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From Me to You: Anthology of Human Connections
Every day we make new connections, whether it is intentional or not. It is human nature to seek out those connections and nurture them.
‘From Me to You’ features 14 wonderful authors who have all contributed a short story to the theme of connections.
Sink into intricate worlds and the lives of characters who are reaching out, just trying to find their people.
‘From Me to You’ features 14 wonderful authors who have all contributed a short story to the theme of connections.
Sink into intricate worlds and the lives of characters who are reaching out, just trying to find their people.
ebook
Published November 18, 2025
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Bratchford
8 books23 followersAnna (they/them) is a queer author and poet based in Naarm/Melbourne. They love to read and write cosy fantasy/sci-fi both in poetry and prose. If not writing or at work, they will most likely be reading, walking around their local area day-dreaming about their next novel idea, or spending time with their two cats - Nautica (Marketing Manager) and Mahnoy (Snack Supervisor).
While at home, Anna will most likely be drinking tea, thinking about making a cup of tea, or scolding themself because they've remembered another mug of cold, half drunk tea which they have unintentionally sacrificed to the tea goddess.
Want to read more from Anna? Use these handy social media handles and/or links below:
instagram: @writingsby.anna
threads: @writingsby.anna
facebook: @AnnaBratchford.Author
website: https://annabratchford.com/
newsletter: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/form...
While at home, Anna will most likely be drinking tea, thinking about making a cup of tea, or scolding themself because they've remembered another mug of cold, half drunk tea which they have unintentionally sacrificed to the tea goddess.
Want to read more from Anna? Use these handy social media handles and/or links below:
instagram: @writingsby.anna
threads: @writingsby.anna
facebook: @AnnaBratchford.Author
website: https://annabratchford.com/
newsletter: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/form...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 7, 2025
What a beautiful collection of stories about human connection in all its forms! I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this, and I’ll be leaving this book with so many new characters who managed to find a place in my heart!
Stormwind by Jake Vanguard was a particularly heartwarming tale about forgiveness and shedding the past, with Tyrka stealing my heart as much as Meren did, and I don’t think I’ll ever look at rainbow socks again without thinking of Jay Dell and their story.
Elliott was so refreshing to read about and Tali and Sonya were just wonderful to follow. They had my heart racing till the end!
Orion and his golden retriever cinnamon roll? Yes, please! And what about Indigo and her ‘unwilling’ soulmate? Eamón and Grace made me giggle AND blush!
I thought Lyra was such a sweet strong protagonist too! And I enjoyed the glimpse into Ian’s life and Mia, Zaid and Asher’s little bubble. Stepping into a sci-fi beehive was such an immersive experience too, the environment so beautifully world-built! And what about the idea of coming together to save a family-run business? Such an important story about community to start the anthology with! And of course the gallery owner, who shows such devotion and determination to help their paintings.
In short, this was an incredibly crafted and curated collection of stories about human connection, lovingly immersed in queer experiences of all kinds. I was especially happy to see so many non-binary characters and so many different realizations of the meaning of love.
I would recommend this collection every time. There’s a story for everyone here. In my case, every single story somehow hit the mark. And my favourites will stay with me long after I close the cover.
Stormwind by Jake Vanguard was a particularly heartwarming tale about forgiveness and shedding the past, with Tyrka stealing my heart as much as Meren did, and I don’t think I’ll ever look at rainbow socks again without thinking of Jay Dell and their story.
Elliott was so refreshing to read about and Tali and Sonya were just wonderful to follow. They had my heart racing till the end!
Orion and his golden retriever cinnamon roll? Yes, please! And what about Indigo and her ‘unwilling’ soulmate? Eamón and Grace made me giggle AND blush!
I thought Lyra was such a sweet strong protagonist too! And I enjoyed the glimpse into Ian’s life and Mia, Zaid and Asher’s little bubble. Stepping into a sci-fi beehive was such an immersive experience too, the environment so beautifully world-built! And what about the idea of coming together to save a family-run business? Such an important story about community to start the anthology with! And of course the gallery owner, who shows such devotion and determination to help their paintings.
