How We Do Things Here

by Matt Cashion

218 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that artist from your small town who makes you wanna scream from the rooftops about their undiscovered greatness? That’s Cashion.

This collection of stories has me craving the long-form versions (and their subsequent films, of course).

My personal favorite was “Please Pass the Flotsam”, which, other than learning me two new words, had me shedding a tear for the broken beauty of its characters. This “broken but beautiful” theme recurs through the entire book.

Looking forward to unearthing this review when Cashion hits the big time in the next decade.

[Mookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd give this six stars if I could. These are stories that drip with authenticity and humor. The side-by-side construction of "What Unites Us" is illuminating and insightful. "Music Appreciation for Dead People" is a gut punch. In these stories, themes of class and place are richly represented. What it means to be a neighbor, a citizen, a wife, a husband, a father.

[David Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wildly funny, beautiful, sad book, which is to say, it is innately human. I am better for reading it. The characters toe the line between intolerable and loveable which is so hard to do, but Matt does it wonderfully.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading HOW WE DO THINGS HERE a week or so ago. In my opinion, it gets 5 of 5 💫💫💫💫💫 With the flow, the humor, and the heart that Cashion weaves into this collection, well, it is truly one of my favorites of the year.