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You Know Nothing: Stories
Questioning the roles of women’s bodies and the emotions that drive them in Madden’s debut story collection
Following women and girls as they navigate everyday life in contemporary America, You Know Nothing explores the experiences of mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, and lovers whose inner worlds are animated by a tangle of emotion—from desire to rage and everything in between. Yasmina Din Madden’s characters inhabit the margins of their cultures, their diverse backgrounds united by their profound unease and the female bodies in which each resides. Madden takes us into the lives of a ravenous mother who devours her own son, a woman who sands away parts of her body, a Vietnamese mother facing her too-American children, and a fiercely protective dog owner who wanders a dog park with Satan’s master. In this debut collection, Madden brings these characters to life in bite-size stories of surreal revelation and inquisitive long-form explorations alike, leaving newfound clarity and hypnotizing carnage in her wake.
Following women and girls as they navigate everyday life in contemporary America, You Know Nothing explores the experiences of mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, and lovers whose inner worlds are animated by a tangle of emotion—from desire to rage and everything in between. Yasmina Din Madden’s characters inhabit the margins of their cultures, their diverse backgrounds united by their profound unease and the female bodies in which each resides. Madden takes us into the lives of a ravenous mother who devours her own son, a woman who sands away parts of her body, a Vietnamese mother facing her too-American children, and a fiercely protective dog owner who wanders a dog park with Satan’s master. In this debut collection, Madden brings these characters to life in bite-size stories of surreal revelation and inquisitive long-form explorations alike, leaving newfound clarity and hypnotizing carnage in her wake.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 15, 2026
5 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 10, 2026
I really enjoyed how the author used humor & horror while casting a wide net of themes experienced in womanhood. This included topics of love, beauty, shame, ambition, career, an immigrant experience, family dynamics, puberty, sexual exploration, grief & SA. Some of my fav short stories from the book:
- Splinter
- A Women of Appetites
- And This is How it Ended
- Trimming
- The De Facto Mother
- Motherland is Bleeding
- Guidance Counseling
- Naming Thing
- Zero Sum Game
- Reflections
I would definitely read something from this author again. I read the ARC on NetGalley.
- Splinter
- A Women of Appetites
- And This is How it Ended
- Trimming
- The De Facto Mother
- Motherland is Bleeding
- Guidance Counseling
- Naming Thing
- Zero Sum Game
- Reflections
I would definitely read something from this author again. I read the ARC on NetGalley.
March 2, 2026
Yasmina Din Madden’s debut collection, You Know Nothing, explores themes of womanhood, girlhood, and transformation, with stories ranging from the surreal to the deeply personal. Madden’s vivid prose and emotional precision create a cohesive narrative that highlights vulnerability and change. The collection delves into topics like love, ambition, family dynamics, and personal struggle, offering a variety of perspectives on contemporary women’s lives.
One standout feature is the recurring family at the heart of the stories, which provides a sense of continuity that often feels missing in short story collections. This interconnected structure adds emotional depth and makes the book feel more unified. However, the brevity of many stories left me wanting more. While the short length kept the collection digestible, it often prevented deeper emotional development or lasting connection with the characters.
Some stories are more compelling than others—while certain pieces were thought-provoking and memorable, others felt rushed or difficult to finish due to their unsettling content. Madden’s writing is undeniably strong, but the short form sometimes kept the stories from reaching their full potential.
Overall, You Know Nothing offers a thoughtful exploration of womanhood but often leaves the reader at arm’s length, unable to fully connect with the characters. It’s an enjoyable read, especially for those who appreciate short stories, but it may not leave a lasting impression for everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley, Northwestern University Press and the author for an advance copy.
One standout feature is the recurring family at the heart of the stories, which provides a sense of continuity that often feels missing in short story collections. This interconnected structure adds emotional depth and makes the book feel more unified. However, the brevity of many stories left me wanting more. While the short length kept the collection digestible, it often prevented deeper emotional development or lasting connection with the characters.
Some stories are more compelling than others—while certain pieces were thought-provoking and memorable, others felt rushed or difficult to finish due to their unsettling content. Madden’s writing is undeniably strong, but the short form sometimes kept the stories from reaching their full potential.
