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Out of Line: Women on the Verge of a Breakthrough
What happens when women step out of line and take control of their own stories? Big fears, small frustrations, and the power of hope collide as seven award-winning authors explore the possibilities. From demanding equal pay to resisting a genetically engineered future, this collection offers up visions that are grimly funny, deeply touching, and chillingly conceivable.
THIS TELLING, by Cheryl Strayed, read by Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars)
A genealogy test sparks a woman’s reflection on the two accounts of her life - the real one and the one she’s always told the world - in this poignant short story by the bestselling author of Wild.
GRACEFUL BURDENS, by Roxane Gay, read by Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale)
From the New York Times bestselling author of Bad Feminist comes an unforgettable tale of nightmarish bureaucracy in which genetic profiling has redefined the “unfit mother.”
SWEET VIRGINIA, by Caroline Kepnes, read by Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars)
What’s a woman to do when she fails to live up to feminine ideals? It depends on what she’s willing to give up in this dark rom-com dream by the bestselling author of You.
THE CONTRACTORS, by Lisa Ko, read by Lea Salonga (Aladdin)
A split-screen view of the tech industry’s underbelly - and the unifying campaign of two distant women seeking to expose their employer - from the award-winning author of The Leavers.
HALFWAY TO FREE, by Emma Donoghue, read by Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Raising a family is the ultimate luxury as the human race teeters on the brink of extinction in this modern nightmare by Emma Donoghue, the bestselling author of Room.
BEAR WITNESS, by Mary Gaitskill, read by Margo Martindale (Mrs. America)
In the wake of a brutal crime, three people cross paths in this unflinching deconstruction of moral uncertainty, shifting perceptions, and sexual violence, from the critically acclaimed author of Bad Behavior.
SHINE, PAMELA! SHINE!, by Kate Atkinson, read by Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones)
Thoroughly divorced but ever the optimist, Pamela faces the realities of aging and the leaps of faith required to put a “sparkle” on her daily life in this small miracle of a short story by the bestselling author of Life After Life.
THIS TELLING, by Cheryl Strayed, read by Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars)
A genealogy test sparks a woman’s reflection on the two accounts of her life - the real one and the one she’s always told the world - in this poignant short story by the bestselling author of Wild.
GRACEFUL BURDENS, by Roxane Gay, read by Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale)
From the New York Times bestselling author of Bad Feminist comes an unforgettable tale of nightmarish bureaucracy in which genetic profiling has redefined the “unfit mother.”
SWEET VIRGINIA, by Caroline Kepnes, read by Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars)
What’s a woman to do when she fails to live up to feminine ideals? It depends on what she’s willing to give up in this dark rom-com dream by the bestselling author of You.
THE CONTRACTORS, by Lisa Ko, read by Lea Salonga (Aladdin)
A split-screen view of the tech industry’s underbelly - and the unifying campaign of two distant women seeking to expose their employer - from the award-winning author of The Leavers.
HALFWAY TO FREE, by Emma Donoghue, read by Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Raising a family is the ultimate luxury as the human race teeters on the brink of extinction in this modern nightmare by Emma Donoghue, the bestselling author of Room.
BEAR WITNESS, by Mary Gaitskill, read by Margo Martindale (Mrs. America)
In the wake of a brutal crime, three people cross paths in this unflinching deconstruction of moral uncertainty, shifting perceptions, and sexual violence, from the critically acclaimed author of Bad Behavior.
SHINE, PAMELA! SHINE!, by Kate Atkinson, read by Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones)
Thoroughly divorced but ever the optimist, Pamela faces the realities of aging and the leaps of faith required to put a “sparkle” on her daily life in this small miracle of a short story by the bestselling author of Life After Life.
7 pages, Audiobook
First published September 1, 2020
3 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Strayed
40 books13.5k followersCheryl Strayed is the author of four books: Tiny Beautiful Things, Torch, Brave Enough, and the #1 New York Times bestseller, Wild. She's also the author of the popular Dear Sugar Letters, currently on Substack and the host of two hit podcasts--Sugar Calling and Dear Sugars. You can find links to her events and answers to FAQ on her web site: http://www.cherylstrayed.com/
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 22, 2021
I reviewed each story of this collection individually. Overall, a good collection of short stories written by women exploring interesting themes. Some are set in a dystopian world, others are not. In all of them the central women characters have tough choices - though not necessarily the agency needed.
I listened to these stories on audio, and would recommend not reading the blurbs as they spoil letting the tales reveal as they would.
THIS TELLING, by Cheryl Strayed, read by Kristen Bell - 3 stars
GRACEFUL BURDENS, by Roxane Gay, read by Samira Wiley - 4 stars
SWEET VIRGINIA, by Caroline Kepnes, read by Kristen Bell - 2 stars
THE CONTRACTORS, by Lisa Ko, read by Lea Salonga - 3 stars
HALFWAY TO FREE, by Emma Donoghue, read by Samira Wiley - 3 stars
BEAR WITNESS, by Mary Gaitskill, read by Margo Martindale & R.C. Bray - 4 stars
SHINE, PAMELA! SHINE!, by Kate Atkinson, read by Gwendoline Christie - 3 stars
I listened to these stories on audio, and would recommend not reading the blurbs as they spoil letting the tales reveal as they would.
THIS TELLING, by Cheryl Strayed, read by Kristen Bell - 3 stars
GRACEFUL BURDENS, by Roxane Gay, read by Samira Wiley - 4 stars
SWEET VIRGINIA, by Caroline Kepnes, read by Kristen Bell - 2 stars
THE CONTRACTORS, by Lisa Ko, read by Lea Salonga - 3 stars
HALFWAY TO FREE, by Emma Donoghue, read by Samira Wiley - 3 stars
BEAR WITNESS, by Mary Gaitskill, read by Margo Martindale & R.C. Bray - 4 stars
SHINE, PAMELA! SHINE!, by Kate Atkinson, read by Gwendoline Christie - 3 stars
December 21, 2020
I loved these short stories. There are such interesting variations on the theme of what happens when women step out of line and take control of their own stories. The stories ranged from historic, to modern, futuristic, and sci-fi. I read the Kindle versions but I bet the Audible narrations are excellent and I may listen to those at some point. I love this kind of original series from Amazon and hope they do more of these.
September 3, 2021
Really great authors included in this collection but the overall result is lackluster.
December 7, 2021
3.5
My first amazon series
My first amazon series
November 9, 2020
Most were really compelling stories, but a few were...not so much.
January 14, 2026
A multi-author anthology about women stepping past boundaries: historical, cultural, personal, societal. The premise is great; the execution is mixed. Peaks, valleys, and one total knockout.
Here’s how the seven stories shake out.
Cheryl Strayed — This Telling (4 ⭐️)
1964, El Paso. A teenage girl, a soldier boyfriend, a pregnancy no one wants to acknowledge, and a lifetime of grief shoved under the rug because “it’ll be like it never happened.”
Strayed delivers a heavy emotional hit—forced adoption, lost years, complicated regret. A little Tell-heavy, yes, but the ache lands.
…it had made it seem as if everything…had not happened.
Roxane Gay — Graceful Burdens (3 ⭐️)
A dystopian U.S. where a genetic test determines who’s “fit” to be a mother—and who must borrow a baby from the library like it’s a weekend DVD.
Strong concepts, big themes, and a lot of density packed into a short page count. Some sharp societal critiques…and some glaring blind spots. The ending needs more muscle, but the ideas stick.
She wanted to run with the child so the child’s future would not be dictated by whether or not she could mother.
Caroline Kepnes — Sweet Virginia (5 ⭐️ — the standout)
Suburban Virginia, postpartum haze, a failing career, a Hallmark obsession, a mother who moves in and never shuts up, and a creeping sense that something is wildly off.
Kepnes does her signature “quirky, damaged, and spiraling” better than anyone. Twists, cultish vibes, and one hell of a mid-story detour.
Sharp, weird, darkly funny, and absolutely the crown jewel of this collection.
“Women like you are dangerous.”
Lisa Ko — The Contractors (3 ⭐️)
Two women with the same name, same job, same misery: content moderators for a giant social media company, oceans apart.
One hardworking optimist in the Philippines; one self-pitying disaster in New Jersey.
Interesting structure, uneven execution. Some wild claims, some icky choices, and an ending that is…well…a choice.
She has done everything right…and still managed to mess it up.
Emma Donoghue — Halfway to Free (4 ⭐️ — runner-up)
2060. A society terrified of “overpopulation” has engineered itself into demographic extinction. Babies are taboo; welfare handouts reward childlessness; the only kids are on celebrity livestreams.
Miriam, an engineer stuck inside a propaganda machine, finally sees the cracks. Strong world-building, sharp themes, and a satisfying arc of rebellion against engineered norms.
I felt the brainwashing…all the little signals that told me not to do what every other mammal did.
Mary Gaitskill — Bear Witness (3 ⭐️)
A rape trial told through three POVs: the accused, the accuser, and a juror with more insight than the others combined.
Well-drawn voices; uneven impact. Lots left unsaid. Enough ambiguity to fuel a whole seminar—and a lingering suspicion that the wrong man may be on trial.
It made no sense. And it was unmistakable.
Kate Atkinson — Shine, Pamela, Shine! (3 ⭐️)
A newly retired Scottish schoolteacher with a chaotic inner world, a sociopathic adult son living at home, and a plotline that wanders like it’s looking for a bus stop.
Odd tone, odd pacing, odd everything—yet not without charm. Pamela’s optimism carries more weight than the story does.
…the light of the world…ushered in by a dispirited divorcée…
Here’s how the seven stories shake out.
Cheryl Strayed — This Telling (4 ⭐️)
1964, El Paso. A teenage girl, a soldier boyfriend, a pregnancy no one wants to acknowledge, and a lifetime of grief shoved under the rug because “it’ll be like it never happened.”
Strayed delivers a heavy emotional hit—forced adoption, lost years, complicated regret. A little Tell-heavy, yes, but the ache lands.
…it had made it seem as if everything…had not happened.
Roxane Gay — Graceful Burdens (3 ⭐️)
A dystopian U.S. where a genetic test determines who’s “fit” to be a mother—and who must borrow a baby from the library like it’s a weekend DVD.
Strong concepts, big themes, and a lot of density packed into a short page count. Some sharp societal critiques…and some glaring blind spots. The ending needs more muscle, but the ideas stick.
She wanted to run with the child so the child’s future would not be dictated by whether or not she could mother.
Caroline Kepnes — Sweet Virginia (5 ⭐️ — the standout)
Suburban Virginia, postpartum haze, a failing career, a Hallmark obsession, a mother who moves in and never shuts up, and a creeping sense that something is wildly off.
Kepnes does her signature “quirky, damaged, and spiraling” better than anyone. Twists, cultish vibes, and one hell of a mid-story detour.
Sharp, weird, darkly funny, and absolutely the crown jewel of this collection.
“Women like you are dangerous.”
Lisa Ko — The Contractors (3 ⭐️)
Two women with the same name, same job, same misery: content moderators for a giant social media company, oceans apart.
One hardworking optimist in the Philippines; one self-pitying disaster in New Jersey.
Interesting structure, uneven execution. Some wild claims, some icky choices, and an ending that is…well…a choice.
She has done everything right…and still managed to mess it up.
Emma Donoghue — Halfway to Free (4 ⭐️ — runner-up)
2060. A society terrified of “overpopulation” has engineered itself into demographic extinction. Babies are taboo; welfare handouts reward childlessness; the only kids are on celebrity livestreams.
Miriam, an engineer stuck inside a propaganda machine, finally sees the cracks. Strong world-building, sharp themes, and a satisfying arc of rebellion against engineered norms.
I felt the brainwashing…all the little signals that told me not to do what every other mammal did.
Mary Gaitskill — Bear Witness (3 ⭐️)
A rape trial told through three POVs: the accused, the accuser, and a juror with more insight than the others combined.
Well-drawn voices; uneven impact. Lots left unsaid. Enough ambiguity to fuel a whole seminar—and a lingering suspicion that the wrong man may be on trial.
It made no sense. And it was unmistakable.
Kate Atkinson — Shine, Pamela, Shine! (3 ⭐️)
A newly retired Scottish schoolteacher with a chaotic inner world, a sociopathic adult son living at home, and a plotline that wanders like it’s looking for a bus stop.
Odd tone, odd pacing, odd everything—yet not without charm. Pamela’s optimism carries more weight than the story does.
…the light of the world…ushered in by a dispirited divorcée…
November 10, 2020
"This Telling" by Cheryl Strayed: 4 stars. A really solid story about a girl who gives up a daughter to adoption.
"Graceful Burdens" by Roxane Gay: 4.5 stars. One of my favorites in this entire collection. Gay writes of a dystopian future where reproduction is tightly regulated based on someone's genetic fitness, and women who aren't deemed good enough to have children can check out a baby from the library.
"Sweet Virginia" by Caroline Kepnes: 2 stars. MC was awful, ending was weird. Nothing really fit here or worked for me.
"The Contractors" by Lisa Ko: 4 stars. Two women who share the same name working for the same social media content moderation contractor on opposite ends of the globe start emailing each other.
"Halfway to Free" by Emma Donoghue: 4.5 stars. My other favorite here. A really great story of a future world where in an effort to control climate change, being childless is heavily rewarded and society is built around a world without children. Well thought out and thought-provoking.
"Bear Witness" by Mary Gaitskill: 3 stars. A rape case told from three POVs. There's a lot crammed in here and it was unsettling.
"Shine, Pamela, Shine!" by Kate Atkinson: 1.5 stars. My least favorite of the bunch here. Very strange, and I'm still not sure what to make of that ending.
"Graceful Burdens" by Roxane Gay: 4.5 stars. One of my favorites in this entire collection. Gay writes of a dystopian future where reproduction is tightly regulated based on someone's genetic fitness, and women who aren't deemed good enough to have children can check out a baby from the library.
"Sweet Virginia" by Caroline Kepnes: 2 stars. MC was awful, ending was weird. Nothing really fit here or worked for me.
"The Contractors" by Lisa Ko: 4 stars. Two women who share the same name working for the same social media content moderation contractor on opposite ends of the globe start emailing each other.
"Halfway to Free" by Emma Donoghue: 4.5 stars. My other favorite here. A really great story of a future world where in an effort to control climate change, being childless is heavily rewarded and society is built around a world without children. Well thought out and thought-provoking.
"Bear Witness" by Mary Gaitskill: 3 stars. A rape case told from three POVs. There's a lot crammed in here and it was unsettling.
"Shine, Pamela, Shine!" by Kate Atkinson: 1.5 stars. My least favorite of the bunch here. Very strange, and I'm still not sure what to make of that ending.
January 9, 2021
I read the individual stories, not listened to the audiobook, but it seemed wrong to list them as seperate books as they're so short.
I love short stories; I'm making it a goal this year to read a lot more of them. This was a great way to try out some new authors that I hadn't read before. The stand-out stories for me were The Contractors by Lisa Ko and the absolutely stunning This Telling by Cheryl Strayed. But they were all good writing and I enjoyed reading all of them.
The Contractors by Lisa Ko 4****
Interesting story, good writing, good concept.
Sweet Virginia byCaroline Kepnes 3***
Good writing but maybe a bit too hopeless and bleak for me.
Bear Witness by Mary Gaitskill 3***
Good writing, character of Mark makes for uncomfortable reading.
Halfway To Free by Emma Donoghue 3***
Another futuristic world, but more realistic and I liked the characters.
Graceful Burdens by Roaxane Gay 3***
Good writing, but the story is too reminiscent of The Handmaids Tale (or, more accurately, The Testaments) by Margaret Atwood.
This Telling by Cheryl Strayed 5*****
Reminiscent of Alice Munro, excellent writing.
Shine, Pamela! Shine by Kate Atkinson 3***
Very funny, but the ending was too weird and too abrupt
I love short stories; I'm making it a goal this year to read a lot more of them. This was a great way to try out some new authors that I hadn't read before. The stand-out stories for me were The Contractors by Lisa Ko and the absolutely stunning This Telling by Cheryl Strayed. But they were all good writing and I enjoyed reading all of them.
The Contractors by Lisa Ko 4****
Interesting story, good writing, good concept.
Sweet Virginia byCaroline Kepnes 3***
Good writing but maybe a bit too hopeless and bleak for me.
Bear Witness by Mary Gaitskill 3***
Good writing, character of Mark makes for uncomfortable reading.
Halfway To Free by Emma Donoghue 3***
Another futuristic world, but more realistic and I liked the characters.
Graceful Burdens by Roaxane Gay 3***
Good writing, but the story is too reminiscent of The Handmaids Tale (or, more accurately, The Testaments) by Margaret Atwood.
This Telling by Cheryl Strayed 5*****
Reminiscent of Alice Munro, excellent writing.
Shine, Pamela! Shine by Kate Atkinson 3***
Very funny, but the ending was too weird and too abrupt
February 23, 2022
2.75
I picked this up because of Roxane Gay's contribution as Difficult Women is one of my favourite books of hers. Gay's story was definitely the highlight of the collection. The other stories' premises were gripping but their execution left something wanting.
I picked this up because of Roxane Gay's contribution as Difficult Women is one of my favourite books of hers. Gay's story was definitely the highlight of the collection. The other stories' premises were gripping but their execution left something wanting.
May 1, 2022
These stories were … fine. Some intriguing concepts, but mostly underdeveloped. Nice quick reads though. I read these on kindle rather than listening on audible, so I missed out on the famous narrators.
“This Telling” - Cheryl Strayed - 3.5*s
“Graceful Burdens” - Roxane Gay - 4*s
“Sweet Virginia” - Caroline Kepnes - 2*s
“The Contractors” - Lisa Ko - 3*s
“Halfway to Free” - Emma Donoghue - 3.5 *s
“Bear Witness” - Mary Gaitskill - 3*s
“Shine, Pamela! Shine!” - Kate Atkinson - 2.5*s
“This Telling” - Cheryl Strayed - 3.5*s
“Graceful Burdens” - Roxane Gay - 4*s
“Sweet Virginia” - Caroline Kepnes - 2*s
“The Contractors” - Lisa Ko - 3*s
“Halfway to Free” - Emma Donoghue - 3.5 *s
“Bear Witness” - Mary Gaitskill - 3*s
“Shine, Pamela! Shine!” - Kate Atkinson - 2.5*s
November 16, 2020
I did not enjoy this collection. The 3 stars is only for the Roxane Gay piece; the rest were really not great. I was expecting this to be much more engaging with the lineup of contributors and the content focus, but...meh.
October 26, 2020
Amazon may be an evil capitalist machine, but this collection is pretty fantastic. Thought-provoking, each story with its own merits.
December 29, 2021
It feels like this collection couldn't decide if it actually wanted to be feminist or not.
January 12, 2022
My favorite stories were Graceful Burdens and Halfway to Free!
November 21, 2024
TBH I really only enjoyed the stories by Cheryl Strayed and Roxane Gay and so they deserve all the stars!
February 23, 2022
Prompt 44: an anthology
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews