I Am the Ghost Here: Stories

by Kim Samek

Twelve women confront the mounting existential terrors of modern life in this absurd, wryly hilarious debut story collection.

A woman's limbs disappear into “the cloud” during wildfire-induced power outages. A lonely DoorDasher accidentally becomes the star of someone else's reality show, forced to resolve her fraught relationship with her immigrant mother for the narrative. Succumbing to a widely denied pandemic, a gymnastics coach must carry her heart around in a Mason jar, using her disability to become an influencer. Two chronically single, chronically ill people become soulmates, only to discover their meeting was algorithmically orchestrated by ad tech. Other dramas unfold as icebergs melt and island-sized trash heaps burn.

Threaded with sharp social commentary, these stories question the engineering of human connection through technology, social media, and reality television. Warm, endlessly strange, and filled with dark yet hopeful humor, I Am the Ghost Here casts familiar crises of contemporary life in a wholly unique light, offering a pathway towards our shared humanity even as reality comes crumbling down.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Climate Change, Literary Fiction

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

Kim Samek is the author of the forthcoming debut story collection I AM THE GHOST HERE, which will be published by Dial Press in 2026. Her fiction appears in ZYZZYVA, Story Magazine, Guernica, Ecotone, Southern Humanities Review, Gulf Coast, Electric Literature, swamp pink, North American Review, Chicago Quarterly Review, The Threepenny Review, and others. A native of Seattle, she studied creative writing and German Literature at Stanford University. She has written and/or produced shows for MTV, HBO Max, PBS, and others. Her television writing has been nominated for an Emmy Award and her short fiction has been awarded the Pushcart Prize. She lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“On our way to the elevator, I think I see a zombie, but when I get closer I realize I’m looking at an elderly lady walking backward unsteadily; I’ve mistaken her loose bun for a face.”

These stories are just the right level of strange while still being mostly grounded in reality. Many of them contain an element of Magical realism, which I love, and they’re all well written. Dark, funny, and sad. The ultimate literary trifecta.

Specifically, the one about the chair actually kind of read like something adjacent to the universe of Tim Robinson’s “The Chair Company,” but more mystical.

Some of the endings were less than satisfying, but a solid ending can be difficult to pull off.

I enjoyed this collection and would absolutely read this author again!

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Chronic illness, Suicide

[Remi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the most exciting and cohesive story collection i’ve ever read. every story in this debut feels alive with intention, crafted around a strong central metaphor that unfolds into dark humour, existential dread, and emotional clarity. it’s rare for a collection to land every single piece for me, but Kim Samek manages it. each story stands out, yet together they form a sharply unified portrait of modern anxieties.

Samek writes in a style that blends surrealism with painfully recognisable reality. instead of preaching, the stories embody these themes through wild, imaginative premises. the absurdity is never for shock value; it’s purposeful, metaphorical, and deeply human.

what impressed me most was the idea density and control. Samek knows exactly how long each story needs to be. they’re tight, purposeful, and paced with real confidence. the writing is clever without being showy, reflective without drifting into vagueness, and emotionally pointed without losing that off-kilter humour. every story gave me something to chew on. i found myself thinking about the implications long after finishing each one.

if you enjoy existential fiction, strange-but-recognisable worlds, and stories that turn anxiety into art, this collection is a gem. it’s warm, weird, funny, and super reflective beneath all the chaos. i’m already excited to see what Kim Samek writes next.

-------

to-read:

i already know that i will like this. all ideas just sound epic.

*thank you to The Dial Press for the ARC*

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Weird girl short stories that hinge together modern social & political issues with bizarre outcomes for our FMCs. Limbs are disappearing or turning into scrambled eggs, organs must be carried around in mason jars and communicate through bluetooth, people eating plastic because if you can’t beat them…
”them” being plastic particulates.

Each story is a totally unique and fresh concept that features a Thai FMC who loves 90s music. I totally vibe with them because I love 90s music, I “prefer(s) complex characters who make suffering seem attractive,” and I “prefer (s) the taste of blood to the sound of bullshit.” (Metaphorically of course.) One FMC “brings only one suitcase, filling it with books.” That’s my kind of girl. I also believe there’s a nod to Heckit from Open Throat… how many bachelor mountain lions do you know who live alone in the park? Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC.
Pub date Feb 24, 2026

[Karli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you love weird stories that, while highly speculative, are also very relatable about relationships humans have with each other and technology? Then you need this book in your life. Loneliness in the digital age, climate change, and postpartum isolation are just some of the topics touched on. I'll be the first to admit that short stories aren't typically for me but these towards were so bite sized and yet packed such a huge punch. They each are so unique and absurd as well. Be still my heart. While I enjoyed every single story greatly here are my top 5.

'Egg mother': a newly postpartum women finds herself turning into scrambled eggs (totally relatable iykyk).

'Everything Disappears When You're Having Fun' : an unexpected relationship is informed after a women sells a man a faulty chair which teleports you to the middle of nowhere when you sit on it and the two of them establish custody of the chair.

'Sven': a women picks up a earbud and suddenly finds a producer in her ear. Now she's a part of a TV show we're she is guided with how to say and act. (This one definitely spoke to my anxiety).

'Muscle to Muscle, Toe to Toe': a women meets the perfect man only to find out that the success of their relationship is due to an apps algorithm.

'The Garbage Patch': After a misunderstanding, a women realizes that a man might not be so bad after they realize they both love eating plastic (This was my favourite of the whole book).

The writing is exceptional, making the total absurd seem completely plausible. I know this stories will stick with me for many years to come!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the arc.

[Syndrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short story collection that truly proves you don't need to have a large word count in order to write an intriguing story.

Each story gets straight to the point from the very beginning, so it's easy to get pulled in immediately. One story that had my attention from the very first sentence was "Egg Mother" wherein a woman suddenly turns into a scrambled egg one day. With this crazy opening line, I was instantly locked in and already had twenty questions even though I wasn't yet twenty words into the story! (Like what do you mean you turned into eggs? Is this supposed to be literal or figurative? Did she just collapse into a pile of egg or was she a human shaped egg?)

Some other notable stories for me were: "The Sharpest Knife" which involves a pandemic that causes people to have to carry around their own surgically removed organs that still continue to function after said removal; "Everything Disappears When You're Having Fun" which features a chair that teleports the people who sit in it to rather remote locations; "Muscle to Muscle, Toe to Toe," a story that really drills down into how social media algorithms affect our lives; and the titular story, "I Am the Ghost Here," featuring a man who has elected to become a puppet and allow another human being to completely control all aspects of his life.

So needless to say these are stories about strange happenings, but they still feel very grounded in reality. These are stories that tackle real life concerns and problems, just with more abstract presentations. Some of the stories show their themes from the beginning while others take a bit of time to reveal their true nature, but they all manage to feel quite meaningful. I'm very impressed at how well Samek is able to write stories that are simultaneously haunting and hopeful.

With a total of twelve fascinatingly unique stories, I think most readers will be able to come out of this collection with at least a handful of stories that they enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this one to anybody who is a fan of speculative fiction in particular, as well as anybody who likes stories that are just a little bit odd.

(Thank you to Random House and The Dial Press team for providing me with an advance review copy for free via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)

[Elle Spohrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I know will stick with me for the rest of my life. Every single one of these stories offers a unique and thought-provoking insight into some aspect of our world. Many of the stories take place in a frighteningly near future, one where limbs can be spontaneously snatched into “the cloud” or people snack on plastic or surgically removed organs can connect to their owner via Bluetooth.

Samek’s dry, matter-of-fact humor makes these stories tangibly, heart-wrenchingly terrifying. The characters move through the world with a relatable mix of cynicism and hope; the strategies they use to survive their unfortunate circumstances feel uncomfortably close to how people today survive our only slightly less unfortunate circumstances.

The absurdity in these stories reminded me a little of Amparo Davila’s work, where the vagueness of the imagery adds to the reading experience. For instance, in the second story in this collection (“Egg Mother”), the narrator becomes scrambled eggs. The technicalities of this are never really explained; the reader is unclear on what, exactly, this looks like, or what the precise limitations of her abilities are in scrambled egg form, or even if this is a common affliction in the world of the story. The confusing nature of this metaphor only strengthens it. The woman is scrambled eggs. You must accept this before beginning to understand the story’s themes.

I could list a hundred of my favorite lines from this book, but I think the best way to give you a glimpse into the style of this collection is to share a few of the stories’ first lines.

"At thirty-six I turn into a scrambled egg." (“Egg Mother”)

"All Thuy wants is a man who will eat plastic with her, but it’s been hard to find a man like that in this town." (“The Garbage Patch”)

"It is not until my brother is thirty-three that I learn he’s controlled by a puppeteer." (“I Am the Ghost Here”)

If you enjoy surrealist humor, or you’re anxious about the state of the world, or you like reading about weird people in weird situations, I think you’ll love I Am the Ghost Here.

***Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a free advanced reader copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.***

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories about corporate human puppeteering, a teleporting chair, becoming scrambled eggs, and a milf hotel…
If you like Raphael Bob Waksberg, you’ll like this and also be scared of this

[Sam Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so thankful to The Dial Press, Kim Samek, and NetGalley for granting me advanced access to this collection of stories that is just DEFINITELY giving WEIRD GIRL FIC!

Each story is a little bit more eerie than the next, never failing to not shock me into the next plain.

We’ve got new moms turning into scrambled eggs, earpiece reality TV generational trauma, California on fire (which isn’t too unrealistic), and many more tales of mayhem that kept me cackling and gasping.

[Kas Marek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the E-ARC.

This is the best short story collection I’ve ever read. The stories were cohesive yet distinct. They tackled themes of climate change, feminism, classism, motherhood, and technology. Some of these stories blew me away so much I had to put down the book and stare at the damn wall. Here’s my ranking:

1. Egg Mother
2. I Am the Ghost Here
3. The Cloud
4. The Sharpest Knife
5. Return
6. Trash Heal Hero
7. The Garbage Patch
8. The MILF Hotel
9. Everything Disappears
10. Another Toad in the Feely Box
11. Sven
12. Muscle to Muscle, Toe to Toe

[Brice Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House for the ARC!

Kim Samek’s I Am the Ghost Here is a pastel-hued Black Mirror-esque anthology of all the ways modernity threatens one’s selfhood.

Short story collections are always hit-or-miss, but Samek goes 12-0 by constructing each narrative around its intended impact. The punchiness is the point, and the stories themselves almost take a backseat to their respective hooks. On the surface, these stories are very, well, surface-level because Samek maps interiority onto radical physical changes. For example, in the titular opener, a Thai-American man is puppeteered to social success by a white woman. As in, yes, there is literally a white woman inside him. When his family finds out, they lose all respect for him, but they also don’t like the “real” him. There’s not much more to the story than that, and Samek cheerily jumps into a new what if before the dust has settled on the impossible plight of the second-gen experience: being born into a community that glorifies what white masculinity represents while resenting what it means. Ultimately, I Am the Ghost Here gets at a really interesting idea—the very things that constitute our identities also threaten them, and attempts to find our “essential” selves can be an act of self-annihilation.

Samek’s writing is a treat, delivering dire existentialism with a chipper bemusement. One can almost sense the characters looking around going, “Crazy, right? Look at us.” Everybody in the book is thinly-sketched, but they know it, and whenever they grasp at something more substantial, things quickly turn absurd. A woman’s postpartum body changes into literal scrambled eggs. An illness forces someone else to have “a heart pumping blood remotely, by bluetooth." Another character tries to resist the social media algorithms that forced her into her partner’s orbit, which causes her to derail her life by doing the opposite of whatever comes naturally. No matter how far-fetched the narratives become, the emotional logic always feels true and coherent.

That said, I Am the Ghost Here may almost be too cohesive. I mentioned Black Mirror earlier in this review because Samek takes a similar narrative approach. While each story sings playfully through its subject—health, marriage, motherhood, employment—there’s a slight sense of diminishing returns because there’s not really much thematic development—just thematic reiteration. In a way, this approach allows Samek to highlight the futility of the question, who am I? It’s impossible to whittle oneself down to an essential answer. But because each story is so focused on its respective “punch,” by the end of the book, the reader almost feels clobbered by their singular, shared point. For that reason, I wish maybe three or four of the stories had been reserved for a different book, not because they are weak, but because they all deserve a chance to shine.

When I think about how spotty the short story genre is, however, my critiques feel a little silly. I Am the Ghost Here is such a strong debut, and Kim Samek is so focused in what she sets out to do that one can’t help but be won over. I’m really excited to follow her work in the future, and if she ever chooses to write a full-length novel, I’ll be the first one begging for an ARC.

[Chelsea Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Am The Ghost Here: Stories, by Kim Samek, is a collection of surprisingly weird and utterly delightful short stories that also manage to have many layers of deeper meaning. Each of these 12 stories features a FMC who is navigating how to live and love and be in relationship amidst the disturbing complexities of our modern age—technology, climate peril, capitalism, the entertainment industry, racial inequalities. How do we live in a world that we are (over) consuming, and that is also in turn devouring us? And, are we consuming ourselves, and each other?

I enjoyed each of these stories immensely—which is especially significant given how I typically prefer reading novels rather than short stories.

I especially enjoyed these three, which are towards the beginning of the collection:

“Egg Mother”: A postpartum mom turns into a scrambled egg, and wonders how she will care for her baby and show up for her husband if she sleeps in the fridge. Will she be able to find herself again? Does confronting her own childhood trauma hold the key? Or is this just motherhood?

“Everything Disappears When You’re Having Fun”: A television producer and a man she meets on Craigslist share custody of a office chair that they realize does more than just hurt one’s back…and eventually try to find a way to maintain their connection but break free of the chair (hopefully without hurting anyone else).

“Trash Heap Hero”: A young woman will do anything to keep showing up to her job of putting out fires on the top of her town’s trash heap…but what will it cost her, and her family?

While tackling complex and heavy themes with a surreal twist, Samek also manages to include so many details that are just so FUN to come across as a reader. I can’t tell you how many times I literally laughed out loud while reading these from the sheer pleasure of Samek’s writing.

Heartfelt gratitude to Samek for her delightful stories, and to NetGalley and Random House for this digital ARC. Please read a copy for yourself—publication date is February 24th, 2026.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of very creative short stories that highlight the loneliness of living in a digital world, environmental issues, and complicated family dynamics. Each story provides a new and often comical metaphor, but there is an obvious theme that is very rooted in reality.

Definitely a more conceptual work and less of a character- or plot-driven work.
While I absolutely loved the ridiculous concepts that Samek came up with, a lot of the stories made me feel depressed and lonely. The ridiculousness is in fact a necessary feature to balance the bleak tone. (Some stories did end with hopeful vibes, the bleakness was in part provided by my own psyche)
This book is not meant to be binged. Gotta chew slowly and digest. Many of these stories I had to sit with after reading and come back to them to really think about what they were trying to say. Consequently I started to appreciate them more the more I thought about them. However, there were a couple of stories that did fall flat for me. I don't know if this is a fault of the writing or if they "went over my head" (it's very possible, as I've seen other reviewers list those stories as favorites).

I keep accidentally reading books that touch on living with chronic health conditions, and having been recently diagnosed with one myself I was not emotionally equipped for this book. A+ Representation but oof it hits like bricks sometimes.

I Am the Ghost Here is a great collection for people who enjoy thinking critically and sorting through outrageous symbolism in texts. It would also be good for a heavier buddy-read or book club pick.

For my final star rating I evaluated each individual story based on 6 different factors that personally were applicable to my enjoyment, and assigned a rating to it, then I averaged those scores. My favorites include: I am the Ghost Here, The MILF Hotel, The Cloud, Return, and Sven.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strange and absolutely wonderful collection of short stories, unlike anything you are likely to ever read. These stories resonate, they sing, metaphorically, as they broach topics like crippling anxiety, the insecurities of motherhood, chronic illness and our destruction of the environment, all couched in stories of missing organs and limbs, weird biological transformations, plastic eating people, reality shows, terrifying pandemics, marketing algorithms and sinister rogue technology.

A masterpiece of storytelling, these are stories that cannot help but remind us of our feeble vulnerabilities, in the face of the terrifying and unknown changes we are setting in motion to our environment, our culture, and the world our children will inhabit. Wildfires, mounting garbage, disappearing bees, — the protagonists here are exposed to it all. Wives cling to husbands as mixed up and afraid as they are. Not to mention unsure of what is real, and what is actually manufactured, as they are secretly filmed, their lives made into entertainment, or they become the victims of strange global and disturbing conspiracies.

No topic too strange, no subject too bizarre, this brilliant and sweeping testament to our times is a collection of remarkable stories this reader will no doubt find the time to revisit.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

[Sacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This is a cohesive, arresting collection full of short stories that I'm dying to teach (so... talk about more).

Because we live in such strange times, though these are speculative, they feel utterly plausible in nearly every case. When they don't, that feels just a few years in the future.

I loved the social commentary here and found myself constantly screenshotting lines I thought were either particularly poignant or remarkably hilarious (including not only the sentiment but also the phrasing of a family leg. And there were many, many others).

Samek has a way of portraying modern life as isolating but relatable, strange but accepted, and dark but hilarious. I found appealing and intentional contradictions everywhere in here, and I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. I'll absolutely be considering this writer's work for future courses, which is one of the highest compliments I can offer. I can't wait for more from Samek.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Corina Diez at Random House for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Cheer is Currently Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I AM THE GHOST HERE
RATING: 4.5
GENRE: Science Fiction, Short Stories

In Kim Samek’s debut collection of short stories, she comments on the idea of being a woman in the world with a sci-fi flair. Her collection features stories about being a single hood , motherhood, and every day challenges of womanhood. I find each story leaving me feeling and thoughtful about my own place in the world.

For fans of Sayaka Murata, I would recommend this book. There’s a hint of strangeness in Samek’s writing that she is able to pull together and make it all work. A few of my favorites are ‘Egg Mother’ and ‘Muscle to Muscle, Toe to Toe’. I plan on re-reading both again as they’re both impactful, yet unnerving at the same time.

Thank you to The Dial Press/Random House and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book and I can’t wait to pick up my own copy on pub date 2/24/25.

[SpinelessBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

There has been a growing trend among publishers and readers alike to get more bizarre works of literature out there, and let me tell you, I'm so on board with that

The stories in I Am the Ghost Here all revolve around women in a world that's slightly askew from our own. The world's are all exaggerated caricatures and personifications of our own behaviors, emotions our over consumption. The stories have a slight sad but also whimsical look to this mirror it holds up to these ugly parts of us as a species.

I'm a massive fan of short stories, so i had a lot of fun reading this collection. Some of these stories will definitely stick with me for a while, and even the ones that didn't hit me as hard were really good. There's brilliant satire of reality TV, social media, and the algorithms that bleed into our everyday lives.

This was an excellent debut novel, and I'll definitely be keeping Kim Samek on my radar from here on out

[Andy Krahling · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a weird little collection of stories, said in the kindest way possible. Just out and out strangeness, presented almost clinically, with taut prose, brimming with black humor. This might not appeal to everyone, but it certainly appealed to me.

Each story featured a FMC, mostly tossed into predicaments not of their making, and struggling (both successfully and not) to make the best of the situation.

Featuring sharp commentary concerning social media and reality television, like most collections, the quality of the story varied -- most of these were really good and forced the reader to accept the story's reality, which wasn't an easy task.

Very well done. Will I read more from the author? Hell, yes.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am glad I read this collection of short stories, giving an unfamiliar writer a chance. However, I don’t know that I would be interested in reading a novel by her.

“I Am The Ghost Here” was enjoyable with the right amount of creepiness. “Trash Heap Hero” was amusing. “The Cloud” was one of my favorites.

“The Sharpest Knife” starts out really creative and amusing. Then it slogs for a while; feels like it has gone on too long. But then it improves, ending on a higher note.

“Egg Mother” has a good message which is conveyed in a very odd manner.

“Everything disappears when you are having fun” was an odd story. So was “Sven.” “Return” was so-so. So was “Muscle to Muscle, Toe to Toe.”

“Another Toad in the Feely Box” is strange and depressing. “The Garbage Patch” was really strange. I didn’t much care for “The Milf Hotel.”

[Aleks T (alisbookedup) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

Have you ever finished a story and felt like it healed you? Have you ever finished a story and felt like it broke you? Have you ever finished a story and stared at the wall for a while? Have you ever finished a story and felt the need to call your mom? Have you ever finished a story and felt the need to throw out all your electronics? Have you ever finished a book and felt yourself becoming a robot? Maybe an egg?

Feel all of these things and more with the short stories in Samek’s “I Am the Ghost Here.” It’s a fun and intelligent collection brimming with sharp bites of social commentary that connect you with the heart of what it means to be human, all while maintaining their surreal structure.

“I Am The Ghost Here” releases February 24th. Preorder it at your local bookstore. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Kim Samek for the eARc to review.

[Jess Reads Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

A collection of short stories, each featuring a different scenario, a different story, and a different theme. Extremely thought provoking, some uplifting, some quite sad.

I didn’t know what to expect when I requested this book, but the cover art was extremely intriguing and I am very happy I got to read this. The author is half Thai, which is mentioned and reflected in her various stories. I got strong Black Mirror vibes reading many of these stories, as they’re definitely out of our realm of understanding. Most of the stories were very sentimental and left me thinking about it. I strongly recommend this to all lit fic readers looking for a weird vibe!

Pub date: Feb 24, 2026

[Morgan Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had seen a few of my favorite bookstagrammers suggest I am the Ghost Here by Kim Samek, so I decided to take a stab at requesting the arc on NetGalley. I am so glad I did as I really enjoyed this fantastic short story collection!

Twelve truly unique stories with FMC explore issues of grief, motherhood, trauma, and more, all while adding in dashes of some weird lit flavor. My favorites of the collection are “Muscle to Muscle, Toe to Toe,” “Egg Mother,” and the titular story “I am the Ghost Here” though all the stories are excellent.

For all the fans of Weird Girl Lit - this is a must buy! Available for purchase on 2/24/2026.

Much appreciation to @randomhouse, @thedialpress, @the_kim_samek, and @netgalley for the advanced copy!

[Kaavya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the ARC. This was an incredible collection of short stories, probably the best collection I have read in a while, every single story was a banger. They all blend the line between weird and realistic in the most genius way ever. The stories are so unsettling because its dystopian, but also so strange that you have to keep reading and also some of the ideas are so out there, I truly admire Kim Samek's imagination. My favorite stories from the collection are I Am the Ghost Here, Everything Disappears When You're Having Fun, Return, The Sharpest Knife, Sven, Muscle to Muscle, Toe to Toe, Another Toe in the Feely Box, The Garbage Patch, The MILF Hotel, and The Cloud.

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for an advance review copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderfully imaginative stories that must be read with a completely open mind; they have impossible notions like a woman who is turning into scrambled eggs after giving birth and lives in the refrigerator at night, or a woman whose brother has been turned into a puppet and cannot function without a paid puppeteer to run his life. The strength of the stories is that they do not try to explain their internal logic. Instead, it's up to the reader to connect what's happening in our own realities of societal pressure and skewed family relations and the encroachment of climate change as it alters our lives forever.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC of this interesting collection of stories.

Author Kim Samek has a delightful way with words - "I follow up my words with texts to make sure I'm understood, but my friends know what I'm saying. They have similar thoughts. They have also become parents in an age of anxiety. They are angry about the inaction of our politicians, outraged over what is happening to children abroad. Will our children live with a crushing weight, worse than ours? Will they have hope?"

I burned through these stories. Samek has a way of making a point in each narrative that is haunting, humourous and tragic at the same time, including eclectic themes of capitalism, motherhood and family, technology, and consumption. It demands a re-read. I loved the "Egg Mother" and "The Sharpest Knife" and how we see character growth and self-realization and acceptance in such brief pieces.

[Kelly (veggiekittykelly_reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories housed in this debut collection mostly surround topics related to technology, climate change and human relationships. Speculative, weird and intriguing, I thought this short story collection would be a homerun. Sadly, I didn't find it to be exceptional. The potential was there but most stories just never hit that mark for me. My favorites of the dozen were the title story 'I Am the Ghost Here,' 'Trash Heap Hero,' 'Everything Disappears When You're Having Fun' and 'The Sharpest Knife.'

I give I Am the Ghost Here by Kim Samek 3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐💫

Thank you Random House for this eARC through NetGalley!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

- really tried with this one. I love weird short stories. They are the reason I fell in love with reading. I wanted to love this collection, I really did, but it didn’t work for me. The stories might grab me in the beginning, but then it felt that they would each fizzle out. Though most of the stories didn’t stick in my mind, I do remember a story involving a woman giving birth to an egg, which I did enjoy. Other people loved this collection, and it is clear the author is a competent writer with a whimsical imagination. If you love weird short stories, maybe check this one out from the library when it comes out. Give it a chance. This one just didn’t hit for me.
- 3 stars

[Audrey Bonfig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love short stories, and these were great! The author made lots of good commentary about the perils of technology in everyday life and how women are treated in the current age.

My favorite story was Egg Mother. I never would have thought to use turning into scrambled eggs as a metaphor for postpartum depression and feeling like your body doesn’t belong to you after having a baby, but it worked very well!

I would recommend this collection to fans of Ottessa Moshfegh or Mona Awad, someone who enjoys the peculiar and isn’t afraid to get weird!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Sarah Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the best collection of short stories by a single author that I have read in a very long time. Maybe ever. I don’t think I can review this in a way that does it justice. It’s not for everyone, which I view as a strength. But it is certainly for those who find existential, dystopian fiction akin to a cozy hug while watching the world burn down from a safe distance out of your massive, living room picture window overlooking a cliff. A savory literary stew made of equals parts thrill, horror, and nostalgia. 13/10 - I am mad for this author.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samek’s short story collection blew me away. I don’t typically read short story collections with the speed I do novels but this was a big exception. Samek embraces a lot of imagery and commentary on climate change which I found smart and incredibly creative. There are subtle hints of feminism throughout as well as several points that are laugh-out-loud funny. I am so glad I picked this up and look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review will follow closer to publication date.

If you enjoyed You Glow in the Dark by Liliana Colanzi or Out There by Kate Folk or The Last Catastrophe: Stories by Allegra Hyde as much as I did (a lot) or if you're the kind who can appreciate a good weird girl quiet horror/speculative collection this one is going to be for you


Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for providing me an eARC of this book for review consideration.