Head of Household

by Oliver Munday

A powerful, singular collection of short stories depicting the evolving role of fatherhood in contemporary society—perfect for readers of Jamel Brinkley’s A Lucky Man and Phil Klay’s Redeployment.

From stories about a father who shows up hungover to chaperone his daughter’s kindergarten bowling trip, to another who rediscovers his love of graffiti, and a father who pays for his legal fees and apartment through his OnlyFans earnings, Head of Household is a short story collection that reckons with divorce, financial anxiety, and sexuality to create a collage of the beleaguered father, a man on the frontlines of a masculinity in crisis—stories of men salvaging the shreds of their identities while staging puppet shows and pretending to be ponies for their children.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Family Drama, Fatherhood, Contemporary

224 pages, Hardcover

Published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Head of Household” is a collection of stories with a common throughline of fatherhood and masculinity, contained to the household and within modern society as a whole. I was eager to dig into these stories because I’ve read a lot of works centering motherhood in the past, so I wanted to get a look into the opposite side of the spectrum. This collection was fine. There wasn’t anything wrong with any of these stories, but I found that—besides a couple of them—most of them lack sticking power for me.

I also found that the stories didn’t push boundaries in the way I was hoping they would. With most of the stories I’ve read about motherhood, there’s some aspect or other that pushes the envelope of things, but that wasn’t present here. As I was reading, there were a handful of stories that I anticipated moving in a different direction than they actually did.

Motherhood-centric stories can be quite subversive, while these stories focused more on the mundane; there’s nothing wrong with that, but I wanted more. I also find that in stories centering mothers, if the central character is unlikable, it tends to be because the author is using her as a vessel to rally against patriarchy and societal expectations, whereas, in this collection, if a male character was unlikeable it was typically just because he was an ass. There’s nothing wrong with having unlikeable protagonists, but a couple of these main characters seemed to lack that underlying layer of complexity and nuance I want to find in an unlikeable character. In addition, some of these stories had emotional subplots, but the collection as a whole lacked the emotional punch I was hoping for.

If you’re like me and familiar with contemporary literature depicting motherhood and want to explore the opposite side of things, “Head of Household” is a decent place to start. Like I’ve said, there’s nothing wrong with these stories, and I liked the depictions of certain themes related to masculinity, such as the desperation to maintain desirability and the complexities of aging. It was cool to read about these themes from the male perspective. Despite wanting more, these stories allowed a glimpse into (as well as societal/cultural/political/sexual analyses of) the domestic life of modern-day men and their unique struggles. It didn’t deliver everything I wanted in terms of testing the limits of gender roles and societal expectations, but I can definitely see this acting as a stepping stone for future works that will. The stories were quick to read and did contain little gems of commentary on contemporary men.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the advance copy!

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oliver Munday's Head of Household reads more like a collection of ideas about fatherhood rather then a collection of short stories about the topic. With the exception of two standout stories Hide and Seek and Sterling, the rest of the stories never read fully formed and left asking, "What is Munday saying about fatherhood?" I will give credit that there were moments that caused me to laugh out and others I found touching. I looked foward to reading Head of Household because of its theme of how fatherhood changes how a man looks at himself because it would be a refreshing change from the clueless Dads that is to often portrayed in film and television. Ironically, after I finished Munday's debut, I was clueless as those same fathers about what Munday was trying to convey about being a father.

[Ten Cats Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ p54

Pre-Read Notes:

I love short stories and I never get em to read about men in their father roles. I'm looking forward to this collection a lot!

Final Review

(thoughts & recs)  I wasn't sure what to expect here, but I love my Dad and I wanted to read stories about fathers. Unfortunately this is not that, unless you define father as some random dude who happens to have kids. But fathering was not the subject under discussion here, at least not in the first stories. DNF @ p54

A word about the essays:

1. "Fists" - "Walt wondered if any of [his daughter’s] friends made comments about him— thought he was hot. He’d sometimes wear a workout shirt around them, subtly pulling back and flexing his shoulders. He wished [she] would make one of these videos of him." p20 Mmmmm kay. Isn't that special? ⭐.5

