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Better Off Here
We always look to the greener pastures, thinking our lives would be so much better over there, but if we were over there, what if all we wanted was to go back? Instead, we found ourselves trapped with the darker side to our fears.
A lot of stories in this book have been narrated by Tall Tale TV, and those videos can be found under my videos here.
A lot of stories in this book have been narrated by Tall Tale TV, and those videos can be found under my videos here.
59 pages, Paperback
Published February 12, 2019
About the author
Melissa R. Mendelson
23 books94 followersMelissa R. Mendelson has been writing short stories and poetry since high school. Her focus has been primarily horror and dystopian, but she also makes room for science-fiction. She has a particular interest in identity, who we really are especially in the face of high stakes, unspeakable evils. With events in 2019/2020 when she was faced with a crisis of fertility and motherhood along with the pandemic, she created a prose poetry collection, This Will Remain With Us and a short story collection, Stories Written On Covid Walls, which were both published by Wild Ink Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 27, 2026
Better Off Here is a collection of dystopian short stories that were really enjoyable to read. Author Melissa Mendelson did a great job in bringing her characters to life in each story. She mixes multiple aspects of humanity with unexpected circumstances, strength with tragedy, defiance with forbidden rules and uncertainty with bittersweet. Each story weaves a path into their own reality. If your looking for a short story collection or enjoy reading dystopian stories, then you will enjoy reading Better Off Here.
July 9, 2019
Way too long ago, I received a free copy of Melissa Mendelson’s Better Off Here, a collection of short stories.
While I’m not giving it the full Two Doctors Review as a short story collection, I’ll briefly review it to note its strengths.
Mendelson establishes her visionary mind by exploring a set of ideas through brief stories that will make you think about potential dystopias, and, living into its title, recognize the good in the present. If you’re looking for a quick read that makes you think about the world in new and exciting ways, grab a copy of Better Off Here.
Four stars!
While I’m not giving it the full Two Doctors Review as a short story collection, I’ll briefly review it to note its strengths.
Mendelson establishes her visionary mind by exploring a set of ideas through brief stories that will make you think about potential dystopias, and, living into its title, recognize the good in the present. If you’re looking for a quick read that makes you think about the world in new and exciting ways, grab a copy of Better Off Here.
Four stars!
October 10, 2023
I love reading dystopian short stories. This time I got my hands on Melissa Mendelson's book "Better Off Here". This book is a collection of unique dystopian short stories. Some of my favorite stories from the collection are: 'In Jellyfish, We Trust', The Quiet Room, The Rainbow Kids, etc.
'In Jellyfish, We Trust', the main character of the story is a school boy who wasn't feeling well when he woke up. At school, the boy felt the stares of the other kids. He was worried that if other kids would sense something is off, then he would be dealt with. He doesn't want to die. Find out what will happen with the boy.
"The Rainbow Kids" is a gripping story. The Rainbow Kids weren't supposed to be born. When they came into the world, they were considered a threat. So, every rainbow kid was killed and there was a celebration going on. The narrator is also a rainbow kid. He needed money to escape so he could save his life. Will the narrator survive?
The stories are written in the first person and I enjoyed them more. These stories kept me on the edge of my seat. Some even sent chills down my spine because of the cure which doesn't exist yet. Those who haven't explored dystopian short stories yet can give a read to Melissa's this book. I am sure you would love these short stories.
'In Jellyfish, We Trust', the main character of the story is a school boy who wasn't feeling well when he woke up. At school, the boy felt the stares of the other kids. He was worried that if other kids would sense something is off, then he would be dealt with. He doesn't want to die. Find out what will happen with the boy.
"The Rainbow Kids" is a gripping story. The Rainbow Kids weren't supposed to be born. When they came into the world, they were considered a threat. So, every rainbow kid was killed and there was a celebration going on. The narrator is also a rainbow kid. He needed money to escape so he could save his life. Will the narrator survive?
The stories are written in the first person and I enjoyed them more. These stories kept me on the edge of my seat. Some even sent chills down my spine because of the cure which doesn't exist yet. Those who haven't explored dystopian short stories yet can give a read to Melissa's this book. I am sure you would love these short stories.
October 10, 2023
"Better Off Here" written by the author Melissa R. Mendelson is a collection of dystopian short stories.
November Snow is a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story features a man in an extra-large gray hoodie. He was waiting for the bus. Once during Thanksgiving, his niece caught a snowflake on her tongue. She was the first family member to go because of the incurable disease. The man hopes to have a cure of this disease one day.
"The Quiet Room" is another interesting story in which the souls are brought and kept. The narrator works here as a staffer by looking at the paperwork. He isn't supposed to ask any questions. Will the narrator be safe there?
These stories are interesting and spooky at the same time. The stories are unique. One could read a couple of stories in a single sitting. The language used in the book is easy to follow. The author's narration is smooth. The title of the book is suitable for its content. I had a great time reading this book. I am definitely interested in exploring more books by the author.
November Snow is a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story features a man in an extra-large gray hoodie. He was waiting for the bus. Once during Thanksgiving, his niece caught a snowflake on her tongue. She was the first family member to go because of the incurable disease. The man hopes to have a cure of this disease one day.
"The Quiet Room" is another interesting story in which the souls are brought and kept. The narrator works here as a staffer by looking at the paperwork. He isn't supposed to ask any questions. Will the narrator be safe there?
These stories are interesting and spooky at the same time. The stories are unique. One could read a couple of stories in a single sitting. The language used in the book is easy to follow. The author's narration is smooth. The title of the book is suitable for its content. I had a great time reading this book. I am definitely interested in exploring more books by the author.
October 10, 2023
Calling story stories lovers and dystopian fans to explore the work of the author Melissa Mendelson. This book is full of bittersweet dystopian short stories that will stay on your mind for a long time. The world building and the backdrop setting in these stories is mind blowing. The book takes the readers on the rollercoaster ride full of various emotions.
"We are not so different from machines" is a great story about a family. Humans are like machines now. Instead of food, they take pills for lunch and dinner. They have appointments to get themselves upgraded. If the brain scan happens then they advise for surgery. Father is afraid as after surgery nothing stays the same. The author has created an interesting fantasy world in this story.
The characters are written nicely by the author in all the stories and they feel real. I appreciate the vivid imagination of the author in these short stories. This book would give you an escape from reality for a few hours. Enjoy reading these stories on a weekend so you can binge read.
"We are not so different from machines" is a great story about a family. Humans are like machines now. Instead of food, they take pills for lunch and dinner. They have appointments to get themselves upgraded. If the brain scan happens then they advise for surgery. Father is afraid as after surgery nothing stays the same. The author has created an interesting fantasy world in this story.
The characters are written nicely by the author in all the stories and they feel real. I appreciate the vivid imagination of the author in these short stories. This book would give you an escape from reality for a few hours. Enjoy reading these stories on a weekend so you can binge read.
January 5, 2021
Introduction
Better Off Here is a collection of dystopian short stories by Melissa Mendelson, a published Short Story Author and Poet. She has been published by Sirens Call Publications and Dark Helix Press. Her short stories have been featured on Tall Tale TV and she has a variety of short stories and poetry published on the website, Medium.
Review
This book made be feel grateful and blessed that we aren’t living in the kind of worlds that the author created in her collection of dystopian short stories. They were very dark and very imaginative. She was able to strongly create societies of great suffering and injustice.
I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. The stories are ingenious literary pieces of new worlds. I highly recommend this to ALL readers who love short stories that you can read in one-sitting.
Better Off Here is a collection of dystopian short stories by Melissa Mendelson, a published Short Story Author and Poet. She has been published by Sirens Call Publications and Dark Helix Press. Her short stories have been featured on Tall Tale TV and she has a variety of short stories and poetry published on the website, Medium.
Review
This book made be feel grateful and blessed that we aren’t living in the kind of worlds that the author created in her collection of dystopian short stories. They were very dark and very imaginative. She was able to strongly create societies of great suffering and injustice.
I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. The stories are ingenious literary pieces of new worlds. I highly recommend this to ALL readers who love short stories that you can read in one-sitting.
November 21, 2022
Such an imaginative literary creation! This was a good collection of dystopian stories that I enjoyed reading! The short stories in this book were very dark, showing excruciating hardships. The new worlds that the author created made me feel thankful for the kind of world that I’m in now. It’s still the pandemic era because it hasn’t gone away, but it’s starting to die down, so I’m lucky to have survived these trying times. It’s very creative of the author to explore such dystopian possibilities. Hence, I’m giving this book a perfect rating. This book was very intriguing and entertaining.
October 22, 2020
This book was featured in a Goodreads Giveaway. I didn't win but I kept it on my to read list and eventually bought it. I'm glad I did, this book was so good! I couldn't put it down, it kept me intrigued.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews