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The Fairer Sex #6
Lauren
The dysfunctional relationship between a rising Manhattan gallery owner and her mother spirals out of control in a harrowing and unflinchingly honest short story of inheritance, sabotage, and the pressure to excel.
Lauren is angry enough that her mother couldn’t find time to show up to the opening of her new art gallery. But when she gets home and discovers the gift her mother has sent instead, Lauren comes undone in the face of a temptation that will push her to the edge, closer to her demons and the bitter taste of a mother’s love.
Lauren is part of The Fairer Sex, a collection of sexy, satirical, and sometimes harrowing short stories that explore the question: “What do women want?” The answer is different for every woman, but each can be read or listened to in a single sitting.
13 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2019
About the author
Michelle Miller
20 books103 followersMichelle Miller wrote pseudonymously until the publication of her debut novel, The Underwriting, which she initially released as an online serial before publishing with Penguin in 2015. It was subsequently translated into 16 languages and developed for television with Fox. Her short story collection The Fairer Sex was an Amazon bestseller, whose TV adaptation she’s currently writing with Amazon Studios.
She holds a BA and MBA from Stanford University and, in a past life, worked at JP Morgan, Bain & Co. and dabbled in the start-up scene.
Michelle lives between London and Asheville, North Carolina, where she was born and raised.
She holds a BA and MBA from Stanford University and, in a past life, worked at JP Morgan, Bain & Co. and dabbled in the start-up scene.
Michelle lives between London and Asheville, North Carolina, where she was born and raised.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 3, 2019
This story about a dysfunctional relationship between a mother and her 26-year-old daughter who's opening an art gallery was okay at best. It helped that it was really short.
March 31, 2022
Lauren doesn't have a great relationship with her Mother and as an adult still seeks her approval. When her Mum doesn't come to her gallery opening, Lauren is very upset.
This contains a very graphic scene featuring an eating disorder which isn't easy to read so if that's a trigger, perhaps skip this one.
This short story is part of The Fairer Sex, a collection of sexy, satirical, and sometimes harrowing short stories that explore the question: “What do women want?” The answer is different for every woman, but each can be read or listened to in a single sitting.
At time of posting this collection is available on Kindle Unlimited.
This contains a very graphic scene featuring an eating disorder which isn't easy to read so if that's a trigger, perhaps skip this one.
This short story is part of The Fairer Sex, a collection of sexy, satirical, and sometimes harrowing short stories that explore the question: “What do women want?” The answer is different for every woman, but each can be read or listened to in a single sitting.
At time of posting this collection is available on Kindle Unlimited.
July 1, 2024
Disappointed
Lauren is terribly successful and having an art show. She’s anxious to see her mother but fears she won’t show. For me to say more would ruin this.
Lauren is terribly successful and having an art show. She’s anxious to see her mother but fears she won’t show. For me to say more would ruin this.
February 17, 2019
The blurb basically encapsulates this short story. Anything more that I might add could diminish the story or give too much away.
I was drawn to this series because it is a female writer creating original stories about women. A selection of strong women one might assume but left in the uncertainty of title ‘The fairer sex’.
Now I wonder if I could get away with such a label and I’m intrigued by how Ms Miller interprets it.
Michelle is an accomplished writer and her pace and delivery of this brief glimpse into Lauren’s life is majestic and surprising.
It resonates truth and what success is for an individual. Validation is perhaps not too much to ask, certainly love might be expected but I liked that shame and strength were addressed and what we project isn’t always who we are behind closed doors.
A story that provides insight, scatters clues but leaves the reader informed and questioning.
I was drawn to this series because it is a female writer creating original stories about women. A selection of strong women one might assume but left in the uncertainty of title ‘The fairer sex’.
Now I wonder if I could get away with such a label and I’m intrigued by how Ms Miller interprets it.
Michelle is an accomplished writer and her pace and delivery of this brief glimpse into Lauren’s life is majestic and surprising.
It resonates truth and what success is for an individual. Validation is perhaps not too much to ask, certainly love might be expected but I liked that shame and strength were addressed and what we project isn’t always who we are behind closed doors.
A story that provides insight, scatters clues but leaves the reader informed and questioning.
July 25, 2021
What a dysfunctional mother-daughter dynamic and yet I couldn't stop reading. This is a short story from Amazon Originals’ THE FAIRER SEX collection. It was quick and engaging.
November 26, 2019
Lauren had always wanted her motherto be there for her but now the night of her big showing her mother’s assistant sends her cupcakes. Her mother couldnt even take a moment to do it herself and it sends Lauren into a spiral
April 22, 2020
2.75 raw emotioned stars.
The things that your family can make you feel, especially when how you feel never seems to matter.
The things that your family can make you feel, especially when how you feel never seems to matter.
March 4, 2022
Gross
February 24, 2019
Lauren by Michelle Miller is either a short read or a short listen and can be found as one of the offerings from Amazon Original Stories. This collection, The Fairer Sex, has eight stories ranging from a 16-minute read to the longest one at 56 minutes. Lauren is an 18-minute read. All works in the collection are available for “free” with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
At only twenty-six, Lauren has an art gallery. She had been planning and doing the necessary groundwork since her junior year in college. With a master’s degree in Art History and a published thesis on graffiti art, she had academic credentials. Creation of the gallery, choosing the right place and interior decorations, required money but she had access to almost unlimited capital and credit. Financial security and backing came through her mother and her mother’s contacts. Mom had been an early, aggressive and highly successful entrepreneur on Wall Street. Several months earlier, Lauren had quit her full-time job and devoted all her time to finalizing business plans and lining up artists for an opening night presentation.
Her mother, her mother’s background, and Lauren’s childhood relationship with her mother combine to create the conflict in this short story. Lauren has done everything in her life to fulfill both a subconscious and a conscious desire to be acknowledged by her mother. On this very important opening night, the only person she truly wants to see is her mother. Mom’s appearance will be the assurance Lauren needs to have that Mom is proud of her and her achievement. The surprise in the story will be created in the reader’s mind and appears in the very last word.
I was impressed by the ending. It provided a jolt that asked, “Do you think you know what is happening?” The story has an understated and powerful ending. If I think about what I have read a few hours after I have read it, I rate the story as very good. I give this story five Amazon stars and will undoubtedly read all short reads in this collection.
At only twenty-six, Lauren has an art gallery. She had been planning and doing the necessary groundwork since her junior year in college. With a master’s degree in Art History and a published thesis on graffiti art, she had academic credentials. Creation of the gallery, choosing the right place and interior decorations, required money but she had access to almost unlimited capital and credit. Financial security and backing came through her mother and her mother’s contacts. Mom had been an early, aggressive and highly successful entrepreneur on Wall Street. Several months earlier, Lauren had quit her full-time job and devoted all her time to finalizing business plans and lining up artists for an opening night presentation.
Her mother, her mother’s background, and Lauren’s childhood relationship with her mother combine to create the conflict in this short story. Lauren has done everything in her life to fulfill both a subconscious and a conscious desire to be acknowledged by her mother. On this very important opening night, the only person she truly wants to see is her mother. Mom’s appearance will be the assurance Lauren needs to have that Mom is proud of her and her achievement. The surprise in the story will be created in the reader’s mind and appears in the very last word.
I was impressed by the ending. It provided a jolt that asked, “Do you think you know what is happening?” The story has an understated and powerful ending. If I think about what I have read a few hours after I have read it, I rate the story as very good. I give this story five Amazon stars and will undoubtedly read all short reads in this collection.
March 12, 2019
I decided to count this whole collection as one book. Each woman’s tale is really a short story, not a novella, so I wouldn’t feel right counting each separately.
The author is talented, but I didn’t care for this collection. I’m all for sexy stories, but every single one of these (with one exception) presented sex with a man as the only way these women found fulfillment. Super heteronormative and kinda lame- especially the one that had the protagonist fucking in a busy Whole Foods, breasts out, while shoppers ignored them. Sex and money are the main motivations for all of the characters in these stories, despite the fact that they were presented as if each woman would want something different.
The author is talented, but I didn’t care for this collection. I’m all for sexy stories, but every single one of these (with one exception) presented sex with a man as the only way these women found fulfillment. Super heteronormative and kinda lame- especially the one that had the protagonist fucking in a busy Whole Foods, breasts out, while shoppers ignored them. Sex and money are the main motivations for all of the characters in these stories, despite the fact that they were presented as if each woman would want something different.
February 23, 2019
It is a short story but really I got the message is-- just because the world sees us succeed we still want to prove it to our parents
March 15, 2019
Strong prose but very depressing and sad. Did not enjoy Miller’s short story like the others. Very dark with no humor.
April 25, 2019
Very, very short story, yet so poignant. It made me sad.
April 19, 2022
WTF!?! I'm not sure what the point of this story was supposed to be. However, I will remember a comment teamed w/ racism and a very detailed, graphic, almost glorification of bulimia.
February 20, 2023
Overall, the collection of short stories in The Fairer Sex by Michelle Miller are either amazing or not worth the time. I like that the cover has each woman's name in a different font. As for reading a novel by Michelle, I think I'd pass as she has some toxic blind spots that I don't want to endure.
Candace: A strong start to the series. If I wasn't married and dating, I'd create my own list. 5 stars
Meredith: I was initially laughing, imagining myself in the Whole Foods with Meredith. Then it took a turn that I couldn't decide if it was real or fantasy, which took me out of the story as it was so unrealistic. 2 stars.
Alicia: I hate-listened to this story and enjoyed it. The whole time I kept thinking, "Karma...". The end was really good, I just personally don't think it's fair, for a multitude of reasons. 4 stars.
Heidi: The beginning is hilarious. However, I found it boring (this coming from someone with a degree in accounting; different from finance, but not by much.) I did like when Heidi stopped writing her story and it became about her and Paul. 2 stars.
Clara: I really enjoyed this book. Clara's relationship with Michael, Lawrence, the intimacy, the twist...a lot was packed into this story. 5 stars.
Lauren: I was immediately put off by Lauren, describing her growing up in wealth and in the next breath taking about living in a cutting-edge place that was "far enough from Chinatown that [visitors] weren't put off by the stench." So unnecessarily offensive and filled with privilege, making it hard for me to have any sympathy for her.
I was intensely physically triggered with the description of her bulimia episode, which I hated. If you've never had an ED, then it will definitely give readers/listeners insight as to what it's like. However, I lived it and didn't need to live it again in such detail. 1 star.
Eleanor: this was as good as Clara. I loved how Eleanor dealt with her husband, except for the "we just did" line. 5 stars.
Keridee: I didn't see the point of this book and couldn't get into it. I understand she's pretty, but having other characters in the book who are only described as fat and their occupation is ridiculous. 1 star.
Samara Naeymi was a good narrator, embodying each woman and her story.
Candace: A strong start to the series. If I wasn't married and dating, I'd create my own list. 5 stars
Meredith: I was initially laughing, imagining myself in the Whole Foods with Meredith. Then it took a turn that I couldn't decide if it was real or fantasy, which took me out of the story as it was so unrealistic. 2 stars.
Alicia: I hate-listened to this story and enjoyed it. The whole time I kept thinking, "Karma...". The end was really good, I just personally don't think it's fair, for a multitude of reasons. 4 stars.
Heidi: The beginning is hilarious. However, I found it boring (this coming from someone with a degree in accounting; different from finance, but not by much.) I did like when Heidi stopped writing her story and it became about her and Paul. 2 stars.
Clara: I really enjoyed this book. Clara's relationship with Michael, Lawrence, the intimacy, the twist...a lot was packed into this story. 5 stars.
Lauren: I was immediately put off by Lauren, describing her growing up in wealth and in the next breath taking about living in a cutting-edge place that was "far enough from Chinatown that [visitors] weren't put off by the stench." So unnecessarily offensive and filled with privilege, making it hard for me to have any sympathy for her.
I was intensely physically triggered with the description of her bulimia episode, which I hated. If you've never had an ED, then it will definitely give readers/listeners insight as to what it's like. However, I lived it and didn't need to live it again in such detail. 1 star.
Eleanor: this was as good as Clara. I loved how Eleanor dealt with her husband, except for the "we just did" line. 5 stars.
Keridee: I didn't see the point of this book and couldn't get into it. I understand she's pretty, but having other characters in the book who are only described as fat and their occupation is ridiculous. 1 star.
Samara Naeymi was a good narrator, embodying each woman and her story.
August 20, 2019
Okay.
The formula has changed, instead of crappy rich powerful men like in the five previous short stories in The Fairer Sex Collection, we get a crappy, powerful, rich mom who doesn’t support her daughter. Or does she? Lauren is devastated that her mother, who puts work before everything, doesn’t go to her gallery opening. Instead, mommy sends her daughter with an eating disorders a box of cupcakes. Lauren does not take this well. I know mother/daughter relationships can be complicated, but as I reached the end of this story, I completely believe Lauren’s mom wanted her to have that Exact reaction. She wanted Lauren to go though the motions because that would help Lauren in the end. It’s twisted and it’s just how I interpreted it. Clearly Lauren and her mother have a toxic relationship. We only get this brief look into said relationship, but I went away with the feeling this is a game these two have played countless times. It’s depressing.
The formula has changed, instead of crappy rich powerful men like in the five previous short stories in The Fairer Sex Collection, we get a crappy, powerful, rich mom who doesn’t support her daughter. Or does she? Lauren is devastated that her mother, who puts work before everything, doesn’t go to her gallery opening. Instead, mommy sends her daughter with an eating disorders a box of cupcakes. Lauren does not take this well. I know mother/daughter relationships can be complicated, but as I reached the end of this story, I completely believe Lauren’s mom wanted her to have that Exact reaction. She wanted Lauren to go though the motions because that would help Lauren in the end. It’s twisted and it’s just how I interpreted it. Clearly Lauren and her mother have a toxic relationship. We only get this brief look into said relationship, but I went away with the feeling this is a game these two have played countless times. It’s depressing.
March 6, 2019
This particular short story details a toxic mother-daughter relationship, one that hit me in the feels as I know all too well what that is like (albeit, within different socioeconomic groups). However, the story is very short and perhaps that is what kept me from connecting with it.
I have noticed that a lot of names are reused throughout the series, which helps to paint a picture of the upper class Manhattan society that Miller wants us to be immersed in. And, I like Miller's writing, I really do. Sure, it doesn't follow all of the conventions of grammar, but that makes it feel more authentic. Thus, I prefer unpolished writing in fiction. However, I still find it hard to sympathize with the women she portrays in this series. At least in this one we are assured that Lauren is quite young.
I have noticed that a lot of names are reused throughout the series, which helps to paint a picture of the upper class Manhattan society that Miller wants us to be immersed in. And, I like Miller's writing, I really do. Sure, it doesn't follow all of the conventions of grammar, but that makes it feel more authentic. Thus, I prefer unpolished writing in fiction. However, I still find it hard to sympathize with the women she portrays in this series. At least in this one we are assured that Lauren is quite young.
September 9, 2021
Stumbled upon this short story series while I was prepping to get my butt outside to start staining our deck. I downloaded all 8 of these short stories from Audible. What is fun about these is that you can read or listen to them all out of order. They don't tie into each other. These are about 8 different women.
Lauren is a rising Manhattan gallery owner who has a very dysfunctional relationship with her mother. Her mother couldn't be bothered to show up the opening and sends her a gift instead. Lauren comes undone and goes toe-to-toe with her inner demons
This was sad. Horribly sad. I hated how it ended. Lauren deserves to lover herself, but we were left with Lauren harming herself and then just hiding behind her mask again. It left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe she is done with her mother now???? I hope so.
2 stars from me.
Lauren is a rising Manhattan gallery owner who has a very dysfunctional relationship with her mother. Her mother couldn't be bothered to show up the opening and sends her a gift instead. Lauren comes undone and goes toe-to-toe with her inner demons
This was sad. Horribly sad. I hated how it ended. Lauren deserves to lover herself, but we were left with Lauren harming herself and then just hiding behind her mask again. It left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe she is done with her mother now???? I hope so.
2 stars from me.
March 2, 2023
Lauren is quite affluent. While she grew up with money, she’s done extremely well in her own right. She’s only 26, but she’s already earned a master’s degree in art history and recently purchased very own art gallery.
Tonight was the gallery’s opening. It was a resounding success. Hell, even Anna Wintour showed up—and was impressed.
One very important person to Lauren didn’t make it. Again. Her mother.
Catherine has become the Most Powerful Woman on Wall Street, yet she still can’t make time for her own daughter.
When Lauren gets back home after the event, it turns out that there’s a package waiting for her. And it’s a hateful “present” from Catherine.
Raises a lot of questions about our parents’ expectations, and our desires to simultaneously eschew them and live up to them.
Painful, deep, evocative. Raw and unsettlingly disturbing.
Tonight was the gallery’s opening. It was a resounding success. Hell, even Anna Wintour showed up—and was impressed.
One very important person to Lauren didn’t make it. Again. Her mother.
Catherine has become the Most Powerful Woman on Wall Street, yet she still can’t make time for her own daughter.
When Lauren gets back home after the event, it turns out that there’s a package waiting for her. And it’s a hateful “present” from Catherine.
Raises a lot of questions about our parents’ expectations, and our desires to simultaneously eschew them and live up to them.
Painful, deep, evocative. Raw and unsettlingly disturbing.
March 31, 2023
Lauren lives in a penthouse, has a great job,and seems to have it all. What she doesn’t have is a warm and loving mother.
The story begins with her mother missing a big event to honor Lauren. Then her mom sends cupcakes with a card signed by the mom’s assistant and those cupcakes are a slap in the face. Lauren has a well known eating disorder that her mom is very aware of.
The description of those cupcakes and their individual components is so well written that I need a cupcake. I don’t really want it but I sure need it. I will say that the vivid description of vomiting those cupcakes has changed my desire so that a cupcake is the very last thing I want. Her mom needs a lesson of some kind about kindness. What a book!
The story begins with her mother missing a big event to honor Lauren. Then her mom sends cupcakes with a card signed by the mom’s assistant and those cupcakes are a slap in the face. Lauren has a well known eating disorder that her mom is very aware of.
The description of those cupcakes and their individual components is so well written that I need a cupcake. I don’t really want it but I sure need it. I will say that the vivid description of vomiting those cupcakes has changed my desire so that a cupcake is the very last thing I want. Her mom needs a lesson of some kind about kindness. What a book!
February 20, 2019
I think my fave 2 are Heidi and Clara ... they others not that i did enjoy them but i prefer those others more??! interesting take, i guess for me i wonder why in 2019 we are still saying FAIRER sex? i mean ... we are ladies, hear us ROAR ... not saying beat all men down. so not the case. just change the wording. I love finding these collections by Amazon ... this one is all by Michelle Miller ... i thought they usually were different authors not the same? I am still trying to figure how they are related - usually it is just the lady part? newbie to Michelle's writing??! was curious. they are easily listened to. not long at all.
February 27, 2019
Phrases to describe Lauren: matter-of-fact, powerful descriptions, gripping drama. I never expected a short story (a genre I love) to hit me with such a gut-punch of visceral emotion, but this one definitely did. When the twist arrived it was completely unexpected because the pacing had lulled me into a false sense of knowing - I immediately recognized this woman from countless television shows and stories. She's successful and beautiful and thin and the world bows at her feet. This short story brutally answers the question "At what cost?" Masterfully done.
June 1, 2019
Summer 2019 - audiobook;
Finishing out 'The Fairer Sex' set because I lost my way from them a few months ago, feel into Star Wars books, and then out of my audible and back into my Spotify, and have come full circle. This one feels...weird. And I can't really give it more than 2 stars. It was short, and bitter, and it's a one night focus on a dysfunctional relationship between both a mother and daughter, and a woman and her eating disorder/body dysmorphia. I wanted to be involved, but there's so little here, and I think so much more could have been done to cover it.
Finishing out 'The Fairer Sex' set because I lost my way from them a few months ago, feel into Star Wars books, and then out of my audible and back into my Spotify, and have come full circle. This one feels...weird. And I can't really give it more than 2 stars. It was short, and bitter, and it's a one night focus on a dysfunctional relationship between both a mother and daughter, and a woman and her eating disorder/body dysmorphia. I wanted to be involved, but there's so little here, and I think so much more could have been done to cover it.
November 1, 2024
Lauren just opened her own art gallery, and everything went as good as she wanted it to be, but there's one problem.
Her mother never showed up, they don't have the best relationship and the "present" she received from her... let's say it's not the best and it feels more like an insult and reminder of how Lauren would never be as good as her own mother? So, of course Lauren decides to indulge and get rid of all the bad things, like a cleanse and start again.
Trigger warning: there's a very detailed eating disorder situation.
Her mother never showed up, they don't have the best relationship and the "present" she received from her... let's say it's not the best and it feels more like an insult and reminder of how Lauren would never be as good as her own mother? So, of course Lauren decides to indulge and get rid of all the bad things, like a cleanse and start again.
Trigger warning: there's a very detailed eating disorder situation.
March 13, 2019
I don't know how to rate this stories.
They are short and gripping and intense and convoluted and disturbing and not enough and very real. I would like to say I enjoyed it, but I don't think it was made with such purpose. I admit the writer is good, she knows some female things all too well, and I guess it's not just from "being" a woman, but through a great deal of observation.
They are short and gripping and intense and convoluted and disturbing and not enough and very real. I would like to say I enjoyed it, but I don't think it was made with such purpose. I admit the writer is good, she knows some female things all too well, and I guess it's not just from "being" a woman, but through a great deal of observation.
January 26, 2023
These fascinating slice of life stories of a variety of modern women show how they rise or are crushed by the circumstances of their modern life.
Lauren is raised in wealth and privilege, but no matter how skilled, experienced, talented, or successful she is regarded in her current art gallery owner/developer world, her brilliant, competitive mother still can destroy her with a careless gesture.
Lauren is raised in wealth and privilege, but no matter how skilled, experienced, talented, or successful she is regarded in her current art gallery owner/developer world, her brilliant, competitive mother still can destroy her with a careless gesture.
February 15, 2019
I wish this collection was combined into a book, especially since they are all written by Miller, since they are only a few pages each.
Lauren's tale is one that hits a little close to home for me at times, about a mother's expectations and a daughter's interpretation of her mother's actions. So far, this one is my favorite, since the relationship is very accurate.
Lauren's tale is one that hits a little close to home for me at times, about a mother's expectations and a daughter's interpretation of her mother's actions. So far, this one is my favorite, since the relationship is very accurate.
February 18, 2019
Ehh
Maybe I'm just not a fan of Michelle Miller's writing. This story was better than the last one (Candace) I read but I found it just as difficult to read. So many run-on, over descriptive sentences. I even came across one that ended in a preposition. That's a basis grammar no-no.
I'm not going to bother reading the rest of these short stories.
Maybe I'm just not a fan of Michelle Miller's writing. This story was better than the last one (Candace) I read but I found it just as difficult to read. So many run-on, over descriptive sentences. I even came across one that ended in a preposition. That's a basis grammar no-no.
I'm not going to bother reading the rest of these short stories.
February 18, 2019
Mothers and daughters usually have strange relationships and Lauren's relationship with her mom is no different. Lauren comes home from her gallery opening only to obsess on the fact that her mother did not make it to the big event. She had well known people among her guests wishing her well and complimenting the opening but all Lauren can see is her mother not being there for her big moment.
March 6, 2019
Like mother, like daughter?
This story, one of a series about eight young women living in NYC, sneaks up on one. Lauren is privileged, rich and connected to the elite of the city's society. The hugely successful opening of her own art gallery is only marred by her mother's absence. What ensues is gritty and shocking.
This story, one of a series about eight young women living in NYC, sneaks up on one. Lauren is privileged, rich and connected to the elite of the city's society. The hugely successful opening of her own art gallery is only marred by her mother's absence. What ensues is gritty and shocking.
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