What do you think?
Rate this book
Some Stupid Glow: Stories
A darkly funny and sometimes surreal debut collection about people grasping for meaning in a world that keeps slipping sideways.
The characters in TJ Fuller’s debut collection are desperate. They want their lives to mean something. They seek solace in work, validation and hope in others. And they fail. A lot. The songs they sing us hit home—and they hit hard—but not without humor, grace, and some straight-up weirdness.
The title story allows the reader to explore, in a Choose Your Own Adventure style, how a young woman navigates the increasingly maddening choices she must make. "Damn Us All" follows a man trying on & swapping out deities like so many pairs of socks, seeking something—anything—which will finally make sense. A door-to-door salesman in "Doorbell Songs" starts snooping in places he doesn't belong and crossing lines he hadn't previously considered, just begging to be caught. "Slim Fit" sees what it would be like to actually live inside a jeans commercial.
At times speculative and/or surreal and/or funny-as-hell, these stories set in the Pacific Northwest feature as many Philip Seymour Hoffmans as you can imagine, even more dream versions of yourself, aging backyard wrestlers, homeless gamblers, and much more. Let TJ tell you some tales you won’t soon forget.
The characters in TJ Fuller’s debut collection are desperate. They want their lives to mean something. They seek solace in work, validation and hope in others. And they fail. A lot. The songs they sing us hit home—and they hit hard—but not without humor, grace, and some straight-up weirdness.
The title story allows the reader to explore, in a Choose Your Own Adventure style, how a young woman navigates the increasingly maddening choices she must make. "Damn Us All" follows a man trying on & swapping out deities like so many pairs of socks, seeking something—anything—which will finally make sense. A door-to-door salesman in "Doorbell Songs" starts snooping in places he doesn't belong and crossing lines he hadn't previously considered, just begging to be caught. "Slim Fit" sees what it would be like to actually live inside a jeans commercial.
At times speculative and/or surreal and/or funny-as-hell, these stories set in the Pacific Northwest feature as many Philip Seymour Hoffmans as you can imagine, even more dream versions of yourself, aging backyard wrestlers, homeless gamblers, and much more. Let TJ tell you some tales you won’t soon forget.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
172 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 8, 2026
i loved the stories, i loved that i recognized the places. i love how similar life is to us all.
Review of advance copy
I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Some Stupid Glow: Stories by T.J. Fuller is a bold, offbeat debut that blends dark humor, surrealism, and emotional honesty into a collection that’s both strange and surprisingly relatable.
These stories are filled with characters searching for meaning—through work, relationships, identity, even faith—and repeatedly coming up short. What makes the collection stand out is how Fuller balances that underlying melancholy with sharp humor and a willingness to fully embrace the bizarre. The world in these stories often feels slightly distorted, like reality tilted just enough to expose how fragile and absurd it can be.
The variety of styles and concepts keeps things engaging. The interactive, Choose Your Own Adventure-style title story is a creative highlight, while others like “Damn Us All” and “Doorbell Songs” explore discomfort, belief, and boundary-crossing in ways that are both unsettling and thought-provoking. “Slim Fit” is especially memorable for its sheer oddity and commitment to its premise.
Not every story landed equally for me, but even the ones that didn’t fully connect were interesting in their ambition. Fuller’s voice is confident, weird in the best way, and often very funny, with moments that hit emotionally when you least expect it.
Overall, this is a unique and memorable collection that won’t be for everyone, but readers who enjoy experimental, slightly surreal literary fiction will find a lot to appreciate here. A strong debut, and I’m curious to see what Fuller does next.
Some Stupid Glow: Stories by T.J. Fuller is a bold, offbeat debut that blends dark humor, surrealism, and emotional honesty into a collection that’s both strange and surprisingly relatable.
These stories are filled with characters searching for meaning—through work, relationships, identity, even faith—and repeatedly coming up short. What makes the collection stand out is how Fuller balances that underlying melancholy with sharp humor and a willingness to fully embrace the bizarre. The world in these stories often feels slightly distorted, like reality tilted just enough to expose how fragile and absurd it can be.
The variety of styles and concepts keeps things engaging. The interactive, Choose Your Own Adventure-style title story is a creative highlight, while others like “Damn Us All” and “Doorbell Songs” explore discomfort, belief, and boundary-crossing in ways that are both unsettling and thought-provoking. “Slim Fit” is especially memorable for its sheer oddity and commitment to its premise.
Not every story landed equally for me, but even the ones that didn’t fully connect were interesting in their ambition. Fuller’s voice is confident, weird in the best way, and often very funny, with moments that hit emotionally when you least expect it.
Overall, this is a unique and memorable collection that won’t be for everyone, but readers who enjoy experimental, slightly surreal literary fiction will find a lot to appreciate here. A strong debut, and I’m curious to see what Fuller does next.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This collection is a lovely debut (though unfortunately not for me), mixing an earnestness with dark humor to explore the human mind. Each story feels fresh as Fuller uses a variety of styles and subjects throughout the book, while still keeping to and even amplifying the core theme of searching for meaning. Charming and unique, this is a good pick if you’re looking for fast-paced vignettes full of those struggling for connection.
May 26, 2026
I normally have a hard time getting into short stories, but this was really fun! Great cast of eccentric characters. Some of the jobs that characters had brought me back to those years in your early 20s when most the places you work are the worst and the gigs are just so random.
I would love a novel featuring the two amateur wrestlers. About 4 of the stories feature them
I would love a novel featuring the two amateur wrestlers. About 4 of the stories feature them
July 31, 2026
I stopped reading it after the first 2 short stories. Neither made sense to me and I was completely lost. I know I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I usually have no issues understanding what I am reading. Read it for yourself, and let me know if it is a me thing.
April 27, 2026
I got the advanced reader copy. I really did give this a try I read 2 of the stories and I just couldn’t this was not for me.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews