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Volume 0
Volume 0: Issue 3
**The safe word does not exist**
We like our stories intense, offbeat, and fun in a slightly naughty way. So expect bad behavior, adult themes, a little magic and a bit of menace. You might not like all of these stories. Some might even make you a bit uncomfortable. But we certainly don't think you'll be bored.
We like our stories intense, offbeat, and fun in a slightly naughty way. So expect bad behavior, adult themes, a little magic and a bit of menace. You might not like all of these stories. Some might even make you a bit uncomfortable. But we certainly don't think you'll be bored.
- GenresShort Stories
126 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2024
15 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Laura Dave
19 books11.6k followersLaura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels including The Last Thing He Told Me and Eight Hundred Grapes. Her novels have sold more than six million copies and have been translated into thirty-eight languages. She resides in Santa Monica, California.
Her new novel, The First Time I Saw Him, will be released in January 2026
Website:www.lauradave.com
Instagram:www.instagram.com/lauradaveauthor
Her new novel, The First Time I Saw Him, will be released in January 2026
Website:www.lauradave.com
Instagram:www.instagram.com/lauradaveauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 9, 2024
“Choose carefully, for no matter what you choose, you will almost certainly pay more than you know."
Short stories are always so difficult for me, they are either too short and not enough to grasp, or so long they should be turned into its own tale. This collection was similar.
My favorites; The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake, and The Cabin by Brian Evenson. They were fun and unique and I yearned for further pages to explore and revel in.
Short stories are always so difficult for me, they are either too short and not enough to grasp, or so long they should be turned into its own tale. This collection was similar.
My favorites; The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake, and The Cabin by Brian Evenson. They were fun and unique and I yearned for further pages to explore and revel in.
October 22, 2024
I did like this one, just not as much as the first two.
October 11, 2024
I’m really enjoying each installment of this collection BOTM is doing. They’re fun bite-sized stories that give a good mental break in between longer novels
October 10, 2024
I found six of these seven stories mediocre at my very generous best. They read more like the sad journal entries of individuals suffering in life and unable to cope. The only story in the anthology that I enjoyed and would recommend was The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake. This was a well-written short story. The others I would recommend skipping. I initially thought I wouldn’t read any more of these books from BOTM, but The Wish Bridge was redemptive and I may explore another Volume 0 solely because of that piece.
October 14, 2024
I absolutely love these collections. This one has some killer authors in it. BOTM really stepping it up.
Hard to pick favs in this one because really this entire set of stories was great but some standouts for me:
The Cabin by Brian Evenson was delightfully creepy
Odd jobs by Jonathan Escoffery, The Feminist by Tony Tulathimutte and Tina Slinn by Tim Blackett
Three different types of stories that deliver gut punches of sadness and hopelessness and are written so damn well
The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake.
Magic and love the way only she Blake deliver. I’m a fan.
Hard to pick favs in this one because really this entire set of stories was great but some standouts for me:
The Cabin by Brian Evenson was delightfully creepy
Odd jobs by Jonathan Escoffery, The Feminist by Tony Tulathimutte and Tina Slinn by Tim Blackett
Three different types of stories that deliver gut punches of sadness and hopelessness and are written so damn well
The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake.
Magic and love the way only she Blake deliver. I’m a fan.
October 30, 2024
Third installment of the short stories from various authors. There were a few stories I did like and many were longer this time. But I think, what I'm struggling with for these sets of stories is that there isn't an overall theme. The stories range from graphic romance to horror and everything in between. If there was a theme, then I think I'd like a few of these stories more than I do because they would flow together.
There were a few stand outs in this set, but I didn't quite like this one as much as 1 or 2.
There were a few stand outs in this set, but I didn't quite like this one as much as 1 or 2.
November 8, 2024
Another mix of short stories that I mostly enjoyed. I definitely love the ones that lean speculative/fantastical...
Two boys named Bill, Earth Angel, and Tina Slinn were all about bad relationships/cheating.
The Cabin was excellent, anything close to horror is going to be fun.
The Feminist was good, depressing after a week like this, but still good
The Wish Bridge was excellent, just what I want from a magical short story.
Two boys named Bill, Earth Angel, and Tina Slinn were all about bad relationships/cheating.
The Cabin was excellent, anything close to horror is going to be fun.
The Feminist was good, depressing after a week like this, but still good
The Wish Bridge was excellent, just what I want from a magical short story.
October 25, 2024
Out of seven short stories, only two were worth the time to be read.
The Cabin by Brian Evanson was a bit scary but good .
The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake was by far the best story.
The other five story stories were not worth the time or effort to even read. They were boring and badly written. I give two and a half stars because the two stories helped me to give more stars. If it wasn't for those two stories, I would give this book one star only
The Cabin by Brian Evanson was a bit scary but good .
The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake was by far the best story.
The other five story stories were not worth the time or effort to even read. They were boring and badly written. I give two and a half stars because the two stories helped me to give more stars. If it wasn't for those two stories, I would give this book one star only
October 10, 2025
Two boys named Bill 3 - left me interested at each section but I felt the ending was a cop-out
The cabin 5 - spooktacular, please give me a 400 page book
Earth angel 4.5 - I'm not one for .5 ratings but this one really earns it. Fun read but cringe in a I'm not like other girls kinda way
Odd jobs 3 - attention keeping enough
The feminist 1 - maybe consider doing things because you should and not because you want something in return
Tina slinn 1 - feel like for someone this is a 5 star but just felt like reading a story written by AI
The wish bridge 4 - concept was so refreshing. Kinda hoped for a twist ending
The cabin 5 - spooktacular, please give me a 400 page book
Earth angel 4.5 - I'm not one for .5 ratings but this one really earns it. Fun read but cringe in a I'm not like other girls kinda way
Odd jobs 3 - attention keeping enough
The feminist 1 - maybe consider doing things because you should and not because you want something in return
Tina slinn 1 - feel like for someone this is a 5 star but just felt like reading a story written by AI
The wish bridge 4 - concept was so refreshing. Kinda hoped for a twist ending
October 10, 2024
Perhaps one of my most surprising reads this month was Volume Ø: Issue 3. I genuinely really loved half of these stories, and overall, I enjoyed each of them. I kind of wish two of them could be swapped out for something a little more strange or spooky, but it was also nice to have a taste of several different genres. And nothing felt strictly pedestrian; everything was weird in one way or another.
Here is the breakdown and my thoughts on each book:
Two Boys Named Bill by Laura Dave is an odd little short about a woman who falls in love with two men named Bill. It is a melancholic little character study that packs in quite a bit in so few pages. While I wouldn’t call it gripping, it was enjoyable. A solid 3-star read.
The Cabin by Brian Evenson follows a man who lives on a secluded mountain, making his living trapping wild animals. One night, while checking his traps, he gets lost and stumbles upon a cabin that he is certain he has never seen before. This one is very spooky and strange. Maybe a little too strange at the end, but I loved it. 4-star read, for sure.
Earth Angel by Madeline Cash is about a woman named Anika who finds everything to be very blase, including a company that sells scent pods that have been destroying people’s lives, and the ugly, brutalist home of the CEO of the aforementioned company. But perhaps, for just a day, she has a soft spot for the CEO, himself? This one made me laugh out loud many times; it was droll but also dry. I think it was about a 4-star read.
Odd Jobs by Jonathan Escoffery tells the story of a man who lives in his vehicle, trying to score enough cash to get gas so he can find a new parking lot. He answers a craigslist ad from a woman who wants to get punched in the face. Although I liked this one, I wasn’t quite sure what it was trying to do. But I was entertained. 3.5 stars.
The Feminist by Tony Taluthimutte follows a man who is, like, totally the most caring and understanding man of all time, and you should totally trust him and appreciate him, so, really, he can’t figure out why nobody loves him, because he is, like, literally such a feminist. I love some satire, and this one delivered. It was scary because I know men who are this man. Derogatory. 3.5 stars.
Tina Slinn by Tim Blackett is the story of a woman named Tina who sort of shoe horns herself into being an outcast despite being very well-liked. Probably the weakest story of the bunch, but it's still an interesting character study on self-acceptance…kind of. It’s also pretty intentionally bland. 3 stars.
The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake is a beautiful story about a sort of angelic presence that appears randomly at a different bridge each full moon. She grants a wish and disappears once the sun comes up, knowing no existence in between moons and bridges. One night, a curious stranger finds her. And then he finds her again. And then, after years of finding her, he makes a wish. When I tell you I cried. Oh, my word, I fucking love this story. It is very funny but also heartwarming, and a bit sad, and although it very clearly lays out where the story is going, it is told in such a way that I found myself holding my breath as I reached certain passages. 5 stars. What a delight.
Overall, I really enjoyed this short story collection. I read it all in one sitting. My main beef is that there are a few egregious typos, but honestly, who cares? We move.
No new words learned.
Come find me on thestorygraph and fable!
Here is the breakdown and my thoughts on each book:
Two Boys Named Bill by Laura Dave is an odd little short about a woman who falls in love with two men named Bill. It is a melancholic little character study that packs in quite a bit in so few pages. While I wouldn’t call it gripping, it was enjoyable. A solid 3-star read.
The Cabin by Brian Evenson follows a man who lives on a secluded mountain, making his living trapping wild animals. One night, while checking his traps, he gets lost and stumbles upon a cabin that he is certain he has never seen before. This one is very spooky and strange. Maybe a little too strange at the end, but I loved it. 4-star read, for sure.
Earth Angel by Madeline Cash is about a woman named Anika who finds everything to be very blase, including a company that sells scent pods that have been destroying people’s lives, and the ugly, brutalist home of the CEO of the aforementioned company. But perhaps, for just a day, she has a soft spot for the CEO, himself? This one made me laugh out loud many times; it was droll but also dry. I think it was about a 4-star read.
Odd Jobs by Jonathan Escoffery tells the story of a man who lives in his vehicle, trying to score enough cash to get gas so he can find a new parking lot. He answers a craigslist ad from a woman who wants to get punched in the face. Although I liked this one, I wasn’t quite sure what it was trying to do. But I was entertained. 3.5 stars.
The Feminist by Tony Taluthimutte follows a man who is, like, totally the most caring and understanding man of all time, and you should totally trust him and appreciate him, so, really, he can’t figure out why nobody loves him, because he is, like, literally such a feminist. I love some satire, and this one delivered. It was scary because I know men who are this man. Derogatory. 3.5 stars.
Tina Slinn by Tim Blackett is the story of a woman named Tina who sort of shoe horns herself into being an outcast despite being very well-liked. Probably the weakest story of the bunch, but it's still an interesting character study on self-acceptance…kind of. It’s also pretty intentionally bland. 3 stars.
The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake is a beautiful story about a sort of angelic presence that appears randomly at a different bridge each full moon. She grants a wish and disappears once the sun comes up, knowing no existence in between moons and bridges. One night, a curious stranger finds her. And then he finds her again. And then, after years of finding her, he makes a wish. When I tell you I cried. Oh, my word, I fucking love this story. It is very funny but also heartwarming, and a bit sad, and although it very clearly lays out where the story is going, it is told in such a way that I found myself holding my breath as I reached certain passages. 5 stars. What a delight.
Overall, I really enjoyed this short story collection. I read it all in one sitting. My main beef is that there are a few egregious typos, but honestly, who cares? We move.
No new words learned.
Come find me on thestorygraph and fable!
November 8, 2024
Two Boys Named Bill by Laura Dave: 3/5 Stars
The Cabin by Brian Evenson: 4/5 Stars
Earth Angel by Madeline Cash: 3/5 Stars
Odd Jobs by Jonathan Escoffery: 2/5 Stars
The Feminist by Tony Tulathimutte: 1/5 Stars
Tina Slinn by Tim Blackett: 3/5 Stars
The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake: 5/5 Stars
This was an okay story collection. My ratings for each story were all over the place. I really liked some stories and I absolutely hated others. I would love to see one of them turned into a horror novella. Even though this one averaged out to be the same rating as the last issue, I liked Issue 2 way more. This collection definitely isn’t for everybody. And honestly, I’m not really sure if I recommend this one.
The Cabin by Brian Evenson: 4/5 Stars
Earth Angel by Madeline Cash: 3/5 Stars
Odd Jobs by Jonathan Escoffery: 2/5 Stars
The Feminist by Tony Tulathimutte: 1/5 Stars
Tina Slinn by Tim Blackett: 3/5 Stars
The Wish Bridge by Olivie Blake: 5/5 Stars
This was an okay story collection. My ratings for each story were all over the place. I really liked some stories and I absolutely hated others. I would love to see one of them turned into a horror novella. Even though this one averaged out to be the same rating as the last issue, I liked Issue 2 way more. This collection definitely isn’t for everybody. And honestly, I’m not really sure if I recommend this one.
January 5, 2025
Two Boys Named Bill: 2 stars. Meh. The lesbian in me doesn’t really care when a woman has a hard time deciding between two men. Like they both suck.
The Cabin: 5 stars. Very captivating and keeps you wondering what’s going on until the end. Love a demonic twist.
Earth Angel: 3 stars. Not very memorable, but I liked how anti-capitalism it was.
Odd Jobs: 2 stars. I don’t get violence!
The Feminist: 3 stars. Goes to show that you literally just need therapy.
Tina Slinn: 3 stars. Love Earl, hate the fatphobic mom, why does she need to attach herself to the idea of being “fucked up.”
The Wish Bridge: 5 stars. Very sweet.
The Cabin: 5 stars. Very captivating and keeps you wondering what’s going on until the end. Love a demonic twist.
Earth Angel: 3 stars. Not very memorable, but I liked how anti-capitalism it was.
Odd Jobs: 2 stars. I don’t get violence!
The Feminist: 3 stars. Goes to show that you literally just need therapy.
Tina Slinn: 3 stars. Love Earl, hate the fatphobic mom, why does she need to attach herself to the idea of being “fucked up.”
The Wish Bridge: 5 stars. Very sweet.
December 31, 2024
Two Boys Named Bill- 2/5 ⭐️
The Cabin- 4/5 ⭐️
Earth Angel- 3/5 ⭐️
I actually really enjoyed the premise of this one, but it just lacked depth and didn’t come full circle. If it were a full novel I think it would be great.
Odd Jobs- 1/5⭐️
The Feminist - 0/5 ⭐️
Tina Slinn - 3/5 ⭐️
The Wish Bridge 5/5⭐️
This was such a great short story with great depth, meaning and came full circle. Loved it the whole way through.
The Cabin- 4/5 ⭐️
Earth Angel- 3/5 ⭐️
I actually really enjoyed the premise of this one, but it just lacked depth and didn’t come full circle. If it were a full novel I think it would be great.
Odd Jobs- 1/5⭐️
The Feminist - 0/5 ⭐️
Tina Slinn - 3/5 ⭐️
The Wish Bridge 5/5⭐️
This was such a great short story with great depth, meaning and came full circle. Loved it the whole way through.
November 25, 2024
Two Boys Named Bill: 3/5
The Cabin: 4/5, genuinely creeped me out.
Earth Angel: 5/5 very weird in a good way. excellent voice, very snappy
Odd Jobs: 3/5
The Feminist: 3/5
Tina Slinn: 3/5
The Wish Bridge: 5/5. Best story by far. I live for fantasy short stories. Reminded me of Six Deaths of the Saint
The Cabin: 4/5, genuinely creeped me out.
Earth Angel: 5/5 very weird in a good way. excellent voice, very snappy
Odd Jobs: 3/5
The Feminist: 3/5
Tina Slinn: 3/5
The Wish Bridge: 5/5. Best story by far. I live for fantasy short stories. Reminded me of Six Deaths of the Saint
December 12, 2024
Exactly like the other two Volume 0 books. I really enjoyed half the stories and found a few of them to be strange. I enjoy these collections of short stories, and especially appreciate exposure to new authors, but now that BOTM has made them an entirely separate subscription, I won’t be purchasing anymore.
January 20, 2025
This is the 3rd issue of this short story series by BOTM that I have read. I’m still not sold on them. I don’t know all the stories are always ok and none blow my mind. I think this was my least favorite of the bunch. I own the next two volumes so I will be reading those. My favorite from this volume was: The Wish Bridge
October 31, 2024
Overall this one was decent. Breakdown:
• Two Boys Named Bill: 3 Stars
• The Cabin: 4.5 Stars
• Earth Angel: 2.5 Stars
• Odd Jobs: 2.5 Stars
• The Feminist: 4 Stars
• Tina Slinn: 3.5 Stars
• The Wish Bridge: 5 Stars
• Two Boys Named Bill: 3 Stars
• The Cabin: 4.5 Stars
• Earth Angel: 2.5 Stars
• Odd Jobs: 2.5 Stars
• The Feminist: 4 Stars
• Tina Slinn: 3.5 Stars
• The Wish Bridge: 5 Stars
January 16, 2025
These are always entertaining to me.
They’re all so different too, so I never know what I’m getting. I do try to guess by the little pictures, or the name of the story I try to keep myself amused.
Some I like, some I don’t and I enjoy that.
They’re all so different too, so I never know what I’m getting. I do try to guess by the little pictures, or the name of the story I try to keep myself amused.
Some I like, some I don’t and I enjoy that.
November 24, 2025
My favorite story by far was the Wish Bridge, gave me five star feeling as a short story - I was impressed.
I thought these group of stories were good, I enjoyed each one and couldn’t wait to finish this Volume 0
I thought these group of stories were good, I enjoyed each one and couldn’t wait to finish this Volume 0
October 9, 2024
Another creative and interesting slim set of short stories from Book of the Month's new series. My favorites were "Tina Slinn," "Earth Angel", and and the hilarious satire "The Feminist."
October 13, 2024
I absolutely loved this issue!! The wish bridge was my favorite and it will stick with me for a long time to come. ❤️
Excited for the next issue
Excited for the next issue
Read
October 23, 2024Madeline Cash's story "Earth Angel" felt like such a fever dream and I think? I enjoyed it...
My absolute favorite was Olivie Blake's story, "The Wish Bridge"
My absolute favorite was Olivie Blake's story, "The Wish Bridge"
October 23, 2024
my god did the last story make me cry. i just finished this, so i need some time to process before really reviewing, but GOD do i need olivie blake to expand on the wish bridge. 😭 my heart aches.
October 26, 2024
There was only one or two stories I really enjoyed. I love the interesting perspectives, but I always expect more of a twist or “Black mirror” vibe.
November 7, 2024
Of the 3 so far, I found this one my least favorite. Many of the stories didn't seem to have any real purpose or point.
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November 7, 2024Somebody please add the 4th issue to Goodreads 😇
November 19, 2024
I truly love these little books. The creativity and diversity in the writing is genius. They’re so fun and I enjoy getting a chance to read short stories from lesser-known authors.
November 22, 2024
Another great installment.
December 1, 2024
the wish bridge was just incredible. I think this is the first short story where I feel that I want to explore the author's other works! I also thoroughly enjoyed the cabin.
December 1, 2024
the only good story was the last short story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews