You Know Nothing: Stories

by Yasmina Din Madden

Questioning the roles of women’s bodies and the emotions that drive them in Madden’s debut story collection

Following women and girls as they navigate everyday life in contemporary America, You Know Nothing explores the experiences of mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, and lovers whose inner worlds are animated by a tangle of emotion—from desire to rage and everything in between. Yasmina Din Madden’s characters inhabit the margins of their cultures, their diverse backgrounds united by their profound unease and the female bodies in which each resides. Madden takes us into the lives of a ravenous mother who devours her own son, a woman who sands away parts of her body, a Vietnamese mother facing her too-American children, and a fiercely protective dog owner who wanders a dog park with Satan’s master. In this debut collection, Madden brings these characters to life in bite-size stories of surreal revelation and inquisitive long-form explorations alike, leaving newfound clarity and hypnotizing carnage in her wake.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories

234 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 15, 2026

Reviews

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for this arc.

This was a really vast range of short stories and I found them so easy to read through. They covered so many different aspects of women’s lives through such a diverse range of characters that it really pulled out so many different emotions. There were a lot of stories that really left me thinking and stayed on my mind for a while after reading. However, there were also some stories that I feel I completely forgot once I had finished reading. Perhaps this is just personal and I can imagine that other readers will feel connected to different stories than I did. I would definitely recommend reading this book because I really do feel like there is a story for every reader to enjoy.

[Eloïse van Deutekom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me some weird girl fiction and that is exactly what this book is!! It took me a while to understand it, but I thought it was so fun that through the book you read a couple of stories about the same family and that you kinda watch them grow up. There were some really disturbing stories in this book but I really loved that.

While I was reading, it really felt like this book was some kind of drug. I kept telling myself: ´just one more story ´ and then I already read 5 stories without even realizing it. I have laughed so hard because of this book and honestly I even had some realisations because of it. I really liked that there were even some love stories in there. I don't know if this author has written more books like this one, or is going to. But one thing is clear, I will read them!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[the love of books · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. I flew through this, “just one more story” I told myself, before inhaling a further 5. This collection of short stories is phenomenal, with so many different themes explored. Feminism is threaded through the stories, sometimes subtly and others more explicit, and each story can relate to somebody different. New mothers, old mothers, victims of abuse, those living with mental illness, first generation immigrants and so on and so forth.
Some stories are grotesque, some are amusing and others cause deep self-reflection. But each one leaves an impact. love love love every single thing about it.

I received this E-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I don't pick up a lot of short story collections but this sounded really intriguing so I gave it a shot and I'm glad I did! A lot of enjoyable reads, some more emotional than others and some clever stories as well. I liked the range of perspectives, young females, older women and mothers. Madden does a good job showcasing different experiences throughout a women life.

Some of my favorites
At the Dog Park 5/5
De facto Mother 5/5
The Motherland is Bleeding 5/5

Would I recommend: Yes!
Would I read more from this author: Yes!

[Jazmyn Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful collection of stories! Each one is unique and beautiful in their own way. The authors prose is mindful and thought provoking, I’ve never read anything quite like this! Very emotional and real, questioning our roles in society as women. It was truly eye opening and a wonderful read.
Some stories will hit harder than others, but each one is written incredibly well and flow into the next. A really great collection!

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories was moving in showcasing humans with different lived experiences from woman, immigrants, victims of abuse in a though provoking way with beautiful prose. The stories flowed well into each other with the undercurrent of feminism. I am excited to read more of Yasmina Din Madden's future work as her body of work really hit home.

Thank you to NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Becky Swales-Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up!

Madden's writing is really stunning. I think that every woman will be able to find something to relate to in this collection and Madden doesn't shy away from the best and worst parts of living as a woman today.

I did find this quite repetitive and after the first few stories felt like I'd read enough. I'd love to read a full-length novel from Madden as her writing style really worked for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited to have found a new short fiction writer who I love. These stories were inventive, beautifully written, and engaging. I highly recommend this collection to people who love absurd feminist short stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Julianne Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the sort of collection of short stories that I love. These stories are a raw nerve. Some are viscerally emotional. You ache. I love reading something that makes me feel like my emotions are being pulled towards the page. You laugh. You could cry. I laughed and I cried. This is a book I would give as a gift. I’m really looking forward to more from this author.

[Earn Napas · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gorgeous collection of (very) short stories! The beauty here is subtle and restrained — nothing loud or showy, just carefully observed moments rendered with precision and tenderness. Each piece feels small but complete. Overall a lovely read.