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Weird Black Girls: Stories
Belletrist Book Club Pick
From Philip K. Dick Award finalist Elwin Cotman, an irresistibly unnerving collection of stories that explore the anxieties of living while Black—a high-wire act of literary-fantastical hybrid fiction.
A rural town finds itself under the authoritarian sway of a tree that punishes children. A pair of old friends navigate their fraught history as strange happenings escalate in a Mexican restaurant. A pair of narcissistic friends wreak havoc on an activist community. An aloof young man finds himself living through his lover’s memories. And a day of LARPing takes a cosmic turn.
In each of the seven stories in this collection, characters pursue their obsessions on paths to glory and destruction while around them their worlds twist and warp, oscillating between reality and impossibility. On display throughout is Cotman’s ability to reveal truths about the human experience—about friendship, love, betrayal, bitterness—through whimsy, horror, and fantasy. Elegiac in tone, imaginative and humorous in their execution, the character-driven stories in Weird Black Girls challenge, incite, and entertain.
From Philip K. Dick Award finalist Elwin Cotman, an irresistibly unnerving collection of stories that explore the anxieties of living while Black—a high-wire act of literary-fantastical hybrid fiction.
A rural town finds itself under the authoritarian sway of a tree that punishes children. A pair of old friends navigate their fraught history as strange happenings escalate in a Mexican restaurant. A pair of narcissistic friends wreak havoc on an activist community. An aloof young man finds himself living through his lover’s memories. And a day of LARPing takes a cosmic turn.
In each of the seven stories in this collection, characters pursue their obsessions on paths to glory and destruction while around them their worlds twist and warp, oscillating between reality and impossibility. On display throughout is Cotman’s ability to reveal truths about the human experience—about friendship, love, betrayal, bitterness—through whimsy, horror, and fantasy. Elegiac in tone, imaginative and humorous in their execution, the character-driven stories in Weird Black Girls challenge, incite, and entertain.
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First published April 16, 2024
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About the author
Elwin Cotman
11 books99 followersElwin Cotman is a storyteller from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is the author of three collections of speculative short stories, The Jack Daniels Sessions EP, Hard Times Blues, and Dance on Saturday. His next book, Weird Black Girls, is forthcoming from Scribner in 2024. His debut novel The Age of Ignorance will be published by Scribner in 2025.
Cotman’s work has appeared in Grist, Electric Lit, Buzzfeed, The Southwestern Review, and The Offing, among others (see publications). He holds a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and a MFA from Mills College. He writes this and that on his Substack.
Cotman’s work has appeared in Grist, Electric Lit, Buzzfeed, The Southwestern Review, and The Offing, among others (see publications). He holds a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and a MFA from Mills College. He writes this and that on his Substack.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
December 12, 2025
The title of this collection appears to be unintentionally misleading. It draws its name from one of the stories in the book, but it’s not a good summary of its essence. Those looking for a collection of stories about weird black girls may be disappointed—the main characters of most of these stories are men.
Overall, I think this collection was OK, though my enjoyment of the stories varied a lot. These stories are definitely on the longer side, and some felt longer than they needed to be. Two stories, however, stood out as fantastic. One featured a LARPing tournament that gets invaded by actual supernatural beings. I’m not even a fantasy reader, but the concept immediately drew me in. The other was a bittersweet love story about a man who is able to access his boyfriend’s memories each time they touch.
I loved the way these stories blended surreal and down-to-earth elements, and I mostly enjoyed the highly literary writing style. Some of the stories just didn’t resonate with me, which is to some degree true of most short story collections.
I would recommend readers take this one out of the library, if only so they can read the two standout stories!
Overall, I think this collection was OK, though my enjoyment of the stories varied a lot. These stories are definitely on the longer side, and some felt longer than they needed to be. Two stories, however, stood out as fantastic. One featured a LARPing tournament that gets invaded by actual supernatural beings. I’m not even a fantasy reader, but the concept immediately drew me in. The other was a bittersweet love story about a man who is able to access his boyfriend’s memories each time they touch.
I loved the way these stories blended surreal and down-to-earth elements, and I mostly enjoyed the highly literary writing style. Some of the stories just didn’t resonate with me, which is to some degree true of most short story collections.
I would recommend readers take this one out of the library, if only so they can read the two standout stories!
May 26, 2024
The title is misleading as these stories are mostly focused on black men. Seven stories: two regular short story length, four of longer story length, and one, the title story, near novella length. Five are fantastical, two are realist. Two are really good, two are absolutely terrible. The common theme throughout is racial oppression and bitter racial antagonism in response. Misogyny is directed at women of all races by characters in a majority of the stories, though particularly at white women. Lacks much subtlety and grace, prefers the hammer approach.
1) The Switchin’ Tree. An ominous tree bearing decaying strange fruit exists near a rural black community; it doesn’t seem to have always been there. Now folks are compelled by voices of their ancestors to whip their children for perceived misbehavior at the tree, which offers up its branches and somehow seems to enjoy the pain inflicted. Comment on lynching and corporal punishment used by black parents, as violence copied from their oppressors and as if they could succeed in keeping their children safe through a proper instillation of fear. With a Lovecraftian echo at the end. 4/5
2) Reunion. Two college friends, a white woman and a black man, meet for dinner years later. They have a charged discussion around racial and gender issues. This could be a straightforward awkward story but for the inclusion of seemingly random surreal intrusions met with a shrug - a pterodactyl picks up a city bus and flies off with it, for instance. Are these a comment on trying to communicate truths across racial/gender lines, ie, other truths strike us as incomprehensible? Prose feels too choppy to fully succeed in its intentions. 3/5
3) Owen. A divorced Vietnam vet bonds with his tween son when the latter is deeply affected by the in-ring death of wrestler Owen Hart and his unsympathetic mother doesn’t get it (“He’s lost his mind, he’s mourning a white man”). The father has issues - misogyny, violence, probably PTSD - but his determination to be supportive for his sensitive son presents a really positive side of his character. 3.5/5
4) Triggered. A mean spirited mockery of white Occupy activists in Oakland focused on two women, one of them a non-religious Jew, the other a librarian (aw, c’mon). Tedious in its unpleasantness and unkindness towards its characters and goes on far too long. Stories in which the author clearly has nothing but contempt for his characters…. I don’t think I tend to like such things. 1.5/5
5) Things I Never Learned in Caitlin Clarke’s Intro to Acting Class. Two black men begin a relationship; when they touch, the narrator is always sent back in time into Leroy’s body during Leroy’s college acting class to observe, and then discovers that he can take control and change Leroy’s past. The question is, can the narrator learn enough about life and himself to make things work out for them? 4.5/5
6) Tournament Arc. A combat tournament at a comic-con run by two gay black men attracts a 16th century Nigerian set of battle armor, which has gained sentience and escaped a local museum. It is followed by a fantastical and extra-galactic cast of sinister characters mysteriously summoned to the tourney. Tone is light but becomes melodramatic as police, the actual evil guys of course, arrive in search of the “stolen” armor. 3/5
7) Weird Black Girls. Actually the protagonist is a black man, a misogynistic hateful asshat, although the author I think views the character as a truth-teller. It involves an alternate sci-fi version of Boston and an ancient black witch who once made the planet have an orgasm. Terrible. 1/5
1) The Switchin’ Tree. An ominous tree bearing decaying strange fruit exists near a rural black community; it doesn’t seem to have always been there. Now folks are compelled by voices of their ancestors to whip their children for perceived misbehavior at the tree, which offers up its branches and somehow seems to enjoy the pain inflicted. Comment on lynching and corporal punishment used by black parents, as violence copied from their oppressors and as if they could succeed in keeping their children safe through a proper instillation of fear. With a Lovecraftian echo at the end. 4/5
2) Reunion. Two college friends, a white woman and a black man, meet for dinner years later. They have a charged discussion around racial and gender issues. This could be a straightforward awkward story but for the inclusion of seemingly random surreal intrusions met with a shrug - a pterodactyl picks up a city bus and flies off with it, for instance. Are these a comment on trying to communicate truths across racial/gender lines, ie, other truths strike us as incomprehensible? Prose feels too choppy to fully succeed in its intentions. 3/5
3) Owen. A divorced Vietnam vet bonds with his tween son when the latter is deeply affected by the in-ring death of wrestler Owen Hart and his unsympathetic mother doesn’t get it (“He’s lost his mind, he’s mourning a white man”). The father has issues - misogyny, violence, probably PTSD - but his determination to be supportive for his sensitive son presents a really positive side of his character. 3.5/5
4) Triggered. A mean spirited mockery of white Occupy activists in Oakland focused on two women, one of them a non-religious Jew, the other a librarian (aw, c’mon). Tedious in its unpleasantness and unkindness towards its characters and goes on far too long. Stories in which the author clearly has nothing but contempt for his characters…. I don’t think I tend to like such things. 1.5/5
5) Things I Never Learned in Caitlin Clarke’s Intro to Acting Class. Two black men begin a relationship; when they touch, the narrator is always sent back in time into Leroy’s body during Leroy’s college acting class to observe, and then discovers that he can take control and change Leroy’s past. The question is, can the narrator learn enough about life and himself to make things work out for them? 4.5/5
6) Tournament Arc. A combat tournament at a comic-con run by two gay black men attracts a 16th century Nigerian set of battle armor, which has gained sentience and escaped a local museum. It is followed by a fantastical and extra-galactic cast of sinister characters mysteriously summoned to the tourney. Tone is light but becomes melodramatic as police, the actual evil guys of course, arrive in search of the “stolen” armor. 3/5
7) Weird Black Girls. Actually the protagonist is a black man, a misogynistic hateful asshat, although the author I think views the character as a truth-teller. It involves an alternate sci-fi version of Boston and an ancient black witch who once made the planet have an orgasm. Terrible. 1/5
June 18, 2024
Wish they had picked a different title because it's so misdirecting and now I am just pissed off. Loved the first story (The Switchin' Tree). Big naw to the next two, which 1) had no Black girls period (yet still set off my misogyny bells) and 2) was rocking some heavy misogynoir. Like, FUCK, not today, man. Not any day. This weird Black girl is out. DNF.
April 29, 2024
This Collection of stories is the very first I have read by this author, Elwin Cotman. The genres are seriously none close to what I normally read as a book choice. Honestly, the appearance of the strange tree (figure) piqued my curiosity, initially. I could not stop wondering what could possibly be inside of these pages. I had to read this one! In spite of this genre not being one that I commonly choose, it pleased me to carry on with this read. This author’s Imaginative writing is like none that I have seen before. Elwin Cotman punches Realism…wrapping it All into sometimes Fantasy, so Magically!
Even though some of the content was not to my liking, I sincerely Appreciated his literary Whimsical trait in Collection at times. Elwin Cotman has undoubtedly masterminded how to reach the younger generation on topics that seem to be faced more in this day and age.
I especially Loved, ‘Tournament Arc’ which was my favorite story and ‘The Switchin’ Tree’ was the only other one that I actually enjoyed. Yet, I am very sure to keep this author in mind Futurewise since Elwin Cotman is such an Innovative writer. Amazing…
Tournament Arc: “Alone without purpose, they fell asleep.”
* My rating is based on the author’s Imaginative writing skills
Even though some of the content was not to my liking, I sincerely Appreciated his literary Whimsical trait in Collection at times. Elwin Cotman has undoubtedly masterminded how to reach the younger generation on topics that seem to be faced more in this day and age.
I especially Loved, ‘Tournament Arc’ which was my favorite story and ‘The Switchin’ Tree’ was the only other one that I actually enjoyed. Yet, I am very sure to keep this author in mind Futurewise since Elwin Cotman is such an Innovative writer. Amazing…
Tournament Arc: “Alone without purpose, they fell asleep.”
* My rating is based on the author’s Imaginative writing skills
March 1, 2024
This turned out to be a frustrating read for me when it should have been perfect and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think some of it had to do with the writing style, which is beautiful and astounding in places, and then overly flowery and dense in others.
I’ll also add, that these stories were much longer than my personal sweet spot for a short horror story of twenty or so pages. Yes it’s oddly specific.
No I won’t apologize for it.
I guess I’ll just go through the stories quick since there weren’t many (minor spoilers I guess?):
The Switchin’ Tree - Probably my favorite story of all? An evil tree possesses the minds of parents and convinces them to punish their children with a switch from the switch’ tree. It has small town horror and is Sufficiently horrifying. Well told. Could have been trimmed a bit but overall very good. 4 stars
Reunion - A couple has a reunion in a restaurant. Bizarre happenings plague them. This is exactly my brand of horror (weird/impossible things made real, a pterodactyl carries away a bus, a man’s hand falls off and he screws it back on…). I think it didn’t work for me in the end because the rest of this date/conversation is SO MUNDANE AND BORING. It was painful to read because it was so close to being awesome. 2 stars
Owen - This one I didn’t mind but I didn’t really love and didn’t really get. Owen Hart, the wrestler dies, and a boy mourns him. Father helps him hold a funeral for the wrestler. I don’t care about wrestling and overall I just didn’t get it. But the writing in this flowed well and I wasn’t bored? 3 stars.
Triggered - as I sit here writing this, I don’t remember wth this was about.
Okay I referenced it. This is the story about the narcissist activists wreaking havoc on the activist community. I liked this one at first and then it devolved into something horrible. Which maybe was the point? Here’s the thing, if I’m reading about narcissistic unhinged women, I kinda want them to be written by a woman. Story felt a little hollow in the end. 2.5 stars.
Things I Learned in Caitlin Clarke’s Intro to Acting Class - I really liked this one. It’s about a gay couple who meet in a coffee shop and when one touches the other he relives memories from Caitlin Clarke’s acting class. I wish the ending had given me a little more to go on, but one of the standout stories for sure. 4 stars
Tournament Arc - I fucking loved so much of this story and the ending didn’t work for me at all. It was the kind of open ending that was too open. Two men go to a Fantasy Convention and hold a LARPing Tournament. The characters who show up to participate are pretty unique. 3.5 stars maybe? The ending just left me feeling so empty and hollow.
Weird Black Girls - another one that started strong and just dragged on for way too long. In this alternate world Boston “ruptured” from the ground during the American revolution. What follows is a strange odyssey of a date between two people who broke up not that long ago.
Parts I loved but mostly I just didn’t really care about the two main characters enough to follow them for a hundred pages. I ended up skipping the last 20-30 pages and just reading the ending because I couldn’t read any more. Frustratingly dense.
I am not really sure where this leaves me. I admire Cotman’s mind and creativity. He has some brilliant concepts but the execution leaves me wanting.
This was a Goodreads Giveaway I won. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
I’ll also add, that these stories were much longer than my personal sweet spot for a short horror story of twenty or so pages. Yes it’s oddly specific.
No I won’t apologize for it.
I guess I’ll just go through the stories quick since there weren’t many (minor spoilers I guess?):
The Switchin’ Tree - Probably my favorite story of all? An evil tree possesses the minds of parents and convinces them to punish their children with a switch from the switch’ tree. It has small town horror and is Sufficiently horrifying. Well told. Could have been trimmed a bit but overall very good. 4 stars
Reunion - A couple has a reunion in a restaurant. Bizarre happenings plague them. This is exactly my brand of horror (weird/impossible things made real, a pterodactyl carries away a bus, a man’s hand falls off and he screws it back on…). I think it didn’t work for me in the end because the rest of this date/conversation is SO MUNDANE AND BORING. It was painful to read because it was so close to being awesome. 2 stars
Owen - This one I didn’t mind but I didn’t really love and didn’t really get. Owen Hart, the wrestler dies, and a boy mourns him. Father helps him hold a funeral for the wrestler. I don’t care about wrestling and overall I just didn’t get it. But the writing in this flowed well and I wasn’t bored? 3 stars.
Triggered - as I sit here writing this, I don’t remember wth this was about.
Okay I referenced it. This is the story about the narcissist activists wreaking havoc on the activist community. I liked this one at first and then it devolved into something horrible. Which maybe was the point? Here’s the thing, if I’m reading about narcissistic unhinged women, I kinda want them to be written by a woman. Story felt a little hollow in the end. 2.5 stars.
Things I Learned in Caitlin Clarke’s Intro to Acting Class - I really liked this one. It’s about a gay couple who meet in a coffee shop and when one touches the other he relives memories from Caitlin Clarke’s acting class. I wish the ending had given me a little more to go on, but one of the standout stories for sure. 4 stars
Tournament Arc - I fucking loved so much of this story and the ending didn’t work for me at all. It was the kind of open ending that was too open. Two men go to a Fantasy Convention and hold a LARPing Tournament. The characters who show up to participate are pretty unique. 3.5 stars maybe? The ending just left me feeling so empty and hollow.
Weird Black Girls - another one that started strong and just dragged on for way too long. In this alternate world Boston “ruptured” from the ground during the American revolution. What follows is a strange odyssey of a date between two people who broke up not that long ago.
Parts I loved but mostly I just didn’t really care about the two main characters enough to follow them for a hundred pages. I ended up skipping the last 20-30 pages and just reading the ending because I couldn’t read any more. Frustratingly dense.
I am not really sure where this leaves me. I admire Cotman’s mind and creativity. He has some brilliant concepts but the execution leaves me wanting.
This was a Goodreads Giveaway I won. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
May 19, 2024
I don’t know what that even was. For one, it’s badly titled. It was so bad I feel like I experienced physically pain reading these short stories. A refund is a must request but I honestly deserve more. The story “weird black girl” is so overwhelming misogynist, tone deaf and shallow, I actually want my time back.
April 18, 2024
NEW RELEASE • REVIEW
Thank you #partners @dartfroggco @scribnerbooks @simon.audio @librofm for my #gifted copies and super cool tote!
Weird Black Girls
Elwin Cotman
💭 This imaginative, genre-bending, fully immersive short story collection is equal parts captivating and unsettling. Through rich, hard-hitting prose, Elwin brings readers into the lives of an array of characters and settings, with underlying themes of Blackness and white supremacy. While some stories are stronger than others, it's a solid collection I'd recommend for fans of short stories. This is my first by Cotman, but I look forward to reading more of his creations!
⚠️ The content herein is often dark, difficult and violent. Some readers may find it hard to read. Take care.💗
🎧 I read my print copy along with the audiobook, which has a dynamite full-cast narration team! The talents of Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Jade Wheeler, James Fouhey, Emily Lawrence, André Santana, and Landon Woodson are on full display, as they're perfectly matched to their respective stories / characters.
📌 Available now!
Thank you #partners @dartfroggco @scribnerbooks @simon.audio @librofm for my #gifted copies and super cool tote!
Weird Black Girls
Elwin Cotman
💭 This imaginative, genre-bending, fully immersive short story collection is equal parts captivating and unsettling. Through rich, hard-hitting prose, Elwin brings readers into the lives of an array of characters and settings, with underlying themes of Blackness and white supremacy. While some stories are stronger than others, it's a solid collection I'd recommend for fans of short stories. This is my first by Cotman, but I look forward to reading more of his creations!
⚠️ The content herein is often dark, difficult and violent. Some readers may find it hard to read. Take care.💗
🎧 I read my print copy along with the audiobook, which has a dynamite full-cast narration team! The talents of Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Jade Wheeler, James Fouhey, Emily Lawrence, André Santana, and Landon Woodson are on full display, as they're perfectly matched to their respective stories / characters.
📌 Available now!
May 23, 2024
Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️
“Let the dreamer dream.”
Idk why I didn’t DNF this book lol it was the weirdest collection of short stories that were way longer than they should’ve been. Of them all I really only liked 2 “The Switchin’ Tree” and “Triggered.” Also felt the title was a bit misleading considering some of the stories included in the book. I had the e-ARC but ended up finding the audio on something else and that didn’t help my rating at all. This one wasn’t really for me but may be for you. Special thanks to the author & Scribner for my advanced copy!!!
“Let the dreamer dream.”
Idk why I didn’t DNF this book lol it was the weirdest collection of short stories that were way longer than they should’ve been. Of them all I really only liked 2 “The Switchin’ Tree” and “Triggered.” Also felt the title was a bit misleading considering some of the stories included in the book. I had the e-ARC but ended up finding the audio on something else and that didn’t help my rating at all. This one wasn’t really for me but may be for you. Special thanks to the author & Scribner for my advanced copy!!!
March 23, 2024
This is an eclectic blend of short stories that dabble in what seemed to be random, bizarre scenarios. I found the collection to be a bit uneven and clunky: Some stories were stronger and (much) longer than others, some had open, unsatisfying endings (my opinion only), and even more puzzling, there were only a couple that featured Black girls – hence the collection’s title is somewhat misleading.
I “enjoyed” (the term is used lightly as the story is quite disturbing but engaging) the first story well enough. This story (the Switchin’ Tree) as well as a few others were laced with content or references via character dialogue/scenarios to varying degrees of black pathology, racial stereotypes, brutality against black bodies. For example, The Switchin’ Tree leverages the legacy of whippings to keep a town's black residents in line. These whippings are invoked by an evil confederate spirit that inhibits and possesses the minds of the Black adults to use its branches to issue brutal, flesh--tearing punishments to their children under the guise of “corrective action” to instill obedience. The violence is hard to read and may trigger some readers who may have been reared in households that leveraged severe corporal punishment.
The other stories simply fell short for me – I felt compelled to push through them to give a fair review. The author’s creativity was evident, but I thought too many were overly written to arrive at open endings; others I just could engage well enough to appreciate what the author intended with the story. Granted, a myriad of topics was presented, and the stories were buoyed by heavy doses of magical realism and altered realities, etc. No doubt, others will appreciate and celebrate this collection more than I did.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review.
I “enjoyed” (the term is used lightly as the story is quite disturbing but engaging) the first story well enough. This story (the Switchin’ Tree) as well as a few others were laced with content or references via character dialogue/scenarios to varying degrees of black pathology, racial stereotypes, brutality against black bodies. For example, The Switchin’ Tree leverages the legacy of whippings to keep a town's black residents in line. These whippings are invoked by an evil confederate spirit that inhibits and possesses the minds of the Black adults to use its branches to issue brutal, flesh--tearing punishments to their children under the guise of “corrective action” to instill obedience. The violence is hard to read and may trigger some readers who may have been reared in households that leveraged severe corporal punishment.
The other stories simply fell short for me – I felt compelled to push through them to give a fair review. The author’s creativity was evident, but I thought too many were overly written to arrive at open endings; others I just could engage well enough to appreciate what the author intended with the story. Granted, a myriad of topics was presented, and the stories were buoyed by heavy doses of magical realism and altered realities, etc. No doubt, others will appreciate and celebrate this collection more than I did.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review.
October 28, 2023
The strength of Cotman's storytelling lies not just in the intriguing plotlines but in the depth and richness of his characters. His narratives are brimming with characters who are wildly entertaining, each exuding their own idiosyncratic personalities that reflect diverse expressions of Blackness. Their idiosyncrasies and individual experiences add a layer of authenticity and depth to the storytelling, making the collection both resonant and engaging.
As a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cotman brings a raw authenticity to his writing, infusing his narratives with a vivid and palpable sense of place. His ability to craft stories that are at once eerie, imaginative, and emotionally resonant showcases his literary talent and his deep understanding of the human condition.
"Weird Black Girls" is a thought-provoking and entrancing collection of seven short stories that challenge conventional storytelling, offering a fresh perspective on the Black experience through a lens that's both unflinchingly honest and fantastically creative. Cotman’s stories are a testament to his skill in creating narratives that challenge, incite, and entertain, leaving readers (leaving me) spellbound by the intricacies of the human psyche and the nuances of Black identity. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
As a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cotman brings a raw authenticity to his writing, infusing his narratives with a vivid and palpable sense of place. His ability to craft stories that are at once eerie, imaginative, and emotionally resonant showcases his literary talent and his deep understanding of the human condition.
"Weird Black Girls" is a thought-provoking and entrancing collection of seven short stories that challenge conventional storytelling, offering a fresh perspective on the Black experience through a lens that's both unflinchingly honest and fantastically creative. Cotman’s stories are a testament to his skill in creating narratives that challenge, incite, and entertain, leaving readers (leaving me) spellbound by the intricacies of the human psyche and the nuances of Black identity. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
Read
August 15, 2024Cotman's first collection of stories Dance on Saturday is one of the best I've ever read. If you liked Friday Black, I think you'll love that book. I snapped up this book the second I could get my hands on it, hoping for more of the same. Cotman has a juicy, wild way with language in Dance that was irresistible to me, and his stories were incredible flights of fancy. The ingredients are here too, but there's an anger that veers into a meanness that pushed me away, even as I tried to love what I was reading. In fact, I get the feeling that this was Cotman's intention - to dare us to read the stories and feel uncomfortable and provoked. I usually like fiction that messes with me, but in this case that edge of meanness did me in. The stories in Dance always had a hint of joyous energy in the writing, even if it wasn't an element in the story, but here I felt that the joy was replaced by bitterness, and the exuberant writing was trying too hard on a sentence level sometimes. The one exception is the story "Things I Never Learned in Caitlin Clarke's Intro to Acting Class", which had the old magic for me.
I think I'm an outlier opinion on this book - at least the critical reviews are all raves, so YMMV. I'm not giving it a star rating because I'm caught between admiring the author's immense talent and not liking the stories. On to the next Cotman!
I think I'm an outlier opinion on this book - at least the critical reviews are all raves, so YMMV. I'm not giving it a star rating because I'm caught between admiring the author's immense talent and not liking the stories. On to the next Cotman!
didn-t-finish
July 5, 2025DNF @ 21%, which was during the 3rd story.
I thought the first one was alright. The ideas explored were interesting. The 2nd story started to lose me, and now that I've started the 3rd one, I decided to look into why this has such low ratings since this collection wasn't going as expected for me. I think I agree that this book has been mismarketed based on the title and synopsis (which doesn't included genders) and don't expect to enjoy the remaining stories very much, so I have decided not to continue.
I thought the first one was alright. The ideas explored were interesting. The 2nd story started to lose me, and now that I've started the 3rd one, I decided to look into why this has such low ratings since this collection wasn't going as expected for me. I think I agree that this book has been mismarketed based on the title and synopsis (which doesn't included genders) and don't expect to enjoy the remaining stories very much, so I have decided not to continue.
November 13, 2024
I won this book on goodreads, one of my first ever physical books. So thank you.
Now, the review. I finished this book last night, and I'm genuinely unsure of how I feel about this book as a whole. It took me longer to get through this than it should have.
Some of the short stories were pretty good - The Switchin' Tree, Owen, Things I Never Learned in Caitlin Clarke's Intro to Acting Class and Tournament Arc - were pretty good.
However, the title of this book and the title short story? Nah. It was definitely a cringe worthy novella, Triggered & Reunion? Baby, I was soooo confused. I just, I'm not sure what I expected from these short stories, but I do not feel that it was meant for someone like me. Especially Weird Black Girls. It was not for me. I couldn't tell if the MMC actually cared for the woman he was with OR if he just felt entitled to her and the body of other women.
IDK, overall, I'm disappointed. At had high hopes for this book.
Now, the review. I finished this book last night, and I'm genuinely unsure of how I feel about this book as a whole. It took me longer to get through this than it should have.
Some of the short stories were pretty good - The Switchin' Tree, Owen, Things I Never Learned in Caitlin Clarke's Intro to Acting Class and Tournament Arc - were pretty good.
However, the title of this book and the title short story? Nah. It was definitely a cringe worthy novella, Triggered & Reunion? Baby, I was soooo confused. I just, I'm not sure what I expected from these short stories, but I do not feel that it was meant for someone like me. Especially Weird Black Girls. It was not for me. I couldn't tell if the MMC actually cared for the woman he was with OR if he just felt entitled to her and the body of other women.
IDK, overall, I'm disappointed. At had high hopes for this book.
April 22, 2024
gifted by the publisher
Weaving glimpses of fantasy and the anxieties of living as Black, this gorgeously written collection pushes the boundaries of reality and fantasy. With hints of BLISS MONTAGE (Ling Ma), WBG invites readers on a wild ride to experience friendship, love, and betrayal through the eyes of Black individuals. I love how unique each story is, but the overwritten prose impedes my interpretation at times.
favs
• The Switchin’ Tree: a tree "terrorizes" Black kids
• Triggered: the complex relationship of two women as they organize community activism
• Things I Learned in Caitlin Clarke’s Intro to Acting Class: a gay couple realizes their touch leads to something more
Weaving glimpses of fantasy and the anxieties of living as Black, this gorgeously written collection pushes the boundaries of reality and fantasy. With hints of BLISS MONTAGE (Ling Ma), WBG invites readers on a wild ride to experience friendship, love, and betrayal through the eyes of Black individuals. I love how unique each story is, but the overwritten prose impedes my interpretation at times.
favs
• The Switchin’ Tree: a tree "terrorizes" Black kids
• Triggered: the complex relationship of two women as they organize community activism
• Things I Learned in Caitlin Clarke’s Intro to Acting Class: a gay couple realizes their touch leads to something more
abandoned
February 12, 2025DNF @ 90 pages. I read 3.5 stories and only one, Owen, worked for me. I liked the weird parts, but wanted more.
July 16, 2024
2.5
The best story in this book is the first one, with an honorable mention going to the fifth. This isn't due to a lack of potential or variety—the book has plenty of both. Unfortunately, where this book fails is in its execution and cohesion.
The title comes from the final story but it was clearly used to grab attention, as none of these stories truly revolve around "weird black girls." Additionally, some of these stories are just excessive in length, making it difficult to maintain interest.
While there are moments that shine, the overall presentation leaves much to be desired.
The best story in this book is the first one, with an honorable mention going to the fifth. This isn't due to a lack of potential or variety—the book has plenty of both. Unfortunately, where this book fails is in its execution and cohesion.
The title comes from the final story but it was clearly used to grab attention, as none of these stories truly revolve around "weird black girls." Additionally, some of these stories are just excessive in length, making it difficult to maintain interest.
While there are moments that shine, the overall presentation leaves much to be desired.
October 22, 2023
I enjoyed this collection of stories. What an incredible and unique voice and imagination Elwin Cotman has. I am so grateful that I got to spend time with these characters in their slices of life presented here. I don't want to go into detail about the stories because I firmly feel they will be enjoyed most when going in blind. I will say relax and take the journey. Some of this will be off-kilter, and that's part of what makes this collection an excellent ride. Although I agree with another reviewer when they said the first story is strong and makes you want to stay longer in that world, I'm afraid I have to disagree that the other stories are in any way lesser.
I am excited to read more by Elwin Cotman.
Thank you to the author, Elwin Cotman, Scribner, and NetGalley for a chance to read this.
I am excited to read more by Elwin Cotman.
Thank you to the author, Elwin Cotman, Scribner, and NetGalley for a chance to read this.
October 26, 2023
These short stories are amazing! They're beautifully written and character-driven, with probably the best similes I've come across. Elwin Cotman can really put on any hat when writing from his characters' perspectives, they're all impressively layered in such different ways. It's hard to choose a favorite short story because they're so different, but I think I'll go with Tournament Arc.
May 25, 2024
When I saw this book for the first time, just looking at the cover made me want to dive into it and see what lay between those two pieces of mint-colored paper and their humanoid brown tree. Reading the blurb piqued my curiosity even more and I felt as ready as ever to experience the quite-realistic-yet-somehow-fantastic world of these seven short stories. However, after finishing the book, I am quite sad to say that I was hoping to like this a little more than I did.
Let’s be honest, the writing in this collection of short stories is great. The way seemingly quite ordinary tableaux are embellished with fragments of supernatural elements makes you feel like you are walking a tightrope between reality and fantasy, if from which you happened to fall, you wouldn’t know if you would land in our world or in a completely different dimension. Some of these stories made me feel like a child with boundless imagination who would see improbable scenarios in the most mundane of things, which was without a doubt an amazing experience.
But, as it was accurately worded by another reviewer, the writing gets rather dense at times. I thought that this feeling stemmed from me not being a native English speaker, but I’ve come to understand that I’m not the only one noticing this. This unfortunately ends up impeding the general flow of the book and I’ve found myself needing to not only re-read some sentences, but also turn back a page now and then to get back to where I’ve started feeling lost as to what was going on in the story. This seemed to happen most often during ‘Triggered’ which also happens to be my least favorite story of this collection.
In spite of (or maybe as a consequence of) this struggle, the two stories following ‘Triggered’; ‘Things I Never Learned…’ and ‘Tournament Arc’ ended up being the two stories I enjoyed the most and the ones I would advise reading if you have this book on hand and limited time to go through it.
Let’s be honest, the writing in this collection of short stories is great. The way seemingly quite ordinary tableaux are embellished with fragments of supernatural elements makes you feel like you are walking a tightrope between reality and fantasy, if from which you happened to fall, you wouldn’t know if you would land in our world or in a completely different dimension. Some of these stories made me feel like a child with boundless imagination who would see improbable scenarios in the most mundane of things, which was without a doubt an amazing experience.
But, as it was accurately worded by another reviewer, the writing gets rather dense at times. I thought that this feeling stemmed from me not being a native English speaker, but I’ve come to understand that I’m not the only one noticing this. This unfortunately ends up impeding the general flow of the book and I’ve found myself needing to not only re-read some sentences, but also turn back a page now and then to get back to where I’ve started feeling lost as to what was going on in the story. This seemed to happen most often during ‘Triggered’ which also happens to be my least favorite story of this collection.
In spite of (or maybe as a consequence of) this struggle, the two stories following ‘Triggered’; ‘Things I Never Learned…’ and ‘Tournament Arc’ ended up being the two stories I enjoyed the most and the ones I would advise reading if you have this book on hand and limited time to go through it.
April 10, 2024
All in all I had a pretty good time with this, but it did take me a little longer to finish than I planned. And I think that might be due to two things: 1) The writing (as beautiful as it is) follows a little more of that "literary" vibe than I usually care for. When I read it is usually for pure fun and disassociation, and sometimes the "literary" vibes just make me tired from concentrating. I 100% know this is a me issue and that others will not be impacted at all. 2) 7 stories in 320 pages, well, this might tie back into the first point... it made them feel even longer than the average 45 pages they were. I think my mood of what style I was interested in just did not match the timing I read this.
THAT being said, I felt the frustrations and joys and losses and hopes of the entire human condition. The Switchin’ Tree was my favorite story by far - just SO invested! And anything small town-ish is always my cup of tea. Especially in the horror world. I would love an entire length novel on this one! It seemed the least speculative - just a style I was not personally in the mood for at this moment.
The characters were super interesting and written with such care. I think I enjoyed so many of the characters more than some of the actual stories, and nothing wrong with that! It just means they were remarkably written characters!
Elwin Cotman has an incredible voice and talent for writing. And I know this book is going to make it into a few of my friends' Top 5 of the year!
THAT being said, I felt the frustrations and joys and losses and hopes of the entire human condition. The Switchin’ Tree was my favorite story by far - just SO invested! And anything small town-ish is always my cup of tea. Especially in the horror world. I would love an entire length novel on this one! It seemed the least speculative - just a style I was not personally in the mood for at this moment.
The characters were super interesting and written with such care. I think I enjoyed so many of the characters more than some of the actual stories, and nothing wrong with that! It just means they were remarkably written characters!
Elwin Cotman has an incredible voice and talent for writing. And I know this book is going to make it into a few of my friends' Top 5 of the year!
June 23, 2024
It started off strong, then the second short story left me thinking “wtf, I don’t get it.” Then, the third story was long and I got bored with it. I ended up switching from the ebook to audiobook just to finish it 😬
I just didn’t understand most of the stories in the collection and felt like I missed something. I’m sure there are readers who will enjoy it, Belletrist picked it as their May book after all, but this was a miss for me.
I just didn’t understand most of the stories in the collection and felt like I missed something. I’m sure there are readers who will enjoy it, Belletrist picked it as their May book after all, but this was a miss for me.
May 28, 2024
This was definitely different from what I would typically read. His style of writing was different but this book was good. It’s complied of a couple of different short stories. The book explores the lives and experiences of Black women who navigate their identities and the complexities of their worlds in unique and unconventional ways. Each story has a different theme, genre, and just style. The characters in each story are different as well.
Read
May 20, 2024Dnf 26%
3 stars for what I’ve read so far.
Giving up because short stories rarely keep me interested but what I read was not bad at all. Just don’t want to finish.
3 stars for what I’ve read so far.
Giving up because short stories rarely keep me interested but what I read was not bad at all. Just don’t want to finish.
July 23, 2025
Loved it. Glad there’s someone in the speculative fiction space writing in modern day settings. I think the title short story might have been my favorite. Something about a progressive, liberal unreliable narrator who is a deep-down misogynist that runs after sex workers? Intriguing. Would love to explore that world a little more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2026
If called "Weird Black Girls" why not about Black girls??
April 16, 2024
yeah no
sorry
sorry
May 19, 2024
I was not super sure what to expect when I first started this book. This being the first time I've ever read any of Elwin Cotman work. I am not the biggest science fiction fan but was very intrigued by the covers and books description i decided why not.
I must say this book has hit a nerve I wasn't expecting. The writing style used within each story makes the book very nerve wracking. None of the stories go anywhere with very lil adoring plot throughout. The book had these lil jumps around constantly over explaining very pointless information regarding anything really captivating towards the storylines. I did throughly enjoy the very first story however. "The Switchin Tree" was overall what I wish the whole book was about, just with more exciting and detailed plot twists. Needless to say I was very disappointed with the book. It's super bland plots and characters made the book a very unenjoyable read for me personally.
I must say this book has hit a nerve I wasn't expecting. The writing style used within each story makes the book very nerve wracking. None of the stories go anywhere with very lil adoring plot throughout. The book had these lil jumps around constantly over explaining very pointless information regarding anything really captivating towards the storylines. I did throughly enjoy the very first story however. "The Switchin Tree" was overall what I wish the whole book was about, just with more exciting and detailed plot twists. Needless to say I was very disappointed with the book. It's super bland plots and characters made the book a very unenjoyable read for me personally.
June 4, 2024
The title is misleading. These aren’t short stories about black girls. Most were about black men. This was disappointing.
The writing was at times overdone and confusing. The short stories were a bit too long. There’s potential here, though.
The writing was at times overdone and confusing. The short stories were a bit too long. There’s potential here, though.
October 15, 2023
I think this has great potential but slightly misses the mark at the same time. While the first story was great, in my opinion. I wanted to explore that world the author created a little longer. The other stories fell short and didn't connect with me. Honestly, I could have done without them and focused more on the first story.
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