In short, this was an incredibly crafted and curated collection of stories about human connection, lovingly immersed in queer experiences of all kinds. I was especially happy to see so many non-binary characters and so many different realizations of the meaning of love.
I would recommend this collection every time. There’s a story for everyone here. In my case, every single story somehow hit the mark. And my favourites will stay with me long after I close the cover.
November 4, 2025
This anthology of queer, fantasy short stories, curated by A. E. Bratchford is the perfect read on a cold autumn day, tucked inside with a cup of tea. Perhaps inappropriate timing to release this book, as summer approaches for the Naarm-based independent publishers, but as my daylight hours dwindle here in London, reading this felt perfectly timed.
The anthology features 14 queer stories by LGBTQ+ authors, and many of the stories centre around the moment of connection between two or more people, and that dawning realisation we have of love and affection. The collection cultivates a sense of belonging and found family through all its stories, and even through variation in themes and style of fantasy, the stories connect seamlessly. Many thanks to the publisher, Tea and Books Press, for the e-ARC.
As expected in a fantasy anthology, many of the stories featured characters embarking on other worlds or exploring a parallel space in time in which their other half resides. I enjoyed the unique and homely way some of the stories used this trope, and the similarities some of these stories shared. For instance, the world of the painting in ‘Gallery Piece No.9’ by Tess Carletta was well explored, and the way this author described these two separate realms within the text amplified the forlornness of the character inside the frame, as well as visual differences between the two worlds and the stark rules demarcating them. While I found this particular story somewhat maudlin, the descriptions of space, both in the gallery and in the paintings, were vivid and beautiful.
I drew parallels between Carletta’s early story and the last story in the anthology, ‘The Library of Lost Worlds’ by Avrah C. Baren, in terms of both having a distinct means of communicating between two separate realms. Baren’s story was one of the strongest in the anthology in my opinion, with characters that I felt immediately connected to, and in the brevity of their story quickly empathised with. Baren’s world had a simplicity to it that sidelined fuss and the reader’s need to interpret every little action of their characters, while foregrounding the blooming relationship between the two main characters. Where Carletta had an eye for the detail and mechanics of the world between the painting and the gallery master, Baren provides readers with the bare necessities and guides the reader towards what they want them to infer. The imagery of the wildfire and the wildflowers in Baren’s story served as a perfect analogy to the beginnings of the characters’ relationship, and was a fantastic way to end the anthology.
I particularly enjoyed the various narrative arcs within each short story - the fact that very few of the stories felt strenuous or stretched on beyond the natural span of the narrative. These authors understand the impact of brevity and have masterful control of the narrative arcs of their stories. In particular, the fifth story, ‘Midnight Indigo’ by Avery Carter, stood out to me for this reason, the story ending without resolution to the slowly building narrative tension and allowing the reader to consider the aftermath of the story’s plot. Considering the impact “slow-burn romance” has had on the cultural zeitgeist over the last few years, Carter and others in the anthology did well to kindle this narrative tension, without letting it putter out as the narrative resolved itself and came to its conclusion.
Unlike many full-length fantasy texts, these authors did not have the luxury of 800 odd pages (cough Robert Jordan). As such, many of these texts felt much more plot-driven than the average fantasy novel, either as a stand-alone or as a book in a larger series. ‘Galactic Honey’ by H. M. Evans, and ‘Trial of Twilight’ by Aimee Donnellan impressed me in how fast-paced their stories were, yet how fleshed out the worlds they had built still felt. Evans has mastered the old technique of “show, don’t tell”, and provides us with complex, fleshed out characters, while still providing interesting and unique world-building. I think ‘Galactic Honey’ was my favourite of the stories, and I really appreciated the way Evans expanded on their two main characters, Tor and Xandri, via dialogue and actions rather than a projection of the characters’ interiority. It felt rare and exciting to find a fantasy story that was not pinned upon the insularity of its characters, and despite the telekinetic communication between some of Evans’ characters, there was a sense of so much happening, without it impinging on the richness of the two main characters’ relationship.
Overall, a fantastic, warm read, perfect for chipping away at across a few nights. These stories had a hopefulness and levity to them that made them easy to connect with, and compels readers to empathise with these characters. My thanks again to Tea and Books Press for the e-ARC.
The anthology features 14 queer stories by LGBTQ+ authors, and many of the stories centre around the moment of connection between two or more people, and that dawning realisation we have of love and affection. The collection cultivates a sense of belonging and found family through all its stories, and even through variation in themes and style of fantasy, the stories connect seamlessly. Many thanks to the publisher, Tea and Books Press, for the e-ARC.
As expected in a fantasy anthology, many of the stories featured characters embarking on other worlds or exploring a parallel space in time in which their other half resides. I enjoyed the unique and homely way some of the stories used this trope, and the similarities some of these stories shared. For instance, the world of the painting in ‘Gallery Piece No.9’ by Tess Carletta was well explored, and the way this author described these two separate realms within the text amplified the forlornness of the character inside the frame, as well as visual differences between the two worlds and the stark rules demarcating them. While I found this particular story somewhat maudlin, the descriptions of space, both in the gallery and in the paintings, were vivid and beautiful.
I drew parallels between Carletta’s early story and the last story in the anthology, ‘The Library of Lost Worlds’ by Avrah C. Baren, in terms of both having a distinct means of communicating between two separate realms. Baren’s story was one of the strongest in the anthology in my opinion, with characters that I felt immediately connected to, and in the brevity of their story quickly empathised with. Baren’s world had a simplicity to it that sidelined fuss and the reader’s need to interpret every little action of their characters, while foregrounding the blooming relationship between the two main characters. Where Carletta had an eye for the detail and mechanics of the world between the painting and the gallery master, Baren provides readers with the bare necessities and guides the reader towards what they want them to infer. The imagery of the wildfire and the wildflowers in Baren’s story served as a perfect analogy to the beginnings of the characters’ relationship, and was a fantastic way to end the anthology.
I particularly enjoyed the various narrative arcs within each short story - the fact that very few of the stories felt strenuous or stretched on beyond the natural span of the narrative. These authors understand the impact of brevity and have masterful control of the narrative arcs of their stories. In particular, the fifth story, ‘Midnight Indigo’ by Avery Carter, stood out to me for this reason, the story ending without resolution to the slowly building narrative tension and allowing the reader to consider the aftermath of the story’s plot. Considering the impact “slow-burn romance” has had on the cultural zeitgeist over the last few years, Carter and others in the anthology did well to kindle this narrative tension, without letting it putter out as the narrative resolved itself and came to its conclusion.
Unlike many full-length fantasy texts, these authors did not have the luxury of 800 odd pages (cough Robert Jordan). As such, many of these texts felt much more plot-driven than the average fantasy novel, either as a stand-alone or as a book in a larger series. ‘Galactic Honey’ by H. M. Evans, and ‘Trial of Twilight’ by Aimee Donnellan impressed me in how fast-paced their stories were, yet how fleshed out the worlds they had built still felt. Evans has mastered the old technique of “show, don’t tell”, and provides us with complex, fleshed out characters, while still providing interesting and unique world-building. I think ‘Galactic Honey’ was my favourite of the stories, and I really appreciated the way Evans expanded on their two main characters, Tor and Xandri, via dialogue and actions rather than a projection of the characters’ interiority. It felt rare and exciting to find a fantasy story that was not pinned upon the insularity of its characters, and despite the telekinetic communication between some of Evans’ characters, there was a sense of so much happening, without it impinging on the richness of the two main characters’ relationship.
Overall, a fantastic, warm read, perfect for chipping away at across a few nights. These stories had a hopefulness and levity to them that made them easy to connect with, and compels readers to empathise with these characters. My thanks again to Tea and Books Press for the e-ARC.
November 4, 2025
4'5
Thanks to Booksirens for sending me an ARC of this book. These thoughts are my own and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
It's rare when an anthology makes you like every single story in it, but that's what happened here.
This is a cozy and heartwarming collection of stories about community, relationships (of various kinds) and love, by indie writers, mostly in the fantasy genre.
Every story in this book made me smile and I felt incredibly good while reading it. The stories are inclusive, full of diverse characters.
As I said, I liked every story (thus the rating), but my favourites were Tea leaves and sunshine by Taylor Hubbard (in which a reclusive healer mage gets to know his delivery boy -and the whole town), Gallery piece no9 by Tess Carletta (in which a gallery master enters a very special painting), Stormwind by Jake Vanguard (in which a sylph finds themselves in a forced marriage to a monster) and The library of lost worlds (in which a woman who seals doors to other worlds finds another woman behind a door).
Thanks to Booksirens for sending me an ARC of this book. These thoughts are my own and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
It's rare when an anthology makes you like every single story in it, but that's what happened here.
This is a cozy and heartwarming collection of stories about community, relationships (of various kinds) and love, by indie writers, mostly in the fantasy genre.
Every story in this book made me smile and I felt incredibly good while reading it. The stories are inclusive, full of diverse characters.
As I said, I liked every story (thus the rating), but my favourites were Tea leaves and sunshine by Taylor Hubbard (in which a reclusive healer mage gets to know his delivery boy -and the whole town), Gallery piece no9 by Tess Carletta (in which a gallery master enters a very special painting), Stormwind by Jake Vanguard (in which a sylph finds themselves in a forced marriage to a monster) and The library of lost worlds (in which a woman who seals doors to other worlds finds another woman behind a door).
November 16, 2025
I had the opportunity to read the arc and would like to share my opinion
In resume i loved the short stories.
Usually when we are talking about a compilation of books or short stories the editors tend to add the same gender of stories and gradually it become tedious and repetitive to read, but in this book this is not the case.
The fantasy and differences in each story is so lovely. All of them are easy to read and the way the stories develop is unique to each story. This is the type of book i would recommend to someone that wants to know about the different types of relationships in the lgbtq+ community, continuing in this point of view, it would be excellent for Yong Adults (short, cute, interesting and different) of the community that want to know a little bit more or if you are learning English this wold be a good b2-c1 book to read.
In resume i loved the short stories.
Usually when we are talking about a compilation of books or short stories the editors tend to add the same gender of stories and gradually it become tedious and repetitive to read, but in this book this is not the case.
The fantasy and differences in each story is so lovely. All of them are easy to read and the way the stories develop is unique to each story. This is the type of book i would recommend to someone that wants to know about the different types of relationships in the lgbtq+ community, continuing in this point of view, it would be excellent for Yong Adults (short, cute, interesting and different) of the community that want to know a little bit more or if you are learning English this wold be a good b2-c1 book to read.
November 28, 2025
This is a beautiful collection of short stories for anyone that has ever felt lost and lonely. If you've ever found yourself feeling out of place and looking for a sense of belonging, if you've ever felt like you'll never find true friends and companions, then these stories will resonate with you in a special way.
Each story embraces a queer, not-quite-of-this-world vibe. Whether magical, fantasy, or sciency each examines the idea of connection through a slightly different lens but all in a very cohesive manner that ties together nicely.
I highly recommend this as a cozy pick-me-up. Each story makes for a quick read before bed or while on break. This book would also make a great gift for a romantic interest! Please note that I received an advance review copy of this for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I am so thankful to have gotten a copy.
Each story embraces a queer, not-quite-of-this-world vibe. Whether magical, fantasy, or sciency each examines the idea of connection through a slightly different lens but all in a very cohesive manner that ties together nicely.
I highly recommend this as a cozy pick-me-up. Each story makes for a quick read before bed or while on break. This book would also make a great gift for a romantic interest! Please note that I received an advance review copy of this for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I am so thankful to have gotten a copy.
December 25, 2025
Wonderful blend of fantasy and queer relationships! Even a bit of poly relationships too.
Perhaps some of these are slices of novellas rather than standalone short stories, such as Jaydell's The Love Algorithm and H.M Evan's Galactic Honey, so it felt a little disorienting to hop into certain narratives. I liked that the "human connection" wasn't always romantic; sometimes it was between parent and child or the establishment of a new partnership. I'd have liked one or two more stories with sci-fiction elements, yet I realize that it's a personal preference more than anything.
Welcome variety of writing between the authors. I enjoyed this collection, and reading this turned out to be a pleasant way to spend Christmas. Thank you!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Perhaps some of these are slices of novellas rather than standalone short stories, such as Jaydell's The Love Algorithm and H.M Evan's Galactic Honey, so it felt a little disorienting to hop into certain narratives. I liked that the "human connection" wasn't always romantic; sometimes it was between parent and child or the establishment of a new partnership. I'd have liked one or two more stories with sci-fiction elements, yet I realize that it's a personal preference more than anything.
Welcome variety of writing between the authors. I enjoyed this collection, and reading this turned out to be a pleasant way to spend Christmas. Thank you!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 25, 2025
From Me To You is a collection of fantasy stories about people meeting and connecting, some meeting for the first time, others well known to each other but suddenly making a connection or realizing that one that has been building over time. The people in question here are LGBTQIA+ ones and even a giant bee.
There is some magic to be found between these pages. Maybe not all the stories though for me. Nine out of thirteen definitely had a sparkle or two and a couple made me smile days later. One or two needed the reader to be familiar with an author’s work but most were just pitched right. The editing and writing are spot on so no concerns there. From Me To You are just the thing for a dark winter’s night by the fire.
There is some magic to be found between these pages. Maybe not all the stories though for me. Nine out of thirteen definitely had a sparkle or two and a couple made me smile days later. One or two needed the reader to be familiar with an author’s work but most were just pitched right. The editing and writing are spot on so no concerns there. From Me To You are just the thing for a dark winter’s night by the fire.
November 21, 2025
3.8/5
I received an advance review copy at no cost, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a stunning read, and I really enjoyed navigating through each page. Some stories did it for me, and there are some that didn’t. But in all, it is really a good read for someone who really doesn’t know the culture of these writers they're exploring for the first time through fiction.
Tbh, a collection of short stories isn't my thing because it takes me a while to get into a story, unless it’s very fast-paced. By the time I finally get into it, the story has already ended or is almost at the end. I’m led into another totally new story, one I have to start afresh in.
If you are really looking for a quick read and enjoy a short story collection, then this is for you.
I received an advance review copy at no cost, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a stunning read, and I really enjoyed navigating through each page. Some stories did it for me, and there are some that didn’t. But in all, it is really a good read for someone who really doesn’t know the culture of these writers they're exploring for the first time through fiction.
Tbh, a collection of short stories isn't my thing because it takes me a while to get into a story, unless it’s very fast-paced. By the time I finally get into it, the story has already ended or is almost at the end. I’m led into another totally new story, one I have to start afresh in.
If you are really looking for a quick read and enjoy a short story collection, then this is for you.
November 8, 2025
From Me to You: Anthology of Human Connections is a heartfelt collection featuring 14 stories from 14 different authors, all beautifully curated by AE Bratchford. Each author brings a unique voice and story that touches on love, loss, hope, and connection. A few pieces stood out more than others, but overall it’s a warm, thoughtful read that lingers long after you finish.
Thank you Booksirens for this ARC.
Thank you Booksirens for this ARC.
November 14, 2025
While I have a short story in this anthology, I can confidently give every other story 5 stars - they’re an amazing collection of human (and non-human) connection!
November 11, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC!
This is a lovely concept for a collection and overall, it was a creative and interesting assortment of stories. It’s a very inclusive collection with different sexualities, gender identities, and disabilities being included in both main and side characters. It’s tricky rating a collection, especially when all of the stories are by different authors as there’s a wide variety which means not every story will fit every person. Because of this and the length of the stories, a majority fell into tell and not show. My overall favourite was Gallery Number 9, I enjoyed the creativity in the worldbuilding and the interactions between the characters.
Broken Hearts Club - 2.5/5, flows strangely and doesn’t work as well as a shorter piece as character motivation is minimal
Tea Leaves and Sunshine - 3.75/5, the very definition of grumpy x sunshine, sweet character interactions but still one note in places
The Love Algorithm- 3/5, interesting take on internet dating but felt a little flat as not much interaction between the characters
Gallery Piece No 9 - 4/5, lovely bit of magical realism, very descriptive language
Midnight indigo- 3.75/5, good hints of worldbuilding, the soulmate aspect is very nice
Storm wind - 3.5/5, kept bobbling about on the morality of it all, would’ve been excellent for a darker character beat
Galactic Honey - 3/5, expected more weirdness with the bees given the cw?
Trial of twilight - 3/5, the bonded animals and the worldbuilding traditions were fun
Fires of Beltane - 3/5, would have been higher but it feels like I’m missing huge chunks of context from a previous work
The written problem - 2/5, missing some context and the worldbuilding is just There with no reasoning. The confession felt stilted
Unknown Caller - 3/5, the object pov was fun
Gears, Blueprints - 3.5/5, steampunk element is fun
The Library of Lost Worlds - 3.75/5, magical doors are always a hit
This is a lovely concept for a collection and overall, it was a creative and interesting assortment of stories. It’s a very inclusive collection with different sexualities, gender identities, and disabilities being included in both main and side characters. It’s tricky rating a collection, especially when all of the stories are by different authors as there’s a wide variety which means not every story will fit every person. Because of this and the length of the stories, a majority fell into tell and not show. My overall favourite was Gallery Number 9, I enjoyed the creativity in the worldbuilding and the interactions between the characters.
Broken Hearts Club - 2.5/5, flows strangely and doesn’t work as well as a shorter piece as character motivation is minimal
Tea Leaves and Sunshine - 3.75/5, the very definition of grumpy x sunshine, sweet character interactions but still one note in places
The Love Algorithm- 3/5, interesting take on internet dating but felt a little flat as not much interaction between the characters
Gallery Piece No 9 - 4/5, lovely bit of magical realism, very descriptive language
Midnight indigo- 3.75/5, good hints of worldbuilding, the soulmate aspect is very nice
Storm wind - 3.5/5, kept bobbling about on the morality of it all, would’ve been excellent for a darker character beat
Galactic Honey - 3/5, expected more weirdness with the bees given the cw?
Trial of twilight - 3/5, the bonded animals and the worldbuilding traditions were fun
Fires of Beltane - 3/5, would have been higher but it feels like I’m missing huge chunks of context from a previous work
The written problem - 2/5, missing some context and the worldbuilding is just There with no reasoning. The confession felt stilted
Unknown Caller - 3/5, the object pov was fun
Gears, Blueprints - 3.5/5, steampunk element is fun
The Library of Lost Worlds - 3.75/5, magical doors are always a hit
December 3, 2025
ARC review 3/5⭐
Thank you Tea & Books Press for the eARC of From Me to You: Anthology of Human Connections. It's always hard to rate an anthology, so I always try to average it out.
The theme for the anthology is connections and every participant does great work to showcase that in such different ways. Each short story touch on the subject in a deep, heartfelt way. There's fantasy, romance, supernatural aspects and pretty much anything you can imagine. These authors have range!
There's a total of 14 authors and two are favourites from this year for me; namely: Noah Hawthorne and Tess Carletta. But I also recognise R.P. Dunwater which I've enjoyed reading before! The rest were completely new to me I'm afraid 😅
The story that stuck with me the most is The Library of Lost Worlds by Avrah C. Baren. I'm really intrigued with the concept of doors leading to other words and whether that's safe or not and what happens when a person suddenly appears on the other side of the door?
From Me to You: Anthology of Human Connections comes out November 18th both as ebook and paperback.
Thank you Tea & Books Press for the eARC of From Me to You: Anthology of Human Connections. It's always hard to rate an anthology, so I always try to average it out.
The theme for the anthology is connections and every participant does great work to showcase that in such different ways. Each short story touch on the subject in a deep, heartfelt way. There's fantasy, romance, supernatural aspects and pretty much anything you can imagine. These authors have range!
There's a total of 14 authors and two are favourites from this year for me; namely: Noah Hawthorne and Tess Carletta. But I also recognise R.P. Dunwater which I've enjoyed reading before! The rest were completely new to me I'm afraid 😅
The story that stuck with me the most is The Library of Lost Worlds by Avrah C. Baren. I'm really intrigued with the concept of doors leading to other words and whether that's safe or not and what happens when a person suddenly appears on the other side of the door?
From Me to You: Anthology of Human Connections comes out November 18th both as ebook and paperback.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews