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Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive
Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive blurs the lines between horror, catastrophic speculative fiction, and psychological realism in a collection that might best be described as weird fiction. These connected stories offer dark reconstructions of lives brimming with desperate loneliness. They allow us to bear witness to the life-altering love of sisters, brothers, mothers… the life-altering love that buoys them as they struggle to stay afloat in the wake of childhoods they merely survived.
Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive is steeped as much in despair and horror as it is in hope in the human condition and resilience. The stories within hold a mirror to our own experiences, weaving together the mundane and the larger than life, the sacred and the profane.
A woman learns to swim while her humanoid husband demands she focus on his wanton needs. A woman recycles time to stay alive while her ten-year-old daughter dreams of growing up. A man imagines a world where his sister, who disappeared in his custody as a young girl, might still be alive. An apathetic mother suffers post-partum depression while her own mother loses her mind. A woman picks up a hitchhiker during a snowstorm and imagines the stories that will be told later and tries to shape them.
Extraordinarily powerful, yet bleak, both edgy and foreboding, these layered character-driven stories search for happiness and hope in an unhappily-ever-after world.
Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive is steeped as much in despair and horror as it is in hope in the human condition and resilience. The stories within hold a mirror to our own experiences, weaving together the mundane and the larger than life, the sacred and the profane.
A woman learns to swim while her humanoid husband demands she focus on his wanton needs. A woman recycles time to stay alive while her ten-year-old daughter dreams of growing up. A man imagines a world where his sister, who disappeared in his custody as a young girl, might still be alive. An apathetic mother suffers post-partum depression while her own mother loses her mind. A woman picks up a hitchhiker during a snowstorm and imagines the stories that will be told later and tries to shape them.
Extraordinarily powerful, yet bleak, both edgy and foreboding, these layered character-driven stories search for happiness and hope in an unhappily-ever-after world.
- GenresShort Stories
214 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2026
4 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Alison Gadsby
1 book10 followersAlison Gadsby is a first generation settler of Scottish ancestry, who currently lives and writes in Tkaronto – the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Wendat, Métis and Haudenosaunee.
Her short fiction appears in Blank Spaces, The Temz Review, The Ex-Puritan, Coastal Shelf, Blue Lake Review, and many other literary journals in Canada and abroad. She holds an MFA from the University of British Columbia, and a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from York University. She is the founder/host of Junction Reads, a prose reading series in the west end of Toronto where she lives in a multigenerational home that currently includes a mother, a husband, a son and several dogs. She has written a few novels, and is always creating weird, dark and strangely funny short stories.
Her short fiction appears in Blank Spaces, The Temz Review, The Ex-Puritan, Coastal Shelf, Blue Lake Review, and many other literary journals in Canada and abroad. She holds an MFA from the University of British Columbia, and a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from York University. She is the founder/host of Junction Reads, a prose reading series in the west end of Toronto where she lives in a multigenerational home that currently includes a mother, a husband, a son and several dogs. She has written a few novels, and is always creating weird, dark and strangely funny short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 1, 2025
So excited to get to read the ARC of this new short story collection where humanoids and human beings live together in a fractured world that feels too close for comfort to our own present-day reality. Gadsby’s vivid prose simmers with quiet rage at the casualness of cruelty, the ordinariness of violence, and the normalcy of misogyny. These stories pull no punches! There’s something electric coursing through this book.. don’t be surprised then it leaves you feeling lit TF up.
December 21, 2025
Some books just make you trot out the superlatives. Alison Gadsby’s story collection Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive is one of them. It’s a powerful debut from a superbly skilled and imaginative writer, filled with stories that are sometimes dark, sometimes teasingly ambiguous, and always richly, resonantly human. Even the ones with the androids. All killer, no filler.
February 4, 2026
Thanks Net Galley for this pre-published read. I’m not even sure how to review this book. It is a collection of 19 short, and some very short, stories. The characters are somewhat interrelated. It is interesting, disturbing, sometimes funny, and frequently made me gasp. The themes are a combination of sibling rivalry, misogyny, abuse, death wishes, humanoids, dysfunctional relationships, psychological issues, with pools/water/swimming seeming to be the connecting force. I like short stories, and especially a collection that flows, as this did. What I like about this book was that the stories never dove too deep, which was good because, like I said some were very disturbing. But that’s also what I did not like-I wanted a little bit more, and often felt like I was left hanging. All in all, I would recommend this book to people who like dystopian short stories.
March 4, 2026
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this e-arc for review!
Trigger Warnings: Abuse, Misogyny, Murders, Grief.
This was an interesting collection of horror short stories dealing with humanoid beings being part of various people's lives such as due to controlling parents forcing their child to marry one, as a replacement for loss family members, as a caretaker, as a teacher, etc. The main characters and their family go through experiencing domestic abuse, fear, attachment, etc. with the robots and it really warps their lives.
Trigger Warnings: Abuse, Misogyny, Murders, Grief.
This was an interesting collection of horror short stories dealing with humanoid beings being part of various people's lives such as due to controlling parents forcing their child to marry one, as a replacement for loss family members, as a caretaker, as a teacher, etc. The main characters and their family go through experiencing domestic abuse, fear, attachment, etc. with the robots and it really warps their lives.
March 22, 2026
Wow! What a brilliant collection of short stories. A compelling read.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This collection of short stories is advertised as Weird Fiction and Speculative Fiction, which is why I read it. Unfortunately, I don’t really think it delivers what it advertises. It certainly wasn’t what I was looking for.
Since this isn’t a standard science fiction anthology, it isn’t going to get a standard review. But I do want to point out one truly superb science fiction story
The Deal With Roger • (2023) • by Allison Gadsby. A father believes that his tall and fat daughter will never find friends or a husband, so he buys a refurbished police robot for her. Years later, she is still a virgin and in an abusive marriage with that same robot. And now the robot wants to modify himself so he can sexually abuse her. This is harrowing and terrifying and one of the best “evil” robot stories I’ve ever read.
Most of the loosely interconnected stories in this book are realist literary fiction submerged in pain, abuse, and trauma. The level of pain and suffering these experience - emotional and abusive physical - is quite ugly. It was not something I wanted to read. I also didn’t feel like there was any real purpose to the stories. The ends were often a character making the decision that they were going to do something bad.
I found the genre fiction stories better.
“Once There Was a World.” • (2026) • A man’s life is destroyed because, as a child, he fought with his sister and then she vanished. The police believe that an arrested serial killer killed her, but he doesn’t believe it.
“Irreplaceable.” • (2023) • A robot teacher cares for a girl whose mother died. The father resists, but eventually his daughter convinces him to accept the robot as an in-house nanny. Slowly the Father wants the robot to adopt even more “wifely duties.”
“The Going Rate for Grief.” • (2026) • A number of children took robot children into the woods and dismembered them. A series of interrogations try to determine why they did it. Has a few interesting things to say about who is really part of a family.
Since this isn’t a standard science fiction anthology, it isn’t going to get a standard review. But I do want to point out one truly superb science fiction story
The Deal With Roger • (2023) • by Allison Gadsby. A father believes that his tall and fat daughter will never find friends or a husband, so he buys a refurbished police robot for her. Years later, she is still a virgin and in an abusive marriage with that same robot. And now the robot wants to modify himself so he can sexually abuse her. This is harrowing and terrifying and one of the best “evil” robot stories I’ve ever read.
Most of the loosely interconnected stories in this book are realist literary fiction submerged in pain, abuse, and trauma. The level of pain and suffering these experience - emotional and abusive physical - is quite ugly. It was not something I wanted to read. I also didn’t feel like there was any real purpose to the stories. The ends were often a character making the decision that they were going to do something bad.
I found the genre fiction stories better.
“Once There Was a World.” • (2026) • A man’s life is destroyed because, as a child, he fought with his sister and then she vanished. The police believe that an arrested serial killer killed her, but he doesn’t believe it.
“Irreplaceable.” • (2023) • A robot teacher cares for a girl whose mother died. The father resists, but eventually his daughter convinces him to accept the robot as an in-house nanny. Slowly the Father wants the robot to adopt even more “wifely duties.”
“The Going Rate for Grief.” • (2026) • A number of children took robot children into the woods and dismembered them. A series of interrogations try to determine why they did it. Has a few interesting things to say about who is really part of a family.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive by Alison Gadsby
This dark, futuristic collection of stories is intricately connected by recurring themes and characters. It is a visceral read that may not be for everyone, as the stories vividly address violence against women within a misogynistic society. The prose is sharp and simmers with rage, offering a thought provoking exploration of female anger and the search for retribution.
Humanoid robots called phorms are central to several stand out stories:
📌 The Deal With Robert - A chilling look at an abusive phorm purchased by a controlling father.
📌 Irreplaceable - A daughters grief is complicated when her father tries to replace her late mother with technology.
📌 The Beginning of Sadness - In a desperate bid for survival, a woman repeatedly pulls her family into the past to prevent her own death from cancer.
This is a dark collection exploring women’s experiences of life, love, motherhood and the various ways they survive the casual cruelty of their world.
This dark, futuristic collection of stories is intricately connected by recurring themes and characters. It is a visceral read that may not be for everyone, as the stories vividly address violence against women within a misogynistic society. The prose is sharp and simmers with rage, offering a thought provoking exploration of female anger and the search for retribution.
Humanoid robots called phorms are central to several stand out stories:
📌 The Deal With Robert - A chilling look at an abusive phorm purchased by a controlling father.
📌 Irreplaceable - A daughters grief is complicated when her father tries to replace her late mother with technology.
📌 The Beginning of Sadness - In a desperate bid for survival, a woman repeatedly pulls her family into the past to prevent her own death from cancer.
This is a dark collection exploring women’s experiences of life, love, motherhood and the various ways they survive the casual cruelty of their world.
March 25, 2026
Wow, this book is stunning and gut-wrenching and it descent into what it means to ENDURE. If you’re looking for a comfortable read, look elsewhere! This collection sits uncomfortably at the intersection of weird fiction, body horror, and psychological realism, creating a landscape that feels both speculative and painfully familiar. Everything I want in a book.
The atmosphere was eerie and amazing; the stories are connected not just by characters, but by a shared sense of "catastrophic speculative fiction." There is a persistent, low-humming dread throughout these pages. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re struggling to stay afloat alongside the protagonists, witnessing the "desperate loneliness" of lives built on the ruins of childhood trauma.
But what gutted me was the pressure of womanhood. It pulls no punches regarding the violence of existing as a woman. It explores the apathy of those meant to protect us like parents, husbands, and the "deeply penetrative pain" of being sexualized before even understanding one's own identity. Surprisingly despise the darkness, there is a beautiful, life-altering portrayal of the love between siblings and mothers. It’s the only thing keeping these characters from sinking entirely. The way it blurs the lines between horror and realism makes the "weird" elements feel like metaphors for truths that are too heavy to state plainly.
Well deserved of a 5 star read. The prose is evocative and the emotional stakes are sky-high. My only "gripe" is that it’s so heavy I had to take breaks between stories just to catch my own breath. It is a demanding read, but an essential one for fans of authors like Carmen Maria Machado or Sayaka Murata books.
This is a dark transformative reconstruction of survival. It’s a reminder that for some, "just breathing" is a hard-won victory. Please I'm begging you, read this book.
It's a new favorite of mine.
The atmosphere was eerie and amazing; the stories are connected not just by characters, but by a shared sense of "catastrophic speculative fiction." There is a persistent, low-humming dread throughout these pages. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re struggling to stay afloat alongside the protagonists, witnessing the "desperate loneliness" of lives built on the ruins of childhood trauma.
But what gutted me was the pressure of womanhood. It pulls no punches regarding the violence of existing as a woman. It explores the apathy of those meant to protect us like parents, husbands, and the "deeply penetrative pain" of being sexualized before even understanding one's own identity. Surprisingly despise the darkness, there is a beautiful, life-altering portrayal of the love between siblings and mothers. It’s the only thing keeping these characters from sinking entirely. The way it blurs the lines between horror and realism makes the "weird" elements feel like metaphors for truths that are too heavy to state plainly.
Well deserved of a 5 star read. The prose is evocative and the emotional stakes are sky-high. My only "gripe" is that it’s so heavy I had to take breaks between stories just to catch my own breath. It is a demanding read, but an essential one for fans of authors like Carmen Maria Machado or Sayaka Murata books.
This is a dark transformative reconstruction of survival. It’s a reminder that for some, "just breathing" is a hard-won victory. Please I'm begging you, read this book.
It's a new favorite of mine.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In Alison Gadsby’s debut collection, Breathing is How Some People Stay Alive, each polished piece unsettles but does so in a way that leaves no doubt as to her skill and messaging. The extremes presented in the stories demonstrate unease in a world that has lost its way. Disturbing characters pepper the collection with misogynistic and patriarchal attitudes. Mental illness is fearlessly interrogated as Gadsby slices into the inner thoughts of her characters with both penetrating scrutiny and compassion. Similar to Atwood’s Edible Woman for the current moment, Gadsby channels her character’s agency through fantastical circumstances that resonate with the fears of now yet remain uncompromisingly human. Stimulating, engaging and powerful, this is not a collection to be missed. Highly recommended. (Full review to follow in The Miramichi Reader.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(read on net galley)
This was an interesting book! I'm new to books that are more collections of short stories so it's possible some of my notes are a result of that. I really liked each of the stories and especially how much of the later bunch of stories were kind of follow ups to some of the first half stories. Each story was very thought provoking and the blend of reality and science fiction was done very well. I would have liked more information in each story as by the time I figured out what was going on, most of the time, the story was over but again, that may be usual to short story style and I'm just not used to it.
This was an interesting book! I'm new to books that are more collections of short stories so it's possible some of my notes are a result of that. I really liked each of the stories and especially how much of the later bunch of stories were kind of follow ups to some of the first half stories. Each story was very thought provoking and the blend of reality and science fiction was done very well. I would have liked more information in each story as by the time I figured out what was going on, most of the time, the story was over but again, that may be usual to short story style and I'm just not used to it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story collection follows women as they struggle with mental illness and conflict in a patriarchal society. The characters are relatable, and unfortunately so is the misogyny that is depicted in these stories. I thought the writing was accessible and engaging. I also felt the quality of the stories was consistent, which is rare for a story collection.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
These stories are a sometimes jarring, always hypnotic, staccato phase out of the world we know and simultaneously—through Gadsby’s deep rootedness to our reckless and remarkable humanity—a tether to it. Unforgettable.
March 12, 2026
An arresting, brilliant collection that you stay up all night to read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews