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Nightjar: Stories
From the award-winning author of the national bestseller Idaho comes a stunning collection of stories that explore how unexpected intuitions forever alter the lives of ordinary people.
Five years after moving into the isolated house in rural Oregon where her husband lived as a child, the protagonist of “Victor’s Room” begins to doubt her husband’s account of his family’s past. In “Round Lake,” a young woman’s plans to meet a lover in Tokyo are upended when she learns a startling truth about her mother’s death. In “Owl,” winner of an O. Henry Award, a fur trapper reckons with the dreadful origins of his marriage after his wife is brutally injured by four adolescent boys.
Haunting and psychologically provocative, and set against the vivid backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, Nightjar illuminates the secret, instinctive knowledge that lies just under the surface of our awareness.
Five years after moving into the isolated house in rural Oregon where her husband lived as a child, the protagonist of “Victor’s Room” begins to doubt her husband’s account of his family’s past. In “Round Lake,” a young woman’s plans to meet a lover in Tokyo are upended when she learns a startling truth about her mother’s death. In “Owl,” winner of an O. Henry Award, a fur trapper reckons with the dreadful origins of his marriage after his wife is brutally injured by four adolescent boys.
Haunting and psychologically provocative, and set against the vivid backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, Nightjar illuminates the secret, instinctive knowledge that lies just under the surface of our awareness.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
Emily Ruskovich
6 books619 followersEmily Ruskovich grew up in the mountains of northern Idaho. She graduated from the University of Montana and received an MA in English from the University of New Brunswick and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She was the 2011–2012 James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her fiction has appeared in Zoetrope, One Story, and The Virginia Quarterly Review. She was a 2015 winner of the O. Henry Award for her story “Owl.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 5, 2026
I enjoyed reading Ruskovich’s novel, Idaho, in 2018, so was excited to see she had a story collection set for publication. I was even more excited when I discovered this collection is made up of only 5 longer stories. I love a meaty short story.
These stories are mostly set in the Pacific Northwest, and nature or the wilderness plays a role in all of them. They contain a mix of the historical, realistic, and fantastical. Running throughout is a sense of wonder about the natural world, which I loved. Many characters are struggling with primary relationships, whether with a spouse or a child/parent, and finding communication difficult. Some characters are confused but trying to rely on intuition to puzzle out their lives. There isn’t a dud in this collection, just five strong stories with memorable characters that will stick with you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read an ARC of this title.
These stories are mostly set in the Pacific Northwest, and nature or the wilderness plays a role in all of them. They contain a mix of the historical, realistic, and fantastical. Running throughout is a sense of wonder about the natural world, which I loved. Many characters are struggling with primary relationships, whether with a spouse or a child/parent, and finding communication difficult. Some characters are confused but trying to rely on intuition to puzzle out their lives. There isn’t a dud in this collection, just five strong stories with memorable characters that will stick with you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read an ARC of this title.
July 16, 2026
"She has come to tell him that her mother wasn't tragic. That he misunderstood what she meant that day on the phone. That her mother's heart, broken so many times by so many things undeserving of those breaks, let more of the world in through its many cracks than would have been possible otherwise."
I devoured this unique collection of short stories, as I did Ruskovich's previous novel, IDAHO.
What captivates me so much with her writing? Her powers of observation, from the inner world of the human psyche to the outer world that we bumble through, with all the fine details that give you a macro view of what could easily pass unnoticed, and the prose with which she captures nuance. Whether I'm trying to understand a character or envision the beauty in rural spaces, I feel I'm being led, fingers pointing, hushed whispers directing my eyes, gentle touches prying at my heart, directing me towards "awe". She brings the hidden and distorted into view, smoothing it, magnifying it, lovingly dissecting the secrets, loneliness, miscommunications, suspicions, and scars.
One must often read between the lines in a Ruskovich story, and fill in the gaps for yourself, because she brings you to the water but does not force you to drink. There is a mystical quality to this collection, as there was in IDAHO, and one that left me feeling I'd touched something undefined, yet essential, even sacred at times. The title Nightjar reflects this aspect, according to Google: a symbol of mystery, intuition, and a bridging of realms; trust your inner voice, see clearly during life's darkest and most uncertain moments, and navigate the shadows of the unconscious.
Some favorite quotes and an example of the prose and observations that astound and tickle me:
"The ghost of Victor has vanished from the room but in its place is the ghost of a ghost. A presence of an absence, a space emptied of what was once a meaningful emptiness."
"Things were connected to each other by the car she drove in; that's all geography was, rivers and lakes that appeared out her windows between spells of boredom or sleep or back seat games."
4.5 rounded up.
I devoured this unique collection of short stories, as I did Ruskovich's previous novel, IDAHO.
What captivates me so much with her writing? Her powers of observation, from the inner world of the human psyche to the outer world that we bumble through, with all the fine details that give you a macro view of what could easily pass unnoticed, and the prose with which she captures nuance. Whether I'm trying to understand a character or envision the beauty in rural spaces, I feel I'm being led, fingers pointing, hushed whispers directing my eyes, gentle touches prying at my heart, directing me towards "awe". She brings the hidden and distorted into view, smoothing it, magnifying it, lovingly dissecting the secrets, loneliness, miscommunications, suspicions, and scars.
One must often read between the lines in a Ruskovich story, and fill in the gaps for yourself, because she brings you to the water but does not force you to drink. There is a mystical quality to this collection, as there was in IDAHO, and one that left me feeling I'd touched something undefined, yet essential, even sacred at times. The title Nightjar reflects this aspect, according to Google: a symbol of mystery, intuition, and a bridging of realms; trust your inner voice, see clearly during life's darkest and most uncertain moments, and navigate the shadows of the unconscious.
Some favorite quotes and an example of the prose and observations that astound and tickle me:
"The ghost of Victor has vanished from the room but in its place is the ghost of a ghost. A presence of an absence, a space emptied of what was once a meaningful emptiness."
"Things were connected to each other by the car she drove in; that's all geography was, rivers and lakes that appeared out her windows between spells of boredom or sleep or back seat games."
4.5 rounded up.
July 5, 2026
With the same haunting emotions that Idaho evoked, each of these short stories bring you into their world completely. Each story is completely different, but what they have in common is the experience of being in the rural place that is being written of, whether it be Washington, Montana, or Idaho. Each story will mesmerize you and break your heart.
Beautifully written, each story the perfect length. I loved each story.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC!
Beautifully written, each story the perfect length. I loved each story.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC!
February 8, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nightjar is a thoughtfully written short story collection that explores themes of secrecy, emotional distance, and hidden truths. The writing is polished and reflective, with a strong opening—“Victor’s Room” stands out for its emotional depth and character focus. While many stories are engaging, some feel less defined, and a few endings do not fully live up to their promising beginnings. Overall, this is a solid collection with clear strengths, though greater emotional intensity in certain stories could have elevated the experience.
Nightjar is a thoughtfully written short story collection that explores themes of secrecy, emotional distance, and hidden truths. The writing is polished and reflective, with a strong opening—“Victor’s Room” stands out for its emotional depth and character focus. While many stories are engaging, some feel less defined, and a few endings do not fully live up to their promising beginnings. Overall, this is a solid collection with clear strengths, though greater emotional intensity in certain stories could have elevated the experience.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy of this collection of short stories that deal with secrets, lies, longing for understanding, and the pain of being deceived, reflections of the damaged times we live in, and the effect it is having on all of us.
Interesting times is not a strong enough statement, or a curse, to describe the modern world we find ourselves living in. This is the Post-truth era, a time of fake news, fake social media posts, and false idolatry. Lying used to be a sin, now it is a currency, making people rich, stealing freedoms, privacy and even the water we need, polluting the air we breath. Deception is the name of the game, and no one feels they will ever be caught, nor deal with consequences. A dating profile that adds a foot of height, subtracts a few pants size, and even an occupation. As if the person being lied to won't notice. Or care. That is what I thought most while reading this collection. Most of these characters find themselves living lives of lies, and yet have to continue on. Truth is a burden to these characters. An observation about the world we live in. Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich is a collection about people who finally see how they are treated, how they are lied to, and what happens after, the pain, the emotions, and the momentum they need to keep going.
The book is five novellas more than stories. They range in places and in times, with families, single people, old and young. All are quite good. The first story was my favorite, about a woman slowly realizing that that things she thought she knew about her husband might not be real. A story told in isolation, far away from others, and the life she wanted. Owl the second story was one that I also liked, a story about violence, with a touch of magical realism and lots of confusion about how certain events could happen. There is a lot of this confusing as truths fall apart, sacred tales that don't seem to add up. About love, death, and other things.
I very strong collection. I usually skip a story or two in short story collections, as maybe something doesn't hit me, or interest me. This one I read all the way through. This is my first time reading anything by Ruskovich and I was quite impressed. The stories are well done, always going to places I didn't expect, nor thought I would care to visit. Ruskovich has a real gift with characters making them all different, even if the themes, memory, loss, lies are carried over story to story. There are characters I would like to know more about, and what might have lead up to certain things. Others are really complete, sometimes sadly.
For readers who want to understand how others look at the world, how truth is not truth to others. How people like to say things like for your own good, for your own protection. A few of these stories I am still thinking about, even after finishing the book a few days ago, wondering what I would change in life, and wondering how one could go on. Again my first time reading Ruskovich, but for sure an author I am going to follow.
Interesting times is not a strong enough statement, or a curse, to describe the modern world we find ourselves living in. This is the Post-truth era, a time of fake news, fake social media posts, and false idolatry. Lying used to be a sin, now it is a currency, making people rich, stealing freedoms, privacy and even the water we need, polluting the air we breath. Deception is the name of the game, and no one feels they will ever be caught, nor deal with consequences. A dating profile that adds a foot of height, subtracts a few pants size, and even an occupation. As if the person being lied to won't notice. Or care. That is what I thought most while reading this collection. Most of these characters find themselves living lives of lies, and yet have to continue on. Truth is a burden to these characters. An observation about the world we live in. Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich is a collection about people who finally see how they are treated, how they are lied to, and what happens after, the pain, the emotions, and the momentum they need to keep going.
The book is five novellas more than stories. They range in places and in times, with families, single people, old and young. All are quite good. The first story was my favorite, about a woman slowly realizing that that things she thought she knew about her husband might not be real. A story told in isolation, far away from others, and the life she wanted. Owl the second story was one that I also liked, a story about violence, with a touch of magical realism and lots of confusion about how certain events could happen. There is a lot of this confusing as truths fall apart, sacred tales that don't seem to add up. About love, death, and other things.
I very strong collection. I usually skip a story or two in short story collections, as maybe something doesn't hit me, or interest me. This one I read all the way through. This is my first time reading anything by Ruskovich and I was quite impressed. The stories are well done, always going to places I didn't expect, nor thought I would care to visit. Ruskovich has a real gift with characters making them all different, even if the themes, memory, loss, lies are carried over story to story. There are characters I would like to know more about, and what might have lead up to certain things. Others are really complete, sometimes sadly.
For readers who want to understand how others look at the world, how truth is not truth to others. How people like to say things like for your own good, for your own protection. A few of these stories I am still thinking about, even after finishing the book a few days ago, wondering what I would change in life, and wondering how one could go on. Again my first time reading Ruskovich, but for sure an author I am going to follow.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Not having read anything previously by the author, Emily Ruskovich, I must say that I was truly enchanted by her short story collection, Nightjar. Each story demonstrated Ruskovich’s strong mastery of the short story form. All five stories delved into lives of those who resided in the Pacific Northwest.
In “Victor’s Room,” Rebecca moves to her husband’s childhood home in the country to raise their daughters. What begins as a domestic transition slowly becomes something more unsettling. As Rebecca lives among the artifacts of her husband’s past, she starts noticing small inconsistencies in the stories he has told her. What I loved about this story is that Ms. Ruskovich carefully left clues for the reader to discover that something isn’t quite right about the husband. I felt Rebecca’s concerns building throughout the story.
“Owl,” which won an O. Henry Award, follows a man who is caring for his wife Jane after she is shot by four local boys who insist they believed she was an owl. This story left me just as unsettled as Victor’s Room had. The thought processes of Jane’s husband were spot on as he slowly unraveled what the heck was going on with his wife. Truly gut wrenching.
In “Round Lake,” Jade was raised by her uncle after her mother drowned when she was young. When her uncle reveals that a key part of her memory is incorrect, she begins to question how her past has shaped her life. Round Lake made me think of the things in my life that may have been false or misunderstood that have developed the person I am now and the person I’ll never be.
“Petty Creek Road” centers on Will and his brother Butch. Butch arrived at Will’s home one day and stayed for twenty-three years, helping raise Will’s son Cal. I will admit, of all of the stories, this was the one I liked the least. I just could not stay interested in their journey.
The title story, “Nightjar,” reflects on how even magical discoveries can lose their wonder over time. I thought about all the material things that I have bought over my lifetime, many that were just fads and soon were forgotten, many of them eventually trashed. I enjoyed how the young girl’s familiarity began to erode the magical moments that began her discovery.
After finishing this collection, I added the author’s first novel, Idaho, to my TBR list. Regarding Nightjar, I believe the strongest stories are the first three, though I’m not throwing any shade on the last two, as the final story completely enchanted me. The emotional insights and the quiet atmosphere make Nightjar a compelling and thought-provoking read and I recommend you give it a read.
An E-ARC of Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich was provided by NetGalley and Random House in exchange for my honest review. I also would like to thank Erica Hernandez of Penguin Random House for sharing this wonderful book with me.
In “Victor’s Room,” Rebecca moves to her husband’s childhood home in the country to raise their daughters. What begins as a domestic transition slowly becomes something more unsettling. As Rebecca lives among the artifacts of her husband’s past, she starts noticing small inconsistencies in the stories he has told her. What I loved about this story is that Ms. Ruskovich carefully left clues for the reader to discover that something isn’t quite right about the husband. I felt Rebecca’s concerns building throughout the story.
“Owl,” which won an O. Henry Award, follows a man who is caring for his wife Jane after she is shot by four local boys who insist they believed she was an owl. This story left me just as unsettled as Victor’s Room had. The thought processes of Jane’s husband were spot on as he slowly unraveled what the heck was going on with his wife. Truly gut wrenching.
In “Round Lake,” Jade was raised by her uncle after her mother drowned when she was young. When her uncle reveals that a key part of her memory is incorrect, she begins to question how her past has shaped her life. Round Lake made me think of the things in my life that may have been false or misunderstood that have developed the person I am now and the person I’ll never be.
“Petty Creek Road” centers on Will and his brother Butch. Butch arrived at Will’s home one day and stayed for twenty-three years, helping raise Will’s son Cal. I will admit, of all of the stories, this was the one I liked the least. I just could not stay interested in their journey.
The title story, “Nightjar,” reflects on how even magical discoveries can lose their wonder over time. I thought about all the material things that I have bought over my lifetime, many that were just fads and soon were forgotten, many of them eventually trashed. I enjoyed how the young girl’s familiarity began to erode the magical moments that began her discovery.
After finishing this collection, I added the author’s first novel, Idaho, to my TBR list. Regarding Nightjar, I believe the strongest stories are the first three, though I’m not throwing any shade on the last two, as the final story completely enchanted me. The emotional insights and the quiet atmosphere make Nightjar a compelling and thought-provoking read and I recommend you give it a read.
An E-ARC of Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich was provided by NetGalley and Random House in exchange for my honest review. I also would like to thank Erica Hernandez of Penguin Random House for sharing this wonderful book with me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A strong collection of short stories, most feel like they could occur at almost anytime, anywhere. Ruskovich has the art of the short story down, with each of these stories feeling fleshed out, no matter the length of the tale.
Victor's Room: Rebecca marries her college professor, and after a few happy years of marriage in their town, Rebecca agrees to move to her husband's childhood home in the country, leaving her job in the city behind to raise their children. But as the memories her husband has from his childhood suffocate her new life, she begins to pick apart flaws in his memories. Did the dog die here or on the highway, is it buried in the backyard, did his brother Victor die in their childhood bedroom? As Rebecca unravels the truth behind her husband's lies, she must decide what the future holds for her and their two daughters.
Owl: When a man's wife (Jane) gets shot, he begins to take care of her and the cats that she feeds every day. He reminisces on how they met while trying to figure out what to do about the four young local boys involved in her shooting. He begins to wonder what precipitated the incident, while the boys continue to claim that they thought she was an owl.
Round Lake: Jade was raised by her uncle after her mother drowned when she was young. She begins talking on the phone each night to a man she knows who moved to Tokyo, and memories of her mother surface. She finds herself falling in love, perhaps not with the man himself, but with the memories he brings up in her and the man she imagines he is. When her uncle informs her that her memory of her mother's death is inaccurate, Jade begins to wonder how she could have clouded her memory like this and begins to consider how her past and memories of her mother have been shaping her future.
Petty Creek Road: Will's brother Butch came to Will's house one day and ended up staying twenty-three years and helped Will to raise his son, Cal. Neither man married, so when Butch dies in an accident, Will is overcome by his grief and realizes how much he owes to his brother. When his son quits his job to move back home with his father, the two must work to face the issues in their relationship with each other without Butch there to bridge the gap.
Nightjar: A story about how even the wonderous magical occurrences can become commonplace and lose their meaning. Tess discovers something magical on her family's land and shares the secret with her younger brother Rory. She lets the secret consume her summer, and even after school returns, she revisits the spot. As time passes, Tess begins to wonder what exactly makes something magic, and at what point one begins to take it for granted.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this collection.
Victor's Room: Rebecca marries her college professor, and after a few happy years of marriage in their town, Rebecca agrees to move to her husband's childhood home in the country, leaving her job in the city behind to raise their children. But as the memories her husband has from his childhood suffocate her new life, she begins to pick apart flaws in his memories. Did the dog die here or on the highway, is it buried in the backyard, did his brother Victor die in their childhood bedroom? As Rebecca unravels the truth behind her husband's lies, she must decide what the future holds for her and their two daughters.
Owl: When a man's wife (Jane) gets shot, he begins to take care of her and the cats that she feeds every day. He reminisces on how they met while trying to figure out what to do about the four young local boys involved in her shooting. He begins to wonder what precipitated the incident, while the boys continue to claim that they thought she was an owl.
Round Lake: Jade was raised by her uncle after her mother drowned when she was young. She begins talking on the phone each night to a man she knows who moved to Tokyo, and memories of her mother surface. She finds herself falling in love, perhaps not with the man himself, but with the memories he brings up in her and the man she imagines he is. When her uncle informs her that her memory of her mother's death is inaccurate, Jade begins to wonder how she could have clouded her memory like this and begins to consider how her past and memories of her mother have been shaping her future.
Petty Creek Road: Will's brother Butch came to Will's house one day and ended up staying twenty-three years and helped Will to raise his son, Cal. Neither man married, so when Butch dies in an accident, Will is overcome by his grief and realizes how much he owes to his brother. When his son quits his job to move back home with his father, the two must work to face the issues in their relationship with each other without Butch there to bridge the gap.
Nightjar: A story about how even the wonderous magical occurrences can become commonplace and lose their meaning. Tess discovers something magical on her family's land and shares the secret with her younger brother Rory. She lets the secret consume her summer, and even after school returns, she revisits the spot. As time passes, Tess begins to wonder what exactly makes something magic, and at what point one begins to take it for granted.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this collection.
February 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!
Carrying you through different times and spaces of the American pacific northwest, the stories of Nightjar are in turns eerie, subtle, languid, inevitable, and contemplative - or all at once. They each seat themselves in the mind of the narrator, peeking through their eyes and sifting through their thoughts as they unravel a truth; the false motive of a loved one, a misremembered tragedy, a misplaced purpose or fixation. Ruskovich's writing expertly expressed those secret feelings we all have, the doubts and lies and memories swirling in our minds as we navigate relationships, family, trauma. The stories' narrators ranged from children to old men, but they all carried the same sense of introspection. I found myself struck many times by her ability to put words to experiences I had as a child, or memory tricks my mind had played on me, or the nuances of strained relationships.
She is very stingy with dialogue, but often to poignant effect. She relies heavily on description and inner monologue, sketching out the webs of a place, a person, a mind - and then all of a sudden the conflict appears as if it had been there from the beginning, though you thought you were just reading preamble.
Altogether, this collection of stories was beautiful and thought-provoking, and at times too methodical for my taste. I enjoyed the touches here and there of magical realism, though sometimes I felt Ruskovich relied too heavily on the narrators' intuition to advance the plots. Given that the stated theme of the collection involves this, I can forgive it.
When he was in the room with her, she loved him, she laughed with him, his presence was exhilarating and wonderful. But then he left and often she felt a sick and sinking feeling. As if the truth of him had accidentally been left behind, hovering there before her.
Carrying you through different times and spaces of the American pacific northwest, the stories of Nightjar are in turns eerie, subtle, languid, inevitable, and contemplative - or all at once. They each seat themselves in the mind of the narrator, peeking through their eyes and sifting through their thoughts as they unravel a truth; the false motive of a loved one, a misremembered tragedy, a misplaced purpose or fixation. Ruskovich's writing expertly expressed those secret feelings we all have, the doubts and lies and memories swirling in our minds as we navigate relationships, family, trauma. The stories' narrators ranged from children to old men, but they all carried the same sense of introspection. I found myself struck many times by her ability to put words to experiences I had as a child, or memory tricks my mind had played on me, or the nuances of strained relationships.
He had never lied in his life. And where had it come from, this terrible lie that served only to ruin him? He was aware that he was undoing the best thing he'd ever done in his life and that he'd never be able to get it back, he'd never now be able to say the truth and be believed.
She is very stingy with dialogue, but often to poignant effect. She relies heavily on description and inner monologue, sketching out the webs of a place, a person, a mind - and then all of a sudden the conflict appears as if it had been there from the beginning, though you thought you were just reading preamble.
Altogether, this collection of stories was beautiful and thought-provoking, and at times too methodical for my taste. I enjoyed the touches here and there of magical realism, though sometimes I felt Ruskovich relied too heavily on the narrators' intuition to advance the plots. Given that the stated theme of the collection involves this, I can forgive it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich is a very highly recommended collection of five short stories which explores grief, relationships, intuition, and doubt in the ordinary lives of people living in the Pacific Northwest.
All of these stories are exquisitely well-written and explore the intimate, inner thoughts and reflections of ordinary people. Grief and secrets are a major theme connecting the stories, but they also explore memory, interpersonal relationships, natural intuition, personal observations, troubling events, instinctive knowledge, and the hidden internal thoughts of the main characters. The setting also becomes an essential part of each story. This is really an excellent collection.
The stories included are:
Victor's Room: explores a relationship and marriage as a woman questions her husband's account of his family's history and how his deception impacts their current lives. This is the longest of the stories, more a novella, and is a strong, compelling start to the collection.
Owl: a fur trapper considers his marriage after his wife is accidentally shot by four boys. This story is a winner of an O. Henry Award.
Round Lake: a young woman plans to meet a boyfriend in Tokyo but learning an unexpected fact about her deceased mother's death shakes her world. This was the weakest story for me.
Petty Creek Road: Will is grieving the sudden death of his brother Butch and his son Cal moves in with him. Will is hoping to regain his natural ability to locate people in danger.
Nightjar: Tess, 12-years-old, discovers she can skim the reflection off the top of a water pail and place them on a boulder to save them. These reflections become increasingly important to her as she appreciates their mysterious beauty. This is a strong final story to the collection.
Nightjar is a wonderful choice for those who enjoy exceptionally well composed short story collections. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
All of these stories are exquisitely well-written and explore the intimate, inner thoughts and reflections of ordinary people. Grief and secrets are a major theme connecting the stories, but they also explore memory, interpersonal relationships, natural intuition, personal observations, troubling events, instinctive knowledge, and the hidden internal thoughts of the main characters. The setting also becomes an essential part of each story. This is really an excellent collection.
The stories included are:
Victor's Room: explores a relationship and marriage as a woman questions her husband's account of his family's history and how his deception impacts their current lives. This is the longest of the stories, more a novella, and is a strong, compelling start to the collection.
Owl: a fur trapper considers his marriage after his wife is accidentally shot by four boys. This story is a winner of an O. Henry Award.
Round Lake: a young woman plans to meet a boyfriend in Tokyo but learning an unexpected fact about her deceased mother's death shakes her world. This was the weakest story for me.
Petty Creek Road: Will is grieving the sudden death of his brother Butch and his son Cal moves in with him. Will is hoping to regain his natural ability to locate people in danger.
Nightjar: Tess, 12-years-old, discovers she can skim the reflection off the top of a water pail and place them on a boulder to save them. These reflections become increasingly important to her as she appreciates their mysterious beauty. This is a strong final story to the collection.
Nightjar is a wonderful choice for those who enjoy exceptionally well composed short story collections. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nightjar was a beautiful collection of introspective stories that have a loose throughline of secrets and lies. While starting stronger than it ends, all of these stories leave the reader with a lot to reflect on.
A woman made to raise her family in her husband's childhood home, even though details about his past aren't adding up. A man caring after his wife after a horrific accident, but the mystery of the accident tugs at him. A father and his son grapple with the death of the father's brother, their lives crashing back together for better or for worse. A girl discovers a strange bucket that can "take pictures". Each story, on the surface, seems to fall somewhere between strange and sad, but there is so much more under the surface. Many hold a quiet humor, some unintentionally hit you right in the heart, most make you put the book down to consider further, ending in thought provoking ways.
I admit, I picked this up almost immediately after finishing a disappointing short story collection, so it may be that my praise comes from that direct comparison, but I can't help but find this did almost everything better than The History of Sound did. It was shorter, only five stories, but each packed a punch in its own unique way. "Twist" might be too sensational of a term, but most of the stories (in the beginning) had some sort of reveal that caught me off guard in a positive way that didn't feel gimmicky.
The first few stories were stronger in my opinion, but the collection as a whole was very good. The characters were all so real and interesting, written in a way that reminds you of everyone's rich, introspective lives. The author did a fantastic job with this collection, I only wish there were more stories here, I couldn't get enough.
A woman made to raise her family in her husband's childhood home, even though details about his past aren't adding up. A man caring after his wife after a horrific accident, but the mystery of the accident tugs at him. A father and his son grapple with the death of the father's brother, their lives crashing back together for better or for worse. A girl discovers a strange bucket that can "take pictures". Each story, on the surface, seems to fall somewhere between strange and sad, but there is so much more under the surface. Many hold a quiet humor, some unintentionally hit you right in the heart, most make you put the book down to consider further, ending in thought provoking ways.
I admit, I picked this up almost immediately after finishing a disappointing short story collection, so it may be that my praise comes from that direct comparison, but I can't help but find this did almost everything better than The History of Sound did. It was shorter, only five stories, but each packed a punch in its own unique way. "Twist" might be too sensational of a term, but most of the stories (in the beginning) had some sort of reveal that caught me off guard in a positive way that didn't feel gimmicky.
The first few stories were stronger in my opinion, but the collection as a whole was very good. The characters were all so real and interesting, written in a way that reminds you of everyone's rich, introspective lives. The author did a fantastic job with this collection, I only wish there were more stories here, I couldn't get enough.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In "Nightjar", author Emily Ruskovich has compiled five short stories that span a number of different time periods, themes, and characters, but are all simultaneously poignant and unsettling.
The first and longest of the stories is "Victor's Room", where a young wife looks back on her marriage to her husband as she settles into his childhood home with their children, attempting to piece together his childhood that includes the loss of his brother Victor. In "Owl", a husband nurses his wife back to health after she's accidentally shot by children on an unexpected journey into the woods at night - but with what intention? In "Round Lake", a young woman comes to terms with the truth of how she lost her mother as a child, all while her long-distance relationship with a boy in Japan changes. In "Petty Creek Road", a father deals with the loss of his brother who served as the singular emotional connection to his own son. And in "Nightjar", a young girl stumbles across a window into a brand new world - but comes to see it as both a joy and a burden.
Underlying each of these is the setting in the Pacific Northwest, frequently in the wilderness and forests. And while each of the characters and plots are different, they focus on the complex and varied relationships we have with others, especially across family members and partners. I loved the beautiful and insightful writing, and just how vividly Ruskovich was able to craft these characters and their backstories in such a limited time, and how much depth she brought to even the briefest stories. Each of these stories was thought-provoking and at times jarring, blending elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction.
Very much a recommend read with this collection is published July 2026!
The first and longest of the stories is "Victor's Room", where a young wife looks back on her marriage to her husband as she settles into his childhood home with their children, attempting to piece together his childhood that includes the loss of his brother Victor. In "Owl", a husband nurses his wife back to health after she's accidentally shot by children on an unexpected journey into the woods at night - but with what intention? In "Round Lake", a young woman comes to terms with the truth of how she lost her mother as a child, all while her long-distance relationship with a boy in Japan changes. In "Petty Creek Road", a father deals with the loss of his brother who served as the singular emotional connection to his own son. And in "Nightjar", a young girl stumbles across a window into a brand new world - but comes to see it as both a joy and a burden.
Underlying each of these is the setting in the Pacific Northwest, frequently in the wilderness and forests. And while each of the characters and plots are different, they focus on the complex and varied relationships we have with others, especially across family members and partners. I loved the beautiful and insightful writing, and just how vividly Ruskovich was able to craft these characters and their backstories in such a limited time, and how much depth she brought to even the briefest stories. Each of these stories was thought-provoking and at times jarring, blending elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction.
Very much a recommend read with this collection is published July 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My sincere thanks to #NetGalley and to #RandomHouse publishers for the advance copy of #Nightjar by #EmilyRuskovich (a wonderful new "author discovery" for me).
An ongoing gift of NetGalley (along with direct emails from publishers) is this discovery of AMAZING new-to-me authors - debut and otherwise. In this case I learned that Emily Ruskovich already has an acclaimed novel (Idaho/Jan 2017) which I'll be reading next. I'm looking forward to more of her haunting and vivid prose and the imagery she evokes.
The landscape of the Pacific Northwest, itself, is a vast and looming character in this group of stories (especially within my favorite - VICTOR'S ROOM -the first of the collection). The other stories - Owl, Round Lake, Petty Creek Road, and Nightjar - are also vivid and powerful but the leadoff story was outstanding. From its opening scene, the narrator mother picking cherries with her two daughters, it follows a long interweaving reflection of her life, marriage, and the decisions she has, and has not, made for herself. The story was stunning and totally unexpected and unpredictable.
Each of the stories is deeply psychological and so different from the one another. Ruskovich is a talented storyteller and her characters are uniquely memorable. OWL was a strange and eerie story of love and history -- a story highlighting the fragility of memory and conceptual reality.
Readers who LOVE great writing (and diversity in plots) will treasure this collection.
I am a big fan of short stories (especially well-written and vastly diverse collections) and I highly recommend this book -- pub date 7/7/2026.
An ongoing gift of NetGalley (along with direct emails from publishers) is this discovery of AMAZING new-to-me authors - debut and otherwise. In this case I learned that Emily Ruskovich already has an acclaimed novel (Idaho/Jan 2017) which I'll be reading next. I'm looking forward to more of her haunting and vivid prose and the imagery she evokes.
The landscape of the Pacific Northwest, itself, is a vast and looming character in this group of stories (especially within my favorite - VICTOR'S ROOM -the first of the collection). The other stories - Owl, Round Lake, Petty Creek Road, and Nightjar - are also vivid and powerful but the leadoff story was outstanding. From its opening scene, the narrator mother picking cherries with her two daughters, it follows a long interweaving reflection of her life, marriage, and the decisions she has, and has not, made for herself. The story was stunning and totally unexpected and unpredictable.
Each of the stories is deeply psychological and so different from the one another. Ruskovich is a talented storyteller and her characters are uniquely memorable. OWL was a strange and eerie story of love and history -- a story highlighting the fragility of memory and conceptual reality.
Readers who LOVE great writing (and diversity in plots) will treasure this collection.
I am a big fan of short stories (especially well-written and vastly diverse collections) and I highly recommend this book -- pub date 7/7/2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nightjar: Stories
Emily Ruskovich
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC, Pub: July 7, 2026
Nightjar is a compelling collection of five short stores that take place in the rural Northwestern US. A similar thread runs through them all highlighting how intuition and insight affect and influence us.
In “Victor’s Room” a woman moved with her husband five years earlier into his childhood home at his request and ultimately realizes that his stories from his years growing up in that home and his family’s past simply do not match with what she has learned about the house. In “Owl” a husband cares for his wife after she was severely injured by four adolescent boys and begins to wonder about and the accident. In “Petty Creek Road”, after the death of the father’s brother (the son’s uncle) both men must learn if they can be a family without him.
While these are my three favorites, the others are equally as haunting and unique. All have interesting characters and the stories will leave the reader with plenty to think about. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Special thanks to #EmilyRuskovich #NetGalley #RandomHouse for this ARC. Publication date: July 7,2026
#EmptyNestReader #Nightjar #EmilyRuskovich #hauntingfiction #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #ebooks #NetGalley
Emily Ruskovich
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC, Pub: July 7, 2026
Nightjar is a compelling collection of five short stores that take place in the rural Northwestern US. A similar thread runs through them all highlighting how intuition and insight affect and influence us.
In “Victor’s Room” a woman moved with her husband five years earlier into his childhood home at his request and ultimately realizes that his stories from his years growing up in that home and his family’s past simply do not match with what she has learned about the house. In “Owl” a husband cares for his wife after she was severely injured by four adolescent boys and begins to wonder about and the accident. In “Petty Creek Road”, after the death of the father’s brother (the son’s uncle) both men must learn if they can be a family without him.
While these are my three favorites, the others are equally as haunting and unique. All have interesting characters and the stories will leave the reader with plenty to think about. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Special thanks to #EmilyRuskovich #NetGalley #RandomHouse for this ARC. Publication date: July 7,2026
#EmptyNestReader #Nightjar #EmilyRuskovich #hauntingfiction #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #ebooks #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars
As the title and cover suggest, this short story collection heavily relies on various aspects of nature to help readers make important realizations about humanity. It's a strong, understated group of short stories overall.
I found the first story, "Victor's Room," to be the most compelling. Ruskovich builds tension expertly, and I was both invested in the outcomes and infuriated by the characters. It was a real roller coaster in a good way. What was challenging about connecting so much to that first story was that I was also chasing that experience through the rest of the collection. I didn't dislike the other entries but never got back to that same impression (or an even stronger one) after that first read. For obvious reasons, that impacted my outlook.
Folks who appreciate short stories and particularly those who are interested in the ways in which nature and modern life intertwine will most connect with Ruskovich's work. I enjoyed this experience and look forward to more from this author. This left a good first impression.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Erica Hernandez at Random House for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
As the title and cover suggest, this short story collection heavily relies on various aspects of nature to help readers make important realizations about humanity. It's a strong, understated group of short stories overall.
I found the first story, "Victor's Room," to be the most compelling. Ruskovich builds tension expertly, and I was both invested in the outcomes and infuriated by the characters. It was a real roller coaster in a good way. What was challenging about connecting so much to that first story was that I was also chasing that experience through the rest of the collection. I didn't dislike the other entries but never got back to that same impression (or an even stronger one) after that first read. For obvious reasons, that impacted my outlook.
Folks who appreciate short stories and particularly those who are interested in the ways in which nature and modern life intertwine will most connect with Ruskovich's work. I enjoyed this experience and look forward to more from this author. This left a good first impression.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Erica Hernandez at Random House for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
July 15, 2026
The author ‘s book is a collection of five short stories, distinctly eerie and beautifully written. Each story is a quietly active mystery, with characters often going between different times and rethinking what they believed they already knew to be true. The author using the The Pacific Northwest is a rich setting for the household-centric dramas. Importantly, the farmlands surrounding the houses are part of the households. The roads, the trees, the birds, the farm animals, the mountains, and the sky all operate as fundamental elements. The sense of place contrasts with the more sense of time. Along with the surrealist elements, it makes the stories feel like they might be parables passed along through chatter. The precious nature of siblinghood recurs across several of her stories.
The author’s stories were a compelling read for me. I enjoyed all five stories in this collection. In this exquisitely written collection of five stories, the author’s plumbs the depths of mystery, memory, and the quiet grief of intimacy.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The author’s stories were a compelling read for me. I enjoyed all five stories in this collection. In this exquisitely written collection of five stories, the author’s plumbs the depths of mystery, memory, and the quiet grief of intimacy.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Randomhouse for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
"Nightjar" is a collection of stories that dives into themes like secrets, lies, and the things we sometimes hide from those we care about. The writing is really nice and gets you thinking. As I read, I found a lot of the stories engaging, but there were times when I wished for a bit more intensity to really make them hit home. The first story, "Victor’s Room," really caught my attention; it does a great job of showing a woman's struggle with her husband's childhood secrets. The collection kicks off strong, mixing sadness with a touch of humor that gets you pondering. Still, some stories felt a bit unclear, and I felt the endings didn’t quite live up to the strong starts. The writing overall is impressive, and I can see the effort put into each piece. I enjoyed the collection and it definitely has its strong points, but I found myself hoping for more powerful emotional moments that could have upped the experience. Overall, I appreciate the insights offered and am glad I took the time to read these stories, as they almost lived up to what I had hoped for.
"Nightjar" is a collection of stories that dives into themes like secrets, lies, and the things we sometimes hide from those we care about. The writing is really nice and gets you thinking. As I read, I found a lot of the stories engaging, but there were times when I wished for a bit more intensity to really make them hit home. The first story, "Victor’s Room," really caught my attention; it does a great job of showing a woman's struggle with her husband's childhood secrets. The collection kicks off strong, mixing sadness with a touch of humor that gets you pondering. Still, some stories felt a bit unclear, and I felt the endings didn’t quite live up to the strong starts. The writing overall is impressive, and I can see the effort put into each piece. I enjoyed the collection and it definitely has its strong points, but I found myself hoping for more powerful emotional moments that could have upped the experience. Overall, I appreciate the insights offered and am glad I took the time to read these stories, as they almost lived up to what I had hoped for.
July 8, 2026
Nightjar by author Emily Ruskovich is a “collection of stories that explore how unexpected intuitions forever alter the lives of ordinary people.” It is intense, thought-provoking and not always a fairy tale happy ending, but makes you take an in-depth look at the dilemmas people find themselves in and wonder just what you would do in their situation; what is right, how much you could live with, if you could understand the other person’s motivation. Have they put you in danger, made your life smaller, manipulated you and stolen your will. How much you can afford to ignore your intuition?
The stories in Nightjar are the perfect length; not full-length novels but long enough to allow author Ruskovich to create characters with depth and full, rich stories to draw you in and keep your interest. I received an advance copy of Nightjar from Penguin Random House via NetGalley. I experienced dread, joy and unexpected endings. I recommend this book without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
The stories in Nightjar are the perfect length; not full-length novels but long enough to allow author Ruskovich to create characters with depth and full, rich stories to draw you in and keep your interest. I received an advance copy of Nightjar from Penguin Random House via NetGalley. I experienced dread, joy and unexpected endings. I recommend this book without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a beautifully crafted collection of short stories—easily one of the strongest collections I’ve read in recent years! Nightjar thoughtfully explores the many dimensions of grief, guiding readers through deeply emotional journeys as its characters grapple with the loss of trust, truth, innocence, and childhood.
While I found the earlier stories slightly more compelling than the later ones, each piece carried its own distinct emotional weight. The deliberate vagueness throughout each narrative created a haunting, atmospheric quality that enhanced the collection’s overall tone. That sense of ambiguity felt purposeful and well suited for the themes explored.
I greatly admire Emily Ruskovich’s writing and I look forward to reading whatever she publishes in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC of this collection in exchange for an honest review!
While I found the earlier stories slightly more compelling than the later ones, each piece carried its own distinct emotional weight. The deliberate vagueness throughout each narrative created a haunting, atmospheric quality that enhanced the collection’s overall tone. That sense of ambiguity felt purposeful and well suited for the themes explored.
I greatly admire Emily Ruskovich’s writing and I look forward to reading whatever she publishes in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC of this collection in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.com in exchange for a fair review. This book started out very with a very intriguing story. A married couple with two children move to an isolated area in Oregon. The husband claims that this was his childhood home, but was it? We will never know as the author moved on to another story without wrapping up the first one. It all seemed very disjointed to me and extremely hard to follow. There were several tales that had no end and just seemed like a lot of words on a page. Author Emily Ruskovich does have a nice style of putting words together, but the story (or stories) lacks continuity. I was enjoying that first one and wondering what the husband was really up to, but I guess we'll never know for sure. Not my cup of tea and do not recommend.
July 10, 2026
I've said this before and it's kind of silly, but short story collections intimidate me. I feel like I'm in a college English class again trying to find (or make) meaning between the stories.
This collection was not scary. This collection may be the best I've ever read. Are companies still making textbooks? If so, any of these stories could easily be found next to "A Rose for Emily" or "The Lottery."
There's so much to dig into in each one; they're quietly suspenseful and even psychological, covering a lot of themes.
Great characterization and pacing. I love the rural settings and connection to the natural world. These stories have a haunting quality that's almost hard to shake.
Of all the ARCs I read, I probably only feel the need to obtain a physical copy of maybe 10%. I need this one on my shelf!
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!
This collection was not scary. This collection may be the best I've ever read. Are companies still making textbooks? If so, any of these stories could easily be found next to "A Rose for Emily" or "The Lottery."
There's so much to dig into in each one; they're quietly suspenseful and even psychological, covering a lot of themes.
Great characterization and pacing. I love the rural settings and connection to the natural world. These stories have a haunting quality that's almost hard to shake.
Of all the ARCs I read, I probably only feel the need to obtain a physical copy of maybe 10%. I need this one on my shelf!
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!
February 28, 2026
4.5. Such an excellent collection. The influence of Alice Munro was palpable. Sped through the first story hand to my mouth — I haven’t experienced a story so alive and generous in a while. I had almost lost faith in the short story ecosystem because of works published in prestigious publications and/or receiving prestigious awards that are truly Not All That. Ugh that Jin Auh had a hand in this collection so much sense! The stories are haunting and tender and incredibly sensitive. A woman finds out her husband has lied to her about almost everything. A man loses his brother and has to see in his nephew all that he has lost. A woman revisits her imagined reality of her mother’s death. Ruskovich uses genre framing a lot (e.g. mystery) to drive the story. I’ve becoming mistrusting of narratives recently, but the complicated backdrops behind the premises are untangled with such deftness that I can just relax and trust that the writer will bring me somewhere good.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I loved this! A collection of five short stories, each one strong and packing an emotional punch. My favorite was the first one, "Victor's Room" which was long (maybe 35% of the book), so I suppose considered a novella. A woman begins to question her husband's stories which had been the foundation of their marriage - this was one of the best stories of a marriage that I have ever read and it was hard to move on after finishing it, but I did. The other stories were shorter but all felt purposeful and satisfying, with a good balance of character development and plot within the constraints of the form. Each story was grounded in nature and setting, either Oregon or Idaho, and I lost myself in the beautiful writing. I'm grateful to the publisher for an advance read of this collection.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Each of these stories is beautifully written and mesmerizing. They are also disturbing. The characters are alienated from those they should be closest to. They are not at home in their own lives. Reality is not what they have come to accept.
A loving, supportive husband has misled his wife. A man’s wife has been shot; she has kept a secret. A woman’s accepted understanding of the past is shaken with insight. A woman prefers her relationship to be long distance, a voice in the dark. too late, a man realizes how much he loved his brother. A girl left in charge of her younger brother becomes enthralled with a mystical occurrence.
Each story is an emotional, haunting journey.
Thanks to Random House for a free book through NetGalley.
A loving, supportive husband has misled his wife. A man’s wife has been shot; she has kept a secret. A woman’s accepted understanding of the past is shaken with insight. A woman prefers her relationship to be long distance, a voice in the dark. too late, a man realizes how much he loved his brother. A girl left in charge of her younger brother becomes enthralled with a mystical occurrence.
Each story is an emotional, haunting journey.
Thanks to Random House for a free book through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nightjar
By Emily Ruskovich
This is a book of short stories – five of them to be exact. I am not usually a fan of short stories as they often feel incomplete. But these are different. Somehow the author manages to make each story feel like a full-length book. And each story makes the reader continue to mull over its meaning long after it is over.
With most short story collections, some stories are good, maybe one or two are great – and at least one does not grab you. In this collection, I did have one story that didn't grab me – but the rest more than made up for it.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
By Emily Ruskovich
This is a book of short stories – five of them to be exact. I am not usually a fan of short stories as they often feel incomplete. But these are different. Somehow the author manages to make each story feel like a full-length book. And each story makes the reader continue to mull over its meaning long after it is over.
With most short story collections, some stories are good, maybe one or two are great – and at least one does not grab you. In this collection, I did have one story that didn't grab me – but the rest more than made up for it.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich is a beautifully written collection of short stories. Her prose is thoughtful, descriptive, and often poetic, creating a strong sense of atmosphere throughout all of the stories.
The stories explore a number of themes relating to the strength of human connection in a way that feels honest and deeply moving.
The characters were well developed and believable.
Although, at times, I found the pacing a little slow and would have liked a little more momentum to keep me fully engaged, I still found this book most enjoyable and would recommend it, highly.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
The stories explore a number of themes relating to the strength of human connection in a way that feels honest and deeply moving.
The characters were well developed and believable.
Although, at times, I found the pacing a little slow and would have liked a little more momentum to keep me fully engaged, I still found this book most enjoyable and would recommend it, highly.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
July 11, 2026
Five longish short stories comprise this collection. The stories are intense. Emily Ruskovich goes deep to the uncomfortable areas of human interactions. Husbands and wives, sons and daughters, siblings. Settings are evocative - an old house, a dirt road, a pasture. Animals feature throughout - goat, dogs, cats. The titular Nightjar of the last story.
Resonating with themes of grief, memory, deception, innocence and childhood, each story unsettling and unexpected and beautifully told. I'm excited to read more by Ruskovich.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the Advance Reader Copy. (pub. date 7/7/2026)
Resonating with themes of grief, memory, deception, innocence and childhood, each story unsettling and unexpected and beautifully told. I'm excited to read more by Ruskovich.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the Advance Reader Copy. (pub. date 7/7/2026)
July 13, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ebook. These longish five stories focus on events that look very different when you dig a little deeper. One story finds a woman living with her two small children in an isolated house that her husband grew up in. But he confesses that their relationship started with a lie and she wonders what else he might have lied about. Another favorite one finds a woman about to fly to Japan to visit a man she dated briefly, but finds her world turned upside down when the story of her mother’s death turns out to be very different from what she’s always believed. These stories take their time and dig into the characters and the nature they live in.
February 10, 2026
There are feelings rendered so purely, so uniquely & compellingly, inside each story that Ruskovich draws out with incredible purpose. You can feel her pull to tell stories. A pull that manifests as intensely likable narration, moving from moments of mishandled ambiguity and dramatization to the last (titular) story, which is a small miracle. A revelatory finale. I want to frame it in its own little book, but maybe it’s best for it to exist here, surrounded by the ups & downs, the satisfaction & displeasure its neighbors effuse. Appreciated this immensely.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm not always a fan of short stories but these were fascinating. My favorite was the first, "Victor's Room" as it details the meeting of Rebecca and Grant who meet on the first day of Whitman College in 1971. When he wants to buy the house where his brother died, she's hesitant but agrees to live there for five years. But then she discovers some odd things and wonders if he ever lived there at all. The other stories have similar--sometimes creepy--storylines and I raced through it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am not sure how this book got so many glowing reviews. It was just Ok and missed on so many levels. Some stories were too long, one jumped around too much in time and one ended abruptly with no satisfying resolution. It seemed as each story ended the next one became a bit more convoluted until the final story, which was the most bizarre of all, needing a total suspension of disbelief to even get through it. 3 stars because of the strength of the first story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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