Overall, You Know Nothing offers a thoughtful exploration of womanhood but often leaves the reader at arm’s length, unable to fully connect with the characters. It’s an enjoyable read, especially for those who appreciate short stories, but it may not leave a lasting impression for everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley, Northwestern University Press and the author for an advance copy.
February 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for this arc.
This was a really vast range of short stories and I found them so easy to read through. They covered so many different aspects of women’s lives through such a diverse range of characters that it really pulled out so many different emotions. There were a lot of stories that really left me thinking and stayed on my mind for a while after reading. However, there were also some stories that I feel I completely forgot once I had finished reading. Perhaps this is just personal and I can imagine that other readers will feel connected to different stories than I did. I would definitely recommend reading this book because I really do feel like there is a story for every reader to enjoy.
This was a really vast range of short stories and I found them so easy to read through. They covered so many different aspects of women’s lives through such a diverse range of characters that it really pulled out so many different emotions. There were a lot of stories that really left me thinking and stayed on my mind for a while after reading. However, there were also some stories that I feel I completely forgot once I had finished reading. Perhaps this is just personal and I can imagine that other readers will feel connected to different stories than I did. I would definitely recommend reading this book because I really do feel like there is a story for every reader to enjoy.
March 8, 2026
*Thank you to NetGalley & Northwestern University Press for the ARC*
What a gorgeous collection of (very) short stories! The beauty here is subtle and restrained — nothing loud or showy, just carefully observed moments rendered with precision and tenderness. Each piece feels small but complete. Overall a lovely read.
What a gorgeous collection of (very) short stories! The beauty here is subtle and restrained — nothing loud or showy, just carefully observed moments rendered with precision and tenderness. Each piece feels small but complete. Overall a lovely read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"David told me I was like a creeping bellflower, a weed people mistake for a flower and let run rampant in their gardens."
I really enjoyed this short story collection overall. It covers a broad range of topics, but the stories are largely tied together by strong themes of girlhood and womanhood and all the emotional, relational, and bodily complications that encompasses, with some focus on the experiences of Vietnamese Americans in particular.
Madden has a strong voice and the stories felt cohesively told with an unsettling, ruminative, slightly dreamy edge that I loved.
This collection contains more stories than I expected given its page count, so naturally some of them are very short - the shortest being 'She Wasn't' at about a half page. Even where the stories are very short, they contain vivid, authentic-feeling characters, and Madden has a talent for making you quickly understand and empathise with them.
I did generally prefer the longer stories, as I enjoyed getting more time to settle into one concept or cast of characters, but there are many excellent shorter ones in here too. Given the broad range of stories, I think most people will find something to love in here.
Thank you NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for sending an advance copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this short story collection overall. It covers a broad range of topics, but the stories are largely tied together by strong themes of girlhood and womanhood and all the emotional, relational, and bodily complications that encompasses, with some focus on the experiences of Vietnamese Americans in particular.
Madden has a strong voice and the stories felt cohesively told with an unsettling, ruminative, slightly dreamy edge that I loved.
This collection contains more stories than I expected given its page count, so naturally some of them are very short - the shortest being 'She Wasn't' at about a half page. Even where the stories are very short, they contain vivid, authentic-feeling characters, and Madden has a talent for making you quickly understand and empathise with them.
I did generally prefer the longer stories, as I enjoyed getting more time to settle into one concept or cast of characters, but there are many excellent shorter ones in here too. Given the broad range of stories, I think most people will find something to love in here.
Thank you NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for sending an advance copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
March 8, 2026
I LOVED this book with every fibre of my being.
The prose was absolutely wonderful, written in that sort of very clear and simple language but there was so much symbolism, deeper meaning, etc without being too flowery. Every character felt super fleshed out even though some of the stories were a couple pages at most.
I actually felt quite privileged to be reading this book TBH as it was a real joy to read something so captivating. I had to force myself to slow down because I wanted to read it all at once, but at the same time taking the book by one story a day kept me thinking about what I had just read and what it meant, what experience the author was wanting the reader to have, the themes that bring the stories together etc.
My loved them all but my very favourites were Rococo and A Woman Of Appetites. How could I not love a story that starts with “she was always hungry, so when Adeline ate her beautiful baby boy, no one was surprised.”?!? So many of these stories start with an incredible hook!
If you like unhinged women, “good for her” stories, beautiful characterisation, raw and hard hitting topics, if you love reading about women, you will LOVE this book.
I honestly feel like this book changed me as a person and I am SO excited to read more of Yasmina Din Madden’s work in the future!!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
February 23, 2026
I enjoyed this book so much - there were SO MANY SHORT STORIES but short in the true sense of the word, and it was near impossible to get bored - something new every other page. It will be popular with the short-attention-span generation but some of the stories have also lingered in my mind. The first story opens with 'A Woman with appetites' - a hungry lady called Adeline and this sets the tone for the rest of the book, 'Trimmed' was, quite frankly, horrifying but so true, 'We Wonder' is a prime example of today's assumptive society. The stories are great. There is literally a story for everyone. I really recommend this as a refreshing read - it's a palate cleanser - brings back the joy of imaginations and why we read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Northwestern University Press for this ARC.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Northwestern University Press for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love me some weird girl fiction and that is exactly what this book is!! It took me a while to understand it, but I thought it was so fun that through the book you read a couple of stories about the same family and that you kinda watch them grow up. There were some really disturbing stories in this book but I really loved that.
While I was reading, it really felt like this book was some kind of drug. I kept telling myself: ´just one more story ´ and then I already read 5 stories without even realizing it. I have laughed so hard because of this book and honestly I even had some realisations because of it. I really liked that there were even some love stories in there. I don't know if this author has written more books like this one, or is going to. But one thing is clear, I will read them!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
While I was reading, it really felt like this book was some kind of drug. I kept telling myself: ´just one more story ´ and then I already read 5 stories without even realizing it. I have laughed so hard because of this book and honestly I even had some realisations because of it. I really liked that there were even some love stories in there. I don't know if this author has written more books like this one, or is going to. But one thing is clear, I will read them!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of You Know Nothing, a striking and unique collection of short stories. Told through the lens of her female characters, Yasmina explores how each woman contends with the complexities of life in America. The stories are propulsive — I found myself needing to keep reading — yet they also linger long after the final page.
With nuance and emotional depth, Yasmina delves into themes of womanhood, relationships, mental health, abuse, and the Vietnamese-American experience. Each story left its mark, whether touching, humorous, or quietly unsettling.
You Know Nothing hits shelves today.
Thank you to NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for the ARC.
With nuance and emotional depth, Yasmina delves into themes of womanhood, relationships, mental health, abuse, and the Vietnamese-American experience. Each story left its mark, whether touching, humorous, or quietly unsettling.
You Know Nothing hits shelves today.
Thank you to NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for the ARC.
February 15, 2026
This is a collection of short stories that focuses on women’s and girls’ stories as they go about their daily life in contemporary America. This collection showcases a wide range of topics, including love, ambition, puberty, and family dynamics. Short stories aren’t always my favourite form of fiction, but I read them from time to time. It feels weird to say this, but I felt that a lot of these stories were too short. This made me feel like the collection read quickly, but I prefer a story that’s long enough for me to get a real sense of who the characters are. I did not feel that in most of these stories. If an author is writing short stories or a novella, every sentence counts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Curbstone Books for the ARC.
In You Know Nothing, Yasmina Din Madden delivers a striking collection of stories that range from the surreal to the intimate. A woman with an insatiable appetite. A marriage unraveling in reverse. A wife and her dog surviving an abusive household. A woman transformed into a slug after an act of betrayal. Across these varied premises, Madden explores identity, family dynamics, grief, cultural expectations, and the interior lives of women with nuance and emotional sharpness.
The prose is vivid and controlled, and despite the range of scenarios – some grounded, others speculative – the collection feels cohesive in its focus on human vulnerability and transformation.
If there is one minor drawback, it’s that a few stories end just as they begin to fully bloom. I occasionally wished for more space to linger in certain worlds. That said, this restraint also speaks to Madden’s precision; she leaves the reader wanting more, which is often the mark of compelling short fiction.
In You Know Nothing, Yasmina Din Madden delivers a striking collection of stories that range from the surreal to the intimate. A woman with an insatiable appetite. A marriage unraveling in reverse. A wife and her dog surviving an abusive household. A woman transformed into a slug after an act of betrayal. Across these varied premises, Madden explores identity, family dynamics, grief, cultural expectations, and the interior lives of women with nuance and emotional sharpness.
The prose is vivid and controlled, and despite the range of scenarios – some grounded, others speculative – the collection feels cohesive in its focus on human vulnerability and transformation.
If there is one minor drawback, it’s that a few stories end just as they begin to fully bloom. I occasionally wished for more space to linger in certain worlds. That said, this restraint also speaks to Madden’s precision; she leaves the reader wanting more, which is often the mark of compelling short fiction.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOW. I flew through this, “just one more story” I told myself, before inhaling a further 5. This collection of short stories is phenomenal, with so many different themes explored. Feminism is threaded through the stories, sometimes subtly and others more explicit, and each story can relate to somebody different. New mothers, old mothers, victims of abuse, those living with mental illness, first generation immigrants and so on and so forth.
Some stories are grotesque, some are amusing and others cause deep self-reflection. But each one leaves an impact. love love love every single thing about it.
I received this E-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Some stories are grotesque, some are amusing and others cause deep self-reflection. But each one leaves an impact. love love love every single thing about it.
I received this E-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I don't pick up a lot of short story collections but this sounded really intriguing so I gave it a shot and I'm glad I did! A lot of enjoyable reads, some more emotional than others and some clever stories as well. I liked the range of perspectives, young females, older women and mothers. Madden does a good job showcasing different experiences throughout a women life.
Some of my favorites
At the Dog Park 5/5
De facto Mother 5/5
The Motherland is Bleeding 5/5
Would I recommend: Yes!
Would I read more from this author: Yes!
I don't pick up a lot of short story collections but this sounded really intriguing so I gave it a shot and I'm glad I did! A lot of enjoyable reads, some more emotional than others and some clever stories as well. I liked the range of perspectives, young females, older women and mothers. Madden does a good job showcasing different experiences throughout a women life.
Some of my favorites
At the Dog Park 5/5
De facto Mother 5/5
The Motherland is Bleeding 5/5
Would I recommend: Yes!
Would I read more from this author: Yes!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A collection of very short stories, which had the feel of reading a poetry collection or diary entries capturing socially-awkward moments, memories, rebellious thoughts. I liked the voice - confident and often humorous, with a vein of unapologetic feminism. The characters and situations were vividly drawn, and I was often left wanting to know what happened next. The most memorable story was "A Woman of Appetites" in which a woman eats her family, written in a tone of off-hand insouciance ("no one was surprised... She was hungry. It couldn't be helped."). I'd like to read more from this author.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.
March 20, 2026
I loved this, I think it being a collection of short stories makes it much easier to digest but even though they are short stories I yearn to learn more about some of the world's or where some connect.
I wanted to approach it with the mentality of just read a few and then put it down but genuinely you just keep reading the next story, and then the next, and then the next, I think it helps that the stories are different each time. You get some that are more metaphorical and lyrical in their description of self image and then others that leave you questioning the backstory behind them.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGallry for the ARC!!
I wanted to approach it with the mentality of just read a few and then put it down but genuinely you just keep reading the next story, and then the next, and then the next, I think it helps that the stories are different each time. You get some that are more metaphorical and lyrical in their description of self image and then others that leave you questioning the backstory behind them.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGallry for the ARC!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5? Maybe? I thought this was a lovely little bundle of short stories that were interconnected. Great themes and lovely bits of prose but i found the layout maybe too disjointed. The author wanted this connectedness (it seems to me) between the stories with a mother and the siblings but each time i started reading one of these it took me a little too long to realise it was a pull from another story. That could be completely down to my skill set. It was an enjoyable read but I don’t think I will be picking it up again any time soon.
February 11, 2026
This short story collection explores identity, family, and cultural expectation with quite intense purposes. While I appreciated the themes and the author’s clear talent, this book ultimately wasn’t for me. I don’t think I fully understood the underlying of some of these short novels and I was sad about that as I love a feminist thought-provoking story! Some stories felt emotionally distant, and I struggled to fully connect with the characters or feel invested in their moment.
It raises meaningful concepts, but the overall collection didn’t resonate as strongly as I’d hoped.
It raises meaningful concepts, but the overall collection didn’t resonate as strongly as I’d hoped.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A thoughtful collection of stories! Each one is unique and beautiful in their own way. The authors prose is mindful and thought provoking, I’ve never read anything quite like this! Very emotional and real, questioning our roles in society as women. It was truly eye opening and a wonderful read.
Some stories will hit harder than others, but each one is written incredibly well and flow into the next. A really great collection!
Some stories will hit harder than others, but each one is written incredibly well and flow into the next. A really great collection!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This collection of short stories was moving in showcasing humans with different lived experiences from woman, immigrants, victims of abuse in a though provoking way with beautiful prose. The stories flowed well into each other with the undercurrent of feminism. I am excited to read more of Yasmina Din Madden's future work as her body of work really hit home.
Thank you to NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 rounded up!
Madden's writing is really stunning. I think that every woman will be able to find something to relate to in this collection and Madden doesn't shy away from the best and worst parts of living as a woman today.
I did find this quite repetitive and after the first few stories felt like I'd read enough. I'd love to read a full-length novel from Madden as her writing style really worked for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc
Madden's writing is really stunning. I think that every woman will be able to find something to relate to in this collection and Madden doesn't shy away from the best and worst parts of living as a woman today.
I did find this quite repetitive and after the first few stories felt like I'd read enough. I'd love to read a full-length novel from Madden as her writing style really worked for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc
February 16, 2026
I really enjoyed how this book explores the nuances of girlhood and womanhood. I don’t typically gravitate towards short story collections, but what sets this one apart is the recurring family woven throughout the book. Following the same characters at different stages of their lives creates a sense of continuity and emotional depth that short stories don’t always achieve for me. That interconnected structure gives the collection a unique quality, and it’s what made it stand out to me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am so excited to have found a new short fiction writer who I love. These stories were inventive, beautifully written, and engaging. I highly recommend this collection to people who love absurd feminist short stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Just the sort of collection of short stories that I love. These stories are a raw nerve. Some are viscerally emotional. You ache. I love reading something that makes me feel like my emotions are being pulled towards the page. You laugh. You could cry. I laughed and I cried. This is a book I would give as a gift. I’m really looking forward to more from this author.
February 14, 2026
SUCH a good collection of incredible short stories!! Somehow each one was unique, short, but also felt complete. Some of them wonderfully captured different parts of girlhood, motherhood, womanhood as a whole. I related to some more than others but each one kept me hooked
TY to NetGalley & Northwestern University Press for the ARC!
TY to NetGalley & Northwestern University Press for the ARC!
March 23, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley, thank you!
2.5 stars - I've read half the stories a month ago but was never interested enough to get back to the book and finish them. I guess I didn't really get the meaning of most stories, so this book wasn't for me sadly. DNFing it for now
2.5 stars - I've read half the stories a month ago but was never interested enough to get back to the book and finish them. I guess I didn't really get the meaning of most stories, so this book wasn't for me sadly. DNFing it for now
March 23, 2026
Loved the exploration of womanhood in its many forms, even when the stories got a bit weird.
Some of my favorite stories:
At the Dog Park
Five Things You Should Know About Number Five
Snow
Trimmed
Guidance Counselor
Your Child’s Progress
Naming Things
Zero-Sum Game
Rococo
Perspectives
Neutrality
She Wasn’t
How to Be Your Mother’s Best Daughter
Some of my favorite stories:
At the Dog Park
Five Things You Should Know About Number Five
Snow
Trimmed
Guidance Counselor
Your Child’s Progress
Naming Things
Zero-Sum Game
Rococo
Perspectives
Neutrality
She Wasn’t
How to Be Your Mother’s Best Daughter
March 19, 2026
(Actual: 4.5⭐, rounded up) Full review to come. //
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Like any short story collection there are some stories that pack a punch and linger, while others are a bit less memorable. Overall Yasmina Din Madden put together a lovely collection of her work.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews