Remember to Eat and Other Stories

by Meryl Ain

For fans of Hilma Wolitzer and Jhumpa Lahiri comes a collection of short stories about a mother and daughter as they navigate their changing roles through tumultuous times. 

Following a Jewish family from before World War II to the not-too-distant future, this collection of loosely linked short stories explores the experiences of Marjorie, a baby boomer; her mother, Alice; and the friends and family that make up their community over the decades. As they each pursue higher education and choose career paths, both mother and daughter encounter challenges as they make choices within a changing society—from in-law problems to illness to antisemitism and beyond. 

Sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, Remember to Eat takes on themes including patriarchy, technology, the changing role of women, the challenges of raising children, the COVID-19 pandemic, complex family relationships, and what it means to be a Jew with empathy and insight. Ultimately, the twenty-two stories contained in these pages offer not only an intimate journey into these women’s lives but also an illuminating portrait of the times in which they live.

Genres: Short Stories

224 pages, Paperback

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Meryl Ain is a writer, author, podcaster, and career educator. Her new collection of short stories, "Remember to Eat," will be published on January 20. "The Takeaway Men," her award-winning post-Holocaust debut novel, was published in 2020. The sequel,"Shadows We Carry," was published on April 25.
Meryl's articles and essays have appeared in numerous publications, and she is the author of two non-fiction books. She is the host of the podcast, "People of the Book," and the founder of the Facebook group, "Jews Love To Read!

Reviews

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful collection of short stories following a Jewish family, specifically, a mother and daughter, from before World War II to the not-too-distant future. I really enjoyed reading about this family's ups and downs throughout the decades. The characters and circumstances are so relatable with themes of patriarchy, aging, motherhood, and antisemitism, to name a few. It's a short, enjoyable, and engaging read that I would highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Stephanie Wilen · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, it’s set on Long Island, where I’m from. Hearing towns I’ve lived in and places I recognize mentioned on the page added a personal layer to the reading experience.

I enjoyed the short-story format. Each chapter stands on its own while still contributing to a larger emotional arc. It felt very slice of life. The characters are grounded and believable, acting exactly as you’d expect for their respective time periods.

The book thoughtfully explores themes of identity and the evolving roles of women over time. The historical thread running throughout added depth and context, making the stories feel more vibrant. However, I did have issues with the pacing and felt some of the chapters could have been omitted.

Remember To Eat is a quiet read that finds meaning in everyday moments and the people who shape us.

[SheReaders Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like sitting down for coffee with a dear friend — the kind who truly gets you. So many chapters reflected pieces of my own life and the lives of people I love; at times, I felt like I’d actually lived some of the stories myself.

I particularly enjoyed this author’s brand of humor. I laughed out loud several times. The topics are not light in nature (marriage, aging, loss, grief, and war) but love and joy are always at the forefront, making hard things feel more easy to talk about.

The storytelling is so natural that we’re getting to see each familiar scenario through a new lens, offering the reader a chance to examine and maybe challenge our own preconceptions.

This is a perfect pick for a women’s book club discussion — full of heart, humor, and depth. Bonus points for the snowbird perspective, which made me feel right at home. ❤️

[Kalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories about women. Fun and humorous with some thought provoking points.

"Sometimes we must think for ourselves and not go along with the crowd."

[Susan (The Book Bag) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember to Eat is an entertaining, insightful saga of multi-generational women. There are funny, humorous incidents as well as beautiful, heartwarming moments as these individuals try to figure out life.

I relished all of the stories and felt each one flowed easily into the next one as I came to know Marjorie and Alice. Their lives were interesting, while their experiences could be stories you might hear from your family members or your neighbors.

Remember to Eatis a collection of stories that will stick with me a long time. There was entertainment and well as food for thought.

[Adina Genn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading “Remember to Eat” is a bit like stepping into a time capsule and seeing the women who stood before us, and at times, who stand alongside us. Through author Meryl Ain’s wonderful short stories, we meet Marjorie, her mother Alice and others who take us through and beyond World War II in the United States. Throughout, Ain traces the narrative of American women, deftly highlighting how we today gain from their experiences. What’s more, Ain skillfully illuminates the Jewish narrative. Ain’s characters come alive, and we as readers share the ride through their struggles and their triumphs. This is a great book club read, something every generation can appreciate!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review!!!

Title: Remember To Eat And Other Stories
Author: @meryl_ain

Tropes:
Jewish Family
WW2
Mother and Daughter Bond
Resilience
Identity
Motherhood

Thank you so much partner @booksparks and @meryl_ain for this amazing gifted copy

The book:

FOLLOWING A JEWISH FAMILY from before World War II tothe not-too-distant future, this collection of loosely linked short stories explores the experiences of Marjorie, a baby boomer; her mother, Alice; and the friends and family that make up their community over the decades.
As they each pursue higher education and choose career paths, both mother and daughter encounter challenges within a changing society-from in-law problems to illness to antisemitism and beyond.
Sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, Remember to Eat takes on themes including patriarchy, technology, the changing role of women, the challenges of raising children, the COVID-19 pandemic, complex family relationships, and what it means to be a Jew with empathy and insight. Ultimately, the twenty-two stories contained in these pages offer not only an intimate journey into these women’s lives but also an illuminating portrait of the times in which they live.

My Thoughts:

What an amazing read! I am beyond happy and thankful for this gifted copy and for having read such an amazing collection of stories. The 22 short stories follow Marjorie a baby- boomer throughout her life. Emphasizing on her relationships with friends, husband, children, and Coworkers. Meryl Aim does an exceptional job at giving us a glimpse into Marjorie’s life and showing us the power of not only womanhood but motherhood as well as shedding light on how Marjorie prioritizes motherhood over her career most of the time. The portrayal of Marjorie’s character is amazing throughout the stories and so is the way of how immensely challenging the change of times in society can be. Packed with humor and sadness, Remember To Eat And Other Stories is a book that should hold space in your bookshelves.

Happy Reading!

[Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @booksparks @meryl_ain for my #gifted copy of Remember to Eat and Other Stories! #RememberToEatAndOtherStories #WinterPopUp #booksparks #MerylAin

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐥 𝐀𝐢𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Remember to Eat and Other Stories is such a wonderful collection of loosely linked stories that follow a Jewish family from before WWII to the distant future. In these stories, we meet a mother, Alice, and her daughter, Marjorie, and so many other friends and family members along the way. There are 22 stories and Ain does such an exceptional job balancing the sad and challenging times with the hopeful and changing times in society, and added humor when needed. I loved the different themes the author touched on, some of which included family dynamics, the role of technology, raising children, and so much more.

The stories are short and they read like a conversation with a friend. I laughed when reading about Marjorie’s granddaughter and the creepy dolls, yet my heart broke at other parts because the stories just felt so relatable. One thing I appreciated is that there is a Glossary at the end of the book, so if you are not Jewish, it’s a great way to understand some of the words mentioned. There are also Book Club Discussion Questions, which make this book the perfect choice for your next book club!

[Bonnie Brody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book of interconnected short stories that focused on the lives and times of a Jewish family. Margaret is a baby boomer and she has a close-knit and loving relationship with her mother. The stories begin shortly before WWII and continue until close to the present day. The author explores the family relationships with poignancy and comedy. The interactions between family members brought back memories of my own family.

Some of the stories are laugh out loud and others are sad. There are times to kvell and times for tsuris.

Ms. Ain catches the ambience of the times very accurately. Her descriptions and characterizations of the latter half of the 20th century are spot on. I felt like I could be reliving my very own experiences in the 1960's and 1970's. I say that half-seriously. The author attended the same college that I attended for three years and we have a similar educational background.

I love the way Ms. Ain catches the uniquely loving and quirky aspects of Jewish family life. She has an eye for detail and her characterizations feel spot on. I read this book for my Hadassah reading club and am looking forward to discussing it with the other members of my book club.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kudos to Meryl Ain, the Author of “Remember to Eat and Other Stories” for her emotional, heartfelt, and exceptional novel. I loved everything about this well written masterpiece , and thoughtfully told story. This is a memorable, thought-provoking, captivating and intriguing novel that was hard for me to put down, and I highly recommend this read for everyone. The author writes with empathy, creativity, experience, wit, humor about a multi-generational Jewish family, and shares the highs and lows of the times. This follows a Jewish family before World War Two, and goes to the present, and the author vividly discusses the relationships between mothers, daughters, sons, daughters-in law, grandparents, husbands, neighbors and friends. Also discussed is the importance of balancing careers and motherhood, and the discrepancies the roles of men and women. I appreciate how the author discusses antisemitism throughout this time period.

The characters are relatable, and could be anyone that you know. The “feel’ throughout the book is that there are poignant, sad, thoughtful moments, and also humorous moments with love and hope. As a dog lover, one of my favorite parts in the book, is when Marjorie’s son is getting married, and the daughter in law has become “Bridezilla”. Marjorie is a baby boomer, and the future daughter in law recommends a dress color that doesn’t suit Marjorie well, but she buys it. Meanwhile the mother in law to be buys a dress that will make her look wonderful in her favorite color.. Basically, Marjorie does everything she can, until her youngest daughter is left out of the wedding party. When Marjorie finds out that the dog will be walking down the aisle in a hand made custom outfit, Marjorie loses it.

When Marjorie is ready to give birth to twins, she calls her husband and tells him it is “time” It takes him an hour to get home instead of 10 minutes. He has stopped at a deli where he got “messy “ friend food and snack for himself. He explains in their courses, it was mentioned that the father make sure to eat to keep his energy up. Marjorie can’t believe that is the only thing that he took from the pre-natal courses.

This is one of my favorite books, and I love all of Meryl Ain’s stories. Again, be sure to read this amazing book! Happy Reading!

[Jacquie Herz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember to Eat and Other Stories
by Meryl Ain

Within these 22 short stories, Ain has created a wonderful, generational mother/daughter saga, where life goes back and forth between the 1930’s and current times. Though each story is connected to the next by the same cast of primary characters, the chronology is mixed. And so, for instance, Marjorie, the main character, is portrayed as a young child through the eyes of her mother, then in the following narrative, it will be about herself as a young mother to her own daughter, and still in another story, the grandmother to her daughter’s baby.
The differences and show of love in the relationships between the generations felt so genuine and warm to me. The writing itself is fluid and graceful. And even though the timelines are not directly connected, you will be engrossed from the very first sentence of each story, be drawn in, and always know exactly where you are: In a truly pleasurable read.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Other people’s lives look perfect when you’re on the outside looking in. But no one‘s life is perfect when you’re on the inside.”

This book is a collection of interwoven short stories following a Jewish family from World War II all the way through Covid. I loved how the women and their struggles were prominently featured in the stories and how accurate the change in women’s rights over the years was portrayed. Those of us that have these luxuries of educational opportunities and workplace success should never forget that it hasn’t always been that way and that some tough, strong women paved that path for us.

The mother/daughter relationship, mother/son relationship, and spousal dynamics are all explored here, and very intimately so. This was an emotional peek into the community of the Jewish religion, the struggles faced, and the grit and determination to persevere. A great read!

Thank you to @booksparks and @meryl_ain for the gifted copy.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

These 22 women’s fiction short stories are multi generational and very enlightening.

They are not told in sequential order but cover the time line from 1938 through current times. The book focuses on the lives of a mother, Alice, and her daughter, Marjorie.

The parts that I feel really worked in these stories were that some stories were told in first person and others in third person. The book also does a really great job of sharing Jewish traditions and linking history and heritage throughout.

I found the stories intriguing as to the time period of what life what like for women. Alice becomes a secretary but is behind the scenes running a hospital. Marjorie is a school principal.

I like the fact that Marjorie’s daughter who is a lawyer is involved in some of the stories.

[Terri Bain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family history for the soul

Remember to Eat and other stories - Meryl Ain
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

I felt like I was reading a family journal!

This is a multigenerational story that follows a Jewish family from the pre holocaust WWll days, to current day times including Covid, Oct 7th and the last presidential election. Each chapter is a different story, yet they are all intertwined and they build from the past to the present .

The characters and family dynamics are complex at times, but the emotions are totally relatable. There is glossary of Jewish terms/phrases at the back of the book which was useful. An added family tree would have been helpful.

Thank you to Booksparks and Meryl Ain for this gifted copy. I really enjoyed it.

[Phyllis Lader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember to Eat and Other Stories is the third book by Meryl Ain. It gave me pure joy as I followed the trials and tribulations of a Jewish family. The short stories focus on the matriarch, her family and friends dealing with situations faced by all of us. That’s why you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy this book of short stories. The historical and contemporary issues such as feminism, equality and sexism as well as familiar situations faced by us make Remember To Eat and Other Stories a joy to read. You will smile, laugh and empathize with the characters.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of stories about three generations of women. Women dealing with different situations and issues in history and contemporary times.
Meryl Ain brought me back to my past with places I have been and others that were before my time. It was so easy to relate to family stress. Her characters came alive to me as I felt as though I was going through their experiences, struggles, and the changing role of women alongside Marjorie.
Generational mother /daughter relationships, parenthood, marriage and so much more captured in these 22 short stories. I laughed at times and found myself thinking of my own memories.
A wonderful book that would be a great book club read for any generation!

[Briann Shear · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful group of short stories, each touching on the lives three generations of women. I found myself smiling in recognition of aspects of my own life and those of my mother and grandmother. Meryl sensitively captures moments as a daughter, a mother and a grandmother that are so familiar and an absolute pleasure to share. The issues of love, aging, being a mother, being a mother-in-law, antisemitism and more are all handled with empathy and good humor. This book is perfect to read yourself or even better, to share with a book club.

[Emmie Mere · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read if you’re looking for stories of a family of Jewish women. Sometimes serious, oftentimes funny, and all the time real.

The narrative leans heavily on New York Jewish characters, holidays and religion. I’m not sure how someone not Jewish would receive that, but I liked it. I recognized my own family members in the characters, and found many of their situations relatable.

Chapters alternate main characters Alice and her daughter Marjorie, and take the reader back and forth in time from the 1940s to present/near future. I struggled here as they don’t alternate in order - by character or time. Chapters are all over the place without identification so, in most cases, the reader has to figure out when each one takes place. For my scrambled brain, I found this disjointing and confusing.

Alice was my favorite, even with her intricacies and later in life stodginess. Overall I found her relatable. Energetic, motivated and independent as a young woman, she becomes complacent as a wife and mother. Like many of us, she wants so much more but doesn’t know how to resolve that with her current life.

She’s not the only one. There are definite themes of wives and mothers doing so much for others and not living for themselves.

A largely humorous book, the author gets serious around antisemitism and the very real anxiety around it. I get how those parts were important to character development but they seemed a bit out of place in the overall review.

Thanks to BookSparks for the gifted advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[CR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of stories offers a thoughtful look at family, culture, and the shifting roles of women across generations. The blend of humor and heartache feels authentic, and there are moments that really shine with emotional depth. While not every story stood out equally, the connections between mother and daughter, and the way history shapes their lives, make this a meaningful and memorable read.

[Michelle Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this book and I actually read it in one day. It was THAT good. Remember to Eat is a collection of stories detailing the lives of three generations of women, following them as they deal with issues relating to the particular times in history during which they lived. Women’s rights, parenthood, marriage and family, and aging are all touched on with humor and grace. I look forward to checking out Meryl Ain’s other books now.

[Emily Jania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember to Eat is a great collection of short stories that are somewhat intertwined as all the main characters stem from one Jewish family. Every chapter/story has something different to offer and leaves the reader with a great lesson learned. There’s truly a chapter for everyone!

I was able to learn more about the Jewish culture through this book. The glossary included in the back also provided additional education.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection is so much richer than other short story collections I’ve read. These seem more like reflections. Every story made me think, but they stirred feelings and emotions more than anything. There is something in this thoughtfully written book for everyone!

[Liat Jarkon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meryl Ain did it again! Captivating from the first sentence, this series of short stories is SO relatable and as I finish the last chapter, I long for more!

[Rachel]

Review to come

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I didn’t know better, I’d wonder if Meryl Ain grew up next door to me. The characters in ,”Remember to Eat” could easily be my aunts and uncles, my cousins and classmates. But you don’t have to be NY born Jewish woman “of a certain age” to enjoy these beautifully crafted 22 short stories. Although each story can stand alone, together they give us a glimpse into the world of America in the late 20th century and early 21st. The themes are universal – the mother/daughter relationship; the changing role of women; how technology impacts our lives; stress from in-laws; and how we survived COVID 19. Yes, the topics are deep but the writing is delightful and the issues ae brought to us through characters we learn to love and admire by the end of the book. But don’t get so engrossed in the lives of these folks that you don’t Remember to Eat!