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Are You Happy?: Stories
"Don’t let Are You Happy? pass you There’s not a word out of place in these brilliant Midwestern sketches. They’re lonesome, for sure . . . But they’re also hilarious." —Charles Arrowsmith, The Washington Post
"These nine startling stories capture the subtleties of feeling—and being made to feel—out of place . . .. Ostlund proves herself a master of the form."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Nine exquisite stories that explore class, desire, identity, and the specter of violence that looms daily over women and the LGBTQ+ community.
An aspiring veterinarian survives a plane crash and starts life over in California. A woman mourns the loss of her childhood friend’s innocence and rethinks justice. A queer teacher's sense of safety in the classroom is destroyed. With settings ranging from small-town Minnesota to New Mexico, from bars and bedrooms to a furniture store and a community college, Are You Happy? casts a spotlight on people who try—and often fail—to make peace with their pasts while navigating their present relationships and notions of self. In prose that is evocative and restrained, unpredictable and masterful, Lori Ostlund offers a darkly humorous and compassionate examination of America’s preoccupation with loneliness, happiness, guns, and violence.
"These nine startling stories capture the subtleties of feeling—and being made to feel—out of place . . .. Ostlund proves herself a master of the form."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Nine exquisite stories that explore class, desire, identity, and the specter of violence that looms daily over women and the LGBTQ+ community.
An aspiring veterinarian survives a plane crash and starts life over in California. A woman mourns the loss of her childhood friend’s innocence and rethinks justice. A queer teacher's sense of safety in the classroom is destroyed. With settings ranging from small-town Minnesota to New Mexico, from bars and bedrooms to a furniture store and a community college, Are You Happy? casts a spotlight on people who try—and often fail—to make peace with their pasts while navigating their present relationships and notions of self. In prose that is evocative and restrained, unpredictable and masterful, Lori Ostlund offers a darkly humorous and compassionate examination of America’s preoccupation with loneliness, happiness, guns, and violence.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2025
56 people are currently reading
3017 people want to read
About the author
Lori Ostlund
11 books148 followersLori Ostlund's novel, After the Parade, was published by Scribner in September 2015. Her first book, a story collection entitled The Bigness of the World (University of Georgia Press, 2009), which Scribner will reissue in February 2016, received the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, the California Book Award for First Fiction, and the Edmund White Debut Fiction Award. Stories from it appeared in the Best American Short Stories and The PEN/O.Henry Prize Stories. She was the recipient of a 2009 Rona Jaffe Foundation Award. She lives in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
June 22, 2025
3.5 stars
One of the first short story collections that’s made me feel something in a while. At their strongest, the stories in this collection address meaningful themes pertaining to class, gender, and sexual orientation while centering characters you come to care for. I found myself actually invested in the emotional lives of the characters in several of these stories, which is a great feat with the more page-limited frame of short stories. The characters experience regret, loss, love, nostalgia, and hope, all in different measure, which was a nice reminder of how complex every human life can be. My favorites in this collection were “The Bus Driver,” “The Gap Year,” and “A Little Customer Service.”
In terms of parts that didn’t work for me so much, I do think Lori Ostlund has a quiet and plain away of writing, which can work really well sometimes – sometimes the sparsity of her prose can accentuate certain emotions within her work. That said, sometimes the sparsity also left me wanting a bit more. She also tends to focus on queer people who are in more conventional monogamous romantic relationships (albeit generally without kids, and I appreciated the childfree rep.) It was rare for there to be a story about a romantically single queer person. Still, her talent as a writer is clear in this collection and I’ll likely check out her first published short story collection too.
One of the first short story collections that’s made me feel something in a while. At their strongest, the stories in this collection address meaningful themes pertaining to class, gender, and sexual orientation while centering characters you come to care for. I found myself actually invested in the emotional lives of the characters in several of these stories, which is a great feat with the more page-limited frame of short stories. The characters experience regret, loss, love, nostalgia, and hope, all in different measure, which was a nice reminder of how complex every human life can be. My favorites in this collection were “The Bus Driver,” “The Gap Year,” and “A Little Customer Service.”
In terms of parts that didn’t work for me so much, I do think Lori Ostlund has a quiet and plain away of writing, which can work really well sometimes – sometimes the sparsity of her prose can accentuate certain emotions within her work. That said, sometimes the sparsity also left me wanting a bit more. She also tends to focus on queer people who are in more conventional monogamous romantic relationships (albeit generally without kids, and I appreciated the childfree rep.) It was rare for there to be a story about a romantically single queer person. Still, her talent as a writer is clear in this collection and I’ll likely check out her first published short story collection too.
June 15, 2025
Please note that I received this via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Well this is weird. This is a short story collection I enjoyed from beginning to end. Some of the stories were fairly long, some were short, but all hit me in a place of just missing people. I think the title, "Are You Happy?" is asking a question and one wonders if it was a question the author wanted to ask certain characters. Most of the nine stories focus on LGBTQ+ characters throughout different years/decades. You don't follow the same people, though two characters I recall had a cat named Gertrude and that threw me off. Many of the characters live in or near Albuquerque which I got a kick out of since I was just there for my birthday in January.
See below for a short description of the stories:
1. The Bus Driver. This whole story was so dang sad and be prepared for a trigger warning about statutory rape. The main character is having regrets over the falling out with her former best friend Jane who went a totally different way than her after high school. I liked the questions it asked though, how much of this was just Jane herself seeking something else, the teacher (who took advantage), and the main character for not saying anything. The ending...wow.
2. The Gap Year. Oh. This was so sad. Be prepared for it.
3. Are You Happy? The main character, Phil is dealing with everything that came after he, his mother, and aunt survived a plane crash. Phil was tired of being something he was not, and wanted a different life and got one. But he also kept his new life from his family since he didn't want them to tarnish it for him. The ending was sad though.
4. Clear as Cake. A young woman learning to "write" and really realizing she's not a writer. But at times you can see her getting the hint of what everything is all about, but backing away from it. This took place during the 1980s I recall which to me help set up a lot of what this story was about.
5. The Peeping Toms. A couple, Clarice and Miriam are dealing with an older relative and a series of peeping toms throughout their lives. The reveal of who is the peeping tom at the end of this one just honestly made me sad. The whole story felt sad honestly.
6. The Stalker. This one was grim to me too after the last story. An adjunct teacher whose name I don't recall getting is dealing with one of her students stalking her. And I had to wonder if he was meant to be depicted this way or not. I think nowadays many would argue that he's on the spectrum because of how he talked. This is also the second story featuring a cat named Gertrude.
7. Aaron Englund and the Great Great. I felt sad while reading. A young 5 year old boy and his family (who do not like each other at all) go to visit Aaron's mother's uncle August. Aaron's father just seemed like an ass from beginning to end of this story.
8. A Little Customer Service. A woman named Tara gets involved in a romance with Gretchen, who is 17 years older than her and rich. Just a story of Tara realizing that she's giving up a lot to be in this relationship.
9. Just Another Family: A Novella. This one was the longest of the stories in the collection. I liked it and thought it anchored everything that came before it.
Well this is weird. This is a short story collection I enjoyed from beginning to end. Some of the stories were fairly long, some were short, but all hit me in a place of just missing people. I think the title, "Are You Happy?" is asking a question and one wonders if it was a question the author wanted to ask certain characters. Most of the nine stories focus on LGBTQ+ characters throughout different years/decades. You don't follow the same people, though two characters I recall had a cat named Gertrude and that threw me off. Many of the characters live in or near Albuquerque which I got a kick out of since I was just there for my birthday in January.
See below for a short description of the stories:
1. The Bus Driver. This whole story was so dang sad and be prepared for a trigger warning about statutory rape. The main character is having regrets over the falling out with her former best friend Jane who went a totally different way than her after high school. I liked the questions it asked though, how much of this was just Jane herself seeking something else, the teacher (who took advantage), and the main character for not saying anything. The ending...wow.
2. The Gap Year. Oh. This was so sad. Be prepared for it.
3. Are You Happy? The main character, Phil is dealing with everything that came after he, his mother, and aunt survived a plane crash. Phil was tired of being something he was not, and wanted a different life and got one. But he also kept his new life from his family since he didn't want them to tarnish it for him. The ending was sad though.
4. Clear as Cake. A young woman learning to "write" and really realizing she's not a writer. But at times you can see her getting the hint of what everything is all about, but backing away from it. This took place during the 1980s I recall which to me help set up a lot of what this story was about.
5. The Peeping Toms. A couple, Clarice and Miriam are dealing with an older relative and a series of peeping toms throughout their lives. The reveal of who is the peeping tom at the end of this one just honestly made me sad. The whole story felt sad honestly.
6. The Stalker. This one was grim to me too after the last story. An adjunct teacher whose name I don't recall getting is dealing with one of her students stalking her. And I had to wonder if he was meant to be depicted this way or not. I think nowadays many would argue that he's on the spectrum because of how he talked. This is also the second story featuring a cat named Gertrude.
7. Aaron Englund and the Great Great. I felt sad while reading. A young 5 year old boy and his family (who do not like each other at all) go to visit Aaron's mother's uncle August. Aaron's father just seemed like an ass from beginning to end of this story.
8. A Little Customer Service. A woman named Tara gets involved in a romance with Gretchen, who is 17 years older than her and rich. Just a story of Tara realizing that she's giving up a lot to be in this relationship.
9. Just Another Family: A Novella. This one was the longest of the stories in the collection. I liked it and thought it anchored everything that came before it.
September 7, 2024
A strange (in a good way) short story collection to crack you up while covering a variety of heavier topics. I'm impressed by Lori Ostlund's ability to merge motherhood, sex & religion, family norms & dysfunction, education, memory, language, gun safety and more without feeling like it was all over the place. Looking back on the collection I found that so-so stories I could hardly recall anything from. The highlighting in my Kindle seems to disagree, as all of the stories have quite a bit I wanted to be able to revisit.
The Bus Driver 5/5!
The Gap Year 3/5
Are You Happy? 4/5
Clear as Cake 5/5!
The Peeping Toms 3/5
The Stalker 5/5!
Aaron Englund and the Great Great 3/5
A Little Customer Service 3.5/5
Just Another Family: A Novella 5/5!
(5/5 ⭐ because the 5/5's were THEE STRONGEST 5/5's I've given in a while, more than making up for the stories that I didn't enjoy)
To anyone who enjoys this collection I HIGHLY recommend Thanks for This Riot: Stories, it's phenomenal.
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Lori Ostlund and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
The Bus Driver 5/5!
The Gap Year 3/5
Are You Happy? 4/5
Clear as Cake 5/5!
The Peeping Toms 3/5
The Stalker 5/5!
Aaron Englund and the Great Great 3/5
A Little Customer Service 3.5/5
Just Another Family: A Novella 5/5!
(5/5 ⭐ because the 5/5's were THEE STRONGEST 5/5's I've given in a while, more than making up for the stories that I didn't enjoy)
To anyone who enjoys this collection I HIGHLY recommend Thanks for This Riot: Stories, it's phenomenal.
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Lori Ostlund and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
June 9, 2025
My Shelf Awareness review: The nine short fictions in Are You Happy?, the third book by Lori Ostlund, form a stunning investigation into how violence and family dysfunction reverberate.
"The Peeping Toms" and "The Stalker" are a knockout pair featuring Albuquerque lesbian couples under threat by male acquaintances. The typical protagonist throughout is a writing professor of Scandinavian heritage. In "Just Another Family," Sibyl, back in Minnesota for her father's funeral, finds her childhood bedroom cluttered with Bibles and rifles. Anecdotes the family spins as humorous--such as her mother putting her in the oven when she wouldn't stop crying--reveal hidden trauma.
Characters are haunted by loss and grapple with moral dilemmas. In the title story, Phil's comfortable home life with Kelvin in San Francisco can't outweigh memories of a long-ago plane crash. In "The Bus Driver," Clare ponders telling the police that a popular high school basketball coach's death, presumed accidental, may have been revenge for sexual misconduct involving her best friend.
"Aaron Englund and the Great Great," a prequel to Ostlund's After the Parade, impresses with its third-person limited re-creation of a five-year-old's viewpoint. Each story has the complexity and emotional depth of a novel; endings are often chillingly inconclusive. Freedom versus safety for queer people is a resonant theme in this engrossing collection ideal for Alice Munro and Edward St. Aubyn fans. Happiness might be out of reach for these characters dealing with family trauma, but tracing the way from there to here offers closure.
(Posted with permission from Shelf Awareness.)
"The Peeping Toms" and "The Stalker" are a knockout pair featuring Albuquerque lesbian couples under threat by male acquaintances. The typical protagonist throughout is a writing professor of Scandinavian heritage. In "Just Another Family," Sibyl, back in Minnesota for her father's funeral, finds her childhood bedroom cluttered with Bibles and rifles. Anecdotes the family spins as humorous--such as her mother putting her in the oven when she wouldn't stop crying--reveal hidden trauma.
Characters are haunted by loss and grapple with moral dilemmas. In the title story, Phil's comfortable home life with Kelvin in San Francisco can't outweigh memories of a long-ago plane crash. In "The Bus Driver," Clare ponders telling the police that a popular high school basketball coach's death, presumed accidental, may have been revenge for sexual misconduct involving her best friend.
"Aaron Englund and the Great Great," a prequel to Ostlund's After the Parade, impresses with its third-person limited re-creation of a five-year-old's viewpoint. Each story has the complexity and emotional depth of a novel; endings are often chillingly inconclusive. Freedom versus safety for queer people is a resonant theme in this engrossing collection ideal for Alice Munro and Edward St. Aubyn fans. Happiness might be out of reach for these characters dealing with family trauma, but tracing the way from there to here offers closure.
(Posted with permission from Shelf Awareness.)
June 15, 2025
This is a wonderfully written collection of stories by a new to me but award winning author.
The stories seem autobiographical although the characters have different names. The fathers were mostly awful and abusive. Some of the mothers weren’t ideal either. The partners of the main character are mostly caring and supportive.
The novella at the end was a 5 star telling of a pretty rough family story.
I gave this overall 4-stars because a few of the stories seemed about the same characters just with new names and since they are in the same collection that was a distraction.
There is some wry humor, but these are often difficult and sad stories.
The stories seem autobiographical although the characters have different names. The fathers were mostly awful and abusive. Some of the mothers weren’t ideal either. The partners of the main character are mostly caring and supportive.
The novella at the end was a 5 star telling of a pretty rough family story.
I gave this overall 4-stars because a few of the stories seemed about the same characters just with new names and since they are in the same collection that was a distraction.
There is some wry humor, but these are often difficult and sad stories.
October 15, 2024
Lori Ostlund has been a favorite ever since After the Parade, my introduction to her style and themes, a novel although she is categorized as a short story author. Well, these stories more than bolster that description. There's not a clinker in the bunch, and to define one or more as weaker than others is not a criticism since her weakest stories are stronger than those considered strong by other authors. She has a definite niche, in that she depicts the lives of women in couples and their experiences with others many times facing discrimination, also the effect that may have on their relationship. Several have cats named Gertrude, most are in long term relationships, many are college educators either adjunct or full, all instructors of writing usually of adult students. And yet every central figure is realistically limned and fully characterized. Her choice of geography could almost be called metaphoric -- many live in Albuquerque but are not from there originally. In fact, one narrator originally from Minnesota remarks "...best way to keep our relationship sound was to live a plane flight away from our families." If pressured to choose a favorite, I would have to choose Just Another Family, which contains most of her favored themes.
May 14, 2025
Are You Happy is a collection of stories based mainly in Minnesota.
Most of the stories have an underlying sense of threat - either physical or mental which makes them all somewhat edgy and disturbing.
You are left under no illusion about the tone of the stories from the first in which we find sexual abuse, violence and retribution. This tone continues throughout the stories and they're all excellent.
I really enjoyed reading all the stories but my favourites were The Bus Driver, Are You Happy?, The Stalker and Just Another Family.
I would definitely recommend this great collection of stories from Lori Ostlund, a writer I am sadly unfamiliar with (something I will rectify in the future). She is certainly an interesting and challenging author who doesn't shy from difficult subjects.
Definitely recommended fir anyone who likes a short story with bite.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Astra Publishing House for the advance review copy.
Most of the stories have an underlying sense of threat - either physical or mental which makes them all somewhat edgy and disturbing.
You are left under no illusion about the tone of the stories from the first in which we find sexual abuse, violence and retribution. This tone continues throughout the stories and they're all excellent.
I really enjoyed reading all the stories but my favourites were The Bus Driver, Are You Happy?, The Stalker and Just Another Family.
I would definitely recommend this great collection of stories from Lori Ostlund, a writer I am sadly unfamiliar with (something I will rectify in the future). She is certainly an interesting and challenging author who doesn't shy from difficult subjects.
Definitely recommended fir anyone who likes a short story with bite.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Astra Publishing House for the advance review copy.
August 17, 2025
Read this on a flight to Panama and decided that I am in fact not happy
May 13, 2025
I found this to be a very enjoyable story collection. I found each story extremely easy to "get in to" and my engagement continued straight through the end. If Lori has a weakness, it is the endings of the stories which often felt abrupt.
However, her characters were very well-drawn, and there was a real cohesiveness to the stories included. So much so, that I found myself pondering... Are any of these stories linked or connected? I don't think so. They just feel right together.
There are similarities and repeated elements in some of the stories that I suspect are borrowed from life. Most, if not all, of these stories feature gay and lesbian couples. The stories aren't necessarily about their sexuality, but people's acceptance (or not) of their sexuality (often family members) is a significant dynamic in relationships, for instance. There were several settings that recurred: Minnesota, New Mexico, San Francisco--where she lives now. There were a couple of hardware store-owning dads. Did her dad own a Midwestern hardware store, or does that profession simply paint a very specific picture? Who can say? But despite recurring motifs, each of these stories is very individual.
I'd read and enjoyed Lori's debut novel, After the Parade, but I think I like this collection even more. She's a skilled prose stylist and a gifted storyteller. Recommended!
However, her characters were very well-drawn, and there was a real cohesiveness to the stories included. So much so, that I found myself pondering... Are any of these stories linked or connected? I don't think so. They just feel right together.
There are similarities and repeated elements in some of the stories that I suspect are borrowed from life. Most, if not all, of these stories feature gay and lesbian couples. The stories aren't necessarily about their sexuality, but people's acceptance (or not) of their sexuality (often family members) is a significant dynamic in relationships, for instance. There were several settings that recurred: Minnesota, New Mexico, San Francisco--where she lives now. There were a couple of hardware store-owning dads. Did her dad own a Midwestern hardware store, or does that profession simply paint a very specific picture? Who can say? But despite recurring motifs, each of these stories is very individual.
I'd read and enjoyed Lori's debut novel, After the Parade, but I think I like this collection even more. She's a skilled prose stylist and a gifted storyteller. Recommended!
November 22, 2024
Happiness is a uniquely American preoccupation, and if you were to ask me, I feel miserable—and I say this as the highest compliment possible for this collection of short stories. These stories are so well-written that my empathic little heart ached for days after finishing each one.
Through eight short stories and a novella, we explore facets of love, fear, anxiety, childhood, and sadness in a way that is beautifully written and specially evocative.
I feel sad —but I feel something. I would rather read a book that makes me emotional or disturbed rather than a boring one. This is why I love reading, and I am starting a reading journal again.
4 stars. I highly recommend this book to someone who isn't afraid of complexity and feeling deep emotions. Definitely looking forward to reading more of her work.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this!
Through eight short stories and a novella, we explore facets of love, fear, anxiety, childhood, and sadness in a way that is beautifully written and specially evocative.
I feel sad —but I feel something. I would rather read a book that makes me emotional or disturbed rather than a boring one. This is why I love reading, and I am starting a reading journal again.
4 stars. I highly recommend this book to someone who isn't afraid of complexity and feeling deep emotions. Definitely looking forward to reading more of her work.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this!
June 10, 2025
"Are You Happy?" is a smart, nuanced, and unexpectedly affecting collection of short stories.
I picked it up for the Goodreads Rainbow Reads challenge and wasn’t familiar with Lori Ostlund’s work beforehand. I’m so glad I gave this one a chance.
Her writing is precise and emotionally observant, often placing you right in the middle of a character’s life with very little preamble, yet somehow you’re fully invested within a few paragraphs.
These stories are intimate, believable slices of life. Most center on women navigating family, identity, or the strange compromises of adult relationships.
There’s grief, awkwardness, repressed frustration, moments of dark humor, and a kind of beautiful everyday dysfunction that feels totally recognizable.
One standout story, "The Stalker", explores a closeted professor being uncomfortably fixated on by a student. It’s disturbing and unresolved in all the right ways.
Others explore themes like settling in a relationship out of convenience, or revisiting past friendships through uncomfortable lenses.
There’s a recurring cat named Gertrude, a lot of New Mexico and Minnesota settings, and frequent asides that seem random at first but always settle into emotional resonance.
This isn’t a loud collection. It’s sharp, strange, and brilliant.
I picked it up for the Goodreads Rainbow Reads challenge and wasn’t familiar with Lori Ostlund’s work beforehand. I’m so glad I gave this one a chance.
Her writing is precise and emotionally observant, often placing you right in the middle of a character’s life with very little preamble, yet somehow you’re fully invested within a few paragraphs.
These stories are intimate, believable slices of life. Most center on women navigating family, identity, or the strange compromises of adult relationships.
There’s grief, awkwardness, repressed frustration, moments of dark humor, and a kind of beautiful everyday dysfunction that feels totally recognizable.
One standout story, "The Stalker", explores a closeted professor being uncomfortably fixated on by a student. It’s disturbing and unresolved in all the right ways.
Others explore themes like settling in a relationship out of convenience, or revisiting past friendships through uncomfortable lenses.
There’s a recurring cat named Gertrude, a lot of New Mexico and Minnesota settings, and frequent asides that seem random at first but always settle into emotional resonance.
This isn’t a loud collection. It’s sharp, strange, and brilliant.
August 1, 2025
This collection had its highs and lows for me. A couple of stories really hit - especially one about grief that felt raw and honest. The characters felt like people you might actually know, and I liked how certain themes and types popped up throughout to tie things together.
That said, a lot of the stories blurred together. The mood stayed pretty dark the whole time, and some characters felt flat or underdeveloped. A few choices around how certain people were portrayed didn’t sit right with me either.
That said, a lot of the stories blurred together. The mood stayed pretty dark the whole time, and some characters felt flat or underdeveloped. A few choices around how certain people were portrayed didn’t sit right with me either.
May 24, 2025
You will be happy when you read this new collection from Ostlund.
July 19, 2025
3.5
most of these stories had a lot of similarities that made them blend together but the last story had me cackling and stood out
most of these stories had a lot of similarities that made them blend together but the last story had me cackling and stood out
April 5, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Astra House Books for the chance to read this book before release date!
"Are you happy?" is a compilation of 9 short stories that focus on the topic of happiness. Yeah, it's a big range. You never know what the next short story might be about! Most of the short stories focus on queerness, to a bigger or lesser extent. Although every queer folk is different, most of our struggles and joys have similar roots - accepting or not - family, friends, our own outlook on ourselves.
Lori Ostlund's writing is charming and very easy to read, despite some heavy topics. The characters she creates are lively, believable and it's impossible not to root for them.
The author manages, with surprising ease, to connect various topics - death, happiness, grief, loss, fulfillment, longing. Afterall, it's all connected isn't it?
Reading this was a real joy and I encourage you all to give it a go!
"Are you happy?" is a compilation of 9 short stories that focus on the topic of happiness. Yeah, it's a big range. You never know what the next short story might be about! Most of the short stories focus on queerness, to a bigger or lesser extent. Although every queer folk is different, most of our struggles and joys have similar roots - accepting or not - family, friends, our own outlook on ourselves.
Lori Ostlund's writing is charming and very easy to read, despite some heavy topics. The characters she creates are lively, believable and it's impossible not to root for them.
The author manages, with surprising ease, to connect various topics - death, happiness, grief, loss, fulfillment, longing. Afterall, it's all connected isn't it?
Reading this was a real joy and I encourage you all to give it a go!
February 25, 2025
I was provided an early copy of this book for review from NetGalley.
Very few writers know how to do more with less like Lori Ostlund does. In just a few dozen pages, she manages to craft a life so complete in its simplicity, I cannot believe I have not known it all along. The language of these short stories is such that it's hard to remember that I'm not overhearing some fascinating story from a stranger whose name I'll never know. These stories are not complicated or overwrought or flowery or eccentric—they are exactly what they need to be, no more, no less. I am, historically, not the biggest fan of short stories, because I often find them lacking, or rather, find that I'm desperate to know more than was given to me. I never had this feeling while reading any of the stories in this collection, because Ostlund masterfully gives her readers precisely what they need to understand the full, rich reality of each protagonist with the most balanced of details. Not only do I understand who these people are, I know what I would say to them, what questions I'd ask, what anecdotes I'd share in return. Some stories, such as "The Stalker," felt so true and alive that I had to forcibly remind myself that this was, in fact, fiction, and not something I was told once at a party, slack-jawed and interrupting with questions. The people in these stories—to call them characters feels insufficient—each of whom could be my neighbor, my colleague, my friend, are easily some of the most realistic portrayals of humans I've ever come across, and I feel so lucky that I got to meet all of them. Each of these stories is a delight and a treat to be savored—what an unparalleled collection.
Very few writers know how to do more with less like Lori Ostlund does. In just a few dozen pages, she manages to craft a life so complete in its simplicity, I cannot believe I have not known it all along. The language of these short stories is such that it's hard to remember that I'm not overhearing some fascinating story from a stranger whose name I'll never know. These stories are not complicated or overwrought or flowery or eccentric—they are exactly what they need to be, no more, no less. I am, historically, not the biggest fan of short stories, because I often find them lacking, or rather, find that I'm desperate to know more than was given to me. I never had this feeling while reading any of the stories in this collection, because Ostlund masterfully gives her readers precisely what they need to understand the full, rich reality of each protagonist with the most balanced of details. Not only do I understand who these people are, I know what I would say to them, what questions I'd ask, what anecdotes I'd share in return. Some stories, such as "The Stalker," felt so true and alive that I had to forcibly remind myself that this was, in fact, fiction, and not something I was told once at a party, slack-jawed and interrupting with questions. The people in these stories—to call them characters feels insufficient—each of whom could be my neighbor, my colleague, my friend, are easily some of the most realistic portrayals of humans I've ever come across, and I feel so lucky that I got to meet all of them. Each of these stories is a delight and a treat to be savored—what an unparalleled collection.
June 7, 2025
As with story compilations, I liked some more than others. We started off strong with The Bus Driver and The Gap Year, but things kind of melded into each other after.
It’s almost as if the author was given a prompt and wrote multiple stories around it. I say this because there is very little variation between the main characters. They are all living within a same-sex partnership (marriage isn’t legal yet), have a connection to Albuquerque, at least one cat (sometimes called Gertrude), and may have issues with a maternal-esque figure.
Despite this, I feel that each story does have its own message to share.
Notable lines:
"You can always come back, but the older you get, the harder it is to leave." Pg 7
“It was the laugh of a man who was in love with her, who saw in her stiffness and reticence something exotic.” Pg 31
“I've always been intrigued by people like that, people who are mean and hate everyone and do everything they can to repel others—and then feel lonely about it.” Pg 88
“I guess the point is that sometimes you reach a place in your life where you just want things to add up at the end of the day.” Pg 92
Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for this ARC.
It’s almost as if the author was given a prompt and wrote multiple stories around it. I say this because there is very little variation between the main characters. They are all living within a same-sex partnership (marriage isn’t legal yet), have a connection to Albuquerque, at least one cat (sometimes called Gertrude), and may have issues with a maternal-esque figure.
Despite this, I feel that each story does have its own message to share.
Notable lines:
"You can always come back, but the older you get, the harder it is to leave." Pg 7
“It was the laugh of a man who was in love with her, who saw in her stiffness and reticence something exotic.” Pg 31
“I've always been intrigued by people like that, people who are mean and hate everyone and do everything they can to repel others—and then feel lonely about it.” Pg 88
“I guess the point is that sometimes you reach a place in your life where you just want things to add up at the end of the day.” Pg 92
Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for this ARC.
Read
September 18, 2024It's always challenging to rate short story collections because not every story resonates with the reader. However, Lori Ostlund did a phenomenal job capturing the struggles of women and the queer community.
My favorites are the following.
The Bus ( When I tell you my jaw was on the floor after reading that ending)
The Stalker
Just Another Family
The Gap Year was the only one that I just couldn't connect with :/
Highly recommend to readers who enjoy complicated queer love and family dynamic stories!
My favorites are the following.
The Bus ( When I tell you my jaw was on the floor after reading that ending)
The Stalker
Just Another Family
The Gap Year was the only one that I just couldn't connect with :/
Highly recommend to readers who enjoy complicated queer love and family dynamic stories!
October 17, 2024
I really loved this collection. I think they’re weird in a way that resonated so well with me. The final story of the family with so much chaos was possibly my favorite out of all of them. I loved the characters in this one and especially loved how relatable they were even in a short story. This one covered so much life in just a few pages I could have read an entire book about Sybil and Rachel and the glass in the steaks. Thanks to Netgally for the ARC.
May 27, 2025
Sonder
/ˈsɑndər/
(uncountable) (neologism) The profound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passing in the street, has a life as complex as one's own, which they are constantly living despite one's personal lack of awareness of it.
Albuquerque has a population of around 560,000. Los Angeles reaches about 3,770,000. Every person in these cities, or even around the world, has a life of their own. Their own troubles, interests, secrets. This collection of short stories gives us a glimpse into the life of those we consider mundane and shines a light on the fact that we underestimate how complex humans are. Each short story feels like an invasion of someone's privacy but no one really cares because we are all curious enough to keep reading. What's clever about it is the eerie details that unite the stories, and more specifically the characters, without them knowing. It’s like knowing a secret about people who don’t actually know you or particularly care for your existence. It takes things that we consider boring about ourselves and visualizes it within someone else, because we’re all more interested in the lives of others than our own.
I will say that not all the stories were as good as others, but for the most part they were consistent, and frankly I feel like I’m missing out because I don’t have a physical copy of this book.
/ˈsɑndər/
(uncountable) (neologism) The profound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passing in the street, has a life as complex as one's own, which they are constantly living despite one's personal lack of awareness of it.
Albuquerque has a population of around 560,000. Los Angeles reaches about 3,770,000. Every person in these cities, or even around the world, has a life of their own. Their own troubles, interests, secrets. This collection of short stories gives us a glimpse into the life of those we consider mundane and shines a light on the fact that we underestimate how complex humans are. Each short story feels like an invasion of someone's privacy but no one really cares because we are all curious enough to keep reading. What's clever about it is the eerie details that unite the stories, and more specifically the characters, without them knowing. It’s like knowing a secret about people who don’t actually know you or particularly care for your existence. It takes things that we consider boring about ourselves and visualizes it within someone else, because we’re all more interested in the lives of others than our own.
I will say that not all the stories were as good as others, but for the most part they were consistent, and frankly I feel like I’m missing out because I don’t have a physical copy of this book.
June 6, 2025
I think I’m starting to learn that I really like short story collections, especially when they are so well-interwoven thematically as these. When I read the general description of the book and expected to be opening a book about violence, I was surprised to find that I also was laughing and smiling and playfully shaking my head a lot. “Clear as Cake” especially was an odd section that made me giggle a lot.
I love little slices of life, and I love the way these stories were curated from the greater perspectives of these specific characters. The moment portrayed are both mundane and extraordinary at the same time; perfect for a short story.
Reader be warned: don’t get confused when every single story ties back to Minnesota and Albuquerque. They are not the same.
I love little slices of life, and I love the way these stories were curated from the greater perspectives of these specific characters. The moment portrayed are both mundane and extraordinary at the same time; perfect for a short story.
Reader be warned: don’t get confused when every single story ties back to Minnesota and Albuquerque. They are not the same.
February 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This is a great selection of 9 short stories, some, I rated quite high such as the first, opening story which was an incredible start. And some, I rated lower, a few 3s throughout the middle and end. The lower rated stories were possibly too short and I didn’t have the time or information to really get the point or they were open-ended.
There are many similarities such as setting that made me feel like all of the stories were related and existed at the same time. And most of them contained themes around parenthood, death, health, lgbtq, religion, violence such as violence against women and gun control. Many of the stories are tragic and also come full circle. The writing is great and feels quite realistic; no situation feels over the top.
There are many similarities such as setting that made me feel like all of the stories were related and existed at the same time. And most of them contained themes around parenthood, death, health, lgbtq, religion, violence such as violence against women and gun control. Many of the stories are tragic and also come full circle. The writing is great and feels quite realistic; no situation feels over the top.
June 17, 2025
I read this as part of the Goodreads challenge for Rainbow Reads. It was very weird to say the least but entaining and rather funny in parts. The LGBTQ+ genre is not one I often read and I am glad I chose this one as it is a collection of short stories. I was worried about getting bogged down with something I didn't like or couldn't relate to which happened in a book group read once. This was very good though and I highly recommend it to tick off the Rainbow Reads challenge.
July 13, 2025
This was a really solid set of short stories. Each one was unique, but they felt like they flowed together smoothly. There was some humor scattered throughout, but the stories tended to be sad and thoughtful overall. As with all short story collections, some of the stories were stronger than others and there were a couple I mostly skimmed, but I definitely found the book worth reading as a whole.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
January 3, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
What a strange, beautiful collection of short stories by Lori Ostlund. Whenever I read new collections, I pay a lot of attention to the way each story flows into the next and the specific placement of each piece. I really felt like Ostlund excelled in this department. While this collection explores a variety of topics — religion, sex, anxiety, love, etc. — each of the eight stories felt like they belonged together. I really loved this collection and would be really interested in seeing what else this writer has to say!
What a strange, beautiful collection of short stories by Lori Ostlund. Whenever I read new collections, I pay a lot of attention to the way each story flows into the next and the specific placement of each piece. I really felt like Ostlund excelled in this department. While this collection explores a variety of topics — religion, sex, anxiety, love, etc. — each of the eight stories felt like they belonged together. I really loved this collection and would be really interested in seeing what else this writer has to say!
March 19, 2025
Are you happy is a collection of short stories so it is hard to rate/review. I will admit I wish I read this quicker rather than dragging it out between stories. I enjoyed the writing style despite some repetition of plot points between stories. Does a good job of bringing humor to some heavy topics.
*ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 6, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for an ARC of Are You Happy? in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Absolutely loved it! It's such a weird and darkly funny book in all the best ways. These are the kinds of stories you'll return to and read quotes from at certain times. The writing is excellent as well. Will be reading more from this author.
Rating: 5/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Absolutely loved it! It's such a weird and darkly funny book in all the best ways. These are the kinds of stories you'll return to and read quotes from at certain times. The writing is excellent as well. Will be reading more from this author.
August 31, 2025
Lori Ostlund is my sister-in-law, and I love her stories. As a midwesterner, I can identify with so many of the characters she writes about. I don’t often read short stories, but these are very well-written and remind me of my husband’s recounting of his time growing up in a small town.
January 29, 2025
This was a really great collection of weird/ funny/ sad/ queer short stories. “The Gap Year” and “Just Another Family” were standouts for me, but I enjoyed all of them!
June 12, 2025
a spellbinding collection that made my heart ache. it takes real talent to make you immediately care about characters, especially in short stories - and that's exactly what she achieved here.
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