2. "Gutter Ball" - Say what you want about these stories (and I have), Munday has a smooth style.  "Ben felt pitiful, standing there reprimanded. Like another kid in her class. He rolled up his shirtsleeves. He imagined a filled sink soaking the threads of his plaid— the black and red, the dried blood from his nose— and what color the water would be once the shirt was wrung out."p32 ⭐⭐⭐.5

3. "Vandal" - Lots of small logic issues in this book. Like in this story, a character changes clothes from pajama pants to spandex mid-scene. Why? I don't know, because the scene got suddenly sexy and the author forgot to edit? ⭐⭐

4. "Hide-and-seek" - Leaving the door ajar out of anxiety and a sense of lack of control is an OCD trait. These don't come and go ... unless you're reading a story written by someone who didn't do his research. ⭐

5. DNF @ p54 Can I just say, these characters are *barely* fathers.

Content Notes: alcohol, alcohol consumption, fist fighting, SA, gr*pe, violence against children, cheating, OnlyFans, Tinder, noncon sexual encounters, ableism, really there are so many triggers and I only made it to the fourth story.

Thank you to Oliver Munday, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD. All views are mine.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since many short story collections that I've read center around women, it was refreshing to be granted an early copy of this book that features fathers and their kids, all told from the point of view of the father. Some are more successful than others, but there's the euphoria of being a new dad as well as the jaded view of an elderly man, with most of the stories concerning the middle aged father who is either trying to reestablish contact or hold on to the tenuous connection they have with their kids. I found it intriguing that although the arc of most stories was similar, the inner lives differed.

[V ᛑᛗᛛ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. An interesting book. I usually see a lot of books about motherhood from a mother's point of view, but this one's from a father's instead. A great collection of short stories about fathers, each with their own struggles and issues. I gave this book 3.5 stars (rounded down to 3) because not all the stories were my favorite, but I'd still recommend it if you're looking for something different to read.

[Matt Bender · Rating 3 out of 5]

These stories largely follow a pattern. A middle-aged father who is struggling with a sense of mediocrity and the limits on his independence ends up acting badly. The dad in each story has a different aged kid and set of interests, but they all seem o be struggling with weight and body image, threatened by their wife (or ex’s) relative career success (and or sexuality). In a bid for autonomy/youth/recognition, they commit a dumb crime or have some sort of illicit sex. Individually, each one explores what is probably a universal feeling of being mid-life for a dad, but collectively they seem to lack ambition, neither redeem or challenge stereotypical male misbehavior, or offer much of an impression or exploration of why guys act this way or might act differently.

The stories aren’t groundbreaking, shocking, or really a chance for wish fulfillment. The best story was about the dad on a field trip to the bowling alley, which is probably the edgiest story. Vandal is well written, but cabin pressure struck me as being underdeveloped.

There has been some really great men writing about fatherhood lately Alejandro Zambra and Tom Lamont come to mind immediately) so to present this as some sort of ground breaking examination of fatherhood irritates me. Otherwise it is a perfectly fine set of stories about guys working through their urge to self-destruct.

[Jamie Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read Head of Household as part of the advanced readers ARC discussion with Oliver Munday in attendance and that conversation added a whole new layer to the experience.

For me, Marcus Reed is the character who truly substantiates this book. He isn’t written as a superhero patriarch or a villain. He’s layered. Flawed. Trying. Marcus carries the quiet pressure of what he believes a “head of household” should be provider, protector, decision-maker but the story carefully exposes the emotional cost of carrying all of that without vulnerability.

What makes this a four-star read for me is its honesty. The book doesn’t rush transformation. It allows discomfort to sit in the room. Some moments felt intentionally unresolved, which made them feel real but that same realism occasionally slowed the pacing. I wanted a bit more depth in a few supporting characters, especially in how they challenged Marcus directly.

Still, the themes land. Responsibility. Masculinity. Partnership. Ego. Grace. The title shifts meaning by the end, and that evolution feels earned.

The ARC discussion confirmed that this book is meant to spark conversation more than provide clean answers and it definitely does that. Thought-provoking and timely.

[Remi · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s refreshing to read a short story collection centred on fatherhood, especially since so many contemporary domestic stories focus on mothers. seeing the pressures, insecurities, and quiet emotional burdens from the father’s point of view felt new, and that perspective alone gives this collection an interesting angle.

each story is solid and readable; none of them are bad. the situations are varied and the author captures snapshots of modern masculinity with sincerity. several pieces offer a gentle, almost understated melancholy that works well.

however, while the collection as a whole is nice, it never quite gave me the feeling of clever or special. nothing stands out in a memorable way once you remove the fatherhood lens. the concepts are good, but the execution doesn’t always rise to something that lingers or surprises. i liked the perspective shift, but i didn’t come away feeling deeply moved or impressed. it’s good for readers interested in fatherhood and quiet domestic moments, just not the kind of collection that leaves a strong afterglow for me.

-------

to-read:

read so many stories from mothers' pov, i think it'll be refreshing to read from fathers'

*thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC*

[Connor Yockus · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe some day a divorced dad will write compelling literary fiction. Today is not that day

[kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series of short stories focuses on fatherhood and how that role has evolved in today’s society and culture. Dealing with divorce, addiction, financial anxiety and more, Oliver Munday’s collection reflects on masculinity, sexual desire, and loss of identity as a parent through his many father figures.

I will honestly admit to having no clue what this was about when I requested it — I just liked the cover — and once I learned, was pretty quick to assume I wouldn’t like it. And while some parts of me continue to struggle with the idea of giving cishet white men more ground to speak on, I can see the similarities with the fathers in this collection and the mothers I hear about every day.

I would love to see a woman write a companion collection of sorts that explores motherhood today and how that role is both changing and completely stagnant in our current culture and societal climate. I think something like that would be so beautiful and powerful.

But at the end of the day, I did enjoy this conversation on fatherhood from Munday. Do I think it’s problematic that this book is being described as “a collage of the beleaguered father, a man on the frontlines of a masculinity in crisis—stories of men salvaging the shreds of their identities while staging puppet shows and pretending to be ponies for their children,” as if that is deserving of praise? As if it is some Herculean task to be a father? As if it makes them special? Absolutely. But the author does a good job of getting people to sympathize with these men who are just trying to do their best to protect the little humans they helped bring into this world.

[Alli · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK so I never knew my dad which never really bothered me but now after reading these short stories I'm like really grateful?? Because it makes it seem like all men are disgusting selfish pigs?? I almost DNF'd at 40% but i thought that maybe the latter half of the book would have good examples of men. Nay.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/9/2026 3.5 stars, and blessedly easy to read. Full review tk, hopefully today if I'm not too sick to sit up and write it, at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.

3/10/2026 God bless short stories for how easily digestible they are, having stripped away so much extraneous matter to properly capture a mood and make a point, at least, tho not exclusively, in the literary genre.

Oliver Munday's new collection of ten short stories exemplify this, almost to the point where I wanted more from several of the stories and felt that those works would have been better served as longer pieces. This is, tbc, different from feeling that the story could serve as the basis for a novel despite feeling complete in and of itself: fortunately there are far more of this latter than the former kind here. The opening story Fists, for example, is perfect as a tone piece about a father not knowing how to deal with the loss of his own youth, as he and his teenage daughter go on one of their annual vacations together. Would I love to read more about what happens next? Yes. Was it perfectly satisfactory on its own? Also yes.

Sterling, on the other hand, was one of those stories with too much build up and not enough denouement. Perhaps I am biased in this, however, as a committed Washington DC-lover who wanted to know exactly what happened at the end of the story. I was also far more inclined to feel kindly towards the older heroes (yes, all men) of these pieces. I had a lot more sympathy for the destructive -- self or otherwise -- urges of the parents who'd been through a lot and were still trying to cope as best they could. For example, Tom, the protagonist of Pizza Party, has to go through a mortifying destruction of the ego before he can find grace, as does the unnamed narrator of the collection's closing story Dependents, tho in a very different way. Their struggles felt far more earned to me than the thrashing about of most of the younger protagonists showcased here.

Unsurprisingly for a collection with this title, the stories primarily revolve around a man's relationship with his children, and often with the long-suffering mother of same (the men are all, so far as I can tell, heterosexual and cis.) Occasionally, the relationship between a man and his father is also examined. The one story where I actually felt more sympathy for the younger half of that equation was New Motion, as Chris is forced to accept a favor from his dad. It really highlighted the tension that can underscore the hand-off of centrality that exists for procreating males in patriarchal family systems.

And really, that's what this collection is about, how modern-day men deal with patriarchy and its suffocating systems. Perhaps surprisingly, the older gentlemen tended to cope better than the younger ones, especially where the intersection with white privilege occurs. I was infuriated with the choices of the protagonists of both Vandals and Feeders, for how they made life more difficult for the vulnerable as the main characters sought to console their own egos. Interestingly, I believe that that was the point of those stories, to show how complicit men can still be in the systems they think are trapping them.

This is an accomplished, thought-provoking collection of polished prose that's easy to consume but definitely takes a little longer to digest. I spent a lot of time thinking about how how these stories would resonate if they had been about women, in no small part to try to evoke greater sympathy from me as a reader. Ultimately, I decided that they work really well just the way they are, in their multi-faceted examination of modern manhood.

Head Of Household by Oliver Mundy was published February 17 2026 by Simon & Schuster and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw the cover of this book before I had any idea what its title was or what it was about. (I’ll admit I thought this might be a coming-of-age or a YA novel, just from the socks.)

So many books are written about motherhood—the highs and the lows, the relationships mothers form with their children, etc. Head of Household is a collection of short stories about fatherhood and fathers in all phases of life and in all kinds of situations. I’m not a father, but I definitely found these stories moving and intriguing.

I didn’t feel like there was a weak story in the bunch. Considering that this is Oliver Munday’s debut, I’d say that bodes pretty well for his career!

Some of my favorite stories included “Vandal,” in which a father’s old graffiti habit starts tugging at him again; “Cabin Pressure,” where a grieving father is flying back home to his family after a tragedy (my favorite in the book); “New Motion,” about a new father who asks his estranged father to pick him, his wife, and their new baby from the hospital; and “Pizza Party,” in which a restaurateur feels the pressure of preparing a meal during which he’ll meet his daughter’s fiancée.

While one or two of the stories tilt a bit more on the outlandish side, the themes of the stories feel very universal. They touch on overprotectiveness, tension, feelings of inadequacy, difficult relationships, dating a woman who already has a child, and the relationships between a man and his own father.

Sometimes when I read short stories, they don’t feel complete. With this collection, while there were definitely stories I would have loved more of, they all felt complete. Definitely an enjoyable read!

Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Head of Household is a short story collection that turns the traditional perception of fatherhood on its head. While society grapples with the effects of patriarchy and ponders what "healthy masculinity" looks like, Oliver Munday takes a leap, shedding light on the beautiful, messy, and often terrifying reality of being a father.

Not one of these fathers is perfect. You are almost guaranteed to scream—or at least roll your eyes—at each protagonist in turn. But isn't this what we asked for? A realistic look at men navigating life’s challenges and their own shortcomings while remaining responsible for other living beings.

The stories build in strength as you progress. "Fists" comes out swinging (literally), while "Cabin Pressure" and "Feeders" forced me to check my own judgments at the door. "Vandal," "New Motion," and "Pizza Party" felt deeply familiar, representing versions of fathers I’ve known in my own life. The final story, "Dependents," hit particularly close to home, offering a glimpse into a world that mirrored my own father’s life.

While the prose is evocative, a few stories established a specific cadence only for the endings to feel somewhat abrupt. While that can be the nature of the short story medium, I found myself wishing for a bit more room to breathe in those final moments. However, this tension eases as the collection continues, with the final third of the book finding a more balanced and impactful rhythm.

Ultimately, the collection remains eye-opening. It challenges static ideas about gender roles, forgiveness, and the sacrifices inherent in parenthood. In a landscape where fatherhood is rarely depicted as more than a box to check, Munday exposes the complexity of the role, opening the door for real conversations to be had in homes, friend groups, and social stages.

[Barb Novak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rarely read fiction by white male authors. It’s often difficult for me to relate to, and it’s important to me to give time, attention, and money to voices that publishing has historically minimized. Yet, I picked up Oliver Munday’s Head of Household. The idea of a short story collection about fatherhood appealed to me, a window into an experience I know very little about.

Oliver Munday’s Head of Household is ten short stories of imperfect and sometimes scoundrel fathers. Each dad is well-meaning but tragically flawed. There’s a dad who is on his annual solo vacation with his now teenaged daughter and starts a fistfight with the young man she meets at the resort. There’s a dad who shows up to chaperone his daughter’s bowling field trip hungover only to hit on her teacher. There’s a dad who feels emasculated by his wife’s wealth and finds his voice by firing their elderly nanny. There’s a dad who is moved by a mother-child interaction that reminds him of how his neglect caused his toddler daughter’s death.

Head of Household - like Culpability by Bruce Holsinger and The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits - tells of the difficulties of fatherhood but left me feeling like parenting was difficult for these fathers because they made it difficult. Ultimately, Head of Household didn’t leave me with a better understanding of fatherhood or even more empathy for fathers.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Oliver Munday for the advance copy.

[Hayley Hipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because the description stopped me. A father shows up hungover to his daughter's kindergarten bowling trip. Another pays his legal fees through OnlyFans. A third rediscovers graffiti. These are not the perfect dads you usually read about.

The stories are honest about divorce, financial anxiety, and the quiet ways men fall apart. The writing is sharp and uncomfortable in the best way. My favorite was the father who stages puppet shows while pretending his life is fine. That one made me put the book down and just sit for a minute.

My only complaint is that some stories end too abruptly. Just when I got invested in a character, the story stopped. I wanted more of the OnlyFans father. I wanted to know what happened after. A few stories felt like sketches instead of finished pieces.

But overall, this collection captures something real about modern fatherhood. Men who are trying, failing, trying again. Not heroes. Just humans.

Oliver, if you are reading this, your voice is needed. For your next book, I would love to help before you publish. I can beta read for story length and resolution. I can proofread. And when the book is ready, I can help you get it in front of readers who want honest stories about family and masculinity.

Email me anytime: contact@hayleyhipps.com

[Michael Busse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this! This thoughtful short story collection takes fatherhood as its central subject, but the stories are really about the layers surrounding fatherhood: aging, responsibility, sacrifice, and the complicated ways children can reflect, repel, and reveal parts of a parent.

What stood out most was how often the characters find themselves jealous of children (not necessarily their own, but children in general) for their youth, freedom, and open-endedness, and also how the insecurities of young adulthood continue to persist into parenthood. These recurring notes felt sharp, especially as a counterpoint to the cultural narrative that parenthood is purely fulfilling or redemptive.

I had some mixed feelings about the form. Half or more of stories ended abruptly, without a clear emotional pivot or moment of change for the character. I don’t read a ton of short story collections, so this may be more a problem with my expectations than a flaw of Munday’s writing, but I frequently wanted more narrative resolution.

Overall, “Head of Household” is a perceptive and insightful collection. Even if not every story fully landed for me, I enjoyed being along for the ride.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the advance reader copy!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑶𝑭 𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑺𝑬𝑯𝑶𝑳𝑫 𝒃𝒚 𝑶𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚 was a deeply affecting collection of stories examining the way men are navigating the contemporary landscapes of masculinity. A big thank you to @simonbooks #SimonBooksBuddy for this slim book, published in February.

Fatherhood, especially, is a role that is highlighted in this short story collection with men who are wanting to live up to the new expectations put on them, and yet seem to either fail spectacularly like in the first story, "Fists," where a father loses his cool against the boy with whom his daughter is out late, or even just can't quite find his footing like the chef father whose dinner plans falter, only to order out in "Pizza Party."

Most of these tales share a commonality across humanity of the unmet expectations. Several of these used a bit of a shocker to explore these pressures, like the cat-feeder-cam in "Feeders" where the camera captured the truth.

I was quickly pulled into each story, which is a sign for me of great writing, especially in short story form. These were all encompassing in emotional depth as well as some oddities that amused. Overall the book left me feeling compassion for the characters as they sought to figure it out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Natasha Elle Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because so much of my personal and professional work centers on women and mothers, this isn’t a book I would normally have picked up — which makes me even more grateful that I did. Oliver renders the men, husbands, and fathers in this collection with remarkable care and poignancy. I didn’t always like them. In fact, I was often frustrated by them, acutely aware of how their qualities, contradictions, and idiosyncrasies mirrored some of the men in my own life who have challenged me in similar ways.

Each story left me unsettled and a little ambivalent. I found myself processing these characters not just as a reader, but as a woman, partner, mother, and daughter living on this side of patriarchy — and that made the reading experience both uncomfortable and deeply compelling.

And ultimately, that discomfort is what I appreciated most about the book. Nothing is simplified or reduced. I kept waiting for caricatures or easy judgments to appear, and they never did. The men in these stories are allowed full humanity — for better and for worse. There's also a precision to Munday’s writing style that I enjoyed.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Head of Household is a short story collection centering around the theme of fatherhood. The father in each story is having some sort of existential crisis. For instance, one is struggling with being both newly divorced and an addict. He tries to be a good dad by chaperoning his daughter’s kindergarten field trip but shows up hungover and makes some poor choices while he’s there. Another dad tries to connect with his teenage daughter by taking her on a vacation to the beach and ends up disappointed. And also makes some poor choices. That’s a reoccurring theme in these stories – the poor choices of the fathers.

The stories in this collection were fairly bleak. They made me appreciate my husband, who is also the father of my four children, more than I already do for being a well-adjusted human being. I did appreciate that it spoke to how being a father can be tough. Usually, the books I read that are about parenthood center around the mother and her struggles. Being a parent is hard period.

I think this book is for everyone. Even if you're not a parent, you are somebody's child and may relate to the children in these stories.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Head Of Household by Oliver Monday is short stories about situations from a dad‘s point of view whether a new dad a dad who’s mourning the loss of their child and many other situations. I found all these books to be really good some are better than others but none or bad whatsoever. I love short stories and rarely do we get a group of stories all told from this point of view I found it refreshing entertaining in at times very insightful. From a man who is trying to stay sober after the loss of his child to a brand new dad who sees his relationship with his own dad differently my favorite was the one I think it’s called pizza party where the man is making pizza waiting for his daughter and her fiancé to come over it’s way much more than that it’s him telling the ingredients of the pizza how to make it at the same time reflecting on their relationship it was really good this book is thoughtful and well written. I really enjoyed the stories and I absolutely recommend them. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Ardre Orie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes this collection remarkable is its refusal to sentimentalize or villainize its fathers. Instead, it renders them human. From anxiousness about money, confusion about desire, bruised by divorce, and still deeply committed to showing up for their children, the pages depict men trying. The fathers are both contemporary and compassionate, and in many instances redefine considerations of masculinity.

The humor disarms you, but the emotional honesty stays with you. As opposed to many narratives that depict likable characters, the emphasis here is directed towards moments that feel intimate, vulnerable, and achingly real. Head of Household insists that masculinity in crisis is still masculinity deserving of care.

This is a powerful reminder that showing up—messy, imperfect, and unsure—is still showing up. A rare, necessary collection that permits men to exist in their complexity and reminds us that, whether you agree or not, it is impactful to hear the nuanced and layered voices of fathers.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read this book as a part of an ARC. This typically isn't the type of book that I would reach for but the premise of it seemed interesting to me. I couldn't recall reading a short story collection about men or fathers, so I jumped at the chance. I found myself being critical of the characters, early, like the first story out of the gate and that grew with each story until I started to have compassion for them. Reading this book sparked conversation with my husband and several male friends regarding the portrayal of men in books, movies, etc and I was surprised to hear that they largely felt invisible, pigeonholed into a solitary category of what a man should be or do and largely seen as a utility. The characters were flawed and in some cases down right irritating but they were present and they were trying as we all are. I found myself shaking me head at some of the antics. I enjoyed gaining the insight and will definitely pass it along to some of my male friends who are avid readers if only to have an open dialogue.

[Tru Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver Munday is an author with his pulse on the complexities of the human condition. I say this understanding that to attempt to understand humanity in its entirety is close to impossible, yet he exemplifies a deep understanding and respect for the power of striving after something just barely out of reach. This book is a collection of faith leaps for the average reader. It will stir up the deepest thoughts and emotions held by any human being who remembers their father and it plays true to its presence in the fantasy genre for those who don’t. He expressed privately how important it was for him to study the works of great women in his endeavor to write this book and as a father of three I respected him more for it. We are all, as men, echoes of our mothers. Displaying sensitivities most women don’t realize we experience. I thoroughly enjoyed facing myself in this very well paced book of short stories. I read one a day like my daily dose of vitamins and it served the same medicinal purpose. My favorite story was Vandal and I cannot wait for you to see for yourself why!

[Crespo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Head of Household is a collection of short stories centering on the theme of fatherhood from the point of view of the male voice. Each story features a different male protagonist grappling with situations that revolve around fatherhood and all the complexities that it entails.
For me, the question that often occurred to me was, "Do men really think like this"? These stories were not meant to have neat, tidy endings because this wasn't meant to be some sort of after-school special or a Disney movie. That would have felt inauthentic.
These stories are raw, they can make someone feel uncomfortable but this point of view absolutely needs to be shared. Tackling the theme of fatherhood from the dad's perspective is crucial to opening up dialogue. I truly enjoyed this book, even if I didn't like some of the characters. I hope more books of this kind are written. We need them. All of these things need to be talked about and this can begin with stories.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars rounding down (bc personally I rarely trust a 5 but this collection is excellent). I'm grateful to S&S for the ARC! I had not read a short story collection so swiftly in awhile and I certainly wasn't expecting a collection centered on men/fathers to be one I enjoyed and came to realize I needed. These stories don't exactly answer the question "what's up with men these days" so much as engage with it, grapple with it. These stories shed light on how the "head of household" role is not their fathers version--the security of that world's trappings gone--and become instead amorphorous, unknown. These aren't "bad men." They want to be decent, to be better selves, but often can't lay hands on the manual. Which is to say, I'm glad this collection exists for the conversation it can-and should-create. Particular stand out stories for me: Fists, Vandal, Gutter Ball, Dependants, and Sterling.

[Daniela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting a book of short and funny, or even poignant stories from the point of view of fathers. Instead, what I wasted my time reading was a compendium of some of the worst examples of men who happen to have fathered children.

It definitely reminded me that fathers are, first and foremost, men. And unfortunately for all of us living in this present time, that is, generally speaking, no great thing to be. I obviously know that there are wonderful men and dads, but at least in this collection of short stories, all of them were awful examples.

What’s worse is that I could not even see the point that the author was trying to make in his chosen stories. Am I just the wrong audience for this sort of storytelling? I’d love to know if a male reader connected to this book differently. As for me, this was 100% not my thing. 2⭐️

[Damilola Onwah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the premise of this short story collection, so I jumped at the opportunity to receive an advance copy through the Advanced Reader’s Club.

The collection started off rocky; I couldn’t connect with the characters in the first few stories. “Ugh, why are men?,” I kept thinking. But then I recognized my frustration was the specific kind that befalls me when I’m struggling (and seriously failing!) to access my husband’s reasoning or his state of mind. That was the moment the collection clicked in place for me. I unclenched and began to enjoy the stories for what they were.

Oliver Munday’s portrayals of modern masculinity in this collection are honest. He accords men the same complexity and nuance - uniquely so - as women. The characters in Head of Household want to be seen and loved; they do messy, stupid things; they try and fail, and try and fail again.

4/5 stars.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster for the opportunity to read and review this short story collection!

I was very excited to read a short story collection, particularly about fatherhood, as I thought it could enlighten me a bit more on this perspective. While I did think the stories had a great variety of explored topics of fatherhood and they flowed nicely together, unfortunately, this did not work for me. At the end of every story, I would ask "So?" or "Why?" or worse, "What was the point?" I never understood if I was supposed to sympathize or see that the fiction matched the reality - that fathers are "typically dubious men" as the author writes. I think the reader will have to decide for themselves.

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book of short stories about men navigating the world of masculinity - some are divorced, some married but all are silly and not great examples of being a father. I’m not sure what this author intended in writing these but they are absurd and definitely not good examples of men (I have two sons and if either of them did anything close to some of the things in these stories they’d be barred from supper - permanently (I’m sure their wives would support me on this).

While the men in these stories are trying to figure out their lives - a good thing - they sabotage themselves in the doing - ego wins out! In “Fists,” the father is more wondering why no one appreciates his body (though he does turn out to rescue his daughter - I think this was the only story I liked).

Some stories are based on ridiculous premises. In “Gutter Ball,” the dad is on a cocaine hangover chaperoning children at a bowling party. In “Hide and Seek,” a divorced dad works as a submissive to a dominatrix. But in all the stories these men have reached some point in their lives where they are willing to do dumb things. Maybe that ‘s the nature of the beast but I’d like to believe men are made of better stuff.

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC.