dangerous, something new." That set off the alarm bells in the reactionary village of my psyche - which is, for better or not - the most literarily inclined of my villages. I was right to be a bit alarmed. Halfway through this set of twenty stories, I was ready to throw in the towel.
Raw, dangerous and new turned out to be story after story after story that had infidelity at their core. I don't object to the choice of the subject; indeed, my two favorite short stories, "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" by Hemingway and "Mojove" by Capote, have it as it at their core. It can make for engaging stories. But engaging stories these were not.
In between those total drags were some seriously odd stories - they were interesting enough reads but did little to make me want to come back to the collection. "P's Parties" which appears in the beginning of the back half, saved the day and gave me the boost I needed to finish through. The rest of the back-half was also more to my liking. Since I don't think it's fair to lump all these stories together under the 3 star banner, I'll break it down by tier, with whatever thoughts I had on the story.
5 Stars:
- "P's Parties" As I said, this saved the day. And it's arguably not an American story. First published in Rome, by an author that no longer writes in English, and then translated by another author, despite the original author being a fluent English speaker and writer (before she started writing in only Italian). A bit of a jumbled mess, and I'm not sure this story should qualify (American literary prizes writ large have started to drop the "American" requirement, again to the dismay of my reactionary villagers. I'm happy to have translated stories - immigration is the American story - but when the author has made it clear they do not consider themselves an American writer...). Nonetheless, I am glad that it does, because Lahiri delivers in it the best story in this collection. You wind up seeing yourself at P's parties, wondering which groups you would interact with and how you would tie into the story that is unfolding before you.
- "Valley of the Moon" Weird but thoroughly literary.
4 Stars:
- Engelond - Odd but fun
- A Case Study
- Privilege - Best part is seeing at what point you can pinpoint the historical moment you're watching unfold.
3.5 Stars:
- Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico
- Viola in Midwinter
- Mall of America - Leave the AI and capitalism stuff, take the story about an old man in a strange land.
3 Stars:
- Baboons - Annoying narrator is annoying
- Just Anther Family - See above
- The Magic Bangle - This is probably an unfair rating but I don't remember this all that well
- Democracy in America - gets bumped down for having such a cool idea and such a meh follow-through
- Phenotype - Excellent capturing of a voice that I never want to read again. And his dick would smell like latex.
2 Stars:
- The Happiest Day of Your Life
- Dorchester - tiresome
- The Bed And Breakfast
- Seeing Through Maps
- Extinction
- Blessed Deliverance
1 Star
- Evensong
A final note... All of these stories are, in their own way, well written. Some better than most, but all writers that have clearly honed their craft. No Matt Haigs abide here. So these ratings come down to my personal taste.
Raw, dangerous and new turned out to be story after story after story that had infidelity at their core. I don't object to the choice of the subject; indeed, my two favorite short stories, "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" by Hemingway and "Mojove" by Capote, have it as it at their core. It can make for engaging stories. But engaging stories these were not.
In between those total drags were some seriously odd stories - they were interesting enough reads but did little to make me want to come back to the collection. "P's Parties" which appears in the beginning of the back half, saved the day and gave me the boost I needed to finish through. The rest of the back-half was also more to my liking. Since I don't think it's fair to lump all these stories together under the 3 star banner, I'll break it down by tier, with whatever thoughts I had on the story.
5 Stars:
- "P's Parties" As I said, this saved the day. And it's arguably not an American story. First published in Rome, by an author that no longer writes in English, and then translated by another author, despite the original author being a fluent English speaker and writer (before she started writing in only Italian). A bit of a jumbled mess, and I'm not sure this story should qualify (American literary prizes writ large have started to drop the "American" requirement, again to the dismay of my reactionary villagers. I'm happy to have translated stories - immigration is the American story - but when the author has made it clear they do not consider themselves an American writer...). Nonetheless, I am glad that it does, because Lahiri delivers in it the best story in this collection. You wind up seeing yourself at P's parties, wondering which groups you would interact with and how you would tie into the story that is unfolding before you.
- "Valley of the Moon" Weird but thoroughly literary.
4 Stars:
- Engelond - Odd but fun
- A Case Study
- Privilege - Best part is seeing at what point you can pinpoint the historical moment you're watching unfold.
3.5 Stars:
- Jewel of the Gulf of Mexico
- Viola in Midwinter
- Mall of America - Leave the AI and capitalism stuff, take the story about an old man in a strange land.
3 Stars:
- Baboons - Annoying narrator is annoying
- Just Anther Family - See above
- The Magic Bangle - This is probably an unfair rating but I don't remember this all that well
- Democracy in America - gets bumped down for having such a cool idea and such a meh follow-through
- Phenotype - Excellent capturing of a voice that I never want to read again. And his dick would smell like latex.
2 Stars:
- The Happiest Day of Your Life
- Dorchester - tiresome
- The Bed And Breakfast
- Seeing Through Maps
- Extinction
- Blessed Deliverance
1 Star
- Evensong
A final note... All of these stories are, in their own way, well written. Some better than most, but all writers that have clearly honed their craft. No Matt Haigs abide here. So these ratings come down to my personal taste.
February 10, 2025
Looking back, I have to say that this year made an impression. I highlighted a full half of the stories!
I also forgot that it was Heidi Pitlor’s final year editing! :0 I’m pretty sure I skimmed through a couple of BASS issues before she came on board, but I’ve surely only been reading closely while she’s been at the helm. What will be coming for us next year?? Guess I’ll find out by this time in 2026.
But anywho. As Pitlor started listing off her editorial forebears, I got feklempt! Unsurprisingly, she leaves while still debating what a short story is, and this year’s entries do feel a little eclectic.
It’s also touching that Lauren Groff’s first BASS publication aligns with Pitlor’s first year on the job. I went back through the editions I’ve reviewed, and I highlighted Groff’s stories twice: once in 2016 (“For the God of Love, for the Love of God,” which I called “complex…everyone has their issues—and [I like] how Mina ties it all in together in the end.”) Then again in 2023 (“Annunciation,” which I called “an unsettling story” and I appreciated the way Groff’s narrator “live[d] cheaply and romanticize[d] her first home away from home.”)
When it comes to BASS intro, Groff went for the grandiose history of the short story from beginning to now. From there, she goes into the proliferation of first person POV, but instead of clinging to the “selfie narcissism” narrative, she talks about the latest breakdown of institutions. It’s ultimately a more interesting take. It’s a thoughtful rumination, and today, perhaps rather than stories being “masterful,” they can be “gorgeous, generous, three-way collaborative acts between the writer, the work, and the reader.”
Anyway, from Pitlor and Groff’s selections, here’s what spoke to me the most.
“Blessed Deliverance” by Jamel Brinkley (Zoetrope: All-Story) A vibrant, first-person plural story regarding a group of five teens from Bed-Stuy NYC whose communal friendship is reaching a natural end. Amidst this reality, and including nods to college and other life shifts, they encounter a rabbit rescue in their gentrifying neighborhood. Two new relationships—with the ignorant store owner and a mercurial homeless man called “Headass”—briefly animate the friends before bringing some individuality to the narrator.
“The Happiest Day of Your Life” by Katherine Damm (The Iowa Review) I guess what grabs me here is that Greg, deserted by Nina at one of the many weddings of her exes (particularly the ex she considered going back to when Greg proposed,) feels no envy or abandonment, as the author explains in the contributor notes. Of course this is because he’s drunk, which the author portrays very effectively on the page.
“The Bed and Breakfast” by Molly Dektar (Harvard Review) A family frays as a US father moves the lot to Italy to try and chase down a new dream with no money. The extreme lifestyles of the family led to some visceral imagery. The young daughter wanted to cling to a childhood, somewhere between eschewing her individuality and demanding to be seen. She complicated the story in surprising ways.
“Engelond” by Taisia Kitaiskaia (Virginia Quarterly Review) Atmospheric story about how a lonely young woman from a solitary life turned to her love of Chaucer and Christie while trying to make sense of a spooky, Air B&B ranch. I may have felt a little too much personal empathy for this protagonist, and the author’s stated fears of losing her own parents.
“A Case Study” by Daniel Mason (The Paris Review) It’s a little unsettling, the way the relationship with the therapist is at the center of the story, and not the “real” events of the patient’s life. We don’t even know why he decided to seek treatment or anything he divulged in said treatment. His later life is glossed over in a perfunctory manner without any real attachment. The patient’s feelings, even years later, are tied into the relationship with the therapist—or the lack of relationship. So truly, this story epitomizes what therapy is supposed to be about—understanding yourself. And I think the big reveal of this at the end is that, decades later, the patient is still at a loss there.
“Baboons” by Susan Shepherd (The Kenyon Review) I think this captures two prickly characters very well—the teenage daughter and the girlfriend of the addict. I especially feel for the girlfriend, even though for most of the story the addict is clean (after a scary relapse as the story’s inciting incident.) The mixed family feels complex to me on their camping trip through Kenya. But I was on edge the whole time, waiting for the dog to die (because he was miraculously safe in the beginning after the relapsed addict ran away with him.) I guess I was looking for the wrong pattern; the author was thinking about the difference between sickly camps of drug addicts vs restorative camping in nature. I found the wildlife encounters to be tense, but ultimately their behaviors are easier to navigate than that of humans, I suppose.
“Mall of America” by Suzanne Wang (One Story) My one concession to experimental fiction. The entire story is a report the AI is giving to executives. The AI exists as part of a near future mall interface, and thus is automatically commentary on corporate capitalism and the loosening of privacy laws. The story follows an elderly Chinese immigrant and how the AI builds up an intimate, illegal and ultimately tragic relationship with the man. It's all based on the AI protocol to increase customer engagement and spending at the mall. One interlude, where the AI rhapsodies into poetic rather than technical language about what Grandpa Li taught him about humanity, feels a little forced. But overall this is a clever, thoughtful and emotionally resonant story.
“Valley of the Moon” by Paul Yoon (The New Yorker) This follows two characters and some slice of life realities about living on an isolated farm in the tumultuous years after the Korean War. There’s not much character development beyond trauma and reaction, but it’s a gripping look at a particular time and situation.
And in the mixed feelings camp…
“Phenotype” by Alexandra Chang (Electric Literature) It’s a propulsive story about an undergrad, Judith, being courted by the graduate assistant in one of her college classes, named KJ. To me—and to most of the supporting cast—at best, this feels like two people, one a bit naïve and the other unassuming in the lab but violent in sports—giving more into loneliness and lust than an actual, healthy relationship. Chang writes in the contributor notes about Judith being “misunderstood,” and perhaps that’s accurate. But I don’t think the character fully understands the relationship she’s in, either.
“P’s Parties” by Jhumpa Lahiri, and translated in collaboration with Todd Portnowitz (The New Yorker) I’ve been putting off reading ROMAN STORIES, so this is my first foray. And I do find it more enticing and engaging than Lahiri’s earlier translated/published Italian fare. I like the protagonist’s ruminations on the passage of time and of relationships….but I dislike writer narrators in general. It makes the story feel artificial. Most of his life is dedicated to breaking down that fourth wall and trying to forge too much of a circumscribed plot into his life. TD;LR—writers make for horrible narrators.
I also forgot that it was Heidi Pitlor’s final year editing! :0 I’m pretty sure I skimmed through a couple of BASS issues before she came on board, but I’ve surely only been reading closely while she’s been at the helm. What will be coming for us next year?? Guess I’ll find out by this time in 2026.
But anywho. As Pitlor started listing off her editorial forebears, I got feklempt! Unsurprisingly, she leaves while still debating what a short story is, and this year’s entries do feel a little eclectic.
It’s also touching that Lauren Groff’s first BASS publication aligns with Pitlor’s first year on the job. I went back through the editions I’ve reviewed, and I highlighted Groff’s stories twice: once in 2016 (“For the God of Love, for the Love of God,” which I called “complex…everyone has their issues—and [I like] how Mina ties it all in together in the end.”) Then again in 2023 (“Annunciation,” which I called “an unsettling story” and I appreciated the way Groff’s narrator “live[d] cheaply and romanticize[d] her first home away from home.”)
When it comes to BASS intro, Groff went for the grandiose history of the short story from beginning to now. From there, she goes into the proliferation of first person POV, but instead of clinging to the “selfie narcissism” narrative, she talks about the latest breakdown of institutions. It’s ultimately a more interesting take. It’s a thoughtful rumination, and today, perhaps rather than stories being “masterful,” they can be “gorgeous, generous, three-way collaborative acts between the writer, the work, and the reader.”
Anyway, from Pitlor and Groff’s selections, here’s what spoke to me the most.
“Blessed Deliverance” by Jamel Brinkley (Zoetrope: All-Story) A vibrant, first-person plural story regarding a group of five teens from Bed-Stuy NYC whose communal friendship is reaching a natural end. Amidst this reality, and including nods to college and other life shifts, they encounter a rabbit rescue in their gentrifying neighborhood. Two new relationships—with the ignorant store owner and a mercurial homeless man called “Headass”—briefly animate the friends before bringing some individuality to the narrator.
“The Happiest Day of Your Life” by Katherine Damm (The Iowa Review) I guess what grabs me here is that Greg, deserted by Nina at one of the many weddings of her exes (particularly the ex she considered going back to when Greg proposed,) feels no envy or abandonment, as the author explains in the contributor notes. Of course this is because he’s drunk, which the author portrays very effectively on the page.
“The Bed and Breakfast” by Molly Dektar (Harvard Review) A family frays as a US father moves the lot to Italy to try and chase down a new dream with no money. The extreme lifestyles of the family led to some visceral imagery. The young daughter wanted to cling to a childhood, somewhere between eschewing her individuality and demanding to be seen. She complicated the story in surprising ways.
“Engelond” by Taisia Kitaiskaia (Virginia Quarterly Review) Atmospheric story about how a lonely young woman from a solitary life turned to her love of Chaucer and Christie while trying to make sense of a spooky, Air B&B ranch. I may have felt a little too much personal empathy for this protagonist, and the author’s stated fears of losing her own parents.
“A Case Study” by Daniel Mason (The Paris Review) It’s a little unsettling, the way the relationship with the therapist is at the center of the story, and not the “real” events of the patient’s life. We don’t even know why he decided to seek treatment or anything he divulged in said treatment. His later life is glossed over in a perfunctory manner without any real attachment. The patient’s feelings, even years later, are tied into the relationship with the therapist—or the lack of relationship. So truly, this story epitomizes what therapy is supposed to be about—understanding yourself. And I think the big reveal of this at the end is that, decades later, the patient is still at a loss there.
“Baboons” by Susan Shepherd (The Kenyon Review) I think this captures two prickly characters very well—the teenage daughter and the girlfriend of the addict. I especially feel for the girlfriend, even though for most of the story the addict is clean (after a scary relapse as the story’s inciting incident.) The mixed family feels complex to me on their camping trip through Kenya. But I was on edge the whole time, waiting for the dog to die (because he was miraculously safe in the beginning after the relapsed addict ran away with him.) I guess I was looking for the wrong pattern; the author was thinking about the difference between sickly camps of drug addicts vs restorative camping in nature. I found the wildlife encounters to be tense, but ultimately their behaviors are easier to navigate than that of humans, I suppose.
“Mall of America” by Suzanne Wang (One Story) My one concession to experimental fiction. The entire story is a report the AI is giving to executives. The AI exists as part of a near future mall interface, and thus is automatically commentary on corporate capitalism and the loosening of privacy laws. The story follows an elderly Chinese immigrant and how the AI builds up an intimate, illegal and ultimately tragic relationship with the man. It's all based on the AI protocol to increase customer engagement and spending at the mall. One interlude, where the AI rhapsodies into poetic rather than technical language about what Grandpa Li taught him about humanity, feels a little forced. But overall this is a clever, thoughtful and emotionally resonant story.
“Valley of the Moon” by Paul Yoon (The New Yorker) This follows two characters and some slice of life realities about living on an isolated farm in the tumultuous years after the Korean War. There’s not much character development beyond trauma and reaction, but it’s a gripping look at a particular time and situation.
And in the mixed feelings camp…
“Phenotype” by Alexandra Chang (Electric Literature) It’s a propulsive story about an undergrad, Judith, being courted by the graduate assistant in one of her college classes, named KJ. To me—and to most of the supporting cast—at best, this feels like two people, one a bit naïve and the other unassuming in the lab but violent in sports—giving more into loneliness and lust than an actual, healthy relationship. Chang writes in the contributor notes about Judith being “misunderstood,” and perhaps that’s accurate. But I don’t think the character fully understands the relationship she’s in, either.
“P’s Parties” by Jhumpa Lahiri, and translated in collaboration with Todd Portnowitz (The New Yorker) I’ve been putting off reading ROMAN STORIES, so this is my first foray. And I do find it more enticing and engaging than Lahiri’s earlier translated/published Italian fare. I like the protagonist’s ruminations on the passage of time and of relationships….but I dislike writer narrators in general. It makes the story feel artificial. Most of his life is dedicated to breaking down that fourth wall and trying to forge too much of a circumscribed plot into his life. TD;LR—writers make for horrible narrators.
October 7, 2025
Man I love short stories.
Lauren Groff, the guest editor, is a short story legend of our generation and one of my personal favorite writers. She picked stories that have something wrong about them, that “shouldn’t work but did,” stories that are art. It worked for me.
Everyone should read Suzanne Wang’s “Mall of America” - amazing, and major kudos to Jamal Brinkley’s “Blessed Deliverance” Lori Ostlund’s “Just Another Family” and Susan Shepard’s “Baboons”
:)
Lauren Groff, the guest editor, is a short story legend of our generation and one of my personal favorite writers. She picked stories that have something wrong about them, that “shouldn’t work but did,” stories that are art. It worked for me.
Everyone should read Suzanne Wang’s “Mall of America” - amazing, and major kudos to Jamal Brinkley’s “Blessed Deliverance” Lori Ostlund’s “Just Another Family” and Susan Shepard’s “Baboons”
:)
February 12, 2025
“Rating” short story collections is tricky because there’s such a range of stories. There were four standouts in this collection for me and that bumped 3 stars to 4 (The Happiest Day of Your Life, The Bed & Breakfast, P’s Parties, and Just Another Family). More of the stories leaned supernatural/fantasy (or at least less realistic) than I typically like - but I still enjoyed most of them.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 165 reviews