Desperate Bodies

by Lydia Mathis

From a ferocious new talent, a debut story collection excavating the desire, humor, and horror in the everyday lives of Black women and girls—for readers of Deesha Philyaw and Kelly Link

With a voice that vibrates on the page, Lydia Mathis’ debut collection is set in the American South and her sharply drawn, authentic characters shine a light on what we’re willing to do to ourselves and to others in service of our desires. The madness in the ordinary rules an overworked college safety officer is confronted by a bloody figure who walks into her office; a sex worker runs into a client en route to a parent-teacher conference; a teacher is plagued by a ghost determined to tidy her apartment.

Desperate Bodies depicts the fragility, strength, and unruliness of Black women and girls’ bodies and the power in being honest about their desires. In unflinching prose, Mathis takes a frank and determined look at what it means to be subjected to imbalances of power through the perspectives of young girls and adult women. With surprising turns and a touch of the supernatural, these stories refuse to look away from the most honest, raw moments of womanhood.

Visceral and unyielding, Desperate Bodies is a thrillingly dark ride that introduces Lydia Mathis as a major new writer.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Race, Contemporary, Short Story Collection, Literary Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2026

Reviews

[Corina Sandu]

There are things you learn simply by growing up a girl. That your brother might get away with things you won't. That being liked can feel dangerously important. That adults don't always listen when you say something is wrong. Desperate Bodies takes those lessons and shows just how early they begin.
Girlhood Stories captures a girl slowly realizing that being a girl comes with different rules, including being blamed when grown men stare at her developing body.
Push made me furious. Amaya has been raised by her priest father to obey and stay quiet. Even while giving birth, when she knows something is wrong with her body, nobody listens. Just be stronger. Women have been giving birth forever. I think millions of women will recognize that dismissal.
The Long Sleep nearly made me cry. A little girl finds her mother dead from an overdose but keeps trying to wake her, feed her and hug her before finally lying beside her. How completely our children love us.
And How to Lose a Friend made me want to hug my younger self. Mean girls, gossip, wanting desperately to belong and discovering that the people you thought were your friends can hurt you the most. It also made me think about what I want to teach my own daughter.
I think that's why so many of these stories got to me. I could see myself in some of them, women I know in others, and my daughter in the girls who are just starting to figure all this out. Some made me angry, some really hurt. Maybe the hardest part is how little of it feels like fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance copy.

[Hannah]

I loved this so much I wanted to read it third time, but I needed to return it to the library. Going to go back in line for it.

[Hannah]

I thought this short story collection was incredible. I loved the themes that ran throughout of girlhood, womanhood, mother and daughter relationships, and the deep focus on the experiences of Black women and girls. Normally when I read short story collections, I come out with 1 or 2 favourites, but I found SO many of these so impactful and interesting and gripping. The vast range of genres and feelings was impressive, with some stories being sad, some funny, some genuinely horrifying, some truly weird. I felt like I really experienced a bunch of different perspectives and lives as I read through. I will definitely be interested in reading any other work that comes from this author, for sure.

My favourite stories were girlhood lessons, push, precious, and the long sleep.

thank you to #netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the eARC (pub date: sep 15 2026)

[Naori]

Thank you Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for this advanced reader’s copy of Lydia Mathis’ Desperate Bodies in exchange for an honest review. My words are my own.

Desperate Bodies is my favorite short story collection released by an author this year. Evocative, compelling and emotionally graphic, Mathis achieved the most difficult thing for any short story writer: making each piece distinct but connected to an overall thematic construct.

The selections I found most compelling were “Girlhood Lessons”, “Under the Covers”, “How to Lose a Friend” and “Let the Church Say”. While every story was compelling, I was moved by the ways in which these pieces dealt with the physical suppression and later expulsion of psycho-social forces. In “Under the Covers” the main character, a young girl, is externally confronted with soft barbs in her familial environment of the economic dissonance between her life and her wealthier cousin. Without the language to maneuver covert racism and classism, she suppresses these psychological wounds until she finally expels them towards her cousin during a game. Tangentially, “How to Lose a Friend” follows a teenage girl dealing with psycho-social dynamics whose story culminates in the eventual expulsion of frustration in an aggressive release with the perpetrator of her abuse, a manipulative classmate. These pieces are brilliant for their transparency of what would be a normative response to these situations if individuals were not policed by social formulas. Many writers illustrate the adult perspective of navigating these issues - how covert expressions of inequality accumulate in an individual. Desperate Bodies is unique in that it exemplifies the massive ways in which young people perceive, interpret and react to this, often in more organic ways than adults who are socially sanctioned do.

For instance, in “Let the Church Say” a congregation of church goers are confronted one Sunday with a naked menstruating woman on the podium painted with the words “See Me”. They have the choice between processing this reality or collectively following their pastor’s instructions to close their eyes until the woman is removed. This exercise in the church’s ability to confront Black female bodies is starkly illustrated, as is their aggressive physical and mental erasure of them.

I was deeply impressed with the dissonance in each piece as well as the challenge they presented to the reader’s personal perspectives. This is a writer to watch; I am very excited to see what will no doubt be an exciting and impressive career. Definitely a must read.

[Janine R.]

Desperate Bodies
by Lydia Mathis

I was delighted to receive an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, Grove Atlantic.

Desperate Bodies is a collection of short stories centred around African American experiences, exploring themes of gender roles, family dynamics, envy, isolation, and shame.

The writing, in places, is poignant and thought-provoking. However, for me, these moments felt inconsistent across the collection, and I would have loved more of that lyrical quality to be sustained throughout.

Each story held a sense of intrigue, particularly in how it reflects aspects of Black culture that felt familiar and resonant. At the same time, the book remains accessible through universal themes such as social rejection and the quiet build of anger when emotions are difficult to process.

There are elements of body horror and moments where the body functions as metaphor, alongside fable-like qualities in some of the stories, which added an interesting layer.

What didn’t fully land for me were the endings. I appreciate abstract and ambiguous writing, but I still look for a sense of resolution or emotional completion. Many of the stories left me wanting more in that regard.

Some of the pieces felt as though they could have been expanded into full-length novels, as the ideas within them were strong and compelling.

Standout stories for me included The Long Sleep, which was beautifully sorrowful; Under the Covers, which captured that timeless tension between admiration and envy; and A Body that Walks Into Public Safety, which highlighted how easily systems of power can be trusted despite visible harm.

The story that most aligned with my personal taste was Empty Apartment. I found its exploration of personal boundaries, self-acceptance, purpose, and unexpected companionship particularly affecting.

I also enjoyed Will You Be My Valentine? which touched on coming-of-age themes, attraction, and the cost of expectation. Although the ending didn’t fully land for me, it felt like one of the stronger pieces in the collection.

At times, I found myself wishing the longer or more developed stories were more evenly dispersed throughout the anthology to help maintain engagement.

Lydia Mathis clearly has talent, with a curious and thoughtful approach to exploring Black female perspectives in relation to gender, friendship, and attraction.

Overall, while there are flashes of brilliance, the collection felt uneven in execution.

3/5

[Carol Ann]

This is a collection of short stories about black women and girls. Some stories are deeply unsettling and there are no happy endings here! I will be thinking of ‘The Growing Oak Tree’ for a long time. ❤️‍🩹

[Lizzie]

Really enjoyed this collection of short stories from debut novelist Mathis.

Across the collection, Mathis explores the experiences of Black girls and women through recurring ideas surrounding the body: the ways bodies can restrict, expose, empower, protect and betray us. The stories move between realism, horror and the paranormal, but remain grounded in deeply human experiences.

Mathis’ writing is visceral, poetic and at times darkly comedic. Her graphic imagery can be uncomfortable to sit with, but that tension is part of what makes the collection.

One thing I especially appreciated was Mathis’ restraint with conclusions, many of the stories resist neat or overly explained endings. While there were moments where I wanted more (mostly because the narratives were so compelling) the ambiguity generally felt intentional rather than unfinished. Parent Teacher Conference especially left me wanting to stay with the story longer, whereas Precious struck a satisfying balance between resolution and openness.

In saying that, at times certain emotional dynamics felt somewhat overdetermined, with some character relationships following more familiar trajectories than I expected. The main characters did also follow a fairly similar character type: quiet, misunderstood, isolated and struggling to connect with others, which began to feel a bit formulaic. I would have loved a bit more variation across the protagonists.

The Growing Oak Tree was a standout for me. Although the story draws on familiar themes of vulnerability and predation, Mathis flips the narrative structure in a way that creates something both strangely intimate and deeply unsettling. Tinder Date was another standout. Although the collection deals with some very heavy subject matter, this story provided a slightly lighter tonal shift without losing the emotional weight of the broader collection.

While certain stories worked better for me than others, the collection felt cohesive in tone and focus. Overall, this was a strong and memorable debut collection, and I’m very interested to see what Mathis does next.

[Melody]

Thank you ot NetGalley for this ARC.

Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathis is a powerful collection of short stories that explores deeply familiar emotional experiences. What can I say but wow! These stories not only pull you in but also give you space to reflect on your own feelings through someone else’s experience

From the first story, I was immediately taken back to my childhood, where I didn’t understand grown folks’ business but was still pulled into it, my innocent actions labeled as “fast” or “smelling myself

These stories reflect that same need to feel seen, especially when living in the shadow of an older relative, while also revealing the quiet reluctance some caregivers have to take on more than they can carry.

I appreciated how the collection evolves. The earlier stories feel more accessible, but as you continue reading, the emotional complexity deepens. Some readers may walk away unsure how to interpret certain stories, and that’s okay. Mathis has created a collection centered on desires, yearning, and belonging that may not reflect every reality, but will speak to someone. At times, I caught myself thinking, “I can’t see a Black woman doing that.” But that discomfort felt intentional. Just because I couldn’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

The stories that stayed with me the most were Girlhood Lessons, Push, Under the Covers, A Body Walks into Public Safety, The Long Sleep, Will You Be My Valentine, Empty Apartment, and The Growing Oak Tree. Each one resonated differently, but all reflected the themes of yearning, self-discovery, and the search to be seen exactly what makes this collection so powerful.

I can see so many people enjoying this book, especially if you enjoy short reads. Though I'll warn you, if you're not careful, you can easily finish this book in a day, as I did. I also think Desperate Bodies would make a powerful choice for book clubs, and I plan to recommend it to my own in the fall.

[Roslyn Bell]

I got an ARC of Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathis from NetGalley, and wow this collection really got under my skin in the best way possible. The author writes about the body like it’s its own haunted landscape, full of longing, fear, and all the messy things we try to hide from ourselves and others, and every story hits a different emotional nerve, even the quieter ones leaving a little echo behind. The opener, “Desperate Bodies,” immediately pulled me in with its moody tension as a woman feels her own body turning against her through illness, desire, and everyone else’s expectations. “The Hollowing” absolutely gutted me it was painfully relatable look at giving so much of yourself that you feel hollow, one I actually recommended to my 23‑year‑old daughter as a cautionary tale. “Sediment” is heavy and beautifully raw, grief settling into the characters’ lives like something physical. Presently, I am going through a grief period, so this one hit. “The Visitor” was a creepy slow burn I really loved, with late night visits from an unseen figure blurring fear and longing. “The Skin We Keep” is quieter but resonant, exploring identity and inheritance on emotional, physical, and cultural levels. “Ghost Weight” was my absolute favorite, (chef’s kiss!) following a woman haunted by the physical imprint of someone she’s lost, tender and aching in a way that makes the supernatural feel like grief made visible. “The Shape of Hunger” leans into literal body horror as desire becomes monstrous, and it landed hard for me. This is probably my second favorite. And the closer, “What Remains,” offers a gentle, hopeful breath about rebuilding after everything falls apart (we can all relate). Some stories hit harder than others, but the collection as a whole is unsettling, and emotionally rich and if you like short fiction that explores the darker corners of being human with a touch of the uncanny, this one is absolutely worth picking up. #netgalley #desperatebodies

[Ladiami]

There’s something about Desperate Bodies that feels both unsettling and familiar at the same time. The voice here doesn’t just tell stories, it hums underneath them, almost vibrating on the page. Every story pulls you into a version of the American South that feels real, complicated, and a little haunted, not just by ghosts, but by choices, pressure, and desire.

Some of these moments felt surprisingly familiar, even when the stories themselves drifted into strange or supernatural territory. A woman trying to hold it together at work. A mother balancing responsibilities while carrying secrets. A girl learning, maybe too early, how power works. Even when the stories take a sharp turn into the surreal, the emotions grounding them feel very real. That mix made it easy to connect, but not always easy to sit with.

Nothing here is softened. The writing is direct, sometimes uncomfortable, and very honest about what it means to live in a body that is constantly being watched, judged, or pulled in different directions. There’s a strong focus on Black women and girls navigating power, desire, and vulnerability, and the stories don’t look away from the messy parts of that. Some moments are quiet, others hit harder, but they all feel intentional.

I also liked how the collection plays with tone. One story might lean eerie, another almost darkly humorous, and then suddenly you’re in something deeply emotional. That unpredictability kept me engaged, even when certain stories felt heavier than others.

Desperate Bodies is a memorable collection that blends raw emotion, sharp observations, and just enough unsettling moments to keep you fully locked in. The stories may be dark at times, but they feel deeply human.

Thanks Netgalley and Grove Atlantic
|Roxane Gay Books for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[Chelsea Knowles]

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this collection in exchange for an honest review.*

Desperate Bodies is a collection of short stories that follow women in different situations. The story Push follows a woman as she births her first child. How to Lose a Friend is about a girl who is desperate to feel part of a group so she latches on to the first girl who offers her a form of friendship. The story Parent-Teacher Conference follows a mother who is a sex worker trying to support her daughter. The Last Time I’ll Laugh with My Dad is about a girl who loves her dad and is desperate for him to see her. Some of these stories are darker than others and a few have a paranormal twist but they all discuss different experiences and womanhood.

For the most part I enjoyed these stories and I think this is a strong collection. My favourite stories in this are Push, The Long Sleep, Let The Church Say, Parent-Teacher Conference, and House Party. Push was particularly impactful for me and I found The Long Sleep to be emotional. The stories in this collection especially Push made me reflect on the female experience of life and the way women are treated in society. The story Precious does this too and some of these stories discuss pregnancy and women’s experience of that. The writing in this was a bit amateurish and the prose does need more work. A lot of simplistic language is used in this and some of this does feel a bit surface level. That said, I will be recommending this collection and I did enjoy most of the stories in this. I’m giving this 3.5 stars rounded down to a 3.

[✩｡°⋆ Lala ⋆｡°✩]

✦•┈๑⋅⋯ Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathis ⋯⋅๑┈•✦


• 4/5 ☆ •


── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Desperate Bodies is one of those collections that sits heavy in your chest. It focuses on some of the everyday experiences of Black girls and women, and as someone who’s mixed, I felt seen in a way that doesn’t happen often. The stories move through exhaustion, resilience, humor, fear, and the quiet (and not so quiet) moments that shape a life, and they do it with a voice that feels lived in instead of performative.

Some pieces lean into quiet horror, and those were some of my favorites. They’re grounded in real emotional truths, the kind that makes your skin itch because they’re familiar. Even when the stories touched on heavier topics, they didn’t tip into being too much. There’s a balance here that feels intentional and respectful of the experiences being portrayed.

What stood out to me most was how honest the collection is about the constant struggles Black women face, and how those struggles can shape identity, relationships, and self worth. It’s the kind of book that resonates whether you’ve lived these realities or you’re trying to understand them with more depth and compassion.

It’s thoughtful, sharp, and full of emotion, and it delivers its impact without ever feeling overwhelming.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

If you like:
✔️ black girlhood 🖤
✔️ quiet horror
✔️ emotional realism
✔️ identity and survival
✔️ character driven stories
✔️ literary short fiction

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

📅 Pub Day: Sep 15, 2026 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Grove Atlantic. All opinions are my own.

[☆ lydiature ☆]

thank you, netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

“desperate bodies” by lydia mathis is a collection of extremely dark short stories centered around women of color—specifically, around black women. the stories selected that were selected were written well. it was the perfect number of stories—not too little and not too much. it was a great number to demonstrate mathis’ fluid and biting writing style. we got a little bit of everything when it comes to the more unhinged subgenre of literary fiction—the sarcasm, humor, gross parts.

the middle section got a bit redundant but the stories did get a lot better towards the end (especially “the growing oak tree” which FREAKED me out). the overall endings to most of the stories were anticlimactic, i wish that mathis had fleshed them out a lot more personally.

this is perfect for fans of otessa moshfegh, mona awad, and weird girl lit! personally, i liked the stories but it did make me feel extremely gross and anxious. i don’t see myself reading anything from her again because my reading preferences have shifted to more lighter stories—but man, mathis sure is talented and i am so impressed that her debut was THIS!

so if you’re confused by my review—basically it’s this: a solid short story collection. great writing style, very dark. if you like horror, you’ll love it. if you don’t like horror, skip it.

“desperate bodies” will be out on september 15, 2026!

[Nikki]

It doesn’t happen often that I finish a short story collection where every single story feels brilliant, but this one absolutely did. I loved this book so much and it’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year.

Each story felt completely unique while still being connected by similar themes. This collection explores girlhood, womanhood, coming of age, grief and many other dark and difficult topics with such honesty, emotion and tenderness. Some of the stories even incorporate subtle paranormal elements, which added another layer to an already captivating collection.
The stories touch on everything from growing up, friendships and first crushes to grief, substance abuse, mental illness, marriage and religious trauma. I genuinely can’t choose a favorite because I loved every single one.

The writing was absolutely beautiful. Every story was engaging, emotionally impactful and never once felt slow or dull. This is such a thoughtfully crafted collection, with each piece coming together to create something truly special.

As soon as I finished the book, I immediately looked up Lydia Mathis because I desperately wanted to read more of her work, only to discover that this is her debut collection. What an incredible debut. I can’t wait to see what she writes next and I’ll definitely be reading it.

Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathis comes out on 09/15/26.

Thank you netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the arc!

[Annette Jordan]

Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathis is a powerful and memorable short story collection, and a very impressive debut.
The book was described as depicting "the fragility, strength, and unruliness of Black women and girls’ bodies and the power in being honest about their desires." and it absolutely lived up to that description with stories that felt true in a way that was sometimes almost uncomfortable. As with any short story collection some stories will resonate more than others but in Desperate Bodies I would struggle to pick out a weak one from the bunch, but some that I found particularly strong include Push, The Long Sleep and How to lose a Friend , all of which made me pause for thought after reading. I have been reading quite a few short story collections and anthologies lately and one thing that really stood out about this collection was the strength of the author's voice, despite how different the stories in the collection were, there was something about the writing style that stayed true over the course of the whole collection.
This is a special collection of beautifully written stories that are not afraid to dip into the darker side of life, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Brittany Kitchen]

Thank you to NetGalley and Roxane Gay Books for providing me with an ARC of Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathias.

The beauty of this short story collection lies in the way Mathias explores the lived experiences of Black women while still allowing those of us who may not share those exact experiences to find moments we can connect with. Whether it's a colloquialism we've all heard, a familiar feeling, or an interaction that hits close to home, there is something within each story that feels recognizable.

You may find a piece of your own life reflected in these stories without having lived the exact experiences of the characters, while other moments may resonate more deeply because you've experienced something similar yourself.
I laughed. I cried. But most of all, I felt seen—and it feels good to be seen.

So, thank you, Lydia Mathias, for giving the world this wonderful collection of stories.

A beautiful, thoughtful, and deeply relatable collection that reminds you of the power of seeing yourself—and pieces of your own experiences—reflected on the page

[mixedreader]

The first few stories of DESPERATE BODIES by Lydia Mathis, I was settling in for a specific type of collection: tender and sometimes painful stories of girlhood. And these kinds of stories are present, but this collection jumps across women’s experiences, from high school gossips, to a parent working to afford what her kid deserves. There are stories that get dark—a little gore, a little body horror, some things that made my heart race a little. Mathis is an excellent story writer because these genre-bending elements are so layered into the story that it creeps up on you. I had several wtf moments that had me turning to the next story. The stories I related to most brought up memories of what we do to survive, to hold on to the bits of love and care we scrape together in cruel corners of the world.

I also think Mathis is brilliant at story endings, closing the door when you just enough information to imagine the inevitable. For my fellow writers, I recommend this book to study those endings.

[Rocelle]

3,5⭐️ I’ve been trying to find a short stories collection that I consistently love. Unfortunately, this isn’t the one. This collection has really great stories (such as Precious, The Growing Oak Tree, Push and Parent-teacher Conference) but there are also some that should’ve been left out imo. At a certain point is was done with the ‘I’m a girl on high school that wants to be liked’ stories. I did love the focus on Black girls’ and women’s perspective.

I’m really looking forward to any future novels by this author, especially since there were some amazing short stories in this collection that I wish were longer.

Rating per story
Girlhood lessons⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Push ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Under the covers ⭐️⭐️
A body walks into public safety ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The long sleep ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Let the church say ⭐️⭐️
How to lose a friend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Parent-teacher conference ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
House party ⭐️
How to properly stalk boys ⭐️⭐️
Tinder date ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The last time i’ll laugh with my dad ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Will you be my valentine ⭐️⭐️
Empty apartment ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The growing oak tree ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Precious ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Grove Atlantic for this ARC.

[Whatithinkaboutthisbook]

Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathis

A collection of women’s stories about Black girlhood and womanhood that are a sharp and dark examination of lived experiences

It explores the sexualization of young Black bodies, motherhood, friendship, desire and the lengths people go to satisfy their needs or please others. Mathis transforms the everyday into something unsettling, revealing the consequences of desire, power and betrayal.

Girlhood Lessons depicts a stolen girlhood, as a seven year old body is sexualized and called “fast tale”. In Push she examines the conditioned desperate desire to please. The horrors of dating in Tinder Date and The Growing Oak Tree.

Vivid and visceral, these stories explore selfhood, bodies and sexuality, the yearning, curiosity, and desire. Mathis’ prose is unflinching and unsettling, exposing the structures of power and betrayal that shape intimate relationships.

A powerful and compelling debut.

[Emboldened]

I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing an advanced e-copy of this collection of stories. This book showcases the experiences of Black women as they explore themes of desire, danger, and self-discovery. The stories are powerful and relatable, making it easy to see myself and the Black women I know in the narratives. Each tale is filled with deep emotions, touching on everything from complicated relationships and taking control of one’s body to finding joy even in tough times. The writing is striking and evocative, boldly addressing the complexities of being a Black woman and not shying away from both the struggles and celebrations of life. It’s a book that honors our experiences and transforms personal stories into a shared expression of strength and vulnerability. This is an uplifting read that stays with you long after you’ve finished it.

[Melody]

Desperate Bodies is a short story collection that takes the awkward, cringe-worthy, heartbreaking, and sometimes traumatic experiences of growing up and becoming a young Black woman that you’d rather bury and never think about again and turns them into storytelling. I understand that as a white woman some of these stories might not be written for me but I could still painfully relate to many of the emotions detailed in this book growing up and feeling “other.”

What didn’t work for me was just when I would become immersed in a story it would cliff dive into an abrupt ending that left me hanging and wondering if I should hang on or just let go.

Still, there’s an intimacy to Lydia Mathis’s writing that makes you feel like you’re being let in on someone’s most vulnerable memories and it feels almost like a car accident you can’t look away from.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the eARC. 💜📚

[Bianca Newby]

This is an absolutely incredible collection of stories. In the beginning, I was thinking it would be darker, but as I read each story, it reminded me how deep horror can be. What it can speak to and what realities it can reveal. This also shows the different backgrounds Black women can come from, and the heartbreak and atrocities we can experience beginning at a young age. I went through so many emotions while reading this.

The writing is beautiful. Mathis has a creative way of portraying feelings people most likely have felt but never had the words for. I believe she is an author to keep an eye on for future releases.

I highly recommend this collection to readers from any an all genres. I think Black women would feel so seen reading this as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

[Kenya]

Couldn't put this down. Every single story was immersive, interesting, heartbreaking, relatable.

"Girlhood Lessons", "Push", "The Long sleep", "The Growing Oak Tree", and "Precious" were clear favorites for me.

Some themes that stuck out to me was the idea of safety and how as a woman/girl, we're never allowed the grace and comfort of it. Not with your grandmother, not with your commanding father, not with the guy you agree to go on a date with, not even with other girls. Many of these stories perfectly captured the perpetual cycle of women and girls never being safe but also never being allowed to be victims, to be vulnerable, to be fully realized humans.

These stories will stick with me.

Can't wait to read more from this author.

[Madelyn]

Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathis is a visceral, unsettling collection about Black girlhood and womanhood, desire, power, and the ways violence can become normalized. I almost never need a trigger warning, but the scene involving the belt definitely unlocked an old memory I wasn't expecting.

I grew up in a Dominican household, so while my experiences are different from those depicted here, there was a surprising amount of common ground, especially in the oversexualization of girls and teenagers and the expectation that they grow up faster than they should.

Mathis is especially effective at making the familiar experiences feel deeply unsettling, whether through family dynamics, sexual violence, or the quiet ways women learn to survive.

In the end, women will rise above of it all.

[Kas Marek]

Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the eARC.

I sometimes struggle with short story collections because often the stories are so short that I struggle to connect to the themes or characters. That wasn't the case here. All of the stories felt as if they were dropping the reader right into each world. I think the focus on the experience as a Black woman or girl was so strong and tied every story together.

I found some of the stories hard to swallow. I like when I feel unsettled but some of them made me feel sad. I also couldn't personally relate to any of the religious themes. I think if you want to be made uncomfortable and feel raw, this would be a great short story collection for you.

[Cyrin Watson]

Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathis is a sixteen part short story collection that details the daily lives, struggles, and desires of Black women and girls from the South. I was only able to read 15 of the 16 stories before my arc ran out, but from what o read I would highly recommend this collection.
I was intrigued from the first story “Girlhood Lessons” until the end. Some of the stories were a genuine surprise for me and I didn’t predict where they were going. The prose was easy to follow and story ideas were fresh enough to keep me interested. Usually, short story collections are a hit or miss for me but even the stories I didn’t like didn’t deter me from reading. A stunning debut and I would highly recommend. It’s out now!

[Tunrayo Lumpkin]

I received an advance copy courtesy of NetGalley.

I don’t normally enjoy books that are a collection of short stories, but oh my goodness…10/10 no notes. Every single story gripped me and left me thinking about it days after, even as I continued on to the next short story. So many of those stories were gut-wrenching, heart achingly beautiful. I saw myself in a piece of each story, I wanted to know more about either main character. Many stories moved me to tears, often leaving behind a gaping hole after I finished it, a hole that I was at a complete loss on how to fill. I absolutely loved it from start to finish. WOW. So incredibly beautiful.

[Katie M.]

Desperate Bodies is a poignant short story collection. Sometimes the writing style and prose just didn't quite work for me. Despite that there are still some excellent stories in the collection. Push, The Long Sleep, Parent-Teacher Conference, How to Properly Stalk Boys, Tinder Date, and Empty Apartment were the standout stories for me. I think some of the stories in this collection would have benefited from being more flushed out, but that could be a me and short stories problem though. I would love to see what Lydia Mathis could do with a full length novel.

Thank you Grove Atlantic | Roxane Gay Books and NetGalley for the ARC

[sarah panic]

This is one of the best short story collections I have read in quite some time. I was absolutely enraptured by every word that Lydia Mathis wrote. They way that they had complete control of me as the reader, in the way they could just pull me in into the story, was absolutely breath=taking. There were times I had to sit down and just almost step outside myself for a moment to reflect on the subject matter at hand. Mathis has a way of handing you the content in a way that is delicate, but palatable. I am so incredible excited to see what else comes from Lydia Mathis.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katherine Ho]

4.5 stars rounded up. Some stories don’t hit quite as hard, but the majority of these are heavy hitters well worth sitting through the undercards, and there is a sense of cohesion with all of them. Some of my favorites were “Girlhood Lessons”, “push”, “Under the Covers”, “The Long Sleep”, “Parent Teacher Conference”, “Tinder Date”, “Precious”. If I had to pick one MVP, it’d probably be “push” for me. There’s some light horror, themes of body autonomy, girlhood and being a woman, dating, and more. It is all masterfully done, and definitely deserves a wide audience. Also the cover is absolutely beautiful.