Bigfoot in Love and Other Stories

by Hannah Birss

“Longing is no human construct; butterflies exist in the stomachs of monsters just as much as they do in man…”

A sasquatch falls for a deep-woods camper, but their star-crossed love isn’t meant to be. At the end of the world, a pair of sisters find hope amongst the brine and bones. A family of women that live and die by the moon face a schism… 15 tales of love and loss spanning the romantic-platonic spectrum.

Perfect for fans of authors such as Charles de Lint, Terri Windling, and Peter S. Beagle, your gentle speculative fiction awaits in Bigfoot in Love and Other Stories.

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy

Paperback

Published April 30, 2025

Reviews

[Rosh (is back & catching up slowly!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A short story collection of low-fantasy and science fiction stories, connected by the themes of love and loss. Gentle storytelling, which makes the fantasy feel a bit subdued. Even when the stories get dark, they don’t feel too intense. I would have liked a bit more punch to the plots. But the book works well if you want to read fantasy stories without straining your brain too much.

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This collection comprises fifteen speculative stories from low fantasy and science fiction.

The first and the last story have the same name and the same characters, bringing the book a full circle at the end. As this is the titular story, the special reprise makes sense. But on the whole, the title gives vibes of a fantasy-romance, which isn't exactly representative of the whole book.

Many of the stories herein can be called love stories but not romance stories. So if you want a romantic story collection, this isn't for you. The tales focus on varied relationships, not just of the romantic-partner kind. The love in these narratives feels somewhat calming and tender, not vehement or aggressive. It’s the kind of love that expresses itself through gestures and actions rather than words or attractions.

The fantasy element in this collection feels somewhat lightweight. The stress is more on the emotions of the characters than on the fantastical elements. This created mixed feelings in me. While I did like the cosy tone of the stories, I missed getting a greater sense of the magical and mystical in a few of them. That said, a couple of the stories really hit it out of the ball park when it came to the fantastical content.

Each story has a strong individuality to it, and you never feel like one tale repeats the same style/characters as before. (Except of course, the title story that pops up at the start and also at the end of the book.) The plots are original and quite creative.

The endings are decent. While none of the stories end abruptly, some of them stopped short of offering a few more details that would have clarified the quainter events in the plot.

There is a list of content warnings at the start, but this is a general listing of all the triggers in the stories as a whole.. While I don’t need/read trigger warnings. I feel it would have been better to have a story-specific list of triggers, as readers could then know exactly which one to skip if needed.

As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the fifteen tales, seven stories earned 4+ stars from me. Three more stories (‘The Second Obituary’, ‘A Suitable Likeness’, ‘The Bunyip's Cry’) would have earned a higher rating had they offered me just a few more details at the end.

These were my top favourites:

🌹 Bigfoot in Love: A bittersweet story of two *adults* in love. I didn’t enjoy it as a love story but I appreciated it as an unusual and quirky story of pure acceptance without judgement. The head-jumping at the start made this a little confusing to follow, but it was still a sweet story to start off the book with. I preferred it without the final reprise, though other readers might like the happier ending better. This is the only story that comes with its own cute all-colour illustration at the end. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

🌹 Waxing, Waning: Imaginative yet realistic. Loved how the title works metaphorically as well as literally. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

🌹 Sirenweed: A fascinating and melancholic dystopian story that reminded me of John Krasinski's 'A Quiet Place'. Disturbing plot, but the author still managed to thread some hope into the narrative. If only it offered more details of the titular weed. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

🌹 Ossuary: Sometimes, you just like a story without knowing why you liked it. This is one such case. It's bittersweet yet beautiful. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

🌹 The Bird Girl: Such a beautiful story! This came really close to getting five stars, but again, it left some crucial details unaddressed. I’d have loved for this to be a novella. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

🌹 Patrick-Not-Patrick: As intriguing as the title. Would have been a five star for me had there been more clarifications about certain developments. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

🌹 Persephone's Garden: I never thought the Greek myth story of Persephone could be reimagined this way. Very creative! - 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

Overall, this is a satisfying indie collection, even if it might not be memorable to me in the long term. I liked many of the tales. With a greater dash of magic, I would have relished this even more.

Recommended to fans of cozy SFF stories. A couple of the stories get a bit too chilling for comfort, but on the whole, the stories are great for the time you want to feel all the emotions.

3.65 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each story.


My thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing the DRC of “Bigfoot in Love and Other Stories” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.


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[A Dreaming Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an eARC.

This was a great collection of short stories. I liked the variety of emotions in the stories -- sad, comforting, haunting and eerie. Most of them were a combination of these emotions. My favourite story was Persephone's Garden. I can't believe I've been reading Greek mythology for so long and never thought about this perspective. It was brilliantly written. Some of my other favourites were The Bird Girl, Daffodil Fields and Waxing, Waning. Every story was well written and invoked the emotions they were meant to. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an amazing collection of magical realism short stories bordering on folk tales and mythology.

P.S. The cover art is amazing and sets the perfect atmosphere for the stories.

[Michaela Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Bigfoot in Love & Other Stories!! Hannah Birss has created a wonderfully written collection of stories. And I mean, there’s fifteen of them!!! This book truly has something for everyone. Some are cozy, healing and comforting. Others are strange, slightly unsettling and possibly spooky to some! Each story is completely unique from eachother but they all contain such beautiful imagery and powerful meanings. This will absolutely be a book I reread every fall!!

Some of my favorite stories in this collection were:
Bigfoot in Love
Persephone’s Garden
The Second Obituary
The Bird Girl
Ossuary
Daffodil Fields

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of Bigfoot in Love and Other Stories by Hannah Birss.

I really enjoyed this collection. What stood out most to me was the variety—each story had its own feel, and some definitely hit harder than others. That’s what made it such a good read for me; no matter what, there’s at least one story in here that will connect with you on a personal level.

It was also a very quick and easy read. I kept telling myself “just one more story” and before I knew it, I’d been sitting there far longer than planned. The writing style had a lot to do with that. Birss’s descriptive way of telling a story made it so easy to picture what was happening, and that pulled me in even more.

Overall, it was a fun mix of stories with a few that really made me stop and think. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys short story collections. For me, it’s a solid 4 stars.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally? A fan. Will this be everyone’s cup of tea? No. If you’re into cryptids, ghosts, lunar women and heavy topics like grief, cancer, and mental illness you’ll find this hauntingly beautiful.

[Alex S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so unexpected!! 15 short stories! I thought they would be all cute and sappy, but some were very unsettling, some creepy, and some just plain weird! But some were also incredibly beautiful and sad.
I really enjoyed this collection and it was nice to have a few shorts to enjoy at a time and then come back later to read another!
They were all different lengths so some were only a page or two, almost like poetry, and others were longer.

Hannah’s writing was very good! A wide range of topics, you would think this was written by multiple people. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

A couple of my favourites were Second Obituary, Sirenweed, Waxing Waning, and The Bird Girl

[Tiffany ✨️ Bergamot Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what it is about short story collections, but I love them! This was a mishmash of folklore, fantasy and sci-fi stories that ranged from bittersweet to strange to thought-provoking. There were continuous themes of grief, loss and love, and it make this an emotionally stimulating read for what looks like a silly and cute cover.

I loved the rethink on Persephone's story, as well as the eerie undertones to Patrick-Not-Patrick, Sirenweed and The Bird Girl. It kept each story fresh and engaging as I wasn't sure whether I'd come across something sweet, intriguing, suspenseful or creepy as I read each one.

All in all this is the perfect read for someone who wants a peek into the sci-fi and fantasy realms, without devoting themself to a full-length novel.

*****

Thank you to the author, Hannah Birss, for providing a complementary copy to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[claresgotbooksagain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in awe.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bigfoot in Love and Other Stories is a collection of magical and speculative short stories, most with themes of the power of romantic and platonic love that transcends language, culture and danger. This is the second book I’ve read by Hannah Birss and they’re writing is incredibly immersive and had the ability to transport me entirely.

As with any short story collection, there were hits and misses (that would be reversed for other readers) but this was great to have on hand to read a story or two when I had a pocket of time. I really liked that even though the stories featured similar themes and even characters in some instances, they all felt unique and there was no blurring together of stories in my mind.

Sirenweed was my absolute favourite and I would die for a full length novella or novel for that story!

[Tara Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may begin with Bigfoot, but it becomes so much more. The stories we’re taken on are nothing like I’ve ever read before, so grounded in reality and yet mythical. In less then 120 pages we have 15 different stories featuring topics like grief, longing, disability, loss, and more. We’re in space, we’re in the middle of nowhere, we’re by the ocean. This book feels like you should read it on a vacation to the Pacific Northwest, or on a plane looking down at a mountain or the sea. If you’re looking for something fun, something different I definitely recommend checking this out. My favorite story was probably “Patrick not Patrick”. Thank you to the publisher for the arc.

[Chantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was delightful! A wonderful little collection of short stories!

[CONNIEBENNETT26 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Birss has beautifully written a diverse collection of stories. Definitely a page turner.!
Imagery jumps off the pages.
Readers will experience lots of different levels of emotions.
Looking forward to reading more in the future from
Hannah Birss.!

[Kayla Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the tagline "15 tales of love and loss spanning the romantic-platonic line" I was expecting something cozy and sweet. The stories delivered this, as well as raw angst, grief, and love. At points I was ugly crying over the emotions the stories evoked. Then I was enjoying the most beautiful platonic love that comes from found families or born to you families. While this collection is short, it packs so much love and emotion throughout it, that you will not be disappointed. Such an incredible read. 5/5 stars.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow, Birss manages to write collections of short stories in which none of them feel out of place, or lesser than the others. There are some that I enjoyed more than others, but only because the subject matter felt more personal to me. Every single one of them was very well written and thought out!

[Marissa Pekurny · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great collection of short stories and i enjoyed them! i am thankful to hannah for the arc of this book and cannot wait to read more!

[zinikornis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this cozy fantasy collection of stories! It was so lovely to read each story with each their own unique takes, twists and charms. All sorts of stories are featured here—funny, emotional, strange... I absolutely adore short stories—it's been my main way of creating art as well—so I appreciate a good short story as much as the next gal.

I loved how the book still felt complete because it made a much-appreciated effort to tie all the stories together by bringing the characters from the first story back in the last story. I also like that the title gives it an extra flavor or angle.

Overall, I love the coziness and emotional nature of these works. I appreciated that I didn't have to involve myself in complex, too-dark or emotionally heavy fantasy stories, and I also think this fits the short story collection format very well. Although I don't think I will remember this book a few months from now, it was a really nice read.

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I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for the opportunity of reading this book.

Please note that this is my subjective opinion. I believe each and every author has a right to and deserves fair, honest feedback from their readers, which I am aiming to provide. I adore every author's creativity, bravery and commitment to writing, finishing and publishing a work of art.

#BigfootInLoveAndOtherStories #NetGalley

[faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the short stories in this will definitely stick with me. This collection is really at its best when it embraces the brevity of its short-story form and uses the mystery that can be emphasised by it, and stories such as Waxing & Waning & The Bird Girl represent this perfect atmospheric and emotional peak, whilst keeping the narrative enshrouded in mystery.

Other stories, often the more sci-fi leaning, or somewhat overdone ones (including one about vampires on a space station, or the relationship of Persephone and Hades) fell flat to me.

Nonetheless, this collection has so much more emotional depth and variety than the title would suggest, and I felt whisked away to a different world with each new narrative.

[icantcomeimbooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bigfoot in Love and Other Stories by Hannah Birss

This was such a fun and surprisingly heartfelt collection! Each story had its own little twist of weirdness and charm, and I loved how they balanced humour, emotion, and a bit of strangeness. Hannah Birss has such a unique voice — the writing is sharp, quirky, and full of personality.

I didn’t expect to feel so much while reading it. Some stories made me laugh, others caught me off guard with how emotional they were. It’s a mix of the absurd and the deeply human, which makes it really special.

If you like short stories that play with the strange side of love and connection, this collection is definitely worth picking up. It’s weird, funny, and oddly touching in all the right ways.

[Elly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the trigger warnings up front. But oh. That first story was sweet, and the second cute (love, through a peeled orange and carefully selected books and pictures drawn in steam). It was quite a cosy read, with the moon women, and the lady that finds the door to the otherside. Badgers showing their homes in the inbetween spaces. I wish there had been more, of the mystery of the siren weed that called people to their deaths. The man who was taught to appreciate the sun by a vampire in space. The bird girl who flies.

Some of the stories were proper creepy (looking at you, Patrick-not-patrick).

A cute collection, I thought.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the eArc)

[Skwurl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a total vibe, weird, funny, and surprisingly sweet. Hannah Birss really leans into the cryptid chaos, and it works. Some of the stories had me grinning like an idiot, others were just kind of “okay,” but even the misses were still fun to read.

There’s a nice mix of heart and humor here, and the tone never takes itself too seriously. It’s the kind of book you read with a smirk because you know you’re in for something delightfully odd.

If you like monster romance or just want something playful and offbeat, give it a go.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bigfoot in Love and Other Stories is a collection of poignant stories of love, loss, and longing.

Each story gave me the same feeling as The Thoughts of Nanushka - The writing is profound, and captures the essence of human emotions.

The supernatural themes mixed in range from heart wrenching to humorous. From love letters to ghosts, vampires who miss the sun, to crews in space taking up crafts.

My favourite was Ossuary.

(ARC provided by NetGalley)

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great collection of short stories running the gamut of emotions. An advanced reader copy from NetGalley, thanks to the author and publisher for providing this ARC! Tales of love and loss and grief, some eerie and dark, and others cozy and a little more light-hearted. Each story centered around cryptids and the macabre and ranging from low-fantasy to sci-fi. A great quick and "cozy" read, perfect for the spooky season! 4 stars!

[Cat Face Gargoyle Vesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute treasure of a collection of soft, cozy stories about love and grief and the gentle, transitory nature of relationships. This was beautiful, warm and every story felt like a long hug and a cup of tea.

I wish I could pick a favourite, but I can for sure say that this is what I needed at this point in my life. If you need the comfort of little stories of people who have loved and lost and come out with a beloved memory of that love, maybe you should pick it up, too.

A delight.

[Zoee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute delight. All of the stories were deep and meaningful, the perfect length to pick up and read a story at a time. I can see this book on people’s coffee tables, because the stories are such beautiful conversation starters.

I didn’t know how much I needed to read this book, Thankyou so very much for the opportunity- I would love to share this with my book club.

[Marcella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this anthology. Love the writing style and how each story brought different emotions. My personal favorites in this one were Ossuary and The Bird Girl . All the tales are original and I love how some are written from certain intriguing POV.

[Chez Za · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of beautiful stories. I loved some and liked others, but there were none that I wouldn't be happy to read again. They all left me feeling warm and happy. Even the sadder ones left me feeling hopeful.

Amazing collection. Will definitely be reading again.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful collection of short stories. Hannah has a way of somehow reaching into your chest and squeezing your heart with only a few pages. Some gave me goosebumps (the eerie call of the Sirenweed), some made me smile (the reprise of Bigfoot in Love and the sweetness of Persephone's Garden), and some made me a little teary (The Bird Girl). But all of them are so well written and tug at my heartstrings. Perfect for fans of Charles De Lint and soft urban fantasy and Sci-Fi.